What does the notice say about students who do not have a Social Security number?
Read a Short Informational Passage · ELPAC Grades 11–12 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
A brief factual text — a notice, a label, a set of instructions — followed by questions.
Read the notice. Then answer the questions.
Financial Aid Night and the March Deadline
The counseling office will hold Financial Aid Night on February 5, from six to eight o'clock in the cafeteria. Two advisers from the community college will help families start the federal aid application in person. Bring last year's tax return and, if you have one, a photo identification card. You do not need a Social Security number to attend, and staff can explain which state application to use instead.
Seniors who want the state grant must also have a verified grade point average submitted by March 2. The front office submits these automatically for any senior who files the federal application before February 20. A student who files after that date must request the submission in writing at the front office.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does the notice say about students who do not have a Social Security number?
- They cannot apply for aid and should not attend.
- They must bring a photo identification card instead of a tax return.
- They must submit a grade point average by February 20.
- They are welcome at the event, where staff can explain which state application to use.Correct answer
Why “They are welcome at the event, where staff can explain which state application to use.” is correct
This tests finding what a notice says about one specific circumstance rather than assuming the worst. The notice addresses these students directly: they do not need the number to attend, and staff will explain which state application applies to them. Families often assume the opposite, which is exactly why the item is worth practicing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- They cannot apply for aid and should not attend. — The notice says nothing about losing eligibility; it points these students toward a different application.
- They must bring a photo identification card instead of a tax return. — The tax return and the identification card are general suggestions for everyone attending, not a substitution.
- They must submit a grade point average by February 20. — February 20 is the cut-off for automatic grade point average submission and has nothing to do with the identification question.
Practice more of this
More reading 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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