No products in the cart.
California Basic Educational Skills Test Exam Questions
Page 6 of 18
101.
To the nearest ten, what is 167?
-
170
-
160
-
100
-
200
-
0
Correct answer: 170
Rounding tells us that if it is 0 - 4 we round down, and if it is 5 - 9 we round up. In the ones place, you have a 7, which tells you that you need to round up, giving you the correct answer of 170.
102.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which one of the following statements would the author most likely agree with regarding wearing your seat belt?
-
Wearing a seat belt could save your life if you are involved in a vehicle accident
-
Wearing a seat belt is harmful to your spinal cord
-
Parents always listen to the advice of their children
-
Wearing your seat belt during a vehicle accident increases your risk of being injured
-
People should have the option to wear a seat belt, and it should not be a law
Correct answer: Wearing a seat belt could save your life if you are involved in a vehicle accident
This statement is supported by the statistical data that is presented in the second paragraph.
103.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
The passage answers all questions except:
-
What is the payment for a $30,000 home equity loan?
-
What was the old interest rate for home equity loans?
-
What will the new interest rate be for home equity loans?
-
When does the new home equity interest rate begin?
-
What is the term for a new home equity loan?
Correct answer: What is the payment for a $30,000 home equity loan?
The passage discusses the interest rates and the terms available for a home equity loan, but it does not state what a payment for a $30,000 home equity loan would be.
104.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following is the best meaning of the word highlights as it is used in the last sentence of the second paragraph of the passage?
-
Emphasizes
-
Accents
-
Underlines
-
Features
-
Intensifies
Correct answer: Emphasizes
The author uses the word "highlight" to emphasize the need for better management of medication at hospitals.
105.
View the supporting details to answer the following question.
The information above shows the starting inventory and ending inventory for one week. If the same growth occurs throughout each day of the week, what was the ending inventory on Thursday?
-
250
-
240
-
200
-
350
Correct answer: 250
Each day the inventory gains 25 units. If you add this to Thursday's starting inventory, the ending inventory will be 250. This would also be the starting inventory for Friday.
106.
Use the excerpt from an index to answer the question that follows.
Acetic fermentation, 233-234
Acid blends, 12, 37
Acids, balancing, 36-38, 40
Aerating, 20
Alcohol content, 21-22, 35-36
Aroma, evaluating, 241-242
Aurora, from grapes, 131-132
Which of the following best describes the organizational pattern used in the index?
-
Alphabetical
-
Chronological
-
By order of importance
-
From hardest to easiest
-
By level of expertise
Correct answer: Alphabetical
The subjects of this index are listed in alphabetical order.
You have no way of evaluating if the subjects are in order of importance, listed from hardest to easiest, or by level of expertise.
107.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following provides the best outline for the passage?
-
A question is asked, then answered
-
A theory is stated, then refuted
-
A statement is made, then supported
-
An argument is made, then refuted
-
An experiment is stated, then tested
Correct answer: A question is asked, then answered
The passage starts with the question of how much fantasy football costs employers. Then, that question is answered by stating the actual dollar amount that it costs.
108.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following sentences represents an opinion of the author rather than a fact?
-
12
-
2
-
5
-
6
-
10
Correct answer: 12
The statement “one that we should all give a try” represents the feelings of the author, and would be difficult to prove.
All other statements are facts.
109.
How many hours are there in three weeks?
-
504
-
168
-
332
-
24
-
84
Correct answer: 504
In order to solve the problem, you need to convert the units from weeks to hours, as follows:
1 week * 7 days / 1 week * 24 hours / 1 day = 168 hours. There are 168 hours in one week.
Multiply by 3 to get 504 hours in three weeks.
110.
Pete and Ian checked a total of 490 prescriptions today. If Pete checked 46 more prescriptions than Ian did, how many prescriptions did Ian check?
-
222
-
268
-
46
-
199
-
291
Correct answer: 222
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.
222 is the middle option in the answer bank. If Pete and Ian checked a total of 490 prescriptions and Ian checked 222 prescriptions, that would leave Pete checking 268 prescriptions. Pete's 268 prescriptions less Ian's 222 prescriptions equals 46 prescriptions. Thus, you can determine Pete checked 46 more prescriptions than Ian did.
You can also solve this problem by setting up the algebraic equation:
(x + 46) + x = 490
46 + 2x = 490
2x = 444
x = 222
111.
The restaurant served 26 chicken dinners, 32 steak dinners, 15 lobster dinners, and some shrimp dinners. There is a 3 to 5 ratio of chicken dinners to shrimp dinners. Which of the following numbers in the problem are needed to find the total number of shrimp dinners that the restaurant served?
