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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASVAB Exam Questions

Page 2 of 40

21.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

Where was cocoa initially discovered and used for consumption?

  • Mexico

  • Spain

  • Great Britain

  • France

Correct answer: Mexico

The answer to this question can be found directly in the passage’s content. Sentence 1 informs the reader that the Spanish conquistador was initially served the cocoa drink in Mexico and that he later introduced it to Spain.

Sentence 2 implies that Spain was the first European country to drink or eat cocoa, but it was not initially discovered by Spain. Sentence 2 also clearly states that Spain was using cocoa for one hundred years before France began to do the same. Sentence 3 states that France then spread the news about cocoa to Great Britain.

22.

What is the potential energy of a 1 kg object held at the top of a building 50 m above the ground?

  • 490 J

  • 245 J

  • 102 J

  • 576 J

Correct answer: 490 J

To find the potential energy of the object, use the equation to calculate PE.

PE = mgh

Remember that g is equal to 9.8 m/s2.

PE = 1 × 9.8 × 50 = 490 J

23.

What is true of igneous rocks?

  • They were once melted

  • They were once meteors

  • They were once dirt

  • They were once seashells

Correct answer: They were once melted

Igneous rocks are formed from cooled magma above or under the ground. Some igneous rocks, called extrusive igneous rocks, form after a volcano has erupted and the lava cools above ground. Other igneous rocks, called intrusive igneous rocks, are formed underground from cooled magma that has not reached the earth's surface. Granite, pumice, and obsidian are specific types of igneous rock. 

Igneous rocks were never meteors. Sedimentary rocks, not igneous rocks, are made of sediment, dirt, microscopic pieces of shells, and other materials that have become compressed over time.

24.

A carpenter wants to drill a hole through a piece of metal and needs to make an indentation to prevent the drill from missing the target. What type of tool might the carpenter use?

  • Center punch

  • Pin punch

  • Drift

  • Screwdriver

Correct answer: Center punch

Center punches are tools that are used to make small indentations that serve as starting marks for drilling operations, especially when drilling through metal. Trying to drill through metal without marking the hole first may allow the drill bit to miss the original target.

Pin punches are used to drive pins out of holes and to follow the pin through the hole as it forces it out. A drift prevents damage to an object when being struck by a hammer by serving as a buffer between the surface and the striking object. Screwdrivers are used to remove and install fasteners.

25.

Sophie wants to get an average of at least 90 in her science class for the semester. Her average on three tests so far is 88. What does Sophie need to score on her fourth and final test in order to reach her goal?

  • 96

  • 92

  • 90

  • 88

Correct answer: 96

The average is the total of all scores divided by the number of tests. Set up an equation to show how the average of 88 was calculated.

88 = (a + b + c)/3

a + b + c = 264

To figure out what Sophie needs to score to get a 90 in her class, set up the following equation:

(a + b + c + d)/4 = 90

Since we already know that a + b + c is equal to 264, we can replace this in the equation and solve for d.

(264 + d)/4 = 90

264 + d = 360

d = 96

26.

What is one possible cause of severe engine damage?

  • Unchecked detonation

  • Worn brake pads

  • Old antifreeze

  • A rich air-fuel mixture

Correct answer: Unchecked detonation

Detonation is when an air-fuel mixture explodes instead of burns. The pressure spike from abnormal combustion results in a shock to the engine assembly, and severe engine damage can result from unchecked detonation.

Worn brake pads will not affect the engine, though may increase the time it takes for an automobile to come to a stop. A rich air-fuel mixture might cause some problems but will not cause severe engine damage. Old antifreeze does not necessarily cause engine damage, though frozen antifreeze can certainly cause it.

27.

Which type of current is delivered by a battery?

  • Direct current

  • Alternating current

  • Indirect current

  • Mechanical current

Correct answer: Direct current

Direct current (DC) is current that flows in only one direction in a conductor. DC is the type of current that is delivered by a battery. 

Alternating current is current that changes direction as it moves in a conductor, rather than flowing in only one direction. Indirect current and mechanical current are not terms that are used in the electronics field.

28.

Pascal is 2 inches taller than Francis, who is 5 inches shorter than Michael. If Michael is 5.5 feet, what is Pascal's height in inches?

  • 63 inches

  • 61 inches

  • 69 inches

  • 66 inches

Correct answer: 63 inches

First, convert feet into inches.

1 foot = 12 inches

5.5 feet = 5.5 × 12 = 66 inches  

If Michael is then 66 inches, then Francis is 66 - 5 = 61 inches.

Pascal is two inches taller than Fracis.

61 + 2 = 63 inches 

29.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

According to the passage, a male graduate from Harvard University would be most likely to be a Fortune 100 executive:

  • In the 1980s

  • In the 21st century

  • In the late 1990's

  • In the year 2001

Correct answer: In the 1980s

The author of the passage states that Fortune 100 executives in 2001 were more likely to be female, relatively young, and less likely to have a degree from an Ivy League school. This implies that executives twenty years earlier, in the 1980s, were male and had elite university educations.

As stated above, the author describes the changes in Fortune 100 executives from the 1980s to 2001 that resulted in younger women with fewer Ivy League educations being hired. The author does not mention the composition of executives in the 1990s or anytime after 2001.

30.

What is the name of our solar system’s galaxy?

  • Milky Way

  • Andromeda

  • Cigar

  • Cartwheel

Correct answer: Milky Way

A galaxy is a collection of 100,000 to 3 trillion stars. The galaxy that contains our solar system is the Milky Way.

The closest galaxy to the Milky Way is the Andromeda Galaxy. Cigar Galaxy is a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away from Earth. Cartwheel Galaxy is about 500 million light-years away.

31.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

Which of the following words best defines retard as used in Sentence 6?

