Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Finding Key Information In Documents
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Finding Key Information In DocumentsQuestion 1 of 9

PAYCHECK STUB Employee: Linh Tran Pay Period: June 1 – June 15 Hours Worked: 40 Hourly Rate: $14.00 Gross Pay: $560.00 Federal Tax Withheld: $56.00 State Tax Withheld: $28.00 Health Insurance: $45.00 Net Pay (Take-Home Pay): $431.00

Linh checks her pay stub and wants to know how much money was taken out for TAXES ONLY (not insurance). How much was deducted for taxes?

The total tax deduction is 129.00,becausefederaltax(129.00, because federal tax (56.00), state tax (28.00),andhealthinsurance(28.00), and health insurance (45.00) are all deductions from her paycheck.
The total tax deduction is 84.00,becausefederaltax(84.00, because federal tax (56.00) plus state tax ($28.00) equals $84.00.
The total tax deduction is $56.00, because only the federal tax is a government tax; the state tax is a separate charge.
The total tax deduction is 129.00,becausegrosspay(129.00, because gross pay (560.00) minus net pay ($431.00) shows all money taken out, and that total equals the taxes.
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Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Finding Key Information In Documents

Practice Finding Key Information In Documents 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 Finding Key Information In Documents, 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

PAYCHECK STUB Employee: Linh Tran Pay Period: June 1 – June 15 Hours Worked: 40 Hourly Rate: $14.00 Gross Pay: $560.00 Federal Tax Withheld: $56.00 State Tax Withheld: $28.00 Health Insurance: $45.00 Net Pay (Take-Home Pay): $431.00

Linh checks her pay stub and wants to know how much money was taken out for TAXES ONLY (not insurance). How much was deducted for taxes?

  1. The total tax deduction is 129.00,becausefederaltax(129.00, because federal tax (56.00), state tax (28.00),andhealthinsurance(28.00), and health insurance (45.00) are all deductions from her paycheck.
  2. The total tax deduction is 84.00,becausefederaltax(84.00, because federal tax (56.00) plus state tax ($28.00) equals $84.00. (correct answer)
  3. The total tax deduction is $56.00, because only the federal tax is a government tax; the state tax is a separate charge.
  4. The total tax deduction is 129.00,becausegrosspay(129.00, because gross pay (560.00) minus net pay ($431.00) shows all money taken out, and that total equals the taxes.
Explanation: When you read a paycheck stub, it helps to group the deductions by category. Some deductions are taxes (money taken for the government), and others are benefits (like health insurance). This question asks only about taxes, so your job is to identify which line items are tax deductions and add only those together. Looking at Linh's stub, there are two tax lines: Federal Tax Withheld (56.00)andStateTaxWithheld(56.00) and State Tax Withheld (28.00). Adding them gives you: 56.00+28.00=84.0056.00 + 28.00 = 84.00 That makes B correct — the total taken out for taxes only is $84.00. Choice A is a trap because it includes health insurance ($45.00) in the tax total. Health insurance is a deduction, but it is not a tax — it pays for medical coverage, not the government. Mixing all deductions together gives you $129.00, which answers a different question entirely. Choice C makes the mistake of treating state tax as something other than a tax. Both federal and state taxes are real government taxes and must be included when the question asks for total taxes. Choice D is cleverly worded but wrong. It's true that $560.00 − $431.00 = $129.00 represents all money deducted, but that includes health insurance too. The question specifically says "taxes only," so this total is too large. Study tip: On questions like this, underline the key word — here it's "taxes only." Pay stubs have multiple types of deductions, and exam questions often test whether you can separate taxes from other withholdings like insurance or retirement contributions.

Question 2

COMMUNITY ENGLISH CLASS REGISTRATION FORM Class Name: English for Adults — Level 1 Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Start Date: September 9 End Date: November 20 Location: Room 101, Lincoln Adult School Registration Fee: $30 (non-refundable) Materials Fee: $15 (due on first day of class) Income-Based Waiver: Students who qualify may have the registration fee waived. Contact the office.

Yusuf registers for the class and qualifies for the income-based waiver. He attends the first day of class. How much money has Yusuf paid in total?

