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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

California Basic Educational Skills Test 2023 Exam Questions

Page 6 of 18

101.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the claim that red wine is healthier than white wine?

  • The tannin from the seeds of white grapes is the healthiest part of the grape

  • Red wine can only be consumed in small portions

  • White wine is only consumed with desserts

  • Red wine makes better sangria than white wine

  • Individuals who drink red wine live longer than those who drink white wine

Correct answer: The tannin from the seeds of white grapes is the healthiest part of the grape

The claim that the skin is the best part of the grape is weakened by the fact that the seeds in white grapes are the healthiest part of the grape. In order to weaken a claim, another reason needs to be provided to explain why red wine is not healthier.

102.

Two babies were born on Tuesday. The first baby weighed 6 1/4 pounds, and the second baby weighed 7 3/8 pounds. What was the total weight of the two babies born on Tuesday?

  • 13 5/8 pounds

  • 13 1/8 pounds

  • 42 1/3 pounds

  • 42 5/8 pounds

  • 15 1/4 pounds

Correct answer: 13 5/8 pounds

Add the two fractional amounts together. In order to get the same denominator for each fraction, change 1/4 to 2/8.

Then, add the numbers. The result is 13 5/8 pounds.

6 2/8 + 7 3/8 = 13 5/8

103.

Use the excerpt from an index to answer the question that follows.

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

In what way is the index organized?

  • By category

  • Alphabetically

  • By importance

  • Chronologically

  • From easiest to hardest

Correct answer: By category

It is obvious that the index is not in alphabetical order, so you can eliminate that choice. You cannot prove that the topics are listed by importance, or from easiest to hardest, so you can eliminate those two answer choices. Chronologically can also be eliminated, as the topics are not in logical order. 

The book deals with different categories of creating top quality organizations.

104.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Which of the following can be concluded from the table provided?

  • Only males are playing football and baseball

  • Only males are playing softball

  • There are equal numbers of males and females playing all sports

  • More females are playing soccer than males

Correct answer: Only males are playing football and baseball

You are able to look at the table and determine that there are no females playing football or baseball.

105.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following provides the best outline for the passage?

  • A theory is tested, then refuted, and another theory is created

  • A general story is told, followed by general explanations

  • A specific story is told, followed by specific explanations

  • A statement is made, then supported by examples

  • A question is asked, then answered with specific explanations

Correct answer: A theory is tested, then refuted, and another theory is created

The passage begins with the theory that obesity is linked to fast food. It is then refuted by the fact that home-cooked meals probably contain just as many calories. Then another theory is created with the idea that increased use of technology could be the cause of obesity.

106.

You gave three students a make-up exam, and the scores were 90, 88, and 74. What was the average score for the three make-up exams?

  • 84

  • 78

  • 82

  • 86

  • 88

Correct answer: 84

To find the average of the three exams, divide the sum of the three exams by the number of exams:

252 / 3 = 84

107.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Which month saw the largest percent increase in popcorn sales from 2009 to 2010?

  • January

  • May

  • June

  • February

Correct answer: January

First, eliminate any answer choice that does not increase. May and June did not see an increase.

Next, calculate the percent increases using the percent change formula (difference / original).

The total in January 2009 was $900.00 and the total in January 2010 was $950.00. 

The percent change fraction is $50/$900.00, which equals the largest percent increase at 5.6%.

108.

Ruth bakes 25 pies every day. How many pies does Ruth bake in 15 days?

  • 375

  • 40

  • 125

  • 250

  • 425

Correct answer: 375

In order to find out how many pies were baked over the 15-day period, you need to multiply:

25 * 15 = 375.

109.

Dave and Bryan rode a total of 235 miles today. If Dave rode 37 more miles than Bryan, how many miles did Bryan ride?

  • 99

  • 198

  • 136

  • 37

  • 76

Correct answer: 99

Backsolving is the easiest way to solve this problem. To backsolve, choose the answer choice that is the middle option to start with, and work toward the correct answer.

99 is the middle option in the answer bank. If Dave and Bryan rode a total of 235 miles and Bryan rode 99 miles, that would leave Dave riding 136 of the miles. Dave's 136 miles less Bryan's 99 miles equals 37 miles. Thus, you can determine Dave rode 37 more miles than Bryan.

You can also solve this problem by setting up the algebraic equation:

(37 + x) + x = 235

37 + 2x = 235

2x = 198

x = 99

110.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

This passage would most likely appear in:

  • An editorial

  • A scientific journal

  • A police report

  • A doctoral thesis

  • A statistical analysis

Correct answer: An editorial

The information is not too complex; therefore, a scientific journal, a doctoral thesis, and a statistical analysis can be eliminated. A police report can also be eliminated, as the information does not include the names of the parties involved. 

Thus, this passage would most likely appear in an editorial.

111.

The water pump pumps water at a constant rate of 110 gallons per hour. If Jodee is filling her 55,000-gallon swimming pool using the same water pump, how many days will it take to fill the swimming pool to its full capacity?

  • 20.83

  • 500

  • 110

  • 55.5

  • 15.75

Correct answer: 20.83

You know the water pump's rate in gallons per hour. First, you will need to find the total number of hours it will take the water pump to pump 55,000 gallons of water.

