Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Understanding Requests And Instructions
9 questions · exam conditions
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Understanding Requests And InstructionsQuestion 1 of 9

A parent reads a school note that says: "Students should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes for Field Day on Friday. Please pack a water bottle and sunscreen. Students with medical conditions should bring a note from their doctor."

A student has asthma and wants to join Field Day. What should this student do that OTHER students do NOT need to do?

Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle, which healthy students can skip
Pack extra sunscreen because students with medical conditions need more protection
Bring a note from a doctor, since the student has a medical condition
Arrive early on Friday so the teacher can check the student's health first
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Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Understanding Requests And Instructions

Practice Understanding Requests And Instructions 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 Understanding Requests And Instructions, 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

A parent reads a school note that says: "Students should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes for Field Day on Friday. Please pack a water bottle and sunscreen. Students with medical conditions should bring a note from their doctor."

A student has asthma and wants to join Field Day. What should this student do that OTHER students do NOT need to do?

  1. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle, which healthy students can skip
  2. Pack extra sunscreen because students with medical conditions need more protection
  3. Bring a note from a doctor, since the student has a medical condition (correct answer)
  4. Arrive early on Friday so the teacher can check the student's health first
Explanation: When reading a notice or school note, your job is to find the specific instructions that apply to a specific person. This question asks what a student with asthma must do that other students do not. The key phrase in the passage is: "Students with medical conditions should bring a note from their doctor." Asthma is a medical condition, so this student — and only this student — needs that doctor's note. That makes C the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. A is wrong because closed-toe shoes and a water bottle are required for all students, not just healthy ones — the passage never says healthy students can skip these. B is a trap because it sounds logical (medical conditions and sun exposure), but the passage says nothing about extra sunscreen for students with medical conditions. Don't add information the passage doesn't give you. D is also invented — the passage never mentions arriving early or a health check by the teacher. When a choice includes a specific detail that is not in the passage, it is almost always wrong. A helpful strategy: on reading comprehension questions, underline or highlight words like "only," "should," and "except" — they signal rules that apply to specific groups. Ask yourself: Does the passage actually say this, or am I guessing? If you are adding your own ideas, the answer is probably wrong. Stick closely to what the text tells you.

Question 2

A coworker tells another employee: "The manager wants everyone to finish the weekly report by Friday at noon. She also said to send it by email, not to leave a printed copy on her desk like we used to do."

What does the manager want employees to do with the weekly report?

  1. Print the report and leave it on the manager's desk before noon on Friday
  2. Finish the report by Friday and then ask the manager whether to print or email it
  3. Email the report on Friday afternoon after the manager reviews the printed copy
  4. Email the report to the manager and finish it by Friday at noon (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading a workplace message, your job is to identify all the instructions given — not just one. Missing even a single detail can lead you to the wrong answer. In the passage, the coworker passes along two clear instructions from the manager: (1) finish the weekly report by Friday at noon, and (2) send it by email instead of leaving a printed copy on the desk. Answer D captures both of these instructions accurately — email the report and finish it by Friday at noon. That makes D the complete and correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. Answer A gets the deadline partially right but says to print the report and leave it on the desk — the passage explicitly says not to do this anymore. Answer B introduces something the passage never mentions: asking the manager whether to print or email. The manager already gave that instruction clearly, so there is nothing left to ask. Answer C gets it backwards — it suggests printing a copy first, having the manager review it, and then emailing later. The passage says the opposite: skip printing entirely and go straight to email. A useful strategy for this type of reading question is to make a quick mental checklist as you read. Ask yourself: How many instructions were given? What are they? Then check each answer choice against your list. Any answer that adds information not in the passage, removes an instruction, or contradicts what was said is a trap. The correct answer will match all the details — nothing more, nothing less.

Question 3

A landlord leaves a note for a tenant: "Please do not park in spot number 5. That spot belongs to your neighbor. You can use spots 7 or 9. If you have a guest, they must park on the street, not in any numbered spot."

A tenant's sister comes to visit. Where should the sister park her car?

  1. On the street, because guests are not allowed in any numbered spot (correct answer)
  2. In spot number 9, because guests may use the tenant's extra parking spot
  3. In spot number 7, because that is one of the spots the tenant can use
  4. In spot number 5, because the neighbor is probably not home during a visit
Explanation: When reading a note or set of instructions, your job is to follow the rules exactly as written — not to guess or assume anything extra. The note says clearly: "If you have a guest, they must park on the street, not in any numbered spot." The tenant's sister is a guest, so she must park on the street. That makes A the correct answer — it matches the rule word for word. Now let's look at why the other choices are tempting but wrong. B suggests the sister can use spot 9 because the tenant has an "extra" spot. But the note never says guests can use the tenant's spots — it only says the tenant can use spots 7 or 9. The rule about guests is completely separate. C makes the same mistake as B: spots 7 and 9 are for the tenant, not for visitors. Just because the tenant is allowed there doesn't mean a guest is. D is a dangerous kind of thinking — it asks you to assume something (that the neighbor is away) that the note never says. In reading comprehension, you should never go beyond what the text actually tells you. A good strategy here: when a passage gives you specific rules for specific people or situations, match the question to the right rule. Ask yourself, "Who does this rule apply to?" The guest rule applies to visitors, so that is the rule you use for the sister — not the tenant's parking rules.

