ELPAC Practice

The story ends with "Mei sat up a little taller." What does this show?

Read a Literary Passage · ELPAC Grade 2 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

A short story or scene, with questions about characters, events and what words mean in context.

Read the story. Then answer the questions.

The Line Leader

Every day, one student in Room 9 leads the class to lunch. Today it was Mei's turn. Mei liked to stand at the back of the line, where nobody looked at her.

"I don't want to be first," she whispered to her friend Tomas.

"You know the way," Tomas said. "Just walk slowly so we can keep up."

Mei stood at the front of the line. Her cheeks felt hot. She walked down the hall, past the library, and around the corner. When she looked back, the whole class was right behind her in a neat line.

At lunch, Mr. Vega gave Mei a sticker. "Best line leader all week," he said. Mei sat up a little taller.

The question

Choose the best answer.

The story ends with "Mei sat up a little taller." What does this show?

  • Mei felt proud of herself.Correct answer
  • Mei wanted to see over the table.
  • Mei was getting ready to stand up.
  • Mei did not like the sticker.

Why “Mei felt proud of herself.” is correct

This question asks what an action tells the reader about a feeling, which is the hardest kind of question on a literary passage at this grade. Sitting up taller right after being praised shows pride, not a change in height. Ask your child what just happened to Mei and how they would feel if a teacher said that to them.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • Mei wanted to see over the table. — The story does not say anything about a table. The words show a feeling, not a need to see.
  • Mei was getting ready to stand up. — Mei is sitting down to lunch. Nothing in the story says she is about to get up.
  • Mei did not like the sticker. — Mei sits up taller right after getting the sticker, which shows she is pleased with it.

Practice more of this

More reading practice for Grade 2, or see the ELPAC practice test for grade 2. 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.