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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

California Basic Educational Skills Test Exam Questions

Page 4 of 18

61.

Kacee has a total of $32,642 in her checking account. JoAnn has a total of $21,982 in her checking account. What is the best estimate of how many more dollars Kacee's checking account contains than JoAnn's checking account contains?

  • $11,000

  • $10,000

  • $8,000

  • $400

  • $5,000

Correct answer: $11,000

To find the best estimate, you would approximate the two values.

$32,642 is approximately $33,000 and $21,982 is approximately $22,000.

$33,000 - $22,000 = $11,000

62.

Consider the following statement: If Brad eats a piece of pizza, the whole pizza will have been eaten. 

Which of the following answer choices must be true?

  • If the pizza has not all been eaten, Brad didn't eat a piece

  • The whole pizza was eaten, but Brad didn't eat a piece

  • Brad is the only one who can eat the pizza

  • If Brad does not eat a piece of pizza, he will have to throw it away

  • Brad is the only person who has yet to eat a piece of pizza

Correct answer: If the pizza has not all been eaten, Brad didn't eat a piece

The statement is an "If - Then" statement. Identify the contrapositive. In this question, the contrapositive is, "If the pizza has not all been eaten, Brad didn't eat a piece."

The statement does not suggest that Brad is the only one eating the pizza, nor does it suggest that there are others helping to eat it.

63.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

The main point of the passage is:

  • Ultra-deepwater drilling is successful

  • Drillships are inexpensive to purchase

  • Crude oil prices are increasing

  • Business models are simple to understand

  • Ultra-deepwater drilling is very concentrated

Correct answer: Ultra-deepwater drilling is successful

The other answer choice statements are true, but they are not central to the overall theme of the passage. 

Ultra-deepwater drilling being successful is the main point of the passage.

64.

If Craig can walk 2 miles in 26 minutes, how long will it take him to walk 5 miles?

  • 1 hour 5 minutes

  • 52 minutes

  • 1 hour 26 minutes

  • 1 hour 35 minutes

  • 2 hours 10 minutes

Correct answer: 1 hour 5 minutes

The question gives you the initial relationship of 2 (miles) / 26 (minutes), and you will need to set this relationship equal to the one you want to find: 

2 (miles) / 26 (minutes) = 5 (miles) / x (minutes).

Now, you will need to cross multiply to solve the question: 

2x = 130

x = 65 minutes

While 65 minutes is not an answer choice, you can reduce it to find the correct answer of 1 hour 5 minutes.

65.

Ken needs to increase his weekly pay to $248.00. Ken currently works 20 hours a week and earns $7.75 an hour. How many additional hours would Ken need to work in order to meet his goal of $248.00 per week?

  • 12

  • 10

  • 8

  • 14

  • 16

Correct answer: 12

First, you need to calculate the current amount of money that Ken earns per week. By multiplying 20 by $7.75, you find that Ken earns $155.00 per week.

To get to $248.00 per week, Ken needs to increase his weekly pay by $93.00. Divide this total by his rate of $7.75 per hour, and you get the answer: 12 more hours.

66.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

An appropriate title for this passage is:

  • Fantasy Football: What is the Cost?

  • How to Pick Your Fantasy Football Players

  • Who is Playing Fantasy Football?

  • How to Play Fantasy Football

  • The Best Players in the League

Correct answer: Fantasy Football: What is the Cost?

This answer choice covers the main theme of the passage. 

The other answer choices are out of scope or too specific.

67.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following statements, if true, would weaken the argument in the author’s last sentence?

  • Certain drugs can improve the brain’s ability to learn and retain information at an advanced rate

  • Alcohol use kills brain cells, which reduces the brain’s ability to retain information

  • It is harder for drug addicts to retain information than it is for those who do not use drugs

  • It is harder for alcoholics to retain information than it is for those who do not drink

  • Sniffing harmful chemicals can reduce one’s ability to retain information

Correct answer: Certain drugs can improve the brain’s ability to learn and retain information at an advanced rate

The author argues that harmful chemicals and drugs can reduce one’s ability to learn and retain information. In order to weaken the argument, you need to show that it is possible that some drugs can improve one’s ability to learn and retain information.

