Which word best completes the blank in the paragraph? The judges were impressed by how ________ she…
Understand Words and Language Structures · TELPAS Grades 8–9 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.
Read the paragraph. Then answer the question.
At the Science Fair
The judges stopped at Ifeoma's table last. She had tested which kind of mulch kept garden soil the coolest during a Texas summer. The judges were impressed by how ________ she explained her results. She answered every question clearly and never once looked down at her notes.
The question
Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Which word best completes the blank in the paragraph? The judges were impressed by how ________ she explained her results.
- confidentlyCorrect answer
- confident
- confidence
- confide
Why “confidently” is correct
This tests word forms. The blank describes the verb "explained," so it needs an adverb, and many adverbs end in -ly. Students should notice that all four choices share the same root and decide which form the sentence needs.
Why the other answers are wrong
- confident — This is an adjective. The blank describes how she explained, so it needs an adverb.
- confidence — This is a noun and does not fit after "how" in this sentence.
- confide — This is a verb that means to tell someone a secret; it does not fit here.
Practice more of this
More reading 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.