- Ana attended Westside Adult School last semester and registered for a spring class on January 9. She paid her fee but has not received a confirmation email after two days. What should she do now?
Answer: Call the school office because she has not received her confirmation email within 24 hours, as the notice requires.
When reading a notice or set of instructions, your job is to match each step to the right person and situation. Ask yourself: "Which rules apply to this person, and what do those rules say to do?"
Ana attended last semester, so she does not need a placement test — that rule is only for new students. She registered on January 9 (before the January 10 deadline) and paid her fee, so her registration process was correct. The one problem is that she hasn't received a confirmation email after two days — well past the 24-hour window. The notice is clear: if you don't receive a confirmation within 24 hours, call the office. That makes A the right answer. It follows the notice's instructions exactly for her situation.
B is wrong for two reasons: Ana doesn't need a placement test because she attended last semester, and the notice says to call the office, not visit in person. Don't add steps the notice never mentions.
C is tempting, but the notice never says to re-register if you don't get a confirmation — it says to call the office. Re-registering could also cause her to be charged twice.
D is wrong because the 24-hour rule has already been triggered. Waiting longer ignores a clear deadline the notice sets, and the registration deadline (January 10) is a separate issue from the confirmation problem.
A useful strategy: in notices with multiple rules, underline who each rule applies to. Mixing up rules for "new students" vs. "returning students" is a common trap on this type of question.
- David takes daily blood pressure medication and has lab tests at 7:30 a.m. on Friday. He wonders whether to take his medication that morning. According to the email, what should he do, and by what time must he stop eating?
Answer: He should take his medication with a small amount of water unless his doctor said otherwise, and stop eating by 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
When reading medical instructions, you need to do two things: find the exact rule stated in the text, and apply any math carefully. This question tests both skills.
The email gives two key pieces of information: (1) take daily medication with a small amount of water unless your doctor said to stop, and (2) fast — avoid food and drink except water — for 8 hours before the 7:30 a.m. appointment. To find when David must stop eating, count 8 hours backward from 7:30 a.m.: 7:30 a.m. minus 8 hours = 11:30 p.m. the night before (Thursday). That makes C correct — David takes his medication with a small amount of water, and he stops eating by 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
A is wrong for one reason and right for another. The stop-eating time (11:30 p.m.) is correct, but the email says to continue taking daily medication — not skip it. B gets the medication part partially right (take it), but says "a full glass of water," which contradicts the email's instruction of a small amount. The stop-eating time of 12:30 a.m. is also incorrect math — that's only about 7 hours before 7:30 a.m. D says to skip medication until after tests, which contradicts the email, and also uses the wrong time (12:30 a.m.).
A useful strategy: always underline or circle exact words in instructions — words like "small," "unless," and "except" change the meaning significantly. On reading comprehension questions, the correct answer will match the text precisely, not approximately.
- James decides to renew his license in person. Which combination of items does he need to bring?
Answer: His current license, a utility bill or similar proof of address, and cash or a money order for payment.
When a passage gives you two different options with different requirements, your job is to match the correct requirements to the correct option — and not mix them up. Here, the voicemail describes two separate renewal paths, each with its own list of needed items.
Since James is renewing in person, you should focus only on what the message says about Option 2: bring your current license, proof of address (like a utility bill), and payment in cash or by money order. That points directly to D, which lists exactly those three things accurately and completely.
Here's why the other choices fail: A describes the online renewal option — a license number and a credit or debit card are what you need for the website, not for the office. If you accidentally read both options together without separating them, A is an easy trap to fall into. B correctly identifies the license and proof of address, but then makes up a rule — it claims cash is "not accepted," which is the opposite of what the message says. The voicemail specifically states cash is an accepted payment method in person. C drops proof of address entirely, which contradicts the message directly. The passage even highlights that proof of address is not required online — implying it is required in person. C also keeps the credit card, which belongs to the online option, not the in-person one.
A good strategy for detail-reading questions: when a passage lists two options or scenarios, mentally draw a line between them. Train yourself to pull information only from the relevant section before choosing your answer.
- According to the message, what must employees do when they first arrive at work tomorrow?
Answer: Stop at the front desk to pick up the safety agreement, then go to the 3rd floor and sign it before the 9 a.m. meeting begins.
When a question asks what employees must do "when they first arrive," pay close attention to the sequence of steps in the message. Your job is to match the order of events to the answer choices — details like where something happens and when matter a lot.
