What this quiz covers
This quiz focuses on Money And Shopping Vocabulary, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Adult Literacy Beginner.
Adult Literacy Beginner Quiz: Money And Shopping Vocabulary
10 questions · exam conditions
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Money And Shopping VocabularyQuestion 1 of 10
Tool rental: Fee: 15 dollars. Refundable deposit: 30 dollars. Both are paid today. Jo returns the tool on time with no damage.
Which statement is correct?
AJo pays 45 dollars today, but the final cost is 15 dollars.
BJo pays 15 dollars today, but the final cost is 45 dollars.
CJo pays 30 dollars today, and the final cost is 30 dollars.
DJo pays 45 dollars today, and the final cost is 45 dollars.
Adult Literacy Beginner Quiz
Adult Literacy Beginner Quiz: Money And Shopping Vocabulary
Practice Money And Shopping Vocabulary in Adult Literacy Beginner with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.
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
Tool rental: Fee: 15 dollars. Refundable deposit: 30 dollars. Both are paid today. Jo returns the tool on time with no damage.
Which statement is correct?
- Jo pays 45 dollars today, but the final cost is 15 dollars. (correct answer)
- Jo pays 15 dollars today, but the final cost is 45 dollars.
- Jo pays 30 dollars today, and the final cost is 30 dollars.
- Jo pays 45 dollars today, and the final cost is 45 dollars.
Explanation: When you rent a tool, you often pay two separate things: a fee (the real cost you keep paying no matter what) and a deposit (a safety amount the store holds and gives back if you return the item properly). Understanding the difference between what you pay upfront and what something actually costs you is the key to this question.
Jo pays both amounts today: $15+$30=$45 total upfront. However, because she returns the tool on time with no damage, the store refunds her $30 deposit. That means she gets $30 back, and her final out-of-pocket cost is only $45−$30=$15. That makes A correct — Jo pays $45 today, but her true final cost is only $15.
B is wrong because it flips the numbers — Jo does not pay just $15 today; she pays both charges upfront, totaling $45. C is wrong because Jo pays $45 today (not $30), and her final cost is $15 (not $30) — this answer ignores both the fee and the refund correctly. D is wrong because it treats the deposit as a permanent cost, ignoring that refundable means she gets it back.
A helpful tip: whenever you see the word refundable, mentally put that amount in parentheses — it's temporary money. Ask yourself, "What do I pay today?" and then "What do I actually keep paying after everything is settled?"
Question 2
Store offer: Buy three items and get the lowest-priced item free. The items cost 6 dollars, 5 dollars, and 4 dollars.
How much does the shopper pay?
- Pay 9 dollars because the 6-dollar item is free.
- Pay 10 dollars because the 5-dollar item is free.
- Pay 11 dollars because the 4-dollar item is free. (correct answer)
- Pay 15 dollars because none of the items is free.
Explanation: When a store offers a "lowest-priced item free" deal, your job is to identify which item costs the least — that item's price gets subtracted from the total.
Here, the three items cost $6, $5, and $4. The lowest price is $4, so that item is free. You pay for the other two: $6+$5=$11. Choice C is correct.
Choice A says the $6 item is free — but that's actually the highest-priced item, not the lowest. Taking the most expensive item for free would save you the most money, but the deal says "lowest-priced," not "highest-priced." Choice B says the $5 item is free — that's the middle price, not the lowest. Choice D says none of the items is free and charges you the full $6+$5+$4=$15, which ignores the deal entirely.
A helpful tip: when you read a store offer, underline or circle the key word that describes which item is affected — words like "lowest," "highest," "cheapest," or "most expensive." Then rank your items from least to greatest ($4, $5, $6) before doing any math. On questions like this, the most common trap is confusing "lowest price" with "highest price," because shoppers wish the expensive item were free. Stick to what the offer actually says, find that item, remove its price, and add up the rest.
Question 3
Jacket sign: Regular price: 40 dollars. Sale: 25% off. Final sale: no returns.
