Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Comparing And Choosing Options
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Comparing And Choosing OptionsQuestion 1 of 10

Maria is at a phone store. The salesperson says: "We have two plans. Plan A costs $40 a month and includes 5 gigabytes of data. Plan B costs $55 a month and includes unlimited data. Which one is better for you?" Maria says, "I only use about 3 gigabytes a month."

Based on Maria's situation, which response shows that she is correctly comparing options and making the best choice?

"I'll take Plan B because unlimited data is always better than limited data for any kind of user."
"I'll take Plan A because it's cheaper and I don't use more than 5 gigabytes, so it covers what I need."
"I'll take Plan B because $55 is not much more expensive, and the plans are almost the same price anyway."
"I'll take Plan A because 5 gigabytes is more data than unlimited data, which makes it the smarter value."
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Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Comparing And Choosing Options

Practice Comparing And Choosing Options in Adult ESL/ELL High 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 Comparing And Choosing Options, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult ESL/ELL High 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 is at a phone store. The salesperson says: "We have two plans. Plan A costs $40 a month and includes 5 gigabytes of data. Plan B costs $55 a month and includes unlimited data. Which one is better for you?" Maria says, "I only use about 3 gigabytes a month."

Based on Maria's situation, which response shows that she is correctly comparing options and making the best choice?

  1. "I'll take Plan B because unlimited data is always better than limited data for any kind of user."
  2. "I'll take Plan A because it's cheaper and I don't use more than 5 gigabytes, so it covers what I need." (correct answer)
  3. "I'll take Plan B because $55 is not much more expensive, and the plans are almost the same price anyway."
  4. "I'll take Plan A because 5 gigabytes is more data than unlimited data, which makes it the smarter value."
Explanation: When comparing plans or products, the key is to match your actual needs to your options — not just assume that "more" or "cheaper" is always better. Ask yourself: What do I really use? What do I really pay? Maria tells us she uses about 3 gigabytes per month. Plan A gives her 5 gigabytes for $40, and Plan B gives unlimited data for $55. Since 5 gigabytes easily covers her 3-gigabyte habit, she never needs the extra data from Plan B. Choosing Plan A saves her $15 every month — that's $180 a year — without giving up anything she actually uses. That's why B is the correct answer: it shows logical thinking based on her real situation. Choice A sounds reasonable, but "unlimited is always better" ignores cost. Better for whom? For a heavy user, yes — but not for Maria. This is a common thinking trap called overgeneralizing. Choice C claims the plans are "almost the same price," but $15 more per month is a real difference, especially when Maria gets no benefit from the extra data. This answer distorts the numbers to justify a poor choice. Choice D is clearly wrong because it reverses the meaning of the words — 5 gigabytes is not more than unlimited data. If you see an answer that redefines obvious facts, eliminate it immediately. Study tip: On questions about decisions or comparisons, always go back to the person's specific situation. The "best" choice is the one that fits their needs and budget — not the one that sounds impressive in general.

Question 2

At a grocery store, a customer asks: "Which is cheaper per pound, the chicken at $3.99 for 2 pounds or the turkey at $5.49 for 3 pounds?" The cashier wants to help the customer compare correctly.

Which statement by the cashier correctly compares the two options using price per pound?

  1. "The chicken is cheaper per pound because $3.99 is less than $5.49, so the chicken costs less for each pound you buy."
  2. "The chicken is cheaper per pound because $3.99 is less than $5.49, so you pay less at the register for it."
  3. "The turkey is cheaper per pound. The chicken costs about $2.00 per pound, and the turkey costs about $1.83 per pound." (correct answer)
  4. "The chicken is cheaper per pound. The chicken costs about $2.00 per pound, and the turkey costs about $2.74 per pound."
Explanation: When comparing prices at a store, looking at the total price alone can be misleading. You need to find the price per pound — how much one pound costs — so you can make a fair comparison. To do this, divide the total price by the number of pounds. For the chicken: 3.99÷2≈$2.00 per pound3.99 \div 2 \approx \$2.00 \text{ per pound} For the turkey: 5.49÷3≈$1.83 per pound5.49 \div 3 \approx \$1.83 \text{ per pound} Since $1.83 is less than $2.00, the turkey is actually the better deal per pound — even though you pay more at the register overall. Answer C states this correctly, giving both calculated prices per pound and reaching the right conclusion. Answer A makes a common mistake: it compares the total prices ($3.99 vs. $5.49) instead of the per-pound prices. A bigger package can have a lower price per unit even when the total is higher. Answer B makes the same error and adds another confusion — paying "less at the register" is about total cost, not value per pound. Answer D does the right kind of calculation, but gets the turkey's math wrong. It divides 5.49by2insteadof3,arrivingat 5.49 by 2 instead of 3, arriving at ~2.74, which leads to the wrong conclusion. A helpful tip: whenever a question asks you to compare prices for different amounts, always calculate the unit price (price ÷ quantity) before deciding which is cheaper. Never compare total prices when the quantities are different.

