HiSET Exam Questions

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81.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to Sentence 11?

  • Change “Northern” to “northern”

  • Insert a comma after “Hamburg”

  • No change

  • Change “from” to “for”

Correct answer: Change “Northern” to “northern”

As “northern” is being used to indicate a general region, it does not need to be capitalized. 

When there are only two items in a list, a comma is not needed to separate them; therefore, a comma is not needed after “Hamburg.” The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

82.

If a class consists of 15 men and 12 women, what is the ratio of women to the class?

  • 12:27

  • 12:15

  • 15:12

  • 12:3

Correct answer: 12:27

This question is asking the relationship between the number of women and the total number of people in the class (not just men). 

We find the total number of people by adding men and women together, which equals 27. 

The number of women in the class is 12, so the ratio is 12:27.

83.

Express 92,345 in scientific notation.

  • 9.2345 x 104

  • 92.345 x 103

  • 0.92345 x 105

  • 923.45 x 102

Correct answer: 9.2345 x 104

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 9.2345. In going from 9.2345 to 92,345, you move the decimal point 4 places to the right. Each move represents a multiplication by 10, and 4 moves represents a multiplication by 104. Therefore, the correct answer is 9.2345 x 104.

84.

There are 210 students in a nursing school class. After graduation, 30 will work in home health care. What is the ratio of students who will work in home health care to those who will not work in home health care? Simplify your answer.

  • 1:6

  • 2:12

  • 1:7

  • 30:180

Correct answer: 1:6

If 30 work in home health care, 180 will not (210-30 = 180).

The ratio of those who work in home health care to those who do not is thus 30:180.

The highest common denominator of 30 and 180 is 30.

30/30 = 1

180/30 = 6

Therefore, the ratio of graduates who will work in home health care to those who will work elsewhere is 1:6.

85.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

In what line of the poem does Frost let the reader know the time of day?

  • Line 11

  • Line 4

  • Line 6

  • Line 15

Correct answer: Line 11

In line 11 of the poem, Frost writes, "And both that morning equally lay." This is the first time in the poem that the reader is given any indication as to what time of day the poem is set.

86.

If a 6-foot man was placed 10 feet away from a concave mirror that had a 5-foot focal length, what would be the image distance of the man?

  • 10 feet

  • 5 feet

  • 2 feet

  • 50 feet

Correct answer: 10 feet

In order to find the relationship between the object distance (o), the image distance (i), and the focal length (f), you will need to use the following equation: 

1/f = 1/o + 1/i

In this case, f = 5 feet and o = 10 feet. 

1/5 = 1/10 + 1/i

(1/5) - (1/10) = 1/i

Since 1/5 is equal to 2/10,

(2/10) - (1/10) = 1/i

1/10 = 1/i

i = 10 feet.

87.

A ball is thrown off the roof of a house with a starting velocity of 10 mph and hits the ground at a final velocity of 30 mph. The trip to the ground takes 5 seconds. What is the acceleration of the ball?

  • 14,389 miles / hour²

  • 4 miles / hour²

  • 6 miles / hour²

  • 21,739 miles / hour²

Correct answer: 14,389 miles / hour²

The formula is Acceleration = change in velocity / change in time.

Acceleration = (30 mph - 10 mph) / 5 sec

Convert to common units:

1hr = 60min = 3,600sec

5 sec / 3600 sec/hr = .00139 hrs

Calculate:

(30 - 10) / 0.00139 = 14,389

88.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct the punctuation in Sentence 8?

  • Remove the comma after “sporty”

  • Insert a comma after “explorer”

  • Insert a comma after “SUV”

  • Insert a comma after “outdoor”

Correct answer: Remove the comma after “sporty”

In this sentence, "sporty" describes the word "explorer," and a comma is not needed to separate the two words. 

A comma is not necessary after "SUV" as the introductory phrase is less than four words. The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

89.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

Which of the following observations about petroleum in the United States is supported by the passage?

  • The increased production of petroleum is vital in order to meet global demands

  • Petroleum is the second most used energy source for transportation in the United States

  • Americans use petroleum because it is the cheapest source of energy

  • Petroleum is a man-made substance that provides jobs for American workers

Correct answer: The increased production of petroleum is vital in order to meet global demands

The second to last sentence in the passage states, “As global demand rises, it is vital to produce more North American energy.” 

The passage states that petroleum is a naturally-occurring liquid; therefore, it is not a man-made substance. Nowhere in the passage does it state the expense of petroleum or that it is the cheapest source of energy. The passage states that petroleum accounts for 97 percent of the energy used for transportation; therefore, it is the primary energy source for transportation.

90.

A couple tipped their waitress 18% of their $62.43 check. What amount did the waitress receive as a tip?

  • $11.24

  • $9.36

  • $12.49

  • $10.61

Correct answer: $11.24

In order to solve this problem, convert 18% to a decimal.

18% = 18/100 = 0.18

Multiply the check total by the percentage and round to the nearest penny.

$62.43 × 0.18 = $11.2374 = $11.24

91.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

In which economic structure does the government use price fluctuations to balance the economy?

  • Mixed economy

  • Traditional economy

  • Command economy

  • Market economy

Correct answer: Mixed economy

In a mixed economy,  the government controls the price fluctuations to achieve certain objectives. 

