Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Finding And Confirming Message Details
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Finding And Confirming Message DetailsQuestion 1 of 10

Email:

Dear Tenant,

This is a reminder that your rent of 950∗∗isdueonthe∗∗1stofeverymonth∗∗.Ifpaymentisreceivedafterthe∗∗5th∗∗,alatefeeof∗∗950** is due on the **1st of every month**. If payment is received after the **5th**, a late fee of **50 will be charged. Please send checks or money orders to PO Box 3312, Westfield, CA 90201. Do NOT pay in cash. For questions, contact the office at (555) 671-8830.

Thank you, Westfield Property Management

A tenant mails a check on the 3rd of the month. The check arrives at the PO Box on the 7th. What will most likely happen?

The tenant will not be charged a late fee because the PO Box address confirms the landlord expects some delay in mail delivery.
The tenant will not be charged a late fee because the check was mailed on the 3rd, which is before the 5th-day deadline.
The tenant will be charged a $50 late fee because the rent was not paid on the 1st, which is the required due date listed in the email.
The tenant will be charged a $50 late fee because the payment was received after the 5th, regardless of when it was mailed.
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Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Finding And Confirming Message Details

Practice Finding And Confirming Message Details 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 Finding And Confirming Message Details, 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

Email:

Dear Tenant,

This is a reminder that your rent of 950∗∗isdueonthe∗∗1stofeverymonth∗∗.Ifpaymentisreceivedafterthe∗∗5th∗∗,alatefeeof∗∗950** is due on the **1st of every month**. If payment is received after the **5th**, a late fee of **50 will be charged. Please send checks or money orders to PO Box 3312, Westfield, CA 90201. Do NOT pay in cash. For questions, contact the office at (555) 671-8830.

Thank you, Westfield Property Management

A tenant mails a check on the 3rd of the month. The check arrives at the PO Box on the 7th. What will most likely happen?

  1. The tenant will not be charged a late fee because the PO Box address confirms the landlord expects some delay in mail delivery.
  2. The tenant will not be charged a late fee because the check was mailed on the 3rd, which is before the 5th-day deadline.
  3. The tenant will be charged a $50 late fee because the rent was not paid on the 1st, which is the required due date listed in the email.
  4. The tenant will be charged a $50 late fee because the payment was received after the 5th, regardless of when it was mailed. (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading rental agreements or official notices, always focus on the exact language used. The key word in this email is "received" — the policy says a late fee applies if payment is received after the 5th, not if it is sent after the 5th. That distinction changes everything. In this scenario, the tenant mailed the check on the 3rd, but it didn't arrive at the PO Box until the 7th. Since the property management company counts payment as complete only when they receive it, the 7th is what matters — and the 7th is after the 5th deadline. That makes D the correct answer: the tenant will be charged a $50 late fee because the payment arrived late, regardless of when it was mailed. A is incorrect because using a PO Box says nothing about allowing extra time for mail delays. A PO Box is simply a mailing address — it creates no special exception to the policy. B is a common and understandable mistake: it feels fair that mailing before the deadline should count. But the email never says that — it only says payment must be received by the 5th. C is also wrong. While rent is due on the 1st, the late fee only kicks in after the 5th, so the 1st is not the cutoff for the fee. Study tip: On questions like this, underline the exact words in a policy — especially words like received, sent, by, or after. These small words carry big meaning and are often the key to choosing the right answer.

Question 2

Recorded phone message from Lincoln Elementary School:

"Hello, this message is for the parent or guardian of a student in Ms. Farrell's class. There will be a parent meeting on Thursday, October 10th at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. If you cannot attend, please call the school at (555) 712-0093 by Wednesday, October 9th at 3:00 p.m. to let us know. The school address is 900 Lincoln Avenue. Thank you."

A parent listens to this message on Wednesday, October 9th at 4:15 p.m. She cannot attend the meeting. What should she understand about calling the school?

