Praxis Core Exam Questions

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81.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

After John mows the lawn, “and he will need to weed” the flowerbeds.

  • He will need to weed

  • And he will need to weed

  • Because he will need to weed

  • So he will need to weed

  • So that he will need to weed

Correct answer: He will need to weed

The original sentence contains a coordinating conjunction error. The sentence contains a dependent clause followed by an independent clause, and each of the clauses begins with a conjunction. In order to correct the sentence, one of the conjunctions needs to be eliminated. 

The option “he will need to weed” eliminates the unnecessary coordinating conjunction.

82.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

Which of the following questions is not directly answered by the passage?

  • How can the aesthetics of windmills be improved?

  • What are the traditional functions of windmills?

  • What new technology is required for wind power?

  • Could windmills create enough energy to sustain an entire nation?

  • What are some drawbacks of windmills?

Correct answer: How can the aesthetics of windmills be improved?

The author admits that one of the disadvantages of windmills is that they can be "an eyesore," but does not offer ways in which this can be improved. Aesthetics refers to the appreciation of beauty, which is not answered in this passage.

The author states that the traditional functions of windmills include grinding grain, draining land, and pumping water. The author also clearly states that no new technology is required for wind power, and that windmills are not powerful enough alone to create enough electricity for an entire nation. The author outlines several drawbacks to windmills in the second half of the passage.

83.

What is the difference between 1.6 and 0.154?

  • 1.446

  • 0.06

  • 1.584

  • 1.754

  • 1.06

Correct answer: 1.446

When subtracting decimals, be sure to align the decimals vertically:

  1.600
-0.154
=1.446

84.

What is the measure of ∠A?

  • 16º

  • 106º

  • 24º

  • 8º

  • 72º

Correct answer: 16º

The total number of degrees in any triangle is 180. 

1. Subtract 74º from 180º.

180º - 74º = 106º

2. ∠B is a right angle, so subtract 90º from 106º.

106º - 90º = 16º

85.

What is the sum of 10 1/3, -9 2/9, and 5 2/3?

  • 6 7/9

  • 7 2/9

  • 25 2/9

  • 24 7/9

  • 25 7/9

Correct answer: 6 7/9

Add the three fractional amounts. In order to get the same denominator for each fraction, change 1/3 to 3/9, and 2/3 to 6/9.

Then, add the numbers, remembering that 9 2/9 is negative.

10 3/9 - 9 2/9 + 5 6/9 = 6 7/9

86.

Choose the answer that expresses most effectively what is presented in the original sentence.

Who knows who is next in line?

  • Who knows who

  • Who knows whom

  • Whom knows who

  • Who knew whom

  • Whom knows whom

Correct answer: Who knows who

In both cases in this sentence, who is being used as the subject of a clause. Therefore, the underlined portion of the sentence is correct and does not need to be changed.

"Whom" should be used when referring to an object, while "who" should be used when referring to a subject. "Who knows whom," "whom knows who," "who knew whom, " and "whom knows whom" are all incorrect because there are no objects in this sentence, only subjects.

87.

Lillian took six tests during one semester of math class. What is the range of her test scores?

68 87 81 93 89 75

  • 25

  • 82

  • 84

  • 93

  • 12

Correct answer: 25

The range of a set of numbers is the difference between the highest and lowest scores.

1. Order the numbers from least to greatest.

68 75 81 87 89 93

2. Subtract the lowest score from the highest.

93 - 68 =  25

88.

E.J. was averaging his test scores and came up with 91.9998 as his answer. What is E.J.'s average test score, rounded to the nearest tenth?

  • 92.0

  • 91.0

  • 91.90

  • 91.8

  • 90

Correct answer: 92.0

First, eliminate answer choices 91.90 and 90. These answer choices are not rounded to the nearest tenth.

To round 91.9998 to the nearest tenth, you need to look at the digit in the hundredths place. The digit is 9. Rounding tells you that if the digit is 5 or greater, round up.

Thus, you need to round the digit in the tenths place from 9 up to 10, making 91.9998 go to 92.0.

89.

What is the area of the triangle in the graph?

  • 7.5

  • 12

  • 15

  • 9

  • 8.5

Correct answer: 7.5

1. Find the measurements of the triangle.

To find the area of a triangle, we only need to know the base and height. Based on the measurements in the graph, a is 5 and b is 3.

2. Find the area of the triangle.

Area = (1/2)(base)(height)

A = (1/2)(3)(5)

A = (1/2)(15) = 7 1/2, or 7.5

90.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Which of the following can be concluded from the table provided?

  • Only males are playing football and baseball

  • Only males are playing softball

  • There are equal numbers of males and females playing all sports

  • More females are playing soccer than males

Correct answer: Only males are playing football and baseball

You are able to look at the table and determine that there are no females playing football or baseball.

91.

Read the passage and then answer the following question.

Which of the following is implied by the passage?

  • Hayes was president of the United States during the Gilded Age

  • Hayes' presidency was the reason the Gilded Age was such a peaceful time

  • Hayes was very difficult to work with

  • Grant's presidency helped to strengthen the United States as a nation

  • The day of redemption was a successful method of addressing the failing economy

Correct answer: Hayes was president of the United States during the Gilded Age

The passage begins with a paragraph defining the Gilded Age, then begins discussing Hayes' presidency and various events associated with it. The reader can therefore imply that Hayes was president at some point during the Gilded Age.

