Math
Test Taking Info
Vocab/Writing
Grammar
Test Strategies and Time
100
If 2x+4=8, then what is the value of 6x+4? a) 2 b) 8 c) 16 d)20 e) 24
The answer is C, 16. X=2, therefore 6x+4=16.
100
Which students will take the PSAT and when?
All 10th and 11th grade students will take the PSAT on October 12th, 2011.
100
Enrique did not take Marisol seriously when she told him she was going to bed to sleep for a week; she was prone to _____________? a) earnestness b)belligerence c)simile d) hyperbole e)understatement
The answer is D, hyberbole. Hyberbole is an extravagant exaggeration, often not intended to be taken literally.
100
Find the error in the sentence. Sponsors of the Olympic Games who bought advertising time on U.S. television includes at least a dozen international firms whose names are familiar to American consumers. A) who bought B) includes C) at least D) whose E) no error
The answer is B, "includes" should be "include". This sentence illustrates a subject-verb agreement error. The subject, "Sponsors of the Olympic Games who bought advertising time on United States television," is plural; the word "includes" should be "include," to match the number of the subject.
100
What item should you NOT bring with you to take the PSAT? A) your student ID for identification B) pencils with erasers to mark your answers C) your cell phone for a calculator and to keep track of time D) you should bring all of the above items for the PSAT.
The answer is C. You cannot use a cell phone during the test so bring a calculator. The teacher will keep track of the time during the test for you. You should bring your student ID and two #2 pencils with erasers.
200
If today is Sunday, what day will it be 50 days from today? a) Sunday b) Monday c) Tuesday d) Wednesday e) Thursday
The answer is B, Monday. Since there are 7 days in a week, 49 days from now would be 7 weeks (another Sunday) + 1 day for 50 days from now= Monday.
200
When is the next SAT being offered?
What is Oct. 1st, 2011?
200
Although some think the terms "bug" and "insect" are ---- , the former term actually refers to ---- group of insects. (A) parallel . . an identical (B) precise . . an exact (C) interchangeable . . a particular (D) exclusive . . a separate (E) useful . . a useless
The answer is C, interchangeable..a particular. The word "although" indicates that the two parts of the sentence contrast with each other: although most people think about the terms one way, something else is actually true about the terms. Choice C is correct because it presents a situation where most people think of the two terms as interchangeable, but the first of the two terms, bugs, actually refers to particular group of insects.
200
Find the error in the sentence. If one is interested in learning even more about Zora Neale Hurston, you should read Robert Hemenway's biography. A) is interested B) in learning C) even more D) you should E) no error
The answer is D, "you" should be "one". The error in this sentence is the pronoun "you" is not consistent with the pronoun "one" in the introductory clause. The pronoun "you" should be changed to "one."
200
Should you guess the answers on the PSAT? A) Yes, because wrong answers don't count against you. B) Yes, because you have to answer all the questions to get a score. C) Yes, but only if you can eliminate one or more of the choices as definitely wrong. D) No, because wrong answers count against you. E) Both C and D
The answer is E, both C and D. Educated guessing means guessing an answer whenever you are able to eliminate one or more of the choices as definitely wrong. Educated guessing may help you so C is correct. Because you lose a fraction of a point for questions you get wrong, you can earn an above-average score by getting only half the questions right and omitting the rest so D is also correct.
300
If m and p are positive integers and (m + p) x m is even, which of the following must be true? (A) If m is odd, then p is odd. (B) If m is odd, then p is even. (C) If m is even, then p is even. (D) If m is even, then p is odd. (E) m must be even.
The answer is A. If m is even, then the expression (m + p) x m will always be even and it cannot be determined whether p is even or odd. This eliminates choices (C) and (D). If m is odd, then (m + p) x m will be even only when m + p is even and m + p will be even only when p is odd. The correct answer is (A) since the truth of statement (A) also eliminates choices (B) and (E).
300
What three parts or subject areas are on the PSAT?
The PSAT consists of Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing Skills.
300
One of the most common types of mistakes that inexperienced physicians make is misreading symptoms, another that occurs about as frequently is recommending inappropriate treatment. (A) symptoms, another that occurs (B) symptoms; another one that occurs (C) symptoms, the other, and it occurs (D) symptoms; another one which is occurring (E) symptoms and also occurring
The answer is B. This sentence illustrates a comma splice, the incorrect use of a comma to connect two complete sentences. Choice B correctly uses a semicolon to coordinate two independent clauses and form a compound sentence (while at the same time keeping verb tenses parallel).
300
Find the error in the sentence. In the early twentieth century, new thinking about symbolism and the unconscious were greatly inspired by the writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. A) about B) were C) by D) writings of E) no error
The answer is B, "were" should be "was". The error in this sentence is the verb "were" (which is plural) does not agree in number with the noun "thinking" (which is singular). The correct sentence reads: In the early twentieth century, new thinking about symbolism and the unconscious was greatly inspired by the writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
300
Here are some general hints for answering Sentence Completion questions. Which one is NOT correct. A) Read the entire sentence to yourself. B) Watch for introductory or connecting words and phrases like "but," "not," "because," etc. C) In sentences with two blanks, only one answer has to make sense in the sentence. D) Start by working with one blank at a time. E) Stay within the meaning of the sentence. F) Before you mark your answer, read the complete sentence with your choice filled in.
The answer is C. In sentences with two blanks, make sure the words for both blanks make sense in the sentence.
