- On the Wonderlic verbal section, what is the defining feature of an analogy item compared with a simple vocabulary item?
- It tests whether you can spell a word correctly
- It requires you to find a relationship between one word pair and apply it to a second pair
- It asks you to count letters in each word
- It requires you to translate a word into another language
Correct answer: It requires you to find a relationship between one word pair and apply it to a second pair
Finding a relationship between one word pair and applying it to a second pair is the defining feature of an analogy item. Unlike a vocabulary item that asks only for a single word's meaning, an analogy depends on the logical link between words. Spelling, counting letters, and translating are not what an analogy measures.
- An analogy expresses a relationship between two words. In the pair 'gigantic is to small,' what type of relationship is shown?
- Synonyms, words with similar meaning
- Part to whole
- Antonyms, words with opposite meaning
- Cause and effect
Correct answer: Antonyms, words with opposite meaning
Antonyms, words with opposite meaning, is the relationship shown because gigantic means very large and small means little, so the two are opposites. Recognizing the type of link is the first step in solving any analogy. The pair is not synonymous, not a part-to-whole pairing, and not a cause-and-effect chain.
- Complete the analogy: Bee is to hive as bird is to ____.
Correct answer: Nest
Nest correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is creature-to-dwelling: a bee lives in a hive, and a bird lives in a nest. A feather is part of a bird, the sky is where it flies, and a worm is food. Only a nest matches the home that the second creature occupies.
- Complete the analogy: Doctor is to hospital as teacher is to ____.
Correct answer: School
School correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is worker-to-workplace: a doctor works in a hospital, and a teacher works in a school. A student is whom a teacher serves, a lesson is what a teacher delivers, and chalk is a tool. Only a school matches the place where the second worker performs their job.
- Complete the analogy: Glove is to hand as sock is to ____.
Correct answer: Foot
Foot correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is covering-to-body-part: a glove covers a hand, and a sock covers a foot. A shoe also goes on the foot but is a different garment, wool is a material, and a toe is only a portion of the foot. Only a foot matches the whole body part the second item covers.
- Complete the analogy: Loud is to deafening as warm is to ____.
- Cool
- Mild
- Pleasant
- Scorching
Correct answer: Scorching
Scorching correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is one of intensity: deafening is an extreme degree of loud, so the extreme degree of warm is scorching. Cool and mild are weaker than warm rather than stronger, and pleasant is unrelated to intensity. Only scorching matches the heightened degree shown in the first pair.
- Which word is most nearly the SAME in meaning (a synonym) as FRUGAL?
- Wasteful
- Generous
- Wealthy
- Thrifty
Correct answer: Thrifty
Thrifty is the synonym for frugal because both describe being careful and economical with money or resources. Wasteful is the opposite, generous describes free giving, and wealthy refers to having money rather than spending it carefully. Only thrifty shares the sparing, economical meaning of frugal.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning (an antonym) to TRANSPARENT?
- Clear
- Opaque
- Fragile
- Visible
Correct answer: Opaque
Opaque is the antonym of transparent because transparent means light passes through so you can see clearly, while opaque means light cannot pass through. Clear and visible are aligned with transparent, and fragile refers to being easily broken. Only opaque reverses the see-through meaning of transparent.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as RESILIENT?
Correct answer: Tough
Tough is the synonym for resilient because a resilient person or material recovers quickly from difficulty or strain. Fragile is the opposite, suggesting something easily damaged, while slow and quiet describe unrelated qualities. Only tough captures the durable, bounce-back meaning of resilient.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to ABUNDANT?
- Ample
- Plentiful
- Scarce
- Common
Correct answer: Scarce
Scarce is the antonym of abundant because abundant means existing in large supply while scarce means existing in short supply. Ample and plentiful are synonyms of abundant, and common refers to something occurring often without indicating quantity available. Only scarce reverses the meaning of abundant.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as TRANQUIL?
Correct answer: Calm
Calm is the synonym for tranquil because both describe a state of quiet peacefulness free from disturbance. Hostile suggests aggression, rapid refers to speed, and crowded describes density of people. Only calm captures the peaceful, untroubled meaning of tranquil.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to HUMBLE?
- Modest
- Arrogant
- Gentle
- Honest
Correct answer: Arrogant
Arrogant is the antonym of humble because a humble person has a modest view of their own importance while an arrogant person has an exaggerated, superior view. Modest and gentle align with humble, and honest describes truthfulness rather than self-regard. Only arrogant reverses the meaning of humble.
- What does the word BENEVOLENT mean?
- Showing kindness and goodwill toward others
- Acting with cruelty
- Behaving in secret
- Working very quickly
Correct answer: Showing kindness and goodwill toward others
Showing kindness and goodwill toward others is the definition of benevolent. A benevolent person wishes others well and acts generously. Acting with cruelty is the opposite, while behaving in secret or working quickly describe unrelated behaviors that do not match the kind, well-meaning sense of benevolent.
- What does the word TENTATIVE mean?
- Final and certain
- Not yet definite; provisional and subject to change
- Extremely loud
- Filled with anger
Correct answer: Not yet definite; provisional and subject to change
Not yet definite; provisional and subject to change is the definition of tentative. A tentative plan or decision is unsettled and may still be altered. Being final and certain is the opposite, and being loud or angry describes unrelated qualities, so only the provisional meaning fits the word tentative.
- What does the word ELABORATE mean when used as an adjective?
- Detailed and complicated; worked out with great care
- Plain and simple
- Very inexpensive
- Easily broken
Correct answer: Detailed and complicated; worked out with great care
Detailed and complicated; worked out with great care is the definition of elaborate as an adjective. Something elaborate has many carefully arranged parts or details. Plain and simple is the opposite, while inexpensive and easily broken describe unrelated qualities, so only the detailed-and-intricate meaning fits the word elaborate.
- What does the word SCRUTINIZE mean?
- To examine closely and critically
- To ignore completely
- To destroy quickly
- To praise loudly
Correct answer: To examine closely and critically
To examine closely and critically is the definition of scrutinize. When you scrutinize something, you inspect it in careful detail to find flaws or truth. Ignoring, destroying, and praising are unrelated actions that do not capture the close, searching inspection the word scrutinize describes.
- What does the word ADVERSE mean?
- Harmful or unfavorable
- Brightly colored
- Skilled at advertising
- Easy to remember
Correct answer: Harmful or unfavorable
Harmful or unfavorable is the definition of adverse. An adverse effect or adverse weather works against someone's interests or comfort. Being brightly colored, skilled at advertising, or easy to remember are unrelated meanings, so only the unfavorable, working-against sense fits the word adverse.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The bridge was closed for repairs, so drivers had to find an ____ route to reach the city.'
- Alternate
- Identical
- Original
- Imaginary
Correct answer: Alternate
Alternate best completes the sentence because a closed bridge forces drivers to use a different, substitute route. An identical or original route would still lead to the closed bridge, and an imaginary route could not actually be driven. Only alternate, meaning a substitute option, fits the logic of detouring around the closure.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'Even though the forecast predicted rain, the sky remained ____ all afternoon.'
Correct answer: Clear
Clear best completes the sentence because the phrase 'even though' signals a contrast with the predicted rain, meaning the actual weather was the opposite of rainy. Stormy and flooded would match the forecast rather than contradict it, and frozen does not relate to a rain prediction. Only clear provides the logical contrast the sentence sets up.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The scientist refused to publish her results until she could ____ them through repeated experiments.'
Correct answer: Verify
Verify best completes the sentence because repeated experiments are done to confirm that results are accurate before publishing. Forgetting or hiding the results would contradict the goal of publishing, and selling them does not fit the scientific context. Only verify, meaning to confirm the truth of something, matches the careful purpose described.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'His explanation was so ____ that no one in the room had any further questions.'
- Confusing
- Thorough
- Brief
- Incomplete
Correct answer: Thorough
Thorough best completes the sentence because an explanation that leaves no further questions must cover the topic completely. Confusing and incomplete explanations would prompt more questions, and a brief explanation does not by itself guarantee everything is covered. Only thorough produces the full understanding that ends all questions.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: trumpet, violin, flute, drum.
Correct answer: Violin
Violin does not belong because a trumpet, flute, and drum are all played without strings, while a violin is a stringed instrument. The odd-one-out item asks you to find the feature most items share and isolate the exception. Three non-stringed instruments make the stringed violin the one that does not fit.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: square, triangle, circle, cube.
Correct answer: Cube
Cube does not belong because a square, triangle, and circle are all two-dimensional flat shapes, while a cube is a three-dimensional solid. The classification task requires finding the shared property of most words and spotting the exception. Three flat shapes and one solid make the cube the odd one out.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: apple, carrot, banana, grape.
Correct answer: Carrot
Carrot does not belong because an apple, banana, and grape are all fruits, while a carrot is a vegetable. The odd-one-out item asks you to identify the category that unites most of the words and isolate the one outside it. Three fruits and one vegetable make the carrot the exception.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: whisper, shout, mumble, sprint.
Correct answer: Sprint
Sprint does not belong because whisper, shout, and mumble are all ways of speaking or making vocal sounds, while sprint is a way of running. The task asks you to find the action category most words share and pick the exception. Three speaking words and one running word make sprint the odd one out.
- The words below are scrambled. Rearranged correctly, they form a sentence. Is the resulting sentence true or false? words: 'is square round a'
- True
- False
- The sentence has no subject
- It cannot be determined
Correct answer: False
False is correct because the words rearrange into 'A square is round,' which is a false statement since a square has four straight sides and corners. This item requires unscrambling the jumble into a grammatical sentence and then judging its truth. Because a square is not round, the rearranged sentence is false.
- The words below are scrambled. Rearranged correctly, they form a sentence. Is the resulting sentence true or false? words: 'the rises sun east in the'
- False
- The words form two sentences
- True
- There is no verb
Correct answer: True
True is correct because the words rearrange into 'The sun rises in the east,' which is an accurate statement. The sentence-scramble item asks you to reorder the words into a grammatical sentence and then evaluate whether it is true. Since the sun does rise in the east, the rearranged sentence is true.
- When you unscramble the words 'opened carefully she the door,' which word correctly comes last in the sentence?
Correct answer: Carefully
Carefully comes last because the correct sentence is 'She opened the door carefully,' with the adverb describing how the action was done placed at the end. In a sentence-scramble item, you arrange jumbled words into proper grammatical order. Ending with the adverb produces the only natural reading of these words.
- When you unscramble the words 'team won the game the,' which word should begin the correct sentence?
Correct answer: The
The should begin the sentence because the correct order is 'The team won the game,' which starts with the article 'the' introducing its noun 'team.' In a sentence-scramble item you reorder the words into grammatical English, and an article normally precedes the subject. Beginning with the article gives the only sensible sentence.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'Actions speak louder than ____.'
Correct answer: Words
Words correctly completes the proverb 'Actions speak louder than words,' which means what people do reveals more than what they say. Numbers, music, and crowds do not match the traditional wording or the meaning that conduct outweighs mere talk. Only words completes the saying and preserves its lesson.
- Which saying has the SAME meaning as 'Don't judge a book by its cover'?
- Do not form an opinion based only on outward appearance
- Reading is the path to knowledge
- Always protect your belongings
- Finish one task before starting another
Correct answer: Do not form an opinion based only on outward appearance
Do not form an opinion based only on outward appearance carries the same meaning as the proverb, which warns against judging worth from looks alone. The statements about reading, protecting belongings, and finishing tasks are unrelated lessons. Only the warning against surface-level judgment matches the proverb's intent.
- The proverb 'Many hands make light work' is most nearly the same in meaning as which statement?
- A task is easier when many people help
- Manual labor is the most valuable work
- Too many helpers cause confusion
- Work should always be done alone
Correct answer: A task is easier when many people help
A task is easier when many people help matches the proverb, which teaches that sharing a job among many makes it lighter for everyone. The claim that too many helpers cause confusion contradicts it, and the statements about manual labor and working alone miss the point. Only the shared-effort reading captures the proverb's meaning.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'A picture is worth a thousand ____.'
Correct answer: Words
Words correctly completes the proverb 'A picture is worth a thousand words,' meaning an image can convey an idea more effectively than a long description. Dollars, colors, and miles do not match the traditional wording or the meaning about visual communication. Only words completes the saying correctly.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A local bakery began donating its unsold bread to a nearby shelter each evening. Within a month, the shelter was able to provide an extra meal to dozens of families who would otherwise have gone without.' What was the result of the bakery's donations?
- The bakery doubled its prices
- The shelter could feed more families an extra meal
- The shelter stopped serving meals
- The bakery closed within a month
Correct answer: The shelter could feed more families an extra meal
The shelter could feed more families an extra meal is correct because the passage states that the donations let the shelter provide an extra meal to dozens of families. Reading comprehension items require choosing the answer the text directly supports. The passage never mentions higher prices, the shelter stopping meals, or the bakery closing.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Many people believe that adding more lanes to a highway will permanently cut traffic. In reality, wider highways often attract more drivers over time, so congestion frequently returns to its earlier level.' What is the main point of the passage?
- Highways should never be widened
- Adding lanes may not provide a lasting cure for traffic
- Most drivers prefer narrow roads
- Traffic is caused only by accidents
Correct answer: Adding lanes may not provide a lasting cure for traffic
Adding lanes may not provide a lasting cure for traffic is the main point because the passage explains that wider highways draw more drivers and congestion often returns. Identifying the main point means choosing the idea that captures the whole passage. The passage does not say highways should never be widened, that drivers prefer narrow roads, or that only accidents cause traffic.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'The new employee arrived early, asked thoughtful questions, and stayed late to finish her assignments. Her manager soon recommended her for a more demanding role.' What can you infer about the employee?
- She was about to be dismissed
- She showed strong commitment that impressed her manager
- She disliked her job
- She rarely completed her work
Correct answer: She showed strong commitment that impressed her manager
She showed strong commitment that impressed her manager is the correct inference because arriving early, asking thoughtful questions, and staying late are signs of dedication that led to a recommendation. Inference items require a conclusion the text supports. The passage gives no hint that she was dismissed, disliked the job, or failed to finish work.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Although electric cars produce no exhaust while driving, the electricity that charges them may come from power plants that burn fossil fuels. Their total environmental benefit therefore depends partly on how the local electricity is generated.' According to the passage, what determines part of an electric car's environmental benefit?
- The color of the car
- How the local electricity is generated
- The number of seats in the car
- The speed the car can reach
Correct answer: How the local electricity is generated
How the local electricity is generated is correct because the passage states the total benefit depends partly on the source of the electricity that charges the car. Reading comprehension items reward the answer the text directly names. The color, number of seats, and top speed are never mentioned as factors in the passage.
- Complete the analogy: Library is to books as gallery is to ____.
- Visitors
- Tickets
- Paintings
- Walls
Correct answer: Paintings
Paintings correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is place-to-contents: a library holds books, and a gallery holds paintings. Visitors are people who come to a gallery, tickets grant entry, and walls are part of the structure. Only paintings match the works that the second place is built to display.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as DETER?
- Encourage
- Reward
- Increase
- Discourage
Correct answer: Discourage
Discourage is the synonym for deter because to deter someone is to discourage or prevent them from acting through doubt or fear. Encourage is the opposite, reward suggests a positive incentive, and increase relates to quantity. Only discourage captures the prevent-by-discouraging meaning of deter.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to ABUNDANCE when describing supply, where ABUNDANCE means a large amount?
- Plenty
- Surplus
- Shortage
- Wealth
Correct answer: Shortage
Shortage is the antonym of abundance because abundance means a large, more-than-enough amount while shortage means a lack or insufficient amount. Plenty and surplus are synonyms of abundance, and wealth refers to riches rather than the size of a supply. Only shortage reverses the meaning of abundance.
- What does the word VERSATILE mean?
- Able to do many different things well
- Extremely truthful
- Filled with anger
- Hard to see
Correct answer: Able to do many different things well
Able to do many different things well is the definition of versatile. A versatile worker or tool can adapt to many tasks or uses. Being truthful, angry, or hard to see are unrelated qualities that do not match the adaptable, many-skilled meaning of the word versatile.
- An analogy can show a category-to-member relationship. Complete: Vehicle is to truck as fruit is to ____.
Correct answer: Apple
Apple correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is category-to-member: a truck is one kind of vehicle, and an apple is one kind of fruit. Sweet describes a taste, an orchard is where fruit grows, and juice is a product made from fruit. Only an apple is a specific member of the second category, matching the first pair.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The two reports reached ____ conclusions, leaving the board unsure which recommendation to trust.'
- Matching
- Identical
- Simple
- Conflicting
Correct answer: Conflicting
Conflicting best completes the sentence because the board's uncertainty over which to trust makes sense only if the two reports disagreed. Matching and identical conclusions would point to the same recommendation and remove the uncertainty, and simple does not explain the confusion. Only conflicting produces the disagreement the sentence describes.
- The proverb 'A stitch in time saves nine' most nearly means which of the following?
- Fixing a small problem early prevents a bigger one later
- Sewing is a valuable skill to learn
- Nine workers are better than one
- Time always moves faster than expected
Correct answer: Fixing a small problem early prevents a bigger one later
Fixing a small problem early prevents a bigger one later matches the proverb, which teaches that prompt action on a small issue avoids much larger trouble afterward. The literal reading about sewing misses the figurative lesson, and the statements about workers and time are unrelated. Only the early-repair reading captures the proverb's meaning.
