California Basic Educational Skills Test 2023 Exam Questions

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61.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

What is the average number of votes that each Class President candidate received?

  • 80

  • 44

  • 64

  • 92

Correct answer: 80

In order to get the number of average votes, you need to first find the sum of the votes. The four numbers add to 320.

There are four candidates; therefore, you will need to divide 320 by 4 to find the average of 80.

62.

What does n equal if -4n = 2n - 12?

  • 2

  • 6

  • -2

  • 3

  • -1

Correct answer: 2

First, subtract 2n from each side of the equation: -6n = -12

Now, divide each side of the equation by -6: n = 2

63.

The chef used 2 tablespoons of salt, 4 tablespoons of baking soda, and some pepper. There is a 1 to 3 ratio of salt to pepper. Which of the following numbers in the problem are needed to find the total number of tablespoons of pepper that the chef will use?

  • 2, 1, and 3 only

  • 4, 1, and 3 only

  • 4, 2, 1, and 3

  • 1 and 3 only

  • 2 and 4 only

Correct answer: 2, 1, and 3 only

In order to find the actual number of tablespoons of pepper, you need the initial ratio, plus one actual number. The initial ratio of salt to pepper is 1 to 3, and the actual number of tablespoons of salt is 2. 

You do not need the fact that the chef used 4 tablespoons of baking soda. This piece of information does nothing to help you solve the ratio box involving salt and pepper.

64.

Darcie has a jar containing 9,064 pennies. She drops the jar and half of the pennies fall out of the jar. Approximately how many pennies does she have left in the jar?

  • 4,500

  • 3,000

  • 9,000

  • 13,500

  • 18,000

Correct answer: 4,500

Darcie has approximately 9,000 pennies. If she drops the jar and loses half of that amount, she subtracts approximately 4,500 pennies from her jar: 

9,000 - (0.5 * 9,000) = 4,500

65.

If the value of y is between -0.60 and 0.01, which of the following could be the value of y?

  • -0.1

  • -0.75

  • 0.11

  • -0.65

  • 0.21

Correct answer: -0.1

-0.10 is between -0.60 and 0.01.

-0.75 and -0.65 are smaller than -0.60, and 0.11 and 0.21 are greater than 0.01.

66.

What is the perimeter of a rectangle with a length of 13 and a width of 6?

  • 38

  • 19

  • 78

  • 112

  • 136

Correct answer: 38

The perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of all its sides. To get the perimeter, add up the sides of the rectangle: 

13 + 13 + 6 + 6 = 38

67.

Jan has a bag of bubble gum balls. The bag of bubble gum balls has 12 yellow balls, 15 green balls, 8 red balls, and 7 purple balls. If Jan reaches into her bag of bubble gum balls and randomly picks one, what is the probability that she will pick a purple bubble gum ball?

  • 1/6

  • 2/3

  • 4/21

  • 1/7

  • 1/4

Correct answer: 1/6

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

In this question, there are 7 purple gum balls (the number of desired outcomes), and there are a total of 42 gum balls (the total number of possible outcomes). Therefore, the probability of selecting a purple gum ball is 7/42, which reduces to 1/6.

68.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

If Movie NC-17 is 8 minutes shorter than Movie PG, what time does Movie NC-17 end?

  • 11:07

  • 11:17

  • 11:15

  • 10:07

Correct answer: 11:07

Movie NC-17 is 8 minutes shorter than Movie PG, which is 90 minutes long. Therefore, Movie NC-17 is 82 minutes long. 

If the start time is 9:45, then the movie must end at 11:07. Thus, 11:07 is the correct answer.

69.

If 5 + 2p = -1, what is the value of 1/3(p)?

  • -1

  • -3

  • 1

  • 3

  • -6

Correct answer: -1

First, subtract 5 from each side of the equation: 2p = -6

Now, divide each side of the equation by 2: p = -3

The question asks you to find the value of 1/3(p): 1/3 * -3 = -1

70.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Using the table of data, place the students' scores in order, from highest to lowest.

  • Holly, Blaine, Clay, Ashton

  • Blaine, Clay, Ashton, Holly

  • Clay, Ashton, Holly, Blaine

  • Ashton, Holly, Blaine, Clay

Correct answer: Holly, Blaine, Clay, Ashton

From the second column, you can rank three students based upon the information given: Holly, Blaine, and Clay. Ashton's percentile is not given, but because he had more incorrect answers (8) than Clay (7), his score must be lower than Blaine's.

71.

Read the passage, then answer the following question. 

This passage would most likely appear in:

  • A magazine article

  • An editorial

  • A doctoral thesis

  • A technology journal

  • A computer science textbook

Correct answer: A magazine article

The information is not too complex; therefore, a doctoral thesis, a technology journal, and a computer science textbook should be eliminated. Very little opinion is stated, if any, so eliminate an editorial. 

Since the information is described as recent, it would most likely appear in a magazine article.

72.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Kelsie is purchasing gifts for her children and buys 2 game consoles, 4 wireless controllers, 6 new games, and 4 used games. How many game consoles would Amber have to purchase in order to spend the same amount of money as Kelsie did?