Reading carefully, the message says employees should "pick up your copy from the front desk when you arrive" — meaning the first stop is the front desk, not the 3rd floor. After picking up the safety agreement, they need to sign it before the 9 a.m. meeting, which means signing happens before the meeting begins. That matches D perfectly: stop at the front desk first, then head to the 3rd floor, and sign the agreement before 9 a.m.
Here's why the other choices miss the mark. A says employees should go directly to Conference Room B first — but the message clearly says to stop at the front desk on arrival. It also mentions showing the badge to the "HR manager," which the message never says. B gets two things wrong: it says to arrive at 9 a.m. (the message says 8:50), and it says the agreement is signed during the meeting, not before. C is completely unsupported — the message never mentions emailing a signed copy the night before. That detail is invented.
A helpful strategy: when a passage describes a multi-step process, underline each action word (pick up, sign, arrive, bring) and note the order. Wrong answers often scramble the steps or add information that was never in the text.
- Rosa wants to sign up for the free English class. She arrives at 1:45 p.m. on September 6 with her photo ID and a completed registration form, but she forgot her proof of income. What is most likely to happen?
Answer: Rosa may not be registered because she is missing her proof of income, which is required to show she qualifies for the free class.
When a flyer lists requirements with checkmarks, every item on that list is a condition — not a suggestion. Questions like this test whether you can identify what happens when someone meets some but not all of the stated requirements.
Looking at the flyer, Rosa needs four things: to arrive between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., proof of income, a completed registration form, and a photo ID. Rosa has three of the four — she's missing her proof of income. The flyer is clear that this document shows she "qualifies for free classes," meaning it's a eligibility requirement, not optional paperwork. Without it, the registration staff has no way to confirm she qualifies. Answer C is correct because it accurately identifies the missing document as the likely reason she won't be registered.
Answer A is a trap — it invents an option (emailing documents later) that the flyer never mentions. You should only use information given in the passage. Answer B is wrong because 1:45 p.m. is still within the 10 a.m.–2 p.m. window, so her arrival time is not the problem. The flyer says nothing about being turned away for arriving "too close" to closing. Answer D misreads the purpose of the income requirement — the proof of income determines eligibility for the free program, not whether someone pays. Free doesn't mean no requirements.
Study tip: On flyer or notice questions, underline every requirement word like must, bring, and required. If a character is missing even one item, assume it matters — test writers often make distractors that minimize or invent exceptions to those rules.
- Tom and Lisa are moving into Parkview Apartments together. Lisa cannot come until noon on move-in day. What is the most likely result, and what should they bring?
Answer: They will not receive their keys unless both adults arrive together during the 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. window; they must also bring a certified check or money order for the deposit.
When a document gives you a list of rules, your job is to check every rule against the situation — not just one. Here, the instructions give two key requirements: both adults must be present during the 9–11 a.m. window, and payment must be a certified check or money order.
Since Lisa cannot arrive until noon — after the office window closes — neither Tom nor Lisa can pick up the keys that day unless both are present before 11 a.m. That makes B correct. It accurately captures both problems: the timing issue (both must arrive within the 9–11 a.m. window) and the payment requirement (certified check or money order only).
A is tempting because Tom could arrive at 10 a.m., but the instructions clearly state keys will not be released if only one adult arrives. Lisa signing later is not offered as an option anywhere in the passage — don't add information that isn't there.
C contains two errors. First, one person cannot sign for both — the lease says both adults must sign. Second, personal checks are explicitly not accepted, so bringing one would not work regardless.
D sounds creative, but the passage never mentions verbal agreement as an option. When answering reading comprehension questions, stick strictly to what the text says — don't imagine solutions the passage doesn't support.
A useful strategy: on questions with multi-step rules, create a quick mental checklist. Ask yourself, "Does this answer satisfy all the conditions?" If even one condition is violated, eliminate that choice.
- According to the message, which action must applicants take BEFORE they arrive at class?
Answer: Pay the registration fee online and print the confirmation email they receive afterward.
When a reading question asks what you "must do before" something happens, your job is to find specific steps listed in the passage — not add information that isn't there. Scan for action words and pay attention to the order they appear.
The passage clearly states two things you must do before arriving: first, pay the $25 registration fee on the city website, and second, print the confirmation email you receive after paying. Both of these happen at home, before you ever walk into class. That makes B the correct answer — it matches the passage exactly.
A is a trap because it mixes real details with false ones. You do need to bring your Social Security card, but the passage says nothing about printing it from a website or arriving before 9 a.m. When an answer uses words from the passage but changes the meaning, read carefully.
C is wrong because it reverses the order of events. Arriving 15 minutes early is something you do when you get to class, not before. Also, the confirmation email comes from paying online — you don't receive it at the front desk.