- What does the word LENIENT mean?
- Very strict and demanding
- Extremely large in size
- Hard to understand
- Not strict; willing to be merciful or tolerant
Correct answer: Not strict; willing to be merciful or tolerant
Not strict; willing to be merciful or tolerant is the definition of lenient. A lenient supervisor or rule allows leeway rather than punishing harshly. Being very strict is the opposite, while extremely large or hard to understand describe unrelated qualities, so only the merciful, tolerant meaning fits the word lenient.
- Complete the analogy: Pen is to write as scissors are to ____.
Correct answer: Cut
Cut correctly completes the analogy because the relationship is tool-to-function: a pen is used to write, and scissors are used to cut. Paper is a material scissors act on, sharp describes the blades, and metal is what scissors are made of. Only cut names the action the second tool performs, matching the first pair.
- Find the next number in the series: 2, 5, 11, 23, ___.
Correct answer: 47
The next number is 47 because each term is doubled and then increased by 1: 2 times 2 plus 1 is 5, 5 times 2 plus 1 is 11, 11 times 2 plus 1 is 23, and 23 times 2 plus 1 is 47. Recognizing the double-then-add-one rule extends the series, so 35, 44, and 46 do not follow that operation.
- What number comes next in the series: 3, 6, 12, 24, ___?
Correct answer: 48
The next number is 48 because each term is multiplied by 2 to produce the following term: 3 to 6, 6 to 12, 12 to 24, and 24 doubled is 48. The rule is repeated multiplication by two, so adding 12 each time to reach 36 ignores the doubling, and 30 or 42 fit no consistent pattern across all terms.
- What number should replace the blank in the series: 81, 27, 9, 3, ___?
Correct answer: 1
The missing number is 1 because each term is divided by 3 to get the next: 81 over 3 is 27, 27 over 3 is 9, 9 over 3 is 3, and 3 over 3 is 1. The pattern is repeated division by three, so 0, 2, and 6 do not result from dividing 3 by three.
- Find the next number in the series: 6, 11, 21, 36, 56, ___.
Correct answer: 81
The next number is 81 because the gaps between terms grow by 5 each step: plus 5, plus 10, plus 15, plus 20, so the next gap is plus 25, giving 56 plus 25 equals 81. Tracking the increasing differences reveals the rule, so 71, 76, and 86 use the wrong increment.
- What number is missing from the series: 4, 9, 19, 39, ___?
Correct answer: 79
The missing number is 79 because each term is doubled and then increased by 1: 4 times 2 plus 1 is 9, 9 times 2 plus 1 is 19, 19 times 2 plus 1 is 39, and 39 times 2 plus 1 is 79. Recognizing the double-then-add-one rule extends the series, so 59, 69, and 78 do not follow that operation.
- A number series alternates two patterns: 2, 20, 4, 17, 6, 14, ___. What number comes next?
Correct answer: 8
The next number is 8 because the series weaves together two patterns: the odd positions count up by 2 (2, 4, 6, then 8), while the even positions count down by 3 (20, 17, 14). The seventh position is an odd position continuing the up-by-2 set, so it follows 6 with 8. The value 11 would continue the down-by-3 set, which belongs to the next even position.
- What number comes next in the series: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___?
Correct answer: 36
The next number is 36 because each term is a perfect square in order: 1 is 1 squared, 4 is 2 squared, 9 is 3 squared, 16 is 4 squared, 25 is 5 squared, and 6 squared is 36. Recognizing the sequence of squares gives the next value, so 30, 35, and 49 either skip a square or jump ahead to 7 squared.
- Find the missing number in the series: 7, 14, 28, 56, ___.
Correct answer: 112
The missing number is 112 because each term is multiplied by 2 to get the next: 7 to 14, 14 to 28, 28 to 56, and 56 doubled is 112. The pattern is repeated doubling, so adding 28 to reach 84 ignores the rule, and 70 or 98 fit no consistent multiplier across all terms.
- What is 25% of 320?
Correct answer: 80
The answer is 80 because 25 percent of 320 equals 320 multiplied by 0.25, which is 80. Converting 25 percent to the decimal 0.25 and multiplying by the whole gives the amount, and 25 percent is the same as one quarter, so 320 divided by 4 also gives 80. The values 64, 75, and 90 do not match a quarter of 320.
- To find what percent one number is of another, what should you do after dividing the part by the whole?
- Subtract 100
- Multiply the result by 100
- Add 100
- Divide the result by 100
Correct answer: Multiply the result by 100
Multiplying the result by 100 is correct because dividing the part by the whole gives a decimal, and multiplying that decimal by 100 expresses it as a percent, such as 0.4 becoming 40 percent. Dividing by 100 would shrink it further, while adding or subtracting 100 changes the value instead of converting its form.
- Out of 80 job applicants, 28 were invited to an interview. What percentage were invited?
- 28%
- 40%
- 35%
- 32%
Correct answer: 35%
The answer is 35% because you divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100: 28 divided by 80 equals 0.35, which is 35 percent. Dividing the number invited by the total applicants and converting to a percent gives the rate. The other percentages do not result from dividing 28 by 80.
- A company's monthly rent rose from $2,000 to $2,300. What was the percent increase?
- 13%
- 20%
- 30%
- 15%
Correct answer: 15%
The answer is 15% because percent increase equals the change divided by the original amount, times 100. The change is $2,300 minus $2,000, which is $300, and $300 divided by $2,000 is 0.15, or 15 percent. Dividing by the new rent would understate the increase, and 13, 20, or 30 percent misidentify the base or the change.
- What is 35% of 200?
Correct answer: 70
The answer is 70 because 35 percent of 200 equals 200 multiplied by 0.35, which is 70. Converting 35 percent to the decimal 0.35 and multiplying by the whole gives the amount. The value 60 reflects 30 percent, 65 does not match any clean percent of 200, and 75 overshoots the correct product.
- A laptop priced at $800 is marked down by 25%. What is the sale price?
Correct answer: $600
The sale price is $600 because a 25 percent discount removes 25 percent of $800, which is $200, leaving $800 minus $200, or $600. You can also multiply $800 by the remaining 0.75 to reach the same result. The value $200 is only the discount itself, and $575 or $640 use the wrong discount rate.
- A coat regularly costs $120 and is offered at 30% off. How much does the customer save?
Correct answer: $36
The savings is $36 because the amount saved equals 30 percent of the original price: $120 times 0.30 is $36. The question asks for the discount itself, not the price paid, so $84 is the final price after the discount rather than the savings, and $30 or $40 use incorrect percentages.
- If 4 workers can paint a fence in 9 hours, how long would 6 of the same workers take to paint it?
- 4 hours
- 13.5 hours
- 7 hours
- 6 hours
Correct answer: 6 hours
The answer is 6 hours because the total work equals 4 workers times 9 hours, or 36 worker-hours, and with 6 workers the time is 36 divided by 6, which is 6 hours. More workers means less time, so the answer must be under 9 hours. The values 4, 7, and 13.5 hours do not match the 36 worker-hours of total work.
- The ratio of teachers to students at a school is 1 to 18. If there are 12 teachers, how many students are there?
Correct answer: 216
The answer is 216 because scaling the teachers from 1 to 12 multiplies the ratio by 12, so the students scale the same way: 18 times 12 equals 216. Keeping the 1-to-18 ratio intact requires multiplying both parts by the same factor. The values 180, 200, and 240 result from using an incorrect multiplier.
- A map uses a scale of 3 inches to 25 miles. If two cities are 12 inches apart on the map, how far apart are they in reality?
- 75 miles
- 100 miles
- 150 miles
- 120 miles
Correct answer: 100 miles
The actual distance is 100 miles because 3 inches represents 25 miles, so each inch represents about 8.33 miles, and 12 inches is 4 times 3 inches, meaning 4 times 25 miles, or 100 miles. Setting up the proportion 3 over 25 equals 12 over x and cross-multiplying gives 3x equals 300, so x equals 100. The other distances break the 3-to-25 scale.
- A recipe mixes flour, sugar, and butter in a ratio of 4 to 2 to 1. If 28 cups of ingredients are used in total, how many cups of sugar are needed?
Correct answer: 8
The answer is 8 because the ratio parts sum to 4 plus 2 plus 1, or 7 parts, and 28 cups divided by 7 parts is 4 cups per part. Sugar takes 2 parts, so 2 times 4 equals 8. Dividing the total by the sum of the parts gives the value of one part. The flour would be 4 times 4, or 16, not the sugar amount.
- Solve for x: 5x+7=32.
Correct answer: 5
The answer is 5 because you first subtract 7 from both sides to get 5x equals 25, then divide both sides by 5 to find x equals 5. These inverse operations isolate the variable. Substituting 5 back gives 5 times 5 plus 7, which is 32, confirming the solution, while 4, 6, and 7 do not satisfy the equation.
- Solve for x: 8x−3=5x+12.
Correct answer: 5
The answer is 5 because you subtract 5x from both sides to get 3x minus 3 equals 12, then add 3 to get 3x equals 15, and divide by 3 to find x equals 5. Substituting 5 makes both sides equal 37. The other values fail to balance the equation when checked.
- When solving the equation 9x+6=60 for x, which pair of steps correctly isolates x?
- Add 6 to both sides, then divide by 9
- Subtract 6 from both sides, then divide by 9
- Divide both sides by 9, then subtract 6
- Multiply both sides by 6, then divide by 9
Correct answer: Subtract 6 from both sides, then divide by 9
Subtracting 6 from both sides and then dividing by 9 is correct because it first removes the constant, giving 9x equals 54, and then undoes the multiplication to find x equals 6. Adding 6 moves in the wrong direction, dividing before isolating the x-term splits the constant incorrectly, and multiplying by 6 introduces an unrelated factor.
- Three times a number decreased by 4 equals 17. What is the number?
Correct answer: 7
The answer is 7 because the statement translates to 3x minus 4 equals 17; adding 4 gives 3x equals 21, and dividing by 3 gives x equals 7. Writing the words as an equation and solving for x finds the number. The values 5, 6, and 8 do not satisfy three times the number minus 4 equaling 17.
- A train travels 270 miles in 4.5 hours. What is its average speed in miles per hour?
Correct answer: 60
The answer is 60 because average speed equals the distance divided by the time: 270 miles divided by 4.5 hours is 60 miles per hour. Dividing total distance by total time gives the rate. The other speeds do not result from dividing 270 by 4.5.
- A printer produces 480 pages at a rate of 40 pages per minute. How long does it take to finish the job?
- 12 minutes
- 14 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 11 minutes
Correct answer: 12 minutes
The answer is 12 minutes because time equals the total amount divided by the rate: 480 pages divided by 40 pages per minute is 12 minutes. Dividing the page count by the per-minute rate reverses the printing process to find the time. The other durations do not produce 480 pages at 40 pages per minute.
- An assembly line packs 150 boxes in 5 hours. At this rate, how many boxes can it pack in 8 hours?
Correct answer: 240
The answer is 240 because the packing rate is 150 boxes divided by 5 hours, or 30 boxes per hour, and over 8 hours that is 30 times 8, which is 240 boxes. Finding the per-hour rate first and multiplying by the new time gives the total. The other counts do not match a steady 30-boxes-per-hour pace.
- A student scored 88, 92, 79, and 85 on four quizzes. What was the average score?
Correct answer: 86
The average is 86 because the mean equals the sum divided by the number of values: 88 plus 92 plus 79 plus 85 equals 344, and 344 divided by 4 is 86. Adding all four scores and dividing by the count produces the average. The other values come from arithmetic errors in the sum or the divisor.
- A delivery driver averaged 42 packages per day over 5 days. How many packages did the driver deliver in total?
Correct answer: 210
The total is 210 because the total equals the average multiplied by the number of days: 42 times 5 is 210. Since the mean is the total divided by the count, reversing that relationship recovers the total. The values 200, 205, and 215 do not match five days at 42 packages.
- The average of five numbers is 24. Four of the numbers are 20, 28, 22, and 26. What is the fifth number?
Correct answer: 24
The fifth number is 24 because five numbers averaging 24 must total 120 (24 times 5). The four known numbers sum to 96 (20 plus 28 plus 22 plus 26), so the fifth is 120 minus 96, which is 24. Finding the required total and subtracting the known values isolates the missing number. The other choices do not bring the total to 120.
- What is 0.4 expressed as a fraction in lowest terms?
- 41
- 52
- 1004
- 53
Correct answer: 52
The answer is 2/5 because 0.4 means 4 tenths, written as 4 over 10, which reduces to 2 over 5 when both numerator and denominator are divided by 2. The decimal 0.4 is exactly two fifths. The fractions 1/4, 3/5, and 4/100 equal 0.25, 0.6, and 0.04, none of which is 0.4.
- Subtract the fractions: 5/6 - 1/3.
- 34
- 94
- 21
- 32
Correct answer: 21
The answer is 1/2 because you convert to a common denominator of 6: 1/3 becomes 2/6, and 5/6 minus 2/6 is 3/6, which reduces to 1/2. A common denominator lets the numerators be subtracted directly. Subtracting numerators and denominators separately would wrongly give 4/3, and the other choices misapply the rule.
- What is 3/4 multiplied by 2/9?
- 135
- 366
- 365
- 61
Correct answer: 61
The answer is 1/6 because multiplying fractions means multiplying the numerators and the denominators: 3 times 2 is 6, and 4 times 9 is 36, giving 6/36, which reduces to 1/6. Multiplication of fractions does not need a common denominator. Adding across the top and bottom would wrongly give 5/13, and the other choices misapply the rule.
- What is 6.2 plus 3.45?
Correct answer: 9.65
The answer is 9.65 because aligning the decimal points gives 6.20 plus 3.45, and adding place by place yields 9.65. Writing 6.2 as 6.20 and lining up the decimals prevents misplaced digits. The result 9.47 misaligns the digits, 9.07 drops a carry, and 10.65 adds an extra whole number.
- Convert the fraction 3/5 to a decimal.
Correct answer: 0.6
The answer is 0.6 because converting a fraction to a decimal means dividing the numerator by the denominator: 3 divided by 5 equals 0.6. This division gives the exact decimal equivalent. The values 0.35 and 0.53 misread the fraction, and 0.65 does not result from dividing 3 by 5.
- What is 2/3 divided by 4/9?
- 278
- 32
- 23
- 61
Correct answer: 23
The answer is 3/2 because dividing by a fraction means multiplying by its reciprocal: 2/3 divided by 4/9 becomes 2/3 times 9/4, which is 18/12, or 3/2. Flipping the second fraction and multiplying gives the quotient. Multiplying the two fractions directly would wrongly give 8/27, and the other choices misapply the reciprocal rule.
- If 45% of a number is 90, what is the number?
Correct answer: 200
The answer is 200 because 45 percent of the number equals 90, so the whole number is 90 divided by 0.45, which is 200. Dividing the part by the decimal form of the percent recovers the original amount. The values 135 and 160 use incorrect percentages, and 180 results from dividing by 0.5 instead of 0.45.
- A sofa is on sale for $480 after a 20% discount. What was the original price?
Correct answer: $600
The original price is $600 because after a 20 percent discount the sale price of $480 represents 80 percent of the original, so the original is $480 divided by 0.80, which is $600. Dividing the discounted amount by the remaining fraction recovers the starting price. Adding 20 percent to $480 would wrongly give $576, and the other values use incorrect operations.
- What is the value of x in the proportion 3 over 7 equals 12 over x?
Correct answer: 28
The answer is 28 because the numerator went from 3 to 12, a factor of 4, so the denominator scales the same way: 7 times 4 equals 28. Cross-multiplying gives 3x equals 84, and dividing by 3 also yields 28. The values 16, 21, and 24 do not preserve the 3-to-7 ratio.
- Find the next number in the series: 12, 23, 34, 45, ___.
Correct answer: 56
The next number is 56 because the series increases by a constant 11 each step: 12 plus 11 is 23, 23 plus 11 is 34, 34 plus 11 is 45, and 45 plus 11 is 56. The common difference is 11, so 54, 55, and 57 do not match the steady increase of eleven.
- A retailer buys a chair for $60 and sells it for $96. What is the percent markup based on cost?
- 36%
- 62.5%
- 40%
- 60%
Correct answer: 60%
The answer is 60% because percent markup equals the increase divided by the cost, times 100. The increase is $96 minus $60, which is $36, and $36 divided by the $60 cost is 0.60, or 60 percent. Dividing by the selling price of $96 would wrongly give 37.5 percent, and the other choices misidentify the base or the increase.
- If 5/8 of a budget of $4,000 is spent on rent, how much is spent on rent?
Correct answer: $2,500
The answer is $2,500 because 5/8 of $4,000 is found by multiplying $4,000 by 5 and dividing by 8: $4,000 times 5 is $20,000, and $20,000 divided by 8 is $2,500. Taking a fraction of a quantity means multiplying by the numerator and dividing by the denominator. The value $1,500 corresponds to 3/8, and the others use incorrect fractions.
- What number is missing from the series: 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 17, ___?
