Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Confirming Details
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Confirming DetailsQuestion 1 of 10

Listen to this announcement (read carefully): "The community center pool is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. On weekends, the pool opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. The pool is closed every Tuesday and Thursday for cleaning."

David heard the announcement and thinks the pool is open on Thursdays. He listens again to confirm. Which detail from the announcement shows he misunderstood?

The announcement says the pool closes at 5:00 PM on weekends, which means Thursdays are also short days for the pool.
The announcement says the pool opens at 6:00 AM on weekdays, so Thursday hours are different from what David expected.
The announcement says the pool is closed every Tuesday and Thursday for cleaning, so the pool is not open on Thursdays.
The announcement says the pool is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so Thursday is not listed as an open weekday.
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Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Confirming Details

Practice Confirming Details in Adult ESL/ELL Beginner with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Confirming Details, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult ESL/ELL Beginner.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Listen to this announcement (read carefully): "The community center pool is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. On weekends, the pool opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. The pool is closed every Tuesday and Thursday for cleaning."

David heard the announcement and thinks the pool is open on Thursdays. He listens again to confirm. Which detail from the announcement shows he misunderstood?

  1. The announcement says the pool closes at 5:00 PM on weekends, which means Thursdays are also short days for the pool.
  2. The announcement says the pool opens at 6:00 AM on weekdays, so Thursday hours are different from what David expected.
  3. The announcement says the pool is closed every Tuesday and Thursday for cleaning, so the pool is not open on Thursdays. (correct answer)
  4. The announcement says the pool is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so Thursday is not listed as an open weekday.
Explanation: When you read or listen to an announcement, your job is to find the exact words that answer the question. Don't assume or guess — let the text do the work for you. In this passage, the announcement gives three types of information: which days the pool is open, what the hours are, and which days the pool is completely closed. David thinks the pool is open on Thursday, so you need to find the part of the announcement that directly addresses Thursday. The announcement states clearly: "The pool is closed every Tuesday and Thursday for cleaning." This one sentence directly contradicts David's belief. Thursday is not an open day at all — it's a cleaning day. That makes C the correct answer, because it points to the exact detail that explains David's misunderstanding. The other choices sound related but miss the point. A is incorrect because weekend hours (closing at 5:00 PM) have nothing to do with Thursday — Thursday isn't a weekend day, and it isn't open at all. B is a trap because it mentions weekday hours, which makes it feel relevant to Thursday, but David's problem isn't about the hours — it's that the pool isn't open Thursday at all. D is actually true and partially useful, but it's weaker than C. Saying Thursday "isn't listed" as open is indirect. The announcement doesn't just leave Thursday out — it specifically says Thursday is closed for cleaning. C gives the direct, explicit reason. Study tip: Always look for the answer that most directly and specifically addresses the question. When an announcement says something explicitly, that's stronger evidence than something implied or missing.

Question 2

A student reads this paragraph in a health pamphlet: "Adults should drink at least 8 cups of water every day. Coffee and soda do not count as water. Drinking enough water helps your skin, energy, and digestion. People who exercise should drink even more water than 8 cups."

After reading, a student says, 'I drink 8 cups of coffee a day, so I am getting enough water.' He rereads the paragraph to check his understanding. Which detail shows his thinking is incorrect?

  1. The pamphlet says adults need 8 cups of water, and coffee counts as one of those cups because it is a liquid that contains water.
  2. The pamphlet says coffee and soda do not count as water, so his 8 cups of coffee do not meet the daily water requirement. (correct answer)
  3. The pamphlet says people who exercise need more than 8 cups, so the student needs to check if he exercises before deciding.
  4. The pamphlet says water helps skin, energy, and digestion, which means coffee provides the same benefits as drinking water.
Explanation: When reading a health pamphlet or any informational text, your job is to find specific details that support or contradict a claim. Here, the student believes his 8 cups of coffee equals his daily water requirement — and the paragraph gives you a direct, clear statement to test that belief. The key sentence is: "Coffee and soda do not count as water." This directly addresses the student's mistake. Because he drinks coffee, not water, his 8 cups do not meet the daily requirement of 8 cups of water. That makes B the correct answer — it uses the exact detail from the paragraph that proves his thinking is wrong. Let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. A is incorrect because it directly contradicts the paragraph — coffee does not count as water, even though it is a liquid. This is the same mistake the student made, not a correction of it. C is a distraction — while exercise is mentioned in the paragraph, it has nothing to do with the student's specific error about coffee. The question asks which detail shows his thinking is wrong, not a separate rule about exercise. D is also wrong because the paragraph never says coffee provides the same benefits as water. It only says water helps skin, energy, and digestion — making the same false connection the student did. A helpful strategy: when a question asks which detail corrects a misunderstanding, go back and find the sentence that directly addresses the mistake. Look for exact words that match the topic of the error — here, the word "coffee" in the paragraph is your key signal.

