Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Questions For Confirming Correcting
10 questions · exam conditions
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Questions For Confirming CorrectingQuestion 1 of 10

Maria is talking to her new coworker, Jin. Jin says, "My shift starts at 7." Maria is not sure if he means 7 in the morning or 7 in the evening.

Which question should Maria use to confirm the correct information?

Do you mean 7 in the morning or 7 in the evening?
Is your shift starting soon or later today?
When does your shift usually start every week?
Why does your shift start at that time every day?
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Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz

Adult ESL/ELL High Beginner Quiz: Questions For Confirming Correcting

Practice Questions For Confirming Correcting 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 Questions For Confirming Correcting, 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 talking to her new coworker, Jin. Jin says, "My shift starts at 7." Maria is not sure if he means 7 in the morning or 7 in the evening.

Which question should Maria use to confirm the correct information?

  1. Do you mean 7 in the morning or 7 in the evening? (correct answer)
  2. Is your shift starting soon or later today?
  3. When does your shift usually start every week?
  4. Why does your shift start at that time every day?
Explanation: When someone gives you information that could mean two different things, the best way to clear up the confusion is to ask a clarifying question — one that directly addresses the specific misunderstanding. That's exactly the skill being tested here. Maria heard "7" but doesn't know if Jin means morning or evening. The most helpful thing she can do is name both possibilities and ask which one is correct. That's what answer A does: "Do you mean 7 in the morning or 7 in the evening?" It targets the exact confusion, gives Jin two clear options, and gets Maria the information she actually needs. This is the correct answer. The other choices don't solve Maria's problem. B asks if the shift is "soon or later today," which is vague — it doesn't ask about morning or evening specifically, and Jin might not even be starting today. C asks when the shift "usually" starts every week, which shifts the topic to a general schedule instead of clarifying this specific confusion about AM or PM. D asks why the shift starts at that time, which is completely off-topic — Maria wants to know which 7 o'clock, not the reason behind the schedule. A good study tip: when a question asks you to "confirm" or "clarify" information, look for the answer that directly restates the confusion and asks for the missing detail. The correct question should be specific, not general, and it should match exactly what is unclear in the situation.

Question 2

Aisha is at a store. The cashier says the total is "thirteen dollars." Aisha thinks she heard "thirty dollars." She wants to correct this possible misunderstanding.

Which question should Aisha ask the cashier?

  1. Is it thirteen dollars, not thirty dollars? (correct answer)
  2. Do you accept credit cards or only cash payments?
  3. How much does this type of item usually cost here?
  4. Can I get a bag for all of my purchased items today?
Explanation: When you mishear a number and want to check if you understood correctly, the most useful question is one that directly addresses the confusion — in this case, the mix-up between "thirteen" and "thirty." These two numbers sound very similar in English, especially in noisy environments, so clarifying them politely is an important real-world skill. Choice A is the right question because it targets exactly what Aisha is unsure about. By asking "Is it thirteen dollars, not thirty dollars?" she's repeating both numbers back to the cashier, making the potential misunderstanding clear and easy to resolve. This is called a clarification question, and it's the most direct, efficient way to confirm what she heard. Choice B asks about payment methods — credit cards versus cash. This has nothing to do with the price Aisha misheard, so it doesn't help solve her problem. Choice C asks about the general cost of items in the store, which is too vague and also unrelated to correcting a specific number she may have misheard. Choice D asks for a shopping bag, which is completely off-topic — it introduces a new request rather than addressing the misunderstanding at all. The key strategy here is to match the question to the problem. Whenever a passage describes a specific communication problem — like mishearing a price — the correct answer will be the one that directly solves that problem, not one that changes the subject. On questions like this, eliminate any answer that introduces a new topic, and focus on the one that stays on-task.

Question 3

Read the short conversation: Sam: "The bus leaves at a quarter to eight." Dana: "Sorry, I'm not sure I understand.  " Dana wants to confirm that the bus leaves at 7:45.

Which sentence correctly completes Dana's response?