Correct answer: 23
The missing number is 23 because the gaps between terms increase by one each step: plus 1, plus 2, plus 3, plus 4, plus 5, so the next gap is plus 6, giving 17 plus 6 equals 23. Tracking the growing differences reveals the rule. The values 21, 22, and 24 use the wrong increment.
- Solve for x: x/5=9.
Correct answer: 45
The answer is 45 because x divided by 5 equals 9 is solved by multiplying both sides by 5, giving x equals 45. Multiplication undoes the division, isolating x. The value 1.8 comes from dividing 9 by 5 instead, 14 adds incorrectly, and 4 subtracts; none reverses the division properly.
- A part-time employee earns $18 per hour and works 27 hours in a week. What are the employee's total earnings for the week?
Correct answer: $486
The answer is $486 because total pay equals the hourly rate multiplied by the hours worked: $18 times 27 is $486. Multiplying the rate by the number of hours gives the weekly earnings. The other totals come from miscounting the hours or misplacing a digit in the multiplication.
- A jacket priced at $200 is reduced by 25%, then an extra 20% is taken off the reduced price. What is the final price?
Correct answer: $120
The final price is $120 because the first 25 percent discount leaves 75 percent of $200, which is $150, and the extra 20 percent off $150 removes $30, leaving $120. The second discount applies to the already-reduced price, not the original. Taking a flat 45 percent off would wrongly give $110, and the other values mishandle the sequence of discounts.
- What number comes next in the series: 5, 8, 14, 26, 50, ___?
Correct answer: 98
The next number is 98 because each term is doubled and then decreased by 2: 5 times 2 minus 2 is 8, 8 times 2 minus 2 is 14, 14 times 2 minus 2 is 26, 26 times 2 minus 2 is 50, and 50 times 2 minus 2 is 98. Recognizing the double-then-subtract-two rule extends the series, so 74, 86, and 100 do not follow that operation.
- Three friends sit in a row of three chairs. Dana is not on either end. Marcus sits somewhere to the left of Dana. Which person must sit in the chair on the far right?
- Priya, the only friend not yet placed
- Dana, because she avoids the ends
- Marcus, since he sits to the left
- It cannot be determined from the clues
Correct answer: Priya, the only friend not yet placed
Priya must sit on the far right. Since Dana avoids both ends she takes the middle chair, and Marcus must be to her left, which fills the left chair. That leaves only the right chair for Priya, the one friend not yet placed. Dana cannot be on an end, Marcus is fixed on the left, and the clues fully determine the seating, so it is not undetermined.
- Assume both statements are true: All certified technicians can operate the press. Noah cannot operate the press. What conclusion follows by deductive reasoning?
- Noah was recently hired
- Noah is not a certified technician
- Noah operates a different machine instead
- Some certified technicians cannot operate the press
Correct answer: Noah is not a certified technician
Noah is not a certified technician is the valid conclusion. The rule says every certified technician can operate the press, so anyone who cannot operate it falls outside that group. The hiring date and the other machine are details never stated, and saying some certified technicians cannot operate the press directly contradicts the given rule.
- Identify the rule, then choose the next pair in this series: AB, CD, EF, GH, ___.
Correct answer: IJ
IJ is correct because each pair takes the next two consecutive letters of the alphabet: AB, then CD, then EF, then GH, so the pair after GH is IJ. Spotting that the alphabet advances two letters per step extends the pattern. HI overlaps with the previous pair, JK skips a letter, and GI breaks the consecutive rule.
- Four coworkers finished a project in a clear order. Mia finished before Raj. Raj finished before Tom. Sofia finished after Tom. Who finished last?
Correct answer: Sofia
Sofia finished last. Chaining the clues gives the order Mia, then Raj, then Tom, and since Sofia finished after Tom she comes at the very end of the sequence. Tom finishes third because Sofia is behind him, while Raj and Mia finish even earlier in the chain.
- Assume the statement is true: If the shipment arrives on Monday, the store opens early on Tuesday. The shipment did arrive on Monday. What can you conclude with certainty?
- The shipment was larger than usual
- The store stays open late on Monday
- The shipment will arrive again next Monday
- The store opens early on Tuesday
Correct answer: The store opens early on Tuesday
The store opens early on Tuesday is the certain conclusion. The rule promises an early Tuesday opening whenever the Monday shipment arrives, and the shipment did arrive, so the result follows directly. The shipment size, a late Monday opening, and a future arrival are claims the statement never makes and cannot be deduced.
- Picture a solid capital letter F. If you reflect it in a vertical mirror placed to its right, so left and right are swapped, which way will the two horizontal arms of the F point afterward?
- Straight up
- Straight down
- To the left
- They disappear entirely
Correct answer: To the left
To the left is correct because a normal F has its vertical stroke on the left and its two arms reaching to the right, so a left-right mirror flips the whole shape and the arms swing over to point left. The arms stay horizontal rather than turning up or down, and a reflection never erases part of the figure.
- Find the rule, then choose the missing number in this pattern: 1, 4, 9, 16, ___, 36.
Correct answer: 25
25 is correct because each term is a perfect square: 1, 4, 9, and 16 are 1, 2, 3, and 4 squared, so the missing fifth term is 5 squared, which is 25, and 36 is 6 squared. Recognizing the squares reveals the rule. The values 20, 24, and 30 do not fit the squaring pattern that produces every other term.
- On a four-floor building, the gym is directly above the cafe. The library is on the top floor. The cafe is not on the ground floor. If the gym and cafe are on adjacent floors, on which floor is the cafe?
- Floor 4 (top)
- Floor 1 (ground)
- Floor 2
- Floor 3
Correct answer: Floor 2
The cafe is on floor 2. The library occupies the top floor, floor 4, so the gym cannot be there. Since the gym sits directly above the cafe on the next floor up, the only pairing that fits below the library and keeps the cafe off the ground floor is cafe on floor 2 with the gym on floor 3. The cafe cannot be on the top floor, the ground floor, or floor 3, where the gym sits.
- In a valid deductive argument, what is the relationship between the premises and the conclusion?
- The conclusion is merely the most popular opinion
- The conclusion is a likely guess based on past trends
- The conclusion may contradict the premises if new facts appear
- The conclusion must be true whenever all the premises are true
Correct answer: The conclusion must be true whenever all the premises are true
The conclusion must be true whenever all the premises are true is the hallmark of a valid deductive argument. Validity means the conclusion is logically forced by the premises, leaving no room for it to be false when they hold. A popular opinion or a likely guess describes other kinds of reasoning, and a conclusion that contradicts its premises would make the argument invalid.
- On a Wonderlic date-ordering item, four memos are stamped February 5, February 12, January 28, and February 1, all in the same year. Which memo was stamped earliest?
- January 28
- February 1
- February 5
- February 12
Correct answer: January 28
January 28 is the earliest stamp. When ordering dates you compare the month first, and January comes before February, so the lone January date precedes all three February dates regardless of their day numbers. Because January 28 falls in the earlier month, the February 1, February 5, and February 12 memos all come after it.
- On a calendar-fact item, which day of the week comes immediately before Wednesday?
- Tuesday
- Monday
- Thursday
- Friday
Correct answer: Tuesday
Tuesday comes immediately before Wednesday. The days of the week run in a fixed repeating order, and Tuesday is the day directly preceding Wednesday in that sequence. Monday falls two days earlier, while Thursday and Friday come after Wednesday rather than before it, so only Tuesday is the day just prior.
- Four shipping logs are dated 03/04/2022, 03/04/2021, 03/04/2020, and 03/04/2023. Ordered from most recent to oldest, which date comes last in that list?
- 03/04/2023
- 03/04/2022
- 03/04/2021
- 03/04/2020
Correct answer: 03/04/2020
The 03/04/2020 log comes last when ordering from most recent to oldest, because it is the oldest of the four dates. The month and day are identical across all four logs, so only the year decides the order, and 2020 is the smallest year, making it the earliest in time. The 2023, 2022, and 2021 logs are all more recent, so they appear ahead of the 2020 log.
- On a general-knowledge calendar item, which of these is the first month of the calendar year?
- December
- January
- February
- March
Correct answer: January
January is the first month of the calendar year. The year always begins with January and runs in order through December, the last month. February is the second month and March the third, so both come after January, while December ends the year rather than starting it.
- On a Wonderlic attention-to-detail item, which of these four phone extensions is an EXACT match to the reference x-5093?
Correct answer: x-5093
The exact match is x-5093, identical to the reference character for character. One option transposes the ending to read 5039, another swaps digits to read 5903, and only the unchanged x-5093 reproduces every character of the reference. Matching a string digit for digit is precisely what an error-identification item requires.
- Scan these four entries and find the one that is misspelled: 'receive', 'recieve', 'receive', 'receive'. Which entry contains the spelling error?
- The first 'receive'
- 'recieve'
- The third 'receive'
- The last 'receive'
Correct answer: 'recieve'
The misspelled entry is 'recieve'. Three of the words read 'receive' with the 'e' before the 'i', while this one swaps the order to read 'recieve'. Catching a single transposed pair of letters in an otherwise repeated word is exactly what a proofreading item measures, so the three correctly spelled words are not the odd one out.
- On a Wonderlic detail-checking item, two product codes are compared: 'BX-7740-Q' and 'BX-7740-O'. What is the difference between them?
- The numbers differ
- They are an exact match
- The final character differs
- The first two letters differ
Correct answer: The final character differs
The final character differs between the two codes. The first code ends in the letter 'Q' while the second ends in the letter 'O', two characters that look similar but are not the same. The leading 'BX' and the digits '7740' are identical in both, so the only discrepancy is that last letter.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, which unit is typically used to measure the weight of a person?
- Pounds
- Gallons
- Inches
- Degrees
Correct answer: Pounds
Pounds are the unit typically used to measure a person's weight in the U.S. customary system. Gallons measure liquid volume, inches measure length or height, and degrees measure temperature or angles, so none of those describe weight. Knowing which unit matches which kind of quantity is a basic general-knowledge measurement fact.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, how many seconds are there in one minute?
Correct answer: 60
There are 60 seconds in one minute. Timekeeping divides each minute into sixty equal seconds, just as each hour holds sixty minutes. The value 24 is the number of hours in a day, 100 reflects decimal place value rather than clock time, and 30 is only half of a minute, so 60 is the correct count.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, how many sides does a pentagon have?
Correct answer: 5
A pentagon has 5 sides. The prefix 'penta' means five, so a pentagon is a five-sided polygon, the shape of the well-known building of that name. A four-sided figure is a quadrilateral, a six-sided one is a hexagon, and an eight-sided one is an octagon, so 4, 6, and 8 describe other polygons.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, which basic shape has exactly four sides with opposite sides equal and four right angles, but not all four sides the same length?
- Square
- Triangle
- Rectangle
- Circle
Correct answer: Rectangle
A rectangle has four right angles with opposite sides equal but not necessarily all four sides equal. A square also has four right angles, but it requires all four sides to be the same length, which the description rules out. A triangle has only three sides and a circle has no straight sides at all, so the rectangle is the shape that fits.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, how many right angles does a square have?
Correct answer: 4
A square has 4 right angles, one at each of its four corners, with every corner measuring 90 degrees. Because a square is a four-cornered figure and each corner is a right angle, the total is exactly four. The values 2, 3, and 6 do not match the number of corners in a square, so only 4 is correct.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as METICULOUS?
- Careless
- Thorough
- Cheerful
- Wealthy
Correct answer: Thorough
Thorough is correct. METICULOUS describes someone who shows great attention to detail and is very careful and precise, which matches thorough; careless is the opposite, while cheerful and wealthy are unrelated traits.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to GENEROUS?
Correct answer: Stingy
Stingy is correct. GENEROUS means willing to give freely, so its opposite is stingy, meaning unwilling to share; kind and helpful are similar in spirit to generous, and wealthy refers to having money, not to giving.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as DILIGENT?
- Hardworking
- Lazy
- Forgetful
- Honest
Correct answer: Hardworking
Hardworking is correct. DILIGENT describes a person who works carefully and persistently, which equals hardworking; lazy is the opposite, and forgetful and honest describe unrelated qualities.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to EXPAND?
Correct answer: Contract
Contract is correct. EXPAND means to grow larger or increase in size, so its opposite is contract, meaning to shrink; grow, stretch, and widen are all close in meaning to expand.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as VITAL?
- Optional
- Distant
- Visible
- Essential
Correct answer: Essential
Essential is correct. VITAL means absolutely necessary or extremely important, which matches essential; optional means not required and is nearly opposite, while distant and visible are unrelated.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to RIGID?
Correct answer: Flexible
Flexible is correct. RIGID means stiff and unable to bend, so its opposite is flexible, meaning easily bent or adaptable; stiff, solid, and firm are all similar to rigid.
- What does the word OBSOLETE mean?
- Brand new and modern
- Extremely expensive
- No longer in use or out of date
- Easy to understand
Correct answer: No longer in use or out of date
No longer in use or out of date is correct. OBSOLETE describes something that has fallen out of use because it has been replaced by something newer, such as obsolete technology; it does not mean new, costly, or simple.
- What does the word CANDID mean?
- Quiet and shy
- Honest and straightforward
- Angry and rude
- Sweet-tasting
Correct answer: Honest and straightforward
Honest and straightforward is correct. CANDID describes speaking openly and truthfully without hiding one's opinions; it is not related to shyness, anger, or flavor.
- What does the word INEVITABLE mean?
- Certain to happen and unavoidable
- Easily prevented
- Rarely seen
- Difficult to believe
Correct answer: Certain to happen and unavoidable
Certain to happen and unavoidable is correct. INEVITABLE describes an event that is sure to occur and cannot be stopped; it is the opposite of easily prevented, and unrelated to being rare or unbelievable.
- What does the word AMBIGUOUS mean?
- Perfectly clear and exact
- Very large in size
- Friendly and outgoing
- Open to more than one interpretation; unclear
Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation; unclear
Open to more than one interpretation; unclear is correct. AMBIGUOUS describes language or a situation that can be understood in more than one way; it is the opposite of perfectly clear and has nothing to do with size or personality.
- Complete the analogy: Author is to book as composer is to ____.
- Orchestra
- Stage
- Audience
- Symphony
Correct answer: Symphony
Symphony is correct. An author creates a book, so by the same maker-to-creation relationship a composer creates a symphony; an orchestra performs the music and an audience listens, so neither is what the composer makes.
- Complete the analogy: Cold is to freezing as hot is to ____.
Correct answer: Boiling
Boiling is correct. The relationship moves from a moderate condition to its extreme: cold intensifies to freezing, so hot intensifies to boiling; warm and mild are weaker than hot, and cool is the opposite.
- Complete the analogy: Knife is to cut as broom is to ____.
Correct answer: Sweep
Sweep is correct. A knife is a tool used to cut, so by the tool-to-function relationship a broom is a tool used to sweep; clean is a broader result, floor is the surface, and handle is only a part of the broom.
- Complete the analogy: Puppy is to dog as kitten is to ____.
Correct answer: Cat
Cat is correct. A puppy is the young form of a dog, so by the young-to-adult relationship a kitten is the young form of a cat; mouse is a different animal, paw is a body part, and pet is too general.
- Complete the analogy: Captain is to ship as pilot is to ____.
- Ocean
- Ticket
- Airplane
- Runway
Correct answer: Airplane
Airplane is correct. A captain operates a ship, so by the operator-to-vehicle relationship a pilot operates an airplane; ocean and runway are places, and a ticket is what a passenger holds.
- Complete the analogy: Thermometer is to temperature as clock is to ____.
Correct answer: Time
Time is correct. A thermometer measures temperature, so by the instrument-to-quantity relationship a clock measures time; weather, speed, and distance are measured by other tools, not a clock.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'Because the instructions were so ____, the workers easily assembled the cabinet without any mistakes.'
- Confusing
- Missing
- Clear
- Expensive
Correct answer: Clear
Clear is correct. The workers assembled the cabinet easily and without mistakes, which logically follows only if the instructions were clear; confusing or missing instructions would cause errors, and expensive does not describe instructions in a way that fits.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The hikers brought extra water because the trail was long and the weather was ____.'
Correct answer: Hot
Hot is correct. Carrying extra water makes sense as protection against thirst, which is caused most directly by hot weather; rainy, cloudy, and windy conditions would not specifically explain the need for additional water.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'Although she had practiced for weeks, she felt ____ moments before stepping onto the stage.'
Correct answer: Nervous
Nervous is correct. The word 'although' signals a contrast: despite weeks of practice, the most fitting feeling before a performance is being nervous; sleepy, hungry, and bored do not connect logically to stepping onto a stage.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The manager praised the team for finishing the project ahead of schedule and under ____.'
- Budget
- Pressure
- Water
- Control
Correct answer: Budget
Budget is correct. The phrase pairs naturally with finishing early as a sign of good performance: 'ahead of schedule and under budget' is a common expression praising efficiency, while pressure, water, and control do not complete the praise logically.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: hammer, wrench, screwdriver, lettuce.
- Hammer
- Lettuce
- Wrench
- Screwdriver
Correct answer: Lettuce
Lettuce is correct. Hammer, wrench, and screwdriver are all hand tools, while lettuce is a vegetable, so it is the word that does not belong with the others.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: copper, silver, gold, granite.