Question 3

Ana listens to her teacher's instructions: "For the homework, read pages 45 to 52 in your textbook. Answer questions 1 through 5 at the end of the chapter — but skip question 3. Write your answers in complete sentences. This homework is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, not Friday."

Ana writes down: 'Read pages 45–52, answer questions 1–5, due Friday.' She listens again to check her notes. Which detail in her notes is clearly incorrect based on what the teacher said?

  1. The page numbers are wrong — the teacher said pages 45 to 55, not 45 to 52, so Ana needs to read more pages than she wrote down.
  2. The assignment type is wrong — the teacher said to write a summary of pages 45 to 52, not to answer questions at the end of the chapter.
  3. The questions are wrong — the teacher said to answer questions 1 through 3 only, not questions 1 through 5 as Ana wrote down.
  4. The due date is wrong — the teacher said the homework is due Thursday, not Friday, so Ana must turn it in one day earlier than she noted. (correct answer)
Explanation: When you take notes on spoken instructions, your job is to listen carefully for specific details — numbers, dates, and requirements. Questions like this test whether you can compare written notes to what was actually said and spot differences. The teacher clearly states the homework is due "at the beginning of class on Thursday, not Friday." That phrase "not Friday" is an important signal — the teacher is directly correcting a common mistake. Ana wrote "due Friday," which is the opposite of what the teacher said. This makes D the correct answer: Ana's due date is wrong, and she would turn in her homework one day late if she didn't fix it. Choice A is incorrect because the teacher said pages 45 to 52, which is exactly what Ana wrote. The page numbers in her notes are actually right. Choice B is incorrect because the teacher did ask students to answer questions at the end of the chapter — Ana's notes correctly say "answer questions 1–5." No summary was mentioned. Choice C is a tricky one: the teacher did say to skip question 3, which means Ana's note to answer "questions 1–5" is slightly incomplete — but the question asks which detail is clearly incorrect, and writing "1–5" is a much smaller issue than writing the completely wrong due date. Choice D represents a clear, direct error that would cause a real problem. A good study tip: when checking notes, focus on details the speaker repeated or corrected, like "Thursday, not Friday." Those corrections are often the most important — and the most likely to be tested.

Question 4

James listens to this voicemail: "Hi James, this is Carol from Metro Plumbing. Your repair appointment is confirmed for Friday, not Thursday as we discussed. The plumber will arrive between 10:00 AM and noon. Please make sure someone is home. The cost will be $75 for the visit plus parts."

James writes in his calendar that the plumber is coming Thursday at 10:00 AM. He replays the voicemail to confirm. Which TWO details did James get wrong, based on the voicemail?

  1. James got the day wrong — it is Friday, not Thursday — but 10:00 AM is correct because the voicemail says the plumber arrives at exactly 10:00 AM, with no later window mentioned.
  2. James got the cost wrong — the voicemail says $75 plus parts, not a flat $75 — and the day wrong because the voicemail confirms Thursday as originally discussed.
  3. James got the day wrong — it is Friday, not Thursday — and the time wrong because the voicemail says the plumber arrives between 10:00 AM and noon, not at exactly 10:00 AM. (correct answer)
  4. James got the day wrong — it is Friday, not Thursday — and the contact wrong because the voicemail is from Carol at Metro Plumbing, but James should have called to confirm directly with the plumber.
Explanation: When you listen to a voicemail (or read any message), your job is to check every detail — not just the ones that feel most important. This question asks you to compare what James wrote down against what the voicemail actually said. The voicemail tells us two key things about timing: the appointment is on Friday (not Thursday), and the plumber arrives between 10:00 AM and noon — a two-hour window, not a single exact time. James wrote "Thursday at 10:00 AM," which means he made two mistakes: the wrong day and an overly specific time. That makes C the correct answer. Here's why the other choices miss the mark. A is tricky because it gets the day right (Friday, not Thursday) but claims 10:00 AM is correct. The voicemail clearly says "between 10:00 AM and noon," so writing just "10:00 AM" misrepresents the arrival window — this is a reading comprehension trap. B invents an error about cost: $75 plus parts is what the voicemail says, so that's not a mistake James made. It also incorrectly claims the voicemail confirms Thursday — it actually corrects Thursday to Friday. D introduces the idea that James should have called the plumber directly, but the voicemail never says that, and "contact method" is not a calendar detail — this answer adds information that isn't there. Study tip: When a question asks "what did someone get wrong," go back to the source word by word. Watch for answer choices that sound reasonable but change or ignore specific details — those are the traps on listening and reading comprehension questions.

