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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

Praxis Core Exam Questions

Page 1 of 40

1.

Select the underlined portion that must be revised to produce a correct sentence.

My mother drinks green tea for its taste, but my father drinks it for the supposed health benefits it contains.

  • No error

  • Its

  • But

  • Drinks it

  • It contains

Correct answer: No error

This sentence is correct as written, so it does not contain any errors. Therefore, "no error" is the best answer choice.

2.

Shanna is making a blanket that requires 540 inches of binding. How many yards of binding does Shanna need to purchase?

  • 15

  • 9

  • 12

  • 21

  • 45

Correct answer: 15

First, you will need to convert 540 inches to feet: 540 inches / (12 inches / 1 foot) = 45 feet.

Then, you will need to convert feet to yards: 45 feet / (3 feet / 1 yard) = 15 yards.

3.

Use the stem-and-leaf plot to answer the following question.

What is the median value?

  • 32

  • 37

  • 34

  • 28

  • 16

Correct answer: 32

In the stem-and-leaf plot, the stem represents the tens place and the numbers in the leaf positions represent the ones. 

1. Since the median is the value in the middle of a set of data, determine the number of values represented in the chart.

There are 23 numbers in the leaf position, so there are 23 numbers in the chart.

2. Divide 23 by 2 to determine which value is the median.

23/2 = 11.5

Since the median is the middle value, there are 11 numbers less than the median and 11 numbers greater than the median. The 12th value is the median.

3. Count through the chart until you reach the 12th leaf.

4. Determine the number.

The stem is 3 and the leaf is 2, so the number is 32.

4.

If -5t + 8 > 35t, which of the following must be true?

  • 1/5 > t

  • 8 > t

  • 9 > t

  • 5 > t

  • 1/8 > t

Correct answer: 1/5 > t

Add 5t to both sides of the equation: 8 > 40t

Divide both sides of the equation by 40: 1/5 > t

5.

Read the draft of the essay and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to Sentence 9?

  • Change "enjoys" to "enjoyed"

  • Change "accompanying" to "accompanied"

  • Change "use" to "using"

  • Change "to" to "in order to"

  • No changes needed

Correct answer: Change "enjoys" to "enjoyed"

The verb tense in Sentence 9 is incorrect. The verbs in the rest of the passage are in the past, so "enjoys" should be changed to the past tense as well, "enjoyed."

"Accompanying" is correctly used as an adjective in this passage and does not need to be changed to "accompanied." "Use" does not need to be changed to "using" because it agrees with the previous verb tense ("play"). "To" is used correctly in the final part of the sentence and does not need to be changed to "in order to."

6.

In 2004, Justin earned $30,000.00 per year. In 2012, Justin was earning $48,000.00 per year. What was the percent increase in Justin's salary?

  • 60%

  • 58%

  • 56%

  • 54%

  • 18%

Correct answer: 60%

This is a percent increase problem. Use the formula for percent change: difference ÷ original.

The difference between the two amounts is $18,000.00, and the original amount is $30,000.00.

$18,000.00 ÷ $30,000.00 = 0.6, which is 60%.

7.

Brady can grade 5 essays per hour. If he starts grading essays at 4:30 p.m., which of the following is the best estimate as to when he will be finished grading 29 essays?

  • 10:30 p.m.

  • 9:30 p.m.

  • 10:00 p.m.

  • 11:00 p.m.

  • 11:30 p.m.

Correct answer: 10:30 p.m.

Brady must grade 29 essays, which you can estimate at 30 essays. It takes 6 hours to grade 30 essays (30/5), so Brady will finish shortly before 10:30 p.m.

8.

Solve the following proportion:

7/84 = x/12

  • 1

  • 5

  • 14

  • 12

  • 7

Correct answer: 1

1. Cross multiply.

7/84 = x/12

7 × 12 = 84x

84 = 84x

2. Isolate x by dividing both sides by 84.

84/84 = 84x/84

3. Simplify.

84/84 = 84x/84

1 = x

9.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

This passage is most likely taken from:

  • A newspaper column

  • A legal journal

  • A police report

  • An editorial

  • An encyclopedia

Correct answer: A newspaper column

This passage includes factual knowledge, but is not technical enough to be found in either a legal journal or an encyclopedia. The passage does not include very much of the author’s opinion or sense of humor; therefore, it would not be an editorial. A police report would list the names involved in accidents, not statistical data.

10.

Every 30 minutes, 500 Americans are involved in vehicular accidents. How many vehicular accidents occur in 600 minutes?

  • 10,000

  • 18,000

  • 5,000

  • 9,000

  • 12,000

Correct answer: 10,000

In order to find out how many vehicle accidents occur over a 600-minute period, you need to start by dividing:

600 ÷ 30 = 20

Now, you need to multiply:

20 × 500 = 10,000

11.

The local high school was recently moved to a new building. The old high school building contained 4,120 desks. After the move, there were 1,025 desks left at the old high school building. 

Approximately how many desks were moved to the new high school building?

  • 3,000

  • 4,000

  • 2,000

  • 500

  • 100

Correct answer: 3,000

The difference between approximately 4,000 and approximately 1,000 is 3,000. Approximations are used to save time and needless calculations.

12.