Correct answer: Granite
Granite is correct. Copper, silver, and gold are all metals, while granite is a type of rock, so granite is the one that does not belong.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: rose, tulip, daisy, oak.
Correct answer: Oak
Oak is correct. Rose, tulip, and daisy are all flowers, while oak is a kind of tree, so oak is the word that does not belong with the group.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: swim, run, jump, sleep.
Correct answer: Sleep
Sleep is correct. Swim, run, and jump are all active physical movements, while sleep is a state of rest involving no movement, so sleep is the one that does not belong.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'The early bird catches the ____.'
Correct answer: Worm
Worm is correct. The familiar proverb 'The early bird catches the worm' teaches that acting promptly leads to success; fish, sun, and nest do not complete this well-known saying.
- Which saying has the SAME meaning as 'Look before you leap'?
- Always finish what you start
- Think carefully before you act
- Help others whenever you can
- Never give up on a goal
Correct answer: Think carefully before you act
Think carefully before you act is correct. 'Look before you leap' advises considering consequences before taking action, which matches thinking carefully first; the other options express persistence, kindness, or determination instead.
- The proverb 'Don't put all your eggs in one basket' most nearly means which of the following?
- Always wake up early
- Share your food with others
- Avoid risking everything on a single plan
- Keep your promises
Correct answer: Avoid risking everything on a single plan
Avoid risking everything on a single plan is correct. The proverb warns against concentrating all your resources or hopes in one place, so they are not all lost at once; the other choices are unrelated lessons.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'When in Rome, do as the ____ do.'
- Tourists
- Romans
- Birds
- Soldiers
Correct answer: Romans
Romans is correct. The proverb 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' advises following local customs when you are in an unfamiliar place; tourists, birds, and soldiers do not complete the traditional saying.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'The town installed bright streetlights along its darkest roads. In the following year, the number of nighttime traffic accidents on those roads dropped sharply.' What does the passage suggest about the streetlights?
- They increased the cost of driving
- They were likely linked to fewer nighttime accidents
- They made the roads more crowded
- They had no effect on safety
Correct answer: They were likely linked to fewer nighttime accidents
They were likely linked to fewer nighttime accidents is correct. The passage states that after the lights were installed, nighttime accidents dropped sharply, suggesting a connection between the two; it says nothing about cost, crowding, or a lack of effect.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A company offered its employees the choice to work from home two days a week. Surveys later showed that workers reported higher satisfaction and took fewer sick days.' What was one result of the work-from-home option?
- Employees reported higher satisfaction
- Employees demanded higher pay
- The company hired more managers
- Customers complained about service
Correct answer: Employees reported higher satisfaction
Employees reported higher satisfaction is correct. The passage directly states that workers reported higher satisfaction and took fewer sick days after the option was offered; it does not mention pay, hiring managers, or customer complaints.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Some people assume that the most expensive product is always the best. However, careful testing often shows that moderately priced items perform just as well as costlier ones.' What is the main idea of the passage?
- Expensive products are always worthless
- A higher price does not guarantee better quality
- Testing products is a waste of time
- Cheap products never work well
Correct answer: A higher price does not guarantee better quality
A higher price does not guarantee better quality is correct. The passage contrasts the assumption that costly equals best with evidence that moderately priced items can perform equally well, making that the main idea; the other options overstate or reverse the point.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'After volunteering at the animal shelter every weekend for a year, Marcus decided to study veterinary medicine in college.' What can you infer about Marcus?
- His volunteering influenced his career choice
- He disliked working with animals
- He had no interest in college
- He volunteered only once
Correct answer: His volunteering influenced his career choice
His volunteering influenced his career choice is correct. The passage links a year of volunteering with animals to his decision to study veterinary medicine, supporting that inference; the other options contradict the details given.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as PROMINENT?
- Hidden
- Tiny
- Temporary
- Noticeable
Correct answer: Noticeable
Noticeable is correct. PROMINENT means standing out so as to be easily seen or important, which matches noticeable; hidden is the opposite, and tiny and temporary describe size and duration rather than visibility or importance.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to PERMANENT?
- Lasting
- Stable
- Temporary
- Strong
Correct answer: Temporary
Temporary is correct. PERMANENT means lasting indefinitely, so its opposite is temporary, meaning lasting only a short time; lasting and stable are similar to permanent, and strong refers to force rather than duration.
- What does the word PROVOKE mean?
- To calm down completely
- To buy in large amounts
- To stir up or trigger a reaction
- To measure accurately
Correct answer: To stir up or trigger a reaction
To stir up or trigger a reaction is correct. PROVOKE means to cause a strong feeling or response, often anger; it is the opposite of calming, and is unrelated to buying or measuring.
- Complete the analogy: Word is to sentence as note is to ____.
Correct answer: Melody
Melody is correct. A word is a small unit that combines into a sentence, so by the part-to-whole relationship a note is a small unit that combines into a melody; page, pen, and letter do not complete this musical part-to-whole pattern.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as CONCISE?
- Lengthy
- Loud
- Difficult
- Brief
Correct answer: Brief
Brief is correct. CONCISE means expressing much in few words, which matches brief; lengthy is the opposite, while loud and difficult describe sound and difficulty rather than length.
- What does the word RELUCTANT mean?
- Eager and excited
- Unwilling or hesitant
- Very tired
- Extremely loud
Correct answer: Unwilling or hesitant
Unwilling or hesitant is correct. RELUCTANT describes someone who feels hesitant and does not want to do something; it is the opposite of eager, and is unrelated to tiredness or loudness.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to ARTIFICIAL?
- Fake
- Natural
- Synthetic
- Plastic
Correct answer: Natural
Natural is correct. ARTIFICIAL means made by people rather than occurring in nature, so its opposite is natural; fake, synthetic, and plastic are all similar in meaning to artificial.
- When you unscramble the words 'the finished students their exams,' which word correctly begins the sentence?
Correct answer: The
The is correct. The words rearrange into 'The students finished their exams,' so the article 'the' begins the sentence, introducing the subject 'students'; finished is the verb, students is the subject, and exams is the object, none of which start the sentence.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to ANCIENT?
- Modern
- Historic
- Fragile
- Large
Correct answer: Modern
Modern is correct. Ancient means belonging to the very distant past, so its opposite is modern, meaning of the present time. Historic is a near synonym, while fragile and large describe other qualities entirely.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'She studied for weeks, ____ she felt confident walking into the exam.'
Correct answer: So
So is correct. Studying for weeks is the cause of feeling confident, and 'so' signals a result that follows logically. But and although signal contrast, and unless signals a condition, none of which fit a cause-and-effect link.
- Complete the analogy: Hammer is to nail as screwdriver is to ____.
- Screw
- Wood
- Toolbox
- Carpenter
Correct answer: Screw
Screw is correct. A hammer drives a nail, so a screwdriver drives a screw; the relationship is tool to the fastener it works on. Wood is the material, a toolbox holds tools, and a carpenter uses them.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as VAGUE?
Correct answer: Unclear
Unclear is correct. Vague means not clearly expressed or imprecise, which matches unclear. Precise is its opposite, and loud and heavy refer to unrelated qualities.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The instructions were clear and detailed, ____ the assembly was finished quickly.'
Correct answer: So
So is correct. Clear instructions are the cause of finishing quickly, and 'so' connects a cause to its result. Yet, even though, and whereas all introduce contrast, which contradicts the logical link between clear instructions and a fast finish.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'The community garden lets neighbors who have no yard of their own grow vegetables in shared plots. Members split the cost of water and tools, and they meet on weekends to plant and weed together.' According to the passage, what is one benefit of the community garden?
- It lets people without a yard grow their own vegetables
- It pays members a salary for gardening
- It is open only on weekday mornings
- It sells produce to local restaurants
Correct answer: It lets people without a yard grow their own vegetables
It lets people without a yard grow their own vegetables is correct. The passage states the garden serves neighbors who have no yard of their own. It never mentions salaries, weekday-only hours, or selling produce to restaurants.
- Complete the analogy: Petal is to flower as page is to ____.
Correct answer: Book
Book is correct. A petal is a part of a flower, so a page is a part of a book; the relationship is part to whole. A word is smaller than a page, a reader uses the book, and a library stores books.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: hammer, wrench, pliers, lumber.
Correct answer: Lumber
Lumber is correct. Hammer, wrench, and pliers are all hand tools, while lumber is a building material, so it does not share the category. The other three belong together as tools.
- What does the word AMPLE mean?
- More than enough
- Barely sufficient
- Completely empty
- Slightly damaged
Correct answer: More than enough
More than enough is correct. Ample means plentiful or sufficient with room to spare. Barely sufficient and completely empty point the other direction, and slightly damaged is unrelated.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as SUFFICIENT?
- Enough
- Lacking
- Excessive
- Broken
Correct answer: Enough
Enough is correct. Sufficient means adequate or as much as is needed, which matches enough. Lacking is the opposite, excessive means too much, and broken is unrelated.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'He had never sailed before, ____ he handled the small boat with surprising skill.'
Correct answer: Yet
Yet is correct. The sentence contrasts having no experience with handling the boat skillfully, and 'yet' signals that contrast. Because, therefore, and since all signal cause or result, which does not fit the unexpected outcome.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A study found that workers who took a short walk during their lunch break reported feeling more focused in the afternoon than those who stayed at their desks. The walkers also said they felt less stressed by the end of the day.' What does the passage suggest about taking a short walk at lunch?
- It was linked to better focus and less stress
- It made workers feel more tired in the afternoon
- It had no effect on how workers felt
- It caused workers to take longer breaks
Correct answer: It was linked to better focus and less stress
It was linked to better focus and less stress is correct. The passage reports that walkers felt more focused and less stressed. It does not say the walk caused tiredness, had no effect, or led to longer breaks.
- Complete the analogy: Sip is to gulp as glance is to ____.
Correct answer: Stare
Stare is correct. A gulp is a larger version of a sip, so a stare is a longer, more intense version of a glance; the relationship is degree of intensity. Blink, whisper, and nod do not form an intensity pair with glance.
- What does the word PROHIBIT mean?
- To forbid by rule or law
- To strongly encourage
- To explain in detail
- To purchase in bulk
Correct answer: To forbid by rule or law
To forbid by rule or law is correct. Prohibit means to formally ban or not allow something. Encourage is the opposite, while explaining and purchasing are unrelated to the word.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as CONCEAL?
Correct answer: Hide
Hide is correct. Conceal means to keep something out of sight or secret, which matches hide. Reveal and announce are opposites, and repair is unrelated.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to ASCEND?
Correct answer: Descend
Descend is correct. Ascend means to move upward, so its opposite is descend, meaning to move downward. Climb, rise, and soar are all near synonyms of ascend.
- Complete the analogy: Predictable is to surprising as familiar is to ____.
Correct answer: Strange
Strange is correct. Predictable and surprising are opposites, so the second pair must also be opposites; familiar means well known, and its opposite is strange. Known, common, and usual are all synonyms of familiar.
- What does the word ENDURE mean?
- To withstand or last over time
- To give up quickly
- To celebrate loudly
- To measure carefully
Correct answer: To withstand or last over time
To withstand or last over time is correct. Endure means to suffer through hardship patiently or to continue existing over time. Giving up is the opposite, and celebrating and measuring are unrelated.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The recipe calls for fresh basil; ____, dried basil can be used in a pinch.'
- However
- Therefore
- As a result
- Consequently
Correct answer: However
However is correct. The sentence shifts from the preferred fresh basil to an acceptable substitute, and 'however' signals that contrast. Therefore, as a result, and consequently all signal a result, which does not fit the change in direction.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'The town installed brighter streetlights downtown after several years of complaints about poorly lit sidewalks. Within months, residents reported feeling safer walking at night, and local shops noticed more evening customers.' What can be concluded from the passage?
- Better lighting was followed by greater feelings of safety and more evening shoppers
- The streetlights were removed after a few months
- Residents complained that the lights were too bright
- Local shops closed earlier because of the new lights
Correct answer: Better lighting was followed by greater feelings of safety and more evening shoppers
Better lighting was followed by greater feelings of safety and more evening shoppers is correct. The passage states residents felt safer and shops saw more evening customers after the lights were installed. It does not say the lights were removed, that they were too bright, or that shops closed earlier.
- Complete the analogy: Hot is to cold as wet is to ____.
Correct answer: Dry
Dry is correct. 'Hot' and 'cold' are antonyms, so the second pair must also be antonyms; the opposite of 'wet' is 'dry.' 'Damp' is a synonym for wet, while 'rain' and 'water' are related nouns, not opposites.
- Complete the analogy: Author is to novel as composer is to ____.
- Orchestra
- Symphony
- Piano
- Audience
Correct answer: Symphony
Symphony is correct. An author creates a novel, so a composer creates a symphony; the relationship is maker to thing created. An 'orchestra' performs the work, a 'piano' is an instrument, and an 'audience' listens, so none fit the creator pattern.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: oak, maple, pine, rose.
Correct answer: Rose
Rose is correct. Oak, maple, and pine are all types of trees, while a rose is a flower, so it does not belong with the group. The three trees share a category that the rose does not.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'Because the instructions were so ____, the new employee finished the task without asking a single question.'
- Lengthy
- Confusing
- Clear
- Missing
Correct answer: Clear
Clear is correct. Finishing without any questions logically follows from instructions that were easy to understand, so 'clear' fits. 'Confusing' and 'missing' would cause questions, and 'lengthy' alone does not explain the lack of questions.
- Complete the analogy: Whisper is to talk as glance is to ____.
Correct answer: Stare
Stare is correct. A whisper is a quiet, brief form of talking, just as a glance is a quick form of looking; the intense version of a glance is a stare. 'Blink' and 'listen' involve different actions, and 'speak' relates to talking, not looking.
- Complete the analogy: Calf is to cow as cub is to ____.
Correct answer: Bear
Bear is correct. A calf is the young of a cow, so a cub is the young of a bear; the relationship is offspring to adult animal. 'Forest' is a habitat, 'litter' is a group of young, and 'fur' is a body covering, so none fit.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A small town installed solar panels on the roof of its public library. After one year, the building's electricity bills had dropped by nearly half, freeing up funds the library used to buy new books.' What happened as a result of installing the solar panels?
- The town stopped using electricity entirely
- The library was forced to close for repairs
- The library spent less on electricity and bought new books
- The solar panels increased the library's costs
Correct answer: The library spent less on electricity and bought new books
The library spent less on electricity and bought new books is correct. The passage states bills dropped by nearly half and the saved funds bought new books. It never mentions closing, ending all electricity use, or rising costs.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to COURAGEOUS?
Correct answer: Cowardly
Cowardly is correct. COURAGEOUS means brave in the face of danger, so its antonym is 'cowardly.' 'Brave' is a synonym, while 'strong' and 'loyal' describe other traits that are not opposites.
- Complete the analogy: Hammer is to nail as needle is to ____.
Correct answer: Thread
Thread is correct. A hammer is used together with a nail, just as a needle is used together with thread; the relationship pairs a tool with the item it works with. 'Cloth' is what is sewn, 'sharp' is a description, and 'wood' relates to the hammer, so none fit.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The manager praised the report for being thorough, yet she asked the team to make it more ____ so busy readers could finish it quickly.'
- Concise
- Detailed
- Lengthy
- Colorful
Correct answer: Concise
Concise is correct. Wanting busy readers to finish quickly means the report should be shorter and to the point, which is the meaning of 'concise.' 'Detailed' and 'lengthy' would make it longer, and 'colorful' does not address length.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as REVISE?
- Destroy
- Ignore
- Approve
- Change
Correct answer: Change
Change is correct. REVISE means to alter or improve something, especially written work, so 'change' is the closest synonym. 'Ignore,' 'approve,' and 'destroy' describe different actions that do not match the meaning.
- Complete the analogy: Sentence is to paragraph as paragraph is to ____.
Correct answer: Essay
Essay is correct. Sentences combine to form a paragraph, and paragraphs combine to form an essay; the relationship moves from a smaller unit to the larger one it builds. 'Word,' 'letter,' and 'period' are smaller parts, not the larger whole.
- What does the word ABUNDANT mean?
- Extremely rare
- Present in large quantities; plentiful
- Hidden from view
- Difficult to reach
Correct answer: Present in large quantities; plentiful
Present in large quantities is correct. ABUNDANT describes something available in great amounts, such as an abundant harvest. It is the opposite of rare and does not mean hidden or hard to reach.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as ASSIST?
Correct answer: Help
Help is correct. ASSIST means to give aid or support, so 'help' is the closest synonym. 'Hinder' is the opposite, while 'ignore' and 'question' describe unrelated actions.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'Some plants survive long droughts by storing water in thick leaves and stems. When rain finally comes, they absorb and hold the moisture, allowing them to last through the next dry period.' Why are these plants able to survive long droughts?
- They store water in their leaves and stems for later use
- They grow only during rainy seasons
- They never need any water at all
- They move to wetter locations
Correct answer: They store water in their leaves and stems for later use
They store water in their leaves and stems is correct. The passage explains the plants hold moisture in thick leaves and stems to last through dry periods. It does not say they grow only when raining, need no water, or move locations.
- Complete the analogy: Optimist is to hopeful as pessimist is to ____.