Traditional and market economies are not controlled by the government at all. In a command economy, the government completely controls the economy in all ways, not just in price fluctuations.

92.

Last month, the balance in Samantha’s checkbook was $807.25. Since then, she has deposited her latest pay check of $1,981.16 and written checks for $650.00 (rent), $299.90 (car payment), and $221.27 (student loan payment). 

What is the current balance of Samantha's checking account?

  • $1,617.24

  • $1,802.98

  • $1,465.83

  • $1,232.09

Correct answer: $1,617.24

In order to determine the current balance in Samantha's account, we take the original balance in her account and add it to her pay check. 

$807.25 + $1981.16 = $2788.41. 

Next, we subtract Samantha's payments from this amount.

$2788.41 - $650 - $299.90 - $221.27 = $1617.24.

93.

Subtract (x - 2x + 3) from (2x - 3 - 5x).

  • -2x - 6

  • 2x + 9

  • -2x - 9

  • 2x + 6

Correct answer: -2x - 6

Calculate the operation.

(2x - 3 - 5x) - (x - 2x + 3)

(-3x - 3) - (3 - x)

-3x - 3 + (- 3) - (-x)

-3x - 3 - 3 + x

-2x - 6

94.

Jack drives x miles one day, y miles the next, and z miles the third. What is the total number of miles driven by Jack?

  • x + y + z

  • xyz

  • (x + y + z)/3

  • xy + z

Correct answer: x + y + z

The questions asks for a total number, which requires only addition. Therefore, x + y + z = total number of miles driven.

95.

St. Mary's Hospital has a total of six floors. The total patient census at St. Mary's today is 280 patients. One of every seven patients today is on the pediatric floor. How many patients are on the pediatric floor at St. Mary's today?

  • 40

  • 140

  • 46

  • 28

Correct answer: 40

A ratio can be used to solve this problem. Since one out of every seven patients is on the pediatric floor, the ratio used to solve the problem is 1:7. 

In the following equation, x is used to represent the unknown number of pediatric patients out of the known 280 total patients at St. Mary's Hospital:

1/7 = x/280

Cross multiply: 7x = 1 × 280

7x = 280

x = 280/7

x = 40

Forty patients are on the pediatric floor at St. Mary's today.

96.

Roselyn lost 4% after selling her used couch for $320. Find the original price of the couch.

  • $333

  • $336

  • $340

  • $342

Correct answer: $333

The original price of the couch is 100% of the selling price, minus 4%.

100% - 4% = 96%, or 0.96.

Set up an equation to solve for the original cost, c.

320 = 0.96c

320 ÷ 0.96 = c

c = 333.33 = ~$333

97.

A pharmacy filled 25 brand name prescriptions, 35 generic prescriptions, and some over-the-counter (OTC) prescriptions. There is a 1 to 3 ratio of generic prescriptions to OTC prescriptions. 

Which of the following numbers in the problem are needed to find the total number of OTC prescriptions that were filled?

  • 35, 1, and 3 only

  • 25, 1, and 3 only

  • 35, 25, 1, and 3

  • 1 and 3 only

Correct answer: 35, 1, and 3 only

In order to find the actual number of OTC prescriptions, you need the numbers in the initial ratio, plus one actual number. This can be set up as an equation:

1 = 35
3     x

You do not need the number of brand name prescriptions because this is not part of the ratio that is given.

98.

Jack mixed salt and sugar in a ratio of 2:3 in a container to investigate its taste and other characteristics. If the total weight of the mixture was 115 grams, how many more grams of sugar were added than grams of salt?

  • 23 grams

  • 77 grams

  • 46 grams

  • 38 grams

Correct answer: 23 grams

The total weight of the mixture is 115 grams. Add together the parts to get the whole:

2 + 3 = 5

Since salt represents 2 out of 5 of the parts, find 2/5 of 115.

2 x 115 = 230 = 46 grams
5                5

To find the weight of the sugar, simply subtract the weight of the salt (46) from the total weight.

115 - 46 = 69 grams

To find the difference between the weights of sugar and salt, subtract the two.

69 - 46 = 23 grams

99.

Read the passage, and then answer the following question.

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

  • Change “play” to “plays”

  • Change “an” to “a”

  • Change “a” to “an”

  • Change “who” to “whom”

Correct answer: Change “play” to “plays”

The subject of the verb “play” is “Transportation,” which is singular and requires the use of a singular verb; therefore, use “plays” instead of “play.” 

As a rule, “an” should only be used before words that start with a vowel (i.e., a, e, i, o, and u) or before a word that contains an unpronounced “h” (e.g., hour). Therefore, “a” should be used before words that begin with a consonant (i.e., b, c, d, f, …). In this sentence, the “a” and “an” are used correctly. As a rule, use “who” to refer to a subject (“suburban resident”) of a clause and “whom” to refer to an object of a clause. In this sentence, “who” is used appropriately.

100.

What are the bases of DNA?

  • Adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine

  • Adenine, guanine, and thymine

  • Adenine, guanine, and uracil

  • Adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil

Correct answer: Adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine

The four nitrogen-containing nucleobases of DNA are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. The relationships between the bases are always constant. Adenine and thymine always bond to one another, and cytosine and guanine always bond to one another. 

Uracil is one of the four nucleobases found in RNA, not DNA.