There is nothing in the passage that indicates the Gilded Age was a peaceful time; in fact, the opposite is implied. The author does not imply that Hayes was difficult to work with, though does outline several challenging events of his presidency due to the economy and the Civil War. In the second paragraph, the writer mentions that Hayes' presidency followed the "debacle of Grant," indicating that Grant's presidency likely had a negative impact on the nation rather than strengthening it. The final paragraph states that the day of redemption was "anticlimactic" rather than being a success as Hayes hoped it would be.

92.

Read the passage, then answer the following question.

The passage answers all questions except:

  • How many smartphones were purchased last month?

  • What percentage of smartphone owners downloaded an app last month?

  • What percentage of smartphone owners downloaded a game within the last month?

  • Do smartphone owners use their phones to check the weather?

  • Do smartphone owners use their phones as a navigational tool?

Correct answer: How many smartphones were purchased last month?

The passage states that more people are switching to smartphones for their mobile phone use, but the passage does not state how many smartphones were purchased last month.

93.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

Botanists, “people that study plants,” understand the chemical makeup of particular plants.

  • People who study plants

  • People that study plants

  • People which study plants

  • People whom study plants

  • That study plants

Correct answer: People who study plants

The original sentence contains a relative pronoun error. The pronoun “that” is being used inappropriately as a personal relative pronoun to relate the adjective clause to “people;” the appropriate personal relative pronoun to use is “who.”

94.

If 4d + 4 < 40, which of the following must be true?

  • d < 9

  • d < -9

  • d > 4

  • d > 36

  • d < 8

Correct answer: d < 9

Subtract 4 from both sides of the equation: 4d < 36

Divide both sides of the equation by 4: d < 9

95.

Select the underlined portion that must be revised to produce a correct sentence.

There are many activities, like music and art; that do not require language, so you shouldn't be afraid to try a new hobby.

  • Art; that

  • Activities, like

  • Language, so

  • Shouldn't

  • No error

Correct answer: Art; that

Semicolons only separate two independent clauses, which are not found in this sentence. To make the sentence correct, the semicolon should be replaced with a comma.

All of the remaining answer options are correct and do not need to be changed.

96.

Susan counted the berries as she was picking them. She counted 268, 292, 148, 109, and 349. Rounding each number to the nearest hundred, what is the sum of the berries Susan picked?

  • 1,100

  • 1,200

  • 1,000

  • 900

  • 1,300

Correct answer: 1,100

Rounding tells you that if the number is between x00 and x49, round down, or if it is between x50 and x99, round up.

This is how you would round the numbers in the question: 268 = 300, 292 = 300, 148 = 100, 109 = 100, and 349 = 300.

Now, you need to sum the numbers that are rounded: 300 + 300 + 100 + 100 + 300 = 1,100.

If you would have summed the numbers first, you would have received 1,166, which would be rounded to 1,200.

97.

The 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

  • 35, 25, and 3 only

Correct answer: 35, 1, and 3 only

In order to find the actual number of OTC prescriptions, you need the initial ratio, plus one actual number. The initial ratio of generic to OTC is 1 to 3, and the actual number of generic is 35.

You do not need the fact that there were brand name prescriptions filled. This piece of information does nothing to help you solve the ratio box involving generic and OTC.

98.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

The information given shows the starting speed and ending speed for five consecutive days. If the same speed increase occurs throughout each day, what was the starting speed on day 5?

  • 33

  • 33 1/4

  • 33 1/2

  • 34

Correct answer: 33

Each day the speed increases 3 1/4. If you add this to day 4's starting speed, the ending speed will be 33. This would also be the starting speed for day 5.

99.

Choose the option that best expresses the intended meaning of the quoted portion of the original sentence; this answer should use proper grammar, diction, sentence construction, and punctuation.

One farmer states that there is opportunity for the growth of crops in the winter months “but in areas where the temperature does not go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.”

  • Only in areas where the temperature does not go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Exclusive to areas where the temperature does not go above 32 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Unless the temperature goes below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas

  • Only where the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit in areas

  • Except for temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas

Correct answer: Only in areas where the temperature does not go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit

The second portion of the given sentence describes areas that have certain characteristics (temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit). “Only” is the appropriate linking word to set apart those areas.

The options that reads “only where the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit in areas” does not make sense; therefore, the correct option is “only in areas where the temperature does not go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.”

100.

The sentence below contains four portions that are identified with quotation marks. Read the sentence and determine which portion contains an error in diction, usage, idiom, or grammar.

I asked my mother if I could “borrowing” money to buy tickets for the “upcoming” concert, “but” she said that she “would” only lend me money for necessities.

  • Borrowing

  • Upcoming

  • But

  • Would

  • No error

Correct answer: Borrowing

This sentence has a verb tense error. The sentence indicates that the child had borrowed money from his mother to buy tickets; however, the child was in the process of asking if he could borrow money to buy tickets. “Borrowing” should be replaced with “borrow.” 

The other options are all appropriate uses of formal written English.