Your FREE Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) Practice Test 2026 – 290+ Q&A

SHSAT Practice Questions

1. Which transition best fits the blank? "The new bridge was expensive to build. ___, it has cut the average commute across the river by nearly twenty minutes."
   • However
   • In contrast
   • As a result
   • Instead

   Correct answer: However

   The correct choice is "However." The two sentences set a drawback against a benefit: the bridge was costly, but it has still produced a worthwhile result. A contrast transition fits this concession. "As a result" is wrong because the shorter commute is not a consequence of the bridge being expensive, and "In contrast" and "Instead" signal the wrong kinds of opposition (comparison and replacement) rather than concession.

2. Which transition best completes the sentence? "Solar panels lower a home's electric bills over time. ___, they reduce the household's reliance on fossil fuels."
   • Otherwise
   • Nonetheless
   • For instance
   • Furthermore

   Correct answer: Furthermore

   The correct choice is "Furthermore." The sentence adds a second benefit to one already stated, so an additive transition fits best. "Otherwise" and "Nonetheless" signal contrast or condition, and "For instance" introduces an example rather than an additional point.

3. Which choice creates parallel structure? "The trainer told us to stretch before exercising, to drink water often, and (resting) between sets."
   • Resting
   • To rest
   • Rested
   • That we rest

   Correct answer: To rest

   The correct choice is "to rest." The sentence lists three actions in the infinitive form, "to stretch" and "to drink," so the third item must also be an infinitive to stay parallel. The forms "resting," "rested," and "that we rest" break the consistent pattern of the series.

4. Which revision corrects the faulty parallelism? "The coach values players who are dedicated, hardworking, and they show good sportsmanship."
   • The coach values players who are dedicated, hardworking, and they show good sportsmanship.
   • The coach values players who show dedication, are hardworking, and sportsmanship.
   • The coach values players who are dedicated, working hard, and they are sportsmanlike.
   • The coach values players who are dedicated, hardworking, and sportsmanlike.

   Correct answer: The coach values players who are dedicated, hardworking, and sportsmanlike.

   The correct choice lists three adjectives, "dedicated," "hardworking," and "sportsmanlike," so all items in the series share the same grammatical form. The original and the other options mix adjectives with full clauses or phrases, which destroys the parallel construction.

5. Which version of the underlined verb is correct? "The list of approved volunteers (have) been posted on the bulletin board."
   • Have
   • Has
   • Were
   • Are

   Correct answer: Has

   The correct choice is "has." The subject is the singular noun "list," not the plural "volunteers," which is only the object of the preposition "of." A singular subject takes the singular verb "has," while "have," "were," and "are" all agree wrongly with the nearby plural noun.

6. Which choice corrects the subject-verb agreement? "Mathematics (are) my younger brother's favorite subject this year."
   • Are
   • Is
   • Were
   • Have been

   Correct answer: Is

   The correct choice is "is." Although "mathematics" ends in an s, it is a singular subject naming one field of study, so it takes the singular verb "is." The plural-sounding ending tricks readers into choosing "are" or "were," but the noun's meaning is singular.

7. Which revision best corrects the comma splice? "The power went out during the storm, we lit candles and waited."
   • The power went out during the storm; we lit candles and waited.
   • The power went out during the storm, we lit candles and waited.
   • The power went out during the storm we lit candles and waited.
   • The power went out during the storm, and, we lit candles and waited.

   Correct answer: The power went out during the storm; we lit candles and waited.

   The correct choice joins the two independent clauses with a semicolon, which properly links closely related complete thoughts. The original uses only a comma, creating a splice, while removing all punctuation makes a run-on and the misplaced comma after "and" is incorrect.

8. Which choice correctly fixes the run-on sentence? "The volcano had been dormant for centuries scientists still monitored it closely."
   • The volcano had been dormant for centuries, scientists still monitored it closely.
   • The volcano had been dormant for centuries scientists, still monitored it closely.
   • The volcano had been dormant for centuries, yet scientists still monitored it closely.
   • The volcano had been dormant for centuries scientists still monitored it closely.

   Correct answer: The volcano had been dormant for centuries, yet scientists still monitored it closely.

   The correct choice separates the two independent clauses with a comma plus the coordinating conjunction "yet," which signals the contrast between dormancy and continued monitoring. The original fuses two sentences with no punctuation, and a comma alone would create a comma splice.

9. Which choice correctly revises the sentence fragment? "Because the train was delayed by an hour."
   • Because the train was delayed by an hour.
   • Because the train was delayed by an hour, we missed the opening ceremony.
   • The train. Delayed by an hour.
   • Because of the train was delayed by an hour.

   Correct answer: Because the train was delayed by an hour, we missed the opening ceremony.

   The correct choice adds an independent clause, "we missed the opening ceremony," so the dependent clause beginning with "Because" now attaches to a complete thought. The original is a fragment because the subordinating conjunction "Because" leaves the idea unfinished.

10. Which group of words is a complete sentence rather than a fragment?
    • Running through the empty hallway after the final bell.
    • Although the recipe called for fresh basil from the garden.
    • The orchestra tuned its instruments before the concert began.
    • Which surprised everyone who had doubted the plan.

    Correct answer: The orchestra tuned its instruments before the concert began.

    The correct choice is a complete sentence because it has a subject, "The orchestra," and a verb, "tuned," expressing a full thought. The other options are fragments: one is a phrase with no main verb, and the others are dependent clauses left without an independent clause.

11. Which revision corrects the misplaced modifier? "The waiter served a salad to the guest covered in dressing."
    • The waiter served a salad to the guest covered in dressing.
    • The waiter served a salad covered in dressing to the guest.
    • Covered in dressing, the waiter served a salad to the guest.
    • The waiter served a guest covered in dressing a salad.

    Correct answer: The waiter served a salad covered in dressing to the guest.

    The correct choice moves the modifier "covered in dressing" next to "a salad," the food it logically describes. In the original, the phrase sits beside "the guest," absurdly suggesting the person, rather than the salad, was covered in dressing.

12. Which revision best corrects the dangling modifier? "Walking to school, the rain soaked my backpack."
    • Walking to school, the rain soaked my backpack.
    • Walking to school, my backpack was soaked by the rain.
    • Walking to school, I felt the rain soak my backpack.
    • The rain, walking to school, soaked my backpack.

    Correct answer: Walking to school, I felt the rain soak my backpack.

    The correct choice places "I" right after the introductory phrase "Walking to school," so the modifier clearly describes the person doing the walking. In the original, the phrase dangles next to "the rain," illogically implying the rain was walking to school.

13. Which revision corrects the pronoun-antecedent error? "Every member of the debate club submitted (their) entry form on time."
    • Their
    • They're
    • Our
    • His or her

    Correct answer: His or her

    The correct choice is "his or her." The antecedent "Every member" is singular because "every" emphasizes individuals one at a time, so a singular pronoun is required. "Their" is plural and disagrees with the singular subject, and the other options do not match the antecedent.

14. Which choice keeps the pronoun consistent with its antecedent? "If a driver ignores warning signs, (they) may face a serious accident."
    • He or she
    • You
    • We
    • It

    Correct answer: He or she

    The correct choice is "he or she." The antecedent "a driver" is third-person singular, so the pronoun must also be third-person singular to agree. Shifting to "you" or "we" breaks person, and "it" wrongly treats a person as an object.

15. Which choice keeps the verb tense consistent? "The chef chopped the vegetables, seasoned the broth, and then (serves) the soup to the guests."
    • Served
    • Serves
    • Serve
    • Will serve

    Correct answer: Served

    The correct choice is "served." The sentence narrates a sequence of completed past actions, shown by "chopped" and "seasoned," so the third verb must also be past tense. "Serves" and "serve" are present tense and clash with the established past-tense narration.

16. Which choice most effectively combines the two sentences? "The factory installed new filters. The air quality in the neighborhood improved."
    • The factory installed new filters the air quality in the neighborhood improved.
    • The factory installed new filters, the air quality in the neighborhood improved.
    • After the factory installed new filters, the air quality in the neighborhood improved.
    • The factory installed new filters, improving the neighborhood and the air quality it.

    Correct answer: After the factory installed new filters, the air quality in the neighborhood improved.

    The correct choice uses the subordinating conjunction "After" to show the time-and-cause relationship between installing the filters and the improved air. The fused and comma-only versions create a run-on and a splice, and the final option is garbled and unclear.

17. Which revision best eliminates the wordiness? "At this point in time, the volunteers are currently sorting the donated canned goods."
    • At this point in time, the volunteers are currently sorting the donated canned goods.
    • Right now, at this point in time, the volunteers sort the donated canned goods.
    • The volunteers are now sorting the donated canned goods.
    • The volunteers, at this point in time, are currently sorting the donated goods.

    Correct answer: The volunteers are now sorting the donated canned goods.

    The correct choice replaces the padded phrase "at this point in time" and the redundant "currently" with the single word "now." Concise revising removes wordy expressions and repeated ideas while keeping the sentence's meaning clear and complete.

18. Which choice correctly punctuates the introductory element? "After the long and exhausting hike ___ the campers fell asleep almost instantly."
    • Hike the campers
    • Hike, the campers
    • Hike; the campers
    • Hike: the campers

    Correct answer: Hike, the campers

    The correct choice places a comma after the introductory phrase "After the long and exhausting hike," which signals where the introductory element ends and the main clause begins. A semicolon or colon would wrongly imply a full clause or a list precedes it, and no punctuation leaves the sentence hard to read.

19. Read the paragraph: "(1) Volunteers planted two hundred trees along the riverbank. (2) The roots will help prevent soil erosion. (3) The shade will cool the water for fish. (4) The community project transformed the once-bare riverbank." Which sentence works best as the topic sentence and should be moved to the beginning?
    • Sentence 1
    • Sentence 2
    • Sentence 3
    • Sentence 4

    Correct answer: Sentence 4

    The correct choice is sentence 4, the broad statement that the project transformed the riverbank, which works as a topic sentence. The other sentences give specific supporting details, so placing the general claim first lets the paragraph move logically from main idea to evidence.

20. Passage: "For years, the alley behind the bakery was just a place where trash bins sat. Then the owner painted a mural there, set out two benches, and strung lights overhead. Now customers linger in the alley with their coffee, and it has become the most photographed spot on the block." What is the central idea of the passage?
    • Murals are the cheapest way to decorate a business.
    • Trash bins should never be placed near a bakery.
    • A neglected space was transformed into a popular gathering spot.
    • Coffee tastes better when enjoyed outdoors.

    Correct answer: A neglected space was transformed into a popular gathering spot.

    The central idea is that a neglected space was transformed into a popular gathering spot. The passage moves the alley from a trash-bin area to the most photographed spot where customers linger, emphasizing the change. The other choices fix on a single detail or add claims the passage never makes.

21. Passage: "The naturalist spent three decades recording the songs of a single species of thrush. Critics called the work pointless, but his recordings later helped scientists prove the birds were vanishing from forests where they had once thrived." Which statement best expresses the central idea?
    • Patient, long-term work that seemed pointless proved scientifically valuable.
    • Critics are usually wrong about scientific projects.
    • Thrushes sing more often than any other forest bird.
    • Bird songs are too varied for anyone to record accurately.

    Correct answer: Patient, long-term work that seemed pointless proved scientifically valuable.

    The central idea is that patient, long-term work that seemed pointless proved scientifically valuable. The passage contrasts the critics' dismissal with the recordings later helping prove the birds were vanishing. The other choices overstate a detail or make broad claims the passage does not support.

22. Passage: "The chapter on early flight follows the inventors through failure after failure: gliders that crashed, engines that stalled, and wings that snapped in the wind. Yet each wreck, the author insists, taught them exactly what to change next." What is the central idea of the passage?
    • Early aircraft were too dangerous for anyone to fly.
    • Repeated failures provided the lessons that led to progress.
    • Inventors should test engines before building wings.
    • Wind is the greatest obstacle to building an airplane.

    Correct answer: Repeated failures provided the lessons that led to progress.

    The central idea is that repeated failures provided the lessons that led to progress. The passage lists crashes and stalls but stresses that each wreck "taught them exactly what to change next." The other choices emphasize a single detail or overstate a point the passage does not make.

23. Passage: "At first the orchestra members ignored the new conductor's quiet suggestions, sure their old routines were fine. But after a few rehearsals revealed how much sharper the music sounded, they began arriving early to try her ideas before she even asked." Which statement best captures the central idea?
    • Skeptical musicians came to embrace a new leader's approach.
    • Orchestras should change conductors regularly.
    • Arriving early is the secret to a good rehearsal.
    • Quiet conductors are more effective than loud ones.

    Correct answer: Skeptical musicians came to embrace a new leader's approach.

    The central idea is that skeptical musicians came to embrace a new leader's approach. The passage traces the players from ignoring the conductor to eagerly trying her ideas, showing a shift in attitude. The other choices isolate a detail or make claims the passage does not support.

24. Passage: "The essay argues that silence has been undervalued. In a world of constant noise, the author claims, moments of quiet give the brain time to rest, sort memories, and prepare for the demands ahead." What is the central idea of the passage?
    • Noise is necessary for the brain to work properly.
    • Memories cannot form unless a person is completely silent.
    • People should avoid all forms of entertainment.
    • Quiet has been undervalued but benefits the mind in important ways.

    Correct answer: Quiet has been undervalued but benefits the mind in important ways.

    The central idea is that quiet has been undervalued but benefits the mind in important ways. The passage argues that silence helps the brain rest, sort memories, and prepare. The other choices contradict the passage or push its claim to an extreme.

25. Passage: "The profile presents the night-shift nurse as someone few patients ever remember meeting. Yet it details how she checks each room hourly, adjusts blankets, and stays past her shift whenever a patient seems frightened." Which statement best expresses the central idea?
    • Hospitals do not have enough nurses at night.
    • Patients should try harder to remember their nurses.
    • A largely unnoticed worker provides quiet, devoted care.
    • Night-shift work is harder than day-shift work.

    Correct answer: A largely unnoticed worker provides quiet, devoted care.

    The central idea is that a largely unnoticed worker provides quiet, devoted care. The passage contrasts the nurse being forgotten with her hourly checks and staying late for frightened patients. The other choices make broad claims the passage does not support.

26. Passage: "When the river flooded, the small farm seemed ruined. But the receding water left behind rich silt, and the next season's harvest was the largest the family had ever gathered. What looked like disaster became a gift." What is the central idea of the passage?
    • An apparent disaster turned out to bring an unexpected benefit.
    • Silt is the most important ingredient in farming.
    • Families should build farms away from rivers.
    • Floods are usually beneficial to farmers.

    Correct answer: An apparent disaster turned out to bring an unexpected benefit.

    The central idea is that an apparent disaster turned out to bring an unexpected benefit. The passage moves from the farm seeming ruined to its largest harvest, calling the flood a gift. The other choices overstate a detail or make claims the passage does not support.

27. Passage: "The documentary returns again and again to a battered metal lunchbox the miner carried for forty years. Through that single object, it tells the story of his long days underground, the family he fed, and the pride he took in honest work." Which statement best states the central idea?
    • Lunchboxes were the most important tool in old mines.
    • An ordinary object reveals the meaning of one man's working life.
    • Mining is too dangerous a job for anyone to keep for long.
    • Documentaries should focus on objects rather than people.

    Correct answer: An ordinary object reveals the meaning of one man's working life.

    The central idea is that an ordinary object reveals the meaning of one man's working life. The passage uses the lunchbox to tell of the miner's long days, his family, and his pride. The other choices fix on a detail or make claims the passage does not support.

28. Passage: "For most of the book, the author celebrates the speed and convenience of fast food. Then she writes, 'But there is a hidden price for every meal we swallow without a thought.'" What is the function of this sentence within the passage?
    • To restate the earlier praise in new words
    • To signal a turn toward the drawbacks she will discuss
    • To prove that fast food is always healthy
    • To define what a meal is

    Correct answer: To signal a turn toward the drawbacks she will discuss

    The function of the sentence is to signal a turn toward the drawbacks she will discuss. The word "But" and the phrase "hidden price" reverse the earlier praise and point to problems ahead. It does not restate the praise, defend fast food, or define a term, so those functions do not fit.