  1. She has missed the deadline to call, because all school offices close at 4:00 p.m. and she cannot reach anyone after that time.
  2. She can still call, because the meeting is on Thursday, October 10th, and she has until that day to notify the school about her absence.
  3. She has missed the deadline to call, because the message required her to call by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th, and it is now 4:15 p.m. (correct answer)
  4. She can still call, because the message says Wednesday is the deadline day, and the day is not over until midnight on Wednesday.
Explanation: When a recorded message gives you a deadline, pay close attention to both the date and the time — they work together as one complete cutoff point. In this message, the school clearly states that parents must call by Wednesday, October 9th at 3:00 p.m. That means the deadline has two parts: the day and the hour. The parent listens to the message on Wednesday, October 9th, but at 4:15 p.m. — one hour and fifteen minutes after the 3:00 p.m. cutoff. Because she missed the time, she has missed the deadline entirely. C is correct. Here's why the other choices don't hold up. A reaches the right conclusion (she missed the deadline), but for the wrong reason — the message says nothing about school office hours closing at 4:00 p.m. Don't add information that isn't in the passage. B is incorrect because it ignores the time requirement completely. The meeting being on Thursday doesn't give her until Thursday to call — the message set Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. as the notify-by deadline. D is a tempting trap. It's true that Wednesday isn't over at 4:15 p.m., but the deadline wasn't "anytime on Wednesday" — it was specifically 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The time matters just as much as the date. Study tip: On questions like this, underline every part of a deadline — the day and the time. A common trap is focusing on just one and ignoring the other.

Question 3

Flyer posted at a laundromat:

Lost & Found Policy Items left in machines or on folding tables will be held for 7 days. After 7 days, items will be donated. To claim an item, call (555) 831-4490 and give the date you left the item and a description. Our address: 3302 Westover Street (corner of Westover and 5th Ave.) Hours: Daily 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Sandra left a jacket at the laundromat on a Monday. She calls on the following Tuesday — 8 days later — and asks if her jacket is still there. What should she expect to hear?

  1. The jacket is still there, because she called within the same week she lost it, and the 7-day period resets each week.
  2. The jacket has likely been donated, because 8 days have passed and the policy holds items for only 7 days. (correct answer)
  3. The jacket is still there, because Tuesday is the same day of the week she left it, and 7 days means one full week.
  4. The jacket has likely been donated, and she can ask the staff to contact the donation organization to get it back.
Explanation: When a policy gives you a specific number of days, count carefully — the number means exactly what it says, starting from day one. The flyer states clearly that items are held for 7 days, then donated. Sandra left her jacket on Monday (Day 1). Counting forward: Tuesday of the next week is Day 8. Since 8 days have passed, the 7-day window has already closed. Her jacket has most likely been donated, making B the correct answer. Choice A is a trap that confuses "7 days" with "the same calendar week." A week on a calendar resets on Sunday or Monday depending on convention, but the policy says nothing about weeks — it says 7 days from when the item was left. There is no "weekly reset" mentioned anywhere in the flyer. Choice C makes a similar mistake. Calling on a Tuesday might feel like "one full week" because it's the same day of the week, but Tuesday-to-Tuesday is actually 7 days completed, meaning Day 8 has begun. The item would need to be claimed by Day 7, not on Day 8. Choice D sounds reasonable emotionally, but the flyer gives no information about contacting donation organizations. You should only use details the passage actually provides — don't add steps that aren't there. Study tip: On reading comprehension questions, stick strictly to what the text says. If an answer adds extra steps or assumptions the passage doesn't support, it's almost always wrong. Train yourself to ask: "Does the passage actually say this?"

Question 4

Voicemail message:

"Hi, this is a message for Ana Torres. This is Kevin from City Utilities. Your account number is 77-4429-B. We show an unpaid balance of $134.00 on your account. If you pay by November 30th, there will be no extra charge. After that date, a 10% late fee will be added to your balance. To make a payment, call us at (555) 523-0047. Thank you."

Ana pays her bill on December 3rd. How much does she owe in total?

