What does Mr. Salazar tell Dana to do with her hypothesis?
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 Dana and Mr. Salazar. Then answer the questions.
When the Hypothesis Is Wrong
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Dana: Mr. Salazar, our plant experiment didn't work. We thought the plants under the blue light would grow the tallest, but the ones under the white light did.
Mr. Salazar: That doesn't mean it didn't work. It means your hypothesis wasn't supported. That's a result, and it's worth reporting.
Dana: But won't I lose points for being wrong?
Mr. Salazar: Not for being wrong. You lose points if your conclusion ignores your data. Scientists are wrong all the time. The useful ones explain what they found.
Dana: So should I change my hypothesis so it matches what happened?
Mr. Salazar: No. Leave it exactly the way you wrote it. In your conclusion, say what you predicted, what actually happened, and one reason the results might have turned out that way. Then suggest what you would test next.
Dana: Like checking whether the white lamp was brighter than the blue one?
Mr. Salazar: That's exactly the kind of thing I mean.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does Mr. Salazar tell Dana to do with her hypothesis?
- Change it so it matches her results
- Remove it from her lab report
- Leave it as she wrote it and explain her results in the conclusionCorrect answer
- Replace it with a question about the white lamp's brightness
Why “Leave it as she wrote it and explain her results in the conclusion” is correct
This tests an instruction that rejects the student's own suggestion. Dana asks whether she should change her hypothesis, and Mr. Salazar answers, "No. Leave it exactly the way you wrote it," then lists what the conclusion must include. The brightness of the lamp is an idea for the next test, not a replacement for the hypothesis.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Change it so it matches her results — This is what Dana suggests, and Mr. Salazar says no.
- Remove it from her lab report — He tells her to keep the hypothesis exactly as written, not to remove it.
- Replace it with a question about the white lamp's brightness — Checking the lamp is the kind of next test he wants her to suggest, not a change to the hypothesis she already wrote.
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.