Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Shopping Money And Food Vocabulary
8 questions · exam conditions
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Shopping Money And Food VocabularyQuestion 1 of 8

Maria goes to the grocery store. She buys a loaf of bread for $2.50, a carton of milk for $3.75, and a bag of apples for $4.00. She gives the cashier a $20 bill.

How much change should Maria receive from the cashier?

$9.75, because the total cost of all three items is $10.25 and she paid with $20.00
$10.25, because you add all the prices together and that equals her change
$9.25, because the total is $10.75 after adding all three items correctly
$10.75, because you subtract only the two most expensive items from $20.00
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Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Shopping Money And Food Vocabulary

Practice Shopping Money And Food Vocabulary 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 Shopping Money And Food Vocabulary, 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

Maria goes to the grocery store. She buys a loaf of bread for $2.50, a carton of milk for $3.75, and a bag of apples for $4.00. She gives the cashier a $20 bill.

How much change should Maria receive from the cashier?

  1. $9.75, because the total cost of all three items is $10.25 and she paid with $20.00 (correct answer)
  2. $10.25, because you add all the prices together and that equals her change
  3. $9.25, because the total is $10.75 after adding all three items correctly
  4. $10.75, because you subtract only the two most expensive items from $20.00
Explanation: When a question asks how much change someone receives, you always need two steps: first, add up the total cost of all items; second, subtract that total from the amount paid. This is a very common real-life math situation. Let's work through it together. Maria buys three items: $2.50+$3.75+$4.00=$10.25\$2.50 + \$3.75 + \$4.00 = \$10.25 That is the total she owes. She pays with a $20 bill, so the cashier gives back: $\20.00 - $10.25 = $9.75 This confirms that A is correct — Maria receives $9.75 in change. Now let's look at why the other choices are wrong. B makes a critical mistake: it confuses the total cost ($10.25) with the change. The $10.25 is what Maria spends, not what she gets back. C uses an incorrect total of $10.75, which means someone added the numbers wrong — perhaps by misreading $3.75 as $3.25. Always double-check your addition carefully. D ignores the cheapest item (the bread) and only subtracts two prices, which is not how change works — you must include every item purchased. A helpful strategy: whenever you see a "change" problem, write out both steps clearly — add first, then subtract. A common trap is mixing up the total cost with the change amount, just like choice B does. Slow down, label your steps, and you will avoid this mistake every time.

Question 2

At a restaurant, the menu says: Coffee – $1.50, Tea – $1.25, Sandwich – $6.00, Soup – $4.50. A sign on the wall reads: 'Add 10% tax to all food orders. Drinks are tax-free.'

Carlos orders a soup and a coffee. What is the correct total amount he must pay, including tax?

  1. $6.00, because 10% tax on the soup makes it $4.95, and the coffee is $1.50, totaling $6.45 after rounding down
  2. $6.45, because 10% of $4.50 is $0.45, added to the soup gives $4.95, plus the tax-free coffee at $1.50 equals $6.45 (correct answer)
  3. $6.60, because 10% tax applies to both the soup and the coffee, making the total $4.95 plus $1.65
  4. $5.95, because 10% tax is subtracted from the soup price to get a discount, then coffee is added
Explanation: When reading a problem like this, first identify which items are taxed and which are not — the rules may be different for different items. Here, the sign clearly states that food gets a 10% tax, but drinks are tax-free. This is the key detail you need before doing any math. Carlos orders soup (4.50)andcoffee(4.50) and coffee (1.50). Since soup is food, you calculate 10% of $4.50: $4.50×0.10=0.454.50 \times 0.10 = 0.45 $ Add that tax to the soup price: 4.50 + 0.45 = 4.95 Coffee is a drink, so no tax is added — it stays at $1.50. The final total is: $4.95 + 1.50 = \6.45$$ That makes B the correct answer. A gets the math almost right but then claims the total "rounds down" to $6.00 — that is not rounding, that is simply dropping the correct answer without any valid reason. Never subtract from a total without a rule that tells you to. C applies the 10% tax to the coffee as well, ignoring the sign's rule that drinks are tax-free. Always re-read any special conditions before calculating. D misreads "tax" as a discount, subtracting it from the soup price instead of adding it. Tax is always added to the price you pay — it is never a savings. A good tip to remember: before you calculate, underline or highlight any special rules in the problem (like "drinks are tax-free"). Special exceptions are almost always the key to choosing the right answer on word problems like this.

Question 3

Which word best completes this sentence? 'The cashier gave me a   showing everything I bought and how much each item cost.'

