8 original Read in Daily Life passages (20 questions) written for the current TOEFL iBT format, each with a full explanation. Free, with no account needed.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 1, 2026
How to use this page
Read the text once for who is writing to whom and what changes, then answer. Rule questions reward following the person through every condition before you look at the options.
Check each answer to see whether you are right; the explanation opens automatically and covers every option, not just the correct one. New to the task? Read the Read in Daily Life guide first for the format and strategies.
20 questions to try
1. A place on a full early class
2 questions
Email
From
Dario, Kestrel Fitness front desk
To
Noor Aziz
Subject
Thursday kettlebell class
Hi Noor,
Thursday’s 6:30 a.m. kettlebell class is full, so you’re second on the standby list. Places that open before 8 p.m. Wednesday go by text to the next person in line; after that, it’s first come, first served at the front desk. Thursday bookings have a way of thinning out, though.
Dario
Q1Two places in the class open on Wednesday, one at 5 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. What is true for Noor?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. She must go in person for the second place.
The 5 p.m. place is offered by text to the first person on the list, not to Noor. The 9 p.m. place opens after the text cut-off, so it is “first come, first served at the front desk”, and Noor has to go there in person.
Evidence: “you’re second on the standby list. Places that open before 8 p.m. Wednesday go by text to the next person in line; after that, it’s first come, first served at the front desk.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. She must wait for a third place to open. — She does not need a third place: she can claim the second one by getting to the front desk first.
C. She will be texted about the first place. — The 5 p.m. place goes “by text to the next person in line,” and Noor is second, so it goes to the person ahead of her.
D. She will be texted about the second place. — Noor is now next in line, but the 9 p.m. place opens after the 8 p.m. cut-off, so it is not offered by text.
Q2What does Dario imply when he writes, “Thursday bookings have a way of thinning out”?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Noor is likely to get a place.
To say bookings “have a way of thinning out” is to say that people who booked tend to cancel. Since Noor is only second on the standby list, Dario is hinting that she is likely to get a place.
Evidence: “you’re second on the standby list.” … “Thursday bookings have a way of thinning out, though.”
Why the other options are wrong
B. The Thursday class may soon be cancelled. — Nothing suggests the class itself is at risk; only individual bookings drop away.
C. Fewer people sign up for Thursday classes. — The class is described as “full,” so sign-ups are not low; the line is about people dropping out after booking.
D. The early class is often overcrowded. — The line suggests the opposite: booked places tend to empty before the class.
2. A faster route to a warranty repair
2 questions
Social media post
Inês Carvalho • Westmere Residents
Solace smartwatch under warranty? Skip the online chat, which will tell you to post it off for a three-week repair. Their Dock Road shop does the same repairs while you wait if you book at least two days ahead.
One catch: the counter is closed on weekends, and they won’t touch a watch without its charging cable. My neighbor can confirm that last part.
Q1Someone books a while-you-wait repair on a Thursday. What is the earliest day the repair can be done?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Monday
Two days after Thursday is Saturday, but the counter is closed at weekends, so the first open day that is at least two days ahead is Monday.
Evidence: “if you book at least two days ahead.” … “the counter is closed on weekends”
Why the other options are wrong
B. Tuesday — Tuesday is possible but not the earliest; Monday already meets both conditions.
C. Sunday — Sunday is also a weekend day, when the counter is closed.
D. Saturday — Saturday is two days after Thursday, but “the counter is closed on weekends”.
Q2What does Inês imply when she writes, “My neighbor can confirm that last part”?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Her neighbor was turned away without a cable.
The reader must work out which rule “that last part” points to (the cable, not the weekend closing) and why the neighbor would know: she arrived without one and was refused.
Evidence: “they won’t touch a watch without its charging cable. My neighbor can confirm that last part.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. Her neighbor found the counter shut on a weekend. — Weekend closing is the first part of the sentence, not “that last part”.
B. Her neighbor booked a repair two days ahead. — Booking ahead is in an earlier sentence and is not what “that last part” refers to.
C. Her neighbor works at the shop on Dock Road. — “Confirm” does not mean the neighbor speaks for the shop; she knows the rule from experience.
3. A later Saturday night bus
2 questions
Notice
SKERRA COACHES: CHANGE TO THE SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE
From November 7, our Saturday overnight bus to Hollins Bay will depart at 10:45 p.m. rather than 10:15 p.m. Tickets already issued for 10:15 remain valid on the later departure. Passengers checking hold luggage must report to the desk 40 minutes before departure; those traveling with carry-on bags only, 15 minutes.
Q1A passenger with hold luggage has a ticket printed for 10:15 p.m. on Saturday, November 14. By what time must he check in?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 10:05 p.m.