Question 4

A community center flyer says: "English class starts at 6:00 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. New students must arrive 15 minutes early to register. Please bring a pencil and a notebook. Dictionaries are not allowed during the test."

It is a student's first day of class on Thursday. What time should the student arrive, and what should the student bring?

  1. At 6:00 p.m. with a dictionary, a pencil, and a notebook
  2. At 5:45 p.m. with a pencil and a notebook (correct answer)
  3. At 5:45 p.m. with only a pencil, because notebooks are for tests only
  4. At 6:15 p.m. with a pencil and a notebook to avoid the registration line
Explanation: When reading a flyer or announcement, your job is to find specific details and combine them carefully — especially when a question asks about two things at once, like arrival time and what to bring. The flyer gives you two important rules for new students: class starts at 6:00 p.m., and new students must arrive 15 minutes early to register. Since this is the student's first day, they are a new student — which means 6:00 p.m. minus 15 minutes equals 5:45 p.m. The flyer also clearly states to bring a pencil and a notebook. Putting these two facts together, B is correct: arrive at 5:45 p.m. with a pencil and a notebook. Choice A gets the time wrong (6:00 p.m. ignores the 15-minute early rule) and adds a dictionary, which the flyer specifically says is not allowed during the test. Choice C gets the arrival time right but misreads the flyer — notebooks are listed as something all students should bring, not just for tests. Nothing in the flyer limits notebooks to test situations. Choice D invents a reason to arrive late (6:15 p.m.) that is never mentioned in the flyer. Always base your answer on what the text actually says, not on assumptions or outside logic. A useful strategy: when a question asks about multiple details, check each part of your answer separately. Ask yourself, "Does the flyer support this?" If any part of an answer choice contradicts or adds to the flyer, eliminate it.

Question 5

A supervisor at a factory says to a new worker: "Before you start the machine, make sure you put on your safety glasses and gloves. Then press the green button, not the red one."

What does the supervisor want the worker to do FIRST?

  1. Press the green button to start the machine right away
  2. Put on safety glasses and gloves before touching anything (correct answer)
  3. Ask a coworker to help with the safety equipment
  4. Press the red button and then put on the gloves
Explanation: When reading instructions that include the word "before," pay close attention — it signals a specific order of steps. The question asks what the supervisor wants the worker to do first, so your job is to find the action that comes before everything else. The supervisor says: "Before you start the machine, make sure you put on your safety glasses and gloves. Then press the green button." The word "before" tells you that wearing safety equipment must happen first. The word "then" tells you the green button comes second. So the correct answer is B — put on safety glasses and gloves before touching anything. This matches the supervisor's instructions exactly. Choice A is wrong because pressing the green button is the second step, not the first. The supervisor specifically says to put on protective gear before starting the machine. Choice C is a trap — asking a coworker for help sounds reasonable, but the supervisor never mentions this at all. Don't add information that isn't in the passage. Choice D is dangerous and directly wrong — the supervisor says to press the green button, not the red one, and pressing any button should happen after putting on gloves, not before. A useful strategy for sequence questions: circle words like before, then, first, after, and next as you read. These signal words tell you the correct order. Also remember — always base your answer only on what the passage actually says, not on what seems like common sense or what you think might happen.

Question 6

A doctor tells a patient: "Take one pill in the morning with food and one pill at night before you go to sleep. Do not take more than two pills in one day. Call the office if you feel dizzy or have a stomachache."

The patient wakes up feeling dizzy after taking the morning pill. What should the patient do according to the doctor's instructions?

  1. Take an extra pill right away to feel better and then call the office
  2. Skip the night pill and wait until the next morning to call
  3. Take the night pill early in the afternoon to spread out the medicine
  4. Call the doctor's office to report the dizziness as instructed (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading medical instructions, your job is to follow the directions exactly as stated — no adding steps, no changing timing, and no skipping what the doctor said to do. Questions like this test whether you can locate specific instructions in a short passage and match them to a situation. The passage clearly states: "Call the office if you feel dizzy or have a stomachache." The patient woke up dizzy after taking the morning pill — this is exactly the situation the doctor described. That makes D the correct choice. The instructions already tell the patient what to do in this moment, and calling the office is the direct, appropriate response. A is wrong for two reasons: taking an extra pill would exceed the two-pill daily limit the doctor set, and there is no instruction that says taking more medicine will help with dizziness. This choice actually contradicts the doctor's rules. B is wrong because waiting until the next morning to call delays an action the doctor said to take if dizziness occurs — there is no instruction to wait. Skipping the night pill is also a decision that should come from the doctor, not the patient. C is wrong because the doctor gave specific times — morning and night — not afternoon. Moving the timing around is not something the patient was told to do. A helpful tip: on medical instruction questions, look for exact matching between the symptom or situation described and the doctor's words. If the passage tells you what to do in a specific case, trust those words directly.

