ELPAC Practice

Why does the bean plant look droopy?

Listen to a Classroom Conversation · ELPAC Grade 1 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

A multiple-turn conversation between two speakers, followed by three questions.

Listen to Hector talk to his teacher, Ms. Reed, in class. Then answer the questions.

The Droopy Plant

Listen to The Droopy Plant0:25

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Show transcript

Ms. Reed: Hector, look at our bean plant. It looks droopy today.

Hector: The leaves are hanging down. Is it sick?

Ms. Reed: I think it is thirsty. When did we water it last?

Hector: On Monday. Today is Thursday.

Ms. Reed: That is a long time. Can you give it one cup of water?

Hector: Yes. Then I will move it next to the window so it gets some sun.

The question

Choose the best answer.

Why does the bean plant look droopy?

  • It has too much sun.
  • It needs water.Correct answer
  • It has too much water.
  • It is too big for its pot.

Why “It needs water.” is correct

In a classroom conversation the answer often comes after a wrong guess. Hector asks whether the plant is sick, and Ms. Reed answers that she thinks it is thirsty; then the days since watering (Monday to Thursday) back her up. Ask your child what Ms. Reed thinks is wrong, and whether 'thirsty' means it needs water.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • It has too much sun. — Sun comes up only at the end, when Hector plans to move the plant toward the window to get more.
  • It has too much water. — The plant has not been watered since Monday, so it has too little water, not too much.
  • It is too big for its pot. — Nobody talks about the size of the plant or its pot.

Practice more of this

More listening practice for Grade 1, or see the ELPAC practice test for grade 1. For other grades, see free ELPAC practice tests by grade.

This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the California Department of Education or the official ELPAC program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published task formats.