- According to this school notice, which of the following is TRUE about the English class on March 14?
Answer: The class will start later than usual but will end at the regular time.
When reading a school notice or announcement, your job is to find specific facts stated in the text — not guess or assume. Pay close attention to what the notice says and what it does not say.
The notice clearly states two things: the class will start one hour later (at 10:00 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m.), and it will end at its regular time. That makes B the correct answer — it matches both facts exactly as written.
Now let's look at why the other choices are wrong. A says the class will be one hour shorter. This is a trap for students who assume that starting late automatically means the class ends at the same time as usual and is shorter. But the notice specifically says the class ends at its regular time, meaning the total length changes — but the class is not described as shorter. Actually, re-reading carefully, if it starts an hour late but ends at the regular time, it would be shorter — but choice A says this is because it "starts late," which misrepresents the notice's explanation. More importantly, the notice never describes the class as "shorter." C is completely wrong — the class is not canceled; only the start time changes. D gets it backwards — the class starts later, not at the regular time, and there is no mention of ending later.
A good strategy: when a notice question asks what is "true," go back and find the exact sentence in the passage that supports your answer. If you can't point to the words, don't choose it.
- According to the email, which detail about the cooking class has changed?
Answer: The location of the class has changed from the Community Center Kitchen to the Park Pavilion.
When reading emails or announcements, focus on what the passage explicitly says has changed versus what has stayed the same. The email even uses helpful signal words — "NEW LOCATION" and "All other details remain the same" — to guide you directly to the answer.
The email clearly states the class "has been moved to a NEW LOCATION" — specifically from the Community Center Kitchen to the Maplewood Park Pavilion. That makes A correct. The passage is direct and easy to verify: one thing changed, and it was the location.
B is a trap because it mentions the date, Saturday, October 11. However, the email never says the date changed — it simply confirms the date as part of the details that stayed the same. C combines two false claims: the time (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) did not change, and the email says ingredients will be provided — participants only need to bring their own apron, not ingredients. D is the opposite of what the email says. The class is not canceled; it is still happening on Saturday, just at a different place.
A useful strategy for these reading comprehension questions: when you see contrast words like "instead of," "however," or "but," pay close attention — they signal what is different. Also, watch for phrases like "all other details remain the same," which tells you exactly what has not changed. Eliminating answer choices that contradict the passage is one of the fastest ways to find the right answer.
- A tenant reads this notice on Sunday evening. What should the tenant do FIRST, based on the notice's recommendation?
Answer: Fill containers with water now, before Monday morning, so water is available during the outage.
When reading a notice like this, focus on two things: what the notice recommends and when you need to act. The notice says to fill containers before Monday morning — and since the tenant is reading this on Sunday evening, that time is right now.
Choice C is correct because the notice specifically recommends filling containers before Monday morning to have water available during the outage. The tenant is reading the notice Sunday evening, which means they still have time to follow that recommendation. Acting now is exactly what the notice advises.
Choice A is a trap because the notice says to call only for "urgent concerns." Wanting general information about pipe repairs is not urgent — and calling doesn't help you have water ready. Choice B is the most dangerous distractor: if you wait until Monday at 8:00 a.m. to fill containers, it's too late — the water shuts off at 8:00 a.m., so you would have no water to fill anything. Read time details carefully! Choice D might seem practical, but leaving the apartment is never suggested in the notice. The recommendation is about preparing water, not about leaving.
A useful strategy for notices and announcements: always look for the action word and the time word together. Here, the action is "fill containers" and the time is "before Monday morning." When a question asks what to do "first" or "based on the recommendation," go back to the passage and find those exact words. Don't choose an answer that sounds logical if the passage doesn't actually say it.
- Carlos wants to join the English Conversation Circle. He plans to arrive at 6:20 p.m. Which of the following BEST describes what will happen when Carlos arrives?
Answer: Carlos will be admitted or turned away depending on whether the room has reached its 20-person limit.
When a reading question asks what "will happen" to someone, your job is to look carefully at the conditions stated in the passage — not just the general rules. This question is testing whether you can read conditional language precisely.
The passage says participants who arrive after 6:15 p.m. "may not be admitted if the room is full." That word if is critical — it creates a condition. Carlos arrives at 6:20 p.m., which is after 6:15, but the passage does not say he will automatically be turned away. It depends on whether all 20 spots are taken. This makes B the best answer: Carlos will either get in or be turned away based on the room's capacity at that moment.
