- Based on both signs, what should Marcus do?
Answer: Marcus should get out of the elevator and use the stairs because there is a fire alarm.
When you see a question like this, ask yourself: what do the signs actually say, and does the current situation match any of the warnings? This question tests your ability to read and apply two written instructions at the same time.
The second sign is the key here. It clearly states "IN CASE OF FIRE, DO NOT USE ELEVATOR — USE STAIRS." Marcus hears a fire alarm, which means there is a fire emergency. The sign gives him a direct instruction for exactly this situation: get out and use the stairs. That makes D the correct answer — it follows the fire safety sign precisely.
Choice A is wrong because it only considers the capacity sign and completely ignores the fire alarm. Even if there is room for one more person, using the elevator during a fire is dangerous and goes against the posted warning. Choice B makes the same mistake — it focuses on waiting to ride the elevator alone, which still means using the elevator during a fire emergency. Both A and B treat the fire alarm as if it doesn't matter. Choice C might sound reasonable in other emergencies, but pressing the emergency button and waiting inside the elevator during a fire is actually dangerous. The sign tells you to leave, not to stay and wait.
A good study tip: when a passage contains more than one sign or rule, always check which one applies to the current situation. Here, the fire alarm activates the second sign, making it the one that controls Marcus's decision. The capacity sign becomes irrelevant the moment the fire alarm sounds.
- What does this sign mean for Maria?
Answer: Maria must be wearing a shirt and shoes or the restaurant will not help her.
When you see a public sign in English, your job is to figure out the rule it is stating — what people must do or cannot do. The sign "NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE" is a very common sign in American restaurants and stores. It is a conditional rule: if you are not wearing a shirt and shoes, then the business will not serve you.
This makes B the correct answer. The sign means Maria must have a shirt and shoes on her body, or the restaurant will refuse to help her. Since Maria is just walking in, she simply needs to be dressed appropriately to receive service.
A is incorrect because "no service" in this sign does not mean the restaurant is closed or broken. It means the staff will not serve you — it is a warning directed at customers, not a business announcement. C is incorrect because the sign says nothing about restrooms. You should not add information that is not there. D is a trap because it focuses on the word "shoes," but the sign does not ask Maria to show her shoes — it asks her to wear them. Reading too literally or imagining steps that are not stated can lead you to wrong answers.
A helpful strategy: when reading signs or short notices, ask yourself, "What rule is this setting?" Look for the condition (no shirt, no shoes) and the consequence (no service). This pattern — if you don't have X, you won't get Y — appears often on reading comprehension questions.
- Dmitri needs to make an important phone call. Based on both signs, what is the best thing for Dmitri to do?
Answer: Dmitri should step outside the library to make his phone call, since cell phones are not allowed in the study room.
When reading signs in English, it's important to read each sign carefully and understand exactly what it says — not more, not less. Signs give specific rules for specific places, and your job is to combine that information to make the best decision.
Here, the library is open (you can enter), but the study room has a rule: no cell phones. The sign does not say cell phones are forbidden everywhere in the library — only in that one area. So the smart solution is to make your call somewhere the rule doesn't apply. Stepping outside the library solves the problem completely: Dmitri follows the rule and still makes his call. That makes A the correct answer.
B is wrong because it directly breaks the posted rule. The sign says "no cell phones" in the study room — whispering doesn't change that. C is a common reading trap: it exaggerates the sign's meaning. The sign only restricts the study room, not the whole building. Never assume a rule applies everywhere unless the sign says so. D is also wrong for the same reason as B — silent mode doesn't make a phone call acceptable in a no-cell-phone zone. It's still a phone call in a restricted area.
Study tip: On reading comprehension questions, watch for answer choices that either ignore a rule or exaggerate it. The best answer always respects every sign or rule mentioned, without adding restrictions that aren't there.
- What must Jin do at this sign, even though no other cars are present?
Answer: Jin must come to a complete stop, check that it is safe, and then continue driving.
When you see a question about traffic signs, think about what the sign requires — not just what seems practical in the moment. Traffic rules exist for safety, and they apply even when conditions look clear.