Question 5

An ESL student reads this library sign: "Library cards are FREE for all residents. You must show proof of address to get a card. Non-residents may use the library but cannot borrow books. Children under 18 need a parent signature to get a library card."

A student tells his neighbor, 'Non-residents can borrow books from the library.' He rereads the sign to confirm this. What does he find?

  1. He finds that non-residents can borrow books because the sign says the library is free for all residents, which includes people who live nearby.
  2. He finds that non-residents can borrow books only if they are under 18 and have a parent signature on their library card application.
  3. He finds that non-residents need to pay for a library card, but once they have the card, they can borrow books like any resident.
  4. He finds that non-residents cannot borrow books — the sign says they may use the library but cannot borrow books, so he was wrong. (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading signs, notices, or instructions, your job is to find the exact information the text gives you — not to guess or add details that aren't there. This question tests whether you can locate specific information in a short text and compare it to a statement someone made. The sign clearly states: "Non-residents may use the library but cannot borrow books." That one sentence directly answers the question. When the student rereads the sign, he discovers his statement was wrong — non-residents are welcome to visit and use the library, but borrowing books is not allowed for them. That makes D the correct answer: he finds that he was mistaken. Choice A is wrong because it confuses two separate ideas. The "free for all residents" part refers to library cards, not to borrowing privileges for non-residents. Living "nearby" does not automatically make someone a resident. Choice B introduces the rule about children under 18, but that rule is about getting a library card — it says nothing about non-residents gaining borrowing rights. Choice B mixes two unrelated rules together. Choice C invents information completely — the sign never mentions non-residents paying for a card or earning borrowing privileges. When a detail does not appear in the text, it cannot be the answer. A helpful strategy: on reading comprehension questions, always go back and find the exact sentence in the passage that answers the question. If your answer adds something the text never said, it is likely a trap. Stick only to what the words actually tell you.

Question 6

Rosa receives this text message from her doctor's office: "Your appointment is on March 5th at 2:30 PM with Dr. Lee. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out forms. Bring your insurance card and a photo ID. The office is at 400 Oak Street, Suite 3."

Rosa tells her friend the appointment is at 2:30 PM and she only needs to bring her insurance card. She rereads the message to confirm what to bring. What does she discover she misunderstood?

  1. She misunderstood the date — the message says the appointment is on March 15th, not March 5th, so she needs to reschedule.
  2. She misunderstood the doctor's name — the message says Dr. Lee, but Rosa needs to bring a referral for a different doctor.
  3. She misunderstood what to bring — the message says to bring both an insurance card and a photo ID, not just the insurance card. (correct answer)
  4. She misunderstood the time — the message says to arrive 15 minutes early, which means her actual appointment time is 2:15 PM.
Explanation: When reading a practical message like this one, your job is to find all the details — not just the ones that stand out first. This question tests whether you can carefully compare what Rosa said with what the message actually says. Look closely at the text message. It clearly states: "Bring your insurance card and a photo ID." That small word and means two things are required. Rosa only told her friend about the insurance card, leaving out the photo ID entirely. When she rereads the message, she discovers she missed that second item. That makes C the correct answer — she misunderstood what to bring. A is a trap for readers who skim numbers carelessly. The message says "March 5th," and nothing in the passage suggests a different date. There is no "March 15th" anywhere — this choice invents a detail that does not exist. B is completely unsupported. The message names Dr. Lee as Rosa's doctor, and nothing mentions a referral or a different doctor. This choice adds information that is not in the passage at all. D is a tricky one because the math feels tempting. The message says to arrive 15 minutes early, but the appointment is still at 2:30 PM. Arriving early is preparation — it does not change the appointment time itself. Study tip: When a message lists items with the word and, always count every item on that list. Test questions often remove one item to see if you noticed all of them.