- Honest
- Cheerful
- Gloomy
- Curious
Correct answer: Gloomy
Gloomy is correct. An optimist is characterized by being hopeful, so a pessimist is characterized by being gloomy or negative; the relationship matches a person to their typical outlook. 'Cheerful' describes an optimist, and 'honest' and 'curious' are unrelated traits.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to ACCEPT?
- Allow
- Receive
- Welcome
- Reject
Correct answer: Reject
Reject is correct. ACCEPT means to receive or agree to something, so its antonym is 'reject,' meaning to refuse. 'Receive,' 'welcome,' and 'allow' are synonyms of accept rather than opposites.
- What does the word FEASIBLE mean?
- Completely forbidden
- Possible to do or achieve
- Extremely expensive
- Already finished
Correct answer: Possible to do or achieve
Possible to do or achieve is correct. FEASIBLE describes a plan or idea that can realistically be carried out. It does not mean forbidden, expensive, or finished, which are the incorrect options.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The witness gave a ____ account of the accident, matching every detail the camera footage later confirmed.'
Correct answer: Accurate
Accurate is correct. An account that matches every detail confirmed by footage must be correct, which is the meaning of 'accurate.' 'False' and 'vague' contradict the matching footage, and 'brief' refers to length, not correctness.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as RAPID?
Correct answer: Fast
Fast is correct. RAPID means happening quickly or moving at high speed, so 'fast' is the closest synonym. 'Slow' is the opposite, while 'smooth' and 'quiet' describe unrelated qualities.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: October, Tuesday, March, July.
Correct answer: Tuesday
Tuesday is correct. October, March, and July are all months of the year, while Tuesday is a day of the week, so it does not belong. The three months share a category that Tuesday does not.
- Complete the analogy: Thermometer is to temperature as scale is to ____.
Correct answer: Weight
Weight is correct. A thermometer measures temperature, so a scale measures weight; the relationship pairs an instrument with what it measures. 'Length,' 'speed,' and 'volume' are measured by other instruments such as rulers, speedometers, and measuring cups.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'Where there's smoke, there's ____.'
Correct answer: Fire
Fire is correct. The traditional proverb is 'Where there's smoke, there's fire,' suggesting that signs of a problem usually point to a real cause. 'Rain,' 'noise,' and 'trouble' do not complete the standard saying.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to VICTORY?
- Reward
- Triumph
- Success
- Defeat
Correct answer: Defeat
Defeat is correct. VICTORY means winning or success in a contest, so its antonym is 'defeat,' meaning a loss. 'Triumph' and 'success' are synonyms of victory, and 'reward' is a related but different idea.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to CONCEAL?
Correct answer: Reveal
Reveal is the antonym. To conceal means to keep something hidden from view, so its opposite is to reveal, meaning to make something known or visible. Hide, cover, and bury are all synonyms of conceal, not opposites.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: oak, maple, pine, granite.
Correct answer: Granite
Granite does not belong. Oak, maple, and pine are all types of trees, while granite is a type of rock. The shared category is trees, so the non-tree item is the odd one out.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'She had studied diligently for weeks, so her excellent test score was hardly ____.'
- Surprising
- Earned
- Deserved
- Possible
Correct answer: Surprising
Surprising is correct. Because she studied diligently for weeks, a high score would be expected rather than unexpected, so it was hardly surprising. Saying it was hardly earned or hardly deserved would contradict her hard work, and hardly possible makes no sense given the result.
- Complete the analogy: Hot is to cold as ascend is to ____.
Correct answer: Descend
Descend is correct. Hot and cold are opposites, so the analogy calls for the opposite of ascend, which is descend, meaning to go down. Climb and rise are synonyms of ascend, and stairs is merely a related object, not an opposite.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'The committee postponed the vote because several members had not finished reviewing the proposal. They agreed it would be irresponsible to decide without full information.' Why did the committee postpone the vote?
- Some members had not finished reviewing the proposal
- The proposal had already been rejected
- There were not enough members present
- The members disagreed about the budget
Correct answer: Some members had not finished reviewing the proposal
Some members had not finished reviewing the proposal is correct. The passage states the vote was postponed because several members had not finished their review and the committee wanted full information first. The other choices describe reasons the passage never mentions.
- The proverb 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' most nearly means which of the following?
- Do not rely on something good until it has actually happened
- Always plan ahead for the future
- Hard work eventually pays off
- Take care of small problems before they grow
Correct answer: Do not rely on something good until it has actually happened
Do not rely on something good until it has actually happened is correct. The saying warns against assuming a hoped-for outcome is certain before it occurs. The other statements express different lessons about planning, effort, or prevention.
- When you unscramble the words 'rain the all day fell,' which word correctly begins the rearranged sentence?
Correct answer: The
The is correct. The words rearrange into the sentence 'The rain fell all day,' so the sentence begins with The. Starting with rain, fell, or day would not produce a grammatically correct sentence.
- A rectangular office floor measures 14 feet by 9 feet. What is its area in square feet?
Correct answer: 126
The answer is 126. Area of a rectangle equals length times width, so 14 times 9 equals 126 square feet.
- A square garden has a perimeter of 48 meters. What is the length of one side?
Correct answer: 12
The answer is 12. A square has four equal sides, so each side equals the perimeter divided by 4: 48 divided by 4 equals 12 meters.
- If a car uses 12 gallons of gas to travel 384 miles, how many miles does it travel per gallon?
Correct answer: 32
The answer is 32. Miles per gallon equals total miles divided by gallons used: 384 divided by 12 equals 32 miles per gallon.
- A store sells pens at 3 for $1.20. At that rate, how much do 10 pens cost?
Correct answer: $4.00
The answer is $4.00. Each pen costs $1.20 divided by 3, which is $0.40, and 10 pens cost 10 times $0.40 equals $4.00.
- A worker is paid $15 per hour plus $22.50 for each hour beyond 40 in a week. If she works 44 hours, what are her total earnings?
Correct answer: $690
The answer is $690. Regular pay is 40 times $15 equals $600, overtime is 4 times $22.50 equals $90, and $600 plus $90 equals $690.
- What is the value of 7 squared minus 5 squared?
Correct answer: 24
The answer is 24. Seven squared is 49 and five squared is 25, so 49 minus 25 equals 24.
- A box contains 60 marbles. If 1/4 are red and 1/3 are blue, how many marbles are neither red nor blue?
Correct answer: 25
The answer is 25. Red marbles number 60 times 1/4 equals 15 and blue number 60 times 1/3 equals 20, so 60 minus 15 minus 20 equals 25.
- Two numbers add up to 50 and one number is 4 times the other. What is the larger number?
Correct answer: 40
The answer is 40. The smaller number x plus 4x equals 50, so 5x equals 50 and x equals 10, making the larger number 4 times 10, which is 40.
- A tank holds 240 liters and is being filled at 8 liters per minute. How many minutes does it take to fill the tank completely?
Correct answer: 30
The answer is 30. Time equals total volume divided by fill rate: 240 divided by 8 equals 30 minutes.
- If 3 pounds of coffee cost $21, how much do 7 pounds cost at the same price per pound?
Correct answer: $49
The answer is $49. One pound costs $21 divided by 3 equals $7, so 7 pounds cost 7 times $7 equals $49.
- A meeting started at 9:45 a.m. and lasted 2 hours and 50 minutes. At what time did it end?
- 12:25 p.m.
- 12:35 p.m.
- 11:35 a.m.
- 1:05 p.m.
Correct answer: 12:35 p.m.
The answer is 12:35 p.m. Adding 2 hours to 9:45 gives 11:45, and adding 50 more minutes gives 12:35 p.m.
- What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 36?
Correct answer: 12
The answer is 12. The largest number that divides both 24 and 36 evenly is 12, since 24 equals 12 times 2 and 36 equals 12 times 3.
- A shirt that normally costs $40 is on sale for $34. By what percent was the price reduced?
- 6%
- 17%
- 12%
- 15%
Correct answer: 15%
The answer is 15%. The reduction is $40 minus $34 equals $6, and $6 divided by $40 equals 0.15, or 15%.
- If a wall is 240 inches long, how many feet long is it?
Correct answer: 20
The answer is 20. There are 12 inches in a foot, so 240 divided by 12 equals 20 feet.
- A team won 18 of the 30 games it played. What fraction of its games did the team win, in lowest terms?
- 53
- 32
- 106
- 169
Correct answer: 53
The answer is 3/5. The fraction 18/30 reduces by dividing both by 6, giving 3/5.
- The sum of three consecutive whole numbers is 72. What is the smallest of the three numbers?
Correct answer: 23
The answer is 23. The three numbers are 23, 24, and 25, and they add to 72, so the smallest is 23.
- A recipe that serves 4 people needs 6 eggs. How many eggs are needed to serve 10 people?
Correct answer: 15
The answer is 15. Eggs per person equal 6 divided by 4 equals 1.5, and 1.5 times 10 equals 15 eggs.
- What is 12% of 250?
Correct answer: 30
The answer is 30. Twelve percent equals 0.12, and 0.12 times 250 equals 30.
- A bag of rice weighs 2.5 kilograms. How many such bags are needed to make a total of 20 kilograms?
Correct answer: 8
The answer is 8. The number of bags equals 20 divided by 2.5, which equals 8.
- If x equals 6, what is the value of 4x squared?
Correct answer: 144
The answer is 144. First square x to get 6 squared equals 36, then multiply by 4 to get 4 times 36 equals 144.
- A car travels at 60 miles per hour. How far does it travel in 2 hours and 30 minutes?
- 150 miles
- 120 miles
- 180 miles
- 135 miles
Correct answer: 150 miles
The answer is 150 miles. Distance equals speed times time, and 2.5 hours times 60 miles per hour equals 150 miles.
- A jar holds 3 cups of water. How many fluid ounces is that, given 8 fluid ounces per cup?
Correct answer: 24
The answer is 24. Each cup is 8 fluid ounces, so 3 cups equal 3 times 8, which is 24 fluid ounces.
- A factory produced 1,250 units in January and 1,500 units in February. How many more units did it produce in February than in January?
Correct answer: 250
The answer is 250. The difference equals 1,500 minus 1,250, which is 250 units.
- If a dozen donuts costs $9.60, what is the cost of one donut?
Correct answer: $0.80
The answer is $0.80. A dozen is 12, so one donut costs $9.60 divided by 12, which is $0.80.
- Round the number 4,768 to the nearest hundred.
Correct answer: 4,800
The answer is 4,800. The tens digit is 6, which rounds the hundreds digit up, so 4,768 rounds to 4,800.
- A class of 32 students has 12 boys. What is the ratio of girls to boys in lowest terms?
Correct answer: 5 to 3
The answer is 5 to 3. There are 32 minus 12 equals 20 girls, and the ratio 20 to 12 reduces by 4 to 5 to 3.
- What is the value of 144 divided by 12, then multiplied by 3?
Correct answer: 36
The answer is 36. First 144 divided by 12 equals 12, then 12 times 3 equals 36.
- A worker can assemble 5 chairs in 2 hours. How many chairs can the worker assemble in an 8-hour shift?
Correct answer: 20
The answer is 20. The rate is 5 chairs per 2 hours, or 2.5 per hour, and 2.5 times 8 equals 20 chairs.
- If a number is increased by 30% to become 130, what was the original number?
Correct answer: 100
The answer is 100. The original number times 1.30 equals 130, so the original equals 130 divided by 1.30, which is 100.
- A pizza is cut into 8 equal slices and 3 slices are eaten. What fraction of the pizza remains?
- 85
- 83
- 21
- 53
Correct answer: 85
The answer is 5/8. With 3 of 8 slices eaten, 8 minus 3 equals 5 slices remain, which is 5/8 of the pizza.
- What is the next number in the series: 100, 91, 82, 73, ___?
Correct answer: 64
The answer is 64. Each term decreases by 9, so 73 minus 9 equals 64.
- A bank account earns simple interest of 5% per year. How much interest does $800 earn in one year?
Correct answer: $40
The answer is $40. Simple interest equals principal times rate, so $800 times 0.05 equals $40.
- A truck can carry a maximum of 1,800 pounds. If each crate weighs 75 pounds, what is the greatest number of full crates it can carry?
Correct answer: 24
The answer is 24. Divide 1,800 by 75 to get exactly 24 crates, which fits within the limit.
- What is the area of a triangle with a base of 10 inches and a height of 6 inches?
Correct answer: 30
The answer is 30. Triangle area equals one-half times base times height, so 0.5 times 10 times 6 equals 30 square inches.
- If 6 identical machines complete a job in 10 hours, how long would 1 machine take to do the same job?
- 60 hours
- 16 hours
- 40 hours
- 50 hours
Correct answer: 60 hours
The answer is 60 hours. Total work is 6 machines times 10 hours equals 60 machine-hours, so one machine takes 60 hours.
- A number divided by 7 gives a quotient of 12 with no remainder. What is the number?
Correct answer: 84
The answer is 84. If the number divided by 7 equals 12, then the number equals 7 times 12, which is 84.
- Which of these decimals is the largest: 0.7, 0.07, 0.77, 0.707?
Correct answer: 0.77
The answer is 0.77. Comparing place values, 0.77 has 7 hundredths after the tenths, making it larger than 0.707, 0.7, and 0.07.
- A salesperson earns a 6% commission on sales. How much commission is earned on $4,500 in sales?
Correct answer: $270
The answer is $270. Commission equals 6% of sales, so 0.06 times $4,500 equals $270.
- Add the mixed numbers 2 1/2 and 1 3/4.
Correct answer: 4 1/4
The answer is 4 1/4. The whole numbers 2 and 1 add to 3, and 1/2 plus 3/4 equals 5/4, or 1 1/4, so the total is 4 1/4.
- A parking lot has 5 rows with 18 spaces each. If 67 spaces are occupied, how many spaces are empty?
Correct answer: 23
The answer is 23. Total spaces equal 5 times 18 equals 90, and 90 minus 67 occupied equals 23 empty spaces.
- A worker is paid $1,260 for 35 hours of work. What is the hourly wage?
Correct answer: $36
The hourly wage is $36. Divide total pay by hours worked: $1,260 divided by 35 equals $36 per hour.
- If 7 notebooks cost $21, how much do 11 notebooks cost at the same price?
Correct answer: $33
Eleven notebooks cost $33. One notebook costs $21 divided by 7, which is $3, so 11 notebooks cost 11 times $3, or $33.
- What is the next number in the series: 100, 96, 88, 76, 60, ___?
Correct answer: 40
The next number is 40. The amounts subtracted grow by 4 each time (4, 8, 12, 16), so the next subtraction is 20, giving 60 minus 20 equals 40.
- A tank holds 240 gallons and is leaking at 8 gallons per hour. How many hours until it is empty?
Correct answer: 30
The tank empties in 30 hours. Divide the total volume by the leak rate: 240 gallons divided by 8 gallons per hour equals 30 hours.
- A shirt costs $45 plus 8% sales tax. What is the total price?
Correct answer: $48.60
The total price is $48.60. The tax is 8% of $45, which is $3.60, and $45 plus $3.60 equals $48.60.
- Two-fifths of the 60 employees at a firm work remotely. How many employees work remotely?
Correct answer: 24
Twenty-four employees work remotely. Two-fifths of 60 is found by multiplying 60 by 2 and dividing by 5, which equals 24.
- What number comes next in the series: 1, 2, 6, 24, 120, ___?
Correct answer: 720
The next number is 720. Each term is multiplied by an increasing factor (2, 3, 4, 5), so 120 times 6 equals 720.
- If 3 machines fill 600 bottles in one hour, how many bottles do 5 machines fill in one hour at the same rate?
Correct answer: 1,000
Five machines fill 1,000 bottles. One machine fills 600 divided by 3, which is 200 bottles, so 5 machines fill 5 times 200, or 1,000 bottles.
- A bill of $90 is split evenly among 6 people. How much does each person pay?
Correct answer: $15
Each person pays $15. Divide the total bill by the number of people: $90 divided by 6 equals $15.
- A project that normally takes 18 days is finished in two-thirds of that time. How many days did it take?
Correct answer: 12
The project took 12 days. Two-thirds of 18 is found by multiplying 18 by 2 and dividing by 3, which equals 12.
- Find the missing number in the series: 5, 10, 8, 16, 14, 28, ___.
Correct answer: 26
The missing number is 26. The pattern alternates doubling then subtracting 2; 28 minus 2 equals 26.
- An item that cost $250 last year now costs $200. What is the percent decrease?
- 15%
- 30%
- 25%
- 20%
Correct answer: 20%
The decrease is 20%. The price dropped by $50, and $50 divided by the original $250 equals 0.20, or 20%.
- A box weighs 4 pounds 12 ounces. What is its weight in ounces?
Correct answer: 76
The box weighs 76 ounces. Four pounds is 64 ounces, and adding the extra 12 ounces gives 64 plus 12, or 76 ounces.
- If x+9=4x, what is the value of x?
Correct answer: 3
The value of x is 3. Subtracting x from both sides gives 9 equals 3x, so x equals 9 divided by 3, which is 3.
- A store sells pens at 4 for $5. How much would 20 pens cost?
Correct answer: $25
Twenty pens cost $25. There are 5 groups of 4 pens in 20, and 5 groups times $5 each equals $25.
- What is one-eighth of 400?
