Why is this conference different from the other translating Lan has done?
Read a Literary Passage · ELPAC Grades 6–8 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
A short story or scene, with questions about characters, events and what words mean in context.
Read the passage. Then answer the questions.
Words in Between
Since the fourth grade, Lan had been her family's translator. She explained letters from the gas company, argued with the automated phone menu at the bank, and once spent a whole Saturday helping her father fill out a form for a fishing license. She was good at it. Most of the time she did not even notice she was doing it.
The parent-teacher conference was different, because this time the conversation was about her. Ms. Delgado slid a progress report across the table and explained, pleasantly, that Lan's science grade had slipped because three lab reports were missing.
Her father looked at Lan, waiting. Lan looked at the progress report. "She says I am doing well in science," Lan told him in Vietnamese, "but I need to turn in a few things."
It was not a lie, exactly. It was a translation with the sharp corners sanded off. Her father nodded and smiled at Ms. Delgado, and Ms. Delgado smiled back, and for a moment everyone at the table seemed perfectly satisfied except Lan.
Walking to the car afterward, she felt the missing reports in her chest like three stones. At the curb, she stopped. "Ba," she said, "I left something out." This time she translated every word, including the ones she wished were different. Her father listened without interrupting. Then he unlocked the car and said, "Tonight we will sit at the kitchen table, and you will show me the first one."
The question
Choose the best answer.
Why is this conference different from the other translating Lan has done?
- It is the first time she has had to translate into Vietnamese.
- Ms. Delgado speaks too quickly for Lan to follow.
- Her father has asked her not to translate for him anymore.
- This time the conversation is about her own schoolwork.Correct answer
Why “This time the conversation is about her own schoolwork.” is correct
The author states the reason directly: "The parent-teacher conference was different, because this time the conversation was about her." The question tests whether a student can connect that sentence to the rest of the story, since it explains why Lan, who is "good at it", is tempted to change the message this time.
Why the other answers are wrong
- It is the first time she has had to translate into Vietnamese. — She has translated for her family since fourth grade, including letters and phone calls.
- Ms. Delgado speaks too quickly for Lan to follow. — Ms. Delgado speaks "pleasantly", and Lan clearly understands what she said.
- Her father has asked her not to translate for him anymore. — Her father looks to Lan to translate and listens to her at the end.
Practice more of this
More reading 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.