ELPAC Practice

According to the notice, what happens if a student keeps a book past the day it is due?

Read a Short Informational Passage · ELPAC Grades 3–5 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.

Library Notice

Starting October 6, the school library will open at 8:15 each morning. Please return books to the blue cart inside the door, not to the front desk. Late books do not cost any money, but you may borrow only one book at a time until the late book comes back. Ms. Tran is in the library every lunch period to help with research.

The question

Choose the best answer.

According to the notice, what happens if a student keeps a book past the day it is due?

  • The student must pay money.
  • The student may not use the library.
  • The student must see Ms. Tran at lunch.
  • The student can borrow only one book until the late book comes back.Correct answer

Why “The student can borrow only one book until the late book comes back.” is correct

This question turns on reading a sentence that contains a contrast. The notice says late books cost no money, 'but' the borrower is limited to one book at a time until the late one is returned. The word 'but' is the signal that a rule still applies, and students who stop reading at the first half of the sentence get this wrong.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • The student must pay money. — Fines are common at public libraries, so this is a reasonable guess, but this notice says late books cost no money.
  • The student may not use the library. — Nothing in the notice bars a student from using the library.
  • The student must see Ms. Tran at lunch. — Ms. Tran's lunch period is for research help and has nothing to do with late books.

Practice more of this

More reading 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.