  1. Yusuf has paid $45, because qualifying students receive a discount but still owe both the registration fee and the materials fee.
  2. Yusuf has paid $0, because the income-based waiver covers all fees for qualifying students.
  3. Yusuf has paid $30, because the waiver covers only the materials fee, so he still must pay the $30 registration fee.
  4. Yusuf has paid $15, because his $30 registration fee was waived and he only pays the $15 materials fee on the first day. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a form lists multiple fees, read each one carefully — they may have different rules. Here, the registration form lists two separate charges: a 30registrationfee∗∗anda∗∗30 registration fee** and a **15 materials fee. The income-based waiver applies only to the registration fee, as stated explicitly: "Students who qualify may have the registration fee waived." The materials fee has no such waiver mentioned. So for Yusuf: his $30 registration fee is waived (he pays $0 for it), and he pays the $15 materials fee on the first day of class. His total is $\0 + $15 = $15 , making D the correct answer. Choice A is wrong because it assumes the waiver is just a discount — it isn't. A waiver means the fee is completely removed, not reduced. Yusuf owes nothing for registration. Choice B makes the opposite mistake — it assumes the waiver covers all fees, but the passage only says the registration fee can be waived. The materials fee still applies to everyone, including Yusuf. Choice C reverses the two fees entirely, claiming the waiver covers the materials fee and not the registration fee — but the passage says the opposite. A useful strategy: when a passage lists fees separately, treat each one as its own rule. Ask yourself, "Does the special condition (waiver, discount, deadline) apply to this specific fee, or just one of them?" Don't assume a waiver or exception covers everything — forms like this often mix fees that have different conditions on purpose.

Question 3

STORE SALE FLYER Big Save Electronics Weekend Sale — Saturday and Sunday Only! Laptop Model X: Regular Price $500 — Sale Price $425 Headphones: Regular Price $80 — Sale Price $60 Phone Charger: Regular Price $25 — Sale Price $20 All sales final. No returns on sale items. Extra 10% off your TOTAL purchase if you use a Big Save store credit card.

Dario buys a laptop and headphones during the sale. He uses his Big Save store credit card. What is the FINAL price he pays?

  1. Dario pays $425.00, because the credit card discount applies only to the headphones, and the laptop price is already reduced by the sale.
  2. Dario pays 485.00,becausethelaptopsaleprice(485.00, because the laptop sale price (425) plus the headphones sale price ($60) equals $485, and no further discount applies.
  3. Dario pays 522.00,because10522.00, because 10% off the regular prices (500 + $80 = $580) equals $58, so $580 − $58 = $522.
  4. Dario pays $436.50, because the sale prices total $485, and 10% off $485 is $48.50, so $485 − $48.50 = $436.50. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a store flyer lists both a sale price and an extra discount for using a store credit card, you need to apply both discounts — first the sale prices, then the additional percentage off the new total. Here's how to work through Dario's purchase step by step. The sale prices are $425 for the laptop and $60 for the headphones. Add those together: $425+60=485425 + 60 = 485 Thatgivesasubtotalof$485.BecauseDariouseshisBigSavecreditcard,hegets10 That gives a subtotal of $485. Because Dario uses his Big Save credit card, he gets 10% off that total. Ten percent of $485 is: $485 \times 0.10 = 48.50Subtractthatdiscount:Subtract that discount:485 - 48.50 = 436.50$$ Dario's final price is $436.50, making D correct. Choice A is wrong because it ignores the credit card discount almost entirely — there's no rule in the flyer that limits the 10% to only one item. Choice B correctly adds the sale prices to get 485,butthenstopsthere,forgettingtoapplythecreditcarddiscountatall.ChoiceCmakesacriticalerrorbycalculating10485, but then stops there, forgetting to apply the credit card discount at all. Choice C makes a critical error by calculating 10% off the *regular* prices (500 + $80 = $580) instead of the sale prices — the flyer's extra discount applies to your total purchase at checkout, which already reflects the sale prices. Strategy tip: When a problem has two separate discounts, always apply them in the right order — first get the sale price, then apply the extra percentage to that number, not the original price. Watch for answer choices that apply discounts to the wrong amount; that's one of the most common traps on this type of question.

Question 4

BUS SCHEDULE — Route 7 (Downtown to Airport) Stop 1: City Hall – Departs 6:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM Stop 2: Central Library – 12 minutes after City Hall Stop 3: Riverside Mall – 25 minutes after City Hall Stop 4: Airport Terminal – 45 minutes after City Hall Note: The last bus of the day leaves City Hall at 12:00 PM.

Fatima arrives at Riverside Mall at 9:30 AM and wants to take the next available bus to the Airport Terminal. What time will she arrive at the Airport Terminal?