A is a trap because it overstates the rule. The passage never says everyone must arrive before 6:15 — it only says late arrivals may be turned away if the room is full. There is no absolute arrival requirement.
C ignores important details. Yes, the program is free and open to all adults, but the passage also states space is limited and late arrivals may be denied entry. Choosing C means ignoring half the announcement.
D sounds reasonable, but the passage never mentions a waiting system or the option to replace departing participants. Do not add information that isn't there.
A useful strategy: when a passage uses conditional words like if, may, or depending on, the correct answer will usually reflect that uncertainty — not turn it into an absolute rule. Train yourself to underline these words as you read.
- Rosa receives this appointment reminder. She decides she cannot make the appointment and calls to cancel on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. What is MOST LIKELY to happen?
Answer: Rosa will be charged the $25 fee because her call is less than 24 hours before her 2:15 p.m. appointment.
When reading notices with rules about fees or deadlines, your job is to do the math carefully — don't just look for keywords like "24 hours" and assume the requirement is met.
The reminder says Rosa must cancel at least 24 hours before her 2:15 p.m. Wednesday appointment. That means she needed to call by 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the latest. Rosa calls Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. — the same day as the appointment, only about 5 hours before it begins. That is well under 24 hours, so the late cancellation fee of $25 most likely applies. B is correct.
Here's why the other choices miss the mark. A contains a common trap: it assumes that calling "on a different part of the same day" counts as 24 hours' notice. It doesn't — 24 hours means a full day before the appointment time, not just any call on the appointment day. C is completely off-topic; arriving early relates to completing paperwork before a visit, not to canceling an appointment over the phone. D invents a rule that isn't in the reminder at all — the passage says late cancellations may result in a fee, but it never says the fee only applies when someone skips the appointment without calling.
Study tip: When a passage mentions a time-based rule (like "24 hours before"), always calculate the exact deadline. Ask yourself: Does the action in the question happen before or after that deadline? This simple check will help you avoid traps like the one in choice A.
- Tomás wants to volunteer at the Clean-Up Day with his 11-year-old daughter. He emails to sign up on Friday, August 22. What does Tomás need to do to participate correctly, based on the flyer?
Answer: Tomás must stay with his daughter during the event, and both of them should wear closed-toe shoes and bring work gloves.
When a flyer lists multiple rules, your job is to find all the conditions that apply to a specific person's situation — not just one or two. For Tomás, three rules from the flyer apply: the sign-up deadline, the rule about children under 14, and the required equipment.
Tomás emails on Friday, August 22, which meets the deadline exactly — so he's registered correctly. His daughter is 11, which means she falls under the "children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult" rule — Tomás must stay with her throughout the event. Finally, the flyer says closed-toe shoes are required for all volunteers, and work gloves are listed under "what to bring." Both Tomás and his daughter are volunteering, so both need these items. Answer A captures all of this correctly.
Answer B is wrong because the flyer never says children need a separate sign-up email. One registration is enough; the rule is about supervision, not separate enrollment. Answer C is wrong because it ignores the under-14 rule entirely — an 11-year-old cannot participate independently. Tomás must accompany her. Answer D is wrong because it confuses two different sections of the flyer. Donations are for people who cannot volunteer. Tomás is volunteering, so the donation option doesn't apply to him at all.
A useful strategy: when a question gives you a specific person's situation, go through the flyer line by line and ask, "Does this rule apply to this person?" Collect every rule that fits before choosing your answer — questions like this are designed to catch you if you stop after finding just one match.
- A parent wants to sign up for a conference by phone. What is the LAST day and time the parent can call to sign up?
Answer: Tuesday, November 5, at 4:00 p.m., which is the specific deadline for phone sign-ups only.
When a passage gives different deadlines for different methods, your job is to match the specific method in the question to its specific deadline — not just find any deadline mentioned in the text.
The email describes two ways to sign up: online and by phone. The online deadline is Wednesday, November 6, at noon. But the passage then adds a separate rule: "phone sign-ups are only accepted until Tuesday, November 5, at 4:00 p.m." Since the question asks about signing up by phone, you need that second, more specific deadline. That makes C the correct answer — Tuesday, November 5, at 4:00 p.m. is the last moment a parent can call.
A is a trap for students who find the first deadline they see and stop reading. Wednesday, November 6, at noon is the online deadline, not the phone deadline. Using it for phone sign-ups would actually make the parent too late to call.
B is incorrect because Friday, November 8, at 3:00 p.m. is when the conferences begin — the passage never says the office opens for walk-in sign-ups at that time. This choice invents information that isn't in the text.
