California Basic Educational Skills Test Exam Questions

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1.

3/4 is how many times greater than 1/2?

  • 1.5

  • 1.25

  • 1.75

  • 2

  • 2.25

Correct answer: 1.5

The mathematical expression would be:

3/4 ÷ 1/2 = 3/4 * 2/1 = 6/4 = 1.5

2.

Use the excerpt from an index to answer the question that follows.

Organizational Effectiveness
Creating top quality organizations:
Organizational PC, 57-59
Measure once, cut twice, 99
Creating organizational mission statements, 139-143
Creating synergy in business, 267-269
Stewardship delegation, 173-174
Relationships at the top, 201-202
Balanced renewal in business, 302-303

In what way is the index organized?

  • By category

  • Alphabetically

  • By importance

  • Chronologically

  • From easiest to hardest

Correct answer: By category

It is obvious that the index is not in alphabetical order, so you can eliminate that choice. You cannot prove that the topics are listed by importance, or from easiest to hardest, so you can eliminate those two answer choices. Chronologically can also be eliminated, as the topics are not in logical order. 

The book deals with different categories of creating top quality organizations.

3.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Polar bears have a layer of fat that is used to:

  • Keep them warm and provide needed energy

  • Keep their body heat to a minimum

  • Keep them heavy in order to make them walk slower

  • Help them float better in large bodies of water

  • Keep them from needing food during the winter months

Correct answer: Keep them warm and provide needed energy

The chain of events is described in the second paragraph. Polar bears have a thick layer of fat that keeps them warm and provides needed energy to swim long distances.

4.

When the sum of 19.123 and 13.584 is rounded to the nearest hundredth, the result is:

  • 32.71

  • 32.70

  • 32.7

  • 32.6

  • 32.72

Correct answer: 32.71

First, the answer must be rounded to the nearest hundredth, so eliminate answer choices 32.7 and 32.6.

Next, add the two values together. Do not round yet. You are looking to round the sum, not the individual numbers.The equation: 19.123 + 13.584 yields a result of 32.707.

Now, you can round to the nearest hundredth. The digit in the thousandth place is a 7, which indicates to round up. The correct answer is 32.71.

If you had rounded each number initially, the values would be 19.12 and 13.58, and the sum would be 32.70.

5.

What is the perimeter of a square that has an 8-inch side?

  • 32 inches

  • 16 inches

  • 24 inches

  • 64 inches

Correct answer: 32 inches

The perimeter of a square is the sum of the lengths of its sides. A square's sides have equal lengths.

Therefore, to find the perimeter of the square, you can add (8 + 8 + 8 + 8), or multiply (4 * 8), to get the correct answer of 32.

6.

Andy is fishing in a pond that has 22 catfish, 34 bluegill, and 46 bass. When Andy casts his fishing line, what is the probability that he will catch a bluegill?

  • 1/3

  • 22/51

  • 11/51

  • 23/51

  • 2/3

Correct answer: 1/3

Probability is a fraction that expresses number of desired outcomes / total number of outcomes.

In this question, there are 34 bluegill (the number of desired outcomes), and there are a total of 102 fish (the total number of possible outcomes). Therefore, the probability of catching a bluegill is 34/102, which reduces to 1/3.

7.

If 3n - 3 > 33, which of the following must be true?

  • n > 12

  • n > 36

  • n > 24

  • n > 8

  • n < 8

Correct answer: n > 12

Add 3 to both sides of the equation: 3n > 36

Divide both sides of the equation by 3: n > 12

8.

If the value of z is between 0.0056 and 0.017, which of the following could be the value of z?

  • 0.0089

  • 0.0051

  • 0.0044

  • 0.024

  • 0.019

Correct answer: 0.0089

First, eliminate any answer choice that is not greater than 0.0056. This will eliminate answer choices 0.0051 and 0.0044.

Next, eliminate any answer choice that is not less than 0.017. This will eliminate answer choices 0.024 and 0.019.

The remaining answer choice is 0.0089, the correct answer. 

0.0089 is located between 0.0056 and 0.017.

9.

Every 5 minutes, someone is diagnosed with lung cancer. How many people are diagnosed with lung cancer in 1,440 minutes?

  • 288

  • 1,440

  • 720

  • 100

  • 144

Correct answer: 288

In order to find out how many people are diagnosed with lung cancer in a 1,440-minute period, you need to divide: 

1,440/5 = 288

10.

What is the sum of 23 1/2, 11 1/8, and 26 1/4?