Question 3

At a clothing store, a salesperson tells a customer: "This jacket is originally $120. Today it is 25% off. The other jacket is originally $100 and is 10% off today. Which one do you want?"

The customer wants the jacket with the lower sale price. Which response shows the customer choosing correctly after comparing both options?

  1. "I'll take the $120 jacket because 25% off is a bigger discount percentage, so it must be the cheapest option available today."
  2. "I'll take the $100 jacket because its original price is lower, so it will be the cheaper jacket no matter what discount is applied."
  3. "Both jackets cost the same after the discount. The $120 jacket after 25% off is $90, and the $100 jacket after 10% off is also $90, so either one is fine." (correct answer)
  4. "I'll take the $120 jacket. After 25% off, it costs $90, and the $100 jacket after 10% off costs $95, so the $120 jacket is now cheaper."
Explanation: When comparing discounts, you cannot rely on percentage alone — you must calculate the actual sale price for each item. A bigger discount percentage does not always mean a lower final price, especially when the original prices are different. Here's how to find each sale price. For the $120 jacket at 25% off, find 25% of $120: $120×0.25=30120 \times 0.25 = 30 $ Subtract that from the original: 120 - 30 = $90 For the $100 jacket at 10% off, find 10% of $100: $$100 \times 0.10 = 10$$ Subtract: 100−10=$90100 - 10 = \$90 Both jackets end up costing $90, which means C is correct — the customer can choose either one, since they are the same price after the discount. Answer A is a common trap. It assumes that a higher discount percentage automatically means the lowest price. But percentages are proportional — they depend on the starting price. Answer B makes a similar mistake in the opposite direction, assuming the lower original price will always stay the cheapest. That ignores how much the discount reduces each price. Answer D contains a math error — it claims the $100 jacket costs $95 after 10% off. Let's check: $100 \times 0.10 = 10$$, so $$100 - 10 = \90$$, not $95. This makes D's conclusion wrong. Study tip: Whenever you see two discount problems side by side, always calculate the final price for both items before deciding. Never compare just percentages or just original prices.

Question 4

At a restaurant, the server says: "Our lunch special is $9 and includes a sandwich, a drink, and a side. If you order those items separately, the sandwich is $6, the drink is $2, and the side is $3." The customer wants to save money.

Which statement best shows the customer using comparative language to make the right financial choice?

  1. "Ordering separately is cheaper. The special is $9, but the sandwich alone is only $6, so I'll just order the sandwich."
  2. "Ordering separately is cheaper. The separate items cost $11 total, which is more than $9, so I save money by ordering separately."
  3. "The special is cheaper. Ordering separately costs $9 total, which is the same price as the special, so it doesn't matter."
  4. "The special is cheaper. Ordering separately costs $11 total, and the special saves me $2, so I'll take the special." (correct answer)
Explanation: When a question asks about comparative language for financial decisions, you need to do two things: check that the math is correct, and check that the comparison logically supports the conclusion. Start by calculating the facts. The lunch special costs $9. Ordering separately costs $6 + 2 + 3 = \11 . So the special saves you $11 - $9 = $2 . That means the special is the better deal — the customer should choose it. Choice D is correct because it uses accurate numbers ($11 separate vs. $9 special), correctly identifies that the special is cheaper, and uses clear comparative language ("saves me $2") to justify the decision. This is exactly what good financial reasoning looks like. Choice A makes a math error — it compares the special to just the sandwich price ($6), ignoring the drink and side. The customer would still need those items, so this comparison is incomplete and misleading. Choosing only the sandwich doesn't get you the same meal. Choice B correctly calculates the $11 total but then draws the wrong conclusion — it claims ordering separately is cheaper, which is the opposite of the truth. Getting the math right but flipping the conclusion is a classic trap. Choice C states that ordering separately costs $9, which is simply wrong. It also says the prices are the same, leading to a false conclusion that the choice doesn't matter. Study tip: Always verify two things — the numbers and the conclusion. On questions like this, wrong answers often get one right and the other wrong. Don't stop checking after the math looks good.