Question 7

Maria reads this notice on the school bulletin board: "The English class on Tuesday is CANCELED. Students must come on Wednesday at 3:00 PM instead. Please bring your workbook and a pencil. The classroom is Room 12, not Room 10."

Maria thinks the class was moved to Room 10. She rereads the notice to check. What detail corrects her misunderstanding?

  1. The notice says the class is on Wednesday, not Tuesday, so the room number does not matter for the canceled class.
  2. The notice says the classroom is Room 12, not Room 10, which means Maria had the wrong room number. (correct answer)
  3. The notice says students need a workbook and a pencil, which tells Maria where to go for the class.
  4. The notice says the class is at 3:00 PM, which is the detail that tells Maria the correct location of the room.
Explanation: When a reading question asks you to correct a misunderstanding, your job is to find the specific detail in the passage that directly addresses the wrong belief. Maria thinks the class is in Room 10, so you need to find the detail about room numbers. The passage clearly states: "The classroom is Room 12, not Room 10." This sentence does both things at once — it names the correct room and acknowledges the wrong one. That makes B the correct answer. It directly corrects Maria's misunderstanding by giving her the right room number. Now let's look at why the other choices don't work. A points to the day change (Tuesday to Wednesday), which is real information in the notice, but it has nothing to do with room numbers. Knowing when the class meets doesn't tell Maria where to go. C mentions the supplies Maria needs to bring — a workbook and a pencil. That detail is about materials, not location, so it cannot correct a misunderstanding about a room number. D focuses on the time, 3:00 PM. Like choice A, the time tells Maria when to arrive, but it gives her zero information about which room to enter. Choices A, C, and D all contain true facts from the passage, which makes them tricky. They are designed to distract you by using real details that simply don't answer the question being asked. Study tip: Always match the detail to the specific question. Ask yourself, "Does this detail actually answer what is being asked?" If it answers a different question, it's a distractor — even if it's true.

Question 8

Listen to this short news report (read carefully): "City buses on Route 7 will run every 20 minutes starting Monday. Currently, Route 7 buses run every 30 minutes. The last bus on Route 7 leaves downtown at 11:00 PM every night. This change does not affect Route 5 or Route 9."

After hearing the report, a listener says, 'Route 7 buses currently come every 20 minutes.' She listens again to check. Which detail corrects her misunderstanding?

  1. The report says Route 7 buses will run every 20 minutes starting Monday, meaning the current schedule is still every 30 minutes, not 20 minutes. (correct answer)
  2. The report says the last bus leaves at 11:00 PM, which means the 20-minute schedule only applies after 11:00 PM on weekdays.
  3. The report says Route 5 and Route 9 are not affected, which means Route 7's current schedule of every 20 minutes will stay the same.
  4. The report says buses will run every 20 minutes, which confirms that Route 7 already runs every 20 minutes as the listener believed.
Explanation: When reading or listening to news reports, pay close attention to time words like "currently," "starting Monday," or "will." These words tell you whether something is happening now or in the future — and mixing them up is exactly the kind of mistake this question tests. The report contains two separate facts about Route 7's frequency: buses currently run every 30 minutes, and they will run every 20 minutes starting Monday. The listener confused the future schedule (every 20 minutes) with the present one. Answer A correctly identifies this misunderstanding — the 20-minute schedule hasn't started yet, so right now, Route 7 still runs every 30 minutes. That detail directly corrects her mistake. Answer B is incorrect because the report never connects the 20-minute schedule to the 11:00 PM departure time. That detail is about the last bus of the night, not about when the new schedule applies. Answer C twists the information about Routes 5 and 9 — the report says those routes are unaffected, which tells us nothing about Route 7's current schedule being every 20 minutes. In fact, it's the opposite. Answer D is a trap because it seems to confirm what the listener said, but it ignores the word "starting Monday," which makes the 20-minute schedule a future change, not a current fact. Study tip: Whenever a report mixes present and future information, underline or mentally flag words like "will," "currently," "starting," and "as of." These signal when something is true — and exam questions often test whether you can keep those timelines separate.