  1. Are there many buses that leave at different times?
  2. Is the bus going to be late again this morning?
  3. Does the bus stop near the corner of our street?
  4. Do you mean the bus leaves at 7:45? (correct answer)
Explanation: When someone doesn't understand what they heard, a common and polite strategy is to restate what you think you heard as a yes/no question. This checks your understanding and gives the other person a chance to confirm or correct you. Dana heard "a quarter to eight" and wants to make sure she understood correctly — so she needs to rephrase that time in a different way. "A quarter to eight" means 15 minutes before 8:00, which is 7:45. So Dana's clarifying question should restate the bus's departure time as 7:45. Choice D — "Do you mean the bus leaves at 7:45?" — does exactly that. It uses the phrase "Do you mean...?" which is a natural, polite way to check understanding in English, and it correctly converts "a quarter to eight" into 7:45. The other choices all change the subject entirely. Choice A asks about multiple buses and schedules, which has nothing to do with confirming the time Sam mentioned. Choice B assumes the bus will be late — Dana is asking about the departure time, not complaining about delays. Choice C asks about where the bus stops, not when it leaves, so it ignores the information Dana is trying to clarify. A useful tip: when a question asks you to "confirm" or "check understanding," look for the answer that restates the same information in new words — not one that introduces a brand new topic. On this exam, clarification questions almost always follow the pattern "Do you mean...?" or "So you're saying...?" Keep that structure in mind.

Question 4

Tomás is filling out a form at a clinic. The receptionist says his appointment is "next Monday at two-thirty." Tomás thinks he heard "two-thirteen." He needs to confirm the correct time before leaving.

Which question should Tomás ask to confirm the appointment time?

  1. Is the clinic open for appointments on weekends or holidays?
  2. Do you have appointments available on other days this month?
  3. Is it two-thirty, not two-thirteen, for my appointment? (correct answer)
  4. Do I need to bring any specific documents to this appointment?
Explanation: When you mishear something important — like an appointment time — the right move is to repeat what you think you heard and ask if it's correct. This is called confirming information, and it's one of the most useful communication skills in everyday English. In Tomás's situation, he heard "two-thirty" but thought it might be "two-thirteen." His goal is simple: fix the confusion before he leaves. The best question does exactly that — it names both times and asks which one is right. That's why C is correct. Saying "Is it two-thirty, not two-thirteen, for my appointment?" directly addresses the misunderstanding, gives the receptionist both options to clarify, and stays focused on the problem at hand. A asks about weekend and holiday hours, which has nothing to do with confirming today's appointment time — it's completely off-topic. B asks about other available days this month, which would only make sense if Tomás wanted to reschedule, but that's not his situation at all. D asks about required documents, which might be a useful question eventually, but it ignores the actual problem: Tomás still doesn't know the correct time. Notice that A, B, and D all introduce brand-new topics instead of solving the confusion Tomás already has. When a question asks what someone should do to confirm or clarify something, always look for the answer that stays focused on the specific misunderstanding — not one that changes the subject entirely.

Question 5

Carlos hears his teacher say, "The homework is due on the 15th." Carlos thinks she said the 50th, which is not a real date. He wants to make sure he heard correctly.

Which sentence best helps Carlos confirm what the teacher said?

  1. Is the homework due on the 15th, not the 50th? (correct answer)
  2. Did you say the homework will be very long this week?
  3. Can you tell me what the homework is about again?
  4. When do you usually give homework to the class?
Explanation: When you mishear something important, the best way to fix the misunderstanding is to repeat what you think you heard and ask if it's correct. This is called a clarifying question, and it's one of the most useful communication skills in English. The goal is to confirm the specific detail you're unsure about — not to ask a completely new or unrelated question. Answer A works perfectly here. Carlos isn't sure if the teacher said "15th" or "50th," so he repeats both versions and asks which one is right: "Is the homework due on the 15th, not the 50th?" This directly addresses his confusion and gives the teacher exactly what she needs to correct him if necessary. Answer B asks whether the homework will be long — but Carlos's problem isn't about the length of the homework. He's confused about the due date. This question misses the point entirely. Answer C asks the teacher to explain the homework topic again, which is also off-topic. Carlos already knows what the homework is; he just doesn't know when it's due. Answer D asks when the teacher usually gives homework, which is a general habit question. This doesn't help Carlos figure out the specific due date he misheard. A helpful tip to remember: when you're unsure about a detail you heard, the best clarifying question restates the specific information you're confused about. Look for answer choices that are focused and direct — choices that wander off-topic won't solve the actual communication problem.