  1. She will arrive at the Airport Terminal at 10:45 AM, because the 10:00 AM bus from City Hall reaches the Airport 45 minutes later. (correct answer)
  2. She will arrive at the Airport Terminal at 10:25 AM, because Riverside Mall is 25 minutes after City Hall on the 10:00 AM bus.
  3. She will arrive at the Airport Terminal at 8:45 AM, because the 8:00 AM bus from City Hall reaches the Airport 45 minutes later.
  4. She will arrive at the Airport Terminal at 9:55 AM, because she waits 25 minutes at Riverside Mall for the next bus.
Explanation: When reading a bus schedule, your job is to figure out which bus a person can catch, then calculate when they arrive. The key is that all times on the schedule are based on when the bus leaves City Hall — not when the passenger boards. Fatima arrives at Riverside Mall at 9:30 AM. Since Stop 3 (Riverside Mall) is reached 25 minutes after City Hall, the 8:00 AM City Hall bus would have passed Riverside Mall at 8:25 AM — already gone. The next bus leaves City Hall at 10:00 AM, arriving at Riverside Mall at 10:25 AM. She can board that bus. The Airport Terminal is 45 minutes after City Hall, so: 10:00 AM+45 min=10:45 AM10{:}00 \text{ AM} + 45 \text{ min} = 10{:}45 \text{ AM} That makes A the correct answer. Choice B is tempting but wrong — it confuses Riverside Mall's arrival time (10:25 AM) with the Airport Terminal's arrival time. The 25-minute mark gets you to the mall, not the airport. Choice C uses the 8:00 AM bus, which would have already passed Riverside Mall at 8:25 AM — Fatima cannot board a bus that left before she arrived. Choice D invents a 25-minute wait and adds it to 9:30 AM, which isn't how this schedule works; you must trace arrival times back to City Hall departure times. A useful strategy: always anchor your thinking to the City Hall departure time first, then add the minutes for each stop. This prevents mixing up stop times with each other.

Question 5

LIBRARY CARD APPLICATION FORM First Name:   Last Name:   Date of Birth:   Address:   City:   ZIP:   Phone Number:   Email Address:   (optional) Signature:   Date:  

Library Card Rules:

  • Cards are free for residents of Maplewood City.
  • Non-residents pay a $25 annual fee.
  • You must show a photo ID and one piece of mail with your address.
  • Cards expire every 2 years and must be renewed.

Paulo lives in Springfield, not Maplewood City. He got his library card 3 years ago and has never renewed it. He wants to use the library today. Which statement BEST describes his situation?

  1. His card is expired, but he can renew it for free because he already paid the $25 fee when he first got his card.
  2. His card is still valid because cards do not expire for non-residents who already paid the fee when they first applied.
  3. His card is expired and he must pay $25 to renew it, because non-residents pay the annual fee and his card expired after 2 years. (correct answer)
  4. His card is valid for one more year because non-residents receive a 3-year card when they pay the $25 fee at sign-up.
Explanation: When reading a form or document with rules, your job is to find the specific facts that apply to the person in the question — then match those facts to the answer choices. Here, two key rules apply to Paulo. First, he lives in Springfield, not Maplewood City, which makes him a non-resident — meaning he pays a $25 annual fee. Second, the rules say all cards expire every 2 years and must be renewed. Paulo got his card 3 years ago and never renewed it, so his card is expired. Putting these two facts together, Paulo needs to renew an expired card, and as a non-resident, he must pay the $25 fee to do so. That makes C the correct answer. Choice A is a trap — it assumes the original $25 payment covers future renewals forever. The form says nothing like that. Fees are annual, meaning they repeat, not a one-time pass. Choice B is incorrect because it claims non-residents have cards that never expire. The rules say clearly that all cards expire every 2 years — there is no exception for non-residents. Choice D invents a "3-year card for non-residents" that simply does not exist anywhere in the passage. Always be careful of answer choices that add details the passage never mentions. A useful strategy: when a question involves multiple rules, handle them one at a time. Ask yourself, "Does this rule apply to this person?" Check residency, then check expiration, then check fees. Staying organized prevents you from missing a key detail.

Question 6

EMPLOYEE WORK SCHEDULE — Week of October 7 Name: Sandra Mejia Monday: OFF Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM Thursday: OFF Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sunday: OFF Note: Employees who work MORE than 20 hours in a week receive a $25 attendance bonus.

Sandra checks her schedule for the week. Does Sandra earn the $25 attendance bonus this week, and how many total hours does she work?