29. Passage: "The author opens her article on volcanoes with a vivid scene: lava glowing orange as it pours toward a sleeping village at midnight. The dramatic image is meant to pull readers in before the scientific explanation begins." What is the most likely purpose of the opening scene?
    • To prove the author has witnessed an eruption
    • To capture readers' attention before the explanation
    • To list the chemicals found in lava
    • To define the word volcano

    Correct answer: To capture readers' attention before the explanation

    The purpose of the opening scene is to capture readers' attention before the explanation. The passage states the dramatic image is meant to "pull readers in" before the science begins. It does not prove the author's experience, list chemicals, or define a term, so those purposes do not fit.

30. Passage: "Midway through an argument that students should learn a musical instrument, the writer adds, 'Admittedly, lessons and instruments can be expensive for some families.'" What is the function of this sentence in the passage?
    • To introduce statistics about musicians' incomes
    • To acknowledge an objection before responding to it
    • To abandon the argument entirely
    • To repeat the main claim word for word

    Correct answer: To acknowledge an objection before responding to it

    The function of the sentence is to acknowledge an objection before responding to it. By admitting that lessons "can be expensive," the writer recognizes a counterpoint within an argument that still favors learning music. It does not abandon the argument, repeat the claim, or add statistics, so those functions do not fit.

31. Passage: "In an essay on perseverance, the author tells of an old fisherman who returned to the same empty waters every dawn for a month before finally hauling in a record catch. She includes this story to show that persistence can be rewarded." What is the function of the fisherman story in the essay?
    • To describe how to repair a fishing net
    • To argue that the ocean is running out of fish
    • To illustrate the essay's point about persistence
    • To prove that fishing is the best test of patience

    Correct answer: To illustrate the essay's point about persistence

    The function of the story is to illustrate the essay's point about persistence. The passage says she includes it "to show that persistence can be rewarded," so it serves as a supporting example. It does not rank fishing, claim the ocean is emptying, or explain net repair, so those functions do not fit.

32. Passage: "The author closes the article not with another statistic but with a direct request: 'Plant one tree this spring, and watch what a single root can hold together.'" What is the most likely purpose of ending with this request?
    • To introduce an unrelated new topic
    • To correct an earlier factual error
    • To urge readers to take a specific action
    • To admit the author has no real conclusion

    Correct answer: To urge readers to take a specific action

    The purpose of ending with the request is to urge readers to take a specific action. The closing line asks readers to "Plant one tree," encouraging direct involvement rather than supplying more data. It is not an admission, a new topic, or a correction, so those purposes do not fit.

33. Passage: "Spiders are not the pests many people assume them to be. In a single summer, a common house spider can catch hundreds of mosquitoes, flies, and other insects that would otherwise multiply indoors." Why does the author most likely include the second sentence?
    • To support the claim that spiders are not really pests
    • To argue that mosquitoes are harmless
    • To explain how spiders spin their webs
    • To prove that spiders are dangerous to humans

    Correct answer: To support the claim that spiders are not really pests

    The author includes the second sentence to support the claim that spiders are not really pests. The first sentence makes the claim, and the figure of "hundreds" of insects caught serves as evidence for it. The passage does not say spiders are dangerous, defend mosquitoes, or explain web spinning, so those purposes do not fit.

34. Passage: "Throughout the report on the abandoned mine, the author returns repeatedly to the image of a rusted iron gate, mentioning it in the opening, the middle, and the final lines." What is the most likely purpose of returning to the image of the gate?
    • To prove the author once worked in a mine
    • To confuse readers with an unrelated detail
    • To tie the report together with a recurring image
    • To argue that gates should be removed from mines

    Correct answer: To tie the report together with a recurring image

    The purpose is to tie the report together with a recurring image. By returning to the rusted gate at the opening, middle, and end, the author unifies the report around one vivid symbol. It does not confuse readers, prove the author's experience, or argue about gates, so those purposes do not fit.

35. Passage: "Before explaining how vaccines work, the author spends a paragraph describing a 19th-century village swept by disease, with empty schoolhouses and silent streets." What is the most likely purpose of this opening paragraph?
    • To give directions to the village
    • To compare the village to a modern city
    • To show the stakes by depicting life before vaccines
    • To prove the author dislikes small towns

    Correct answer: To show the stakes by depicting life before vaccines

    The purpose of the opening paragraph is to show the stakes by depicting life before vaccines. The grim scene of disease, empty schools, and silent streets establishes the danger that vaccines later addressed. It does not give directions, compare the village to a city, or express dislike of towns, so those purposes do not fit.

36. Passage: "In a chapter on memory, the author pauses to describe trying to recall a stranger's face years after a brief meeting, the features blurring like a photograph left in the sun. The vivid comparison helps readers feel an idea the chapter has been explaining in technical terms." What is the most likely purpose of this comparison?
    • To contradict the technical explanation given earlier
    • To prove the author has a poor memory
    • To make an abstract idea concrete and easier to feel
    • To list the parts of the human brain

    Correct answer: To make an abstract idea concrete and easier to feel

    The purpose of the comparison is to make an abstract idea concrete and easier to feel. The passage says the vivid image "helps readers feel an idea" the chapter explained technically, so it illustrates a concept. It does not prove a poor memory, contradict the explanation, or list brain parts, so those purposes do not fit.

37. Passage: "The dim hallway smelled of damp stone, and somewhere ahead a single door creaked on its hinges. Mara's flashlight beam trembled as she stepped forward." What can the reader infer about how Mara feels?
    • She is bored and wishes to leave.
    • She is delighted to be there.
    • She is certain nothing is wrong.
    • She is frightened by the place she is exploring.

    Correct answer: She is frightened by the place she is exploring.

    The reader can infer that Mara is frightened by the place she is exploring. The damp, dim hallway, the creaking door, and her trembling flashlight all signal fear. There is no support for boredom, certainty, or delight, so those inferences do not fit.

38. Passage: "When the judges announced the winning science project, Theo's classmates cheered for the other team, but Theo kept his eyes on his shoes and said nothing on the long bus ride home." What can the reader infer about how Theo feels?
    • He is proud of the other team's win.
    • He is relieved the contest is finally over.
    • He is disappointed that he did not win.
    • He is confused about who won.

    Correct answer: He is disappointed that he did not win.

    The reader can infer that Theo is disappointed that he did not win. While others cheered, he looked down and stayed silent the whole way home, signs of letdown. There is no support for pride, relief, or confusion, so those inferences do not fit.

39. Passage: "The marsh that had been silent all winter now buzzed with frogs, and green shoots pushed up through the mud along the bank. A pair of geese drifted across the open water." What can the reader most reasonably infer about the season described?
    • It is the middle of winter.
    • A drought has dried up the marsh.
    • Spring has arrived at the marsh.
    • A storm is about to strike.

    Correct answer: Spring has arrived at the marsh.

    The reader can infer that spring has arrived at the marsh. Frogs returning, green shoots pushing up, and geese on open water are all signs of spring after winter. There is no support for ongoing winter, drought, or an approaching storm, so those inferences do not fit.

40. Passage: "As the salesman described the car's many features, the customer kept checking her watch, edged toward the door, and finally said she would 'think about it' without taking a brochure." What can the reader infer about the customer?
    • She has already bought a car from this dealer.
    • She is eager to buy the car immediately.
    • She is not really interested in buying the car.
    • She does not understand what a car is.

    Correct answer: She is not really interested in buying the car.

    The reader can infer that the customer is not really interested in buying the car. Checking her watch, edging toward the door, and leaving without a brochure all signal a wish to escape rather than to buy. There is no support for eagerness, a past purchase, or confusion, so those inferences do not fit.

41. Passage: "Grandfather rarely spoke of his childhood, but when the old song came on the radio, he set down his newspaper, closed his eyes, and let out a long, slow breath." What can the reader infer about the song's effect on Grandfather?
    • It put him to sleep instantly.
    • It annoyed him and ruined his reading.
    • It confused him about where he was.
    • It stirred memories and feelings in him.

    Correct answer: It stirred memories and feelings in him.

    The reader can infer that the song stirred memories and feelings in Grandfather. Setting down his paper, closing his eyes, and breathing slowly suggest the music reached something within him, especially given his usual silence about the past. There is no support for annoyance, sleep, or confusion, so those inferences do not fit.

42. Passage: "On the morning of the recital, Priya practiced the same eight bars over and over, refused her breakfast, and asked her mother three times whether the piano had been tuned." What can the reader most reasonably infer about Priya?
    • She is bored by the upcoming recital.
    • She dislikes playing the piano.
    • She has decided not to perform at all.
    • She is nervous about performing well.

    Correct answer: She is nervous about performing well.

    The best inference is that Priya is nervous about performing well. Practicing the same bars repeatedly, skipping breakfast, and repeatedly checking on the piano all signal anxiety about the recital. There is no support for boredom, dislike of piano, or quitting, so those inferences do not fit.

43. Passage: "The new employee laughed a little too loudly at every joke, agreed with whatever the manager said, and volunteered for tasks no one else wanted during his first week." What can the reader infer about the new employee?
    • He has worked at the company for many years.
    • He plans to quit at the end of the week.
    • He is trying hard to make a good impression.
    • He dislikes everyone in the office.

    Correct answer: He is trying hard to make a good impression.

    The reader can infer that the new employee is trying hard to make a good impression. Laughing eagerly, agreeing with the manager, and volunteering for unwanted tasks in his first week all suggest a desire to be liked. There is no support for long tenure, plans to quit, or dislike of coworkers, so those inferences do not fit.

44. Passage: "Although the critics had warned that the play would flop, opening night ended with the audience on its feet, and the next morning every ticket for the entire run had been sold." What can the reader infer about the play?
    • It was performed only once.
    • It succeeded despite the critics' warnings.
    • It was canceled after opening night.
    • It failed exactly as the critics predicted.

    Correct answer: It succeeded despite the critics' warnings.

    The reader can infer that the play succeeded despite the critics' warnings. The standing ovation and the sellout of every remaining ticket signal strong success, contrary to predictions of a flop. There is no support for failure, cancellation, or a single performance, so those inferences do not fit.

45. Passage: "The lighthouse keeper had grown so attuned to the sea that he could predict a storm hours before the clouds appeared, simply by the restless way the gulls wheeled above the rocks." As used in the passage, the word "attuned" most nearly means
    • Closely sensitive and in tune
    • Physically exhausted
    • Completely indifferent
    • Loudly musical

    Correct answer: Closely sensitive and in tune

    In this context, "attuned" most nearly means closely sensitive and in tune. The clue that he could read coming storms from the gulls' behavior shows fine sensitivity to the sea. The word does not mean indifferent, musical, or exhausted, so those options contradict the context.

46. Passage: "The committee's instructions were so ambiguous that half the volunteers showed up at noon and the other half at midnight, each certain they had read the time correctly." As used in the passage, the word "ambiguous" most nearly means
    • Written in a foreign language
    • Open to more than one meaning
    • Perfectly clear
    • Extremely detailed

    Correct answer: Open to more than one meaning

    In this context, "ambiguous" most nearly means open to more than one meaning. The clue that volunteers split between noon and midnight, each sure of the time, shows the instructions could be read two ways. The word does not mean clear, detailed, or foreign, so those options contradict the context.

47. Passage: "After the long climb, the hikers paused at a vista that revealed the entire valley, its rivers and fields spread out far below them." As used in the passage, the word "vista" most nearly means
    • A narrow tunnel
    • A steep cliff face
    • A small campsite
    • A wide view of a scene

    Correct answer: A wide view of a scene

    In this context, "vista" most nearly means a wide view of a scene. The clue that the spot "revealed the entire valley" with rivers and fields below points to an expansive view. The word does not mean a tunnel, a cliff, or a campsite, so those options do not fit the context.

48. Passage: "The general's decision to retreat proved prudent, for the next day a flood washed away the very road his army would have marched along." As used in the passage, the word "prudent" most nearly means
    • Cowardly and weak
    • Wise and cautious
    • Reckless and hasty
    • Loud and forceful

    Correct answer: Wise and cautious

    In this context, "prudent" most nearly means wise and cautious. The clue that the retreat saved the army from a road washed away by a flood shows the decision was sensibly careful. The word does not mean reckless, cowardly, or loud, so those options contradict the context.

49. Passage: "The audience grew restless as the speaker droned on, repeating the same point in the same flat voice for nearly an hour." As used in the passage, the word "droned" most nearly means
    • Whispered a secret
    • Spoke in a dull, monotonous way
    • Shouted with great excitement
    • Sang a cheerful song

    Correct answer: Spoke in a dull, monotonous way

    In this context, "droned" most nearly means spoke in a dull, monotonous way. The clues of a "flat voice," repetition, and a restless audience show tiresome, monotonous speaking. The word does not mean shouting, whispering, or singing, so those options contradict the context.

50. Passage: "The young coach was reluctant to bench his best player, but with the score already lost, he finally agreed to give the newcomers a chance." As used in the passage, the word "reluctant" most nearly means
    • Eager and willing
    • Confused and lost
    • Unwilling or hesitant
    • Angry and bitter

    Correct answer: Unwilling or hesitant

    In this context, "reluctant" most nearly means unwilling or hesitant. The clue that he "finally agreed" only after the game was lost shows he resisted at first. The word does not mean eager, confused, or angry, so those options contradict the context.

51. Passage: "The desert traveler rationed his water carefully, allowing himself only a few sips each hour so it would last until he reached the next well." As used in the passage, the word "rationed" most nearly means
    • Gave away to others
    • Limited and portioned out
    • Wasted carelessly
    • Purified for drinking

    Correct answer: Limited and portioned out

    In this context, "rationed" most nearly means limited and portioned out. The clue that he allowed himself "only a few sips each hour" to make the water last shows careful portioning. The word does not mean wasted, given away, or purified, so those options contradict the context.

52. Passage: "Her optimism was contagious; within minutes the entire room of discouraged workers was smiling and talking eagerly about the project again." As used in the passage, the word "contagious" most nearly means
    • Slow to develop
    • Easily spread to others
    • Kept tightly hidden
    • Harmful to one's health

    Correct answer: Easily spread to others

    In this context, "contagious" most nearly means easily spread to others. The clue that her optimism made the whole room smile "within minutes" shows it spread quickly. The word does not mean harmful, hidden, or slow here, so those options do not fit the context.

53. Passage: "The report's findings were tentative; the scientists admitted they would need many more trials before drawing any firm conclusions." As used in the passage, the word "tentative" most nearly means
    • Deliberately false
    • Extremely detailed
    • Final and certain
    • Not yet definite

    Correct answer: Not yet definite

    In this context, "tentative" most nearly means not yet definite. The clue that the scientists needed "many more trials" before firm conclusions shows the findings were uncertain. The word does not mean final, false, or detailed, so those options contradict the context.

54. Poem excerpt: "The mountain stood, a patient king, / It watched the snows of every spring, / It saw the rivers come and go, / And never once felt time's slow blow." Which figure of speech is used in the first line?
    • A simile comparing the mountain to a river
    • Onomatopoeia imitating falling snow
    • A metaphor describing the mountain as a king
    • Hyperbole exaggerating the mountain's height

    Correct answer: A metaphor describing the mountain as a king

    The first line uses a metaphor describing the mountain as a king. It states directly that the mountain is "a patient king," giving it royal qualities without using "like" or "as." There is no simile, imitated sound, or numerical exaggeration in that line, so those choices do not apply.

55. Poem excerpt: "The thunder grumbled overhead, / The lightning scrawled its angry red, / The clouds let loose their heavy sighs, / And rain came marching from the skies." Which figure of speech appears throughout the poem?
    • A plain factual report of the weather
    • A simile comparing the storm to a person
    • Understatement that downplays the storm
    • Personification giving the storm human actions

    Correct answer: Personification giving the storm human actions

    The poem uses personification giving the storm human actions. The thunder "grumbled," the clouds let loose "heavy sighs," and the rain came "marching," all human behaviors assigned to weather. There is no "like" or "as" for a simile, no understatement, and no plain report, so those choices do not apply.

56. Poem excerpt: "Her laughter was a bell that rang, / Bright as the morning songbirds sang, / It chimed across the quiet hall, / And brightened up the hearts of all." Which figure of speech is used in the second line?
    • A simile comparing her laughter to birdsong
    • Hyperbole exaggerating the size of the hall
    • Onomatopoeia imitating a ringing bell
    • A metaphor calling her laughter a hall

    Correct answer: A simile comparing her laughter to birdsong

    The second line uses a simile comparing her laughter to birdsong. The word "as" in "Bright as the morning songbirds sang" signals a direct comparison. There is no metaphor equating laughter with a hall, no imitated sound, and no size exaggeration in that line, so those choices do not apply.