  1. She owes $147.40, because 10% of $134.00 is $13.40, and $134.00 + $13.40 = $147.40. (correct answer)
  2. She owes $144.00, because 10% of $134.00 is $10.00, and $134.00 + $10.00 = $144.00.
  3. She owes $134.00, because December 3rd is close enough to November 30th that no late fee is added.
  4. She owes $148.40, because the 10% late fee of $13.40 is added to the bill twice for paying two days late.
Explanation: When a question asks you to calculate a late fee, you need to do two things: (1) find the percentage of the original amount, and (2) add it to the original balance. Think of a late fee as an extra charge on top of what you already owe. Here's how the math works for this problem. Ana's unpaid balance is $134.00, and the late fee is 10%. To find 10% of a number, multiply by 0.10: $134.00×0.10=13.40134.00 \times 0.10 = 13.40 $ That $13.40 is the late fee. Now add it to the original balance: $$134.00 + 13.40 = 147.40$$ So Ana owes $147.40 — which is exactly what A says, making it the correct answer. B is wrong because it claims 10% of $134.00 is $10.00. That would only be true if the original balance were 100.00.Don′tconfuse"10100.00. Don't confuse "10%" with "10." C is wrong because the message sets a clear deadline: November 30th. December 3rd is after that date, so the late fee absolutely applies. "Close enough" is never a rule in a billing situation unless the message says so. D is wrong because the fee is not multiplied by the number of days late. Being two days late doesn't mean you pay the late fee twice — the 10% is a one-time charge added once to the balance. Study tip: When you see a percentage fee in a word problem, always calculate the percentage first, then add it to the original number. Don't guess the dollar amount — do the math.

Question 5

Flyer from the Riverside Adult School:

Free ESL Classes — Spring Session Classes begin: April 7th Last day to register: April 4th Location: 1150 Oak Street, Room 12 Class times: Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (555) 408-2260 or (555) 408-2261.

Note: Students who register after April 4th must pay a $15 late fee.

A student registers on April 5th and attends every class. Which statement correctly describes what she must do?

  1. She must pay a $15 late fee because she registered after the April 4th deadline, even though classes have not started yet. (correct answer)
  2. She does not pay a fee because she registered before classes began on April 7th, which is the real deadline for free enrollment.
  3. She must pay a $15 late fee only if she misses a class, because the fee applies to students who do not attend regularly.
  4. She does not pay a fee because the $15 charge only applies to students who register after April 7th, when classes actually start.
Explanation: When a flyer or notice includes a deadline with a fee, you need to read the exact wording carefully — the rule applies based on when you register, not when classes start. The flyer clearly states: "Students who register after April 4th must pay a $15 late fee." April 4th is the registration deadline. The student in this question registers on April 5th — one day after that deadline. Because April 5th comes after April 4th, she owes the $15 late fee. It does not matter that classes haven't started yet, and it does not matter that she attends every class. The fee is triggered by when she registered, nothing else. This makes A the correct answer. B is wrong because it invents a rule that doesn't exist. The flyer never says April 7th (the first day of class) is the real deadline for free enrollment — that date is only when classes begin, not a registration cutoff. C is wrong because the note says nothing about attendance. The fee has no connection to whether a student misses classes; it is only about late registration. D is wrong for the same reason as B — it incorrectly assumes the fee only applies after April 7th. The flyer is specific: the deadline is April 4th, not the class start date. A useful strategy: when a passage includes a rule with a specific date or condition, underline it mentally and match it exactly to the question. Don't mix up separate dates — registration deadlines and class start dates are different things.

Question 6

Community bulletin board posting:

Food Pantry Distribution Day Date: Every second Saturday of the month Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Address: 88 Linden Boulevard, Side Entrance (NOT the front door) Who can come: Any resident of zip codes 07302 or 07304 Bring: A piece of mail with your name and address on it Call ahead to confirm: (555) 229-4456

Rosa lives at 210 Park Street, zip code 07303. She brings an electric bill with her name and address. Can she get food from the pantry?

  1. Yes, she can receive food because zip code 07303 is between 07302 and 07304, so it is included in the eligible area.
  2. Yes, she can receive food because she has a piece of mail with her name and address, which is the only requirement on the flyer.
  3. No, she cannot receive food because she did not call ahead to confirm, and the flyer lists calling as a step before visiting.
  4. No, she cannot receive food because her zip code, 07303, is not on the list of eligible zip codes. (correct answer)
Explanation: When reading a flyer or announcement, your job is to match the specific requirements listed to the person's situation — not to assume or guess what "might" be included. This flyer lists two clear eligibility rules: (1) the visitor must live in zip code 07302 or 07304, and (2) they must bring a piece of mail with their name and address. Rosa lives in zip code 07303, which does not appear on that list. Because she fails the zip code requirement, she cannot receive food — making D the correct answer. Here's why the other choices are wrong: A makes a logical-sounding but false assumption — that 07303 is "included" because it falls between 07302 and 07304. But the flyer does not say "zip codes between 07302 and 07304." It lists only those two specific codes. Numbers in a list are not the same as a range. B is tempting because Rosa did bring her mail, which satisfies one requirement. However, meeting one rule doesn't mean you meet all rules. Both requirements must be satisfied. C focuses on the "call ahead" note, but the flyer says to call to confirm — this is a recommendation, not a strict requirement that blocks entry if skipped. A useful strategy: when a flyer or sign lists specific criteria, treat them like a checklist. Every item must match. Watch out for answers that sound reasonable but add information the text never actually states — like "between" two numbers when only those exact numbers are listed.