  1. Sandra works 21 hours and earns the bonus, because Tuesday (6 hrs) + Wednesday (8 hrs) + Friday (8 hrs) = 22 hrs, minus Saturday (1 hr counted as partial) = 21 hours.
  2. Sandra works 27 hours and earns the bonus, because Tuesday (6 hrs) + Wednesday (8 hrs) + Friday (8 hrs) + Saturday (5 hrs) = 27 hours, which is more than 20. (correct answer)
  3. Sandra works 20 hours and does NOT earn the bonus, because Tuesday (5 hrs) + Wednesday (8 hrs) + Friday (8 hrs) + Saturday (4 hrs) = 25 hours is wrong; the correct total is exactly 20 hours and she needs MORE than 20.
  4. Sandra works 19 hours and does NOT earn the bonus, because Tuesday (6 hrs) + Wednesday (7 hrs) + Friday (8 hrs) + Saturday (3 hrs) = 24 hours is wrong; she actually works only 19 hours total.
Explanation: When reading a work schedule, your job is to find how many hours each shift covers, add them all up, and then compare that total to any rules listed — in this case, the "more than 20 hours" bonus rule. To find hours in a shift, subtract the start time from the end time. Sandra works four days: Tuesday (8:00 AM–2:00 PM = 6 hours), Wednesday (12:00 PM–8:00 PM = 8 hours), Friday (9:00 AM–5:00 PM = 8 hours), and Saturday (10:00 AM–3:00 PM = 5 hours). Adding these together: 6+8+8+5=27 hours6 + 8 + 8 + 5 = 27 \text{ hours}. Since 27 is greater than 20, Sandra earns the $25 bonus. That makes B the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices fail. A is wrong because it incorrectly subtracts Saturday hours as a "partial" shift — there is no rule about partial shifts, and Saturday is a full 5-hour shift, not 1 hour. C claims Sandra works exactly 20 hours and misses the bonus, but the math is simply wrong — the real total is 27, not 20. It also tries to confuse you by mentioning 25 hours and dismissing it. D says Sandra works only 19 hours by using incorrect shift lengths (it shaves an hour off Wednesday), which is a calculation error, not a rule issue. Study tip: Always write out each shift's hours before adding — small subtraction mistakes are the most common trap on schedule-reading questions.

Question 7

APARTMENT LEASE AGREEMENT — KEY TERMS Tenant Name: Amara Johnson Unit: Apartment 4B Monthly Rent: $950 Lease Start Date: August 1 Lease End Date: July 31 (one year) Security Deposit: $950 (equal to one month's rent) Late Fee: $50 charged if rent is not paid by the 5th of the month Pet Policy: Cats allowed with a $200 non-refundable pet deposit. No dogs permitted.

Amara moves in on August 1 with her cat. She pays first month's rent, the security deposit, and the pet deposit on move-in day. She also pays her second month's rent on August 10. What is the TOTAL amount Amara has paid by the end of August?

  1. Amara has paid a total of 3,100,whichincludesfirstmonth′srent(3,100, which includes first month's rent (950), security deposit (950),petdeposit(950), pet deposit (200), second month's rent (950),andalatefee(950), and a late fee (50). (correct answer)
  2. Amara has paid a total of 3,050,whichincludesfirstmonth′srent(3,050, which includes first month's rent (950), security deposit (950),petdeposit(950), pet deposit (200), and second month's rent ($950) only.
  3. Amara has paid a total of 2,850,whichincludesfirstmonth′srent(2,850, which includes first month's rent (950), security deposit (950),andpetdeposit(950), and pet deposit (200), but the second month is not due until September.
  4. Amara has paid a total of 2,100,whichincludesfirstmonth′srent(2,100, which includes first month's rent (950), security deposit (950),andpetdeposit(950), and pet deposit (200), but not a second rent payment.
Explanation: When reading a lease or rental document, your job is to track every payment made — including fees triggered by specific conditions. Always re-read the dates carefully before adding up totals. Here, Amara pays three things on move-in day (August 1): first month's rent (950),thesecuritydeposit(950), the security deposit (950), and the pet deposit ($200). That's $2,100 upfront. Then she pays her second month's rent on August 10 — but notice that the lease says rent is due by the 5th of the month. August 10 is after the 5th, which means the $50 late fee applies automatically. Her total becomes: $950 + 950 + 200 + 950 + 50 = \3,100 That makes A the correct answer. B is close but misses the late fee. It adds up all four payments correctly ($3,050) but ignores the fact that paying on August 10 triggers the $50 penalty. Always check whether a date condition creates an extra charge. C assumes the second month's rent wasn't paid yet, suggesting it isn't due until September. But the question clearly states Amara paid it on August 10 — it was paid late, not skipped. D ignores both the second rent payment and the late fee entirely, as if Amara only paid her move-in costs. This underestimates her total significantly. A useful habit: when a question gives you specific dates, underline them and compare each one to any deadlines mentioned in the document. Fees and penalties often hide in those details.