Question 5

David is renting an apartment. Apartment 1 is $800 per month, 10 minutes from work, but has no parking. Apartment 2 is $950 per month, 30 minutes from work, and includes free parking. David drives to work every day and pays $120 per month for parking at his current place.

David wants to choose the apartment that costs him less money every month total. Which comparison statement is correct?

  1. "Apartment 1 costs $920 per month total, and Apartment 2 costs $950 per month total, so Apartment 2 is cheaper."
  2. "Apartment 1 costs $800 per month total, and Apartment 2 costs $950 per month total, so Apartment 1 is cheaper."
  3. "Apartment 1 costs $920 per month total, and Apartment 2 costs $950 per month total, so Apartment 1 is cheaper." (correct answer)
  4. "Apartment 1 costs $800 per month total, and Apartment 2 costs $1,070 per month total, so Apartment 1 is cheaper."
Explanation: When a question asks about total monthly cost, you need to add up all the expenses — not just rent. Hidden costs like parking can change which option is truly cheaper. Here's how to think through this problem. David drives to work, so he needs parking. Apartment 1 has no parking, meaning he must pay his usual $120/month separately. That makes his real monthly cost $\800 + $120 = $920 . Apartment 2 includes free parking, so his total is just the rent: $950 . Comparing the two, $920 < $950, which means Apartment 1 is cheaper overall — and that's exactly what answer C says. Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. Answer A calculates both totals correctly ($920 and $950) but then draws the wrong conclusion, saying Apartment 2 is cheaper — that's backwards. Answer B forgets to add parking to Apartment 1 entirely, listing its total as just $800, which ignores a real expense David has to pay. Answer D correctly identifies Apartment 1 as cheaper, but the math for Apartment 2 is wrong — $1,070 would mean adding $120 to $950, which doesn't make sense since parking is already included in Apartment 2's rent. A useful strategy: whenever you see "total cost," make a quick checklist of every expense mentioned in the passage. Watch for costs that are included (so you don't add them twice) versus costs that are missing (so you don't forget them). This kind of trap — hiding a cost like parking — is very common on real-life math problems.

Question 6

A customer at a coffee shop says to the barista: "I want the larger size, but only if it costs less than twice the price of the small. The small coffee is $2.50 and the large is $4.50."

Which response from the barista best helps the customer make a correct, informed choice?

  1. "The large is $4.50, and twice the small is $5.00, so the large costs less than twice the price. You should get the large." (correct answer)
  2. "The large is $4.50, and twice the small is $4.50, so they are exactly the same price. You should get the large."
  3. "The large is $4.50, and twice the small is $5.00, so the large costs more than twice the price. You should get the small."
  4. "The large is $4.50, and twice the small is $2.50, so the large costs much more than twice the price. You should get the small."
Explanation: When a problem involves comparing a price to "twice" another price, your job is simple: calculate the doubled amount and compare it to the given price. Here, the customer's condition is: buy the large only if it costs less than twice the small. Start with the math. Twice the small coffee means 2×$2.50=$5.002 \times \$2.50 = \$5.00. Now compare: the large costs $4.50. Since $4.50<$5.00\$4.50 < \$5.00, the large does cost less than twice the small — so the customer's condition is met, and the barista should recommend the large. That's exactly what answer A says, making it the correct, fully accurate response. Answer B makes an arithmetic error, claiming twice $2.50 equals $4.50. That's wrong — $2.50 doubled is $5.00, not $4.50. The conclusion accidentally matches A, but it's built on false math, so it doesn't give the customer correct information. Answer C gets the multiplication right ($5.00) but draws the wrong conclusion — it says the large costs more than twice the small, when $4.50 is actually less than $5.00. This flips the comparison and sends the customer in the wrong direction. Answer D makes a completely different error, treating "twice the small" as if it equals the small price ($2.50) itself, skipping the multiplication entirely. This gives a false comparison from the start. A useful habit: whenever you see the word "twice," immediately write out the multiplication before doing anything else. Don't try to hold it in your head — small arithmetic errors lead to wrong conclusions every time.

