Adult Literacy Beginner Quiz: Action Verbs In Instructions
10 questions · exam conditions
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Action Verbs In InstructionsQuestion 1 of 10

Line 5 is for office use. Do not fill in line 5. Sign on line 6.

What should you do with lines 5 and 6?

Fill in line 5, and leave line 6 blank.
Fill in line 5, and sign on line 6.
Leave both line 5 and line 6 blank.
Leave line 5 blank, and sign on line 6.
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Adult Literacy Beginner Quiz

Adult Literacy Beginner Quiz: Action Verbs In Instructions

Practice Action Verbs In Instructions in Adult Literacy 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 Action Verbs In Instructions, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult Literacy 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

Line 5 is for office use. Do not fill in line 5. Sign on line 6.

What should you do with lines 5 and 6?

  1. Fill in line 5, and leave line 6 blank.
  2. Fill in line 5, and sign on line 6.
  3. Leave both line 5 and line 6 blank.
  4. Leave line 5 blank, and sign on line 6. (correct answer)
Explanation: When you read instructions on a form, your job is to follow each direction carefully and completely — no more, no less. Forms often have two kinds of lines: ones you should fill in, and ones you should leave alone. In this passage, the instructions give you two separate rules. First, "Do not fill in line 5" — this tells you to leave line 5 blank. Second, "Sign on line 6" — this tells you to write your signature on line 6. Following both rules together leads you to answer D: leave line 5 blank, and sign on line 6. Let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. Choice A says to fill in line 5, which directly contradicts the instruction "Do not fill in line 5." It also says to leave line 6 blank, ignoring the clear instruction to sign there. Choice B makes the same mistake of filling in line 5 when the form explicitly says not to — even though it correctly identifies signing on line 6. Choice C gets line 5 right by leaving it blank, but then ignores the instruction to sign on line 6, leaving you with an incomplete form. A useful strategy: when a question asks what you should do with multiple items, check each one against the passage separately. Don't let getting one right make you forget to check the other. On forms especially, "do not" and "leave blank" instructions are just as important as instructions telling you what to fill in — skipping an action is still following a direction.

Question 2

Fill out the first page now. Sign only when the manager is with you.

The manager is away. What should you do now?

  1. Fill out the first page, and wait to sign. (correct answer)
  2. Sign the form now, and fill it out later.
  3. Bring the blank form to the manager now.
  4. Call the manager, and leave the page blank.
Explanation: When you read instructions carefully, the key is to separate what you can do now from what must wait for a specific condition. Here, the passage gives two separate instructions: (1) fill out the first page now, and (2) sign only when the manager is present. Since the manager is away, you need to figure out which action is available to you and which must be delayed. Choice A is correct because it follows both instructions exactly. Nothing stops you from filling out the first page right away — the passage says to do it "now." However, since the manager is not with you, you must wait to sign. A is the only choice that respects both rules at the same time. Choice B reverses the instructions entirely — it tells you to sign first and fill out the form later. This breaks both rules: you cannot sign without the manager, and you are told to fill out the page now, not later. Choice C is not supported by anything in the passage. The instructions never say to bring the form to the manager — they say to fill it out first. Choice D tells you to leave the page blank, which directly contradicts the instruction to "fill out the first page now." Calling the manager is not mentioned anywhere in the passage either. A helpful strategy on reading comprehension questions: when a passage has two separate instructions, track each one independently. Ask yourself, "Does this answer choice follow all of the instructions, or does it ignore or reverse one of them?" The correct answer will always honor every rule in the passage.

Question 3

Bring one photo ID. Do not bring a paper copy. Luis has a license, a passport, and a paper copy of his license.

Which plan follows the instructions?

  1. Bring the license only, and leave the rest home. (correct answer)
  2. Bring the license and the passport, and leave the paper copy.
  3. Bring the paper copy only, and leave both photo IDs.
  4. Bring the license and the paper copy too.
Explanation: When a passage gives you a set of instructions, your job is to find the answer choice that follows every rule — not just most of them. Think of it like a checklist: if even one rule is broken, that choice is wrong. The instructions here have two rules: (1) bring one photo ID, and (2) do not bring a paper copy. Luis has three things — a license, a passport, and a paper copy of his license. The winning answer must satisfy both rules at the same time. Choice A — bringing the license only — works perfectly. A license is a photo ID, so rule one is satisfied. The passport and paper copy are both left at home, so rule two is also satisfied. A is your correct answer. Choice B fails because Luis would be bringing two photo IDs (the license and the passport). The instructions say to bring only one, so this breaks rule one. Choice C fails immediately because a paper copy is the one thing the instructions explicitly say not to bring. Leaving both photo IDs behind also means he's bringing nothing valid at all. Choice D fails because it includes the paper copy — the very thing the instructions forbid. Even though the license is allowed, adding the paper copy breaks rule two. Study tip: On reading comprehension questions like this, underline or mentally note each rule in the passage before looking at the answer choices. Then test each choice against your list. Any choice that breaks even one rule is automatically wrong, no matter what else it gets right.

