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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

Praxis Core Exam Questions

Page 7 of 40

121.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

The author states that organizations are facilitating the development of innovative technologies because:

  • They could reduce the incidence of distracted driving

  • They would cancel the need to use a mobile device

  • The organizations could use the profit to fight the war against texting while driving

  • It would completely eliminate texting while driving

  • It would increase the usage of mobile technology while driving

Correct answer: They could reduce the incidence of distracted driving

This statement can be found in the first sentence of the second paragraph of the passage.

122.

Multiplying a number by 1/8 is the same as dividing that number by:

  • 8

  • 16

  • 1/16

  • 0.125

  • 0.16

Correct answer: 8

If you select the number 16, and multiply it by 1/8, the result is 2. If you divide the number 16 by 8, the result is 2.

1/8 means 1 divided by 8.

123.

Solve the following:

[(7 - 2)4  + 3 × 5] – 4 + 8 × 3

  • 660

  • 9,432

  • 1,932

  • 997

  • 332

Correct answer: 660

Use the acronym GEMDAS (Grouping, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction) to solve.

1. Since the first term in GEMDAS is grouping, work on the calculations in brackets first, starting with the calculation in parentheses.

[(7 - 2)4  + 3 × 5] – 4 + 8 × 3

[54  + 3 × 5] – 4 + 8 × 3

2. The second term in GEMDAS is exponents, so calculate the exponent next.

[54  + 3 × 5] – 4 + 8 × 3

[625  + 3 × 5] – 4 + 8 × 3

3. The third and fourth terms in GEMDAS are multiplication and division, so multiply next.

[625  + 3 × 5] – 4 + 8 × 3

[625  + 15] – 4 + 24

4. The fifth and sixth terms in GEMDAS are addition and subtraction.

[625  + 15] – 4 + 24

640 – 4 + 24

636 + 24 = 660

124.

Vicky has a handful of jelly beans. None of her jelly beans are colored black. Some of the jelly beans are colored purple. The jelly beans are colored purple, orange, yellow, or pink, but no jelly bean has more than one color on it.

Which of the following statements must be true?

  • Vicky has more purple jelly beans than black jelly beans

  • Vicky has more jelly beans colored purple than any other color

  • Vicky's favorite jelly bean is purple

  • Vicky has more pink jelly beans than yellow jelly beans

  • Vicky's favorite jelly bean is colored purple, pink, and orange

Correct answer: Vicky has more purple jelly beans than black jelly beans

To find the true statement, look at each answer choice and eliminate those that are incorrect.

You do not know the number of each colored jelly bean that Vicky has, nor do you know which colored jelly bean is her favorite.

You do know that each jelly bean can only be one color, and black is not one of them, but purple is.

Therefore, you know that Vicky has more jelly beans colored purple than black.

125.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following sentences, when inserted into the blank, would best complete the meaning of the passage?

  • Scientists believe that this technology could be the answer to the energy crisis.

  • This technology will cost a lot of money to develop.

  • This technology will not benefit the environment.

  • This technology will make the inventor extremely rich.

  • This technology could cause future problems that are yet to be discovered.

Correct answer: Scientists believe that this technology could be the answer to the energy crisis.

Scientists were able to precisely control the movement of 4 photons on a silicon chip using a metal electrode lithographed on the surface. It was the first time that scientists have reported being able to precisely manipulate the photons and cause them to interact with one another. The engravings through which the photons moved were similar in function to optical fibers, meaning that there is a potential path forward for utilizing or improving existing optical technologies. The scientists are hoping that by successfully miniaturizing the technology, they can build new applications that do not require an external power source, among other things. Scientists believe that this technology could be the answer to the energy crisis.

The previous sentence states that with the new miniaturizing technology they could possibly build new applications that do not require external power sources. Thus, this technology could be the answer to the energy crisis. 

The other answer choices don't fit because it would be out of place for the author to suddenly state his own views.

126.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

Developing an entertaining workbook for children “is in many ways like when you are writing” lines for comic books.