Question 6

A student named Leo tells his friend, "The meeting is on Tuesday." His friend thinks Leo said Thursday. The friend wants to use a question to correct or confirm this.

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate confirming question for Leo's friend to ask?

  1. Do you go to meetings like this one very often at work?
  2. Is the meeting going to be a very long one this week?
  3. Will there be many important topics at the meeting today?
  4. Do you mean Tuesday, not Thursday, for the meeting? (correct answer)
Explanation: When someone mishears information and wants to check what was actually said, the right tool is a confirming question — one that directly addresses the specific misunderstanding. This type of question stays focused on the exact point of confusion rather than drifting into unrelated topics. In this situation, Leo's friend heard "Thursday" but Leo said "Tuesday." The friend's goal is simple: confirm which day is correct. Answer D — "Do you mean Tuesday, not Thursday, for the meeting?" — does exactly this. It identifies both the word the friend heard (Thursday) and the word they think Leo actually said (Tuesday), giving Leo a clear chance to confirm or correct. That directness is what makes it the right confirming question. The other choices all fail because they ask about completely unrelated details. Choice A asks how often Leo attends work meetings — this ignores the misunderstanding entirely and changes the subject. Choice B asks about the meeting's length, which has nothing to do with which day it falls on. Choice C asks about the meeting's topics, again drifting away from the day-of-week confusion. None of these help resolve what the friend actually misheard. A useful strategy: when a question asks you to find a "confirming question," always look for the answer choice that repeats the specific misheard word and offers the corrected version. The best confirming question is narrow and targeted — it focuses only on the point of confusion, not on background details or new topics.

Question 7

Two students are talking. Priya says, "The class is in Room 14." Ben thinks the class might be in Room 40. He wants to confirm before going to the wrong room.

Which question uses the BEST confirming question form for Ben to use?

  1. Is it Room 14 or Room 40 that you said? (correct answer)
  2. Are there many students in that class this semester?
  3. Does the class have a lot of homework every week?
  4. Do you know who the teacher of that class is?
Explanation: When you want to make sure you heard something correctly, you use a confirming question — a question that checks specific information someone already gave you. The key is that a confirming question stays focused on the detail you're unsure about, not on new or unrelated topics. In this situation, Ben heard "Room 14" but thinks it might be "Room 40." A good confirming question should refer back to what Priya said and ask her to clarify that specific detail. Choice A does exactly this — "Is it Room 14 or Room 40 that you said?" directly references what was said and asks Ben to verify the room number. It's polite, clear, and on-topic. Choice B asks about class enrollment ("Are there many students in that class?"), which has nothing to do with confirming the room number. This is a completely different topic. Choice C asks about homework, which is also off-topic — Ben isn't confused about assignments, he's confused about where to go. Choice D asks about the teacher's name, which again is unrelated to the room number confusion. Choices B, C, and D are all "conversation changers" — they shift the subject instead of confirming the detail Ben needs. A helpful strategy: when you see a question about confirming information, ask yourself, "Does this question go back to what was already said?" A true confirming question always loops back to the original statement. If the question introduces a brand-new topic, it's not confirming anything — it's just starting a new conversation. Choice A is the correct answer because it's the only one that does this.

Question 8

A teacher writes an address on the board quickly. A student named Yuki thinks the address is "15 Oak Street," but she is not completely sure. She wants to confirm before she writes it down.

Which question form is MOST appropriate for Yuki to use?