Question 7

Text message conversation:

Supervisor (Diane): Hi James, don't forget — your first day at the new location is Monday. The address is 2240 Maple Drive, not 2204 Maple Drive — we moved last year. Parking is in Lot C behind the building. Be there by 8:45 a.m. — we start exactly at 9:00 a.m.

James: Got it! Is the phone number still the same?

Diane: No, the new number is (555) 384-7210. The old number no longer works.

James's friend wants to call the office to leave James a message on Monday morning. Which number should the friend call?

  1. (555) 384-7210, but only after 9:00 a.m., because the text says work officially starts at that time.
  2. The old number, because the message does not say what the old number was, so it might still be active.
  3. (555) 384-7210, because Diane confirmed this is the new office number that currently works. (correct answer)
  4. The old number, because Diane only said it "no longer works" at the old address, not at the new location.
Explanation: When reading a text message conversation for key details, focus on what information is confirmed as current versus what is outdated or uncertain. This question tests whether you can identify the correct, up-to-date information from a short exchange. Diane clearly tells James the new office phone number is (555) 384-7210 and that the old number "no longer works." This makes C the correct answer — the friend should call (555) 384-7210 because Diane explicitly confirmed it as the working number for the current location. Choice A adds a condition that the text never mentions. Diane says work starts at 9:00 a.m., but nothing in the conversation says the phone is unavailable before that time. Don't add rules that aren't there. Choice B suggests using the old number because it wasn't listed in the conversation — but that's backward thinking. Just because a number isn't mentioned doesn't mean it's active. In fact, Diane confirmed the opposite: the old number no longer works. Choice D tries to twist Diane's words by suggesting the old number stopped working only at the old address. Read carefully — Diane says the old number "no longer works," period. There's no condition about location attached to that statement. A useful strategy: when a passage gives you a direct, clear statement like "the new number is X" or "the old one no longer works," trust that statement. Tricky wrong answers often try to add extra conditions or misread simple phrases. Ask yourself, "What does the text actually say?" — not what seems possible.

Question 8

Hi Maria,

I wanted to remind you about the community center registration. The deadline to sign up for the English class is Friday, March 14th. Please bring a photo ID and a utility bill to prove your address. The class starts on Monday, March 17th at 9:00 a.m. If you have questions, call us at (555) 204-3871.

Thanks, Linda

Maria reads this email on Wednesday, March 12th. How many days does she have left to register for the English class?

  1. She has 2 days left. The deadline is Friday, March 14th, and today is Wednesday, March 12th. (correct answer)
  2. She has 3 days left. The class starts on Monday, March 17th, and today is Wednesday, March 12th.
  3. She has 5 days left. The class starts on Monday, March 17th, and she counts all days including the weekend.
  4. She has 1 day left. The deadline is Friday, so Thursday is the last full day she can register.
Explanation: When a question asks "how many days are left," you need to find two key pieces of information: today's date and the deadline date. Be careful not to confuse the deadline with the start date — these are two different dates in this email. The email tells you the registration deadline is Friday, March 14th. Maria reads the email on Wednesday, March 12th. To count the days remaining, go from today (Wednesday the 12th) forward to the deadline (Friday the 14th): Thursday the 13th is one day, and Friday the 14th is the second day. That gives her 2 days left, which makes A the correct answer. Choice B is a common trap — it uses the class start date (Monday, March 17th) instead of the registration deadline (Friday, March 14th). The question asks about registering, not attending. Choice C makes the same mistake by using March 17th, and also incorrectly counts weekend days as extra time to register. Choice D is tricky — it argues that Thursday is the "last full day," but the deadline is Friday the 14th, so Friday itself is still a valid day to register. Maria has both Thursday and Friday available, giving her 2 days, not 1. A helpful strategy: when an email or notice contains multiple dates, underline or circle each one and label what it means (deadline, start date, end date, etc.). Questions like this are designed to see if you can find the right date for the right purpose — don't let extra information pull your attention away from what the question is actually asking.

