TELPAS Practice

What does this sentence mean?

Understand Words and Language Structures · TELPAS Grades 6–7 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 1: work out what words and phrases mean from context, and understand how sentences and word forms work.

The question

Read the sentence. Then answer the question.

Even though the storm knocked out power across the neighborhood, the Ramirez family's generator kept their lights on. What does this sentence mean?

  • The Ramirez family turned their lights off during the storm.
  • Most homes lost power, but the Ramirez home still had light.Correct answer
  • The storm did not reach the Ramirez family's street.
  • The Ramirez family's generator caused the power to go out.

Why “Most homes lost power, but the Ramirez home still had light.” is correct

This tests understanding a complex sentence that begins with "even though." That phrase signals a contrast: something happened (power went out everywhere), but something unexpected was true anyway (one family still had lights). Students who read only the second half may miss the contrast.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • The Ramirez family turned their lights off during the storm. — The sentence says their lights stayed on.
  • The storm did not reach the Ramirez family's street. — The power went out "across the neighborhood," so the storm did reach them.
  • The Ramirez family's generator caused the power to go out. — The storm knocked out the power; the generator kept the lights on.

Practice more of this

More reading practice for Grades 6–7, or see the TELPAS practice test for 6th and 7th grade.

This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Texas Education Agency or the official TELPAS program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published test design.