Question 4

A two-page form has gray boxes and white boxes. Fill only the gray boxes. Sign both pages.

Which action follows the note?

  1. Fill all the boxes, and sign both pages.
  2. Fill the gray boxes, and sign the first page.
  3. Fill the white boxes, and sign both pages.
  4. Fill the gray boxes, and sign both pages. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a question asks you to follow written instructions, your job is to match each action in the answer choice to exactly what the passage says — word for word. Think of it like a checklist: every detail in the instructions must be present in the answer you choose. The passage gives two clear instructions: fill the gray boxes and sign both pages. That's it. No more, no less. Answer D captures both of these perfectly — fill the gray boxes, sign both pages — making it the correct answer. Now look at why the other choices miss the mark. Answer A says to fill all the boxes, but the passage specifically says to fill only the gray boxes, not the white ones. Filling all boxes would mean ignoring that important word "only." Answer B gets the gray boxes right but says to sign only the first page, when the passage clearly says to sign both pages. This is a classic trap — one detail is correct, but the other is wrong. Answer C says to fill the white boxes, which is the opposite of what the passage instructs. The passage even uses the word "only" before "gray boxes" to make sure you understand white boxes should be left empty. A common mistake on reading comprehension questions is choosing an answer that sounds almost right. Pay close attention to small but important words like "only," "both," "all," and "first" — these words change the entire meaning of an instruction. When you read a passage, underline or mentally note every specific detail, then check that your answer matches all of them before choosing.

Question 5

Mina and Omar are applying. Fill out one form for each adult. Mina must sign both forms.

Which work is complete?

  1. Fill out one form, and have Mina sign it.
  2. Fill out two forms, and have each adult sign one.
  3. Fill out two forms, and have Mina sign both. (correct answer)
  4. Fill out one form, and have Omar sign both.
Explanation: When reading instructions like these, your job is to follow every rule exactly — no more, no less. A question like this tests whether you can track multiple requirements at once and find the answer that satisfies all of them together. The passage gives you two clear rules: (1) fill out one form for each adult, and (2) Mina must sign both forms. Since there are two adults — Mina and Omar — you need two forms total. And no matter what, Mina's signature must appear on both of them. Choice C says to fill out two forms and have Mina sign both. That matches rule one (two adults = two forms) and rule two (Mina signs both). This is the complete and correct work. Choice A fails immediately because it only calls for one form, but there are two adults who each need their own form. It also only has Mina sign once, not twice. Choice B gets the number of forms right — two forms — but it has each adult sign one form. The passage never says Omar should sign anything, and it specifically says Mina signs both. This is a tempting trap because splitting signatures feels fair, but you must follow the instructions as written. Choice D goes wrong in two ways: it only fills out one form instead of two, and it has Omar — not Mina — sign both. That reverses who should be signing. A good strategy here: when instructions list multiple rules, check your answer against each rule separately before choosing. An answer that gets one rule right but misses another is still wrong.

Question 6

Call the clinic by Friday. Bring your health card to your visit on Monday. Today is Thursday.

Which plan follows the instructions?

  1. Bring the card today, and call on Monday.
  2. Call on Monday, and bring the card on Friday.
  3. Call today, and bring the card on Monday. (correct answer)
  4. Bring the card Monday, but do not call.
Explanation: When a passage gives you a list of instructions, your job is to match each action to the right day. Start by pulling out the key details: the passage says to call by Friday and bring your health card on Monday. It also tells you today is Thursday. With those facts in hand, you can check each answer choice like a checklist. Choice C tells you to call today (Thursday) and bring the card on Monday. Thursday is before Friday, so calling today satisfies "call by Friday." Bringing the card on Monday matches the visit day exactly. Every instruction is followed — C is the correct answer. Choice A gets the actions completely backwards. It has you bring the card today and call on Monday. The passage never says to bring the card today, and calling on Monday misses the Friday deadline. Choice B also switches the days around — calling on Monday is too late, and there is no instruction to bring the card on Friday. Choice D only handles half the task. It brings the card on Monday, which is correct, but it skips calling entirely. Ignoring an instruction is just as wrong as doing it on the wrong day. A useful strategy: when a passage has multiple instructions, make a quick mental list of what to do and when to do it before you look at the answer choices. Then test each choice against your list. Answer choices that flip the actions, miss a deadline, or skip a step entirely are traps designed to catch readers who skim too quickly.

Question 7

Bring your medicine list to the clinic. Call only if you cannot come. Jo can come to the clinic.

What should Jo do?

