Why does Kayla say the school should put phones in lockers during class?
Listen to a Speaker Support an Opinion · ELPAC Grades 6–8 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
An extended conversation in which one classmate argues for an opinion, followed by four questions.
Listen to the conversation between Luis and Kayla. Then answer the questions.
Phones in the Lockers
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Luis: Kayla, did you see the notice about the phone lockers? Every phone goes in a locker from the first bell until lunch.
Kayla: I saw it, and I think the school should do it.
Luis: You? You are on your phone more than anybody.
Kayla: That is why I believe it. Mr. Ellis put our phones in a box for two weeks, just in his class. I finished the reading during class every single day. I had not done that all year.
Luis: One class for two weeks is not proof of anything.
Kayla: By itself, no. But he asked us afterward, and almost two thirds of the class said they got more done. That is worth something.
Luis: What if my mom needs to reach me during third period?
Kayla: That part is fair, and the school has not answered it. The office can pass a message along, but it is slower, and somebody should say so before the rule starts.
Luis: So you want the rule, and you want that fixed.
Kayla: Both. I would rather argue for a good version of the rule than pretend I get more done with my phone in my pocket.
The question
Choose the best answer.
Why does Kayla say the school should put phones in lockers during class?
- She finished her class reading every day while one teacher kept the phones in a box.Correct answer
- She thinks students spend too much money on new phones.
- She wants the school office to handle messages from families.
- She agrees with the rule because Mr. Ellis asked the class to support it.
Why “She finished her class reading every day while one teacher kept the phones in a box.” is correct
This asks for the speaker's reason rather than her position, and the reason is personal evidence: during a two-week trial in one class, she finished the reading every day. The surprise in the conversation, that the heaviest phone user is the one arguing for the rule, is what makes the reason worth hearing. Students who stop at 'she supports it' have the opinion but not the support.
Why the other answers are wrong
- She thinks students spend too much money on new phones. — Money never comes up; her point is about how much work she finished, not what phones cost.
- She wants the school office to handle messages from families. — The office passing messages is the weakness she raises later, not her reason for supporting the rule.
- She agrees with the rule because Mr. Ellis asked the class to support it. — Mr. Ellis ran the trial and asked the class about it afterward; he never asks anyone to back the rule.
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.