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SAT Exam Questions
Page 2 of 20
21.
The city’s population triples every 20 years. If this is the case, then the population in the year N + 60 will be how many times the population in the year N?
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27
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9
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81
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18
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54
Correct answer: 27
In order to solve, express the population growth in mathematical terms. Each time the population triples, multiply it by 3. We will use p to represent the population in year N.
In 20 years, the population increases from p to 3p. In 20 more years, it increases to 3(3p).
Then in 20 more years (60 total), it increases to 3[3(3p)]. Since the population triples three times in 60 years, you can use 3³ to derive the answer:
3³ = 27.
22.
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
Which of the following options would correct sentence 4?
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Change “Birthday” to “birthday”
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Change “Easter” to “easter”
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Change “Christmas” to “christmas”
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Change “my” to “My”
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No correction is needed
Correct answer: Change “Birthday” to “birthday”
Special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries are not capitalized.
Holidays and holy days are capitalized; thus, “Easter” and “Christmas” would both be capitalized. The pronoun “my” is not capitalized as it is not proper.
23.
If -1p – 5 = 3, what is 2 times the value of p?
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-16
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-8
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-4
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8
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1/8
Correct answer: -16
First, you need to solve for p: -1p – 5 = 3; -1p = 3 + 5; -1p = 8; p = -8.
The question asks for two times the value of p: 2p; 2 × -8 = -16.
24.
Identify the word that would best complete the following sentence.
Despite the fact that Amber is lactose _______, she still consumed the ice cream.
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intolerant
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lenient
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indulgent
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compliant
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voracious
Despite the fact that Amber is lactose intolerant, she still consumed the ice cream.
The use of “despite” is similar to using the words “even though," so you need to choose a word that shows that even though dairy (“lactose") products do not agree with Amber, she is still eating them (ice cream). Thus, Amber is intolerant of dairy products.
The other answer options all suggest that dairy products would not affect Amber.
25.
Read the passage then answer the following question.
The following passage, describing watercolor painting, is an excerpt from The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., and should be used to answer the question that follows.
The author implies that watercolor paintings had achieved a higher form of “sophistication” because they were what type of paintings?
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Complex
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Popular
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Expensive
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Simple
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Diverse
Correct answer: Complex
The author states that watercolor paintings had achieved a level of sophistication because watercolors had been able to reach a level of complexity or difficulty. This can be found in the passage’s fifth sentence, which describes how Bihzad had achieved miniature paintings of great complexity.
26.
Read the sentence below. Then choose the option that represents the best way to write the quoted portion of the sentence.
The bus, like the train of the past, “are the cheapest way to get” our team to its destinations.
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is the cheapest way to get
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are the cheapest way to get
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are the cheapest ways of getting
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are the cheap way of getting
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is the cheapest ways to get
Correct answer: is the cheapest way to get
The bus, like the train of the past, is the cheapest way to get our team to its destinations. This sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error. The subject of the sentence is “bus,” which is singular. Thus, you need to use the singular verb “is,” not “are.”
27.
Read the sentence below. Then choose the option that represents the best way to write the quoted portion of the sentence.
When a physician claims that a medication is “effective. But how” can you be positive that this is factual?
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effective, how
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effective. But how
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effective, and how
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effective, how it
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effective, or how
Correct answer: effective, how
When a physician claims that a medication is effective, how can you be positive that this is factual? The first sentence is not a complete thought; thus, it is a sentence fragment. In order to fix the fragment, you need to combine the two sentences with a comma.
A coordinating conjunction is not needed in this case because the first sentence is dependent upon the second sentence.
28.
Identify the word that would best complete the following sentence.
Despite their _______ eating habits, Carol weighs more than Amy.
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similar
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unusual
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various
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diverse
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distinct
Despite their similar eating habits, Carol weighs more than Amy.
The key words in this sentence are “Despite” and “weighs more than.” The use of despite is similar to using the words "even though," so you need to choose a word that shows that even though Carol and Amy are eating the same amount, Carol weighs more.
29.
Read the passage then answer the following question.
The following passage, describing the comfort of food, is an excerpt from Food & Wine magazine and should be used to answer the question that follows.
Which of the following best describes the author’s purpose for writing this passage?
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To share an experience
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To inform the reader
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To define a word
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To provide direction
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To influence the reader
Correct answer: To share an experience
The author is using this passage to share his Haiti experience.
The author is not informing the reader about Haiti, nor is the author trying to influence the reader to do something. The author is also not using the passage to define a word or to provide directions on how to do something. Therefore, the author is just sharing his story.
30.
Identify the words that would best complete the following sentence.
Clay _______ the mail from the mailbox after he _______ off the bus.
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retrieved … stepped
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burned … walked
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read … drove
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canceled … flagged
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grabbed … washed
Clay retrieved the mail from the mailbox after he stepped off the bus.
The sentence is asking you what Clay did with the mail from the mailbox and how he got off the bus. Thus, Clay could not have burned or canceled the mail from the mailbox, so those two options can be deleted. However, Clay could have read or grabbed the mail from the mailbox, but it is not likely that he would have drove off the bus or washed off the bus. That leaves “retrieved … stepped” as the best choice of words.