  1. Call the clinic, and leave the medicine list home.
  2. Bring the medicine list, and do not call. (correct answer)
  3. Call the clinic, and bring the medicine list.
  4. Do not call, and do not bring the list.
Explanation: When a passage gives you instructions, your job is to find exactly what it tells a specific person to do — nothing more, nothing less. Read carefully for two things: what action is required, and what condition changes that action. The passage gives two clear instructions: (1) bring your medicine list to the clinic, and (2) call only if you cannot come. Jo can come to the clinic. That means Jo should bring the medicine list — and since Jo is able to come, the condition for calling does NOT apply. No call needed. That makes B the correct answer: bring the medicine list, and do not call. Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. A says to call and leave the list at home — this gets both actions backwards. Jo doesn't need to call (she can come), and she must bring the list, not leave it home. C says to call and bring the list — bringing the list is right, but calling is wrong, since calling is only for people who cannot come. Jo can come, so no call. D says don't call and don't bring the list — skipping the call is correct, but forgetting the list ignores the first instruction entirely. A helpful strategy: when a passage has an "only if" rule, treat it like a condition with an on/off switch. Ask yourself — does this person meet the condition? If yes, follow that rule. If no, skip it. This keeps you from adding steps that don't apply to the situation described.

Question 8

Before your visit: Fill out the form. Sign the last page. Bring the form with you.

Which plan follows all three instructions?

  1. Sign the last page, leave the form blank, and bring it.
  2. Fill out the form, sign the last page, and bring it. (correct answer)
  3. Fill out the form, bring it, and sign it at the office.
  4. Sign the last page, bring the form, and call the office.
Explanation: When a passage gives you a list of instructions, your job is to find the answer choice that follows every single step — not just some of them. Think of it like a checklist: fill out the form ✓, sign the last page ✓, bring the form ✓. All three boxes must be checked. Choice B — "Fill out the form, sign the last page, and bring it" — matches all three instructions perfectly, in the right order. That makes B the correct answer. Now let's see why the others fall short. Choice A says to "leave the form blank," which directly breaks the first instruction to fill it out. Signing it and bringing it isn't enough if the form is empty. Choice C fills out the form and brings it, but signing happens "at the office" — the instructions clearly say to sign it before your visit, not after you arrive. Choice D skips filling out the form entirely and adds a step — calling the office — that was never mentioned in the instructions at all. Notice that each wrong answer gets close but misses at least one step. This is a common pattern on reading questions: the distractors are designed to look almost right. That's the trap. Your strategy: When a passage lists steps or rules, underline or mentally note each one. Then go through each answer choice and check it against your list one item at a time. The moment an answer breaks even one rule, cross it off. The right answer will satisfy all the requirements — never just most of them.

Question 9

Call Rosa after 2:00. If Rosa says yes, bring your pay stub tomorrow. Rosa says yes.

Rosa already said yes. What should you do next?

  1. Bring the pay stub tomorrow. (correct answer)
  2. Call Rosa again before 2:00.
  3. Do not bring the pay stub.
  4. Call Rosa tomorrow, and bring the stub later.
Explanation: When a passage gives you a set of instructions with conditions, your job is to follow the steps in order and pay attention to what has already happened. Here, the passage lays out a simple chain: call Rosa after 2:00, and if she says yes, bring your pay stub tomorrow. The last sentence tells you the condition has been met — Rosa already said yes. That means the "if" part is done. You don't need to wait or wonder. The next step is clear: bring your pay stub tomorrow. That makes A the correct answer. It follows the instructions exactly as written. B is wrong because the passage says to call after 2:00, not before. Calling before 2:00 goes against the original instruction, and besides, Rosa has already answered — there's no reason to call again at all. C is the opposite of what the instructions say. The passage tells you to bring the pay stub if Rosa says yes. She said yes, so not bringing it would mean ignoring the directions entirely. D is wrong because it delays both steps without any reason. The passage says to bring the stub tomorrow, not later. There's also no instruction to call Rosa again — that step is already finished. A good strategy for questions like this: read the passage like a checklist. Find what condition was set, check whether it was met, and then identify which step comes next. Don't add extra steps or change the timeline — stick to exactly what the passage says.

Question 10

Check your name. If it is wrong, do not sign the form. Call the office.

Your last name is wrong. What should you do?

  1. Sign the form, and then call the office.
  2. Fill in the name again, and then sign.
  3. Bring the form in without calling the office.
  4. Leave it unsigned, and call the office. (correct answer)
Explanation: When you read a form or a set of instructions, pay close attention to the order of steps and what each step tells you not to do. This question tests whether you can follow simple written directions carefully. The passage gives you a clear two-step rule for a specific situation: if your name is wrong, (1) do not sign the form, and (2) call the office. Answer D follows both steps exactly — you leave the form unsigned and make that phone call. That matches the passage perfectly. Here is why the other choices miss the mark. Choice A tells you to sign first and then call, but the passage explicitly says do not sign if the name is wrong. Signing with an incorrect name could create a legal or official error, which is exactly what the instructions are trying to prevent. Choice B says to fill in the name again and then sign, but the passage never gives you permission to change the name yourself — it tells you to call the office so a staff member can handle the correction. Choice C says to bring the form in without calling, but the passage says to call the office, not to visit in person. Bringing it in skips the required step entirely. A helpful strategy: when a passage uses strong words like "do not" or "call," those are commands — treat them as rules you must follow exactly. On reading comprehension questions, the right answer will always match what the text actually says, not what seems like a reasonable shortcut.