What will Sara most likely do next?
Analyze and Evaluate Information in Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 8–9 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 3: make inferences from what was said, and work out a speaker's purpose, opinion, or what will happen next.
Listen to the conversation.
Volunteering at the Shelter
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Sara: Ms. Castillo, I want to do my service hours at the animal shelter, but their website says volunteers have to be sixteen. I'm only fourteen.
Ms. Castillo: That's true for most of their jobs, like walking the dogs. But they also have a program for younger teens on Saturday mornings. You'd be cleaning kennels, folding towels and reading out loud to the cats.
Sara: Reading to cats? Why?
Ms. Castillo: Shy cats get used to people's voices that way, so they're calmer when families come to meet them. The only catch is that a parent or guardian has to sign up with you and stay the whole time.
Sara: My dad works on Saturdays. But my sister is nineteen. Does she count?
Ms. Castillo: Only a parent or guardian counts. Talk to your family tonight. If your mom can come with you, I'll sign your service form as soon as you finish your hours.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What will Sara most likely do next?
- Sign up with her older sister
- Start walking dogs at the shelter
- Wait until she turns sixteen
- Ask her mom to come with herCorrect answer
Why “Ask her mom to come with her” is correct
This question asks for a prediction. Her dad works Saturdays, her sister does not count, and Ms. Castillo says, "If your mom can come with you, I'll sign your service form." Putting these together, asking her mom is the next step.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Sign up with her older sister — Ms. Castillo says only a parent or guardian counts.
- Start walking dogs at the shelter — Dog walking is for volunteers who are sixteen.
- Wait until she turns sixteen — The Saturday program means she does not have to wait.
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.