What happens if Mia buys the jacket?
- She pays 30 dollars and may return it.
- She pays 30 dollars and may not return it. (correct answer)
- She pays 40 dollars and may return it.
- She pays 40 dollars and may not return it.
Explanation: When a store sign lists a sale price and a return policy, you need to handle both pieces of information separately — the math and the rule.
Start with the price. The jacket's regular price is $40, and it's 25% off. To find 25% of 40, multiply: 40×0.25=10. That's the discount. Subtract it from the original: 40−10=30. Mia pays $30. The sign also says "final sale: no returns," which means once she buys it, she cannot bring it back.
That makes B correct — she pays $30 and may not return it.
A gets the price right ($30) but says she may return it, ignoring the "final sale: no returns" warning on the sign. C says she pays $40, which skips the discount entirely and applies no math at all — then incorrectly allows a return. D also ignores the discount and charges the full $40, though it does correctly catch the no-return policy. The trap in C and D is assuming the sale price doesn't matter, or forgetting to calculate the discount.
A good strategy: when a sign has multiple pieces of information, make a quick mental checklist — price and policy. Handle the math first (apply the discount), then read any rules (like return policies). On this exam, questions often test whether you can combine a simple calculation with a reading detail, so don't let one distract you from the other.
Question 4
Repair estimate: about 80 dollars. The customer approves the work. After the work, the final invoice is 95 dollars.
Which amount is now due?
- 80 dollars, because the estimate is the final bill.
- 95 dollars, because the invoice is the final bill. (correct answer)
- 175 dollars, because both amounts must be paid.
- 15 dollars, because only the difference must be paid.
Explanation: When you receive a service — like a car repair or a plumber's visit — the process usually works in two steps: first an estimate, then an invoice. An estimate is an approximation of the cost given before the work begins. An invoice is the official bill issued after the work is completed. The invoice is what you actually owe.
In this passage, the shop estimated the job at $80, and the customer agreed to proceed. Once the work was finished, the shop issued a final invoice for $95. That invoice is the legally binding amount due — so B is correct. The customer owes $95.
A is wrong because the estimate is not the final bill — it's only a starting prediction. Estimates can change once the actual work reveals the true scope of the job. C is wrong because you do not pay both amounts. The $80 and $95 are not two separate charges — the invoice replaces the estimate. Adding them together ($80+$95=$175) would mean paying nearly double for one repair. D is wrong because you don't pay just the difference ($95−$80=$15) — that logic has no basis in how billing works. The invoice covers the full cost of labor and parts.
A useful tip: on questions involving money documents, ask yourself when each document was created. Estimates come before the work; invoices come after. The invoice always wins as the final amount owed.
Question 5
Restaurant bill: Food: 32 dollars. Service charge: 6 dollars. Total: 38 dollars. The service charge is included, so no extra tip is required.
What does "included" mean on this bill?
- Pay 32 dollars because the service charge is not due.
- Pay 44 dollars because the service charge must be added again.
- Pay 38 dollars because the service charge is already in the total. (correct answer)
- Pay 6 dollars because the service charge replaces the food cost.
Explanation: When you see the word "included" on a bill or receipt, it means that charge has already been counted in the total shown — you do not add it again or pay it separately.
Look at the bill: Food costs 32 dollars, and the service charge is 6 dollars. Adding them together gives 32+6=38 dollars, which is exactly the total listed. The note says the service charge is "included," meaning it was already factored into that 38-dollar total when you walk up to pay. So C is correct — you pay 38 dollars because the service charge is already part of the total.
A is wrong because it says the service charge is "not due," but the bill clearly shows a 6-dollar service charge — it exists, it just doesn't need to be added again. B is wrong because it tells you to add the service charge a second time, giving 38+6=44 dollars. This is the most common trap: confusing "included" with "not yet added." "Included" means the opposite — it's already there. D is wrong because it suggests paying only 6 dollars, as if the service charge replaces the food cost entirely, which makes no sense with the bill as written.