Question 7

A customer is buying a used car. The salesperson says: "Car 1 gets 30 miles per gallon and costs $12,000. Car 2 gets 20 miles per gallon and costs $9,000. Gas costs $4 per gallon. You drive about 1,000 miles per month."

The customer wants the car with the lower total cost after 12 months, including the purchase price and gas. Which car should the customer choose?

  1. Car 2, because the $3,000 lower purchase price is greater than the extra gas costs over 12 months, making Car 2 cheaper overall. (correct answer)
  2. Car 1, because better gas mileage always means lower total costs over any time period longer than a few months.
  3. Car 2, because its better gas mileage means lower monthly fuel costs, which offset the higher purchase price within 12 months.
  4. Car 1, because the gas savings over 12 months add up to more than $3,000, making its total cost lower than Car 2.
Explanation: When comparing two options with different upfront costs and different ongoing costs, you need to calculate the total cost over the given time period — not just look at one factor alone. Here's how to work through this problem. First, calculate monthly gas costs. Car 1 gets 30 MPG, so driving 1,000 miles uses 1000÷30≈33.31000 \div 30 \approx 33.3 gallons, costing 33.3×$4≈$13333.3 \times \$4 \approx \$133 per month. Car 2 gets 20 MPG, so 1000÷20=501000 \div 20 = 50 gallons, costing 50×$4=$20050 \times \$4 = \$200 per month. Car 1 saves you $200−$133=$67\$200 - \$133 = \$67 per month on gas. Over 12 months, that's $67×12=$804\$67 \times 12 = \$804 in gas savings. Now compare totals: Car 1 costs $12,000+$1,596=$13,596\$12,000 + \$1,596 = \$13,596. Car 2 costs $9,000+$2,400=$11,400\$9,000 + \$2,400 = \$11,400. Car 2 is cheaper overall, making A correct — the $3,000 price difference is much larger than the $804 gas savings from Car 1. Choice B is wrong because better gas mileage does NOT always mean lower total cost — the purchase price matters too, and the time period is critical. Choice C is wrong because it incorrectly states Car 2 has better gas mileage — Car 2 actually gets worse mileage, meaning higher fuel costs. Choice D is wrong because the math shows gas savings are only $804 over 12 months, not more than $3,000. Your study tip: always calculate both the upfront cost and the ongoing cost separately, then add them. Never assume the more efficient option is automatically cheaper.

Question 8

Rosa is at a pharmacy choosing between two cold medicines. Medicine A says: "Take 2 tablets every 6 hours. 24 tablets per box. Price: $8." Medicine B says: "Take 1 tablet every 4 hours. 24 tablets per box. Price: $6." Rosa wants the medicine that will last her more days if she takes it as directed around the clock.

Which comparison correctly identifies which medicine lasts more days, and by how much?

  1. "Medicine A lasts 3 days and Medicine B lasts 4 days, so Medicine B lasts longer by one day." (correct answer)
  2. "Medicine A lasts 3 days and Medicine B lasts 4 days, so Medicine A lasts longer by one day."
  3. "Medicine A lasts 3 days and Medicine B lasts 6 days, so Medicine B lasts longer by three days."
  4. "Medicine A lasts 4 days and Medicine B lasts 4 days, so both medicines last the same number of days."
Explanation: When a question asks you to compare how long two medicines last, you need to calculate the number of doses per day for each medicine, then divide the total tablets by that number. Start with Medicine A: it says "every 6 hours," so in a 24-hour day, you take 24÷6=424 \div 6 = 4 doses. Each dose is 2 tablets, so you use 4×2=84 \times 2 = 8 tablets per day. With 24 tablets total: 24÷8=324 \div 8 = 3 days. Now Medicine B: "every 4 hours" means 24÷4=624 \div 4 = 6 doses per day. Each dose is 1 tablet, so you use 6 tablets per day. With 24 tablets: 24÷6=424 \div 6 = 4 days. Medicine B lasts 4 days and Medicine A lasts 3 days — so Medicine B lasts longer by one day. That confirms answer A is correct. Answer B gets the math right but reverses the conclusion — it says Medicine A lasts longer, which is backwards. Always double-check which medicine is actually longer after you calculate. Answer C correctly identifies that Medicine A lasts 3 days but claims Medicine B lasts 6 days — that's a calculation error, likely from forgetting to account for doses per day properly. Answer D says both last 4 days, which is wrong for Medicine A. Study tip: On word problems like this, slow down and write out each step — "doses per day → tablets per day → total days." It's easy to mix up the two medicines when doing mental math under pressure.