Correct answer: 50
One-eighth of 400 is 50. Divide 400 by 8 to get 50.
- A worker completes a task in 45 minutes. What fraction of an hour is that?
- 43
- 21
- 54
- 32
Correct answer: 43
Forty-five minutes is 3/4 of an hour. Since an hour is 60 minutes, 45 over 60 reduces to 3/4.
- What is 12 multiplied by 15?
Correct answer: 180
The product is 180. Multiplying 12 by 15 gives 180.
- What is the sum of 3/8 and 1/4?
- 43
- 21
- 85
- 124
Correct answer: 85
The sum is 5/8. Rewriting 1/4 as 2/8 and adding to 3/8 gives 5/8.
- A loan of $5,000 earns 4% simple interest for one year. How much interest is earned?
Correct answer: $200
The interest is $200. Four percent of $5,000 is found by multiplying $5,000 by 0.04, which equals $200.
- If 2x−5=11, what is the value of x?
Correct answer: 8
The value of x is 8. Adding 5 to both sides gives 2x equals 16, and dividing by 2 gives x equals 8.
- A factory produced 1,200 units in March and 1,500 units in April. By what percent did production increase?
- 25%
- 15%
- 30%
- 20%
Correct answer: 25%
Production increased by 25%. The rise of 300 units divided by the original 1,200 units equals 0.25, or 25%.
- What is 0.75 expressed as a percent?
- 75%
- 7.5%
- 750%
- 0.75%
Correct answer: 75%
The decimal 0.75 equals 75%. Multiply 0.75 by 100 to convert it to a percent, which gives 75%.
- A garden is 8 feet by 5 feet. What is its perimeter in feet?
Correct answer: 26
The perimeter is 26 feet. Perimeter equals 2 times length plus 2 times width, so 2 times 8 plus 2 times 5 equals 16 plus 10, or 26 feet.
- Three people share $360 in the ratio 2 to 3 to 4. How much does the person with the largest share receive?
Correct answer: $160
The largest share is $160. The ratio totals 9 parts, so each part is $360 divided by 9, which is $40, and the largest share of 4 parts is 4 times $40, or $160.
- What is 144 divided by 6?
Correct answer: 24
The result is 24. Dividing 144 by 6 gives 24.
- A book has 320 pages and a reader has finished 240 of them. What percent of the book is left to read?
- 25%
- 20%
- 75%
- 30%
Correct answer: 25%
There is 25% left to read. The 80 unread pages divided by the 320 total pages equals 0.25, or 25%.
- A discount of $24 is offered on an item, which is 15% of its original price. What was the original price?
Correct answer: $160
The original price was $160. Since $24 is 15% of the price, divide $24 by 0.15 to get $160.
- Find the next number in the series: 100, 90, 81, 73, 66, ___.
Correct answer: 60
The answer is 60. The amount subtracted decreases by 1 each step: -10, -9, -8, -7, then -6, so 66-6=60.
- Find the next number in the series: 5, 10, 20, 35, 55, ___.
Correct answer: 80
The answer is 80. The differences increase by 5 each time: +5, +10, +15, +20, then +25, so 55+25=80.
- What number comes next in the series: 1, 8, 27, 64, ___?
Correct answer: 125
The answer is 125. These are perfect cubes: 1 cubed, 2 cubed, 3 cubed, 4 cubed, then 5 cubed equals 125.
- Find the missing number: 90, 45, 47, 23.5, 25.5, ___?
Correct answer: 12.75
The answer is 12.75. The pattern alternates divide by 2 then add 2: 90/2=45, 45+2=47, 47/2=23.5, 23.5+2=25.5, 25.5/2=12.75.
- What is 15% of 240?
Correct answer: 36
The answer is 36. Multiply 240 by 0.15 to get 36.
- A $50 item is taxed at 8%. What is the total cost including tax?
Correct answer: $54.00
The answer is $54.00. The tax is 50 x 0.08 = $4, and 50 + 4 = $54.
- A salesperson sold 60 units last month and 75 units this month. What was the percent increase?
- 15%
- 20%
- 25%
- 30%
Correct answer: 25%
The answer is 25%. The increase of 15 divided by the original 60 equals 0.25, or 25%.
- If a $90 jacket is discounted 40%, what is the sale price?
Correct answer: $54
The answer is $54. The discount is 90 x 0.40 = $36, and 90 - 36 = $54.
- What percent of 50 is 12?
- 24%
- 20%
- 25%
- 22%
Correct answer: 24%
The answer is 24%. Divide 12 by 50 to get 0.24, which equals 24%.
- A worker's $40,000 salary is increased by 6%. What is the new salary?
- $44,000
- $42,400
- $42,000
- $46,000
Correct answer: $42,400
The answer is $42,400. The raise is 40,000 x 0.06 = $2,400, and 40,000 + 2,400 = $42,400.
- After a 10% price increase, a product costs $99. What was the original price?
Correct answer: $90
The answer is $90. Since $99 is 110% of the original, divide 99 by 1.10 to get $90.
- If 3 pencils cost $0.90, how much do 8 pencils cost at the same rate?
Correct answer: $2.40
The answer is $2.40. Each pencil costs 0.90/3 = $0.30, so 8 pencils cost 8 x 0.30 = $2.40.
- The ratio of men to women in an office is 5 to 3. If there are 40 men, how many women are there?
Correct answer: 24
The answer is 24. Each ratio unit equals 40/5 = 8 people, so women number 3 x 8 = 24.
- Solve the proportion: 4 over 9 equals x over 36.
Correct answer: 16
The answer is 16. Cross-multiply: 9x = 4 x 36 = 144, so x = 144/9 = 16.
- A car travels 150 miles on 5 gallons of gas. How many miles can it travel on 12 gallons?
Correct answer: 360
The answer is 360. The car gets 150/5 = 30 miles per gallon, so 12 x 30 = 360 miles.
- Concrete is mixed using cement and sand in a 2 to 5 ratio. If 21 buckets of mix are made, how many buckets are sand?
Correct answer: 15
The answer is 15. The ratio has 7 parts total, each part is 21/7 = 3 buckets, so sand is 5 x 3 = 15.
- Solve for x: 3x−5=16.
Correct answer: 7
The answer is 7. Add 5 to both sides to get 3x = 21, then divide by 3 to get x = 7.
- Solve for x: 2(x+4)=22.
Correct answer: 7
The answer is 7. Divide both sides by 2 to get x + 4 = 11, then subtract 4 to get x = 7.
- If 4x=2x+18, what is the value of x?
Correct answer: 9
The answer is 9. Subtract 2x from both sides to get 2x = 18, then divide by 2 to get x = 9.
- Half of a number plus 6 equals 14. What is the number?
Correct answer: 16
The answer is 16. Subtract 6 from 14 to get 8, which is half the number, so the number is 16.
- Solve for x: 7x+3=4x+18.
Correct answer: 5
The answer is 5. Subtract 4x and 3 from both sides to get 3x = 15, so x = 5.
- A cyclist rides 48 miles in 3 hours. What is the average speed in miles per hour?
Correct answer: 16
The answer is 16. Divide the distance 48 by the time 3 to get 16 miles per hour.
- If a machine fills 600 bottles in 20 minutes, how many bottles does it fill per minute?
Correct answer: 30
The answer is 30. Divide 600 bottles by 20 minutes to get 30 bottles per minute.
- A car travels at 55 miles per hour for 4 hours. How far does it travel?
- 220 miles
- 200 miles
- 240 miles
- 180 miles
Correct answer: 220 miles
The answer is 220 miles. Multiply the speed 55 by the time 4 to get 220 miles.
- Two typists working together type 90 words per minute combined. At that rate, how many words do they type in 6 minutes?
Correct answer: 540
The answer is 540. Multiply 90 words per minute by 6 minutes to get 540 words.
- The average of three numbers is 30. Two of the numbers are 25 and 28. What is the third number?
Correct answer: 37
The answer is 37. The total of all three is 30 x 3 = 90; subtract 25 and 28 to get 90 - 53 = 37.
- A student earned 70, 80, and 90 on three tests. What is the average score?
Correct answer: 80
The answer is 80. Add the scores to get 240 and divide by 3 to get 80.
- Over 6 days a store sold 12, 15, 9, 18, 14, and 16 items. What was the average daily sales?
Correct answer: 14
The answer is 14. The total is 84 items; divide by 6 days to get 14 per day.
- What is 1/2 plus 1/3?
- 52
- 65
- 61
- 53
Correct answer: 65
The answer is 5/6. Using a common denominator of 6, 1/2 is 3/6 and 1/3 is 2/6, and 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6.
- What is 0.25 expressed as a fraction in lowest terms?
- 52
- 51
- 41
- 31
Correct answer: 41
The answer is 1/4. The decimal 0.25 equals 25/100, which reduces to 1/4.
- Multiply: 2/5 times 5/6.
- 125
- 112
- 307
- 31
Correct answer: 31
The answer is 1/3. Multiply numerators and denominators to get 10/30, which reduces to 1/3.
- What is 7.5 minus 2.85?
Correct answer: 4.65
The answer is 4.65. Subtracting 2.85 from 7.50 gives 4.65.
- Convert 3/8 to a decimal.
Correct answer: 0.375
The answer is 0.375. Dividing 3 by 8 gives 0.375.
- A rectangle is 12 feet long and 5 feet wide. What is its area in square feet?
Correct answer: 60
The answer is 60. Area equals length times width, so 12 x 5 = 60 square feet.
- A perimeter fence encloses a square lot with sides of 9 meters. What is the total length of the fence?
- 45 meters
- 81 meters
- 18 meters
- 36 meters
Correct answer: 36 meters
The answer is 36 meters. A square has four equal sides, so the perimeter is 4 x 9 = 36 meters.
- A rectangular parking lot is 40 feet long and 25 feet wide. What is its area in square feet?
- 1,000 square feet
- 130 square feet
- 65 square feet
- 650 square feet
Correct answer: 1,000 square feet
The area is 1,000 square feet. Area of a rectangle equals length times width, so 40 multiplied by 25 equals 1,000 square feet. The value 130 is the perimeter (2 times the sum of 40 and 25), and 65 is just the sum of the two sides.
- A savings account holds $2,000 and earns 5% simple interest per year. How much interest does it earn in one year?
Correct answer: $100
The interest earned is $100. Simple interest equals principal times rate times time, so $2,000 multiplied by 0.05 multiplied by 1 year equals $100. The other choices come from using the wrong rate or misplacing the decimal.
- What is the value of 2 raised to the 5th power?
Correct answer: 32
The value is 32. Two raised to the 5th power means multiplying 2 by itself five times: 2 times 2 times 2 times 2 times 2 equals 32. The choice 10 mistakenly multiplies the base by the exponent, and 16 is only 2 to the 4th power.
- A restaurant bill comes to $60, and the customer leaves an 18% tip. How much is the tip?
Correct answer: $10.80
The tip is $10.80. A tip of 18% means multiplying the bill by 0.18, so $60 multiplied by 0.18 equals $10.80. The choice $18.00 ignores that the percentage applies to $60 rather than $100.
- One pipe can fill a tank in 6 hours and another can fill the same tank in 3 hours. Working together, how long will they take to fill the tank?
- 9 hours
- 4.5 hours
- 2 hours
- 3 hours
Correct answer: 2 hours
Together they take 2 hours. The first pipe fills 1/6 of the tank per hour and the second fills 1/3, so combined they fill 1/6 plus 2/6, which is 3/6 or 1/2 of the tank each hour, finishing in 2 hours. Averaging the two times to get 4.5 is incorrect for combined work.
- A square has a perimeter of 36 inches. What is the length of one side?
- 9 inches
- 6 inches
- 18 inches
- 12 inches
Correct answer: 9 inches
Each side is 9 inches. A square has four equal sides, so dividing the perimeter of 36 by 4 gives 9 inches per side. The choice 6 would result from dividing by 6, and 18 is half the perimeter rather than one side.
- A student answered 36 of 45 questions correctly on a test. What fraction of the questions, in lowest terms, did the student answer correctly?
- 43
- 54
- 109
- 65
Correct answer: 54
The fraction is 4/5. Writing 36 over 45 and dividing both numbers by their common factor of 9 gives 4 over 5. The other fractions do not reduce from 36 over 45.
- In a class, the ratio of boys to girls is 3 to 5, and there are 15 boys. How many girls are in the class?
- 20 girls
- 9 girls
- 40 girls
- 25 girls
Correct answer: 25 girls
There are 25 girls. Since the ratio is 3 boys to 5 girls and 15 boys represent 3 parts, each part equals 5 students, so the 5 parts of girls equal 5 multiplied by 5, which is 25. The choice 40 would be the total class size rather than the number of girls.
- A worker earns a base of $400 plus a $25 commission for each sale. How much does the worker earn after making 6 sales?
Correct answer: $550
The worker earns $550. The commission is $25 multiplied by 6 sales, which is $150, and adding the $400 base gives $550. The choice $150 includes only the commission and omits the base pay.
- A book has 240 pages, and a reader has finished 3/8 of it. How many pages has the reader finished?
- 80 pages
- 150 pages
- 90 pages
- 30 pages
Correct answer: 90 pages
The reader has finished 90 pages. Finding 3/8 of 240 means dividing 240 by 8 to get 30, then multiplying by 3 to get 90. The choice 150 is the number of pages remaining rather than those finished.
- Assume both statements are true: All registered nurses must renew their license. Carla does not have to renew a license. What conclusion follows by deductive reasoning?
- Carla is not a registered nurse.
- Carla is a registered nurse who forgot to renew.
- Carla works in a different field entirely.
- Nothing can be concluded about Carla.
Correct answer: Carla is not a registered nurse.
The answer is that Carla is not a registered nurse. Because every registered nurse must renew, anyone who does not have to renew cannot be a registered nurse. This is the valid form modus tollens: if P then Q, not Q, therefore not P.
- Assume the statement is true: If the meeting runs late, then dinner will be delayed. Dinner was delayed. What can you conclude with certainty?
- Nothing certain; the delay could have another cause.
- The meeting definitely ran late.
- The meeting definitely did not run late.
- Dinner will be served on time tomorrow.
Correct answer: Nothing certain; the delay could have another cause.
The answer is that nothing certain can be concluded. Affirming the consequent (Q is true, so P must be true) is a logical fallacy, because dinner could be delayed for reasons other than a late meeting. Only knowing P lets you conclude Q.
- Find the rule, then choose the missing number: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, ___.
Correct answer: 38
The answer is 38. The gaps between terms grow by consecutive odd numbers: +3, +5, +7, +9, then +11. Adding 11 to 27 gives 38.
- Identify the rule, then choose the next group in this letter series: AZ, BY, CX, DW, ___.
Correct answer: EV
The answer is EV. The first letter advances forward through the alphabet (A, B, C, D, E) while the second letter moves backward (Z, Y, X, W, V), so the next pair is E paired with V.
- Word is to letters as a sentence is to which of the following?
- Words
- Paragraphs
- Pages
- Letters
Correct answer: Words
The answer is words. The relationship is part-to-whole: letters are the components that build a word, and words are the components that build a sentence, so the analogous part of a sentence is its words.
- Assume both statements are true: Some employees in the office are bilingual. Every bilingual employee attended the language workshop. What can be concluded with certainty?
- Some employees in the office attended the language workshop.
- All employees in the office attended the workshop.
- No monolingual employee attended the workshop.
- Most employees in the office are bilingual.
Correct answer: Some employees in the office attended the language workshop.
The answer is that some employees in the office attended the workshop. Since at least some employees are bilingual and all bilingual employees attended, those bilingual employees are office workers who attended, making 'some attended' certain. 'All' and claims about monolingual staff go beyond the premises.
- Choose the missing number in this pattern: 64, 32, 16, 8, ___.
Correct answer: 4
The answer is 4. Each term is half of the one before it (divided by 2), so 8 divided by 2 yields 4.
- A solid capital letter P stands upright on a card. If the card is rotated 180 degrees so it is fully upside down, where does the rounded bump of the letter end up?
- On the bottom, opening toward the right side
- On the top, opening toward the left side
- On the top, opening toward the right side
- On the bottom, opening toward the left side
Correct answer: On the bottom, opening toward the right side
The answer is that the bump lands on the bottom and opens toward the right. A 180-degree turn flips top to bottom and left to right; the P's bump, originally upper-left-opening to the right, moves to the lower portion and its opening now faces the opposite horizontal direction relative to the page.
- Four students ranked in a spelling bee with no ties. Pavel placed higher than Quinn. Quinn placed higher than Ruth. Ruth placed higher than Seth. Who placed second?
Correct answer: Quinn
The answer is Quinn. The full ranking from highest is Pavel, Quinn, Ruth, Seth, so the second-place finisher is Quinn.
- Assume both statements are true: No reptile is warm-blooded. The animal in the tank is warm-blooded. What follows by deductive reasoning?
- The animal in the tank is not a reptile.
- The animal in the tank is a reptile.
- The animal in the tank is a mammal.
- Nothing can be concluded.
Correct answer: The animal in the tank is not a reptile.
The answer is that the animal is not a reptile. If no reptile is warm-blooded, then anything warm-blooded falls outside the category of reptiles. You cannot conclude it is a mammal, since other warm-blooded groups exist.