31.
-4x – 6 < 22
Solve the inequality.
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x > -7
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x < -7
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x > 7
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x < 7
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x < 1/7
Correct answer: x > -7
Solve the inequality as follows:
-4x – 6 < 22.
Add 6:
-4x < 28.
Divide by -4:
x > -7.
You will notice that the sign flipped. This occurs when a positive number turns negative or vice versa.
32.
Read the passage then answer the following question.
The following passage, describing autism, is an excerpt from “Education Articles” website (www.edarticle.com) and should be used to answer the question that follows.
What is the author’s purpose for writing this passage?
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To inform
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To direct
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To advertise
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To debate
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To persuade
Correct answer: To inform
The author of the passage is informing the reader about autism. The author describes autism and lists the effects it has on children who are diagnosed with it.
The author is not giving directions, advertising, debating or persuading.
33.
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
Which of the following options would correct the error in sentence 4?
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Insert a comma after “day”
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Change “our” to “are”
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Change “were” to “was”
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Change “discussion” to “discussion’s”
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Remove the quotation marks
Correct answer: Insert a comma after “day”
“The first day” is considered to be an introductory phrase and should be set off with a comma.
The other answer options can all be eliminated as they would not correct sentence 4.
34.
Read the passage then answer the following question.
The following passage, describing teaching, is an excerpt from “Education Articles” website (www.edarticle.com) and should be used to answer the question that follows.
The author uses the term “jewels” in sentence 10 to describe which of the following?
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Students
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Teachers
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Parents
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Books
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Writers
Correct answer: Students
If the reader reads sentence 10 in its entirety, he or she will find that the last part of the sentence states “until these jewels reach fourth grade.” Since students are the ones who are going through each grade level, the reader can conclude that the author must be referring to the students as jewels.
35.
Identify the word that would best complete the following sentence.
The _______ that was printed was from Mark Twain.
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quotation
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heirloom
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antique
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bequest
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chalet
The quotation that was printed was from Mark Twain.
The correct answer option for this sentence must be able to be printed. The only option that could be printed is a quotation, or direct quote, from Mark Twain.
The other options are all objects; only descriptions of them could be printed.
36.
Read the sentence below. Then determine which of the answer choices is an error in diction, usage, idiom or grammar.
The grant that “has just been” “awarded with” the health center by the state should “provide it” with funds “for its” indigent patients for years to come.
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awarded with
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has just been
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provide it
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for its
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No error
Correct answer: awarded with
The use of the preposition “with” causes an idiom error. The correct idiomatic expression to use is “awarded to,” instead of “awarded with.”
The correct sentence reads: The grant that has just been awarded to the health center by the state should provide it with funds for its indigent patients for years to come.
37.
Read the passage then answer the following question.
The following passage, describing two cities, is an excerpt from HOG magazine and should be used to answer the question that follows.
According to the passage, which of the following options does not describe Beartooth Highway accurately?
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Dilapidated
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Stunning
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Curvy
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Mountainous
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Popular
Correct answer: Dilapidated
The passage does not once mention that the highway is dilapidated, or rundown.
Sentence 4 infers that Beartooth Highway is stunning, sentence 5 infers that it is curvy and popular, and sentence 3 infers that it is mountainous.
38.
The price of fuel doubles every 10 years. If this is the case, then the price of fuel in year n + 40 will be how many times the price in year n?
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16 times
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8 times
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9 times
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4 times
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20 times
Correct answer: 16 times
In order to solve, express the fuel price in mathematical terms. Each time the fuel price doubles, multiply it by 2. We will use p to represent the price in year n.
In 10 years, the fuel price increases from p to 2p.
In 10 more years, it increases to 2 × 2p.
In 10 more years, it increases to 2 × 2 × 2p.
Then, in 10 more years (40 total), it increases to 2 × 2 × 2 × 2p.
Since the price doubles four times in 40 years, you can use 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 to figure out the answer:
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16 times.
39.
Buses X, Y and Z pass through Columbus at different speeds. Bus X’s speed was 2 times Bus Y’s speed, and Bus Z’s speed was 3 times Bus X’s. If Bus Y’s speed was 20 mph, what was Bus Z’s speed?
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120 mph
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40 mph
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60 mph
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80 mph
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100 mph
Correct answer: 120 mph
In order to solve this question, you will need to set the problem up as a system of equations:
- Bus X = 2 × Bus Y
- Bus Z = 3 × Bus X
- Bus Y = 20 mph
So, Bus X = 2 × 20 or 40 mph. Therefore, Bus Z = 3 × 40, or 120 mph.
40.
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
Which of the following options is the best way to phrase sentence 7 (shown below)?
My sister found today an old box-spring mattress.
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Today, my sister found an old box-spring mattress.
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My sister found, today, an old box-spring mattress.
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My sister found today an old box-spring mattress.
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My sister, today, found an old box-spring mattress.
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Today, an old box-spring mattress was found by my sister.
Correct answer: Today, my sister found an old box-spring mattress.
By placing “today” as the introductory phrase of the sentence, you are clearly stating when the object was found, without causing confusion in the middle of the sentence.