Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Understanding Short Messages
10 questions · exam conditions
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Understanding Short MessagesQuestion 1 of 10

Text message from a friend: "Hey Marco, I know we planned to meet at the coffee shop on Main Street at noon, but can we move it to 1:30 instead? I have a dentist appointment that might run late. If that doesn't work for you, just let me know and we can reschedule for another day."

What does Marco's friend want him to do?

Agree to meet at 1:30 at the coffee shop, or let the friend know if he wants to change the day.
Go to the coffee shop at noon as planned, because the friend may be a little late.
Cancel the meeting completely because the friend has a dentist appointment.
Meet the friend at the dentist's office at 1:30 and then go to the coffee shop together.
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Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL Beginner Quiz: Understanding Short Messages

Practice Understanding Short Messages 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 Short Messages, 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

Text message from a friend: "Hey Marco, I know we planned to meet at the coffee shop on Main Street at noon, but can we move it to 1:30 instead? I have a dentist appointment that might run late. If that doesn't work for you, just let me know and we can reschedule for another day."

What does Marco's friend want him to do?

  1. Agree to meet at 1:30 at the coffee shop, or let the friend know if he wants to change the day. (correct answer)
  2. Go to the coffee shop at noon as planned, because the friend may be a little late.
  3. Cancel the meeting completely because the friend has a dentist appointment.
  4. Meet the friend at the dentist's office at 1:30 and then go to the coffee shop together.
Explanation: When you read a text message or note asking for a change in plans, focus on two things: what the person is requesting and what they want you to do in response. This question tests whether you understood both parts of the friend's message. The friend clearly makes two offers: first, to move the meeting from noon to 1:30 at the same coffee shop, and second, to reschedule for a completely different day if 1:30 doesn't work for Marco. This means A is correct — Marco can either agree to 1:30 or tell his friend if he needs to pick a new day entirely. Each wrong answer misreads part of the message. B is a trap because it focuses on the original plan (noon), but the whole point of the message is that the friend wants to change that time — not keep it. C goes too far. The friend never asks to cancel; she offers two alternative options, showing she still wants to meet. Canceling completely is not mentioned. D is a creative misreading — the dentist appointment explains why the friend needs to change the time, but it is not a new meeting location. The coffee shop on Main Street is still the place. A useful tip: in reading comprehension questions, watch for messages that include more than one option. Friends often say "let's do X, or if not, let's do Y." Make sure your answer covers both parts of the request, not just one. Choosing an answer that only reflects half the message is one of the most common mistakes on these questions.

Question 2

Voicemail from a doctor's office: "Hi, this message is for Mr. Torres. This is City Health Clinic calling. Your appointment on Friday has been moved to Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Please call us back to confirm, or your appointment may be canceled. Our number is 555-0198. Thank you."

What must Mr. Torres do to keep his appointment?

  1. Visit the clinic in person on Friday to confirm his appointment at 2:00 p.m.
  2. Call the clinic back to confirm his new appointment on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. (correct answer)
  3. Wait for the clinic to call him again with more information about Thursday.
  4. Call the clinic back to confirm his original appointment on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Explanation: When listening to or reading a voicemail message, focus on two things: what changed and what action is required. This question tests whether you can identify both pieces of information correctly. The message tells Mr. Torres that his appointment has been moved from Friday to Thursday at 2:00 p.m. It then gives a clear warning: he must "call back to confirm, or your appointment may be canceled." This means calling back is not optional — it is required to keep the appointment. That makes B the correct answer: Mr. Torres must call the clinic to confirm his new appointment on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Here is why the other choices are wrong. A says he should visit the clinic in person on Friday — but the message says the appointment moved to Thursday, not Friday, and calling (not visiting) is what is required. C says he should wait for another call — but the message says he must call them, not the other way around. Waiting could result in a canceled appointment. D is a tricky trap: it says he should confirm his appointment on Friday, but Friday is the old appointment time. The appointment has already been changed to Thursday. Choosing D would mean confirming the wrong day entirely. A helpful strategy: when a voicemail or notice includes a warning like "or else" (for example, "or your appointment may be canceled"), that warning points directly to the required action. Always find that action — it is usually the answer.

Question 3

Email from a neighbor: "Hello! This is Mei from apartment 4B. I am going on vacation from Monday to Saturday. Could you please water my plants on Wednesday and Friday? I will leave the key under the mat by my door. Please do NOT use the key for anything else. Thank you so much!"