57. Poem excerpt: "I waited an eternity it seemed, / A thousand years for one bright gleam, / The bus was late by minutes few, / But endless was that waiting through." Which figure of speech does the poet use?
    • Understatement that minimizes the delay
    • Hyperbole, through extreme exaggeration
    • A simile comparing the bus to a person
    • Onomatopoeia imitating engine sounds

    Correct answer: Hyperbole, through extreme exaggeration

    The poet uses hyperbole, through extreme exaggeration. Calling a delay of "minutes few" an "eternity" and "a thousand years" is deliberate overstatement for effect. The poem does not use a simile, imitate a sound, or understate the wait, so those choices do not apply.

58. Poem excerpt: "The candle flame stood stiff and proud, / Then bowed before the window's gust, / It flickered low, then rose again, / And held its small and stubborn trust." Which figure of speech is used to describe the flame?
    • Onomatopoeia imitating a flickering sound
    • Personification giving the flame human qualities
    • Hyperbole exaggerating the flame's size
    • A simile comparing the flame to a window

    Correct answer: Personification giving the flame human qualities

    The poem uses personification giving the flame human qualities. The flame stood "proud," "bowed," and held "stubborn trust," all human traits assigned to fire. There is no "like" or "as" for a simile, no imitated sound, and no size exaggeration, so those choices do not apply.

59. Poem excerpt: "My backpack weighed a thousand tons, / It crushed me down like falling suns, / Each book inside a boulder grim, / That made my chances seem so slim." Which figure of speech appears in the phrase "weighed a thousand tons"?
    • Hyperbole, through extreme exaggeration
    • Onomatopoeia imitating a heavy thud
    • A metaphor calling the backpack a sun
    • Understatement that downplays the weight

    Correct answer: Hyperbole, through extreme exaggeration

    The phrase "weighed a thousand tons" is hyperbole, through extreme exaggeration. No backpack truly weighs a thousand tons; the overstatement stresses how heavy it felt. It is not a metaphor calling the backpack a sun, an imitated sound, or an understatement, so those choices do not apply.

60. Poem excerpt: "The autumn wind, a thief by night, / Stole every leaf and took its flight, / It picked the branches one by one, / And left them bare beneath the sun." What does the metaphor comparing the wind to a thief suggest?
    • The wind was warm and gentle all night.
    • The wind made a loud, crashing noise.
    • The wind quietly took the leaves away.
    • The wind planted new leaves on the trees.

    Correct answer: The wind quietly took the leaves away.

    The metaphor comparing the wind to a thief suggests that the wind quietly took the leaves away. A thief takes things stealthily, and the poem shows the wind stealing leaves and leaving branches bare. It does not suggest planting, loud noise, or warmth, so those choices do not match the metaphor.

61. Poem excerpt: "The river is a ribbon blue, / It winds the green hills gently through, / It ties the valley like a bow, / And lets the silver minnows flow." Which figure of speech is used in the first line?
    • Onomatopoeia imitating flowing water
    • Hyperbole exaggerating the river's length
    • A simile comparing the river to a minnow
    • A metaphor describing the river as a ribbon

    Correct answer: A metaphor describing the river as a ribbon

    The first line uses a metaphor describing the river as a ribbon. It states directly that "The river is a ribbon blue," equating the two without "like" or "as." There is no simile to a minnow, imitated sound, or length exaggeration in that line, so those choices do not apply.

62. Poem excerpt: "O winter, harsh and bitter guest, / You strip the world and steal its rest, / You freeze the stream and still the bird, / And silence every gentle word." Which figure of speech is used by addressing winter directly as a "guest"?
    • An ordinary factual statement
    • Onomatopoeia imitating the wind
    • Personification, speaking to winter as if it were a person
    • A simile comparing winter to a stream

    Correct answer: Personification, speaking to winter as if it were a person

    Addressing winter as a "guest" uses personification, speaking to winter as if it were a person. The poem talks to winter directly and gives it human actions like stealing rest and silencing words. It is not a simile, an imitated sound, or a plain factual statement, so those choices do not apply.

63. Passage: "The article first describes how a city's old subway system kept breaking down. It then explains the causes, from aging tracks to outdated signals, and finally lays out a plan to fix each problem." Which best describes how the passage is organized?
    • As a problem, its causes, and a solution
    • As events listed in the order they happened in history
    • As a comparison of two subway systems
    • As a description of a single subway car

    Correct answer: As a problem, its causes, and a solution

    The passage is organized as a problem, its causes, and a solution. It describes the breakdowns, explains why they happened, and presents a plan to fix them. It is not a comparison, a historical timeline, or a spatial description, so those structures do not apply.

64. Passage: "The recipe section lays out the dish in order: first chop the vegetables, then heat the oil, next add the spices, and finally pour in the broth and simmer." How is this section organized?
    • As a comparison of two recipes
    • As a sequence of steps to follow in order
    • As a description of a kitchen's appearance
    • As an argument about the best ingredients

    Correct answer: As a sequence of steps to follow in order

    The section is organized as a sequence of steps to follow in order. It uses ordered words like first, then, next, and finally to walk through the cooking process. It does not compare recipes, argue about ingredients, or describe a kitchen, so those structures do not apply.

65. Passage: "The chapter examines two energy sources. It opens by listing what wind and solar power have in common, then turns to the key ways they differ in cost and reliability." Which organizational pattern does the passage use?
    • A step-by-step set of instructions
    • A single extended cause-and-effect chain
    • Chronological order from earliest to latest
    • Compare and contrast between two subjects

    Correct answer: Compare and contrast between two subjects

    The passage uses a compare-and-contrast pattern between two subjects. It examines wind and solar power, first noting similarities and then differences. It is not chronological, instructional, or a cause-and-effect chain, so those patterns do not apply.

66. Passage: "The history article traces the typewriter's story: its invention in the 1860s, its rise in offices over the following decades, and its slow decline once computers arrived." Which organizational pattern does the passage follow?
    • Chronological order from earliest to latest
    • A comparison of two machines
    • A problem followed by a solution
    • A spatial description of a device

    Correct answer: Chronological order from earliest to latest

    The passage follows chronological order from earliest to latest. It traces the typewriter from invention to rise to decline, moving forward in time. It is not a comparison, a problem-solution structure, or a spatial description, so those patterns do not apply.

67. Passage: "The science article begins with a striking fact: coral reefs worldwide are turning white. It then traces this bleaching back to warming waters, pollution, and overfishing." Which best describes how the passage is structured?
    • It presents an effect and then its causes.
    • It tells a story in the order events happened.
    • It gives instructions for protecting reefs.
    • It compares reefs with rainforests.

    Correct answer: It presents an effect and then its causes.

    The passage presents an effect and then its causes. It begins with the effect, reefs turning white, and then traces it to causes like warming waters, pollution, and overfishing. It is not a chronological story, a comparison, or a set of instructions, so those patterns do not apply.

68. Passage: "The travel essay describes the museum room by room, beginning at the grand entrance hall, moving through the painting galleries, and ending in the quiet sculpture garden at the back." Which best describes how the passage is structured?
    • By order of importance, most to least
    • Spatially, following a path through the building
    • As a debate between two art critics
    • By cause and effect between exhibits

    Correct answer: Spatially, following a path through the building

    The passage is structured spatially, following a path through the building. It moves from the entrance hall through the galleries to the garden, organized by physical location. It is not ordered by importance, cause and effect, or as a debate, so those structures do not apply.

69. Passage: "The editorial opens by stating its position plainly: the city should build more bike lanes. It then gives three reasons, and closes by repeating the call with added urgency." Which best describes the organization of the editorial?
    • A timeline of events from past to present
    • A description of an object from top to bottom
    • A claim followed by supporting reasons and a restatement
    • A mystery whose answer comes last

    Correct answer: A claim followed by supporting reasons and a restatement

    The editorial is organized as a claim followed by supporting reasons and a restatement. It states its position first, gives three reasons, and restates the call at the end. It is not a mystery, a timeline, or a spatial description, so those patterns do not apply.

70. Passage: "The guide explains how a seed becomes a tree by following the stages in order: the seed sprouts, a seedling rises, the trunk thickens over years, and at last the mature tree bears its own seeds." How is this guide organized?
    • As a sequence of stages over time
    • As an argument for planting trees
    • As a description of a forest's layout
    • As a comparison of two kinds of trees

    Correct answer: As a sequence of stages over time

    The guide is organized as a sequence of stages over time. It follows the seed through sprouting, the seedling, the thickening trunk, and the mature tree, in order. It does not compare trees, argue for planting, or describe a forest's layout, so those structures do not apply.

71. Passage: "Sloths move so slowly that algae grows in their fur, giving them a greenish tint. This green coating actually helps them by making them harder for predators to spot in the trees." According to the passage, how does the green algae in a sloth's fur help the sloth?
    • It helps the sloth move more quickly.
    • It provides the sloth with food.
    • It keeps the sloth warm at night.
    • It makes the sloth harder for predators to spot.

    Correct answer: It makes the sloth harder for predators to spot.

    According to the passage, the green algae helps the sloth by making it harder for predators to spot in the trees, as stated directly in the second sentence. The passage does not say the algae provides food, warmth, or speed, so those choices are not supported.

72. Passage: "The ancient city of Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE. Because the ash sealed the city so completely, its streets and buildings were preserved almost exactly as they had been on the day of the eruption." According to the passage, why were Pompeii's streets and buildings so well preserved?
    • Because the city was rebuilt many times
    • Because the volcanic ash sealed the city completely
    • Because residents repaired them before fleeing
    • Because it rarely rained in the region

    Correct answer: Because the volcanic ash sealed the city completely

    According to the passage, the streets and buildings were preserved because the volcanic ash sealed the city completely. This reason is stated directly in the second sentence. The passage does not mention repairs, rebuilding, or rainfall, so those choices are not supported.

73. Passage: "Penguins cannot fly, but their wings have become powerful flippers. Using these flippers, they can swim faster than most other birds can fly, reaching speeds that let them outrun many ocean predators." According to the passage, what allows penguins to swim so quickly?
    • Their wings, which act as powerful flippers
    • Their thick layer of feathers
    • Their lightweight, hollow bones
    • Their ability to hold their breath

    Correct answer: Their wings, which act as powerful flippers

    According to the passage, penguins swim so quickly because their wings have become powerful flippers, as stated directly. The passage does not mention hollow bones, feathers, or breath-holding as the reason for their speed, so those choices are not supported.

74. Passage: "The Eiffel Tower was originally built for the 1889 World's Fair and was meant to stand for only twenty years. It was saved from demolition because it proved useful as a giant radio antenna." According to the passage, why was the Eiffel Tower saved from demolition?
    • Because it proved useful as a radio antenna
    • Because it was too expensive to tear down
    • Because the city ran out of time to remove it
    • Because tourists demanded that it stay

    Correct answer: Because it proved useful as a radio antenna

    According to the passage, the tower was saved because it proved useful as a giant radio antenna, as stated directly in the second sentence. The passage does not mention tourist demand, demolition cost, or a lack of time, so those choices are not supported.

75. Passage: "Camels are well suited to desert life. Their humps store fat, not water as many believe, and this fat can be broken down for energy when food is scarce." According to the passage, what do a camel's humps actually store?
    • Sand to keep them balanced
    • Water for the long journey
    • Fat that can be used for energy
    • Air to help them breathe

    Correct answer: Fat that can be used for energy

    According to the passage, a camel's humps store fat that can be used for energy, as stated directly, correcting the belief that they store water. The passage does not say the humps store water, sand, or air, so those choices are not supported.

76. Passage: "The dodo bird, once found only on the island of Mauritius, went extinct in the late 1600s. Having evolved with no natural predators, the birds did not fear the sailors who hunted them." According to the passage, why did the dodo not fear the sailors?
    • Because they could fly away quickly
    • Because they lived deep in the forest
    • Because they had evolved with no natural predators
    • Because the sailors fed them regularly

    Correct answer: Because they had evolved with no natural predators

    According to the passage, the dodo did not fear the sailors because the birds had evolved with no natural predators, as stated directly. The passage does not mention being fed, flying away, or living in a forest, so those choices are not supported.

77. Passage: "The story is told entirely by ten-year-old Sam, who describes the move to a new town as the worst thing that ever happened, even though the reader can tell the adults around him are excited." From what point of view is the story told?
    • From the point of view of the new town itself
    • Second person, addressing the reader as 'you'
    • Third person, by an all-knowing narrator
    • First person, through Sam's own eyes

    Correct answer: First person, through Sam's own eyes

    The story is told from the first person, through Sam's own eyes. The phrase "told entirely by ten-year-old Sam," who shares his own feelings about the move, signals a first-person narrator. It is not a third-person, second-person, or town's point of view, so those choices do not apply.

78. Passage: "The narrator hovers above the whole village, revealing what the baker fears, what the mayor secretly hopes, and what the children whisper to one another, none of which the characters know about each other." Which point of view does the passage use?
    • Third-person omniscient, knowing every character's thoughts
    • Second person, speaking directly to the reader
    • A point of view limited to one character only
    • First person, told by one character

    Correct answer: Third-person omniscient, knowing every character's thoughts

    The passage uses third-person omniscient point of view, knowing every character's thoughts. The narrator reveals the inner feelings of the baker, the mayor, and the children, all from outside the characters. It is not first person, second person, or limited to one character, so those choices do not apply.

79. Passage: "The same school fire is described twice: once by the firefighter who remembers the heat and the rescues, and once by a student who remembers only the fear and the crowded sidewalk outside." What does telling the event from two points of view most likely accomplish?
    • It proves only one account can be true.
    • It lists the steps for escaping a building.
    • It hides what actually happened during the fire.
    • It shows how the same event can be experienced differently.

    Correct answer: It shows how the same event can be experienced differently.

    Telling the event from two points of view most likely shows how the same event can be experienced differently. The firefighter and the student recall different details and feelings about the same fire. It does not prove only one is true, hide the event, or list escape steps, so those choices do not fit.

80. Passage: "Although the narrator is not a character in the story, she follows only the thoughts and feelings of Lena, never revealing what anyone else is thinking." Which point of view does the passage use?
    • Third-person limited, following only Lena's thoughts
    • Third-person omniscient, knowing everyone's thoughts
    • Second person, addressing the reader
    • First person, told by Lena

    Correct answer: Third-person limited, following only Lena's thoughts

    The passage uses third-person limited point of view, following only Lena's thoughts. The narrator is outside the story yet reveals only Lena's inner life, never anyone else's. It is not first person, omniscient, or second person, so those choices do not apply.

81. Poem excerpt: "Old oak, you've stood a hundred years, / Through summer suns and winter tears, / You shelter birds and shade the lane, / And ask for nothing in return." What is the tone of the poem?
    • Mocking and scornful
    • Fearful and tense
    • Bored and dismissive
    • Grateful and admiring

    Correct answer: Grateful and admiring

    The tone of the poem is grateful and admiring. The speaker praises the old oak for its long life, its shelter and shade, and its giving "nothing in return," expressing thankful respect. There is no mockery, fear, or boredom in the words, so those tones do not match.

82. Poem excerpt: "So now you say you're sorry, friend, / How kind of you to make amends, / A year too late, the damage done, / Your gentle words have just begun." What is the tone of the poem?
    • Calm and peaceful
    • Bitter and sarcastic
    • Cheerful and playful
    • Warm and forgiving

    Correct answer: Bitter and sarcastic

    The tone of the poem is bitter and sarcastic. Phrases like "How kind of you" paired with "A year too late, the damage done" mock the apology rather than accept it. There is no warmth, cheer, or calm in the lines, so those tones do not match.

83. Poem excerpt: "Tomorrow holds a thousand doors, / Each one a path I've not explored, / I step into the bright unknown, / With every road my very own." What is the tone of the poem?
    • Hopeful and excited
    • Tired and defeated
    • Sad and regretful
    • Angry and resentful

    Correct answer: Hopeful and excited

    The tone of the poem is hopeful and excited. Images of a "thousand doors," the "bright unknown," and roads to call one's own express eager anticipation of the future. There is no sadness, anger, or weariness in the words, so those tones do not match.

