What arrangement does Mr. Salazar offer Jonah?
Listen to a Short Exchange · ELPAC Grades 11–12 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
A two-turn exchange between two speakers, followed by a question about it.
Listen to the conversation between Jonah and Mr. Salazar. Then answer the question.
The Policy Essay
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Jonah: Mr. Salazar, could I have an extra week on the policy essay? My family is traveling for my cousin’s wedding, and I will be gone for three days.
Mr. Salazar: Did you know about the wedding when I assigned the essay a month ago?
Jonah: I did. I should have started sooner.
Mr. Salazar: Here is what I can do. Turn in whatever draft you have on the original due date, even if it is unfinished. I will read it as a draft, and you can turn in a revised version the following week for full credit. That way you are not writing during the wedding, and you are not skipping the deadline either.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What arrangement does Mr. Salazar offer Jonah?
- A one-week extension on the essay, as Jonah asked.
- Permission to skip the essay and complete a different assignment.
- Turning in a draft on the original due date, then a revised version the following week for full credit.Correct answer
- Emailing the finished essay from the wedding.
Why “Turning in a draft on the original due date, then a revised version the following week for full credit.” is correct
This tests following a compromise, where the speaker neither grants nor refuses the request as made. Mr. Salazar keeps the original deadline for a draft and gives an extra week only for revision, and he explains the balance: Jonah is not writing at the wedding and not skipping the deadline. Students should notice that his question about when Jonah knew of the wedding is what makes a full extension unlikely.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A one-week extension on the essay, as Jonah asked. — He does not grant the extension as asked; the due date stays the same for the draft.
- Permission to skip the essay and complete a different assignment. — The essay is still required; only the timing of the revision changes.
- Emailing the finished essay from the wedding. — He says the plan means Jonah is not writing during the wedding.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 11–12, or see the ELPAC practice test for grades 11–12. For other grades, see free ELPAC practice tests by grade.
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