What problem are Nadia and Jordan trying to solve?
Basic Understanding of Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 8–9 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 2: understand the main points and important details of spoken stories and informational passages, about everyday life and school subjects.
Listen to the conversation.
Planning the Soil Project
Press play to listen. You can pause, rewind, and replay as often as you like.
Show transcript
Nadia: So we said we'd test which kind of soil holds the most water, right? Sand, clay and potting soil.
Jordan: Right. But I read the science fair rules last night, and every project needs at least three trials for each sample.
Nadia: Three trials each? That's nine tests, and the fair is in two weeks.
Jordan: It's not as bad as it sounds. Each test takes about twenty minutes. The slow part is drying the soil out between trials. That takes days.
Nadia: Then let's not reuse the soil. My uncle works at a garden center. If he gives us a whole bag of each kind, we can use fresh soil every time.
Jordan: That would work. And it's more fair, too. Soil we already used might be packed down, and that could change how much water it holds.
Nadia: I'll text him tonight. You make the data table, and I'll write the materials list.
Jordan: Deal. And let's take a photo of every trial. Ms. Guerrero said the judges like to see the process.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What problem are Nadia and Jordan trying to solve?
- How to fit all the required tests in timeCorrect answer
- Which kinds of soil they should test
- How to get their topic approved
- Who will present the project to the judges
Why “How to fit all the required tests in time” is correct
This question asks for the main problem in a conversation. Jordan reports that the rules require three trials per sample, and Nadia reacts that it is nine tests with only two weeks left. The rest of the conversation is about solving that time problem.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Which kinds of soil they should test — They already chose sand, clay and potting soil at the start.
- How to get their topic approved — Approval is never discussed.
- Who will present the project to the judges — They split up the data table and the materials list, not the presentation.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 8–9, or see the TELPAS practice test for 8th and 9th 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.