84. Passage: "In the article, the author describes the polluted river using words like 'choked,' 'lifeless,' and 'reeking,' before any data appears." What is the most likely effect of these word choices?
    • To make readers feel the river's condition is grim and alarming
    • To make the article sound cheerful
    • To prove the author lives near the river
    • To suggest the river is perfectly healthy

    Correct answer: To make readers feel the river's condition is grim and alarming

    The most likely effect of these word choices is to make readers feel the river's condition is grim and alarming. Words like "choked," "lifeless," and "reeking" carry strong negative weight that signals a dire situation. They do not suggest health, cheerfulness, or prove where the author lives, so those effects do not fit.

85. Poem excerpt: "We've lost, we've failed, the season's through, / But onward still, there's work to do, / We'll lace our shoes and try once more, / And meet next year a stronger four." What is the tone of the poem?
    • Despairing and hopeless
    • Mocking and cruel
    • Frightened and panicked
    • Determined and resilient

    Correct answer: Determined and resilient

    The tone of the poem is determined and resilient. Despite admitting the loss, the speaker vows to lace up, "try once more," and return stronger, expressing resolve rather than defeat. There is no despair, mockery, or panic in the words, so those tones do not match.

86. Poem excerpt: "The empty swing still sways a bit, / Where once we'd laugh and rest and sit, / The summer's gone, the yard is bare, / And only echoes linger there." What is the mood of the poem?
    • Joyful and energetic
    • Suspenseful and frightening
    • Wistful and melancholy
    • Furious and tense

    Correct answer: Wistful and melancholy

    The mood of the poem is wistful and melancholy. The empty swing, the gone summer, the bare yard, and lingering "echoes" all evoke gentle sadness over what has passed. There is no joy, fury, or suspense in the imagery, so those moods do not match.

87. Poem excerpt: "The fog comes creeping, soft and gray, / It folds the harbor lights away, / It hushes ships and stills the sea, / And wraps the shore in mystery." What is the central theme of the poem?
    • Fog is dangerous to all sailors.
    • The sea is louder at night than during the day.
    • Harbors should always keep their lights on.
    • Fog brings a quiet, mysterious calm to the shore.

    Correct answer: Fog brings a quiet, mysterious calm to the shore.

    The central theme is that fog brings a quiet, mysterious calm to the shore. The fog folds away lights, hushes ships, stills the sea, and wraps the shore in mystery, all creating a hushed, mysterious mood. The poem is not chiefly about danger, harbor lights, or the sea's volume.

88. Poem excerpt: "A single seed beneath the snow, / Waits patient where the cold winds blow, / It does not doubt the spring will come, / When frozen fields will hum and drum." Which theme is best expressed by the poem?
    • Spring is the most dangerous season for plants.
    • Snow destroys most seeds before they can grow.
    • Patience and quiet hope can carry one through hard times.
    • Seeds grow faster in the cold than in the heat.

    Correct answer: Patience and quiet hope can carry one through hard times.

    The poem best expresses the theme that patience and quiet hope can carry one through hard times. The seed waits beneath the snow without doubting that spring will come, modeling steady hope through hardship. The poem is not chiefly about destruction, danger, or growth speed.

89. Poem excerpt: "Two roads of choice before me lay, / I could not walk them both that day, / I chose the one the few had known, / And made the quiet path my own." What does the poem most likely suggest through its imagery of two roads?
    • Building new roads through the woods
    • Getting lost while hiking in a forest
    • Avoiding making any decision at all
    • Choosing a less common path in life

    Correct answer: Choosing a less common path in life

    The poem most likely suggests choosing a less common path in life through its imagery of two roads. The speaker picks the road "the few had known" and makes it his own, using the roads as a symbol for life choices. It is not literally about getting lost, building roads, or avoiding decisions, so those readings do not fit.

90. Poem excerpt: "My grandmother's hands were maps of years, / Each line a road of joys and tears, / They kneaded bread and held me near, / And wrote a life I hold so dear." What does the metaphor comparing the hands to "maps of years" suggest?
    • Her hands could predict the future.
    • Her hands showed the marks of a long, full life.
    • Her hands were too wrinkled to be useful.
    • Her hands were used to draw actual maps.

    Correct answer: Her hands showed the marks of a long, full life.

    The metaphor comparing the hands to "maps of years" suggests that her hands showed the marks of a long, full life. The lines on her hands stand for the roads of "joys and tears" she had lived through. It does not mean she drew maps, that her hands were useless, or that she could predict the future, so those readings do not fit.

91. Poem excerpt: "The drum of rain upon the roof, / Tap-tap-tapping, soft reproof, / It drips and patters through the night, / And drums until the morning light." Which sound device does the poet most clearly use in "Tap-tap-tapping"?
    • A simile comparing rain to a drum
    • Hyperbole exaggerating how loud the rain is
    • A metaphor calling the night a roof
    • Onomatopoeia, imitating the sound of the rain

    Correct answer: Onomatopoeia, imitating the sound of the rain

    The poet most clearly uses onomatopoeia in "Tap-tap-tapping," imitating the sound of the rain. The word echoes the actual noise the rain makes on the roof. It is not a simile, an exaggeration of loudness, or a metaphor calling the night a roof, so those choices do not apply.

92. Poem excerpt: "The library, a treasure trove, / Holds golden worlds in every cove, / Each shelf a chest, each book a key, / That opens doors for you and me." What does the extended metaphor in the poem suggest about the library?
    • The library is the most expensive building in town.
    • The library is hidden away from the public.
    • The library is full of valuable opportunities to discover.
    • The library is guarded by locked treasure chests.

    Correct answer: The library is full of valuable opportunities to discover.

    The extended metaphor suggests that the library is full of valuable opportunities to discover. Calling it a "treasure trove" with books as "keys" that open "doors" presents reading as rich, rewarding discovery. It does not mean literal locked chests, high cost, or being hidden, so those readings do not fit.

93. Passage: "A passage explains that bats use echolocation to find insects in the dark. One answer choice claims that 'bats are completely blind and cannot see anything,' which the passage never states." Why is that answer choice a wrong-answer trap?
    • It quotes the passage word for word.
    • It states an extreme claim the passage does not support.
    • It draws a careful, limited conclusion.
    • It accurately paraphrases the passage.

    Correct answer: It states an extreme claim the passage does not support.

    That answer choice is a trap because it states an extreme claim the passage does not support. The passage says bats use echolocation, but it never says they are "completely blind," an overstatement not in the text. It is not a paraphrase, a quotation, or a careful conclusion, so those descriptions do not apply.

94. Passage: "Because one survey found that people who own dogs report walking more, a writer concludes that adopting a dog guarantees anyone will become physically fit." Why is the writer's conclusion a wrong-answer trap?
    • It accurately reflects the survey's careful wording.
    • It overstates a survey finding as an absolute guarantee.
    • It refuses to draw any conclusion at all.
    • It cites evidence from many separate surveys.

    Correct answer: It overstates a survey finding as an absolute guarantee.

    The conclusion is a trap because it overstates a survey finding as an absolute guarantee. The survey only found that dog owners report walking more, but the writer leaps to a guarantee of fitness, an extreme claim the evidence cannot support. The writer is not reflecting careful wording, avoiding a conclusion, or citing many surveys.

95. Passage: "A passage describes a balanced review of a new park, noting both its lovely gardens and its lack of parking. One answer choice says the reviewer 'thinks the park is a complete failure.'" Why is that answer choice a wrong-answer trap?
    • It uses careful, qualified language.
    • It quotes the reviewer's exact words.
    • It matches the reviewer's balanced view.
    • It assigns an extreme, one-sided opinion the reviewer never expresses.

    Correct answer: It assigns an extreme, one-sided opinion the reviewer never expresses.

    That answer choice is a trap because it assigns an extreme, one-sided opinion the reviewer never expresses. The review is balanced, praising the gardens while noting parking problems, so calling the park "a complete failure" distorts a mixed view. It does not match the balance, quote the reviewer, or use careful language, so those descriptions do not apply.

96. Passage: "A passage discusses how a single inventor improved the design of bicycle brakes. One answer choice claims she 'invented the very first bicycle in history,' a detail found nowhere in the text." Why is that answer choice a wrong-answer trap?
    • It draws a cautious, well-supported conclusion.
    • It uses the same words as the passage.
    • It restates information given clearly in the passage.
    • It introduces a claim that is out of scope and unsupported.

    Correct answer: It introduces a claim that is out of scope and unsupported.

    That answer choice is a trap because it introduces a claim that is out of scope and unsupported. The passage discusses only improving bicycle brakes, never claiming she invented the first bicycle, so the choice adds information not in the text. It is not a restatement, a quotation, or a supported conclusion, so those descriptions do not apply.

97. Passage: "Some people insist that reading e-books will make printed books disappear entirely within a few years. While e-book sales have grown, printed books still sell strongly, and many readers prefer them, so paper books are far from gone." Which answer would be a wrong-answer trap because it is too extreme?
    • Printed books will vanish completely within a few years.
    • Printed and electronic books both have readers today.
    • E-book sales have grown in recent years.
    • Many readers still prefer printed books.

    Correct answer: Printed books will vanish completely within a few years.

    The extreme wrong-answer trap is that printed books will vanish completely within a few years. The passage actually says printed books "still sell strongly" and are "far from gone," so an absolute claim of disappearance overstates the text. The other options use measured language consistent with the passage.

98. Passage: "A feature reports that a town added a new bus route, lowered its fares, and extended its hours. Within a year, ridership had doubled, and rush-hour traffic on the main roads noticeably eased." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?
    • Rush-hour traffic is the worst problem any town faces.
    • Lowering fares is the only way to attract riders.
    • Several transit improvements together doubled ridership and eased traffic.
    • Buses are always cheaper than driving a car.

    Correct answer: Several transit improvements together doubled ridership and eased traffic.

    The best summary is that several transit improvements together doubled ridership and eased traffic. The passage lists the new route, lower fares, and longer hours, then reports doubled ridership and easier traffic. The other choices isolate one detail or add claims the passage never makes.

99. Passage: "The interview covers the artist's years of rejection, her decision to keep painting in a tiny apartment, and her first sold-out gallery show. Again and again, she repeats that she painted for herself long before anyone else cared." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?
    • Gallery shows are the only measure of an artist's worth.
    • Artists must live in small apartments to succeed.
    • Rejection always leads to fame in the end.
    • The artist credits painting for herself as the heart of her eventual success.

    Correct answer: The artist credits painting for herself as the heart of her eventual success.

    The best summary is that the artist credits painting for herself as the heart of her eventual success. Her repeated statement that she "painted for herself long before anyone else cared" captures her central message across the interview. The other choices overstate one detail or add claims the passage does not make.

100. Passage: "A long article describes how a neighborhood replaced an empty parking lot with a park. It now hosts a weekly market, a playground draws families, and an evening concert series fills the lawn each summer." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?
     • A new park brought a range of activities and life to the neighborhood.
     • Concerts are the best use of any public park.
     • Playgrounds are the most important feature a park can have.
     • Parking lots should be illegal in residential areas.

     Correct answer: A new park brought a range of activities and life to the neighborhood.

     The best summary is that a new park brought a range of activities and life to the neighborhood. The passage lists the market, the playground, and the concerts as activities the park now hosts. The other choices fix on a single detail or add claims the passage never makes.

101. Passage: "The article follows a retired engineer who began tutoring math for free at the public library. Over five years he helped dozens of struggling students pass their exams, and several went on to study engineering themselves." Which sentence best summarizes the passage?
     • Math is the hardest subject for students to pass.
     • Libraries should hire engineers to tutor students.
     • Retired people have the most free time for volunteering.
     • A volunteer tutor helped many students succeed and inspired some to follow his field.

     Correct answer: A volunteer tutor helped many students succeed and inspired some to follow his field.

     The best summary is that a volunteer tutor helped many students succeed and inspired some to follow his field. The passage notes the engineer's free tutoring, the students he helped pass, and those who chose engineering. The other choices isolate a detail or add claims the passage never makes.

102. Passage: "The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States, completed in 1886. Its copper surface, once shiny brown, slowly turned green over decades as the metal reacted with the air." According to the passage, why did the Statue of Liberty turn green?
     • Its copper surface reacted with the air over time.
     • It was struck by lightning many times.
     • It was made of green stone from France.
     • It was painted green when it arrived.

     Correct answer: Its copper surface reacted with the air over time.

     According to the passage, the statue turned green because its copper surface reacted with the air over decades, as stated directly in the second sentence. The passage does not say it was painted, made of green stone, or struck by lightning, so those choices are not supported.

103. Passage: "Wombats produce cube-shaped droppings, an oddity found in no other animal. Scientists believe the unusual shape keeps the droppings from rolling away, helping the wombats mark their territory." According to the passage, what purpose does the cube shape of wombat droppings serve?
     • It keeps the droppings from rolling away.
     • It helps the droppings keep the wombat warm.
     • It attracts insects the wombats eat.
     • It makes the droppings easier to digest.

     Correct answer: It keeps the droppings from rolling away.

     According to the passage, the cube shape keeps the droppings from rolling away, which helps the wombats mark their territory, as stated directly. The passage does not connect the shape to warmth, digestion, or attracting insects, so those choices are not supported.

104. Passage: "After the power went out, the campers' voices dropped to whispers, and they huddled closer to the dying fire as the woods around them grew darker and stranger." What can the reader infer about the mood among the campers?
     • They were bored and ready to sleep.
     • They felt uneasy in the growing dark.
     • They were eager to explore the woods.
     • They felt safe and cheerful.

     Correct answer: They felt uneasy in the growing dark.

     The reader can infer that the campers felt uneasy in the growing dark. Whispering, huddling near the dying fire, and the woods seeming "darker and stranger" all signal nervousness. There is no support for feeling safe, eager, or bored, so those inferences do not fit.

105. Passage: "The keynote speaker rushed through her slides, mixed up two of her own examples, and twice lost her place before the lunch break." What can the reader most reasonably infer about the speaker?
     • She was deliberately trying to be funny.
     • She was flustered or underprepared.
     • She had given this exact talk before.
     • She had rehearsed her talk many times.

     Correct answer: She was flustered or underprepared.

     The best inference is that the speaker was flustered or underprepared. Rushing, mixing up her own examples, and losing her place twice all suggest she was not in command of her material. There is no support for thorough rehearsal, intentional humor, or prior delivery, so those inferences do not fit.

106. Passage: "The novel about a runaway slave is narrated by the young man himself, who shares his fears on the road and his memories of the family he left behind." From what point of view is the novel told?
     • From the point of view of his pursuers
     • First person, by the young man himself
     • Third-person omniscient, knowing all characters
     • Second person, addressing the reader directly

     Correct answer: First person, by the young man himself

     The novel is told from the first person, by the young man himself. It is "narrated by the young man," who shares his own fears and memories, signaling a first-person narrator. It is not omniscient, second person, or told by his pursuers, so those choices do not apply.

107. Passage: "The cave's air turned cold and damp, the walls narrowed until the explorers had to crawl, and somewhere ahead came the steady drip of unseen water." As used in the passage, the word "narrowed" most nearly means
     • Became more cramped
     • Became wider
     • Turned warmer
     • Grew brighter

     Correct answer: Became more cramped

     In this context, "narrowed" most nearly means became more cramped. The clue that the explorers "had to crawl" shows the walls were closing in. The word does not mean wider, brighter, or warmer, so those options contradict the context.

108. Passage: "The article first explains why so many city trees were dying, pointing to drought and poor soil, and then describes the watering program the city launched to bring them back." Which best describes how the passage is organized?
     • As a cause-and-then-solution structure
     • As a comparison of two cities
     • As a description of a single tree
     • As a chronological list of historical events

     Correct answer: As a cause-and-then-solution structure

     The passage is organized as a cause-and-then-solution structure. It first explains the causes of the dying trees and then describes the watering program created to fix the problem. It is not a comparison, a historical timeline, or a description of one tree, so those structures do not apply.

109. Passage: "The article reports that scientists released a few beavers into a dried-up valley. Within a few years the beavers' dams had created ponds, the ponds drew back birds and fish, and the once-barren valley turned green again." What is the central idea of the passage?
     • Beavers are the most dangerous animals in a valley.
     • Valleys naturally turn green without any help.
     • Dams should always be built by machines, not animals.
     • Reintroducing beavers helped restore a damaged landscape.

     Correct answer: Reintroducing beavers helped restore a damaged landscape.

     The central idea is that reintroducing beavers helped restore a damaged landscape. The passage shows the beavers' dams creating ponds that brought back wildlife and turned the barren valley green. The other choices contradict the passage or overstate a detail it does not support.