You can solve this using a proportion: 110 gallons / 1 hour = 55,000 gallons / x hours. 

After cross multiplying, you find that 110x = 55,000, resulting in x = 500 hours.

However, you want the answer in days, not hours. There are 24 hours in a day, so you have: 500 hours / 1 day * 1 day / 24 hours = 125/6 or 20.83 days.

112.

What is the difference between 25.067 and 11.129?

  • 13.938

  • 14.022

  • 14.042

  • 13.928

  • 13.838

Correct answer: 13.938

When subtracting decimals, be sure to align the decimals vertically:

   25.067
- 11.129
= 13.938

113.

If the value of z is between 0.0056 and 0.017, which of the following could be the value of z?

  • 0.0089

  • 0.0051

  • 0.0044

  • 0.024

  • 0.019

Correct answer: 0.0089

First, eliminate any answer choice that is not greater than 0.0056. This will eliminate answer choices 0.0051 and 0.0044.

Next, eliminate any answer choice that is not less than 0.017. This will eliminate answer choices 0.024 and 0.019.

The remaining answer choice is 0.0089, the correct answer. 

0.0089 is located between 0.0056 and 0.017.

114.

When the sum of 1.8912 and 3.1846 is rounded to the nearest hundredth, the result is:

  • 5.08

  • 5.07

  • 5.1

  • 5.076

  • 5.075

Correct answer: 5.08

First, the answer must be rounded to the nearest hundredth, so eliminate answer choices 5.1, 5.076, and 5.075.

Next, add the two values together. Do not round yet. You are looking to round the sum, not the individual numbers. The equation 1.8912 + 3.1846 yields a result of 5.0758.

Now, you can round to the nearest hundredth; the 5 digit in the thousandths place indicates that you need to round up. The correct answer is 5.08.

If you rounded each number initially, the values would be 1.89 and 3.18, and the sum would be 5.07.

115.

What does s equal if (6s - 2) / 2 = 8?

  • 3

  • 6

  • 4

  • -4

  • 2

Correct answer: 3

First, divide 6s by 2 and -2 by 2: 3s - 1 = 8

Then, add 1 to each side of the equation: 3s = 9

Now, divide each side of the equation by 3: s = 3

116.

Brent measured the board at 8 3/4 feet. Shawn measured the same board at 6 1/2 feet. What is the difference between Brent's measurement and Shawn's measurement?

  • 2 1/4 feet

  • 3 feet

  • 2 1/3 feet

  • 1 2/3 feet

Correct answer: 2 1/4 feet

To find the difference, convert all mixed numbers to improper fractions.

8 3/4 = 35/4

6 1/2 = 13/2

Next, find a common denominator and subtract the numbers.

35/4 - (13/2)(2/2)

35/4 - 26/4 = 9/4 = 2 1/4 feet

8 3/4 - 6 2/4 = 2 1/4

You could also use the Bowtie method, where you first need to convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions:

8 3/4 = 35/4, and 6 1/2 = 13/2

Then, 35/4 - 13/2 = (70 - 52) / 8 = 18/8 = 9/4 = 2 1/4.

117.

Alisha is selling candy bars for the school fundraiser. She starts with a box of 30 candy bars and sells 4 on Monday, 5 on Tuesday, and 8 on Wednesday. How many candy bars does Alisha still need to sell?

  • 13

  • 15

  • 21

  • 17

  • 9

Correct answer: 13

You need to subtract the total number of candy bars that Alisha has sold from the initial quantity: 

30 - 4 - 5 - 8 = 13

118.

Duchess, the female Labrador, had a litter of 11 puppies. When the puppies turned 6 weeks old, 2 of the puppies were adopted; at 8 weeks old, 2 more puppies were adopted; and at 10 weeks old, 4 puppies were adopted. 

How many puppies does Duchess still have?

  • 3 puppies

  • 2 puppies

  • 4 puppies

  • 5 puppies

  • 1 puppy

Correct answer: 3 puppies

You will need to subtract the total number of puppies that were adopted from the initial number of puppies. 

11 - 2 - 2 - 4 = 3

119.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Between what two years was the decrease in enrollment in Spanish classes the greatest?

  • 2008 to 2009

  • 2006 to 2007

  • 2005 to 2006

  • 2007 to 2008

Correct answer: 2008 to 2009

First, look at the table of information, and try to identify the answer choices that may be eliminated. There were increases in enrollment from 2005 to 2006, 2007 to 2008, and 2009 to 2010. Therefore, you may eliminate those answer choices.

Visually, you may be able to select the right answer. If not, find the differences:

1) 2008 had 29 students and 2009 had 26 students, so between 2008 and 2009 there was a decrease of 3 students;

2) 2006 had 30 students and 2007 had 28 students, so between 2006 and 2007 there was a decrease of 2 students.

Thus, you can determine 2008 to 2009 had the greatest decrease in enrollment.

120.

65 less than 2 times a number is 53. What is the number?

  • 59

  • -6

  • 28

  • 89

  • 236

Correct answer: 59

The algebraic equation is 2x - 65 = 53.

To solve the equation, add 65 to both sides of the equation, giving you 2x = 118. Then, divide both sides by 2 to get x = 59.

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