  • Is in many ways like writing

  • Is in many ways like when you are writing

  • Is in many ways similar to when you are writing

  • In many ways is on a norm with writing

  • Is in many ways similar to the writing of

Correct answer: Is in many ways like writing

The clearest option for the given sentence is “is in many ways like writing.” 

The other options contain unnecessary wording, leaving the sentence choppy or unclear.

127.

The sentence below contains four portions that are identified with quotation marks. Read the sentence and determine which portion contains an error in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar.

“Though” the weather may fluctuate from “day to day,” “normally,” “its” very agreeable.

  • Its

  • Though

  • Day to day

  • Normally

  • No error

Correct answer: Its

This sentence contains a word choice error. The use of the possessive word “its” should be replaced with the contraction “it’s” as the sentence is stating “normally, it is very agreeable.”

The other options are all appropriate uses of formal written English.

128.

Which of the following fractions is between 2/3 and 4/5?

  • 3/4

  • 1/5

  • 1/3

  • 2/5

  • 1/2

Correct answer: 3/4

2/3 reduces to 0.667 and 4/5 reduces to 0.8.

3/4 reduces to 0.75, which falls between 0.667 and 0.8.

Therefore, 3/4 is the correct answer.

129.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?

  • To describe the reasons behind the formation of the Populist Party

  • To convince the reader that the Populist Party should make a reappearance

  • To outline the reasons why the Populist Party failed

  • To criticize the railroads and banks that contributed to farmers' failures after the Civil War

  • To elicit support for the Grange as a farmers' rights organization

Correct answer: To describe the reasons behind the formation of the Populist Party

This passage first describes the hardships that farmers in the US heartland suffered following the Civil War and sets the stage for the formation of a new political party. In the second paragraph, the author describes how the formation of the Populist Party came about and the various causes taken on by the party.

The author does not attempt to convince the reader that the Populist Party should make a reappearance or criticize companies that may have contributed to farmers' failures after the Civil War. The author also does not outline reasons why the Populist party failed, though does mention in the last sentence that the party suffered from internal divisions. Finally, the author does not elicit support for the Grange, so this answer is also incorrect.

130.

The sentence below contains four portions that are identified with quotation marks. Read the sentence and determine which portion contains an error in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar.

Mother’s cookies “are” usually very “soft and delicious,” but these cookies are “real” “hard and tasteless.”

  • Real

  • Are

  • Soft and delicious

  • Hard and tasteless

  • No error

Correct answer: Real

This sentence contains an adjective/adverb error. The adjective “real” should be replaced with the adverb “really” to correctly modify the adjective "hard.” 

The other options contain appropriate use of verb tense and parallelism.

131.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

If Movie NC-17 is the shortest of all five movies, what is one possible start time for Movie NC-17?

  • 8:25

  • 8:15

  • 8:00

  • 7:45

Correct answer: 8:25

The shortest movie given is G, which runs for 85 minutes. If Movie NC-17 ends at 9:45, it must not be longer than 84 minutes, or start before 8:21. Thus, 8:25 is the correct answer.

132.

The sentence below contains four portions that are identified with quotation marks. Read the sentence and determine which portion contains an error in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar.

The construction worker “deemed himself” not only a “proficient” asphalt layer but also “capable for” painting “straight” lines on the highway.

  • Capable for

  • Deemed himself

  • Proficient

  • Straight

  • No error

Correct answer: Capable for

"For" is not a preposition idiomatically used with “capable." The phrase should be replaced with “capable of.” 

The phrase “deemed himself” uses proper verb/pronoun agreement, and the adjective “straight” is used appropriately to describe the noun “lines.” The adjective “proficient” is used appropriately to describe the noun “asphalt layer.”

133.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

According to the passage, all of the following are freedoms of universities except:

  • Opting to only teach one demographic of citizens

  • Choosing who can teach at a university

  • Deciding on a university curriculum

  • Selecting students for admission to a university

  • Settling on how various course materials will be taught

Correct answer: Opting to only teach one demographic of citizens

In the passage, the author refers to the Higher Education Act of 1965, which was a governmental attempt to end discrimination. In order to receive financial support from the federal government, universities cannot prohibit people from being admitted simply due to race, gender, or religion. Therefore, opting to only teach one demographic of citizens is not a freedom of universities.