110. A map uses a scale where 2 centimeters represents 50 kilometers. How many kilometers does 9 centimeters represent?
     • 200
     • 250
     • 275
     • 225

     Correct answer: 225

     The answer is 225 kilometers. Each centimeter stands for $50 \div 2 = 25$ kilometers, so 9 centimeters represents $9 \times 25 = 225$ kilometers.

111. A paint mixture uses blue and white in a ratio of 5 to 3. If 24 quarts of white are used, how many quarts of blue are needed?
     • 40
     • 36
     • 32
     • 45

     Correct answer: 40

     The answer is 40 quarts. The white went from 3 parts to 24 quarts, a multiplier of 8, so the 5 blue parts become $5 \times 8 = 40$ quarts.

112. If 4 workers can build a wall in 18 days, how long would it take 6 workers at the same rate?
     • 10 days
     • 14 days
     • 15 days
     • 12 days

     Correct answer: 12 days

     The answer is 12 days. The total work is $4 \times 18 = 72$ worker-days, and dividing by 6 workers gives $72 \div 6 = 12$ days.

113. A class has a ratio of 3 girls to 4 boys, with 28 students total. How many girls are in the class?
     • 10
     • 14
     • 16
     • 12

     Correct answer: 12

     The answer is 12 girls. The ratio has $3 + 4 = 7$ parts, and $28 \div 7 = 4$ students per part, so the girls number $3 \times 4 = 12$.

114. On a blueprint, 1 inch represents 8 feet. A wall drawn 3.5 inches long represents an actual length of how many feet?
     • 24
     • 32
     • 36
     • 28

     Correct answer: 28

     The answer is 28 feet. Each inch represents 8 feet, so 3.5 inches represents $3.5 \times 8 = 28$ feet.

115. A shirt originally costing $40 is on sale for $34. What is the percent discount?
     • 10%
     • 12%
     • 18%
     • 15%

     Correct answer: 15%

     The answer is 15%. The discount is $40 - $34 = $6, and dividing by the original price gives $6 \div 40 = 0.15$, which is 15%.

116. A stock worth $50 rises to $65. What is the percent increase?
     • 15%
     • 25%
     • 35%
     • 30%

     Correct answer: 30%

     The answer is 30%. The increase is $65 - $50 = $15, and dividing by the original $50 gives $15 \div 50 = 0.30$, which is 30%.

117. A coat costs $90 after a 25% discount is applied. What was the original price?
     • $112.50
     • $115.00
     • $118.00
     • $120.00

     Correct answer: $120.00

     The answer is $120.00. A 25% discount means $90 is 75% of the original, so dividing $90 by 0.75 gives the original price of $120.

118. What is 8% of 350?
     • 24
     • 32
     • 42
     • 28

     Correct answer: 28

     The answer is 28. Convert 8% to 0.08 and multiply: $0.08 \times 350 = 28$.

119. A population of 8,000 grows by 15% in one year. What is the new population?
     • 8,800
     • 9,000
     • 9,500
     • 9,200

     Correct answer: 9,200

     The answer is 9,200. A 15% increase adds $0.15 \times 8,000 = 1,200$ people, so the new total is $8,000 + 1,200 = 9,200$.

120. A price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. If the original price was $100, what is the final price?
     • $96
     • $100
     • $104
     • $108

     Correct answer: $96

     The answer is $96. The 20% increase raises $100 to $120, then a 20% decrease removes 0.20 x $120 = $24, leaving $96.

121. Evaluate $36 \div 9 + 5 \times 2 - 3$.
     • 9
     • 13
     • 15
     • 11

     Correct answer: 11

     The answer is 11. Division and multiplication come first left to right: $36 \div 9 = 4$ and $5 \times 2 = 10$. Then add and subtract left to right: $4 + 10 - 3 = 11$.

122. Evaluate (8 - 3) squared + $6 \div 2$.
     • 28
     • 25
     • 22
     • 16

     Correct answer: 28

     The answer is 28. The parentheses give $8 - 3 = 5$, then the exponent gives 5 squared = 25, then $6 \div 2 = 3$, and finally $25 + 3 = 28$.

123. Evaluate $4 + 6 \times 2 - 10 \div 5$.
     • 12
     • 16
     • 20
     • 14

     Correct answer: 14

     The answer is 14. Multiply and divide first: $6 \times 2 = 12$ and $10 \div 5 = 2$. Then work left to right: $4 + 12 - 2 = 14$.

124. Evaluate 100 - 4 x 5 squared.
     • 0
     • 20
     • 75
     • 2400

     Correct answer: 0

     The answer is 0. The exponent comes first: 5 squared = 25. Then multiply: $4 \times 25 = 100$. Finally subtract: $100 - 100 = 0$.

125. Evaluate $2 \times (6 + 4) \div 5 + 7$.
     • 9
     • 13
     • 15
     • 11

     Correct answer: 11

     The answer is 11. The parentheses give $6 + 4 = 10$. Then left to right for multiply and divide: $2 \times 10 = 20$, then $20 \div 5 = 4$. Finally add: $4 + 7 = 11$.

126. Simplify m to the 7th power times m to the 3rd power.
     • M to the 4th power
     • M to the 21st power
     • M to the 12th power
     • M to the 10th power

     Correct answer: M to the 10th power

     The answer is m to the 10th power. When multiplying powers with the same base, add the exponents: $7 + 3 = 10$. The base m stays the same.

127. Simplify (3 times the quantity p to the 2nd power) raised to the 3rd power.
     • 3 p to the 6th power
     • 9 p to the 5th power
     • 27 p to the 5th power
     • 27 p to the 6th power

     Correct answer: 27 p to the 6th power

     The answer is 27 p to the 6th power. Raise each factor to the third power: 3 cubed is 27, and p to the 2nd power raised to the 3rd power multiplies exponents to give p to the 6th power.

128. What is the value of any nonzero number raised to the zero power?
     • 0
     • The number itself
     • Undefined
     • 1

     Correct answer: 1

     The answer is 1. By the rules of exponents, any nonzero base raised to the zero power equals 1.

129. Simplify the quantity k to the 8th power divided by k to the 5th power, all multiplied by k.
     • K to the 2nd power
     • K to the 3rd power
     • K to the 13th power
     • K to the 4th power

     Correct answer: K to the 4th power

     The answer is k to the 4th power. Dividing k to the 8th power by k to the 5th power subtracts exponents to give k to the 3rd power, then multiplying by k adds one more to give k to the 4th power.

130. What is the value of 2 to the 5th power?
     • 10
     • 16
     • 64
     • 32

     Correct answer: 32

     The answer is 32. The expression 2 to the 5th power means $2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2$, which equals 32.

131. Which expression is equal to 6 to the 8th power divided by 6 to the 3rd power?
     • 6 to the 5th power
     • 6 to the 11th power
     • 1 to the 5th power
     • 6 to the 24th power

     Correct answer: 6 to the 5th power

     The answer is 6 to the 5th power. Dividing powers with the same base subtracts the exponents: $8 - 3 = 5$, and the base 6 stays the same.

132. What is the value of 10 to the 4th power?
     • 40
     • 400
     • 4,000
     • 10,000

     Correct answer: 10,000

     The answer is 10,000. The expression 10 to the 4th power means 10 multiplied by itself four times, which places four zeros after a 1, giving 10,000.

133. Write 6,400,000 in scientific notation.
     • 6.4 x 10 to the 5th power
     • 64 x 10 to the 5th power
     • 6.4 x 10 to the 6th power
     • 6.4 x 10 to the 7th power

     Correct answer: 6.4 x 10 to the 6th power

     The answer is 6.4 x 10 to the 6th power. The decimal point moves 6 places to the left to form 6.4, which is between 1 and 10, so the exponent is positive 6.

134. Express 0.0072 in scientific notation.
     • $7.2 \times 10$ to the negative 2 power
     • $7.2 \times 10$ to the negative 3 power
     • $72 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power
     • 7.2 x 10 to the 3rd power

     Correct answer: $7.2 \times 10$ to the negative 3 power

     The answer is $7.2 \times 10$ to the negative 3 power. The decimal point moves 3 places to the right to form 7.2, and because the number is less than 1, the exponent is negative 3.

135. What is the product of (3 x 10 to the 4th power) and (2 x 10 to the 3rd power)?
     • 6 x 10 to the 7th power
     • 5 x 10 to the 7th power
     • 6 x 10 to the 12th power
     • 6 x 10 to the 6th power

     Correct answer: 6 x 10 to the 7th power

     The answer is 6 x 10 to the 7th power. Multiply the coefficients $3 \times 2 = 6$ and add the exponents $4 + 3 = 7$, giving 6 x 10 to the 7th power.

136. The number $5.06 \times 10$ to the negative 2 power is equal to which value in standard form?
     • 506
     • 0.506
     • 0.0506
     • 50.6

     Correct answer: 0.0506

     The answer is 0.0506. The exponent of negative 2 moves the decimal point in 5.06 two places to the left, producing 0.0506.

137. Solve for x: 6x + 11 = 47.
     • 5
     • 6
     • 7
     • 9

     Correct answer: 6

     The answer is 6. Subtract 11 from both sides to get 6x = 36, then divide by 6 to find x = 6.

138. Solve for y: 2(y - 4) = 18.
     • 7
     • 9
     • 11
     • 13

     Correct answer: 13

     The answer is 13. Distribute to get 2y - 8 = 18, then add 8 for 2y = 26, and divide by 2 to find y = 13.

139. Solve for x: 9 - 2x = 1.
     • 2
     • 3
     • 4
     • 5

     Correct answer: 4

     The answer is 4. Subtract 9 from both sides to get -2x = -8, then divide by -2 to find x = 4.

140. Solve for x: (2x + 5)/3 = 7.
     • 6
     • 7
     • 8
     • 9

     Correct answer: 8

     The answer is 8. Multiply both sides by 3 to get 2x + 5 = 21, then subtract 5 for 2x = 16, and divide by 2 to find x = 8.

141. If 5x - 3 = 2x + 12, what is the value of x?
     • 3
     • 4
     • 5
     • 6

     Correct answer: 5

     The answer is 5. Subtract 2x from both sides to get 3x - 3 = 12, then add 3 for 3x = 15, and divide by 3 to find x = 5.

142. A taxi charges a $3 base fare plus $2 per mile. If a ride costs $19, how many miles was the trip?
     • 6
     • 7
     • 8
     • 9

     Correct answer: 8

     The answer is 8 miles. The equation is 3 + 2m = 19, so subtracting 3 gives 2m = 16, and dividing by 2 gives m = 8.

143. Which expression is equivalent to 4(2x + 3) - 5x?
     • 3x + 12
     • 8x - 12
     • 3x - 12
     • 13x + 12

     Correct answer: 3x + 12

     The answer is 3x + 12. Distribute 4 to get 8x + 12, then subtract 5x: 8x - 5x = 3x, leaving 3x + 12.

144. Solve the inequality 5x + 2 > 17.
     • $x > 3$
     • $x > 4$
     • $x < 3$
     • $x > 5$

     Correct answer: $x > 3$

     The answer is x > 3. Subtract 2 from both sides to get 5x > 15, then divide by 5 to find x > 3.

145. Solve the inequality 4 - 3x >= 19.
     • $x \ge 5$
     • X <= -5
     • X >= -5
     • $x \le 5$

     Correct answer: X <= -5

     The answer is x <= -5. Subtract 4 from both sides to get -3x >= 15, then divide by -3 and reverse the inequality to find x <= -5.

146. Which value of x does NOT satisfy the inequality 2x - 1 < 9?
     • 3
     • 4
     • 5
     • 2

     Correct answer: 5

     The answer is 5. Solving 2x - 1 < 9 gives 2x < 10, so x < 5. The value 5 is not less than 5, so it fails the inequality while 2, 3, and 4 all satisfy it.

147. A student needs an average of at least 90 on two tests. They scored 86 on the first test. Which inequality represents the minimum second score s?
     • 86 + s >= 180
     • $s \ge 90$
     • 86 + s >= 90
     • $s \ge 86$

     Correct answer: 86 + s >= 180

     The answer is 86 + s >= 180. An average of at least 90 over two tests means the total must be at least $2 \times 90 = 180$, so the two scores combined satisfy 86 + s >= 180.

148. Solve the inequality 3(x - 2) <= 9.
     • $x \le 3$
     • $x \le 5$
     • $x \ge 5$
     • $x \le 7$

     Correct answer: $x \le 5$

     The answer is x <= 5. Distribute to get 3x - 6 <= 9, then add 6 for 3x <= 15, and divide by 3 to find x <= 5.

149. Solve the system x + y = 12 and 2x - y = 6. What is the value of y?
     • 4
     • 5
     • 6
     • 8

     Correct answer: 6

     The answer is 6. Adding the two equations eliminates y: 3x = 18, so x = 6, and substituting into x + y = 12 gives y = 6.

150. Solve the system y = 2x + 1 and 3x + y = 16. What is the value of x?
     • 2
     • 3
     • 4
     • 5

     Correct answer: 3

     The answer is 3. Substitute y = 2x + 1 into 3x + y = 16 to get 3x + 2x + 1 = 16, so 5x = 15 and x = 3.

151. Two notebooks and one pen cost $7, while three notebooks and one pen cost $9.50. What is the cost of one notebook?
     • $2.00
     • $2.25
     • $2.50
     • $2.75

     Correct answer: $2.50

     The answer is $2.50. Subtracting the first equation from the second eliminates the pen: one notebook costs $9.50 - $7 = $2.50.

152. The sum of two numbers is 45 and one number is twice the other. What is the smaller number?
     • 12
     • 15
     • 18
     • 20

     Correct answer: 15

     The answer is 15. If the smaller number is n, then n + 2n = 45, so 3n = 45 and n = 15. The larger number is 30.

153. At a fair, 4 adult tickets and 3 child tickets cost $58, while 4 adult tickets and 1 child ticket cost $42. What is the cost of one child ticket?
     • $6
     • $7
     • $8
     • $9

     Correct answer: $8

     The answer is $8. Subtracting the second equation from the first eliminates the adult tickets: 2 child tickets cost $58 - $42 = $16, so one child ticket costs $16 / 2 = $8.

154. Solve the system 3x + 2y = 21 and x = 2y - 1. What is the value of x?
     • 3
     • 4
     • 5
     • 6

     Correct answer: 5

     The answer is 5. Substitute x = 2y - 1 into 3x + 2y = 21 to get 3(2y - 1) + 2y = 21, so 8y - 3 = 21, giving 8y = 24 and y = 3. Then x = 2(3) - 1 = 5.

155. What is the next number in the sequence 5, 11, 17, 23, ...?
     • 27
     • 28
     • 29
     • 31

     Correct answer: 29

     The answer is 29. Each term increases by 6, so adding 6 to 23 gives 29. This is an arithmetic sequence with a common difference of 6.

156. What is the next term in the sequence 2, 6, 18, 54, ...?
     • 108
     • 148
     • 162
     • 216

     Correct answer: 162

     The answer is 162. Each term is three times the previous one, so $54 \times 3 = 162$. This is a geometric sequence with a common ratio of 3.

157. In the pattern 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ..., what is the next number?
     • 30
     • 32
     • 36
     • 49

     Correct answer: 36

     The answer is 36. The terms are the perfect squares 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, which are 1 squared through 5 squared, so the next is 6 squared = 36.

158. An arithmetic sequence starts at 50 and decreases by 7 each term. What is the 4th term?
     • 22
     • 29
     • 36
     • 43

     Correct answer: 29

     The answer is 29. Starting at 50 and subtracting 7 three times to reach the 4th term gives $50 - 21 = 29$.

159. What is the value of the absolute value of (-6) plus the absolute value of (-9)?
     • 3
     • -15
     • 15
     • -3

     Correct answer: 15

     The answer is 15. The absolute value of -6 is 6 and the absolute value of -9 is 9, so adding them gives $6 + 9 = 15$.

160. Evaluate the absolute value of (-2 x 7).
     • -14
     • 9
     • 14
     • 5

     Correct answer: 14

     The answer is 14. First compute inside: -$2 \times 7$ = -14. The absolute value of -14 is its distance from zero, which is 14.

161. For which value of x is the absolute value of (x - 3) equal to 5?
     • Only 8
     • Only -2
     • 8 or -2
     • 2 or -8

     Correct answer: 8 or -2

     The answer is 8 or -2. The expression x - 3 must be 5 or -5; solving x - 3 = 5 gives 8, and x - 3 = -5 gives -2.