What is Mei asking her neighbor to do?

  1. Water her plants every day from Monday to Saturday while she is on vacation.
  2. Pick up her key from the front desk and water her plants twice during the week.
  3. Water her plants on Wednesday and Friday using a key left under her doormat. (correct answer)
  4. Water her plants on Wednesday and Friday and use the key to check on her apartment.
Explanation: When reading a short message or email, focus on two things: what the writer wants and the specific details they give. This question tests whether you can find the main request and match it to the correct details in the passage. Mei's email contains two clear instructions: water her plants on Wednesday and Friday, and find the key under the mat by her door. Choice C captures both of these details accurately — she asks her neighbor to water the plants on those two specific days, using a key left under her doormat. That makes C the correct answer. Now let's look at why the other choices are wrong. Choice A says "every day from Monday to Saturday," but Mei only asks for Wednesday and Friday — two days, not every day. This is a common trap: the passage mentions the full vacation dates, but that does not mean she wants plant watering every day. Choice B says to pick up the key "from the front desk," but the passage clearly says the key is under the mat by her door — not at any front desk. Always check location details carefully. Choice D is tricky because it sounds close to the truth, but it adds something Mei specifically said not to do. She wrote "Please do NOT use the key for anything else," so using the key to check on her apartment directly contradicts her instructions. A helpful strategy: when a question asks "what is the person asking you to do," underline the exact request and the specific details (days, locations, limits). Wrong answers often twist one small detail — and that's where careful readers catch the mistake.

Question 4

Note left on the kitchen table: "Hi honey, I went to pick up the kids. There is soup on the stove — please turn it off in 10 minutes. Also, the repairman is coming between 3 and 4 today. Someone needs to be home. Call me if you have any questions. — Sam"

Based on Sam's note, which TWO things does the person at home need to do?

  1. Cook the soup and go pick up the kids before 3 o'clock.
  2. Turn off the stove in 10 minutes and stay home until the repairman comes. (correct answer)
  3. Turn off the stove in 10 minutes and call Sam immediately to confirm everything.
  4. Stay home for the repairman and cook a new pot of soup for the family.
Explanation: When reading a note or short message, focus on the action words — verbs that tell someone what to do. In Sam's note, look for what tasks are being left for the person at home. Sam's note gives two clear instructions: first, "turn it off in 10 minutes," referring to the soup on the stove; and second, "someone needs to be home" between 3 and 4 for the repairman. These two tasks — turning off the stove and staying home — make B the correct answer. Both actions are directly stated in the note, and both must happen. Here's why the other choices miss the mark: A is wrong because Sam already went to pick up the kids — that job is taken care of. The person at home does not need to do that. C is partially correct (turning off the stove is right), but Sam says to call only if you have questions — not immediately or to confirm. Calling right away is not required. D is wrong on two counts: the soup is already made and just needs to be turned off, not cooked fresh; and there is no mention of making a new pot of soup anywhere in the note. A helpful strategy: when a question asks for two correct answers, be careful with choices that mix one right idea with one wrong idea (like C and D). Always check every part of the answer against the text. If any part is wrong, the whole answer is wrong.

Question 5

Email from a landlord: "Dear Tenant, this is a reminder that rent is due on the 1st of every month. If your rent is late, there is a $25 fee after the 5th. If you pay online, please allow 2 business days for the payment to process. This means if you pay online, do NOT wait until the 5th — pay by the 3rd to avoid the late fee. Thank you."

According to the landlord's email, a tenant who pays rent online should pay by which day to avoid a late fee?

  1. The 1st of the month, because that is always the official due date for all tenants.
  2. The 5th of the month, because that is the last day before the late fee is charged.
  3. The 2nd of the month, because online payments take exactly one extra day to be received.
  4. The 3rd of the month, because online payments take 2 days to process and must arrive by the 5th. (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading practical information like emails or notices, your job is to follow the logic carefully — especially when the text gives you a rule and then explains how that rule changes in a specific situation. Here, the landlord sets up two key facts: rent is late after the 5th (meaning it must be received by the 5th), and online payments take 2 business days to process. If you pay online on the 5th, the payment won't be recorded until the 7th — too late. To make sure the payment arrives by the 5th, you need to subtract those 2 processing days: 5−2=35 - 2 = 3. The landlord even states this directly: "pay by the 3rd to avoid the late fee." That makes D the correct answer — it correctly connects both pieces of information. A is a trap for students who stop reading after the first sentence. Yes, the 1st is the official due date, but the email is specifically addressing online payers, not all tenants equally. B is the most common mistake — it sounds right because the 5th is the last day before the fee, but it ignores the processing delay. A tenant who pays online on the 5th will actually be charged the fee. C shows partial thinking: the student recognizes that processing time matters but miscounts the days (one day off instead of two). A good study tip: when a passage gives you a general rule and an exception, the question will almost always test the exception. Underline or mentally flag phrases like "if you pay online" or "however" — those signal the important detail.

