What can the reader infer about Emma?
Analyze and Evaluate Information and Ideas · TELPAS Grades 8–9 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 3: make inferences, draw conclusions, and think about why the author wrote a text and how it is built.
Read the paragraph. Then answer the question.
The Saved Seat
Every day for a month, Emma had saved the seat next to her at lunch for Julia. Today Julia walked past with her tray, laughing with two girls from the volleyball team, and sat down at their table without looking back. Emma moved her backpack onto the empty seat and stared at her sandwich. For a long time, she did not take a bite.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What can the reader infer about Emma?
- She is not hungry because she ate a big breakfast earlier.
- She feels hurt that Julia sat somewhere else.Correct answer
- She wants to join the volleyball team.
- She is glad to have more room.
Why “She feels hurt that Julia sat somewhere else.” is correct
This question asks for an inference about feelings. Emma saved the seat for a month, Julia walked past "without looking back," and Emma stares at her food without eating. These actions show hurt feelings without naming them.
Why the other answers are wrong
- She is not hungry because she ate a big breakfast earlier. — The paragraph does not say she ate earlier; she stops eating after Julia walks past.
- She wants to join the volleyball team. — The volleyball girls are only the people Julia sits with.
- She is glad to have more room. — Staring at her sandwich does not show that she is glad.
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.