162. On a number line, what is the distance between -7 and -2?
     • 5
     • 9
     • -5
     • 7

     Correct answer: 5

     The answer is 5. Distance is the absolute value of the difference: the absolute value of (-2 - (-7)) = the absolute value of $5 = 5$.

163. Factor the expression x squared + 9x + 20.
     • (x + 2)(x + 10)
     • (x + 4)(x + 5)
     • (x + 1)(x + 20)
     • (x - 4)(x - 5)

     Correct answer: (x + 4)(x + 5)

     The answer is (x + 4)(x + 5). The two numbers must multiply to 20 and add to 9, which are 4 and 5, so the expression factors as (x + 4)(x + 5).

164. Factor the expression x squared - 16.
     • (x - 8)(x + 2)
     • (x - 4)(x - 4)
     • (x - 4)(x + 4)
     • (x + 4)(x + 4)

     Correct answer: (x - 4)(x + 4)

     The answer is (x - 4)(x + 4). This is a difference of squares, since x squared - 16 equals x squared - 4 squared, which factors into (x - 4)(x + 4).

165. Factor completely: 10x + 15.
     • 5(2x + 3)
     • 5(2x + 15)
     • 2(5x + 3)
     • 10(x + 5)

     Correct answer: 5(2x + 3)

     The answer is 5(2x + 3). The greatest common factor of 10x and 15 is 5, and dividing each term by 5 gives 2x and 3, so the factored form is 5(2x + 3).

166. Factor the expression x squared - 5x + 6.
     • (x - 2)(x - 3)
     • (x + 2)(x + 3)
     • (x - 1)(x - 6)
     • (x - 2)(x + 3)

     Correct answer: (x - 2)(x - 3)

     The answer is (x - 2)(x - 3). The two numbers must multiply to 6 and add to -5, which are -2 and -3, so the expression factors as (x - 2)(x - 3).

167. What is the expanded form of (x - 3)(x + 7)?
     • X squared + 4x - 21
     • X squared - 4x - 21
     • X squared + 10x - 21
     • X squared + 4x + 21

     Correct answer: X squared + 4x - 21

     The answer is x squared + 4x - 21. Multiplying gives x squared + 7x - 3x - 21, and combining the middle terms 7x - 3x yields x squared + 4x - 21.

168. Simplify the polynomial 5x squared - 3x + 2x squared + 8x.
     • 7x squared + 5x
     • 3x squared + 11x
     • 7x squared + 11x
     • 7x squared - 5x

     Correct answer: 7x squared + 5x

     The answer is 7x squared + 5x. Combine the x-squared terms (5x squared + 2x squared = 7x squared) and the x terms (-3x + 8x = 5x), giving 7x squared + 5x.

169. What is the product of 3x squared and (2x + 5)?
     • 6x cubed + 15x squared
     • 6x squared + 15x
     • 5x cubed + 8x squared
     • 6x cubed + 5

     Correct answer: 6x cubed + 15x squared

     The answer is 6x cubed + 15x squared. Distribute 3x squared to each term: 3x squared x 2x = 6x cubed and 3x squared x 5 = 15x squared.

170. If P = 2x squared - 5 and Q = x squared + 3, what is P + Q?
     • 3x squared - 2
     • 2x squared - 2
     • 3x squared - 8
     • X squared - 2

     Correct answer: 3x squared - 2

     The answer is 3x squared - 2. Add like terms: the x-squared terms give 2x squared + x squared = 3x squared, and the constants give -$5 + 3$ = -2.

171. A right triangle has legs of length 5 and 12. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
     • 13
     • 15
     • 17
     • 60

     Correct answer: 13

     The answer is 13. By the Pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse squared equals $5^2 + 12^2 = 25 + 144 = 169$, and $\sqrt{169} = 13$.

172. A ladder leans against a wall, reaching 24 feet up while its base sits 7 feet from the wall. How long is the ladder?
     • 23 feet
     • 25 feet
     • 27 feet
     • 31 feet

     Correct answer: 25 feet

     The answer is 25 feet. The ladder is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 7 and 24: $7^2 + 24^2 = 49 + 576 = 625$, and $\sqrt{625} = 25$.

173. A right triangle has a hypotenuse of 10 and one leg of 6. What is the length of the other leg?
     • 4
     • 8
     • 9
     • 16

     Correct answer: 8

     The answer is 8. The Pythagorean theorem gives $6^2 + \text{leg}^2 = 10^2$, so $36 + \text{leg}^2 = 100$, $\text{leg}^2 = 64$, and $\sqrt{64} = 8$.

174. What is the area of a triangle with a base of 14 cm and a height of 6 cm?
     • 20 square cm
     • 42 square cm
     • 84 square cm
     • 48 square cm

     Correct answer: 42 square cm

     The answer is 42 square cm. The area of a triangle is one-half base times height: (1/2) x 14 x 6 = 42 square cm.

175. A circle has a radius of 5 cm. What is its area? Use pi.
     • 10 pi square cm
     • 25 pi square cm
     • 50 pi square cm
     • 100 pi square cm

     Correct answer: 25 pi square cm

     The answer is 25 pi square cm. The area of a circle is pi times the radius squared, so pi x 5 squared = 25 pi square cm.

176. A rectangle has a perimeter of 30 cm and a length of 9 cm. What is its width?
     • 5 cm
     • 6 cm
     • 7 cm
     • 12 cm

     Correct answer: 6 cm

     The answer is 6 cm. The perimeter is 2 times length plus 2 times width, so 2(9) + 2w = 30 gives 18 + 2w = 30, then 2w = 12 and w = 6 cm.

177. What is the area of a square with a side length of 11 cm?
     • 22 square cm
     • 44 square cm
     • 99 square cm
     • 121 square cm

     Correct answer: 121 square cm

     The answer is 121 square cm. The area of a square is the side length squared: $11 \times 11 = 121$ square cm.

178. A trapezoid has parallel sides of 8 cm and 12 cm and a height of 5 cm. What is its area?
     • 40 square cm
     • 48 square cm
     • 50 square cm
     • 100 square cm

     Correct answer: 50 square cm

     The answer is 50 square cm. The area of a trapezoid is one-half the sum of the parallel sides times the height: (1/2)$(8 + 12)$(5) = (1/2)(20)$(5) = 50$ square cm.

179. A cube has an edge length of 5 cm. What is its volume?
     • 15 cubic cm
     • 75 cubic cm
     • 125 cubic cm
     • 150 cubic cm

     Correct answer: 125 cubic cm

     The answer is 125 cubic cm. The volume of a cube is the edge length cubed: $5 \times 5 \times 5 = 125$ cubic cm.

180. A rectangular prism has a length of 8 cm, a width of 3 cm, and a volume of 72 cubic cm. What is its height?
     • 2 cm
     • 3 cm
     • 4 cm
     • 6 cm

     Correct answer: 3 cm

     The answer is 3 cm. Volume equals length times width times height, so 72 = 8 x 3 x h means 72 = 24h, giving h = 3 cm.

181. What is the volume of a cylinder with a radius of 3 cm and a height of 10 cm? Use pi.
     • 30 pi cubic cm
     • 60 pi cubic cm
     • 90 pi cubic cm
     • 300 pi cubic cm

     Correct answer: 90 pi cubic cm

     The answer is 90 pi cubic cm. The volume of a cylinder is pi times the radius squared times the height: pi x 3 squared x 10 = pi x $9 \times 10 = 90$ pi cubic cm.

182. A storage container shaped like a rectangular prism measures 12 inches by 5 inches by 4 inches. What is its volume?
     • 120 cubic inches
     • 210 cubic inches
     • 240 cubic inches
     • 260 cubic inches

     Correct answer: 240 cubic inches

     The answer is 240 cubic inches. The volume equals length times width times height: $12 \times 5 \times 4 = 240$ cubic inches.

183. Two angles are supplementary, and one measures 115 degrees. What is the measure of the other?
     • 55 degrees
     • 65 degrees
     • 75 degrees
     • 85 degrees

     Correct answer: 65 degrees

     The answer is 65 degrees. Supplementary angles sum to 180 degrees, so the other angle is $180 - 115 = 65$ degrees.

184. The three angles of a triangle measure 50 degrees, 60 degrees, and x. What is the value of x?
     • 60 degrees
     • 70 degrees
     • 80 degrees
     • 90 degrees

     Correct answer: 70 degrees

     The answer is 70 degrees. The angles of a triangle sum to 180 degrees, so x = $180 - 50 - 60 = 70$ degrees.

185. When two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, two corresponding angles are formed. If one measures 110 degrees, what is the measure of the other?
     • 70 degrees
     • 90 degrees
     • 110 degrees
     • 250 degrees

     Correct answer: 110 degrees

     The answer is 110 degrees. Corresponding angles formed when a transversal crosses parallel lines are congruent, so the other angle also measures 110 degrees.

186. What is the sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral?
     • 180 degrees
     • 270 degrees
     • 360 degrees
     • 540 degrees

     Correct answer: 360 degrees

     The answer is 360 degrees. A quadrilateral can be split into two triangles, and since each triangle's angles sum to 180 degrees, the total is $2 \times 180 = 360$ degrees.

187. What is the slope of the line passing through the points (2, 3) and (8, 15)?
     • 1
     • 2
     • 3
     • 6

     Correct answer: 2

     The answer is 2. Slope is the change in y over the change in x: $(15 - 3)$/(8 - 2) = 12/$6 = 2$.

188. What is the midpoint of the segment connecting $(4, -2)$ and (10, 8)?
     • (6, 5)
     • (7, 3)
     • (7, 5)
     • (6, 3)

     Correct answer: (7, 3)

     The answer is (7, 3). The midpoint averages the coordinates: the x-value is $(4 + 10)$/2 = 7 and the y-value is (-2 + 8)/2 = 3.

189. In which quadrant does the point (-5, -3) lie?
     • Quadrant I
     • Quadrant II
     • Quadrant III
     • Quadrant IV

     Correct answer: Quadrant III

     The answer is Quadrant III. A point with both a negative x-coordinate and a negative y-coordinate lies in the lower-left region, which is Quadrant III.

190. What is the distance between the points (0, 0) and (6, 8) on the coordinate plane?
     • 7
     • 10
     • 14
     • 48

     Correct answer: 10

     The answer is 10. The horizontal change is 6 and the vertical change is 8, so the distance is $\sqrt{6^2 + 8^2} = \sqrt{100} = 10$.

191. The data set is 14, 18, 22, 10, 26, 30. What is the mean?
     • 18
     • 20
     • 22
     • 24

     Correct answer: 20

     The answer is 20. The sum is $14 + 18 + 22 + 10 + 26 + 30 = 120$, and dividing by the 6 values gives $120 \div 6 = 20$.

192. What is the median of the data set 9, 4, 15, 7, 12?
     • 7
     • 9
     • 12
     • 15

     Correct answer: 9

     The answer is 9. Ordered, the values are 4, 7, 9, 12, 15. With five values, the median is the middle one, which is 9.

193. What is the mode of the data set 6, 2, 8, 2, 5, 2, 8?
     • 2
     • 5
     • 6
     • 8

     Correct answer: 2

     The answer is 2. The mode is the value that appears most often, and 2 occurs three times while 8 appears twice and the others once.

194. A set of four numbers has a mean of 25. Three of the numbers are 18, 22, and 30. What is the fourth number?
     • 28
     • 30
     • 32
     • 36

     Correct answer: 30

     The answer is 30. A mean of 25 over four numbers means the total is $4 \times 25 = 100$. The three known numbers sum to $18 + 22 + 30 = 70$, so the fourth is $100 - 70 = 30$.

195. What is the range of the data set 47, 12, 33, 28, 9, 50?
     • 38
     • 41
     • 47
     • 50

     Correct answer: 41

     The answer is 41. The range is the difference between the largest and smallest values: $50 - 9 = 41$.

196. A bag contains 4 red, 6 blue, and 10 green marbles. What is the probability of drawing a blue marble at random?
     • 3/10
     • 1/5
     • 6/10
     • 3/20

     Correct answer: 3/10

     The answer is 3/10. There are 6 blue marbles out of $4 + 6 + 10 = 20$ total, and 6/20 simplifies to 3/10.

197. Two fair coins are flipped. What is the probability that both land on heads?
     • 1/2
     • 1/3
     • 1/4
     • 3/4

     Correct answer: 1/4

     The answer is 1/4. Each coin has a 1/2 chance of heads, and for two independent flips multiply: 1/$2 \times 1$/$2 = 1$/4.

198. A standard six-sided number cube is rolled. What is the probability of rolling a multiple of 3?
     • 1/6
     • 1/3
     • 1/2
     • 2/3

     Correct answer: 1/3

     The answer is 1/3. The multiples of 3 from 1 to 6 are 3 and 6, giving 2 favorable outcomes out of 6, and 2/6 simplifies to 1/3.

199. A jar has 8 white and 2 black chips. A chip is drawn and not replaced, then a second is drawn. What is the probability both are black?
     • 1/45
     • 1/25
     • 4/100
     • 1/5

     Correct answer: 1/45

     The answer is 1/45. The first black has probability 2/10, and after removing it the second black has probability 1/9, so 2/$10 \times 1$/$9 = 2$/$90 = 1$/45.

200. A car travels 240 miles using 8 gallons of gas. At this rate, how many miles can it travel on 14 gallons?
     • 360
     • 400
     • 420
     • 450

     Correct answer: 420

     The answer is 420 miles. The car gets $240 \div 8 = 30$ miles per gallon, so on 14 gallons it travels $30 \times 14 = 420$ miles.

201. A train leaves the station at 2:00 p.m. traveling at 65 miles per hour. How far has it traveled by 5:00 p.m.?
     • 130 miles
     • 160 miles
     • 195 miles
     • 260 miles

     Correct answer: 195 miles

     The answer is 195 miles. From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. is 3 hours, so the distance is $65 \times 3 = 195$ miles.

202. A swimmer covers 800 meters in 16 minutes. What is the swimmer's average speed in meters per minute?
     • 40
     • 45
     • 50
     • 60

     Correct answer: 50

     The answer is 50 meters per minute. Average speed is distance divided by time: $800 \div 16 = 50$ meters per minute.

203. How many seconds are in 4 hours?
     • 240
     • 2,400
     • 14,400
     • 144,000

     Correct answer: 14,400

     The answer is 14,400 seconds. There are 3,600 seconds in one hour, so 4 hours is $4 \times 3,600 = 14,400$ seconds.

204. A recipe calls for 3 quarts of broth. How many cups is this, given that 1 quart equals 4 cups?
     • 7 cups
     • 9 cups
     • 12 cups
     • 16 cups

     Correct answer: 12 cups

     The answer is 12 cups. Each quart equals 4 cups, so 3 quarts is $3 \times 4 = 12$ cups.

205. A length of 2.5 meters equals how many centimeters?
     • 25
     • 250
     • 2,500
     • 0.025

     Correct answer: 250

     The answer is 250 centimeters. There are 100 centimeters in one meter, so 2.5 meters is $2.5 \times 100 = 250$ centimeters.

206. A package weighs 96 ounces. How many pounds is this, given that 1 pound equals 16 ounces?
     • 5 pounds
     • 6 pounds
     • 8 pounds
     • 12 pounds

     Correct answer: 6 pounds

     The answer is 6 pounds. Dividing the ounces by 16 converts to pounds: $96 \div 16 = 6$ pounds.

207. A grid-in answer to a SHSAT math problem comes out to the value of 9 squared. What exact whole number should be entered in the grid?
     • 81
     • 18
     • 72
     • 99

     Correct answer: 81

     The number to grid is 81. Nine squared means 9 times 9, which equals 81. This exact whole number is the student-produced response, not an estimate.

208. A grid-in problem asks for the total cost of 7 notebooks that each cost $1.25. What exact dollar value should be entered as the student-produced answer?
     • 7.25
     • 8.75
     • 9.25
     • 8.25

     Correct answer: 8.75

     The value to grid is 8.75. Multiplying 7 notebooks by $1.25 each gives 7 times 1.25, which equals exactly 8.75 dollars. The grid-in format requires this precise product entered as a decimal.

209. A grid-in answer is the greatest common factor of 24 and 36. What exact number should be entered in the grid?
     • 6
     • 4
     • 12
     • 24

     Correct answer: 12

     The number to grid is 12. The largest factor shared by both 24 and 36 is 12, since 24 equals 12 times 2 and 36 equals 12 times 3. This exact value is the student-produced response.