A stop sign — red, eight-sided, with the word "STOP" — carries a strict legal requirement: you must bring your vehicle to a complete stop, check that the intersection is safe, and then proceed. This is true regardless of whether other cars are present. Jin sees this sign, so Jin must stop completely. That makes B the correct answer.
Here is why the other choices miss the mark. A is tempting because it sounds reasonable — slowing down and looking both ways does seem safe — but a stop sign does not allow you to skip the full stop just because traffic looks clear. "Slowing down" is not the same as stopping. C adds a rule that does not exist: there is no required waiting time of 30 seconds at a stop sign. You stop, check for safety, and go — you do not count seconds. D suggests the sign only applies when someone else is already there, but that is not how stop signs work. The sign creates an obligation for you, not a reaction to others.
A good study tip: when a question mentions a specific road sign, focus on what that sign always requires — not what seems logical for that particular moment. Stop signs mean full stop, every time, no exceptions based on traffic conditions.
- Sofia's friend wants to fish in the pond. What does the sign say her friend must do?
Answer: Her friend must have a permit in order to fish in the pond legally.
When you read a public sign in English, your job is to find exactly what the sign permits, what it prohibits, and whether any conditions apply. This question tests whether you can pull those details directly from the sign's words.
The sign says two things: "NO SWIMMING" and "FISHING ALLOWED WITH PERMIT." The phrase "with permit" is a condition — it means fishing is only allowed if you have a permit. So Sofia's friend can fish, but she must have a permit first. That makes C the correct answer.
Here's why the other choices miss the mark. A says all water activities are prohibited, but the sign specifically allows fishing — it just requires a permit. Reading carefully shows the sign does not ban everything. B invents a rule that was never stated. The sign says nothing about life jackets — this is a classic trap where a test-taker adds information that sounds reasonable but isn't in the text. Always stick to what the sign actually says. D is the trickiest distractor. It's true that the sign only restricts swimming, but it's wrong to say fishing is "free." The word "with permit" is a clear requirement. Ignoring that small phrase leads to the wrong answer.
A useful strategy: on reading questions, underline or mentally highlight any words that show conditions — words like only if, must, with, unless, and required. These small words carry big meaning and are often the key to the correct answer.
- Which of the following best describes what Lena should do based on the sign?
Answer: Lena should walk to the right to find the way out of the shopping mall.
When you see a sign in English, your job is to read the words and follow any visual clues — like arrows — together. Signs are designed to give you clear, simple instructions. This question tests whether you can combine both pieces of information: the word "EXIT" (meaning the way out) and the arrow pointing right (meaning the direction to go).
Choice C is correct because Lena should walk to the right. The sign tells her two things at once — there is an exit, and it is in that direction. Following both the word and the arrow together leads her to the way out. That is exactly how public signs are meant to work.
Choice A is wrong because it ignores the sign completely. The sign — not guesses about where she entered — tells Lena which way to go. Never assume the opposite direction is correct when a sign is giving you clear guidance.
Choice B is wrong because Lena does not need to ask anyone. The sign already gives her the information she needs. Asking an employee would waste time and shows a misunderstanding of how signs work.
Choice D is wrong because one clear sign with an arrow is enough to follow. Lena does not need a second sign to confirm — waiting for more signs when the first one is clear is unnecessary.
Study tip: On reading questions like this, always identify all the information in what you read — words and symbols together. Signs, labels, and notices often combine both to give you a complete message.
- Ana is a patient visiting her doctor. What does this sign most likely mean for Ana?
Answer: Ana should not enter this room because it is for hospital staff and workers only.
When you see a sign in a public place, ask yourself: Who is this message for, and what is it telling them to do? Signs like AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY are common in hospitals, schools, and workplaces, and understanding them is an important real-life reading skill.
The word authorized means officially allowed or approved. Personnel means staff or workers. Put them together, and the sign is saying: "Only approved workers may enter." Since Ana is a patient — not a hospital employee — she is not authorized. This means B is correct: Ana should not enter the room because it is restricted to hospital staff.
Here is why the other choices are wrong. A sounds reasonable, but the sign says nothing about entering with a nurse or doctor — it simply blocks entry for non-staff entirely. C introduces the idea of checking in at a front desk and showing ID, but the sign makes no mention of any process for patients to gain entry — this detail is completely invented. D describes waiting for someone to open the door from the inside, which might apply to a locked door, but the sign is about who can enter, not how the door opens.