A good tip to remember: whenever a bill says a charge is "included," circle the final total — that's your number. You never add an included charge twice. Watch for answer choices like B that try to trick you into double-counting.
Question 6
Return rule: Unused items may be returned within thirty days. With a receipt, money goes back to the original payment. Without a receipt, the customer gets store credit. Lee returns an unused 18-dollar kettle after ten days but has no receipt.
What does Lee receive?
- Lee gets 18 dollars back on the payment card.
- Lee gets nothing because the return window has closed.
- Lee gets nothing because the receipt is missing.
- Lee gets 18 dollars in store credit. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a question gives you a set of rules and then describes a situation, your job is to match the situation to the correct rule — step by step.
Here, the return policy has two conditions: the time limit and the receipt. Let's check both for Lee. First, the time limit: Lee returns the kettle after ten days, and the window is thirty days — so the return is allowed. Second, the receipt: Lee does not have one. The policy says that without a receipt, the customer receives store credit. That means Lee walks away with $18 in store credit — making D the correct answer.
Now let's look at why the other choices miss the mark. A is tempting because $18 is the right amount, but a refund to the original payment only happens with a receipt. Lee has no receipt, so this rule simply doesn't apply. B claims the return window has closed, but ten days is well within the thirty-day limit — this answer confuses the two separate conditions. C is the trickiest distractor: it's true that the receipt is missing, but a missing receipt doesn't mean Lee gets nothing. The policy still offers store credit as an alternative. Reading past "no receipt" to see what comes next is exactly what this question tests.
A good strategy here: when a passage lists an "if/then" rule with multiple conditions, check each condition one at a time. Don't stop reading the moment you spot a problem — there may still be a backup rule that applies.
Question 7
Receipt: Amount due: 13.75 dollars. Cash tendered (cash given): 20.00 dollars.
What change should the cashier give?
- The cashier should return 6.25 dollars, the difference between 20.00 and 13.75. (correct answer)
- The cashier should return 7.25 dollars, the difference between 20.00 and 13.75.
- The cashier should return 6.75 dollars, the difference between 20.00 and 13.75.
- The cashier should ask the customer for 6.25 dollars more.
Explanation: When you buy something and hand over cash, the cashier owes you back the difference between what you gave and what you owed. This is simple subtraction: Cash given−Amount owed=Change.
Here, the customer gave $20.00 and owed $13.75. Line up the decimals and subtract:
20.00−13.75=6.25
So the correct change is $6.25, making A the right answer.
B is wrong because $7.25 is not the correct result of 20.00−13.75. This is a subtraction error — perhaps from misaligning the decimal places or borrowing incorrectly. Double-check your column subtraction carefully when cents are involved.
C is wrong because $6.75 is also a subtraction error. A common mistake here is subtracting the cents digits in the wrong order (thinking 75−00 instead of 00−75, which requires borrowing). When the bottom number is larger than the top in a column, you must borrow from the next column.
D is wrong in a completely different way — it reverses the situation entirely. The cashier would only ask for more money if the customer hadn't given enough. Since $20.00 is more than $13.75, the customer overpaid and deserves money back, not the other way around.
Strategy tip: Always ask yourself, "Who owes whom?" If the customer gave more than the price, the cashier owes change back. Sketch it out: Big number−Small number=Change.
Question 8
Phone plan: 25 dollars per month. One-time setup fee: 15 dollars. There are no other fees.
Which bills should the customer expect?
- The first bill is 25 dollars, and later bills are 40 dollars.
- The first bill is 40 dollars, and later bills are also 40 dollars.
- The first bill is 25 dollars, and later bills are also 25 dollars.
- The first bill is 40 dollars, and later bills are 25 dollars. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a company charges a one-time fee, that means it only appears on your bill once — never again. A monthly fee, on the other hand, repeats every single month. Questions like this test whether you can separate these two types of charges and apply them to the right bills.