Question 9

A student reads these instructions on a job application: "Complete all sections of this form in black ink only. Do not use pencil or blue ink. Attach a copy of your resume. Original documents will NOT be accepted — copies only. Submit the completed application by 5:00 PM on Friday, January 20th."

A student finishes the application in blue ink and plans to attach her original resume. She rereads the instructions to confirm she followed them correctly. What does she find out?

  1. She finds out that blue ink is acceptable because the instructions say 'black ink only' for printed forms, but handwritten sections allow blue ink.
  2. She finds out she made two mistakes: she used blue ink instead of black ink, and she should attach a copy of her resume, not the original. (correct answer)
  3. She finds out she made one mistake: she used blue ink instead of black ink, but attaching an original resume is required by the instructions.
  4. She finds out she made one mistake: she should submit by Friday at 5:00 PM, which she forgot, but her ink color and resume copy are both acceptable.
Explanation: When reading job applications or official instructions, your job is to check every rule carefully — not just some of them. These questions test whether you can match each instruction to what a person actually did. The instructions give two rules that are directly relevant here: (1) use black ink only — no blue ink — and (2) attach a copy of your resume, not the original. The student used blue ink, which breaks rule one. She also planned to attach her original resume, which breaks rule two. That means she made two mistakes, making B the correct answer. Answer A is a trap. It invents a distinction between "printed forms" and "handwritten sections" that does not exist anywhere in the passage. The instructions simply say "black ink only" — there are no exceptions mentioned. Never add information that isn't there. Answer C gets the ink mistake right but incorrectly claims that attaching an original resume is required. Read again: the instructions say "copies only" and "original documents will NOT be accepted." An original resume would actually be rejected, so this is a second mistake, not acceptable behavior. Answer D ignores both the ink color and resume problems entirely and focuses on the deadline, claiming she forgot it. However, nothing in the question says she forgot the deadline — this is made up. D distracts you with a real instruction (the 5:00 PM deadline) but applies it to the wrong situation. Study tip: On reading comprehension questions, go back to the passage and check each claim against the exact words. If an answer adds information or ignores something the passage clearly states, it's wrong.

Question 10

A student reads this flyer: "ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLUB — Join us every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Central Library, Room 4. The club is open to all levels — beginner, intermediate, and advanced. There is no cost to join. New members must register online before their first visit."

After reading the flyer, a new student shows up at the library on Tuesday without registering online first. He rereads the flyer to understand why the club leader says he cannot participate today. Which detail explains this?

  1. The flyer says new members must register online before their first visit, which the student did not do before coming today. (correct answer)
  2. The flyer says the club is free, which means new members must pay a deposit before joining, and the student forgot to bring money.
  3. The flyer says the club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so new members can only join on Thursdays, not on their first Tuesday visit.
  4. The flyer says the club is open to all levels, so beginners must attend a separate orientation session before joining the regular meetings.
Explanation: When reading a flyer or announcement, your job is to find the exact words that explain a specific situation. Don't add information that isn't there — stick strictly to what the text says. In this case, the flyer clearly states: "New members must register online before their first visit." The student is a new member who did not register online before coming to the library. That single detail explains exactly why the club leader turns him away. Answer A is correct because it matches the flyer's actual language and directly connects to the student's mistake. Answer B is a trap because it takes a true detail — the club is free — and invents a completely false conclusion. The flyer says there is no cost, which means no deposit, no money needed. Nothing in the flyer mentions payment of any kind. Answer C misreads the schedule. The flyer lists both Tuesday and Thursday as regular meeting days. It never says beginners or new members are restricted to one specific day. The student came on a valid meeting day. Answer D adds information that simply does not exist in the flyer. The phrase "open to all levels" means everyone is welcome — it says nothing about a separate orientation for beginners. This is a common trap: an answer sounds reasonable, but you cannot find it in the text. A useful strategy for reading comprehension questions: after reading each answer choice, ask yourself, "Can I point to the exact sentence in the passage that supports this?" If you can't find it in the text, the answer is likely wrong, no matter how logical it seems.