function getAllQuestions(){
    //retrieves and holds XML content

    var test:XML; //holds an instance of the XML class
    var loader:URLLoader = new URLLoader(); //holds an instance of the URLLoader class

    loader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onComplete, false, 0, true);
    loader.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, onIOError, false, 0, true);

    loader.load(new URLRequest("test.xml")); //loads XML

    function onComplete(evt:Event):void {
        try {
            test=new XML(evt.target.data);
            //trace(test); //testing xml file
            loader.removeEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, onComplete);
            loader.removeEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, onIOError);
        } catch (err:Error) {
        trace("Could not parse loaded content as XML:\n" + err.message);
    }
}

//On error trying to retieve xml file
function onIOError(evt:IOErrorEvent):void {
    trace ("an error ocured when attempting to load the XML.\n" + evt.text);
}

    //get all the questions from xml
    var question1:String = test.questions.questionAnswers1.question;
    var question2:String = test.questions.questionAnswers2.question;
    var question3:String = test.questions.questionAnswers3.question;
    var question4:String = test.questions.questionAnswers4.question;
    var question5:String = test.questions.questionAnswers5.question;
    var question6:String = test.questions.questionAnswers6.question;
    var allQuestions:Array = [question1, question2, question3, question4,
                                                   question5, question6]; //storing all questions from XML file
    return allQuestions;
}