Question 6

Text message from a boss to an employee: "Hi Layla, just a reminder — tomorrow is a half day. We close at 1:00 p.m., not 5:00. Please make sure all your reports are finished BEFORE you leave, not after. Thanks."

What is the most important thing Layla needs to understand from this message?

  1. She should come in at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow instead of her normal time.
  2. She must finish her reports after 1:00 p.m. because the office closes early.
  3. She needs to finish her reports before leaving at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. (correct answer)
  4. She should remind her coworkers that the office closes at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow.
Explanation: When reading a short workplace message, your job is to find the main instruction — the most important action the reader must take. Don't get distracted by small details; focus on what the sender most wants the reader to do. In this text, the boss gives Layla two key facts: (1) tomorrow is a half day, and the office closes at 1:00 p.m., and (2) her reports must be finished before she leaves — not after. The word "BEFORE" is even written in all capitals, which shows the boss really wants to emphasize this point. That makes C the correct answer — Layla needs to finish her reports before leaving at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. Now let's look at why the other choices are wrong. A says Layla should arrive at 1:00 p.m., but the message says the office closes at 1:00 p.m. — Layla should arrive at her normal time and leave early, not the other way around. B says she must finish her reports after 1:00 p.m., but that is the opposite of what the boss said — she must finish before leaving, not after the office closes. D says Layla should remind her coworkers about the schedule, but the message never asks her to do that. This answer adds information that isn't there. A helpful tip: when a word is written in ALL CAPS in a message, the writer is stressing something important. Always pay close attention to those words — they usually point directly to the main idea being tested.

Question 7

Text message from Rosa to her sister: "Hey! Don't forget — Mom's birthday dinner is at 6:30 tonight, NOT 7:00 like last year. Please bring the cake from the bakery on Pine Street, not the one near your house. See you there!"

What does Rosa want her sister to remember about tonight?

  1. The dinner starts at 7:00, and she should bring a cake from near her house.
  2. The dinner starts at 6:30, and she should pick up the cake from Pine Street. (correct answer)
  3. The dinner starts at 6:30, and Rosa will bring the cake herself from Pine Street.
  4. The dinner starts at 7:00, and she should pick up the cake from Pine Street.
Explanation: When reading a short message like this one, your job is to find the key details the writer wants you to remember. Rosa's message is full of important corrections — she uses words like "NOT" and "not" to warn her sister about common mistakes. Pay close attention to those signal words. Rosa clearly states two things: the dinner is at 6:30 (not 7:00 like last year), and her sister should bring the cake from the bakery on Pine Street (not the one near her house). That makes B the correct answer — it accurately captures both details Rosa emphasizes. Looking at the wrong choices: A gets both details wrong, saying the dinner is at 7:00 and the cake should come from near her sister's house. These are exactly the mistakes Rosa is trying to prevent. C correctly names 6:30 and Pine Street, but says Rosa will bring the cake herself — the message actually tells the sister to pick it up, not Rosa. D gets the time wrong (7:00 instead of 6:30) but gets the bakery location right — it mixes one correct detail with one incorrect one, which is a common trap in reading questions. A useful strategy: when a passage uses contrast words like "NOT," "instead of," or "but," those words are almost always pointing to the most important information. The writer is correcting a mistake or making sure you don't confuse two things. Circle or underline those words as you read — the answer will usually depend on them.

Question 8

Text message from a parent to a teenager: "Don't forget — soccer practice is at 4:00, not 4:30 like last week. Your coach called and said bring your OWN water bottle because the school's water fountain is broken. Grandma will pick you up, not me. Be ready outside at 3:45."

According to the message, which detail is stated as being DIFFERENT from last week?