November 14 is after the change, so the bus leaves at 10:45 p.m. even though the ticket says 10:15. With hold luggage he must check in 40 minutes earlier, at 10:05 p.m.
Evidence: “Tickets already issued for 10:15 remain valid on the later departure. Passengers checking hold luggage must report to the desk 40 minutes before departure”
Why the other options are wrong
A. 10:00 p.m. — This combines the old departure time with the carry-on check-in time.
C. 9:35 p.m. — This is 40 minutes before the old 10:15 departure, but his ticket is used on the new 10:45 bus.
D. 10:30 p.m. — This is the 15-minute check-in time, which applies only to those “traveling with carry-on bags only.”
Q2Which of the following is NOT true of the Saturday night bus after the change?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Its riders need to be there 40 minutes early.
Three options are true in different sentences of the notice. The fourth overgeneralizes: only passengers with hold luggage must arrive 40 minutes early.
Evidence: “Passengers checking hold luggage must report to the desk 40 minutes before departure; those traveling with carry-on bags only, 15 minutes.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. It departs half an hour later than before. — True: the bus will now depart “at 10:45 p.m. rather than 10:15 p.m.”
B. Tickets bought earlier can still be used on it. — True: “Tickets already issued for 10:15 remain valid on the later departure.”
C. The check-in time depends on a passenger’s bags. — True: the notice gives 40 minutes for hold luggage and 15 minutes for carry-on bags only.
4. A yoga class splits in two
2 questions
Social media post
Kofi Boateng • Stillwater Yoga
Big news: from Wednesday, October 7, my 7 p.m. class splits in two. Beginners meet at 6 at our usual gentle pace; the 7:15 group moves faster, with more balance work. Your pass covers one class per evening.
Unsure? Start early. I’d much rather you found it too easy than spent the later one watching everyone else.
Q1Which of the following is NOT true of the new Wednesday schedule?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Newcomers will practice balancing more than before.
The key attaches the balance work to the wrong group. D is true only after comparing 6 and 7:15 with the old 7 p.m. time.
Evidence: “Beginners meet at 6 at our usual gentle pace; the 7:15 group moves faster, with more balance work. Your pass covers one class per evening.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. A pass holder can attend one Wednesday class on the pass. — True: “Your pass covers one class per evening,” so one of the two Wednesday classes is covered by the pass.
B. The earlier class will not speed up. — True: beginners meet “at our usual gentle pace”.
D. Neither new class starts at the old time. — True: the old class was at 7 p.m.; the new ones start at 6 and 7:15.
Q2What does Kofi imply when he writes, “I’d much rather you found it too easy than spent the later one watching everyone else”?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Joining the faster class too soon is the bigger risk.
Kofi compares two mistakes. Someone left watching in the faster 7:15 class cannot keep up, and he considers that worse than being in a class that is a little easy.
Evidence: “Unsure? Start early. I’d much rather you found it too easy than spent the later one watching everyone else.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. The 6 p.m. class is too simple for most people. — He mentions “too easy” only as the less harmful mistake, not as a description of the class.
B. Students should try both classes to compare them. — The pass covers “one class per evening”, and he advises starting early rather than comparing.
C. Watching others is a useful way to learn. — Kofi presents watching others as the outcome to avoid, not as a way of learning.
5. Confirming a three-night stay
3 questions
Email
From
Yuki Hayashi, Tidewater Inn
To
Rafael Mendoza
Subject
Your stay, November 12–15
Dear Mr. Mendoza,
Thank you for booking three nights with us, arriving Thursday, November 12, and leaving Sunday, November 15. Your room rate is $96 per night. You asked about breakfast, which is $14 per person each morning. Since you are traveling with one other guest, I have noted it for you both but not charged it yet; you are welcome to decide at check-in instead.
You may cancel free of charge until 6 p.m. two days before arrival. After that, the first night is charged.
Our reception closes at 11 p.m. If your train is due in later than that, please call ahead and we will leave your key in the lockbox by the side door.
We look forward to welcoming you,
Yuki Hayashi, Front Office
Q1Mr. Mendoza cancels the booking at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. How much will he be charged?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. $96
Arrival is Thursday, November 12, so the free-cancellation deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. Cancelling at 8 p.m. that evening costs the first night, $96.
Evidence: “You may cancel free of charge until 6 p.m. two days before arrival. After that, the first night is charged.” … “Your room rate is $96 per night.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. $288 — This is the cost of all three nights; a late cancellation costs only the first night.