Question 8

DOCTOR'S OFFICE APPOINTMENT REMINDER Patient Name: Carlos Rivera Appointment Date: Friday, March 14 Appointment Time: 2:30 PM Doctor: Dr. Angela Park Location: 500 Main Street, Suite 3 Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete paperwork. If you need to cancel, call 555-0100 at least 24 hours before your appointment.

Carlos wants to cancel his appointment. What is the LATEST time he can call to cancel without breaking the office rule?

  1. He must call by 2:30 PM on Thursday, March 13, because the appointment is at 2:30 PM on Friday. (correct answer)
  2. He must call by 2:15 PM on Thursday, March 13, because he must arrive 15 minutes early on Friday.
  3. He must call by 2:30 PM on Friday, March 14, because that is when the appointment begins.
  4. He must call by 12:00 PM on Thursday, March 13, because office phones close at noon each day.
Explanation: When a document gives you a rule about timing, your job is to work backward from the event to find the deadline. Here, the rule says to cancel "at least 24 hours before your appointment." That means you need to count back exactly 24 hours from the appointment time. Carlos's appointment is Friday, March 14 at 2:30 PM. Counting back 24 hours lands you on Thursday, March 13 at 2:30 PM. That is the latest possible moment he can call and still follow the office rule — making A the correct answer. B is a trap that mixes up two separate pieces of information. The reminder says to arrive 15 minutes early, but that instruction is about showing up — it has nothing to do with the cancellation deadline. Don't combine rules that belong to different situations. C is a common misreading. It sounds logical to think "call before the appointment starts," but calling at 2:30 PM on Friday — the moment the appointment begins — is not 24 hours in advance. It gives the office zero notice, which breaks the rule entirely. D invents information. The passage says nothing about office phones closing at noon. Never choose an answer based on details the passage does not include. A good strategy for timing questions like this: find the key number in the rule (here, "24 hours"), identify the starting point (the appointment time), and subtract. Always use the appointment time — not arrival time or any other time — as your reference point unless the passage says otherwise.

Question 9

COMMUNITY CENTER SCHEDULE Fitness Class: Yoga for Beginners Day: Tuesday and Thursday Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Room: B-12 Instructor: Maria Santos Fee: $5 per class OR $35 for a 10-class pass Registration Deadline: September 1

A student wants to take 10 yoga classes. She pays for a 10-class pass instead of paying per class. How much money does she SAVE?

  1. She saves $10 because the pass costs $35 and 10 classes at $5 each would cost $45.
  2. She saves $5 because the pass costs $35 and 10 classes at $5 each would cost $40.
  3. She saves $15 because the pass costs $35 and 10 classes at $5 each would cost $50. (correct answer)
  4. She saves $35 because the pass is free compared to the regular per-class price.
Explanation: When a question asks how much money someone saves, you need to compare two prices: what they would have paid versus what they actually paid. The difference is the savings. Here, the student wants 10 classes. If she pays per class, the cost is: 10×$5=$5010 \times \$5 = \$50 But she buys the 10-class pass instead, which costs only $35. To find her savings, subtract: $\50 - $35 = $15 That makes C the correct answer — she saves $15 by choosing the pass. Now let's look at why the other choices are wrong. Answer A calculates 10 classes as $45, which would mean only 9 classes at $5 each — a simple multiplication error. Double-check: $5 × 10 is $50, not $45. Answer B makes a similar arithmetic mistake, claiming 10 classes cost $40. That would only be true if the per-class fee were $4, not $5. Both A and B get the subtraction step right in structure but use the wrong starting number. Answer D claims the pass is free, which is clearly false — the schedule states the pass costs $35. This choice misreads the passage entirely. A useful strategy: on "how much does she save?" questions, always write out both totals first, then subtract. Students often rush and miscalculate one of the totals. Take 10 seconds to do the multiplication carefully before moving to the subtraction step — that's where most errors happen.