210. A bag holds 3 red marbles and 5 blue marbles. A grid-in question asks for the probability of drawing a red marble, written as a fraction in simplest form. What value should be gridded?
     • 3/5
     • 5/8
     • 8/3
     • 3/8

     Correct answer: 3/8

     The value to grid is 3/8. There are 3 red marbles out of 8 total marbles, so the probability is 3 over 8, which is already in simplest form and can be entered directly in the grid.

211. A grid-in problem states that 5x + 8 = 2x + 23. What exact value of x should be entered in the grid?
     • 5
     • 3
     • 15
     • 9

     Correct answer: 5

     The value to grid is 5. Subtracting 2x from both sides gives 3x + 8 = 23, then subtracting 8 gives 3x = 15, so x = 5. Substituting back, both sides equal 33, confirming the exact value.

212. A square has an area of 144 square inches. A grid-in question asks for the length of one side in inches. What exact value should be entered?
     • 72
     • 12
     • 14
     • 36

     Correct answer: 12

     The value to grid is 12. The side of a square is $\sqrt{\text{area}}$, and $\sqrt{144} = 12$ because $12 \times 12 = 144$. This exact whole number is the student-produced answer.

213. A grid-in answer must express 3/5 as a percent. What number should be entered in the grid if the answer is recorded as a whole-number percent value?
     • 35
     • 53
     • 60
     • 65

     Correct answer: 60

     The number to grid is 60. The fraction 3/5 equals 0.6, and 0.6 written as a percent is 60 percent, so 60 is the exact value to record as the student-produced response.

214. A recipe uses sugar and flour in a ratio of 2 to 5. A grid-in problem asks how many cups of flour are needed when 8 cups of sugar are used. What exact value should be gridded?
     • 10
     • 16
     • 15
     • 20

     Correct answer: 20

     The value to grid is 20. The ratio 2 to 5 scales up: 8 cups of sugar is 4 times the 2-cup part, so the flour is 4 times the 5-cup part, giving 20 cups. This exact value is the required answer.

215. A grid-in answer comes out to the value of the expression $(24 + 6)$ divided by 5. What exact whole number should be entered in the grid?
     • 6
     • 30
     • 11
     • 9

     Correct answer: 6

     The number to grid is 6. The parentheses are evaluated first, so 24 plus 6 equals 30, and then 30 divided by 5 equals 6. The student-produced answer must be this exact result.

216. A shirt originally priced at $40 is marked down by 25 percent. A grid-in problem asks for the sale price in dollars. What exact value should be entered?
     • 15
     • 30
     • 32
     • 35

     Correct answer: 30

     The value to grid is 30. A 25 percent discount on $40 removes 0.25 times 40, or $10, leaving 40 minus 10, which equals exactly 30 dollars. This precise sale price is the student-produced answer.

217. A grid-in problem asks for the median of the data set 7, 3, 9, 5, and 11. What exact value should be entered in the grid?
     • 9
     • 11
     • 7
     • 5

     Correct answer: 7

     The value to grid is 7. Ordering the numbers gives 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and the middle value of these five numbers is 7. This exact center value is the student-produced response.

218. A right triangle has legs measuring 6 and 8. A grid-in problem asks for the length of the hypotenuse. What exact value should be entered in the grid?
     • 14
     • 48
     • 12
     • 10

     Correct answer: 10

     The value to grid is 10. By the Pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse squared equals $6^2 + 8^2$, which is $36 + 64$, or 100, and $\sqrt{100} = 10$. This exact whole number is the student-produced answer.

219. Passage: "The poem opens, 'A single candle in the storm-- / it bows, it gutters, will not die, / and by its small and stubborn flame / I find the door I cannot see.'" What is the candle most likely meant to represent?
     • A sudden change in the weather outside
     • The speaker's wish to stay indoors during storms
     • A small but enduring source of hope
     • A fear of being alone in the dark

     Correct answer: A small but enduring source of hope

     The candle represents a small but enduring source of hope. Though it 'bows' and 'gutters,' it 'will not die' and guides the speaker to a door once unseen, signaling persistent hope amid hardship. The other choices treat the storm or candle too literally.

220. Passage: "The diary entry reads: 'I cannot decide if today was a triumph or a disaster. I aced the audition, yet I forgot to thank the one teacher who got me there. My joy still tastes of regret.'" From whose point of view is this passage told, and how can you tell?
     • Third-person omniscient, because the narrator knows everyone's thoughts
     • First person, because the narrator uses 'I' and shares private feelings
     • Second person, because the narrator addresses the reader as 'you'
     • Third-person limited, because the narrator follows one character closely

     Correct answer: First person, because the narrator uses 'I' and shares private feelings

     The passage is first person, shown by the repeated 'I' and the narrator's private mix of joy and regret. A diary entry voicing the writer's own thoughts is the hallmark of first-person narration; the other choices misidentify the pronouns and perspective.

221. Passage: "A long news article describes a city's plan to plant 10,000 trees over five years, the neighborhoods chosen first, the volunteers recruited, the funding from local businesses, and the expected drop in summer temperatures." Which sentence BEST summarizes the article?
     • Volunteers in the city enjoy planting trees on weekends.
     • Summer temperatures in the city are too high for comfort.
     • Local businesses in the city are very generous with money.
     • The city has launched a funded, volunteer-driven plan to plant 10,000 trees to cool neighborhoods.

     Correct answer: The city has launched a funded, volunteer-driven plan to plant 10,000 trees to cool neighborhoods.

     The best summary is that the city launched a funded, volunteer-driven tree-planting plan to cool neighborhoods. It captures the goal, the means, and the purpose without dwelling on one detail, while the other choices each fix on a minor point.

222. Passage: "The reviewer wrote, 'Calling this restaurant's service slow would be an act of breathtaking generosity. We aged visibly between ordering and eating.'" What is the tone of this passage?
     • Sincere and grateful
     • Sarcastic and critical
     • Calm and neutral
     • Fearful and anxious

     Correct answer: Sarcastic and critical

     The tone is sarcastic and critical. Saying that calling the service 'slow' would be 'generous' and joking about aging while waiting mocks the restaurant, signaling sarcasm aimed at criticism. The other choices ignore the biting humor.

223. Passage: "The passage states, 'Some claim the festival ruins the quiet town, but it brings the only steady income many families see all year.' A reader who skims might conclude the author opposes the festival." Why would that conclusion be a mistake?
     • The author opens with a criticism but ends by defending the festival's value
     • The author never mentions the festival's effect on the town
     • The author clearly states that the festival should be canceled
     • The author says the town has no other source of income at all

     Correct answer: The author opens with a criticism but ends by defending the festival's value

     The conclusion is mistaken because the author opens with a criticism but ends by defending the festival's value. A skimmer catching only the first clause misses the contrast word 'but' and the point about needed income. The other choices misread or overstate the passage.

224. Passage: "The scientist explained that the coral was not dead but 'dormant,' waiting for cooler water to return before resuming its slow growth." As used in the passage, the word 'dormant' most nearly means
     • Permanently damaged
     • Rapidly spreading
     • Temporarily inactive
     • Brightly colored

     Correct answer: Temporarily inactive

     In context, 'dormant' most nearly means temporarily inactive. The coral is 'not dead' but 'waiting' to resume growth when conditions improve, which signals a pause rather than permanent loss. The other choices contradict the idea of a temporary halt.

225. Passage: "The article reports that a school replaced its vending machines with water stations and fresh-fruit carts, then notes that nurse visits for headaches and fatigue fell by a third over the following term." What can the reader most reasonably infer?
     • Students disliked the new water stations and fruit carts
     • The healthier options may have improved students' well-being
     • The school nurse was no longer needed at all
     • Vending machines are required by law in schools

     Correct answer: The healthier options may have improved students' well-being

     The reader can reasonably infer that the healthier options may have improved students' well-being. The drop in headache and fatigue visits after the change suggests a connection. The other choices contradict the passage or push beyond what it states.

226. Passage: "The author writes, 'Do not picture a hero in armor. Picture a tired clerk who, asked to lie, simply said no-- and kept saying it until it cost him everything.'" What is the author's primary purpose?
     • To redefine heroism as ordinary, costly honesty
     • To describe the proper care of medieval armor
     • To warn readers against trusting clerks
     • To compare two kinds of office jobs

     Correct answer: To redefine heroism as ordinary, costly honesty

     The author's primary purpose is to redefine heroism as ordinary, costly honesty. By rejecting the armored hero and praising the clerk who refused to lie, the author reshapes what heroism means. The other choices ignore this central reframing.

227. Passage: "The history chapter first describes how the railroad was built, then explains how it lowered shipping costs, which in turn allowed distant farms to sell crops in faraway cities." How is this passage primarily organized?
     • By comparison and contrast
     • By cause and effect
     • By spatial description
     • By order of importance

     Correct answer: By cause and effect

     The passage is organized by cause and effect. Building the railroad lowered shipping costs, which then let distant farms reach faraway markets, a chain of causes and results signaled by 'in turn.' The other structures do not fit this linkage.

228. Passage: "The night pressed its cold hands against the windowpane, and the wind tapped softly, asking to be let inside." Which figurative device is used in this sentence?
     • Hyperbole exaggerating the cold
     • A simile comparing night to hands
     • Personification giving the night and wind human actions
     • An idiom about cold weather

     Correct answer: Personification giving the night and wind human actions

     The sentence uses personification, giving the night and wind human actions. The night 'pressed its cold hands' and the wind 'asking to be let inside' grants human behavior to nonhuman forces. It is not a simile or hyperbole, since no comparison or exaggeration drives the image.

229. Passage: "The editorial argues that the library should stay open on Sundays. Which detail would BEST support this argument: weekend surveys show the most students need study space on Sundays; the library was built in 1965; the building has a brick facade; the librarian collects vintage maps." Which detail best supports the argument?
     • The library was built in 1965.
     • Weekend surveys show the most students need study space on Sundays.
     • The building has a brick facade.
     • The librarian collects vintage maps.

     Correct answer: Weekend surveys show the most students need study space on Sundays.

     The best support is that weekend surveys show the most students need study space on Sundays. This directly justifies Sunday hours, while the building's age, facade, and the librarian's hobby are unrelated to the argument.

230. Passage: "Two essays on the same wildfire sit side by side. One lists acres burned and homes lost in flat, factual terms; the other lingers on the smell of smoke and a child's lost drawing." How do the two essays mainly differ?
     • One uses objective facts while the other uses emotional, sensory detail
     • One is much longer than the other
     • One is about a flood and the other about a fire
     • One was written before the fire and one after

     Correct answer: One uses objective facts while the other uses emotional, sensory detail

     The essays mainly differ in that one uses objective facts while the other uses emotional, sensory detail. The first reports acres and homes plainly; the second evokes smoke and a child's drawing to stir feeling. The other choices invent differences the passage never states.

231. Passage: "The poem ends, 'We built our walls of borrowed stone / and called the borrowing our own.'" What does the poet most likely suggest about the speakers?
     • They are skilled stonemasons proud of their craft
     • They literally stole stones from a quarry
     • They take credit for what they did not truly earn
     • They prefer building with stone over wood

     Correct answer: They take credit for what they did not truly earn

     The poet suggests the speakers take credit for what they did not truly earn. Calling 'borrowed stone' their 'own' implies claiming ownership of something borrowed, a figurative comment on false pride. The other choices read the stone too literally.

232. Passage: "When the substitute mispronounced her name for the third time, Priya smiled politely and said, 'Close enough,' though she gripped her pencil until it nearly snapped." What does the contrast between Priya's words and actions reveal?
     • She was genuinely amused by the mistake
     • She felt more frustrated than her calm reply suggested
     • She did not notice that her name was mispronounced
     • She wanted the substitute to repeat her name again

     Correct answer: She felt more frustrated than her calm reply suggested

     The contrast reveals that Priya felt more frustrated than her calm reply suggested. Her polite 'Close enough' masks the tension shown by gripping the pencil 'until it nearly snapped.' The other choices ignore that telling physical detail.

233. Passage: "The mayor's speech promised, 'No more potholes, no more delays, a perfect road for every single citizen by spring.'" A test-taker picks the answer 'The mayor guarantees flawless roads for everyone almost immediately.' Why might this be a trap?
     • It correctly restates the mayor's modest, realistic plan
     • It mistakes a sweeping political promise for a literal, certain fact
     • It ignores that the mayor never mentioned roads
     • It adds a detail about taxes the speech never raised

     Correct answer: It mistakes a sweeping political promise for a literal, certain fact

     The choice is a trap because it mistakes a sweeping political promise for a literal, certain fact. The mayor's grand claim is rhetoric, not a verified outcome, so treating it as guaranteed overreads the passage. The other choices misstate what the speech contains.

234. Passage: "The narrator describes the family reunion from above, revealing that the grandmother is hiding her illness, the uncle resents his brother, and the youngest cousin simply wants the cake." What point of view is used, and how do you know?
     • First person, because the narrator is one of the cousins
     • Second person, because the narrator addresses the reader directly
     • Third-person omniscient, because the narrator knows several characters' private thoughts
     • Third-person limited, because the narrator follows only the grandmother

     Correct answer: Third-person omniscient, because the narrator knows several characters' private thoughts

     The point of view is third-person omniscient, since the narrator knows several characters' private thoughts at once--the grandmother's secret, the uncle's resentment, and the cousin's wish. That access to multiple inner minds defines omniscience, ruling out the limited and first-person options.

235. Passage: "The columnist wrote, 'How wonderful that the new highway will save us four whole minutes-- assuming, of course, we ignore the playground it paved over.'" What is the tone of this passage?
     • Bitterly ironic
     • Warmly enthusiastic
     • Strictly factual
     • Gently nostalgic

     Correct answer: Bitterly ironic

     The tone is bitterly ironic. Praising a 'wonderful' four-minute savings while pointing to the paved-over playground signals the writer means the opposite of approval. The other choices miss the sarcastic edge created by the contrast.

236. Solve for x: 4x + 13 = 6x - 5.
     • 8
     • 9
     • 7
     • 10

     Correct answer: 9

     The answer is 9. Subtracting 4x from both sides gives 13 = 2x - 5, then adding 5 gives 18 = 2x, so x = 9.

237. Solve for x: (x - 2)/5 = 4.
     • 18
     • 20
     • 30
     • 22

     Correct answer: 22

     The answer is 22. Multiplying both sides by 5 gives x - 2 = 20, and adding 2 gives x = 22.

238. A phone plan charges a $15 monthly fee plus $0.10 per text. If a month's bill is $27, how many texts were sent?
     • 110
     • 100
     • 120
     • 130

     Correct answer: 120

     The answer is 120. Subtracting the $15 fee from $27 leaves $12 for texts, and dividing $12 by $0.10 gives 120 texts.

239. Which expression is equivalent to 6(2x - 1) - 3(x + 4)?
     • 9x - 18
     • 9x - 6
     • 12x - 18
     • 9x + 18

     Correct answer: 9x - 18

     The answer is 9x - 18. Distributing gives 12x - 6 - 3x - 12, and combining like terms yields 9x - 18.

240. A jacket marked $75 is sold for $60. By what percent was the price reduced?
     • 15%
     • 25%
     • 18%
     • 20%

     Correct answer: 20%

     The answer is 20%. The discount is $75 - $60 = $15, and $15 divided by $75 equals 0.20, or 20%.

241. A bicycle priced at $150 is increased by 30%. What is the new price?
     • $195
     • $180
     • $210
     • $165

     Correct answer: $195

     The answer is $195. Thirty percent of $150 is $45, and adding $45 to $150 gives $195.

242. After a 15% tip is added, a restaurant bill comes to $46. What was the bill before the tip?
     • $38
     • $40
     • $42
     • $36

     Correct answer: $40

     The answer is $40. The total represents 115% of the original, so dividing $46 by 1.15 gives $40.

243. What is 35% of 80?
     • 24
     • 32
     • 28
     • 30

     Correct answer: 28

     The answer is 28. Multiplying 80 by 0.35 gives 28.

244. The number 18 is what percent of 72?
     • 20%
     • 30%
     • 24%
     • 25%

     Correct answer: 25%

     The answer is 25%. Dividing 18 by 72 gives 0.25, which equals 25%.