  1. Grandma is picking up the teenager instead of the parent this week.
  2. The teenager needs to bring a personal water bottle to practice.
  3. Soccer practice starts 30 minutes earlier than it did last week. (correct answer)
  4. The school's water fountain is broken and cannot be used.
Explanation: When a question asks what is different from last week, you need to look for a comparison — something the message directly contrasts with how things were before. This is different from asking what is simply true in the message. The message opens with: "soccer practice is at 4:00, not 4:30 like last week." This is the only detail that explicitly names something from last week and shows it has changed. Practice used to be at 4:30; now it is at 4:00. That is 30 minutes earlier, making C the correct answer — and the only choice supported by a direct before-and-after comparison. Now let's look at why the other choices fall short. A is true — Grandma is picking up the teenager instead of the parent — but the message never says this is different from last week. It may be a new arrangement, but no comparison to last week is made. B is also true — the teenager must bring a personal water bottle — but again, the message gives no information about what happened last week regarding water bottles. D is a fact stated in the message (the fountain is broken), but it is presented as a current situation, not a change from last week. The trap here is choosing an answer that is true versus one that answers the specific question asked. Always re-read the question carefully. If it asks "what is different from last week," your answer must include language from the passage that directly compares now to then.

Question 9

Reminder notice posted on an apartment building's bulletin board: "ATTENTION ALL RESIDENTS: The water will be shut off this Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for building repairs. Please fill containers with water before Sunday morning. The parking lot will NOT be affected. Thank you for your patience."

What should residents do because of this notice?

  1. Store some water at home before Sunday so they have water during the shutdown. (correct answer)
  2. Move their cars out of the parking lot before Sunday at 8:00 a.m.
  3. Avoid using water in their apartments after 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.
  4. Contact the building manager to request water delivery on Sunday morning.
Explanation: When you read a notice like this, your job is to find the main action the reader is being asked to take. Look for command words — verbs that tell people what to do. The notice says: "Please fill containers with water before Sunday morning." That single sentence is the key instruction. The water will be turned off from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for repairs, so residents need water stored ahead of time. This makes A correct — storing water at home before Sunday is exactly what the notice asks residents to do. B is a trap. The notice specifically says the parking lot will not be affected. Moving cars is unnecessary, and the notice never asks residents to do this. Watch out for details that are mentioned but mean the opposite of what a wrong answer claims. C misreads the time. The water shuts off at 8 a.m. and comes back on at 12 p.m. After 12 p.m., water service is normal again, so there is no reason to avoid using water after that time. D invents information. The notice never mentions a building manager or water delivery. On reading questions, never choose an answer that brings in ideas not found in the passage. A useful strategy: on notices and announcements, always ask yourself, "What does this text want me to do?" Find the action words and match them to the answer choices. The correct answer will use different words but carry the same meaning as the instruction in the text.

Question 10

Text message from a coworker named Jin to a coworker named Paula: "Hi Paula, can you cover my shift this Saturday from 10 to 3? I'll cover yours next Friday evening in return. If you can't do it, no worries — just let me know by Thursday so I have time to find someone else. Thanks!"

What will happen if Paula cannot cover Jin's shift?

  1. Jin will cancel his plans and work the Saturday shift himself without a substitute.
  2. Paula must find another coworker to cover the Saturday shift before Thursday.
  3. Paula must go to the Saturday shift for at least part of the time to help Jin out.
  4. Jin needs Paula to tell him by Thursday so he can look for another person to cover. (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading a text message or short note, focus on what the writer is asking for and what conditions they mention. Here, Jin makes a specific request and adds an important condition: if Paula cannot help, she needs to notify Jin by Thursday. That condition is the key to answering this question correctly. Looking at the message, Jin writes, "just let me know by Thursday so I have time to find someone else." This tells you two things: Paula's only responsibility if she can't cover is to inform Jin, and Jin — not Paula — will search for another person. That matches answer D, which correctly states that Jin needs Paula to tell him by Thursday so he can look for another coworker. The other choices misread the message in important ways. Choice A says Jin will simply work the shift himself with no substitute — but the message shows Jin is actively trying to find coverage, not giving up. Choice B places the responsibility on Paula to find a replacement, but the message says Jin will find someone else, not Paula. Choice C suggests Paula should work part of the shift, but the message never mentions a partial shift — Jin asks her to either cover it fully or let him know she can't. A helpful strategy: when a passage includes the word "if," pay close attention to what follows. "If" signals a condition — something that happens only in a specific situation. On reading comprehension questions, the condition and its result are often exactly what the question tests.