Solve for b if a is equal to -2:

b = a3 – 5a2 + 7a - 1

  • -43

  • 16

  • -27

  • 8

  • 2

Correct answer: -43

1. Insert the value of a.

b = a3 – 5a2 + 7a - 1

b = (-2)3 – 5(-2)2 + 7(-2) - 1

2. Simplify.

b = -8 – 5(4) + -14 - 1

b = -8 - 20 - 15

b = -43

13.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

This passage would most likely appear in:

  • A newspaper article

  • An editorial

  • A marine biology textbook

  • A doctoral thesis

Correct answer: A newspaper article

The information is not too complex; therefore, a marine biology textbook and a doctoral thesis should be eliminated. Very little opinion is stated in the passage, so you can eliminate an editorial. 

Since the information is described as recent, it would most likely appear in a newspaper article.

14.

Jackson bought tickets for a new television that his office was raffling off. Jackson purchased 15 tickets, George purchased 30 tickets, Amy purchased 15 tickets, and Greg purchased 45 tickets. 

What is the probability that one of Jackson's tickets will be drawn as the winner of the television?

  • 1/7

  • 2/7

  • 3/7

  • 1/4

  • 1/3

Correct answer: 1/7

Probability is a fraction that expresses number of desired outcomes / total number of outcomes.

In this question, Jackson purchased 15 tickets (the number of desired outcomes) and there were a total of 105 tickets purchased (the total number of possible outcomes). Therefore, the probability of one of Jackson's tickets being drawn is 15/105, which reduces to 1/7.

15.

Sara wants to fence in her backyard, which is 36 feet long and 22 feet wide. How much fencing will Sara need in yards, considering that she does not have to provide fencing for one of the 22 foot wide sides of the yard that backs up against her house?

  • 31 1/3 yards

  • 94 yards

  • 38 2/3 yards

  • 116 yards

  • 74 yards

Correct answer: 31 1/3 yards

1. Find how many feet of fencing Sara will need.

36 + 36 + 22 = 94 feet

2. The question asks for the answer in yards, so convert feet to yards by dividing by 3.

94 ÷ 3 = 31 1/3 yards

16.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

Why does the author use quotes from an outside source in this passage?

  • To give the perspective from someone who lived at the same time as Michelangelo

  • To show that the author is well-educated in the subject

  • To provide support for the author's claim that there were many creative artists working in Italy at that time

  • To prove to the reader that there were scholars living and working even during Michelangelo's time

  • To provide evidence from a secondary source

Correct answer: To give the perspective from someone who lived at the same time as Michelangelo

The author uses quotes from Vasari, one of the most well-known biographers of Michelangelo's time. These direct quotes help to give the perspective of someone who was living at the same time as Michelangelo who witnessed his work in the process of being created.

The author of the passage does probably know more extensive information about Michelangelo, but this is not the reason for including Vasari's quotes. The author does not claim that many creative artists were working during Michelangelo's time and focuses only on the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. The author also does not attempt to prove to the reader that scholars were working during Michelangelo's time, but uses the quotes to supplement his or her assertions that Michelangelo was an accomplished and diligent artist. The quotes provided are a primary source, as they were written during Michelangelo's time. A secondary source is written after an event has occurred.

17.

Read the index below, then answer the following question.

Working With Web Pages
Attaching CSS styles to web 165-166
Changing orientation 141-143
Designing responsive 153-157
Exporting HTML pages 163-164
Inserting mobile-sized HTML pages 163-169
Previewing on mobile devices 155, 157-159

On which pages would you learn how to view your work on a cell phone?

  • 155, 157-159

  • 141-143

  • 165-166

  • 163-169

  • 163-164

Correct answer: 155, 157-159

The category of "previewing on mobile devices" is where you could find general information about how to view your work on a cell phone. 

The other categories provide information about how to attach, change, design, export, and insert your work, not view it.

18.

Use the excerpt from an index to answer the following question.

Organizational Effectiveness
Creating top quality organizations:
Organizational PC, 57-59
Measure once, cut twice, 99
Creating organizational mission statements, 139-143
Creating synergy in business, 267-269
Stewardship delegation, 173-174
Relationships at the top, 201-202
Balanced renewal in business, 302-303

On which page(s) would you find information on how to develop a mission statement?

  • 139-143

  • 173-174

  • 302-303

  • 267-269

  • 57-59

Correct answer: 139-143

"Creating organizational mission statements" would most likely be where you would find out how to develop a mission statement.

19.

Which of the following is a like term with -9x4y3z2?

  • 2x4y3z2

  • -9x5y3z

  • -18x3y2z

  • 3x4yz2

  • 2xyz

Correct answer: 2x4y3z2

A "like term" is any term that has the same variables with the same exponents. 2x4y3z2 has the same variables with the same exponents as -9x4y3z2, so it is a like term.

20.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

Particular dogs often oppose “about the changing of” their brand of food by not eating it.

  • The changing of

  • About the changing of

  • Whether they should change

  • How they change

  • Whether or not they should change

Correct answer: The changing of

The original sentence contains an unnecessary preposition use. The verb “oppose” can be transitive and have a direct object; therefore, it does not require the use of the preposition “about.” 

The best option that eliminates the unnecessary preposition is “the changing of.”

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