  • 4

  • 1

  • 2

  • 3

Correct answer: 4

If you look at your answer choices before doing any calculations, you will identify that you can eliminate a few answer choices immediately.

You should identify that Kelsie purchased 2 game consoles and additional merchandise. Therefore, you can eliminate 1 and 2 immediately.

With a quick glance, you can identify that Kelsie spent more than $750.00, which will eliminate 3.

Eight game consoles would equal $2,000.00, which seems much more than Kelsie's total cost. Thus, you are left with 4, which is the correct answer.

73.

A vehicle seats 7 passengers. If there are 91 people, how many vehicles are needed to transport everyone?

  • 13 vehicles

  • 12 vehicles

  • 14 vehicles

  • 15 vehicles

  • 16 vehicles

Correct answer: 13 vehicles

To find the number of vehicles needed, divide 91 by 7. The answer comes out to 13.

74.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

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

  • Rubber mulch provides cushioning in case children should fall.

  • Rubber mulch is a little more expensive than wood mulch.

  • Children like walking on rubber mulch.

  • Rubber mulch is available in a variety of colors.

  • Rubber mulch does not need to be replaced every year.

Correct answer: Rubber mulch provides cushioning in case children should fall.

Rubber mulch has gained popularity among landscapers as a means to "go green" and because it does not need to be replaced every year. Parents love having rubber mulch used around their children's play areas. Rubber mulch provides cushioning in case children should fall. Wood mulch, on the other hand, is not as soft to land on and has the potential to stain clothing.

At first glance, it appears that a few sentences would fit into the passage; however, make sure you read beyond the blank line. The next sentence will help provide a clue to what the previous sentence should be.

For example, the answer choice that states "rubber mulch is available in a variety of colors" would fit in perfectly, until you read the next sentence that states wood mulch is not as soft to land on. Then you understand that the previous sentence should have something about rubber mulch being soft to land on.

75.

Tyler can weave 4 picnic baskets in 8 hours. On Monday, Tyler received an order for 88 picnic baskets. How long will it take Tyler to weave 88 picnic baskets?

  • 176 hours

  • 24 hours

  • 48 hours

  • 88 hours

  • 124 hours

Correct answer: 176 hours

The question gives you the initial relationship of 4 (picnic baskets) / 8 (hours), and you will need to set this relationship equal to what you want to find: 

4 (picnic baskets) / 8 (hours) = 88 (picnic baskets) / x (hours).

Now, you will need to cross multiply to solve the question: 

4x = (88)(8)

x = (22)(8)

x = 176 hours

76.

Roger wanted to purchase a small utility tractor. The tractor cost $12,500.00. The blade for the tractor cost $800.00. The bucket for the tractor cost $1,500.00. The brush guard for the tractor cost $900.00. 

If Roger wanted to purchase the tractor with the blade and the bucket, how much money would Roger need?

  • $14,800.00

  • $14,000.00

  • $14,200.00

  • $15,700.00

  • $15,000.00

Correct answer: $14,800.00

In order to find the amount of money Roger would need, add together the amounts for the items he wishes to buy:

$12,500.00 + $800.00 + $1,500.00 = $14,800.00

77.

3 more than 8 times a number is 27. What is the number?

  • 3

  • 4

  • 6

  • 2

  • 9

Correct answer: 3

In algebraic form, the equation is 3 + 8n = 27.

To solve the equation, subtract 3 from both sides of the equation, giving you 8n = 24. 

Divide both sides by 8 to get n = 3.

78.

How many minutes are there in five days?

  • 7,200

  • 1,440

  • 2,400

  • 6,000

  • 3,600

Correct answer: 7,200

In order to solve the problem, you need to convert the units from days to minutes, as follows: 

1 day * 24 hours / 1 day * 60 minutes / 1 hour = 1,440 minutes.

There are 1,440 minutes in one day. Multiply by 5 to get 7,200 minutes in five days.

79.

Bryan volunteers 90 minutes a month at the local fire department. Bryan's wife Justine volunteers 60 minutes a month. Together, how many minutes do Bryan and Justine volunteer each year?

  • 1,800 minutes

  • 1,080 minutes

  • 720 minutes

  • 1,600 minutes

  • 2,050 minutes

Correct answer: 1,800 minutes

Start by adding the number of minutes that Bryan and Justine both volunteer: 90 + 60 = 150.

Now, multiply 150 by 12 months to get the annual number of minutes they volunteer: 150 * 12 = 1,800.

80.

Read the passage, then answer the following question. 

Which of the following statements would the author most likely support?

  • Adult learners have the advantage of online courses and courses designed around their educational needs

  • Adult learners are the only students who are permitted to take online courses

  • Post-graduate education is on the decline

  • Companies are the only ones who benefit from adult education

  • The best way to learn is by attending traditional classes in a classroom

Correct answer: Adult learners have the advantage of online courses and courses designed around their educational needs

The author of the passage states how universities have created online courses and worked with employers in order to design classes that would work for both the employees' schedules and their educational needs.