D is a distractor that sounds logical — "one day before" might seem like a reasonable cutoff — but Thursday, November 7, at 4:00 p.m. appears nowhere in the passage. Never choose an answer based on what seems reasonable if the text doesn't support it.
Study tip: When a passage lists multiple deadlines, underline each one and label what it applies to. Questions will often test whether you can keep them separate.
- Maria is 35 years old and wants to get a flu shot at the Health Fair. She also wants her 10-year-old son to get a dental screening. What does Maria need to bring to the fair for BOTH services to happen?
Answer: A photo ID for her own flu shot; no extra documents are required for her son's dental screening.
When reading an informational passage like a flyer or newsletter, pay attention to specific rules for specific groups. This question asks you to combine two separate pieces of information: what Maria needs, and what her son needs.
Looking at the flyer carefully, flu shots are for adults 18 and older, and it says to "bring a photo ID for flu shots." Maria is 35, so she qualifies — and she needs her photo ID. For her son's dental screening, the flyer says it's for children under 12 only, and her son is 10, so he qualifies. Importantly, the flyer lists no extra requirements for dental screenings. No ID, no documents — just show up. So the only item Maria needs to bring for both services to happen is her own photo ID. That makes B the correct answer.
A is wrong because the flyer clearly states "no appointment needed" — this applies to all services, so Maria does not need to schedule anything in advance.
C is a trap because it reverses the requirements. The photo ID is for Maria's flu shot, not her son's dental screening. The passage also never mentions needing "proof of age" as a separate document — the photo ID covers that.
D sounds appealing because the "no appointment needed" part is true, but it ignores the flu shot requirement entirely. A photo ID is something extra Maria must bring.
Study tip: On reading comprehension questions, underline or mentally note every specific rule or condition in a passage — "adults only," "bring ID," "no appointment" — then match each one to the question carefully.
- Based on this text exchange, when is Ana's appointment now scheduled?
Answer: Monday, May 12, at 3:00 p.m.
When reading a text message exchange, track how the conversation changes over time. Don't just focus on the first message — follow the full back-and-forth to see what the final agreement is.
In this exchange, the office first offered Friday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. Ana did not confirm that time. Instead, she asked to reschedule to Monday. The office then offered Monday, May 12, at 3:00 p.m. Ana replied "YES" to that specific offer — which means she confirmed the new time. So her appointment is now scheduled for Monday, May 12, at 3:00 p.m., making D the correct answer.
Choice A is incorrect because Ana never confirmed Friday's appointment. She replied by asking to change it, not by saying YES to the original time. Choice B is a trap — it ignores that Ana did reply, just not with YES or NO to the first message. She started a new conversation about rescheduling, which the office accepted. The appointment was not canceled. Choice C mixes up details: Ana did move to Monday, but the time changed too. The office offered 3:00 p.m. on Monday, not 10:30 a.m. — that was the original Friday time, not the new one.
A useful strategy: when a question asks about the final outcome of a conversation, always read to the very end. People often change plans mid-conversation, and the last confirmed agreement is what matters. Watch for answer choices that use accurate details from the passage but combine them incorrectly — like mixing the right day with the wrong time.
- Fatima wants to join the English for Work course. She goes to Room 101 to register on Saturday, September 7. What is MOST LIKELY to happen?
Answer: Fatima will be placed on a waiting list because she is registering after the Friday, September 6 deadline.
When reading notices or announcements, always pay close attention to deadlines — they are the key detail that controls what options are available to you.
The notice clearly states that the registration deadline is Friday, September 6. Fatima visits Room 101 on Saturday, September 7 — one day after the deadline. The notice also says directly: "Students who register after the deadline will be placed on a waiting list." This makes D the correct answer. The evidence is stated word-for-word in the passage, so no guessing is needed.
Answer A is a trap because it focuses on one true detail — that Room 101 is the correct place to register in person — but ignores the deadline. Coming to the right place doesn't matter if you've missed the cutoff date. Answer B is not supported by the passage at all. The notice mentions a fee waiver option but says nothing about requiring full payment to join a waiting list. This answer adds information that simply isn't there. Answer C is a common confusion: September 9 is when the course begins, not when registration reopens. The passage never says registration restarts on the first day of class. Don't mix up the start date with the registration date.
A useful strategy for this type of question: when a passage lists specific dates, mentally create a timeline. In this case — deadline September 6, Fatima arrives September 7, class starts September 9. Once you place the dates in order, it becomes clear that Fatima missed the deadline, and the passage tells you exactly what happens next.
