def answerYesNo(prompt):
    """
    returns the response to a y/n question prompt (reprompts until user provides a valid response)
    params:
        prompt (string): prompt to show user before awaiting input
    return (bool): True if user responds yes, False if user responds no
    """
    val = ""
    while val not in ["y", "yes", "n", "no"]:
        val = input(prompt).strip().lower()
    return val in ["y", "yes"]