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California Basic Educational Skills Test Exam Questions
Page 10 of 18
181.
If 1/3(z) - 2 = 5, what is three times the value of z?
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63
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21
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7
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3
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5
Correct answer: 63
First, add 2 to each side of the equation: 1/3(z) = 7
Now, divide each side of the equation by 1/3: z = 21
The question asks for three times the value of z: 21 * 3 = 63
182.
The neighborhood bakery has the following items on its menu:
Coffee - $1.50
Glazed Donut - $1.00
Cream Filled Donut - $1.25
Cheesecake Slice - $2.50
Missy orders 2 cheesecake slices, 2 cream filled donuts, 1 glazed donut, and 1 coffee. How many cheesecake slices would Brenda need to buy in order to spend the same amount of money as Missy did?
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4
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1
-
2
-
3
-
8
Correct answer: 4
If you look at your answer choices before doing any calculations, you will identify that you can eliminate a few answer choices immediately.
You should identify that Missy ordered 2 cheesecake slices and additional food. Therefore, you can eliminate 1 and 2 immediately.
With a quick glance, you can identify that Missy spent more than $7.50, which will eliminate 3.
Eight cheesecake slices would equal $20.00, which seems much more than Missy's total cost. Thus, you are left with 4, which is the correct answer.
You can use the above process of elimination method, or you can do the math.
To find the amount that Missy ordered, use the following equation:
2($2.50) + 2($1.25) + $1.00 + $1.50 = $10.00.
If Missy spent $10.00, Brenda would need to purchase 4 cheesecake slices in order to spend the same amount:
4 * $2.50 = $10.00
183.
The grocery store stocks 15 tomatoes, 25 cucumbers, and some watermelons. There is a 5 to 9 ratio of tomatoes to watermelons. Which of the following numbers in the problem are needed to find the total number of watermelons that the grocery store stocks?
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15, 5, and 9 only
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25, 5, and 9 only
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15, 25, 5, and 9
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5 and 9 only
-
15 and 25 only
Correct answer: 15, 5, and 9 only
In order to find the actual number of watermelons, you need the initial ratio, plus one actual number. The initial ratio of tomatoes to watermelons is 5 to 9, and the actual number of tomatoes is 15.
You do not need the fact that there were cucumbers stocked. This piece of information does nothing to help you solve the ratio box involving tomatoes to watermelons.
184.
At a certain high school, 7 out of every 10 students will end up going to college. If there are 310 students, how many are expected to go to college?
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217
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70
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31
-
210
Correct answer: 217
This is a proportion question. You are given the relationship: 7 students go to college / 10 total students.
If you set this to equal your unknown relationship, you will have the following equation: 7 students go to college / 10 total students = x students go to college / 310 students.
If you cross multiply, you get 10x = 2,170.
x = 217
185.
Judy has an average score of 85 in her Spanish class, and has a total of 1,020 points. How many tests has Judy taken?
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12
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8
-
9
-
10
-
11
Correct answer: 12
To find the number of tests, divide the total number of points by the average score.
1,020 / 85 = 12
186.
Consider the following statement: If Betty fixes baked steak for dinner, she will not fix baked potatoes.
Which of the following statements must be true?
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If Betty fixes baked potatoes for dinner, she did not fix baked steak
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Betty fixed baked steak with baked potatoes for dinner
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If Betty did not fix baked potatoes, she must have fixed baked steak
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Betty will not fix baked potatoes for dinner
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Betty does not like to fix baked potatoes
Correct answer: If Betty fixes baked potatoes for dinner, she did not fix baked steak
The statement is an "If - Then" statement. Identify the contrapositive. In this question, the contrapositive is, "If Betty fixes baked potatoes for dinner, she did not fix baked steak."
The statement does not suggest that Betty does not like to fix baked potatoes, nor does it suggest what exactly Betty will fix for dinner.
187.
Phillip has taken five tests in science and has a current grade average of 70. What is the sum total of the five tests that Phillip has taken?
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350
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300
-
315
-
340
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375
Correct answer: 350
To find the sum total of the five tests, you will need to multiply the average score by the number of tests.
70 x 5 = 350
188.
Barbara needs to increase her pay to $1,200.00 per week. Barbara currently works 25 hours per week and earns $30.00 an hour. How many additional hours would Barbara need to work in order to increase her pay to $1,200.00 per week?
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15
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10
-
13
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19
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24
Correct answer: 15
First, you need to calculate the current amount of money that Barbara earns per week. By multiplying 25 by $30.00, you find that Barbara earns $750.00 per week.
To get to $1,200.00 per week, Barbara needs to increase her weekly pay by $450.00. Divide this total by her rate of $30.00 per hour, and you get the answer: 15 more hours.
189.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
An appropriate title for this passage is:
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How People Are Using Their Smartphones
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Weather Apps to Use
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The Ten Best Navigation Apps
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Top Ten Mobile Game Apps
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Smartphones are Booming
Correct answer: How People Are Using Their Smartphones
This title covers the main idea of the passage, whereas the other answer choices are out of scope of the passage or too specific.
190.
View the supporting details to answer the following question.
The information above shows the starting speed and ending speed for five consecutive days. If the same speed increase occurs throughout each day, what was the starting speed on day 5?
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33
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33 1/4
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33 1/2
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34
Correct answer: 33
Each day the speed increases 3 1/4. If you add this to day 4's starting speed, the ending speed will be 33. This would also be the starting speed for day 5.