  • Delay

  • Challenge

  • Senseless

  • Enhance

Correct answer: Delay

The word retard means to slow something down. Delay, therefore, is the best option, since to delay is to put something off until later.

Challenge is to object to the truth of something, senseless is without meaning or purpose, and enhance is to improve or intensify the quality of something. None of these words are synonyms of retard, so they are all incorrect answers.

32.

In many vehicles, the carburetor has been replaced by what?

  • Electronic fuel injection

  • Throttle body

  • Fuel pressure regulator

  • Powertrain control module

Correct answer: Electronic fuel injection

Electronic fuel injection is a flexible system that is controlled by an onboard computer and incorporates a feedback function. It replaced the carburetor about 35 years ago, when it was common for the air-fuel mixture to be determined by mechanical means.

The remaining answer options are incorrect. The throttle body, fuel pressure regulator, and powertrain control module are all individual components of the electronic fuel injection system.

33.

The earth contains three layers. Which of the following is not one of the three layers?

  • Magma

  • Crust

  • Mantle

  • Core

Correct answer: Magma

Magma is the melted rock that is found under or above ground and reaches the earth’s surface during a volcanic eruption. It is not one of the earth's layers.

The three layers of the earth are the crust, the mantle (upper and lower), and the core (inner and outer).

34.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

As used in Sentence 3, what does the word resurrection mean?

  • Revival

  • Refurbishment

  • Conversion

  • Judgment

Correct answer: Revival

The word resurrection is defined as "the rising of the dead on Judgment Day," or revival. The word revival is defined as "renewal of interest." According to Sentences 3 and 4, cable television and home videos caused the movie’s popularity to grow; thus, you can determine that revival is the best meaning of the word resurrection in Sentence 3.

Refurbishment is the process of making clean, bright, or fresh again. Conversion is the process of changing from one use, process, or religion to another. Judgment is the ability to form an opinion about something.

35.

The electric arc that is generated when a welding rod makes contact with the work piece accomplishes all of the following except:

  • It protects the user from getting hurt during the welding process

  • The heat deposits metal in the weld as filler

  • The flux burns and forms a shield of gases around the weld

  • The base metal is heated

Correct answer: It protects the user from getting hurt during the welding process

The electric arc formed when a welding rod makes contact with the work piece can be very dangerous, and the user and anyone else in close proximity should wear protective gear to prevent injury.

When welding occurs, the electric arc generates heat and accomplishes three things. First, the base metal is heated. Next, the heat deposits metal in the weld as filler. Finally, the flux burns and forms a shield of gases around the weld that prevents air from reacting with the hot metal.

36.

Which of the following words most nearly means benevolent?

  • Compassionate

  • Depressed

  • Evil

  • Lackluster

Correct answer: Compassionate

The prefix bene- means good, so to be benevolent is to be inclined to do good. Compassionate, which indicates concern for others, is the closest synonym for benevolent.

Evil and depressed have opposite meanings from benevolent. Lackluster, which means lacking in force or vitality, is unrelated. 

37.

Which of the following would occur if there is an opening at just one point in a series circuit?

  • The current will stop flowing in all parts of the circuit

  • The current will only stop flowing in the open part of the circuit

  • The current will continue flowing through all parts of the circuit

  • The current will divide and will continue to flow

Correct answer: The current will stop flowing in all parts of the circuit

A series circuit is an electrical circuit that has only one path for current to flow. Therefore, if there is a break or opening in the circuit, the current will stop flowing in all parts of the circuit.

The current would continue to flow if it was flowing through a parallel circuit, which has several paths for current to flow. However, as stated above, in a series circuit, the current stops flowing in the entire circuit when there is a break.

38.

You need to roll a 180-pound barrel up an 18-foot ramp. The vertical rise of the ramp is 6 feet. How much force is required to roll the barrel up the ramp?

  • 60 pounds

  • 10 pounds

  • 30 pounds

  • 15 pounds

Correct answer: 60 pounds

In order to solve this problem, start by finding the mechanical advantage of the inclined plane.

MA = Length of the Slope ÷ Vertical Rise

MA = 18 ÷ 6 = 3

Calculate the effort, or force, required to roll the barrel up the ramp.

MA = Load ÷ Effort (E)

3 = 180 ÷ E

3E = 180

E = 180 ÷ 3

E = 60 pounds

39.

Which of the following best describes what happens when gas is compressed?

  • It becomes warmer, and its potential energy increases

  • It becomes cooler, and its potential energy increases

  • It becomes warmer, and its potential energy decreases

  • It becomes cooler, and its potential energy decreases

Correct answer: It becomes warmer, and its potential energy increases

Compressed gas is known to gain thermal energy, or become warmer, and its potential energy increases. This is why compressed air is generally used to power tools such as nail guns and pneumatic hammers.

The remaining answer options are incorrect. As stated above, compressed gas becomes warmer, not cooler, resulting in increased potential energy.

40.

A grade 5 class has three sections: east, west, and central. East has 22 students, west has 20 students, while central has 18 students. In a mathematics test, a third of the students from central and a quarter from west scored more than 70%.

If those who scored more than 70% from east are 2 more than the sum of those from central and west, find the total number of students who scored below 70%.

  • 36

  • 20

  • 38

  • 24

Correct answer: 36 

First, find the number of students who scored more than 70%.

West: 1/4 × 20 = 5

Central: 1/3 × 18 = 6

The sum of the above is 5 + 6 = 11 students. 

Next, find the number of students in the east who scored more than 70%.

East = 11 + 2 = 13

There are 13 + 11 = 24 students in total who scored more than 70%, but the question asks for the number of students who scored below 70%. To find this, add the total number of students.

22 + 20 + 18 = 60

Subtract the number of students who earned more than 70% to find the number who earned below 70%.

60 - 24 = 36 students

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