B. $192 — Only “the first night” is charged, not two nights.
D. $0 — Free cancellation ends at 6 p.m. two days before arrival, which is 6 p.m. on Tuesday; 8 p.m. is too late.
Q2What is the main purpose of the email?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. To go over the arrangements for his stay
The email confirms Mr. Mendoza’s booking and the arrangements that go with it.
Evidence: “Thank you for booking three nights with us, arriving Thursday, November 12, and leaving Sunday, November 15.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. To ask him to decide about breakfast now — He is “welcome to decide at check-in instead,” so she is not asking for a decision now.
B. To warn him about a charge for canceling — The cancellation rule is one condition among several, given as information rather than as a warning.
C. To apologize for a change to his booking — Nothing about the booking has changed; she confirms the dates he booked.
Q3What can be inferred about a guest who arrives after 11 p.m. without calling first?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. The guest may find no one there to let them in.
After 11 p.m. no staff are on duty, and the only after-hours way in depends on calling ahead. A guest who does not call has no arranged way to get in.
Evidence: “Our reception closes at 11 p.m. If your train is due in later than that, please call ahead and we will leave your key in the lockbox by the side door.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. The guest will be charged for the first night only. — The first-night charge belongs to the cancellation rule, not to late arrival.
B. The guest must pay for breakfast at check-in. — Guests may choose breakfast at check-in, but it is not required, and this is unrelated to arrival time.
D. The guest can pick up a key at the side door. — A key is left in the lockbox only for guests who “call ahead.”
6. The library tech desk moves to bookings
3 questions
Notice
KITTERING LIBRARY TECH DESK
Starting Monday, November 2, one-to-one help with phones and computers must be booked in advance; drop-in sessions will end. Sessions last 30 minutes and can be booked up to two weeks ahead, online or at the information counter. Each library card holder may book one session per week.
Please bring your device fully charged, along with any passwords you may need. Staff cannot reset passwords for your email, bank or social media accounts, but they can walk you through each service’s own reset steps.
The self-service printer and scanner remain available without booking during opening hours. Sessions start on time; if you are more than ten minutes late, your slot may go to someone who is waiting.
Q1What is the main purpose of the notice?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. To announce that tech help must now be reserved
With the headline no longer naming the change, the reader must see that the body announces a move from drop-in to booked help; the distractors misstate the function (reminder, apology) or pick a detail.
Evidence: “Starting Monday, November 2, one-to-one help with phones and computers must be booked in advance; drop-in sessions will end.”
Why the other options are wrong
B. To explain how users can reset their own passwords — Staff can “walk you through” a service’s own reset steps, but that is one detail.
C. To apologize for ending all help with devices — Help continues by appointment; only the drop-in sessions end.
D. To remind users of the tech desk’s current rules — The rules start “Monday, November 2”, and drop-in sessions “will end”, so this is a change, not a reminder.
Q2According to the notice, which of the following will NOT be possible after November 2?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Booking sessions on two days in the same week
The three possible actions come from three paragraphs and two of them need a condition checked (five minutes is within the ten-minute limit; guidance is allowed though resetting is not). The key breaks the one-session-per-week rule.
Evidence: “Each library card holder may book one session per week.” … “they can walk you through each service’s own reset steps.” … “if you are more than ten minutes late, your slot may go to someone who is waiting.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. Booking a session at the information counter — Possible: sessions can be booked “online or at the information counter”.
C. Joining a session five minutes after it starts — Possible: a slot is at risk only “if you are more than ten minutes late”.
D. Getting guidance with a bank password reset — Possible: staff cannot reset it themselves, but “they can walk you through each service’s own reset steps”.
Q3On Monday, November 9, a man arrives without a booking. He needs to scan a letter and wants help setting up his new phone. What can he do?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Use the scanner now and book phone help
November 9 is after the change. The scanner is self-service and needs no booking; help with the phone is one-to-one help, which must now be booked.
Evidence: “one-to-one help with phones and computers must be booked in advance” … “The self-service printer and scanner remain available without booking during opening hours.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. Book a session for the letter and phone — The scanner is available “without booking,” so he does not need a session for it.
B. Get phone help now and book the scanner — This reverses the rules: the scanner needs no booking, while phone help does.
D. Get help with the letter and phone now — After November 2, one-to-one help “must be booked in advance,” so he cannot get phone help without booking.
7. What a rail pass does not cover
3 questions
Social media post
Samira Farouk • Slow Travel Circle
For anyone traveling on a Seaboard Rail Pass this autumn: the pass covers your ticket, not your seat. Express trains also require a $7 reservation, and on weekends those tend to sell out several days in advance. I discovered this on the platform in Marrow Bay last Saturday and ended up on the slow train, which took four hours instead of two and a half.