Question 9

Letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles:

Dear Mr. Okafor,

Your driver's license (License No. K-8841-2) will expire on June 30th. To renew by mail, your completed form and payment of $32 must be received by June 15th. To renew in person, visit us at 1400 State Road, Building B before the expiration date. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For help, call (555) 900-1122.

Sincerely, DMV Office

Mr. Okafor mails his renewal form and $32 on June 13th, but the DMV receives it on June 17th. What is the most likely outcome?

  1. His mail renewal will be processed because he mailed it on June 13th, which is before the June 15th deadline for mail renewals.
  2. His mail renewal will not be processed on time because the DMV must receive it by June 15th, and it arrived on June 17th — two days late. (correct answer)
  3. His mail renewal will not be processed, and his license will expire immediately on June 17th because he missed the in-person deadline too.
  4. His mail renewal will be processed because June 17th is still before June 30th, and the letter says the license is valid until that date.
Explanation: When reading official letters like this one, pay close attention to deadline language — specifically whether a deadline means the date you send something or the date it must arrive. That distinction is everything here. The letter says your "completed form and payment must be received by June 15th." The word received is the key. It doesn't matter when Mr. Okafor mailed the form — what matters is when the DMV gets it. He mailed it on June 13th, but the DMV received it on June 17th, which is two days after the June 15th deadline. That means B is correct: his mail renewal will not be processed on time because it arrived late. Choice A is a common trap. It focuses on the mailing date (June 13th) rather than the receiving date. Many people assume that mailing before a deadline is enough, but this letter specifically says "received by" — not "mailed by." A is wrong because it misreads the condition. Choice C goes too far. Yes, his mail renewal missed the deadline, but his license doesn't expire until June 30th. He still has time to renew in person before that date. C incorrectly treats June 17th as a hard expiration point. Choice D confuses two separate deadlines. June 30th is the license expiration date, not the mail renewal deadline. The mail deadline is June 15th, and the DMV received the form after that date, so D is incorrect. Study tip: On official document questions, underline deadline words like received by, postmarked by, or before — they often hide the answer.

Question 10

Text message from Dr. Patel's office:

"Hello, this is a reminder for Carlos Mendez. Your appointment is on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork. The office is located at 482 Birchwood Avenue, Suite 3. If you need to cancel, call (555) 317-9042 at least 24 hours before your appointment."

Carlos wants to cancel his appointment. He reads this message on Monday at 11:00 a.m. Is it too late to cancel without a problem?

  1. No, it is not too late. Monday at 11:00 a.m. is more than 24 hours before Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., so he can still call. (correct answer)
  2. Yes, it is too late. The message says he must cancel on Monday morning, and 11:00 a.m. is no longer morning in most offices.
  3. No, it is not too late. He can call any time on Tuesday before 2:30 p.m., because that is still before the appointment starts.
  4. Yes, it is too late. The 24-hour rule means he needed to cancel by Sunday at 2:30 p.m., not on Monday at all.
Explanation: When a message gives you a time rule like "at least 24 hours before," your job is to calculate whether the current time is still within that window. Think of it like a countdown: subtract 24 hours from the appointment time, and that gives you the deadline to cancel. Carlos's appointment is Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Counting back exactly 24 hours lands on Monday at 2:30 p.m. Carlos reads the message on Monday at 11:00 a.m. — that's 3.5 hours before the deadline, which means he still has time. Answer A is correct: it is not too late to cancel. Answer B is a trap. The message says nothing about "Monday morning" being the deadline. It says 24 hours in advance — that's a math rule, not a time-of-day preference. Don't invent rules that aren't in the text. Answer C is wrong because it ignores the 24-hour rule entirely. Calling on Tuesday before 2:30 p.m. would be less than 24 hours before the appointment — that violates the office's policy, even if the appointment hasn't started yet. Answer D miscalculates the deadline. It claims Carlos needed to cancel by Sunday at 2:30 p.m., which would be 48 hours before the appointment, not 24. That's double the required notice. Study tip: On questions with time rules, always do the math explicitly — write out the appointment time, subtract the required hours, and compare that to the time given in the question. Don't guess based on how the answers sound reasonable.