  1. coupon, because this is a document related to shopping that lists prices and savings
  2. refund, because this is what you get back from a store after paying too much
  3. receipt, because this is a document given after a purchase that lists items and their prices (correct answer)
  4. aisle, because this is the area of a store where you find and pay for your items
Explanation: When you see a fill-in-the-blank question like this, focus on the context clues inside the sentence itself. The sentence tells you this document "shows everything I bought and how much each item cost" — that description is your key to finding the right word. That definition perfectly matches a receipt (answer C). A receipt is the paper or digital document a store gives you after you make a purchase. It lists every item you bought along with the price of each one. Cashiers hand these out at checkout counters every day, making it a common shopping word worth knowing well. The other choices describe real shopping concepts, but none of them fit the sentence. A (coupon) is a document you bring to the store before paying — it gives you a discount, not a record of what you spent. B (refund) is money the store gives back to you when you return an item or overpaid — it's a transaction, not a document listing your purchases. D (aisle) is a physical location — the walkway between shelves in a store — so it cannot be "given" by a cashier at all. A useful strategy: when answering vocabulary questions, look for definition clues hidden in the sentence. Phrases like "showing everything I bought" and "how much each item cost" are practically defining the missing word for you. Train yourself to underline those clues first, then match them to the answer choices — this habit will help you on many vocabulary questions throughout the exam.

Question 4

James is at a food truck. The menu reads: Tacos – $3.00 each, Burritos – $5.50 each, Bottled Water – $1.00 each. James orders 2 tacos and 1 burrito. He wants to leave a $2.00 tip for the server.

James has $15.00 in his wallet. After paying for his food and leaving the tip, how much money will he have left?

  1. $3.50, because the 2 tacos cost $6.00 and the burrito costs $5.50, but the tip of $2.00 is not subtracted from the total
  2. $0.50, because 2 tacos cost $6.00, the burrito costs $5.50, and an assumed $3.00 tip is subtracted, leaving $0.50 from $15.00
  3. $2.50, because 2 tacos cost $6.00 and the burrito costs $5.50 for a food total of $11.50, and $15.00 minus $11.50 minus $1.00 for a bottle of water equals $2.50
  4. $1.50, because 2 tacos cost $6.00, the burrito costs $5.50, the food total is $11.50, plus the $2.00 tip equals $13.50, and $15.00 minus $13.50 equals $1.50 (correct answer)
Explanation: When solving a word problem like this, your job is to carefully identify every cost mentioned and include all of them in your final calculation — nothing more, nothing less. Here's how to work through it step by step. James orders 2 tacos at $3.00 each, so: $2 \times \3.00 = $6.00 He also orders 1 burrito: 1 \times $5.50 = $5.50 The food total is $6.00 + $5.50 = $11.50 Then he adds a $2.00 tip (stated clearly in the passage): $\11.50 + $2.00 = $13.50Finally, subtract from his $15.00:$15.00 - $13.50 = $1.50$$ That makes D the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices go wrong. A gets the food math right but completely ignores the tip — it treats $2.00 as if it doesn't exist, leaving an incorrect remainder of $3.50. B uses the right items but invents a $3.00 tip instead of the $2.00 tip stated in the passage — always use the numbers the passage gives you, not ones you assume. C subtracts $1.00 for a bottle of water, but James never orders water — this is a trap designed to tempt you with items on the menu that weren't actually purchased. A good strategy: before calculating, make a quick list of exactly what was ordered and what was promised (like a tip). Only include those items. Don't add menu items that weren't purchased, and don't skip costs that were mentioned.

Question 5

Which sentence uses the word 'bargain' correctly in a shopping context?

  1. 'I found a great bargain at the store — the shoes were only $10 instead of $60, so I saved a lot of money.' (correct answer)
  2. 'The bargain was very heavy, so I needed help carrying all my shopping bags to the car.'
  3. 'I paid the bargain at the register using my debit card and received a receipt.'
  4. 'The store clerk put my items in a bargain and handed it to me as I left the checkout line.'
Explanation: When learning vocabulary in English, it helps to think about how a word behaves in a sentence — what job it does and what it means in a specific situation. The word "bargain" in a shopping context is a noun meaning something you buy at a much lower price than usual. It describes the deal itself, not a physical object you carry or pay for. Choice A uses "bargain" correctly. The sentence explains why it's a bargain — the shoes cost $10 instead of $60. This is exactly how native English speakers use the word in shopping situations: "I found a great bargain" means "I found something at a surprisingly low price." Choice B is incorrect because it describes something "heavy" that needs to be carried. A bargain is not a physical, touchable object — it's a concept, a good deal. The sentence in B is describing a shopping bag or groceries, not a bargain. Choice C is incorrect because it says "I paid the bargain at the register." You pay a price or a bill — you don't pay a bargain. The word is being used as if it means the total cost, which it does not. Choice D is incorrect because it says the clerk "put my items in a bargain." That sentence describes a bag, not a deal. Again, a bargain cannot hold items — it's not a container. A useful tip: if you can replace the word with "good deal" and the sentence still makes sense, you're using "bargain" correctly. Try it — only Choice A passes that test.

Question 6

At a supermarket, Lin sees two options for orange juice: Brand A costs $3.60 for a 32-ounce bottle, and Brand B costs $5.00 for a 50-ounce bottle.

Lin wants to buy the option with the lower price per ounce. Which brand should she choose, and approximately how much does that brand cost per ounce?

