How does Kai feel at the end of the story?
Listen to a Story · ELPAC Grades 3–5 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
A multiple-turn conversation or narrative, followed by three questions.
Listen to the story. Then answer the questions.
The Friday Job
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Show transcript
Every Friday, Kai carried the class fish tank to the sink to change the water. He liked the job because he was the only one who never spilled.
One Friday, the hallway floor was wet, and Kai felt his shoe slide. He gripped the tank hard and stopped himself against the wall.
Water splashed over his sleeve, but not one drop landed on the floor, and the fish stayed in the tank.
Kai stood still until his heart stopped pounding, then laughed at his soaked sleeve. He decided he would ask for a partner next Friday.
The question
Choose the best answer.
How does Kai feel at the end of the story?
- Angry at whoever left the hallway floor wet
- Embarrassed because his classmates saw him slip
- Worried that he will lose his Friday job
- Relieved that he saved the tank and the fishCorrect answer
Why “Relieved that he saved the tank and the fish” is correct
The story never names a feeling, so this question tests inference from behavior — the skill of reading a character through what they do. "Kai stood still until his heart stopped pounding, then laughed at his soaked sleeve" gives both halves: fear during the slip, and release once nothing was lost. Laughing at the damage he did take is the clearest signal that the feeling is relief.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Angry at whoever left the hallway floor wet — The wet floor causes the slip, but the story never shows Kai blaming anyone for it.
- Embarrassed because his classmates saw him slip — No classmates are mentioned in the hallway, and laughing at his own sleeve is not embarrassment.
- Worried that he will lose his Friday job — He plans to keep doing the job next Friday; he only wants a partner with him.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 3–5, or see the ELPAC practice test for grades 3–5. 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.