Regional trains don’t take reservations at all, so the pass on its own is enough. Just get on. Kids under 12 travel free on the pass and their express reservations cost nothing, but you still have to book them.
Would I buy the pass again? Probably. Would I turn up on a Saturday and hope for the best again? Not a chance.
Q1What is the main purpose of the post?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. To warn other travelers about a gap in the pass
Samira shares what she learned the hard way so that other pass holders book express seats ahead.
Evidence: “the pass covers your ticket, not your seat. Express trains also require a $7 reservation, and on weekends those tend to sell out several days in advance.”
Why the other options are wrong
B. To encourage readers to buy the rail pass — She says she would “Probably” buy the pass again, but the post warns about seat reservations rather than promoting the pass.
C. To complain about a four-hour train journey — The slow journey is her example, not the point of the post.
D. To recommend regional trains over express ones — Regional trains need no reservation, but she does not recommend them over express trains.
Q2A couple travel with their 10-year-old on a Sunday, taking one express train and then a regional train. How much will they pay for reservations?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. $14
Only the express train needs reservations. The two adults pay $7 each; the 10-year-old’s reservation is free; the regional train needs none. The total is $14.
Evidence: “Express trains also require a $7 reservation” … “Regional trains don’t take reservations at all” … “Kids under 12 travel free on the pass and their express reservations cost nothing”
Why the other options are wrong
A. $7 — This covers only one adult on the express train.
C. $28 — This charges both adults on both trains, but “Regional trains don’t take reservations at all.”
D. $21 — This charges the child too, but children’s “express reservations cost nothing.”
Q3What does Samira imply when she writes, “Would I turn up on a Saturday and hope for the best again? Not a chance”?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. She will book express seats well before traveling.
Samira arrived on a Saturday without a seat reservation and could not get onto the express. Saying she would never “hope for the best” again implies that she will reserve early next time.
Evidence: “on weekends those tend to sell out several days in advance. I discovered this on the platform in Marrow Bay last Saturday”
Why the other options are wrong
A. Saturday trains are too crowded to enjoy. — Her problem was that express seats had sold out, not that the trains were uncomfortable.
B. She will take only regional trains from now on. — The slow train took four hours; nothing suggests she prefers it.
C. She regrets having bought the pass. — Asked whether she would buy the pass again, she says “Probably.”
8. Booking group fitness classes
3 questions
Notice
BRIGHTWATER LEISURE CENTRE: GROUP CLASSES
From Monday, January 4, all group fitness classes must be booked through the member app. Bookings open 72 hours before a class starts and close one hour before. Members who miss three booked classes in a calendar month without cancelling at least two hours ahead will be unable to book for the following seven days.
Water fitness classes are the exception. They remain first come, first served at the pool entrance, because the number of places depends on how many lanes are free that day.
Members without a smartphone can book at reception, in person or by phone, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reception cannot take bookings for classes that start within the next hour.
Q1A member wants to attend a 6 p.m. class on Friday, January 8. When can she first book it?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5
Seventy-two hours is exactly three days. Counting back three days from 6 p.m. on Friday, January 8, gives 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5.
Evidence: “Bookings open 72 hours before a class starts and close one hour before.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6 — This is only 48 hours before; bookings are already open by then.
B. At 6 p.m. on Monday, January 4 — This is 96 hours before the class; bookings open only 72 hours before.
C. At 5 p.m. on Friday, January 8 — One hour before is when bookings “close,” not when they open.
Q2Which of the following will members NOT be able to do?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Book at reception 30 minutes before a class
Three options are allowed by three different parts of the notice. Booking half an hour before a class is not allowed, whether through the app (closed one hour before) or at reception.
Evidence: “Reception cannot take bookings for classes that start within the next hour.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. Join a water fitness class without booking — Possible: water fitness classes “remain first come, first served.”
C. Book a place in a class two days ahead — Possible: bookings “open 72 hours before a class starts” and “close one hour before,” so two days ahead is well inside that window.
D. Cancel three hours ahead without it counting as a miss — Possible: only misses “without cancelling at least two hours ahead” count, and three hours is enough.
Q3What is the main purpose of the notice?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. To introduce a new system for reserving classes
With a neutral headline, the purpose has to be taken from the body: a new booking system from January 4, with its rules and exceptions.
Evidence: “From Monday, January 4, all group fitness classes must be booked through the member app.”
Why the other options are wrong
A. To remind members of the centre’s usual booking rules — App booking starts “From Monday, January 4”, so these rules are new rather than usual.
B. To explain why pool classes need no booking — Water fitness is the one exception, covered in a single paragraph.
C. To warn members about penalties for missed classes — The penalty for missed classes is one rule within the new system.