  1. Is Oak Street a long road with many different buildings?
  2. Do you live near Oak Street in this part of the city?
  3. Is it 15 Oak Street that you wrote on the board? (correct answer)
  4. Do students often go to addresses like this for class trips?
Explanation: When you want to check information you already think you know, the most natural tool in English is a confirmation question — a question that presents your understanding and asks if it's correct. This is different from asking for new information or asking about something unrelated. Yuki already has a specific guess — "15 Oak Street" — and simply needs the teacher to confirm or correct it. Choice C, "Is it 15 Oak Street that you wrote on the board?", does exactly this. It presents her understanding clearly and politely asks for verification. This structure ("Is it   that you...?") is a common and natural way to confirm details in English. Choice A asks whether Oak Street is a long road with many buildings — this has nothing to do with confirming the address. It introduces a completely new topic and wouldn't help Yuki write down the correct information. Choice B asks whether the teacher lives near Oak Street, which is personal and off-topic — again, it doesn't help Yuki confirm what was written. Choice D asks about class trips to addresses like this, which is entirely unrelated to the task at hand. The key trap here is that all four choices mention "Oak Street" or a related idea, so they might feel connected to the situation. But only C actually matches Yuki's goal: verifying the specific address before she writes it down. Study tip: When a question asks you to confirm something, look for an answer that repeats the information you already have and asks "Is this right?" — not one that asks for completely new information.

Question 9

A student named Fatima is talking to her landlord on the phone. The landlord says, "Your rent is due on the first of every month." Fatima wants to confirm she understood, because she thought she heard "the third of every month."

Which of the following questions CORRECTLY uses a confirming question form?

  1. Do most tenants in the building pay rent on the same day?
  2. Is it the first of the month, not the third, when rent is due? (correct answer)
  3. Is the rent amount going to change at any point next year?
  4. Do you prefer to receive the rent payment by check or online?
Explanation: When you want to confirm what someone said — especially when you think you may have misheard — a confirming question has a very specific job: it checks a specific piece of information the other person already gave you, often by repeating it back with a correction or contrast. In Fatima's situation, she heard "the first" but thought she heard "the third." A good confirming question addresses exactly that confusion — it mentions both pieces of information and asks which one is correct. Answer B does this perfectly: "Is it the first of the month, not the third, when rent is due?" It focuses on the specific detail Fatima is unsure about, uses the contrast "not the third" to show the misunderstanding, and stays on topic. This is the correct confirming question form. The other choices all fail because they ask about completely different topics. Answer A asks whether other tenants pay on the same day — that has nothing to do with confirming the due date Fatima heard. Answer C asks whether the rent amount will change next year — Fatima never misheard anything about price, so this is off-topic. Answer D asks about the payment method (check or online) — again, a new topic, not a confirmation of what was said. A good study tip: when you see a question about confirming questions, ask yourself, "Does this question stay on the same topic and check the specific detail in question?" If the answer choice introduces a brand-new topic, it is not a confirming question — it is just a new question entirely.

Question 10

Read the conversation: Ella: "You need to take the green line to get there." Omar: "I think I heard the blue line.  " Omar wants to use a confirming question to check if Ella said the green line.

Which sentence BEST completes Omar's response?

  1. Is the green line a very popular route in this whole city?
  2. Do you mean the green line, not the blue line, is correct? (correct answer)
  3. Do trains on the green line run very frequently each hour?
  4. Is there a map showing me where all the train lines go?
Explanation: When someone mishears something in a conversation, a confirming question is used to check a specific detail — not to ask for new information. The key is that Omar wants to verify exactly what Ella said, so his question should repeat the correct information back to her in question form. Answer B, "Do you mean the green line, not the blue line, is correct?", does this perfectly. It directly echoes Ella's words ("green line"), contrasts them with what Omar thought he heard ("blue line"), and asks for confirmation. This is the classic structure of a confirming question: restate + check. The other choices all fail because they introduce completely new topics instead of confirming what was already said. A asks about the green line's popularity across the city — this is unrelated to Omar's confusion about which line to take. C asks about how often trains run, which is a new question about schedules, not a confirmation of the line name. D asks about a map showing all train lines — again, a new request for information, not a check on what Ella said. A helpful pattern to remember: a confirming question should mirror the information you want to verify. Look for answer choices that repeat key words from the conversation and add a checking phrase like "Do you mean...?" or "Is that right?". If an answer brings in new details not already mentioned, it is not a confirming question — it is just a follow-up question, and those are different things.