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Functional Reading
& Life Skills
Practice Packet · Harder Version
What is inside this packet
1
Reading a Recipe
Read a recipe, double it for more people, and figure out the cooking time.
2
Shopping List, Sales Tax & a Budget
Work out quantities, add up the cost with tax, and stay in budget.
3
Filling Out a Job Application
Complete a full application with experience and a reference.
4
Reading a Work Schedule
Read a weekly shift schedule and fill out a time-off request.
5
Reading a Pay Stub
Read your paycheck stub and work out your take-home pay.
6
Making a Bank Deposit
Fill out a deposit slip and add up your total deposit.
7
Writing Emails
Read a work email, then write two emails of your own.
Reading a Recipe
Section 1
DirectionsRead the recipe, then answer the questions. Some questions have more than one step.
Veggie Pasta Bake (serves 2)
Ingredients
- 2 cups pasta (dry)
- 1 cup pasta sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Boil the pasta for 8 minutes, then drain the water.
- Mix the pasta, sauce, vegetables, and olive oil in a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Let it cool for 5 minutes before you eat.
1. What temperature do you set the oven to?
2. This recipe serves 2 people. You need to make enough for 4 people. Double each amount and write the new amount.
| Ingredient | Serves 2 | Serves 4 (double) |
|---|
| Pasta | 2 cups | |
| Pasta sauce | 1 cup | |
| Shredded cheese | 1 cup | |
| Chopped vegetables | 1/2 cup | |
| Olive oil | 1 tablespoon | |
3. Boiling takes 8 minutes and baking takes 20 minutes. How many minutes of cooking is that in all? minutes
4. You start cooking at 4:45. Boiling and baking take the number of minutes from Question 3. What time is it when the baking finishes?
5. Why does Step 6 tell you to let the food cool for 5 minutes?
Shopping List, Sales Tax & a Budget
Section 2
Read thisYou are buying everything to make the Veggie Pasta Bake for 4 people. You need 2 boxes of pasta and 1 of each other item.
Store prices: Pasta (1 box) $1.80 · Pasta sauce (1 jar) $2.50 · Shredded cheese (1 bag) $3.25 · Vegetables (1 bag) $2.40 · Olive oil (1 bottle) $4.75
1. Fill in the shopping table. Multiply to find the cost of each row.
| Item | How many | Price each | Cost |
|---|
| Pasta | 2 | $1.80 | |
| Pasta sauce | 1 | $2.50 | |
| Shredded cheese | 1 | $3.25 | |
| Vegetables | 1 | $2.40 | |
| Olive oil | 1 | $4.75 | |
| Subtotal | |
Sales tax: Total = Subtotal × 1.06 Example: $10.00 × 1.06 = $10.60
2. Add 6% sales tax. Total = Subtotal × 1.06 = $
3. You have $20.00. Can you buy everything?
YESNO
4. How much money is left? $20.00 − Total = $
5. If you did not buy the olive oil, what would the new subtotal be? $
Filling Out a Job Application
Section 3
DirectionsFill out this Riverside Market job application completely and accurately. Write neatly and use real information about yourself.
Personal Information
Education
Availability
For each day, write Yes or No. If yes, write the hours you can work.
| Day | Can you work? (Yes / No) | From | To |
|---|
| Monday | | | |
| Tuesday | | | |
| Wednesday | | | |
| Thursday | | | |
| Friday | | | |
| Saturday | | | |
| Sunday | | | |
Filling Out a Job Application
Section 3 (continued)
Work or Volunteer Experience
Reference
A reference is a person who can say good things about you. (Not a family member.)
Short Answer
Why do you want to work at Riverside Market? Write two or three sentences.
Applicant Signature:
Date:
Reading a Work Schedule
Section 4
DirectionsThis is your work schedule at Riverside Market. Read it carefully, then answer the questions.
| Day | Shift | Start | End |
|---|
| Monday | Morning | 9:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
| Tuesday | Off | — | — |
| Wednesday | Afternoon | 2:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | Morning | 9:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
| Friday | Afternoon | 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | Morning | 8:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
1. Which day do you have off?
2. Which three days do you work in the morning?
3. How many hours long is the Friday shift? hours
4. Your boss says to arrive 10 minutes early. What time should you get to work on Wednesday?
5. Add up your hours for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. hours
Fill Out a Time-Off Request
Reading a Pay Stub
Section 5
DirectionsThis is your paycheck stub from Riverside Market. Read it, then answer the questions. Two questions ask you to do the math yourself.
Riverside MarketPay period: June 1 – June 7
DescriptionAmount
Hours worked20
Pay rate (per hour)$15.00
Gross pay (hours × rate)$300.00
Deduction — Federal tax− $30.00
Deduction — State tax− $15.00
Net pay (take-home)$__________
1. How many hours did you work this pay period?
2. What is your pay rate for each hour? $
3. Check the gross pay yourself: 20 hours × $15.00 = $
4. Add the two deductions together. $30.00 + $15.00 = $
5. Find your net pay (take-home). Gross pay − deductions = $
6. Why is your net pay less than your gross pay?
Making a Bank Deposit
Section 6
Read thisYou are putting money into your bank account. You have $40.00 in cash and one check for $255.00 (your paycheck). Fill out the deposit slip below.
Deposit SlipRiverside Bank
1. Write the cash amount and the check amount on the slip above.
2. Add them together to find your total deposit. $40.00 + $255.00 = $
3. Write the total on the "Total Deposit" line of the slip.
4. A friend asks how much you put in the bank today. What would you tell them?
Writing Emails
Section 7
DirectionsRead the email from your manager and answer the questions. Then write two emails of your own on the next page. Use a greeting, a clear message, and a polite closing.
Parts of an email: To · Subject · Greeting ("Dear ...,") · Body (your message) · Closing ("Thank you,") · Your name
Part A — Read this email, then answer
To: team@riversidemarket.com Subject: Staff meeting on Friday
Dear Team,
Please remember our staff meeting is on
Friday at 3:00 PM in the break room. Bring your name badge. If you cannot come, please email me by
Thursday.
Thank you,
Ms. Reed, Manager
1. What day and time is the meeting?
3. What should you bring?
4. What should you do if you cannot come, and by when?
Writing Emails
Section 7 (continued)
Part B — Write an Email to Miss the Meeting
Read thisYou have a doctor's appointment on Friday at 3:00 PM, so you cannot come to the staff meeting. Write an email to Ms. Reed. Tell her you cannot come and why. Remember to send it before Thursday.
To: ____________________ Subject: ____________________
Part C — Write an Email Because You Are Running Late
Read thisThe bus is late and you will be about 15 minutes late for your work shift. Write an email to your manager, Ms. Reed. Say you are sorry, tell her why, and say what time you will arrive.
To: ____________________ Subject: ____________________