HiSET Exam Questions

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181.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct Sentence 2?

  • Change “are” to “is”

  • Change “increasingly” to “increasing”

  • Change “considered” to “consider”

  • Change “street” to “Street”

Correct answer: Change “are” to “is”

The subject (“decision”) that the verb (“are”) is referring to is singular; therefore, the verb needs to be singular (“is”). 

The word “street” should not be capitalized as it is not being used as a proper street name. The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

182.

The grouping of the known elements by their properties is known as what?

  • The periodic table

  • The periodic chart

  • The elemental table

  • The atomic summary

Correct answer: The periodic table

The periodic table groups the elements by their properties. It consists of a series of rows called periods and columns called groups. The periodic table is used to predict the behavior and makeup of an element based on its location in the chart. 

The remaining answers are fabricated.

183.

If a 100-watt light bulb is using a 220-volt power source, what is the current?

  • 0.45 amperes

  • 2.2 amperes

  • 1.1 amperes

  • 0.90 amperes

Correct answer: 0.45 amperes

The equation used to find the current is I = P/V (Current equals power divided by voltage). 

Since the power is 100 watts, and the voltage is 220 volts, 100 / 220 = 0.45 approximate amperes.

184.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Which of the following statements is supported by this cartoon?

  • The upper class has plenty of money but continues to be given additional benefits from the government

  • The poor and middle classes are equal in terms of resources

  • Rich people are willing to share with others

  • Middle-class children have more than enough to eat

Correct answer: The upper class has plenty of money but continues to be given additional benefits from the government

This cartoon shows that, although the rich have more than enough to eat, they are being given extra food by the government. These symbols mean that though the rich have plenty of resources, they are rewarded with tax cuts and additional monetary loopholes. The cartoonist shows the poor with only a few crumbs and the middle class with a reasonable slice of pie, so the two classes are not portrayed as having equal resources. 

There is no indication in this cartoon that the rich are sharing with others, nor does the cartoon support the fact that middle-class children have more than enough to eat; rather, it shows that they may have just enough to eat.

185.

Express 6,234,093 in scientific notation.

  • 6.234093 x 106

  • 0.6234093 x 107

  • 62.34093 x 105

  • 623.4093 x 104

Correct answer: 6.234093 x 106

To express a number in scientific notation, express it as the product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10. In this case, the number between 1 and 10 is 6.234093. In going from 6.234093 to 6,234,093, you move the decimal point 6 places to the right. Each move represents a multiplication by 10, and 6 moves represents a multiplication by 106. Therefore, the correct answer is 6.234093 x 106.

186.

Solve the following by adding.

3/9 + 2/9 

  • 5/9

  • 2/3

  • 1/9

  • 2 1/3

Correct answer: 5/9

1. Simplify 3/9 to 1/3

1/3 + 2/9

2. Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) of 1/3,2/9

Method 1: By Listing Multiples

List out all multiples of each denominator, and find the first common one.

3 : 3, 6, 9 

9 : 9

Therefore, the LCD is 9.

Method 2: By Prime Factors

List all prime factors of each denominator, and find the union of these primes.

3 : 3 

9 : 3, 3

Therefore, the LCD is 3×3=9.

3. Make the denominators the same as the LCD

(1×3)/(3×3) + 2/9

4. Simplify - Denominators are now the same

3/9 + 2/9

5. Join the denominators

(3+2)/9

6. Simplify

5/9

187.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

From what type of cells do gliomas and astrocytic tumors form?

  • Glial cells

  • Benign cells

  • Malignant cells

  • Cancer cells

Correct answer: Glial cells

According to the passage, gliomas and astrocytic tumors form from glial cells, which are cells that keep nerves healthy. This answer is found in the last sentence of the passage’s second paragraph. 

Benign refers to a noncancerous tumor, and malignant refers to a cancerous tumor.

188.

In his will, Mr. Lincoln left 40% of his estate to his wife and unevenly divided the balance between his two sons. If the younger son received $24,000 as his share, what was the total value of the estate?

  • Not enough information is given

  • $72,000

  • $48,000

  • $24,000

Correct answer: Not enough information is given

To find the value of the estate, you need to know either the elder son's share or the fractional part of the estate received by the younger son. Neither of these pieces of information is given.

189.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following individuals is most likely to be an economist, based on his or her definition of war?

  • Individual 4

  • Individual 2

  • Individual 3

  • Individual 1

Correct answer: Individual 4

Individual 4 states that "war is an action that has disturbing consequences on a nation’s economy." From this statement, readers can infer that this individual is an economist. 

Individual 1 is likely a teacher, Individual 2 a historian, and Individual 3 a psychologist.

190.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

According to the passage, microwaves were originally invented in order to do which of the following?

  • Spot Nazi warplanes

  • Cook food quickly

  • Tan women's skin

  • Replace the refrigerator

Correct answer: Spot Nazi warplanes

The passage states that "microwaves were able to spot Nazi warplanes on their way to bomb the British Isles." 