A useful tip: when a question asks what a sign "most likely means," focus on the plain meaning of the words, not on exceptions or extra steps the sign never mentions. If a sign limits entry to a specific group and you are not in that group, the answer is almost always "do not enter."
- What should Tomas do based on what the sign says?
Answer: Tomas should find a different checkout lane that is not the express lane.
When you see a question like this, ask yourself: What does the sign say, and does this person meet that requirement? Signs in stores are rules, not suggestions. Reading them carefully — and literally — is the key skill being tested here.
The express lane sign says 15 items or fewer. Tomas has 16 items, which means he has one item too many to use that lane. The sign does not say "approximately 15" or "around 15." It gives an exact limit. Because Tomas does not meet the requirement, the correct move is to find a regular checkout lane. That makes C the right answer.
A is wrong because "close to the limit" is not the same as "meeting the limit." 16 is more than 15, no matter how small the difference seems. Signs mean exactly what they say. B might seem logical at first — if Tomas puts one item back, he would have exactly 15 items and could use the express lane. However, the question asks what he should do based on what the sign says. The sign does not tell him to remove items; it tells him the lane's limit. Putting an item back is an action the sign never mentions. D is wrong because the cashier does not need to recount — Tomas already knows he has 16 items, which clearly exceeds 15.
Study tip: On reading comprehension questions, always go back to the exact words in the passage. Do not add information or assume extra steps the text never mentions.
- Based on the sign, what is true about Pedro's situation right now?
Answer: Pedro can enter now, but the laundromat will close in 15 minutes, so he has very little time.
When you see a question about business hours signs, your job is to carefully match the information given — the current day, current time, and the posted hours — to figure out what is true right now.
Here, the sign tells you the laundromat is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Today is Saturday, and Pedro arrives at 8:45 PM. Saturday is included in the open days, and 8:45 PM is before 9:00 PM, so the laundromat is still open. The difference between 8:45 PM and 9:00 PM is only 15 minutes, meaning Pedro can enter, but he has very little time. That makes A the correct answer.
B is incorrect because it invents a rule that doesn't exist — the sign never says Saturday closes at 8:00 PM. The closing time is 9:00 PM every day Monday through Saturday. C is a trap: it's true that closing time is near, but telling Pedro to return Sunday is wrong because the sign clearly says the laundromat is closed on Sundays. Coming back Sunday would mean no service at all. D is incorrect because it miscalculates the closing time — the laundromat closes at 9:00 PM, not 9:45 PM, so Pedro does not have a full hour.
A helpful strategy: when reading signs or schedules, always check three things — the day, the current time, and the closing time. Then do the simple math to see how much time remains. Don't add information the sign doesn't say.
- What does the sign tell Keiko about her situation?
Answer: Keiko cannot pay for anything yet, but she only needs to wait about 10 minutes for the register to open.
When reading signs in English, pay close attention to exactly what the sign describes — not the whole situation around it. This question tests whether you can read a specific message closely and match it to real-world meaning without adding extra assumptions.
The sign says "CLOSED — REGISTER OPENS AT 7:00 AM," and the clock shows 6:50 AM. The word "register" refers to the cash register — the machine used to accept payment. This means Keiko is already inside the shop (she walked in and saw the sign), but she simply cannot pay for anything until 7:00 AM. The difference between 6:50 and 7:00 is exactly 10 minutes. Answer D captures this perfectly: she cannot pay yet, but the wait is only about 10 minutes.
Answer A goes too far. The sign does not say Keiko must leave and return another day — that implies the shop is closed all day, which the sign never says. Answer B makes an error in the opposite direction — it says she can order right now, but the register is still closed. She must wait, not order immediately. Answer C misreads the sign entirely. Since Keiko is already inside the building, she clearly does not need to wait outside before entering. The sign says nothing about who can enter.
A helpful strategy: when a sign uses a specific word like "register," don't swap it for a general word like "shop." The sign tells you one specific thing is closed, not everything. Always match your answer to exactly what the text says — no more, no less.