Question 9

At an electronics store, a customer is deciding between two laptops. The salesperson says: "Laptop X has a 2-year warranty and costs $650. Laptop Y has a 1-year warranty and costs $500. We also sell an extended warranty for any laptop: 1 extra year for $80." The customer says, "I need at least 2 years of warranty coverage."

The customer wants to meet the 2-year warranty requirement at the lowest possible total cost. Which option should the customer choose?

  1. Laptop X for $650, because it already includes 2 years of warranty and no additional purchase is needed to meet the requirement.
  2. Laptop Y plus the extended warranty for $580 total, because this meets the 2-year requirement and costs less than Laptop X alone. (correct answer)
  3. Laptop Y for $500, because it is $150 cheaper than Laptop X and already meets the 2-year warranty requirement on its own.
  4. Laptop X plus the extended warranty for $730 total, because more warranty coverage is always the safest and most cost-effective choice.
Explanation: When a question asks you to meet a requirement "at the lowest possible cost," you need to compare every option that satisfies the condition — not just pick the cheapest item or the one that sounds safest. Here, the requirement is at least 2 years of warranty. Start by listing only the options that actually meet this:
  • Laptop X alone: 2-year warranty, $650\$650 total ✓
  • Laptop Y + extended warranty: 1+1=21 + 1 = 2 years, $500+$80=$580\$500 + \$80 = \$580 total ✓
Comparing these two valid options, $580<$650\$580 < \$650, so Laptop Y with the extended warranty meets the requirement and costs $70 less. That makes B the correct answer. A is tempting because Laptop X does meet the 2-year requirement with no extra steps — but "no additional purchase needed" doesn't mean it's the cheapest qualifying option. Always compare all valid choices before deciding. C is the most dangerous trap. Laptop Y alone only covers 1 year, which does not meet the customer's stated requirement. A lower price means nothing if the option fails the condition entirely. D adds an extended warranty to Laptop X, giving 3 years for $\730 . This exceeds the requirement unnecessarily and costs the most of any option — it is neither required nor cost-effective. A useful habit: on cost-optimization questions, first filter out options that fail the requirement, then compare only the remaining ones by price. Never let a low sticker price distract you from checking whether a condition is actually met.

Question 10

A student is choosing between two English classes. Class A meets 3 days a week for 1 hour each day and costs $150. Class B meets 2 days a week for 2 hours each day and costs $120. The student wants the class with the lower cost per hour of instruction.

Which statement correctly compares the cost per hour and identifies the better value?

  1. "Class A costs $30 per hour and Class B costs $30 per hour, so both classes have the same cost per hour and equal value."
  2. "Class A costs $50 per hour and Class B costs $60 per hour, so Class A has a lower cost per hour and is the better value."
  3. "Class A costs $150 per week and Class B costs $120 per week, so Class B costs less per week and is the better value."
  4. "Class A costs $50 per hour and Class B costs $30 per hour, so Class B has a lower cost per hour and is the better value." (correct answer)
Explanation: When comparing costs, you need to find the cost per hour — not the total cost. This means dividing the total price by the total number of hours of instruction. For Class A: it meets 3 days × 1 hour = 3 hours per week, costing $150. $\frac{\150}{3 \text{ hours}} = $50 \text{ per hour} For Class B: it meets 2 days × 2 hours = 4 hours per week, costing 120. $$\frac{\120}{4 \text{ hours}} = $30 \text{ per hour}$$ Since $30 < $50, Class B has the lower cost per hour and is the better value — making D the correct answer. Choice A is wrong because it claims both classes cost $30 per hour. Class A actually costs $50 per hour, so this calculation is incorrect for Class A. Choice B correctly calculates Class A at 50perhour,butgetsClassBwrong(50 per hour, but gets Class B wrong (60 instead of $30), which leads to the wrong conclusion. Always double-check both calculations before comparing. Choice C makes a common mistake: it compares total weekly cost instead of cost per hour. Yes, $120 is less than $150, but this ignores how many hours you receive. Class B gives you more hours, which is exactly why cost per hour matters. Study tip: Whenever a question asks for "better value," look for the word per — it signals you need to divide. Total cost alone never tells the full story.