245. Evaluate $72 \div 8 - 2 \times 3 + 4$.
     • 5
     • 7
     • 9
     • 11

     Correct answer: 7

     The answer is 7. Performing division and multiplication first gives $9 - 6 + 4$, which equals 7.

246. Evaluate 5 x (4 + 2) squared / 9.
     • 16
     • 24
     • 20
     • 18

     Correct answer: 20

     The answer is 20. The parentheses give 6, squaring gives 36, multiplying by 5 gives 180, and dividing by 9 gives 20.

247. Evaluate 64 - 6 x 2 squared + 8.
     • 40
     • 56
     • 48
     • 44

     Correct answer: 48

     The answer is 48. Squaring gives 4, then 6 times 4 is 24, so the expression is $64 - 24 + 8$, which equals 48.

248. Simplify (x to the 4th power times x to the 6th power) divided by x to the 3rd power.
     • X to the 8th power
     • X to the 13th power
     • X to the 9th power
     • X to the 7th power

     Correct answer: X to the 7th power

     The answer is x to the 7th power. Adding the exponents in the numerator gives x to the 10th power, and subtracting 3 gives x to the 7th power.

249. Simplify (a to the 5th power) raised to the 2nd power.
     • A to the 10th power
     • A to the 7th power
     • A to the 3rd power
     • A to the 25th power

     Correct answer: A to the 10th power

     The answer is a to the 10th power. Raising a power to a power multiplies the exponents, and 5 times 2 equals 10.

250. What is the value of 3 to the negative 2 power?
     • 1/6
     • -9
     • 9
     • 1/9

     Correct answer: 1/9

     The answer is 1/9. A negative exponent means the reciprocal, so 3 to the negative 2 power is 1 over 3 squared, which is 1/9.

251. Write 0.00045 in scientific notation.
     • $4.5 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power
     • $4.5 \times 10$ to the negative 5 power
     • $45 \times 10$ to the negative 5 power
     • $4.5 \times 10$ to the negative 3 power

     Correct answer: $4.5 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power

     The answer is $4.5 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power. Moving the decimal four places right to get 4.5 requires a factor of 10 to the negative 4 power.

252. What is the quotient of (8 x 10 to the 9th power) divided by (4 x 10 to the 3rd power)?
     • 2 x 10 to the 6th power
     • 2 x 10 to the 3rd power
     • 4 x 10 to the 6th power
     • 2 x 10 to the 12th power

     Correct answer: 2 x 10 to the 6th power

     The answer is 2 x 10 to the 6th power. Dividing 8 by 4 gives 2, and subtracting exponents gives 10 to the 6th power.

253. Solve the inequality 7x - 4 <= 24.
     • $x \ge 4$
     • $x \le 5$
     • $x \le 4$
     • $x < 4$

     Correct answer: $x \le 4$

     The answer is x <= 4. Adding 4 to both sides gives 7x <= 28, and dividing by 7 gives x <= 4.

254. Solve the inequality 10 - 4x > -6.
     • $x > 4$
     • $x < -4$
     • $x < 4$
     • $x \le 4$

     Correct answer: $x < 4$

     The answer is x < 4. Subtracting 10 gives -4x > -16, and dividing by -4 reverses the sign to give x < 4.

255. Which value of x satisfies the inequality 2x + 7 > 19?
     • 5
     • 6
     • 4
     • 8

     Correct answer: 8

     The answer is 8. Solving gives 2x > 12, so x > 6, and only 8 is greater than 6.

256. Solve the system 2x + 3y = 16 and x = y + 3. What is the value of y?
     • 2
     • 3
     • 4
     • 1

     Correct answer: 2

     The answer is 2. Substituting x = y + 3 gives 2(y + 3) + 3y = 16, so 5y + 6 = 16, and y = 2.

257. Solve the system 3x - 2y = 4 and x + 2y = 12. What is the value of x?
     • 3
     • 4
     • 5
     • 6

     Correct answer: 4

     The answer is 4. Adding the two equations eliminates y to give 4x = 16, so x = 4.

258. The sum of two numbers is 60, and the larger is four times the smaller. What is the larger number?
     • 48
     • 45
     • 40
     • 50

     Correct answer: 48

     The answer is 48. If the smaller is s, then s + 4s = 60, so 5s = 60 and s = 12, making the larger 4 times 12, which is 48.

259. At a market, 3 apples and 2 oranges cost $7, while 3 apples and 5 oranges cost $13. What is the cost of one orange?
     • $1.50
     • $2
     • $2.50
     • $1

     Correct answer: $2

     The answer is $2. Subtracting the first equation from the second eliminates the apples to give 3 oranges = $6, so one orange costs $2.

260. A recipe mixes oats and raisins in a ratio of 4 to 1. If 35 cups of the mixture are made, how many cups are oats?
     • 28
     • 25
     • 30
     • 24

     Correct answer: 28

     The answer is 28. The ratio has 5 total parts, so each part is $35 \div 5 = 7$ cups, and oats are 4 parts, which is 28 cups.

261. If 5 printers can produce 400 pages in a minute, how many pages can 8 printers produce in a minute at the same rate?
     • 600
     • 640
     • 560
     • 720

     Correct answer: 640

     The answer is 640. Each printer produces $400 \div 5 = 80$ pages per minute, so 8 printers produce 8 times 80, which is 640 pages.

262. On a model, 4 inches represents 12 feet. How many feet does a length of 7 inches represent?
     • 18
     • 24
     • 28
     • 21

     Correct answer: 21

     The answer is 21. Each inch represents $12 \div 4 = 3$ feet, so 7 inches represents 7 times 3, which is 21 feet.

263. A fruit punch uses juice and soda in a ratio of 3 to 5. If 40 ounces of soda are used, how many ounces of juice are needed?
     • 20
     • 30
     • 25
     • 24

     Correct answer: 24

     The answer is 24. Each part equals $40 \div 5 = 8$ ounces, and juice is 3 parts, so 3 times 8 equals 24 ounces.

264. What is the next number in the sequence 4, 9, 14, 19, ...?
     • 23
     • 25
     • 24
     • 22

     Correct answer: 24

     The answer is 24. Each term increases by 5, so the next term after 19 is $19 + 5$, which is 24.

265. What is the next term in the sequence 80, 40, 20, 10, ...?
     • 8
     • 5
     • 4
     • 2

     Correct answer: 5

     The answer is 5. Each term is half the previous one, so the next term after 10 is $10 \div 2$, which is 5.

266. An arithmetic sequence starts at 6 and increases by 9 each term. What is the 6th term?
     • 51
     • 48
     • 54
     • 45

     Correct answer: 51

     The answer is 51. The 6th term is 6 plus 5 increases of 9, which is $6 + 45$, equaling 51.

267. For which value of x is the absolute value of (2x - 1) equal to 9?
     • 4
     • 5
     • 6
     • 3

     Correct answer: 5

     The answer is 5. Setting 2x - 1 = 9 gives 2x = 10, so x = 5, which is one valid solution among the choices.

268. On a number line, what is the distance between -12 and 5?
     • 7
     • 13
     • 15
     • 17

     Correct answer: 17

     The answer is 17. The distance is the absolute value of the difference, and 5 - (-12) equals 17.

269. Factor the expression x squared + 11x + 24.
     • (x + 3)(x + 8)
     • (x + 4)(x + 6)
     • (x + 2)(x + 12)
     • (x + 3)(x + 9)

     Correct answer: (x + 3)(x + 8)

     The answer is (x + 3)(x + 8). The factors 3 and 8 multiply to 24 and add to 11, matching the expression.

270. Factor the expression x squared - 49.
     • (x - 7)(x - 7)
     • (x + 49)(x - 1)
     • (x + 7)(x - 7)
     • (x + 7)(x + 7)

     Correct answer: (x + 7)(x - 7)

     The answer is (x + 7)(x - 7). This is a difference of squares since 49 equals 7 squared, factoring as (x + 7)(x - 7).

271. What is the expanded form of (x - 5)(x - 2)?
     • X squared + 7x + 10
     • X squared - 3x - 10
     • X squared - 7x - 10
     • X squared - 7x + 10

     Correct answer: X squared - 7x + 10

     The answer is x squared - 7x + 10. Multiplying gives x squared - 2x - 5x + 10, and combining the middle terms gives -7x.

272. What is the product of 5x squared and (2x squared + 3)?
     • 10x to the 4th power + 15
     • 10x to the 4th power + 15x squared
     • 7x to the 4th power + 8x squared
     • 10x squared + 15x squared

     Correct answer: 10x to the 4th power + 15x squared

     The answer is 10x to the 4th power + 15x squared. Distributing 5x squared gives 10x to the 4th power and 15x squared.

273. A right triangle has legs of length 7 and 24. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
     • 23
     • 25
     • 26
     • 31

     Correct answer: 25

     The answer is 25. By the Pythagorean theorem, $7^2 + 24^2 = 49 + 576 = 625$, and $\sqrt{625} = 25$.

274. A right triangle has a hypotenuse of 17 and one leg of 8. What is the length of the other leg?
     • 13
     • 16
     • 15
     • 12

     Correct answer: 15

     The answer is 15. Subtracting $8^2$ from $17^2$ gives $289 - 64 = 225$, and $\sqrt{225} = 15$.

275. A trapezoid has parallel sides of 6 cm and 10 cm and a height of 8 cm. What is its area?
     • 60 square cm
     • 80 square cm
     • 64 square cm
     • 48 square cm

     Correct answer: 64 square cm

     The answer is 64 square cm. The area is one-half times the sum of the parallel sides times the height, which is 0.5 times 16 times 8, equaling 64.

276. Solve for x: 5x + 14 = 4.
     • -2
     • 2
     • -3
     • 3

     Correct answer: -2

     The answer is -2. Subtracting 14 from both sides gives 5x = -10, and dividing both sides by 5 gives x = -2.

277. If 7x + 6 = 4x + 24, what is the value of x?
     • 8
     • 6
     • 5
     • 10

     Correct answer: 6

     The answer is 6. Subtracting 4x from both sides gives 3x + 6 = 24, then subtracting 6 gives 3x = 18, so x = 6.

278. A gym charges a $30 sign-up fee plus $15 per month. If a member has paid $135 in total, for how many months have they been a member?
     • 9
     • 8
     • 7
     • 10

     Correct answer: 7

     The answer is 7. Subtracting the $30 fee from $135 leaves $105, and dividing $105 by the $15 monthly rate gives 7 months.

279. Solve for y: (4y + 3)/5 = 7.
     • 10
     • 9
     • 7
     • 8

     Correct answer: 8

     The answer is 8. Multiplying both sides by 5 gives 4y + 3 = 35, then subtracting 3 gives 4y = 32, so y = 8.

280. Which expression is equivalent to 6(2x - 5) - 3x?
     • 9x - 30
     • 9x - 5
     • 15x - 30
     • 9x + 30

     Correct answer: 9x - 30

     The answer is 9x - 30. Distributing gives 12x - 30, and combining 12x with -3x gives 9x, leaving 9x - 30.

281. A printing shop charges a flat $20 setup fee plus a per-flyer cost. If 50 flyers and the setup fee total $45, what is the cost per flyer?
     • $0.50
     • $0.40
     • $0.90
     • $0.60

     Correct answer: $0.50

     The answer is $0.50. Subtracting the $20 setup fee from $45 leaves $25 for the flyers, and dividing $25 by 50 flyers gives $0.50 each.

282. A sweater originally priced at $120 is on sale for $90. What is the percent discount?
     • 30%
     • 25%
     • 20%
     • 33%

     Correct answer: 25%

     The answer is 25%. The discount amount is $120 minus $90, which is $30, and $30 divided by the original $120 equals 0.25, or 25%.

283. A rent of $800 per month increases to $920 per month. What is the percent increase?
     • 12%
     • 15%
     • 20%
     • 13%

     Correct answer: 15%

     The answer is 15%. The increase is $920 minus $800, which is $120, and $120 divided by the original $800 equals 0.15, or 15%.

284. A television costs $360 after a 25% discount. What was its original price?
     • $450
     • $480
     • $420
     • $540

     Correct answer: $480

     The answer is $480. After a 25% discount the sale price is 75% of the original, so dividing $360 by 0.75 gives the original price of $480.

285. What is 15% of 240?
     • 36
     • 30
     • 40
     • 24

     Correct answer: 36

     The answer is 36. Converting 15% to the decimal 0.15 and multiplying by 240 gives 36.

286. What percent of 80 is 28?
     • 35%
     • 40%
     • 28%
     • 32%

     Correct answer: 35%

     The answer is 35%. Dividing the part, 28, by the whole, 80, gives 0.35, which equals 35%.

287. Solve the system 2x + 3y = 18 and x = y + 4. What is the value of y?
     • 2
     • 3
     • 4
     • 1

     Correct answer: 2

     The answer is 2. Substituting x = y + 4 into the first equation gives 2(y + 4) + 3y = 18, which simplifies to 5y + 8 = 18, so 5y = 10 and y = 2.

288. At a bakery, 3 muffins and 2 cookies cost $11, while 3 muffins and 5 cookies cost $17. What is the price of one cookie?
     • $2.00
     • $1.50
     • $2.50
     • $3.00

     Correct answer: $2.00

     The answer is $2.00. Subtracting the first total from the second leaves 3 cookies costing $6, so one cookie costs $2.00.

289. The sum of two numbers is 60 and their difference is 16. What is the smaller number?
     • 22
     • 38
     • 20
     • 26

     Correct answer: 22

     The answer is 22. Adding the two equations gives twice the larger number as 76, so the larger is 38, and subtracting 16 gives the smaller number of 22.

290. A recipe uses oil and vinegar in a ratio of 3 to 4. If 16 tablespoons of vinegar are used, how many tablespoons of oil are needed?
     • 12
     • 10
     • 9
     • 14

     Correct answer: 12

     The answer is 12. Since 16 tablespoons of vinegar is 4 times the ratio unit, each unit equals 4, so the oil amount is 3 times 4, which is 12 tablespoons.

291. A map scale shows 4 centimeters representing 120 kilometers. How many kilometers does 7 centimeters represent?
     • 210
     • 180
     • 240
     • 200

     Correct answer: 210

     The answer is 210. Each centimeter represents 120 divided by 4, or 30 kilometers, so 7 centimeters represents 7 times 30, which is 210 kilometers.

292. If 5 printers can produce 1,000 pages in an hour, how many pages can 8 printers produce in an hour at the same rate?
     • 1,600
     • 1,400
     • 1,250
     • 1,800

     Correct answer: 1,600

     The answer is 1,600. Each printer makes 1,000 divided by 5, or 200 pages per hour, so 8 printers produce 8 times 200, which is 1,600 pages.

293. Evaluate $72 \div 8 + 6 \times 3 - 4$.
     • 23
     • 27
     • 19
     • 31

     Correct answer: 23

     The answer is 23. Following order of operations, $72 \div 8$ is 9 and $6 \times 3$ is 18, then $9 + 18 - 4$ equals 23.

294. Evaluate (9 - 4) squared - $5 \times 2$.
     • 15
     • 11
     • 20
     • 5

     Correct answer: 15

     The answer is 15. The parentheses give 5, squaring gives 25, and $5 \times 2$ is 10, so $25 - 10$ equals 15.

295. Evaluate 80 - 3 x 4 squared.
     • 32
     • 48
     • 1232
     • 16

     Correct answer: 32

     The answer is 32. The exponent gives 4 squared as 16, then $3 \times 16$ is 48, and $80 - 48$ equals 32.

296. Simplify the expression w to the 10th power divided by w to the 6th power.
     • W to the 4th power
     • W to the 16th power
     • W to the 60th power
     • W to the 6th power

     Correct answer: W to the 4th power

     The answer is w to the 4th power. When dividing powers with the same base, subtract the exponents, so 10 minus 6 gives an exponent of 4.

297. Write 0.00046 in scientific notation.
     • $4.6 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power
     • $4.6 \times 10$ to the negative 3 power
     • $46 \times 10$ to the negative 5 power
     • 4.6 x 10 to the 4th power

     Correct answer: $4.6 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power

     The answer is $4.6 \times 10$ to the negative 4 power. Moving the decimal point 4 places to the right to make 4.6 requires multiplying by 10 to the negative 4 power.

298. A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
     • 10
     • 12
     • 14
     • 9

     Correct answer: 10

     The answer is 10. By the Pythagorean theorem, $6^2 + 8^2$ is $36 + 64$, which equals 100, and $\sqrt{100} = 10$.