Question 7

A bus driver announces: "Next stop is Main Street. If you are getting off, please move to the back door now. Please have your fare ready before you board, not after."

A passenger wants to board the bus at Main Street. What does the driver's announcement tell this passenger to do?

  1. Move to the back door now and wait for the bus to stop completely
  2. Get the fare ready before getting on the bus at Main Street (correct answer)
  3. Pay the fare after boarding so the driver can see the money clearly
  4. Wait at the back door and pay the fare when the back door opens
Explanation: When reading a public announcement like this one, your job is to find the specific instruction meant for a specific person. The question asks what the driver is telling someone who wants to board (get on) the bus at Main Street — not someone getting off. The driver says two things: first, passengers getting off should move to the back door; second, passengers should "have your fare ready before you board." The word "fare" means the money or ticket you pay to ride. The word "before" tells you the order of actions — pay first, then get on. So the correct answer is B: a boarding passenger should get their fare ready before stepping onto the bus. Answer A is a trap because it mixes up who should move to the back door. That instruction is for passengers exiting the bus, not passengers waiting to board. C directly contradicts the announcement — the driver says to pay before boarding, not after. Choosing C would mean you misread the word "before" as "after," which is a common mistake when reading quickly. D combines two wrong ideas: waiting at the back door (which is for people getting off) and paying when the back door opens (the announcement does not say this). A useful strategy: when a passage has instructions for different groups of people, always identify which group the question is asking about before you read the answer choices. This keeps you from mixing up instructions that belong to different people.

Question 8

A recorded phone message says: "Thank you for calling City Hall. For building permits, press 1. For water and trash services, press 2. To speak with an operator, press 0. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are calling outside of office hours, please call back during business hours or leave a message after the tone."

A person calls City Hall on Saturday at 10 a.m. to ask about a trash pickup problem. What should the person do?

  1. Leave a message after the tone or call back on a weekday during office hours (correct answer)
  2. Press 0 to reach an operator who handles calls on weekends
  3. Press 2 for water and trash services and wait to speak with someone
  4. Press 1 for building permits, since trash questions go to that department
Explanation: When reading automated phone messages, your job is to match your specific situation to the instructions given. Two key details matter here: the day (Saturday) and the topic (trash pickup). The message clearly states the office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday falls outside those hours. The recording even gives direct guidance for this situation: "If you are calling outside of office hours, please call back during business hours or leave a message after the tone." That makes A the correct answer — it follows the recording's own instructions exactly. B is a trap because the message never mentions weekend operators or any special weekend service. There is no evidence that pressing 0 connects you to anyone on Saturday. The recording only describes what the menu options do; it does not promise a live person is available. C is tempting because the caller does have a trash question, and pressing 2 is the right menu choice for that topic. However, pressing 2 on a weekend does not mean anyone will answer. The office is closed — the correct department doesn't matter if no one is there. D is simply wrong. The message says press 1 for building permits, not trash. Trash falls under water and trash services (press 2). This answer mixes up the menu options. Study tip: On questions like this, always read for time and day restrictions in any recorded message or sign. These details often appear at the end and directly control what the correct action is.

Question 9

A teacher hands out a worksheet and says: "Write your name at the top of the paper. Then read the directions carefully before you answer any questions. If you finish early, you can check your work or read a book quietly."

According to the teacher's instructions, what should a student do after finishing early?

  1. Turn in the paper and then read the directions again from the beginning
  2. Talk quietly with a classmate about the answers on the worksheet
  3. Check their work or read a book without making noise (correct answer)
  4. Write their name again at the bottom of the paper and wait
Explanation: When a passage gives you a list of instructions, your job is to match the question to the exact words in the text — not what sounds reasonable or polite, but what was actually said. This kind of question tests your reading comprehension and your ability to follow written directions carefully. The teacher says: "If you finish early, you can check your work or read a book quietly." That sentence directly answers the question. The student has two options after finishing early — reviewing their answers or reading a book — and both must be done without noise. Answer C captures this perfectly: "Check their work or read a book without making noise." The other choices each contain small but important errors. Answer A is a trap — it mixes up two separate instructions. Writing the name and reading directions happen before answering questions, not after finishing. The teacher never says to turn in the paper either. Answer B sounds like something a student might want to do, but the teacher never gives permission to talk with classmates — in fact, the instruction says to do things quietly, which means no talking. Answer D is completely made up. The teacher says to write your name at the top of the paper, not the bottom, and there is no instruction to write it a second time. A useful strategy: when a question asks "what should a student do," go back to the passage and find the sentence that matches the situation in the question. Look for keywords like "if," "then," or "after" to find the right part of the instructions. Always trust the text over what seems logical.