68.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

The author puts the word “techies” in quotation marks in the first paragraph in order to:

  • Indicate that the individuals are interested in electronics

  • Imply that only information technology professionals are buying smartphones

  • Show that all smartphone users have a technical degree

  • State the belief that smartphones are too technical to use

  • Indicate that smartphones are too expensive to purchase

Correct answer: Indicate that the individuals are interested in electronics

Often, an author will use a word in quotations to imply a meaning similar to the literal meaning of the word. The word “techies” can be used to state that individuals are interested in electronics.

69.

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.

70.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Which type of beverage saw the largest percent increase in sales from 2011 to 2012?

  • Diet Soda

  • Grape

  • Ginger Ale

  • Orange

Correct answer: Diet Soda

First, eliminate any answer choice that does not increase. Grape did not see an increase.

Next, calculate the percent increase using the percent change formula (difference / original). The total for Diet Soda in 2011 was $30,000 and in 2012 was $34,000.

The percent change fraction is $4,000/$30,000, which equals the largest percent increase at 13.33%.

71.

All high school students are required to enroll in a physical education class. Students may choose between summer physical education, physical strength training, or school physical education. Some of the students enrolled in summer physical education.

Which of the following must be true?

  • Not all students are enrolled in school physical education

  • Some students are enrolled in physical strength training

  • Some students are enrolled in school physical education

  • All students are taking summer physical education

  • More students are taking summer physical education than physical strength training or school physical education

Correct answer: Not all students are enrolled in school physical education

You are given the statement that some students are enrolled in summer physical education. Therefore, all you know is that at least one student is taking summer physical education. 

You do not know whether any students at all are enrolled in physical strength training or school physical education, or how many are enrolled in each class. In fact, it is possible that all of the students are taking summer physical education, but you cannot be certain. 

"Not all students are enrolled in school physical education" is the correct answer because you know at least one student is enrolled in summer physical education.

72.

Use the table of contents below to answer the question that follows.

Home Winemaking
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . .  1
Essential How-tos . . . . . . . . .21
Wine from Kits . . . . . . . . . . .26
Wine from Concentrates . . . . .33
Wine from Juices . . . . . . . . . .70
White Wine from Grapes . . . 122
Red Wine from Grapes . . . . .161
Wine from Fruit . . . . . . . . . . 198

On what page would you look to find information on how to get started making wine?

  • 1

  • 21

  • 26

  • 122

  • 161

Correct answer: 1

Information on how to get started making wine could be found under "Getting Started," page 1.

73.

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.

74.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following is the best meaning of the word chronically as it is used in the fourth sentence of the first paragraph of the passage?

  • Of long duration

  • Constantly

  • Habitually

  • Regularly

  • Continuously

Correct answer: Of long duration

The author uses the word "chronically" to describe how millions of Americans have been infected with hepatitis C for a long time.

75.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following best defines the word “explosion” as it is used in the passage?

  • A sudden increase

  • A violent release

  • A loud sound

  • A sudden outburst

  • A vehement outburst

Correct answer: A sudden increase

The author is using the word “explosion” to describe the sudden increase in the number of fast-food restaurants, vending machines, and convenience stores.

76.

Betty and Kris spent a total of $360 shopping today. If Betty spent $80 more than Kris did, how many dollars did Kris spend?

  • $140

  • $220

  • $80

  • $100

Correct answer: $140

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.

$120 is the middle option in the answer bank. If Betty and Kris spent a total of $360 and Kris spent $120, that would leave Betty spending $240 dollars. Betty's $240 less Kris's $120 equals $120. This answer choice proves to be too low, as you want Betty to spend only $80 more than Kris, so you will need to choose the answer choice that is higher than $120.

The answer choice that is higher than $120 is $140. If Betty and Kris spent a total of $360 and Kris spent $140, that would leave Betty spending $220 dollars. Betty's $220 less Kris's $140 equals $80. Thus, you can determine Betty spent $80 more than Kris did.

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

(x + $80) + x = $360

$80 + 2x = $360

2x = $280

x = $140

77.

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

  • A business plan

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 eliminate an editorial. 

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

78.

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%.

79.

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

80.

Multiplying a number by 1/5 is the same as dividing that number by:

  • 5

  • 10

  • 1/2

  • 0.5

  • 0.2

Correct answer: 5

If you select the number 20 and multiply it by 1/5, the result is 4.

If you divide the number 20 by 5, the result is 4.

1/5 means 1 divided by 5.

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