-
26, 3, and 5 only
-
32, 3, and 5 only
-
15, 3, and 5 only
-
26, 32, 15, 3, and 5
-
26, 15, and 5 only
Correct answer: 26, 3, and 5 only
In order to find the actual number of shrimp dinners, you need the initial ratio, plus one actual number. The initial ratio of chicken to shrimp is 3 to 5, and the actual number of chicken dinners is 26.
You do not need the fact that the restaurant served 32 steak dinners or 15 lobster dinners. These pieces of information do nothing to help you solve the ratio box involving chicken and shrimp dinners.
112.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
-
Are You at Risk for Hepatitis C?
-
Hepatitis C is the Leading Cause of Liver Transplants
-
Hepatitis C Kills 15,000 Americans
-
How to Prevent Being Infected with Hepatitis C
-
The Lives of Two Million Baby Boomers
Correct answer: Are You at Risk for Hepatitis C?
The title correctly addresses the main issue presented in the passage: the need for baby boomers to recognize that they may be at risk for the Hepatitis C virus.
Be careful about titles that use words or phrases that can be found in the passage, as they are often a trap.
113.
Bonnie needs to increase her monthly sales to $5,500.00. Bonnie currently sells 180 phone cases a month at $25.00 per case. How many additional phone cases would Bonnie need to sell in order to meet her goal of $5,500.00 per month?
-
40
-
35
-
30
-
25
-
45
Correct answer: 40
First, you need to calculate the current amount of sales that Bonnie makes per month. By multiplying 180 by $25.00, you find that Bonnie makes $4,500.00 per month.
To get to $5,500.00 per month, Bonnie needs to increase her monthly sales by $1,000.00. Divide this total by her phone case price of $25.00, and you get the answer: 40 more phone cases.
114.
What is 891,593 rounded to the nearest hundred?
-
891,600
-
891,500
-
892,000
-
891,000
-
891,590
Correct answer: 891,600
First, eliminate answer choices 892,000, 891,000, and 891,590. These answers are not rounded to the nearest hundred.
To round 891,593 to the nearest hundred, you must look at the digit in the tens place. The digit is 9. Rounding tells you that if a digit is 5 or greater, round up. Thus, you need to round the digit in the hundreds place from 5 up to 6: 891,600.
115.
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.
116.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following statements would the author most likely support?
-
Bicycle riding is a mode of transportation that should be considered
-
Riding bicycles is only for young adults who enjoy exercise
-
Only people in large cities can ride bicycles
-
Companies should not promote the use of bicycles as their employees’ mode of transportation
-
Bicycle riding is on the decline
Correct answer: Bicycle riding is a mode of transportation that should be considered
In the passage, the author describes the benefits of using a bicycle as a mode of transportation.
117.
The hot dog stand sells 1,250 hot dogs every week. How many hot dogs does the hot dog stand sell in 52 weeks?
-
65,000
-
60,000
-
55,000
-
62,500
-
57,250
Correct answer: 65,000
In order to find out how many hot dogs were sold over the 52-week period, you need to multiply.
1,250 * 52 = 65,000
118.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
Which of the following best describes the main point of the passage?
-
Childhood obesity is dangerous
-
Obese children behave badly
-
Many middle-aged people have health problems
-
Cardiovascular disease is deadly
-
Children have poor nutrition
Correct answer: Childhood obesity is dangerous
The focus of the passage is on the dangers of childhood obesity. The passage describes the health conditions, cognitive and behavior problems, and underlying health problems that are identified in obese children.
119.
Read the passage, then answer the following question.
The author’s use of the word “derived” is best defined as:
-
Originated
-
Deduced
-
Inferred
-
Sustained
-
Formed
Correct answer: Originated
The benefits of red wine originated from both the alcohol in it and the properties of grape skins.
120.
Use this excerpt from an index to answer the question that follows.
Acetic fermentation, 233-234
Acid blends, 12, 37
Acids, balancing, 36-38, 40
Aerating, 20
Alcohol content, 21-22, 35-36
Aroma, evaluating, 241-242
Aurora, from grapes, 131-132
On what page(s) should one look to find information about evaluating aromas?
-
241-242
-
20
-
131-132
-
21-22
-
37
Correct answer: 241-242
First, take a look at the item you are asked to locate: evaluating aromas. Next, glance down the index to see if any of the key words match the topic. You will find "Aroma, evaluating" is located on pages 241-242.