Here, the monthly fee is $25 and the one-time setup fee is $15. Your very first bill includes both charges because the setup happens when you start service: 25+15=$40. After that, the setup fee disappears — it was one-time only — so every bill after the first is just the monthly rate: $25. That makes D the correct answer: first bill is $40, later bills are $25.
Looking at the wrong choices helps you see the common traps. A has the amounts backwards — it shows $25 first and $40 later, which would mean the setup fee somehow keeps growing, which makes no sense. B charges $40 every single month, as if the one-time fee never goes away — this ignores what "one-time" means entirely. C bills $25 every month including the first, which forgets to add the setup fee at all — it's as if the setup fee doesn't exist.
A helpful tip: whenever you see the phrase "one-time fee," circle it and remind yourself it only touches the very first bill. Pair it with the monthly fee for that first total, then drop it for every bill after.
Question 9
Bank message: Balance now: 68 dollars. Pending payment: 20 dollars. The payment is not yet taken from the balance. The bank does not allow spending above the balance.
After the pending payment, Sam tries to spend 55 dollars. What happens?
- The purchase goes through, and 13 dollars remains.
- The purchase goes through, and 7 dollars remains.
- The purchase is declined because only 48 dollars remains. (correct answer)
- The purchase is declined because no money remains.
Explanation: When a bank message shows a pending payment, that means the money hasn't left your account yet — but it's already spoken for. You need to subtract it from your balance before deciding what you can safely spend.
Start with Sam's balance: 68 dollars. The pending 20-dollar payment hasn't cleared yet, but once it does, the available balance becomes 68−20=48 dollars. Now Sam tries to spend 55 dollars. Since 55>48, and the bank does not allow spending above the balance, the purchase is declined — making C the correct answer.
Here's why the other choices miss the mark. A assumes Sam spends 55 from the full 68, leaving 13 dollars — but this ignores the pending payment entirely, as if it doesn't exist. B subtracts both the 20-dollar payment and the 55-dollar purchase from 68 (getting −7, which they flip to 7), but this assumes the bank allowed an overdraft — which the passage explicitly rules out. D says no money remains, which would only make sense if Sam had exactly 48 dollars or less to spend — there's no calculation that leads to a zero balance here.
A useful strategy: whenever a passage mentions a pending charge, treat it as already gone. Subtract it first, then check whether the new purchase fits. On literacy-style math questions, the passage often gives you a rule — like "no spending above the balance" — that changes the outcome entirely, so always re-read those conditions carefully.
Question 10
Coupon: Save 5 dollars when you spend 25 dollars before tax. Food costs 18 dollars. Soap costs 7 dollars. The coupon is valid for both items.
What happens when the coupon is used?
- It works because the items reach 25 dollars before tax. (correct answer)
- It fails because the discount lowers the items below 25 dollars.
- It works only because tax raises the bill above 25 dollars.
- It fails because the food cannot count toward the needed amount.
Explanation: When you see a coupon question, focus carefully on the exact condition it requires — in this case, spending 25 dollars before tax. Your job is to check whether the items meet that condition, nothing more.
Start with the math: food costs 18 dollars and soap costs 7 dollars. Adding them together gives 18+7=25 dollars. That total reaches the threshold exactly, so the coupon applies and saves you 5 dollars. Answer A is correct — the items hit 25 dollars before any tax is calculated, which is precisely what the coupon requires.
Answer B makes a common mistake: it confuses the discount with the qualifying amount. You don't subtract the 5-dollar savings first and then check if you qualify. You check the regular prices of the items, and then the discount is applied. The 25-dollar requirement is about what you're spending, not what you pay after the coupon.
Answer C is wrong because the coupon specifically says "before tax." Tax is irrelevant here — you don't need it to qualify, and relying on tax to reach a threshold would be a misreading of the coupon's terms.
Answer D is incorrect because the passage clearly states the coupon is valid for both items, meaning food absolutely counts toward the total.
A good strategy: always re-read the coupon's exact wording before calculating. Key phrases like "before tax," "on select items," or "minimum purchase" change everything — they tell you exactly what conditions must be true for the deal to work.