- Find the rule, then choose the next number: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, ___.
Correct answer: 22
The answer is 22. The amount added increases by one each step: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, then +6. Adding 6 to 16 gives 22.
- Three coffee cups are filled in order. The latte is filled before the espresso. The mocha is filled after the espresso. Which drink is filled second?
- The espresso
- The latte
- The mocha
- It cannot be determined
Correct answer: The espresso
The answer is the espresso. The order is latte first, espresso next, then mocha, placing the espresso in the second position.
- Picture a solid capital letter E facing normally. If you reflect it in a horizontal mirror placed below it, so top and bottom swap, where do its three horizontal bars now appear to be attached?
- Still on the left side of the vertical stroke
- On the right side of the vertical stroke
- Split, with one bar on each side
- Detached from the vertical stroke
Correct answer: Still on the left side of the vertical stroke
The answer is that the bars stay on the left side. A horizontal (top-to-bottom) flip reverses up and down but does not swap left and right, so the three arms of the E remain attached to the same vertical side, just reordered top to bottom.
- Choose the next pair to continue the series: Z1, X2, V3, T4, ___.
Correct answer: R5
The answer is R5. The letters skip backward by two each time (Z, X, V, T, R) while the numbers count up by one (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), giving R paired with 5.
- Assume the statement is true: Every winning ticket has a red star printed on it. The ticket in your hand has no red star. What can you conclude with certainty?
- The ticket in your hand is not a winning ticket.
- The ticket in your hand is a winning ticket.
- All tickets without red stars are refundable.
- Nothing can be concluded.
Correct answer: The ticket in your hand is not a winning ticket.
The answer is that the ticket is not a winning ticket. Since a red star is required for every winner, the absence of the star means the ticket cannot be a winner. This is the valid contrapositive of the original rule.
- Tea is to cup as soup is to which of the following?
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Kitchen
- Vegetable
Correct answer: Bowl
The answer is bowl. The relationship is contents-to-typical-container: tea is normally held in a cup, and soup is normally held in a bowl, making bowl the matching container.
- Find the rule, then choose the missing number: 5, 10, 20, 40, ___, 160.
Correct answer: 80
The answer is 80. Each term doubles the previous one, so 40 multiplied by 2 equals 80, and 80 doubled gives the final 160.
- Three meetings are scheduled in a single day. The budget meeting is earlier than the hiring meeting. The hiring meeting is earlier than the safety meeting. Which meeting is held last?
- The safety meeting
- The budget meeting
- The hiring meeting
- It cannot be determined
Correct answer: The safety meeting
The answer is the safety meeting. The chronological order is budget, then hiring, then safety, so the safety meeting takes place last.
- A capital letter T is printed upright on a card. If the card is rotated 90 degrees clockwise, which description best fits the result?
- A sideways T whose crossbar runs vertically on the right and whose stem points left
- An upside-down T with the crossbar on the bottom
- A normal upright T, unchanged
- A sideways T whose crossbar runs vertically on the left and whose stem points right
Correct answer: A sideways T whose crossbar runs vertically on the right and whose stem points left
The answer is a sideways T with the crossbar vertical on the right and the stem pointing left. Rotating an upright T a quarter turn clockwise sends the top crossbar to the right edge and the downward stem to the left, forming a T lying on its side.
- Assume both statements are true: All members of the choir can read sheet music. Devon is a member of the choir. What follows by deductive reasoning?
- Devon can read sheet music.
- Devon cannot read sheet music.
- Everyone who reads sheet music is in the choir.
- Devon plays a musical instrument.
Correct answer: Devon can read sheet music.
The answer is that Devon can read sheet music. Because every choir member has this ability and Devon is a choir member, the conclusion applies directly to Devon. This is valid modus ponens: all A are B, Devon is A, therefore Devon is B.
- Choose the missing number in this alternating series: 2, 5, 4, 7, 6, 9, ___.
Correct answer: 8
The answer is 8. The series alternates two interleaved patterns: the odd positions count 2, 4, 6, 8 and the even positions count 5, 7, 9, so the next term continues the first pattern with 8.
- Which scenario is an example of valid deductive reasoning rather than a guess?
- All squares have four sides; this shape is a square; therefore this shape has four sides.
- The last three buses were late, so the next one will probably be late.
- It looks cloudy, so it might rain later today.
- Most of my coworkers like coffee, so this new coworker likely does too.
Correct answer: All squares have four sides; this shape is a square; therefore this shape has four sides.
The answer is the square example. Deductive reasoning guarantees the conclusion when the premises are true: if all squares have four sides and the shape is a square, it necessarily has four sides. The other options reason from probability or patterns, which is inductive and only likely.
- Four flags hang in a row. The blue flag is somewhere to the left of the green flag. The white flag is at the far right. The blue flag is at the far left. The green flag is immediately left of the white flag. Which flag is in the second position from the left?
- The red flag
- The green flag
- The white flag
- The blue flag
Correct answer: The red flag
The answer is the red flag. Blue is first and white is last, with green immediately left of white in third place; the only remaining flag for the second slot is the red one.
- Assume the statement is true: If a battery is fully charged, the indicator light turns green. The indicator light is not green. What can you conclude with certainty?
- The battery is not fully charged.
- The battery is fully charged.
- The indicator light is broken.
- Nothing can be concluded.
Correct answer: The battery is not fully charged.
The answer is that the battery is not fully charged. A full charge guarantees a green light, so a non-green light means the battery cannot be fully charged. This is the valid contrapositive (modus tollens) of the if-then rule.
- Find the rule, then choose the missing letter group: AB, BD, CF, DH, ___.
Correct answer: EJ
The answer is EJ. The first letter advances by one (A, B, C, D, E) while the second letter advances by two each time (B, D, F, H, J), giving E paired with J.
- Find the rule, then choose the missing number: 100, 91, 83, 76, 70, ___.
Correct answer: 65
The answer is 65. The amount subtracted shrinks by one each step: -9, -8, -7, -6, then -5. Subtracting 5 from 70 gives 65.
- Five medals are awarded one at a time. The bronze is given out before the silver. The silver is given out before the gold. The platinum is given out before the bronze. The titanium is given out last. Which medal is given out first?
- The platinum
- The bronze
- The silver
- The gold
Correct answer: The platinum
The answer is the platinum. The order is platinum, bronze, silver, gold, with titanium last, so the platinum medal is awarded first.
- Hot is to cold as up is to which of the following?
Correct answer: Down
The answer is down. The relationship is one of opposites: hot and cold are antonyms, and the opposite of up is down. High, above, and tall are similar to up rather than its opposite.
- A solid right-pointing triangle sits flat with its point facing right. If you rotate it 90 degrees clockwise, which direction does its point face afterward?
- Downward
- Upward
- To the left
- Still to the right
Correct answer: Downward
The answer is downward. A quarter turn clockwise moves anything pointing right to point straight down, so the triangle's tip now faces the bottom.
- Assume both statements are true: Every package over five pounds requires extra postage. This package requires no extra postage. What follows by deductive reasoning?
- This package is not over five pounds.
- This package is over five pounds.
- This package weighs exactly five pounds.
- Nothing can be concluded about the weight.
Correct answer: This package is not over five pounds.
The answer is that the package is not over five pounds. Since any package over five pounds requires extra postage, a package needing none cannot weigh over five pounds. This is the valid contrapositive of the stated rule.
- On a general-knowledge calendar item, which of these is the last month of the calendar year?
- December
- November
- January
- October
Correct answer: December
December is the correct answer because it is the twelfth and final month of the calendar year, falling after November. January is the first month, while October and November come earlier in the year.
- On a general-knowledge calendar item, how many months in the calendar year have exactly 30 days?
Correct answer: Four
Four is correct because April, June, September, and November each have 30 days. Seven months have 31 days and February has 28 or 29, so only four months have exactly 30 days.
- On a Wonderlic calendar-fact item, which day of the week comes immediately after Saturday?
- Friday
- Monday
- Sunday
- Saturday
Correct answer: Sunday
Sunday is correct because in the standard weekly cycle Sunday follows Saturday. Friday comes before Saturday, and Monday is two days after Saturday.
- On a general-knowledge calendar item, how many days are there in one full week?
Correct answer: Seven
Seven is correct because a week consists of seven days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Five would count only weekdays, and the other choices do not match the standard week.
- On a Wonderlic calendar-fact item, which month comes immediately after July?
- August
- June
- September
- October
Correct answer: August
August is correct because it is the eighth month and directly follows July, the seventh month. June comes before July, while September is two months later.
- On a general-knowledge calendar item, how many days are there in one full leap year?
Correct answer: 366
366 is correct because a leap year adds one extra day to February, giving 366 days total instead of the usual 365 in a common year.
- If today is Monday, what day of the week was it 3 days ago?
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Friday
- Thursday
Correct answer: Friday
Friday is correct because counting back from Monday gives Sunday one day ago, Saturday two days ago, and Friday three days ago.
- On a general-knowledge calendar item, how many weeks are there in one full calendar year?
Correct answer: 52
52 is correct because 365 days divided by 7 days per week equals about 52 weeks, which is the standard figure used for a calendar year.
- A project starts on Wednesday and lasts 7 days. On what day of the week does the seventh day fall, counting the start day as day one?
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Monday
Correct answer: Tuesday
Tuesday is correct because counting Wednesday as day one, the days run through Tuesday as day seven, since seven consecutive days starting on a Wednesday end the following Tuesday.
- Four reports are dated May 3, March 18, April 22, and May 1, all in the same year. Which report is the most recent?
- May 1
- May 3
- April 22
- March 18
Correct answer: May 3
May 3 is correct because among the four dates it is the latest in the year, coming after May 1, April 22, and the earlier March 18.
- Four time stamps read 9:15 AM, 11:40 AM, 8:05 AM, and 10:30 AM on the same day. Which time stamp is the earliest?
- 9:15 AM
- 10:30 AM
- 8:05 AM
- 11:40 AM
Correct answer: 8:05 AM
8:05 AM is correct because it is the earliest morning time of the four; 9:15 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:40 AM all occur later in the morning.
- Four invoices are dated 12/01/2023, 11/15/2023, 12/15/2023, and 11/30/2023. Which invoice date is the oldest?
- 11/30/2023
- 12/01/2023
- 12/15/2023
- 11/15/2023
Correct answer: 11/15/2023
11/15/2023 is correct because it is the earliest date in the list, falling before 11/30, 12/01, and 12/15 of the same year.
- On a Wonderlic attention-to-detail item, which of these four account numbers is an EXACT match to the reference 84120-7?
- 84120-7
- 84210-7
- 84120-1
- 48120-7
Correct answer: 84120-7
84120-7 is correct because it matches the reference digit for digit; 84210-7 transposes two digits, 84120-1 changes the final digit, and 48120-7 swaps the first two digits.
- Compare these two names for an exact match: 'Jonathan Reyes' and 'Jonathon Reyes'. What is the difference?
- The last name is spelled differently
- The first name is spelled differently
- There is no difference
- A middle initial is missing
Correct answer: The first name is spelled differently
The first name is spelled differently is correct because 'Jonathan' uses an 'a' while 'Jonathon' uses an 'o' in the final syllable; the last name 'Reyes' is identical in both.
- On a Wonderlic detail-checking item, which pair of serial numbers is an EXACT match?
- R-3382 and R-3328
- R-3382 and R-3382B
- R-3382 and R-3382
- R-3382 and R-3382-
Correct answer: R-3382 and R-3382
R-3382 and R-3382 is correct because both entries are identical; the other pairs differ by transposed digits or by an extra character at the end.
- Scan these four entries and find the one that does NOT match the others: '7741-A', '7741-A', '7741-A', '7714-A'. Which entry is different?
- The first 7741-A
- The second 7741-A
- The third 7741-A
- 7714-A
Correct answer: 7714-A
7714-A is correct because its middle digits are transposed compared with the three matching '7741-A' entries.
- On a Wonderlic attention-to-detail item, compare two email addresses: 'mreed@firm.com' and 'mreed@firrm.com'. What is the difference?
- The domain has an extra letter
- The username is different
- There is no difference
- The domain ending is different
Correct answer: The domain has an extra letter
The domain has an extra letter is correct because 'firrm' contains a doubled 'r' that 'firm' does not; the username 'mreed' and the '.com' ending are identical.
- Scan these four price tags and find the one that is different: '$19.99', '$19.99', '$19.99', '$19.95'. Which tag differs?
- The first $19.99
- $19.95
- The second $19.99
- The third $19.99
Correct answer: $19.95
$19.95 is correct because its final two digits read 95 rather than the 99 shown on the three matching tags.
- Scan these four words and find the one that is misspelled: 'separate', 'definite', 'occured', 'business'. Which word contains the error?
- Separate
- Definite
- Occured
- Business
Correct answer: Occured
occured is correct because the proper spelling is 'occurred' with a double 'r'; 'separate', 'definite', and 'business' are all spelled correctly.
- On a Wonderlic spelling item, which of these four words is spelled correctly?
- Acommodate
- Accomodate
- Acomodate
- Accommodate
Correct answer: Accommodate
accommodate is correct because it requires both a double 'c' and a double 'm'; the other options each drop one of those doubled letters.
- Scan these four words and find the one that is misspelled: 'calendar', 'necessary', 'enviroment', 'rhythm'. Which word contains the error?
- Enviroment
- Calendar
- Necessary
- Rhythm
Correct answer: Enviroment
enviroment is correct because the proper spelling is 'environment' with an 'n' before the 'm'; the other three words are spelled correctly.
- On a Wonderlic spelling item, which of these four spellings of the word meaning to accept as true is correct?
- Beleive
- Believe
- Believ
- Belive
Correct answer: Believe
believe is correct because it follows the standard pattern with 'ie'; 'beleive' reverses the letters, while 'believ' and 'belive' are missing letters.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, how many minutes are there in one hour?
Correct answer: 60
60 is correct because one hour is defined as 60 minutes. The figure 24 is the number of hours in a day, not minutes in an hour.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, how many hours are there in one full day?
Correct answer: 24
24 is correct because a full day consists of 24 hours. The number 12 represents only half a day, and 48 would be two full days.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, how many inches are there in one foot?
Correct answer: 12
12 is correct because one foot equals 12 inches in the standard customary system of measurement.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, how many feet are there in one yard?
Correct answer: 3
3 is correct because one yard equals 3 feet; the value 12 instead represents inches in a foot.
- A length measures 200 centimeters. How many meters is that, given that 1 meter equals 100 centimeters?
- 20 meters
- 0.2 meters
- 2 meters
- 200 meters
Correct answer: 2 meters
2 meters is correct because dividing 200 centimeters by the 100 centimeters in a meter gives 2 meters.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, which unit is typically used to measure the volume of a liquid such as milk?
Correct answer: Liters
Liters is correct because liters measure liquid volume. Meters measure length, grams measure mass, and degrees measure temperature or angles.
- On a general-knowledge measurement item, which unit is typically used to measure temperature?
Correct answer: Degrees
Degrees is correct because temperature is measured in degrees, such as degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. Liters measure volume, grams measure mass, and inches measure length.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, how many sides does a hexagon have?
Correct answer: Six
Six is correct because a hexagon is a polygon with six sides. A five-sided figure is a pentagon and an eight-sided figure is an octagon.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, which basic shape has all four sides equal in length and four right angles?
- Rectangle
- Triangle
- Square
- Circle
Correct answer: Square
Square is correct because a square has four equal sides and four right angles. A rectangle has right angles but unequal adjacent sides, and a circle and triangle do not have four sides.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, how many sides does an octagon have?
Correct answer: Eight
Eight is correct because an octagon is a polygon with eight sides, the shape commonly used for stop signs. A six-sided figure is a hexagon.
- On a general-knowledge geometry item, how many degrees are there in a full circle?
Correct answer: 360
360 is correct because a full circle measures 360 degrees. A straight line is 180 degrees and a right angle is 90 degrees.
- Complete the analogy: Painter is to brush as writer is to ____.
Correct answer: Pen
Pen is correct. A painter uses a brush as the tool of their craft, so the tool a writer uses is a pen. Canvas is the surface a painter works on, not the matching tool.
- Complete the analogy: Spider is to web as bee is to ____.
Correct answer: Honeycomb
Honeycomb is correct. A spider builds a web as the structure it creates, so the structure a bee builds is a honeycomb. A flower is something a bee visits, not something it constructs.
- Complete the analogy: Foot is to shoe as head is to ____.
Correct answer: Hat
Hat is correct. A shoe is the garment worn on the foot, so the garment worn on the head is a hat. Hair and brain are parts of the head, not items worn on it.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Sun.
Correct answer: Sun
Sun is correct. Mercury, Venus, and Earth are all planets that orbit the Sun, while the Sun itself is a star, so it does not belong with the group of planets.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: chair, table, desk, ladder.
Correct answer: Ladder
Ladder is correct. A chair, table, and desk are all common pieces of furniture used in a room, while a ladder is a tool used for climbing, so it does not fit the group.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'Better late than ____.'
Correct answer: Never
Never is correct. The familiar proverb 'Better late than never' means that doing something after a delay is still better than not doing it at all. The other options do not complete the standard saying.
- Choose the word that best completes this common proverb: 'Don't count your chickens before they ____.'