D is incorrect because calling the Training Office is never mentioned anywhere in the passage. This is a common distractor type: it sounds like a reasonable thing to do, but it has no support in the text.
A useful strategy: on "according to the passage" questions, only choose answers that are directly stated. If you can't point to the exact sentence in the passage, the answer is likely wrong — no matter how reasonable it sounds.
- Maria is a new patient at Riverside Health Clinic. Which of the following correctly describes ALL the things she must do on the day of her appointment?
Answer: Arrive at 1:40 p.m., bring her insurance card, photo ID, and completed health history forms, and pay her copay before seeing the doctor.
When a notice or announcement lists requirements for different groups of people, your job is to collect all the rules that apply to the specific person in the question — not just some of them. Maria is a new patient, so she must follow both the general rules (for all patients) and the extra rules (for new patients only).
Looking at the notice, all patients must: arrive 20 minutes early (20 minutes before 2:00 p.m. = 1:40 p.m.), bring an insurance card and photo ID, and pay their copay before seeing the doctor. New patients must also bring completed health history forms. That gives us four requirements for Maria — and B is the only choice that includes all four correctly.
Here's where the other options go wrong. A says Maria arrives at 2:00 p.m., but the notice clearly requires arriving 20 minutes before the appointment. C gets the arrival time right (1:40 p.m.) but says Maria should download the forms at the clinic — the notice says forms must be downloaded from the website ahead of time, meaning she must bring them already completed. D also has the right arrival time but makes two mistakes: it says she brings only her health history forms and insurance card (missing the photo ID), and it says she pays after seeing the doctor, which directly contradicts the notice.
A useful strategy: when a passage has bullet points for different groups, underline or mentally flag which rules apply to your specific person. Then check each answer choice against your complete list — any choice missing even one requirement is wrong.
- Sandra's bus pass expired 35 days ago. She wants to renew it today, a Saturday. What must she do to successfully renew her pass?
Answer: Go to the Transit Office on a weekday, bring her expired pass and a government ID, pay $45 by cash or debit card, and fill out a new application form at the office.
When a question gives you a notice or set of rules, your job is to match every detail of the situation to every requirement in the text. With Sandra's case, you need to track two special conditions: her pass has been expired for more than 30 days, and she wants to go on a Saturday.
The notice tells you four things: visit the office on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., bring your current pass and a government ID, pay $45 by cash or debit card only, and — if expired more than 30 days — fill out a new application form. Sandra's pass expired 35 days ago, which is more than 30 days, so that extra step applies to her. Choice A captures all of this correctly and is the right answer.
Choice B is wrong in two ways: the notice clearly states you may not renew online or by phone, and credit cards are not accepted — so this option breaks two rules at once. Choice C is close but missing one critical detail — it leaves out the new application form that Sandra must fill out because her pass has been expired for more than 30 days. Leaving out even one required step means the renewal won't be successful. Choice D sounds complete, but it says Sandra should go today, on Saturday — the office is only open Monday through Friday, so she cannot go on a Saturday.
A good strategy here: when a notice lists rules, underline the word "must," "not," and any numbers or conditions. These signal the details that test-makers will use to create tricky wrong answers.
- Carlos was accepted to Lincoln Community College and needs financial aid. By what date must he submit the FAFSA, and where must he pay his tuition?
Answer: He must submit the FAFSA by July 15 and pay his tuition online through the student portal.
When a passage gives you multiple instructions for different situations, your job is to match the right rule to the right person. Carlos has two specific needs: he requires financial aid, and he needs to pay tuition. You must find the rule for each one separately.
Looking at the passage, Step 4 says students who need financial aid must submit the FAFSA before July 15. That applies directly to Carlos. Step 1 says tuition payments must be made online through the student portal — no exceptions are mentioned. That gives you both pieces of information: July 15 for the FAFSA, and the student portal for tuition payment. This matches answer B, which is correct.
Answer A is wrong in two ways: it gives the wrong FAFSA deadline (August 1 is the tuition deadline, not the FAFSA deadline) and incorrectly says tuition is paid at the Admissions Office in person. The passage clearly states payments are made online.
Answer C gets the FAFSA date right (July 15), but then invents a requirement — the passage never says anything about bringing a FAFSA confirmation to the Admissions Office. Be careful with answer choices that add information the passage never mentions.
Answer D gets the tuition location right (online portal), but uses the wrong FAFSA deadline. Confusing July 15 and August 1 is a common trap because both dates appear in the same passage.
A useful strategy: when a question asks about two separate details, confirm each one individually before choosing your answer. Don't let getting one part right distract you from checking the other.