  • 60 7/8

  • 60 5/8

  • 34 1/2

  • 45 1/4

  • 60 3/8

Correct answer: 60 7/8

Add the three fractional amounts together. In order to get the same denominator for each fraction, change 1/2 to 4/8, and 1/4 to 2/8.

Then, add the numbers. The result is 60 7/8.

23 4/8 + 11 1/8 + 26 2/8 = 60 7/8

11.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

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

  • Stop

  • Stalk

  • Supporting part

  • Connecting part

  • Main part

Correct answer: Stop

The author uses the word stem to state that organizations and agencies are trying to stop distracted driving.

12.

What is 394,501 rounded to the nearest thousand?

  • 395,000

  • 394,000

  • 394,500

  • 390,000

  • 400,000

Correct answer: 395,000

First, eliminate answer choices 394,500, 390,000, and 400,000. These answers are not rounded to the nearest thousand.

To round 394,501 to the nearest thousand, you must look at the digit in the hundreds place. The digit is 5. Rounding tells you that if a digit is 5 or greater, round up. Thus, you need to round the digit in the thousands place from 4 up to 5: 395,000.

13.

If 7q - 63 > -2q, which of the following must be true?

  • 7 < q

  • 9 < q

  • -7 > q

  • 9 > q

  • 1/7 > q

Correct answer: 7 < q

Subtract 7q from both sides of the equation: -63 > -9q

Divide both sides of the equation by -9: 7 < q

Remember that the sign reverses direction when multiplying or dividing by a negative number.

14.

Megan has exactly 23 weeks until she retires. How many hours does Megan have before she retires?

  • 3,864

  • 161

  • 892

  • 1,759

  • 4,254

Correct answer: 3,864

First, you will need to convert 23 weeks to days: 23 weeks * 7 days / 1 week = 161 days

Then, convert 161 days to hours: 161 days * 24 hours / 1 day = 3,864 hours

15.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following best outlines the structure of the passage?

  • A story is told, and then facts are given

  • A statement is made and is then supported

  • A theory is stated and is then explained

  • A question is asked and then answered

  • An argument is made and then refuted

Correct answer: A story is told, and then facts are given

The passage starts with a story told by the author. Then that story is followed by facts regarding motorist seat belt statistics.

16.

Read the passage, then answer the following question. 

The author feels the primary reason writers create how-to books is to:

  • Make money

  • Provide valuable information

  • Become famous

  • Get their ideas heard

  • Help others

Correct answer: Make money

The author of the passage states that he feels that how-to books are written as a moneymaking scheme; thus, he feels that they are only written to make money.

17.

Tiffany is looking at a right triangle, where angle B is identified as being 42 degrees. How many degrees would angle C be, if angle A was the 90-degree angle?

  • 48

  • 228

  • 52

  • 42

  • 45

Correct answer: 48 

Every triangle contains 180 degrees. You will need to subtract the degrees of angles A and B to find the degree of angle C: 

180 - 90 - 42 = 48

18.

Each of the 50 judges is asked to select one and only one robe to wear. There are 25 grey robes available and 25 black robes available. At this instant, 35 of the total robes have been selected. 

Which of the following facts can be determined from the information given above?

  • The total number of judges in the group that have not yet chosen a robe

  • The number of judges that selected a grey robe

  • The number of male judges who selected a black robe

  • The total number of judges in the United States

  • The ratio of male judges to female judges who chose a black robe

Correct answer: The total number of judges in the group that have not yet chosen a robe

You will want to eliminate the answer choices you know are wrong and focus on the information you are given. You know that 35 of the robes have been selected, and that there are a total of 50 judges who are selecting a robe. Therefore, you can determine the number of judges who have not yet chosen a robe.

19.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

Which of the following is the best definition for the author’s use of “handsome”?

  • Generous

  • Beautiful

  • Gorgeous

  • Pleasing

  • Dignified

Correct answer: Generous

While beautiful and gorgeous are the most popular definitions of handsome, the author uses the word to indicate a generous profit will be made.

20.

In 1988, a school lunch cost $0.80. In 2011, a school lunch cost $2.00. What was the percent increase in the cost of school lunches?

  • 150%

  • 50%

  • 75%

  • 120%

  • 100%

Correct answer: 150%

This is a percent increase problem. Use the formula for percent change: difference / original.

The difference between the two amounts is $1.20, and the original amount is $0.80.

$1.20 / $0.80 = 1.5, which is 150%.