Correct answer: Hatch
Hatch is correct. The proverb 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' warns against assuming success before it actually happens. Hatch is the only word that completes the well-known saying.
- The proverb 'The grass is always greener on the other side' most nearly means which of the following?
- People often think others have it better than they do
- Lawns require constant watering to stay healthy
- Hard work always leads to a reward
- It is wise to plan far ahead
Correct answer: People often think others have it better than they do
People often think others have it better than they do is correct. This proverb describes the tendency to envy other people's situations while overlooking the value of one's own. The literal lawn reading is not the intended meaning.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The road was icy and treacherous, ____ the drivers slowed to a crawl.'
Correct answer: So
So is correct. The icy road is the cause and slowing down is the result, so the connector 'so' correctly links cause to effect. 'Although' would wrongly signal a contrast between the two clauses.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The proposal was ____, covering every objection the board could raise.'
- Thorough
- Vague
- Brief
- Careless
Correct answer: Thorough
Thorough is correct. Because the proposal covered every possible objection, the word that fits is thorough, meaning complete and detailed. Vague and careless would contradict the description.
- Read the passage, then answer the question. 'A regional library extended its weekend hours after surveys showed that most working patrons could only visit on Saturdays and Sundays. Within three months, weekend visits had nearly doubled.' What is the main idea?
- Adjusting hours to fit patrons' schedules increased weekend library use
- Libraries should close on weekdays to save money
- Most library patrons do not have jobs
- Surveys are an unreliable way to plan services
Correct answer: Adjusting hours to fit patrons' schedules increased weekend library use
Adjusting hours to fit patrons' schedules increased weekend library use is correct. The passage states the library extended weekend hours based on patron needs and then saw weekend visits nearly double, which is its central point. The other choices contradict or are unsupported by the passage.
- When you unscramble the words 'finished the runner first the race,' which word should begin the correctly ordered sentence?
Correct answer: The
The is correct. The words rearrange into 'The runner finished the race first,' a complete sentence that begins with the article 'The.' No other word produces a grammatical sentence as the opening word.
- Which saying has the SAME meaning as 'Two heads are better than one'?
- Collaborating with others produces better results than working alone
- It is best to keep your plans to yourself
- Leaders should make decisions without input
- The first idea is usually the right one
Correct answer: Collaborating with others produces better results than working alone
Collaborating with others produces better results than working alone is correct. 'Two heads are better than one' means that combining people's thinking improves outcomes. The other options describe working in isolation, the opposite idea.
- Complete the analogy: Teacher is to student as doctor is to ____.
- Patient
- Nurse
- Medicine
- Clinic
Correct answer: Patient
Patient is correct. A teacher serves a student, so the person a doctor serves is a patient. A nurse is a colleague and a clinic is a place, neither of which matches the served-person relationship.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: north, south, east, summer.
Correct answer: Summer
Summer is correct. North, south, and east are all compass directions, while summer is a season, so it does not belong with the directional terms.
- A printer prints 24 pages per minute. How many pages does it print in 15 minutes?
Correct answer: 360
360 is correct. Multiply the rate of 24 pages per minute by 15 minutes: 24 times 15 equals 360 pages. Adding the numbers (39) instead of multiplying is the common error.
- A team of 8 workers shares a bonus of $2,400 equally. How much does each worker receive?
Correct answer: $300
$300 is correct. Dividing the $2,400 bonus equally among 8 workers gives 2,400 divided by 8, which equals $300 per worker.
- A coat originally priced at $150 is marked up by 20%. What is the new price?
Correct answer: $180
$180 is correct. A 20% markup on $150 adds 0.20 times 150, which is $30, so the new price is 150 plus 30, or $180.
- If 5 boxes weigh 35 pounds total and each box weighs the same, how much does one box weigh?
- 7 pounds
- 5 pounds
- 8 pounds
- 175 pounds
Correct answer: 7 pounds
7 pounds is correct. Divide the total weight by the number of boxes: 35 pounds divided by 5 boxes equals 7 pounds per box.
- Solve for x: 6x=54.
Correct answer: 9
9 is correct. Divide both sides of 6x = 54 by 6 to isolate x, giving x equals 54 divided by 6, which is 9.
- What is the average of 14, 18, and 22?
Correct answer: 18
18 is correct. Add the three numbers (14 plus 18 plus 22 equals 54) and divide by 3, which gives 54 divided by 3, or 18.
- A worker types 45 words per minute. How long will it take to type a 540-word document?
- 12 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 9 minutes
Correct answer: 12 minutes
12 minutes is correct. Divide the total words by the typing rate: 540 words divided by 45 words per minute equals 12 minutes.
- What is 7/10 expressed as a decimal?
Correct answer: 0.7
0.7 is correct. To convert 7/10 to a decimal, divide 7 by 10, which moves the decimal one place to give 0.7.
- A rectangular rug is 6 feet long and 4 feet wide. What is its perimeter in feet?
Correct answer: 20
20 is correct. Perimeter equals 2 times length plus 2 times width: 2 times 6 plus 2 times 4 equals 12 plus 8, which is 20 feet. Multiplying length by width (24) gives area, not perimeter.
- If 4 tickets cost $52, how much do 7 tickets cost at the same price each?
Correct answer: $91
$91 is correct. Each ticket costs 52 divided by 4, which is $13, so 7 tickets cost 7 times $13, or $91.
- Add the fractions: 1/4 + 3/8.
- 85
- 124
- 21
- 83
Correct answer: 85
5/8 is correct. Convert 1/4 to 2/8 so both fractions share a denominator of 8, then add 2/8 plus 3/8 to get 5/8.
- A population of 1,500 people increases by 200. By approximately what percent did it grow?
- About 13%
- About 20%
- About 7%
- About 25%
Correct answer: About 13%
About 13% is correct. Divide the increase of 200 by the original 1,500 to get roughly 0.133, which equals about 13%.
- A water tank is 3/5 full and holds 600 gallons when completely full. How many gallons are in it now?
Correct answer: 360
360 is correct. Multiply the full capacity by the fraction filled: 600 gallons times 3/5 equals 360 gallons.
- A worker is paid $19 per hour and works 38 hours in a week. What are the gross earnings?
Correct answer: $722
$722 is correct. Multiply the hourly rate by the hours worked: $19 times 38 hours equals $722 in gross earnings.
- What is 9 squared minus 4 squared?
Correct answer: 65
65 is correct. Nine squared is 81 and four squared is 16, so 81 minus 16 equals 65. Subtracting before squaring (5 squared = 25) is the common mistake.
- A discount of $36 represents 30% of an item's original price. What was the original price?
Correct answer: $120
$120 is correct. If $36 is 30% of the price, divide 36 by 0.30 to find the original price, which equals $120.
- A car uses 9 gallons of gas to travel 288 miles. How many miles does it travel per gallon?
Correct answer: 32
32 is correct. Divide total miles by gallons used: 288 miles divided by 9 gallons equals 32 miles per gallon.
- Which word is most nearly the SAME in meaning (a synonym) as PRUDENT?
- Careful
- Reckless
- Wealthy
- Curious
Correct answer: Careful
The answer is Careful. PRUDENT describes someone who shows good, cautious judgment and plans sensibly, so it most nearly means careful. Reckless is its opposite, while wealthy and curious are unrelated traits.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning (an antonym) to SCARCE?
Correct answer: Plentiful
The answer is Plentiful. SCARCE means in short supply or hard to find, so its opposite is plentiful, meaning available in large amounts. Rare is a near-synonym, and tiny and distant describe size and location, not quantity.
- What does the word NOVICE mean?
- A beginner who lacks experience
- A skilled expert
- A strict leader
- A loyal friend
Correct answer: A beginner who lacks experience
The answer is a beginner who lacks experience. A NOVICE is someone new to an activity who has not yet gained much skill or knowledge. A skilled expert is the opposite, and the other choices describe unrelated personality roles.
- Complete the analogy: Fish is to school as wolf is to ____.
Correct answer: Pack
The answer is Pack. A group of fish is called a school, and the matching collective noun for wolves is a pack. Forest is a habitat, howl is a sound, and fur is a body covering, so none completes the group-name relationship.
- Complete the analogy: Shovel is to dig as scissors are to ____.
Correct answer: Cut
The answer is Cut. A shovel is a tool whose purpose is to dig, and scissors are a tool whose purpose is to cut. Sharp and metal describe properties, and paper is an object acted upon, so cut is the only matching function.
- Complete the analogy: Branch is to tree as spoke is to ____.
Correct answer: Wheel
The answer is Wheel. A branch is a part that extends from a tree, and a spoke is a part that extends from a wheel. Bicycle is too broad, while metal and spin describe a material and an action rather than the whole structure.
- Complete the analogy: Drizzle is to downpour as breeze is to ____.
Correct answer: Gale
The answer is Gale. A drizzle is a light rain and a downpour is its intense form, just as a breeze is a light wind and a gale is its intense form. Calm and cool are unrelated states, and sky is merely where wind occurs.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: oxygen, nitrogen, helium, iron.
Correct answer: Iron
The answer is Iron. Oxygen, nitrogen, and helium are gases at room temperature, while iron is a solid metal, making it the item that does not belong with the others.
- Identify the word that does NOT belong with the others: sparrow, eagle, penguin, dolphin.
- Dolphin
- Sparrow
- Eagle
- Penguin
Correct answer: Dolphin
The answer is Dolphin. Sparrow, eagle, and penguin are all birds, while a dolphin is a mammal, so dolphin is the word that does not belong.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'The new policy was so ____ that employees needed a long meeting just to understand its basic rules.'
- Complicated
- Simple
- Brief
- Cheerful
Correct answer: Complicated
The answer is complicated. Because the employees needed a long meeting to grasp even the basic rules, the policy must have been complicated. Simple and brief contradict that difficulty, and cheerful does not fit a description of rules.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'Although the museum was crowded, the gallery upstairs was nearly ____.'
Correct answer: Empty
The answer is empty. The word 'Although' signals a contrast, so if the museum was crowded, the upstairs gallery should be the opposite, nearly empty. Packed and noisy match crowding rather than contrast it, and famous is unrelated to how many people were present.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as OBSTINATE?
- Stubborn
- Friendly
- Generous
- Quiet
Correct answer: Stubborn
The answer is Stubborn. OBSTINATE describes someone who refuses to change their mind or behavior, which is exactly what stubborn means. Friendly, generous, and quiet describe unrelated traits.
- Which word is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to COMPLEX?
- Simple
- Detailed
- Modern
- Heavy
Correct answer: Simple
The answer is Simple. COMPLEX means having many connected parts and being hard to understand, so its opposite is simple, meaning easy and uncomplicated. Detailed is closer to complex, and modern and heavy refer to time and weight instead.
- What does the word DETERIORATE mean?
- To become progressively worse
- To grow larger
- To make a decision
- To repeat exactly
Correct answer: To become progressively worse
The answer is to become progressively worse. To DETERIORATE means to decline in quality or condition over time. Growing larger, making a decision, and repeating exactly describe unrelated actions.
- Which phrase has most nearly the SAME meaning as 'Bite off more than you can chew'?
- Take on more than you can handle
- Eat very quickly
- Speak without thinking
- Save money carefully
Correct answer: Take on more than you can handle
The answer is take on more than you can handle. The idiom 'Bite off more than you can chew' means to attempt a task that is too large or difficult to manage. The other choices describe eating habits, careless speech, and saving money, none of which match the figurative meaning.
- Which phrase has most nearly the SAME meaning as 'The ball is in your court'?
- It is now your turn to act or decide
- You enjoy playing sports
- The situation is very dangerous
- Everyone agrees with you
Correct answer: It is now your turn to act or decide
The answer is it is now your turn to act or decide. 'The ball is in your court' means responsibility for the next move has shifted to you. Enjoying sports, facing danger, and gaining agreement are unrelated to whose turn it is to respond.
- Which pair of words shows a relationship most like the pair VICTORY : DEFEAT?
- Success : Failure
- Ocean : Sea
- Quick : Rapid
- Begin : Start
Correct answer: Success : Failure
The answer is Success : Failure. VICTORY and DEFEAT are opposites, and success and failure are also opposites, matching the relationship. Ocean and sea, quick and rapid, and begin and start are pairs of synonyms or near-synonyms rather than opposites.
- Which word means most nearly the SAME as ENORMOUS?
Correct answer: Huge
The answer is Huge. ENORMOUS describes something extremely large in size or amount, which is the meaning of huge. Narrow, empty, and smooth describe width, contents, and texture rather than size.
- Fill in the blank to complete the sentence logically: 'Because the team had rehearsed for months, their performance was remarkably ____.'
Correct answer: Polished
The answer is polished. Months of rehearsal would logically lead to a smooth, well-prepared, polished performance. Clumsy contradicts that preparation, and brief and loud describe length and volume rather than quality.
- Complete the analogy: Baker is to bread as sculptor is to ____.
Correct answer: Statue
The answer is Statue. A baker creates bread, and a sculptor creates a statue, matching the maker-to-finished-product relationship. Clay and chisel are a material and a tool, and a museum is where work is displayed, not what is made.
- What is 35% of 180?
Correct answer: 63
The answer is 63. To find 35% of 180, multiply 180 by 0.35, which gives 63. The other choices result from using the wrong percentage or misplacing the decimal.
- Find the next number in the series: 4, 12, 36, 108, ___.
Correct answer: 324
The answer is 324. Each term is multiplied by 3 to get the next term, so 108 times 3 equals 324. The other options come from adding instead of multiplying or using the wrong factor.
- The ratio of cats to dogs at a shelter is 2 to 5. If there are 14 cats, how many dogs are there?
Correct answer: 35
The answer is 35. Since 14 cats represent the '2' part of the ratio, each part equals 7, so the '5' part for dogs is 7 times 5, which is 35. The other choices misapply or invert the ratio.
- A delivery driver drove 30, 45, 60, and 25 miles on four days. What was the average distance per day?
- 40 miles
- 45 miles
- 35 miles
- 50 miles
Correct answer: 40 miles
The answer is 40 miles. Add the distances to get 160 total miles, then divide by 4 days, which equals 40 miles per day. The other options come from dividing by the wrong number or adding incorrectly.
- If 3/4 of a class of 32 students passed an exam, how many students passed?
Correct answer: 24
The answer is 24. Multiply 32 by 3/4, which gives 24 students who passed. The choice 8 is the number who failed, and the others come from using the wrong fraction.
- A jacket originally priced at $80 is on sale for $60. By what percent was the price reduced?
- 25%
- 20%
- 30%
- 15%
Correct answer: 25%
The answer is 25%. The price dropped by $20, and $20 divided by the original $80 equals 0.25, or 25%. The other options come from dividing by the sale price or miscalculating the difference.
- A dinner bill is $50, and the diner leaves a 20% tip. How much is the tip?
Correct answer: $10
The answer is $10. Multiply $50 by 0.20 to find the 20% tip, which equals $10. The other choices use the wrong percentage or add the tip to the bill.
- How much simple interest is earned on $2,000 at a 5% annual rate after 2 years?
Correct answer: $200
The answer is $200. Simple interest equals principal times rate times time: $2,000 times 0.05 times 2 equals $200. The choice $100 covers only one year, and $2,200 mistakenly adds the principal.
- What is the area of a rectangle that is 9 meters long and 4 meters wide?
- 36 square meters
- 26 square meters
- 13 square meters
- 18 square meters
Correct answer: 36 square meters
The answer is 36 square meters. Area of a rectangle equals length times width, so 9 times 4 equals 36 square meters. The choice 26 is the perimeter, and the others come from adding or halving the dimensions.
- What is the perimeter of a square whose side length is 7 inches?
- 28 inches
- 49 inches
- 14 inches
- 21 inches
Correct answer: 28 inches
The answer is 28 inches. A square has four equal sides, so the perimeter is 4 times 7 inches, which equals 28 inches. The choice 49 is the area, and the others use too few sides.
- Solve for x: 4x+3=27.
Correct answer: 6
The answer is 6. Subtract 3 from both sides to get 4x equals 24, then divide by 4 to find x equals 6. The other choices come from arithmetic errors in isolating x.
- How many minutes are there in 3 hours and 20 minutes?
Correct answer: 200
The answer is 200. Three hours equal 180 minutes, and adding the extra 20 minutes gives 200 minutes total. The other choices forget the extra minutes or convert incorrectly.
- Find the missing number in the series: 7, 14, 12, 24, 22, ___.
Correct answer: 44
The answer is 44. The pattern alternates between multiplying by 2 and subtracting 2: 7 times 2 is 14, 14 minus 2 is 12, 12 times 2 is 24, 24 minus 2 is 22, and 22 times 2 is 44. The other options break this alternating rule.
- If 4 notebooks cost $6.00, how much do 10 notebooks cost at the same rate?
Correct answer: $15.00
The answer is $15.00. Each notebook costs $6.00 divided by 4, which is $1.50, so 10 notebooks cost 10 times $1.50, equaling $15.00. The other choices come from using the wrong unit price.
- A laptop costs $500 plus 6% sales tax. What is the total price?
Correct answer: $530
The answer is $530. The 6% tax on $500 is $30, and adding it to the $500 price gives a total of $530. The choice $506 applies tax to only $100, and the others overstate the tax.