  1. Brand A, because $3.60 divided by 32 ounces equals about $0.11 per ounce, and $0.11 is less than Brand B's price per ounce
  2. Brand B, because buying a larger bottle usually means paying less per ounce, and 50 ounces is more than 32 ounces
  3. Brand A, because it has a lower total price of $3.60 compared to Brand B's $5.00, so it costs less overall
  4. Brand B, because $5.00 divided by 50 ounces equals $0.10 per ounce, which is less than Brand A's cost of about $0.11 per ounce (correct answer)
Explanation: When comparing prices at a store, the total price alone doesn't tell you which deal is better — you need to find the price per unit (in this case, per ounce). This lets you compare products fairly, no matter their size. To find the price per ounce, divide the total price by the number of ounces: Brand A: $3.6032 oz≈$0.1125 per oz\frac{\$3.60}{32 \text{ oz}} \approx \$0.1125 \text{ per oz} Brand B: $5.0050 oz=$0.10 per oz\frac{\$5.00}{50 \text{ oz}} = \$0.10 \text{ per oz} Brand B costs exactly $0.10 per ounce, while Brand A costs about $0.11 per ounce. Since $0.10 is less than $0.11, Brand B gives Lin more orange juice for each penny she spends. D is correct — it shows the right calculation and draws the right conclusion. Choice A makes the math error of stopping halfway: it correctly calculates Brand A's price per ounce but never actually checks Brand B's price per ounce to compare. Choice B reaches the right answer (Brand B) but for the wrong reason — bigger size often means a better deal, but not always. You must do the math to be sure; never assume. Choice C compares total prices instead of price per ounce, which is the classic trap here. A larger bottle naturally costs more in total, but that doesn't make it the worse deal. Your study tip: whenever a question asks about "best value" or "lower price per unit," always divide price by quantity for each option before comparing. Never judge value by total price alone.

Question 7

A store has a sign: 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free on all canned goods.' A can of soup costs $1.80 each. If a customer wants to take home 6 cans of soup, how much will she pay in total?

  1. $10.80, because she pays for all 6 cans at the regular price of $1.80 each
  2. $7.20, because with the deal she pays for only 4 of the 6 cans at $1.80 each (correct answer)
  3. $5.40, because she pays for only 3 of the 6 cans since every other can is free
  4. $9.00, because the deal gives a 50% discount on the total price of all 6 cans
Explanation: When you see a "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" deal, the key is figuring out how many cans you actually pay for before multiplying by the price. This type of store promotion means for every group of 3 cans, you pay for 2 and receive 1 at no cost. With 6 cans total, you have exactly two groups of three: [pay, pay, free] + [pay, pay, free]. That means you pay for 4 cans and get 2 cans free. The total cost is: 4×$1.80=$7.204 \times \$1.80 = \$7.20 This makes B the correct answer. Choice A is wrong because it ignores the promotion entirely — paying $1.80 × 6 = 10.80meansyoupaidfullpriceforall6cansasiftherewerenodealatall.Choice∗∗C∗∗soundstemptingbecauseitsays"everyothercanisfree,"butthatwouldbea"Buy1,Get1Free"deal—not"Buy2,Get1Free."Thatmistakecutsthepricetoomuch,leavingyoupayingforonly3cans(10.80 means you paid full price for all 6 cans as if there were no deal at all. Choice **C** sounds tempting because it says "every other can is free," but that would be a "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" deal — not "Buy 2, Get 1 Free." That mistake cuts the price too much, leaving you paying for only 3 cans (5.40), which misreads the sign. Choice D invents a "50% discount on the total" — nothing in the sign says that. Applying a percentage discount is a different type of promotion entirely. Study tip: Always re-read the exact wording of a store deal before calculating. "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" means 1 free per every 3 — divide your total cans by 3 to find how many are free, then subtract and multiply.

Question 8

A customer says to a store worker: 'Excuse me, where can I find the dairy products?' Which location would the worker most likely point to?

  1. The bakery section, because dairy products like butter are used in baking bread and pastries
  2. The frozen foods aisle, because dairy products such as ice cream must always be stored frozen
  3. The refrigerated section, because dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt need to be kept cold (correct answer)
  4. The produce section, because dairy products come from farms just like fresh fruits and vegetables
Explanation: When you shop at a grocery store, products are grouped by how they need to be stored. This question tests whether you understand what dairy products are and where they belong in a store. Dairy products come from animal milk — think milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter. Because these foods spoil quickly at room temperature, they must stay cold. That's why grocery stores keep dairy products in refrigerated cases — the large coolers with glass doors, usually along the walls of the store. Choice C is correct because it names exactly the right location and gives accurate examples of dairy products that need refrigeration. Choice A is a trap because it connects dairy to baking. Yes, butter is used in baking, but that doesn't mean butter lives in the bakery section — it's still stored in the refrigerated area. Choice B is close, but it's wrong because not all dairy is frozen. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are refrigerated, not frozen — only some dairy items like ice cream are in the frozen foods aisle. Saying dairy products "must always be stored frozen" is too strong and inaccurate. Choice D uses a true fact (dairy comes from farms) but applies it incorrectly. "From a farm" does not mean a product belongs near fruits and vegetables. Produce and dairy are stored differently. A helpful tip: when you see shopping or store vocabulary questions, ask yourself how does this food need to be stored? That will guide you to the right section every time.