HiSET Exam Questions

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21.

Sandy earned 2.5% commission on all of her sales. In May, Sandy sold $175,162. How much was Sandy’s commission check for May?

  • $4,379.05

  • $4,790.50

  • $5,254.86

  • $6,274.30

Correct answer: $4,379.05

In order to solve the problem, multiply the sales by the commission percentage.

$175,162 × 0.025 = $4,379.05

22.

If 6x2 - 2 = 94, what is the value of x4 - 5x?

  • 236

  • 192

  • 64

  • 128

Correct answer: 236

To solve, you must first solve for x. 

6x2 - 2 = 94

6x2 = 94 + 2

x2 = 96/6 = 16

x = 4

Next, solve for the other equation (x4 - 5x), using the value of 4 for x.

x4 - 5x = 44 - 5(4) = 256 - 20 = 236

23.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following best uses a conjunctive adverb to rewrite Sentence 11?

  • However, the new code was not mandatory at first …

  • Meanwhile, the new code was not mandatory at first …

  • Therefore, the new code was not mandatory at first …

  • Instead, the new code was not mandatory at first …

Correct answer: However, the new code was not mandatory at first …

In order to figure out which conjunctive adverb should be used, the reader should figure out the context of Sentence 11 by reading Sentence 10, which states when the use of ZIP codes started. Sentence 11 states that the ZIP code was not made mandatory at first; therefore, “however” is the appropriate conjunctive adverb to use. 

24.

Every 30 minutes, 500 Americans are involved in vehicular accidents. How many vehicular accidents occur in 600 minutes?

  • 10,000 accidents

  • 18,000 accidents

  • 5,000 accidents

  • 9,000 accidents

Correct answer: 10,000 accidents

In order to find out how many vehicle accidents occur over a 600-minute period, you need to start by finding out how many 30-minute periods are in 600 minutes.

600 ÷ 30 = 20 periods

Next, multiply the number of periods by the number of accidents per period.

20 × 500 = 10,000

25.

The ratio of students to teachers in a kindergarten school is 30:1. If there are 8 teachers, what is the total number of people in the school?

  • 248

  • 240

  • 312

  • 232

Correct answer: 248

The ratio of students to teachers is 30:1, so we can set up a proportion to find out how many students are in the school.

30 students/1 teacher = x students/8 teachers

30/1 = x/8

x = 240

Add the numbers of teachers and students to find the total number of people in the school.

240 + 8 = 248

26.

Find the result of the following operation:

Multiply 3/4 by itself, then subtract the result from 1.

  • 7/16

  • 9/16

  • -7/16

  • -9/16

Correct answer: 7/16

The operation is 1 - (3/4 × 3/4).

First, multiply 3/4 by 3/4.

3/4 × 3/4 = 9/16

Solve the expression by converting 1 into a fraction.

1 - 9/16 

16/16 - 9/16 = 7/16

27.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

The author uses colors such as purple and crimson to create a visual picture for readers. Which of the following terms identifies this literary device.

  • Imagery

  • Alliteration

  • Periphrasis

  • Symbolism

Correct answer: Imagery

Imagery is when an author uses words to create mental images for the viewer, as O'Connor does with colors. 

Alliteration is when an author uses words beginning with the same letter; periphrasis is the use of excessive words to describe something that could have been described with fewer words; and symbolism is a device that could contain several layers of meaning.

28.

Solve the following by adding.

10 1/9 + 2 1/4 

  • 12 13/36

  • 12 2/9

  • 20 2/9

  • 8 1/5

Correct answer: 12 13/36

1. Convert 10 1/9 to improper fraction.

Use this rule: a b/c = (ac+b)/c

(10×9+1)/9 + 2 1/4

2. Simplify 10×9 to 90

(90+1)/9 + 2 1/4

3. Simplify 90+1 to 91

91/9 + 2 1/4

4. Convert 2 1/4 to improper fraction.

Use this rule: a b/c = (ac+b)/c

91/9 + (2×4+1)/4

5. Simplify 2×4 to 8

91/9 + (8+1)/4

6. Simplify 8+1 to 9

91/9 + 9/4

7. Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) of 91/9,9/4

Method 1: By Listing Multiples List out all multiples of each denominator, and find the first common one.

9 : 9,18,27,36

4 : 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36

Therefore, the LCD is 36

Method 2: By Prime Factors List all prime factors of each denominator, and find the union of these primes.

9 : 3,3

4 : 2,2

Therefore, the LCD is 2×2×3×3=36

8. Make the denominators the same as the LCD

(91×4)/(9×4) + (9×9)/(4×9)

9. Simplify - Denominators are now the same

364/36 + 81/36

10. Join the denominators

(364+81)/36

11. Simplify

445/36

12. Convert to mixed fraction

12 13/36

29.

What type of individuals have two different alleles, such as Aa?

  • Heterozygous

  • Homozygous

  • Genotypical

  • Phenotypical

Correct answer: Heterozygous

Heterozygous individuals have two different alleles, such as Aa. The genotype is an allele that an individual possesses for a particular trait, and the phenotype is an observable trait that a particular individual possesses. 

Homozygous individuals have two identical alleles, such as AA or aa.

30.