The passage’s first paragraph explains that the microwave was not invented as a result of someone trying to cook food quickly. The passage does not state that the microwave was invented to replace the refrigerator; it states that the first microwaves were as big as refrigerators. There is no reference in the passage that indicates that microwaves were used to tan women's skin.

191.

In a certain set of numbers, the ratio of integers to non-integers is 1:6. What percentage of the numbers in the set are integers?

  • 14.3%

  • 15.1%

  • 50%

  • 31.4%

  • 85.7%

Correct answer: 14.3%

When you know that the given parts add up to the whole, then you can turn a part-to-part ratio into two part-to-whole ratios (put each term of the ratio over the sum of the terms). In this case, since all of the numbers in the set must be either integers or non-integers, the parts do add up to the whole. 

The sum of the terms in the ratio 1:6 is 7, so the two part-to-whole ratios are 1:7 and 6:7. 1/7 = 14.3%.

192.

Brenda is working in a pediatric clinic. Twenty patients come in today to see the doctor. If one in five patients requires treatment and the rest of the patients are there for well-baby visits, how many well babies will the doctor see today?

  • 16

  • 4

  • 20

  • 5

Correct answer: 16

This problem can be solved using ratios. If one in five babies requires treatment, four in five babies are well; therefore, the ratio used to solve the problem is 4:5. 

x is used to represent the unknown number of well babies. 

The following equation is used to solve for x:

4/5 = x/20

Cross multiply: 5x = 4 × 20

5x = 80

x = 80/5

x = 16

The doctor will see 16 well babies today.

193.

Forty-five percent of the employees answered that they were not satisfied with the leadership of the organization. If that percentage equals 36 employees, how many employees answered the question?

  • 80 employees

  • 55 employees

  • 64 employees

  • 92 employees

Correct answer: 80 employees

In order to solve the question, convert 45% to a decimal.

45% = 45/100 = 0.45

Then use the following equation with n representing the number of employees that answered the question.

0.45n = 36

n = 36 ÷ 0.45

n = 80

194.

Which of the following options is equivalent to 1 meter?

  • 100 centimeters

  • 10,000 millimeters

  • 10 kilometers

  • 1,000 centimeters

Correct answer: 100 centimeters

1 meter = 100 centimeters. There are 100 centimeters and 1000 millimeters in one meter. One kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters.

195.

How many yards are in 5,269 feet?

  • 1,756.33 yards

  • 15,807 yards

  • 1,656.33 yards

  • 1,317.25 yards

Correct answer: 1,756.33 yards

There are three feet in one yard; therefore, there are 1,756.33 yards in 5,269 feet (5,269 ÷ 3 = 1,756.33).

196.

How many hydrogen atoms does one molecule of water contain?

  • Two

  • One

  • Three

  • None

Correct answer: Two

Water is comprised of two hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one oxygen atom. The symbol for water is H2O; the "2" in the chemical formula notates that there are two hydrogen atoms.

197.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Based on the passage, which of the following options is inconsistent with a monarchy?

  • Multiple elected officials govern a nation

  • The leader of the government has absolute control

  • One individual makes all decisions for his or her nation

  • Citizens are governed by a king or a queen

Correct answer: Multiple elected officials govern a nation

The passage states that in a monarchy, a single individual governs. Multiple elected officials governing a nation is inconsistent with a monarchy because multiple people are involved, and a monarchy requires only a single ruler.

198.

There were 150 individuals who took an exam. Of those individuals, 54 of them passed and the rest failed. What is the ratio of those who passed to those who failed?

  • 9/16

  • 1/3

  • 3/8

  • 1/2

Correct answer: 9/16 

There were 150 individuals in all. Of those, 54 passed, so subtract this amount from the total number to find out how many failed.

150 - 54 = 96

The ratio of people who passed to people who failed is 54:96, or 54/96. 

Simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 6.

54/96 ÷ 6/6 = 9/16

199.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to Sentence 7?

  • Replace “Its” with “It’s”

  • Replace “that” with “which”

  • Replace “gives” with “give”

  • Insert a comma after “pollutants”

Correct answer: Replace “Its” with “It’s”

In sentence 7, "its" is short for "it is;" therefore, you would need to use the contraction “it’s.” 

The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

200.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct Sentence 2?

  • Change “its” to “it’s”

  • Change “Ash” to “ash”

  • Change “Lent” to “lent”

  • Change “that” to “which”

Correct answer: Change “its” to “it’s”

The sentence says, “Traditionally, it is the ….” “It’s” is the contraction for “it is” and should be used here. 

“Ash” and “Lent” should both remain capitalized as they both refer to holy days. The pronoun “that” is used correctly as it refers to “sober weeks” in a restrictive clause (not set off with commas).