What does Ms. Villanueva say is wrong with two of Theo's paragraphs?
Listen to a Classroom Conversation · ELPAC Grades 6–8 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
A multiple-turn conversation between two speakers, followed by three questions.
Listen to the conversation between Ms. Villanueva and Theo. Then answer the questions.
Quotations in a Research Draft
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Show transcript
Ms. Villanueva: Theo, your draft on the Owens Valley aqueduct has strong sources, but two of your paragraphs are just quotations stitched together.
Theo: I thought using the sources was the point.
Ms. Villanueva: Using them is the point. Quoting them is not the same thing. A quotation shows what somebody else said. Your own sentence has to say why it matters.
Theo: So should I cut the quotations?
Ms. Villanueva: Keep the two strongest ones. After each one, add a sentence in your own words that connects it to your claim about the farmers. Bring me that revised page on Thursday, before you touch the rest of the essay.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does Ms. Villanueva say is wrong with two of Theo's paragraphs?
- They rely on sources that are not reliable.
- They are made up almost entirely of quotations.Correct answer
- They are much shorter than the rest of the draft.
- They never mention the farmers.
Why “They are made up almost entirely of quotations.” is correct
This is a stated-detail question, and as in most classroom conversations the detail arrives in the opening sentence: two paragraphs are 'just quotations stitched together'. The sentence also contains a compliment about his sources, so students have to separate the praise from the criticism inside a single sentence. Listening for the word 'but' is the practical strategy.
Why the other answers are wrong
- They rely on sources that are not reliable. — She calls his sources strong; the problem is how he uses them, not which ones he chose.
- They are much shorter than the rest of the draft. — Length is never mentioned. The paragraphs are full, just full of other people's words.
- They never mention the farmers. — The farmers come up later, when she tells him to connect each quotation to his claim about them.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 6–8, or see the ELPAC practice test for grades 6–8. 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.