How many milliliters are in 13.30 liters?

  • 13,300 milliliters

  • 133,000 milliliters

  • 1,330 milliliters

  • 133 milliliters

Correct answer: 13,300 milliliters

There are 1,000 milliliters in one liter; therefore, there are 13,300 milliliters in 13.30 liters (1,000 x 13.30 = 13,300).

31.

A molecule is composed of which of the following?

  • Atoms

  • Molecules

  • Organelles

  • Cells

Correct answer: Atoms

The human analogous hierarchy of complexity is as follows: an organism is composed of organ systems; an organ system is composed of organs; an organ is composed of tissues; a tissue is composed of cells; a cell is composed of organelles; an organelle is composed of molecules; and a molecule is composed of atoms.

32.

A book writing conference of 800 individuals had a 3 to 1 ratio of women to men. How many men attended the book writing conference?

  • 200 men

  • 150 men

  • 220 men

  • 260 men

Correct answer: 200 men

Set up an equation, with x representing the number of men.

Because there were 3 times as many women as men, 3x equals the number of women.

Solve the following equation:

x + 3x = 800

4x = 800

x = 200 

33.

When using Coulomb’s law to determine the force between two objects, what does the “d” in the formula represent?

  • The distance of separation between two objects

  • The electrostatic force of attraction or repulsion between objects 1 and 2

  • A constant

  • The quantity of charge on an object

Correct answer: The distance of separation between two objects

Coulomb's law describes electrostatic interaction between electrically charged particles. The equation is F = (k x Q1 x Q2)/ d*2. The “d” in Coulomb’s law represents the distance of separation between two objects. 

The “F” represents the electrostatic force of attraction or repulsion between objects 1 and 2. The “Q” in Coulomb’s law represents the quantity of charge on an object. The “k” represents the Coulomb’s law constant (9 x 109 N x m2 / C2).

34.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

According to the passage, oil is a product of which of the following?

  • Hydrogen and carbon compounds

  • Transportation fuel

  • Petroleum products

  • Fertilizers and feedstock

Correct answer: Hydrogen and carbon compounds

The passage’s first sentence identifies that petroleum, otherwise known as crude oil, is a liquid that is composed of hydrogen and carbon compounds. 

The passage identifies that oil and petroleum are the same substance. The passage also states that oil is used for transportation fuel, along with fertilizers and feedstock.

35.

Meghan has exactly 23 weeks until she retires. She works 8-hour days, 5 days each week. How many hours of work does Meghan have before she retires?

  • 920 hours

  • 960 hours

  • 1,220 hours

  • 1,020 hours

Correct answer: 920 hours 

First, convert 23 weeks to working days.

23 weeks × 5 days / 1 week = 115 days

Next, convert 115 days to working hours.

115 days × 8 hours / 1 day = 920 hours

36.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

The name of the town in this passage is High Point, yet it was buried at the bottom of a mountain. This is an example of what type of literary device?

  • Irony

  • Metaphor

  • Description

  • Cliffhanger

Correct answer: Irony

Irony is a literary device in which words are used to present a contradiction. The result may be quite different than what is expected, such as the tragic ending of the story being the opposite of the name of the city, High Point. 

A metaphor is a comparison between two seemingly different objects. Description is not a literary device. A cliffhanger is a story that ends before the conflict is resolved within a tense situation or between two characters.

37.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to Sentence 13?

  • Insert a comma after “Emsland”

  • Change “has been” to “had been”

  • Change “world” to “World”

  • Change “service” to “services”

Correct answer: Insert a comma after “Emsland”

Commas should always be used to separate items in an address, and in this case, the state (“Emsland”) and the country (“Germany”) should be separated with a comma. 

“World” is not a proper noun and does not need to be capitalized unless it is used at the beginning of a sentence or in a title. The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

38.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct Sentence 6?

  • Insert a comma after “Furthermore”

  • Replace “quality;” with “quality,”

  • Change “absorb” to “absorbs”

  • Change “improve” to “improved”

Correct answer: Insert a comma after “Furthermore”

A comma should be used to set off interjections and introductory conjunctions; therefore, it is necessary to place a comma after the introductory conjunction (“Furthermore”). 

The use of a semicolon after “quality” is appropriate, as it is being used to join two independent clauses. The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

39.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to Sentence 5?

  • Change “are” to “were”

  • No change

  • Change “resistance” to “resistances”

  • Insert a comma after Alabama

Correct answer: Change “are” to “were”

The sentence is written in the past tense; therefore, the verb also needs to be written in the past tense. “Are” is a present tense verb, and “were” is a past tense verb.

When there are only two items in a list, do not use a comma after the first item. The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

40.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

The data shows the interest rates offered by two different banks every year. Stephen deposited $3,000 in Bank A at the beginning of 2009. How much more interest would he have earned during that year if he had deposited it in Bank B?

  • $6

  • $4

  • $3

  • $5

Correct answer: $6

The interest rate for Bank A in 2009 was 3.9% (or 0.039), so the interest earned on $3,000 is:

0.039 × 3000 = $117

The interest that would have been earned if Stephen had deposited that amount in Bank B is:

0.041 × 3000 = $123

The difference between these two is $123 - $117 = $6