The first sentence of the passage states the four freedoms of universities. These include the freedom to determine who may teach (choosing who can teach at a university), what will be taught (deciding on a university curriculum), how it will be taught (settling on how various course materials will be taught), and who may study what is taught (selecting students for admission to a university).

134.

The sentence below contains four portions that are identified with quotation marks. Read the sentence and determine which portion contains an error in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar.

“Raising” fuel rates, “together” with increasing repair costs, “have” proved “to be” a worry for all motorists.

  • Raising

  • Together

  • Have

  • To be

  • No error

Correct answer: Raising

The use of the word “Raising” indicates that someone is performing an action (“to raise”). Since no one is performing an action, it would be best to use the passive verb “to rise” to describe “Rising fuel rates.” 

The adverb “together” is used appropriately to describe “fuel rates” and “repair costs.” The tense of the verb “have” is used appropriately with the corresponding past tense verb “proved,” and the phrase “to be” is used appropriately within the context of the sentence.

135.

If f(x) = 4x2 - 6x + 2, what is the value of f(8)?

  • 210

  • 64

  • 148

  • 204

  • 16

Correct answer: 210

1. Insert 8 for x in the equation.

4x2 - 6x + 2 =

4(8)2 - 6(8) + 2 

2. Simplify.

4(8)2 - 6(8) + 2 =

4(64) - 48 + 2 =

256 - 46 = 210

136.

The sentence below contains four portions that are identified with quotation marks. Read the sentence and determine which portion contains an error in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar.

“Stuck in traffic” on a rainy night, “the motorist turned” on his defroster “to keep himself” warm and “to keep his” windows clear.

  • No error

  • Stuck in traffic

  • The motorist turned

  • To keep himself

  • To keep his

Correct answer: No error

This sentence contains no errors in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar. The second clause uses appropriate parallelism (“to keep … to keep”) and verb form.

137.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

The track athlete had a strange routine, running while the other athletes were walking, “then walking” while the other athletes were running.

  • Then walking

  • After which he walked

  • Then he walked

  • Until he walked

  • But soon he was walking

Correct answer: Then walking

The phrase in the original sentence is correct. The given sentence explains a two-step process and requires both steps to be given in parallel form. The first step is “running,” so the next step should be “walking,” not “walked.”

138.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

“Thomas Kinkade was known as the Painter of Light, born in Sacramento, California.”

  • Thomas Kinkade, born in Sacramento, California, was known as the Painter of Light.

  • Thomas Kinkade was known as the Painter of Light, born in Sacramento, California.

  • Thomas Kinkade was born in Sacramento, California, the Painter of Light.

  • Thomas Kinkade being the Painter of Light and was born in Sacramento, California.

  • Being the Painter of Light, Thomas Kinkade was born in Sacramento, California.

Correct answer: Thomas Kinkade, born in Sacramento, California, was known as the Painter of Light.

This sentence is a run-on because it contains two independent thoughts that are not joined in any way: "Thomas Kinkade was known as the Painter of Light" and "born in Sacramento, California." 

The option: "Thomas Kinkade, born in Sacramento, California, was known as the Painter of Light." fixes the run-on by making the facts about Thomas Kinkade's birthplace dependent.

139.

Of the following fractions, which is the greatest?

  • 3/5

  • -4/9

  • 7/13

  • -1/3

  • 4/7

Correct answer: 3/5

First, estimate, using the answer choices. Eliminate any number that is negative: -1/3 and -4/9.

You can compare the remaining answer choices by reducing them.

7/13 is 0.54, 4/7 is 0.57, and 3/5 is 0.6, which is the greatest.

140.

If n + z(1/4) - w = p - 6, what is the value of z when n = 12, w = 2, and p = 18?

  • 8

  • 1/2

  • 2

  • 4

  • 2 1/4

Correct answer: 8

Here is the equation you are given: n + z(1/4) - w = p - 6

Now, substitute the values you are given for n, w, and p:

12 + z(1/4) - 2 = 18 - 6

10 + z(1/4) = 12

z(1/4) = 2

z = 8

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