400
If n is an odd integer, which of the following must be an odd integer? (A) n - 1 (B) n + 1 (C) 2n (D) 3n + 1 (E) 4n + 1
The answer is E, 4n+1. If n is an odd integer, both one more and one less than n will be even integers, eliminating choices (A) and (B). Any even multiple of n will be an even integer, eliminating choice (C). However, 4n is even, making 4n +1 an odd integer. The answer to this problem is (E). Note that 3n + 1 is even if n is odd and it is odd if n is even. Since the question asks, "Which of the following MUST be an odd integer," (D) cannot be the correct answer.
400
What does PSAT stand for?
PSAT stands for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.
400
Looking at the context of the editorial, the words "abrupt" and "blitz" are meant to place the redevelopment program in an unfavorable light. (A) Looking at the context of the editorial (B) In the context of the editorial (C) When the editorial's context is looked at (D) Considering its context (E) Examining the editorial's context
The answer is B. The problem with this sentence is that there is no noun that the underlined phrase modifies. Versions (A), (C), (D), and (E) also produce sentences with the same problem. The prepositional phrase in version (B) avoids this problem.
400
Find the error in the sentence. Pine, like other softwoods that ignite quickly, are useful as kindling. A) other B) quickly C) are D) as E) no error
The answer is C, "are" should be "is". The error in this sentence is the plural verb "are" does not agree in number with its singular subject, "pine." The correct sentence reads: Pine, like other softwoods that ignite quickly, is useful as kindling.
400
What is the total time allotted for the two Critical Reading sections of the PSAT? A) 50 minutes, 25 minutes per section B) 25 minutes because there is only one Critical Reading section C) 40 minutes, 20 minutes per section D) 60 minutes, 30 minutes per section
The answer is A. There are two sections of Critical Reading lasting 25 minutes each for a total of 50 minutes. There are also two sections of Math lasting 25 minutes each.
500
If a and b are integers greater than 100 such that a + b = 300, which of the following could be the exact ratio of a to b ? (A) 9 to 1 (B) 5 to 2 (C) 5 to 3 (D) 4 to 1 (E) 3 to 2
The answer is E, 3 to 2. To solve this question, you need to look at the answer choices. For any of the answer choices to be the ratio of a to b, some multiple of the sum of the two numbers must evenly divide 300. For example, if the ratio of a to b equaled 9 to 1, then a would equal 9x and b would equal x for some number x. Furthermore, 9x + x would have to equal 300. This is possible since 10x = 300 yields an integer solution, namely x = 30. However, if x = 30, then a would equal 270 and b would equal 30. Although the sum of these numbers equals 300, they do not satisfy the other condition in the problem. That is, both of these numbers are not greater than 100. Therefore, choice (A) can be eliminated. Answer choices (B) and (C) can be eliminated since neither the sum of the two numbers in (B) nor the sum of the two numbers in (C) evenly divided 300. (5x + 2x = 300 does not yield an integer solution, nor does 5x + 3x = 300.) Although answer choices (D) and (E) are possible ratios of a to b (both 4x + x = 300 and 3x + 2x = 300 yield integer solutions), (D) results in a = 240 and b = 60 and can be eliminated since 60 is not greater than 100. Only choice (E) gives a correct ratio of a to b that satisfies all of the conditions in the problem. For (E), a = 180 and b = 120, and both integers are greater than 100.
500
Why should you take the PSAT? a) It is a practice test for the SAT, which you take in your junior or senior year. b) It is used for qualification in the National Merit Scholarship Program in your junior year. c) It can be used to qualify for taking dual credit courses at Pike. d) Counselors use scores to determine placement in Advanced Placement or AP courses. e) all of the above
The answer is E, all of the above.
500
Read the passage and answer the question. (1) Advertisements are present wherever we go. (2) They enter our houses in newspapers, magazines, and on our television screens. (3) Television advertisements are used not only to sell products but, more importantly, to sell ideas. (4) It is in selling ideas that ads have the most significant impact. (5) They interrupt most television programs every few minutes. (6) Many ads imply that if we buy specific products then we will be happy. (7) An example of this strategy is an ad in which a woman is shown driving her family in a new car. (8) She has a smile on her face, a new car will bring people happiness. Question: Sentence 5 would make the most sense if placed after (A) Sentence 1 (B) Sentence 2 (C) Sentence 5 (D) Sentence 6 (E) Sentence 7
The answer is B. This question asks you to recognize that sentence 5 is an expansion of the thought introduced in sentence 2 and properly belongs immediately after that sentence in the paragraph. To place the idea later in the paragraph disrupts the progress of ideas that the writer is developing.
500
Find the error in the sentence. In many respects Anna Karenina and Emma Bovary are very similar characters, but Bovary has the most spirit and determination. A)In many respects B) but C) has D) the most spirit E) no error
The answer is D, "the most spirit" should be "more spirit". The error in this sentence is (D): the superlative form of the phrase "the most spirit" is not appropriate when only two characters are being compared. The appropriate form for such a comparison is "more spirit." The correct sentence reads: In many respects Anna Karenina and Emma Bovary are very similar characters, but Bovary has more spirit and determination.
500
How many minutes are given for the Writing Skills section and why? A) 25 minutes to give equal time to the other sections of the test. B) 30 minutes because there are more questions in this section. C) 40 minutes to allow time to write an essay. D) Time is unlimited in the Writing Skills section.
The answer is C, 30 minutes. There are more questions in the Writing Skills section but they are still multiple choice. You do not write an essay on the PSAT.
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