What reason does Sebastian give for lowering the voting age?
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 class discussion.
Should Sixteen-Year-Olds Vote?
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Show transcript
Ms. Bennett: Yesterday we read about the Twenty-sixth Amendment, which set the voting age at eighteen across the country. Some people now argue it should be sixteen. Sebastian, where do you stand?
Sebastian: I think sixteen makes sense. A lot of sixteen-year-olds have jobs, and they pay taxes on their paychecks. If you pay taxes, you should have a say in how that money gets spent.
Priya: But I don't think most sixteen-year-olds follow the news. Honestly, I don't, not really. I'd probably just vote however my friends were voting.
Sebastian: Lots of adults vote that way, too. Nobody makes them pass a test first.
Ms. Bennett: That's a fair point. Priya, does that change your mind?
Priya: A little. Maybe it could work if schools taught a lot more about elections before students turned sixteen.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What reason does Sebastian give for lowering the voting age?
- Most sixteen-year-olds follow the news.
- Adults should pass a test before voting.
- Many sixteen-year-olds work and pay taxes.Correct answer
- Schools already teach a lot about elections.
Why “Many sixteen-year-olds work and pay taxes.” is correct
This is a detail question about a speaker's reason. Sebastian says that people who pay taxes should have a say in how the money is spent. In a discussion with several speakers, the student must keep track of who said what.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Most sixteen-year-olds follow the news. — That is the opposite of Priya's point.
- Adults should pass a test before voting. — He says adults do not have to pass a test; he is not asking for one.
- Schools already teach a lot about elections. — Priya suggests schools should teach more; no one says they already do.
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.