191.
What is the difference between 15.9 and 6.4816?
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9.4184
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9.5
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9.5215
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9.5184
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9.3816
Correct answer: 9.4184
When subtracting decimals, be sure to align the decimals vertically:
| 15.9000 |
| - 6.4816 |
| = 9.4184 |
192.
John adopted his dog exactly 5 years and 12 days ago. At this instant, how many minutes has John had his dog?
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2,645,280 minutes
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1,837 minutes
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44,088 minutes
-
1,825 minutes
-
110,220 minutes
Correct answer: 2,645,280 minutes
Start by finding the number of days in 5 years.
5 years * (365 days / 1 year) = 1,825 days
Add the 12 days.
1,825 days + 12 days = 1,837 days
Convert the number of days to hours.
1,837 days * (24 hours / 1 day) = 44,088 hours
Convert the number of hours to minutes.
44,088 hours * (60 minutes / 1 hour) = 2,645,280 minutes
John had his dog for 2,645,280 minutes when he had him for exactly 5 years and 12 days.
193.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following best describes the main point of the passage?
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Hepatitis C is a deadly virus that baby boomers should be tested for
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Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants
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Americans born between 1945 and 1965 are known as baby boomers
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Baby boomers are at risk for hepatitis C because they shared intravenous needles
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Hepatitis C kills 15,000 Americans each year
Correct answer: Hepatitis C is a deadly virus that baby boomers should be tested for
In the passage, the author discusses the effects and how individuals could have been infected with hepatitis C, but states the importance of baby boomers being tested for the virus.
194.
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?
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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
195.
Each of the 25 children in a group gets to pick one and only one bumper car. There are 8 pink bumper cars, 9 blue bumper cars, and 8 yellow bumper cars. At this very instant, 19 of the total bumper cars have been selected.
Which of the following facts can be determined from the information given above?
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The number of children in the group that have not yet chosen a bumper car
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The number of children that chose a pink bumper car
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The number of boys who selected a blue bumper car
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The total number of children at the theme park
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The ratio of boys to girls choosing bumper cars
Correct answer: The number of children in the group that have not yet chosen a bumper car
You will want to eliminate the answer choices you know are wrong and focus on the information you are given. You know that 19 of the bumper cars have been chosen, and that there are a total of 25 children who are picking a bumper car. Therefore, you can determine how many children have not yet chosen a bumper car.
196.
The chef used 2 tablespoons of salt, 4 tablespoons of baking soda, and some pepper. There is a 1 to 3 ratio of salt to pepper. Which of the following numbers in the problem are needed to find the total number of tablespoons of pepper that the chef will use?
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2, 1, and 3 only
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4, 1, and 3 only
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4, 2, 1, and 3
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1 and 3 only
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2 and 4 only
Correct answer: 2, 1, and 3 only
In order to find the actual number of tablespoons of pepper, you need the initial ratio, plus one actual number. The initial ratio of salt to pepper is 1 to 3, and the actual number of tablespoons of salt is 2.
You do not need the fact that the chef used 4 tablespoons of baking soda. This piece of information does nothing to help you solve the ratio box involving salt and pepper.
197.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
This passage is most likely taken from:
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A company newsletter
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A newspaper column
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A legal journal
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A contract
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A textbook
Correct answer: A company newsletter
This passage includes factual information, as well as procedures that will be taken in the future.
The information is not technical enough to be found in a legal journal, a contract, or a textbook. Finally, the passage does not include the author's opinion or sense of humor, therefore making it unlikely to be a newspaper column.
198.
Use the table of contents below to answer the question that follows.
A Textbook of Astronomy
1 - Different kinds of measurements
2 - The stars and their diurnal motion
3 - Fixed and wandering stars
4 - Celestial mechanics
5 - The earth as a planet
6 - The measurement of time
7 - Eclipses
Appendix
Bibliography
Glossary
Index
The reader wants to see if this textbook has made reference to the planet Mars. Where can the reader look to determine this the quickest?
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Index
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Glossary
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Bibliography
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Appendix
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Chapter 5
Correct answer: Index
The index in a textbook is where one can find an alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects that are within the book; thus, the index would be the quickest method to determine if the textbook contained information regarding the planet Mars.
199.
If 7 + 5y = 52, what is one-third the value of y?
-
3
-
45
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9
-
5
-
27
Correct answer: 3
First, subtract 7 from each side of the equation: 5y = 45
Now, divide each side of the equation by 5: y = 9
The question asks for one-third the value of y: 9 * 1/3 = 3
200.
Angie scored in the 87th percentile on the algebra exam. Brooke scored in the 79th percentile. The exam contained 175 questions, and Angie answered 148 questions correctly. Which of the following statements must be true?
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Brooke answered fewer than 148 questions correctly
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Brooke answered 79 questions correctly
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Brooke answered 138 questions correctly
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Eight students received scores between Angie's and Brooke's
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Brooke's score is greater than the score of 79 other students
Correct answer: Brooke answered fewer than 148 questions correctly
Brooke scored in a lower percentile than Angie, so she must have answered fewer questions correctly than Angie did. Thus, she answered fewer than 148 questions correctly.
You do not know how many questions Brooke answered correctly. Therefore, you can eliminate the answer choices that state that Brooke answered 79 or 138 questions correctly.
Next, you do not know how many test takers there were. Therefore, you should not assume that there were 100 students taking the test, which is what the other two answer choices are doing.