Psat NMSQT Practice Test 1 PDF
Psat NMSQT Practice Test 1 PDF
Psat NMSQT Practice Test 1 PDF
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1
Reading Test
60 M I NU TES, 4 7 QUESTIONS
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
DIRECTIONS
Each passage or pair of passages below is followed by a number of questions. After reading
each passage or pair, choose the best answer to each question based on what is stated or
implied in the passage or passages and in any accompanying graphics (such as a table or
graph).
Line
5
10
15
20
25
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30
35
40
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50
55
60
CO NTI N U E
70
75
80
85
90
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65
1
The main purpose of the passage is to
A) describe a main character and a significant
change in her life.
B) provide an overview of a family and a nearby
neighbor.
C) discuss some regrettable personality flaws in a
main character.
D) explain the relationship between a main
character and her father.
2
Which choice best summarizes the first
two paragraphs of the passage (lines 1-14)?
A) Even though a character loses a parent at an
early age, she is happily raised in a loving home.
B) An affectionate governess helps a character to
overcome the loss of her mother, despite the
indifference of her father.
C) Largely as a result of her fathers wealth and
affection, a character leads a contented life.
D) A character has a generally comfortable and
fulfilling life, but then she must recover from
losing her mother.
3
The narrator indicates that the particular nature of
Emmas upbringing resulted in her being
A) despondent.
B) self-satisfied.
C) friendless.
D) inconsiderate.
4
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 1-5 (Emma . . . her)
B) Lines 9-14 (Her . . . affection)
C) Lines 28-32 (The real . . . enjoyments)
D) Lines 32-34 (The danger . . . her)
5
As used in line 26, directed most nearly means
A) trained.
B) aimed.
C) guided.
D) addressed.
CO NTI N U E
1
As used in line 54, want most nearly means
A) desire.
B) lack.
C) requirement.
D) request.
7
It can most reasonably be inferred that after
Miss Taylor married, she had
A) less patience with Mr. Woodhouse.
B) fewer interactions with Emma.
C) more close friends than Emma.
D) an increased appreciation for Emma.
8
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Line 37 (Miss . . . married)
B) Lines 47-48 (The event . . . friend)
C) Lines 60-65 (A large . . . recollection)
D) Lines 73-79 (How . . . solitude)
9
Which situation is most similar to the one described
in lines 83-91 (The evil . . . time)?
A) A mother and her adult son have distinct tastes
in art and music that result in repeated family
arguments.
B) The differences between an older and a younger
friend are magnified because the younger one is
more active and athletic.
C) An older and a younger scientist remain close
friends despite the fact that the older ones work
is published more frequently.
D) The age difference between a high school student
and a college student becomes a problem even
though they enjoy the same diversions.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
1
This passage is adapted from Marina Gorbis, The Nature of
the Future: Dispatches from the Socialstructed World. 2013
by Marina Gorbis.
Line
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
CO NTI N U E
1
45
50
55
60
65
.....................................................................................................................................................................
40
1
70
75
80
85
90
The following graph, from a 2011 report from the International Data Corporation, projects trends in digital information use to 2015
(E=Estimated).
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013E
2015E
CO NTI N U E
1
As used in line 10, plot most nearly means
A) mark.
B) form.
C) plan.
D) claim.
11
The references to the shoemaker, the programmer,
and the apple farmer in lines 37-40 (We can
easily . . . community) primarily serve to
A) illustrate the quality of products and services in
countries around the world.
B) emphasize the broad reach of technologies used
to connect people.
C) demonstrate that recommendations made online
are trustworthy.
D) call attention to the limits of the expansion of the
global economy.
12
The passages discussion of life in the Soviet Union in
the 1960s and 1970s primarily serves to
A) introduce the concept of social networking.
B) demonstrate that technology has improved social
connections.
C) list differences between the Soviet Union and
other countries.
D) emphasize the importance of examining
historical trends.
13
As used in line 45, post most nearly means
A) publish.
B) transfer.
C) assign.
D) denounce.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
10
1
14
The author indicates that, in comparison to
individuals, traditional organizations have
tended to be
A) more innovative and less influential.
B) larger in size and less subject to regulations.
C) less reliable and less interconnected.
D) less efficient and more expensive.
15
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 22-26 (Empowered . . . connectedness)
B) Lines 40-42 (We no longer . . . ideas)
C) Lines 47-50 (We are moving . . .
socialstructing)
D) Lines 66-72 (amplified . . . ease)
16
The author recognizes counterarguments to the
position she takes in the passage by
A) acknowledging the risks and drawbacks
associated with new technologies and social
networks.
B) admitting that some people spend too much
time unproductively on the Internet.
C) drawing an analogy between conditions today
and conditions in the Soviet Union of the 1960s
and 1970s.
D) conceding that the drawbacks of socialstructing
may prove over time to outweigh the benefits.
17
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 35-37 (We can look . . . videos)
B) Lines 74-76 (a world . . . hackers)
C) Lines 79-84 (They . . . science)
D) Lines 85-87 (Much . . . time)
CO NTI N U E
1
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
18
Which statement best summarizes the information
presented in the graph?
A) Far more people around the world own
computers and cell phones today than in 2005.
B) The number of people sharing digital
information has more than tripled since 2005.
C) The volume of digital information created and
shared has increased tremendously in recent
years.
D) The amount of digital information created and
shared is likely to be almost 8 zettabytes in 2015.
19
According to the graph, which statement is true
about the amount of digital information projected to
be created and shared globally in 2012?
A) Growth in digital information creation and
sharing was projected to be wildly out of
proportion to growth in 2011 and 2013E.
B) The amount of digital information created and
shared was projected to begin a new upward
trend.
C) The amount of digital information created and
shared was projected to peak.
D) The amount of digital information created and
shared was projected to pass 2 zettabytes for the
first time.
CO NTI N U E
Line
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
541
Milligrams/deciliter
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
387
232
active
CO NTI N U E
1
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
20
The passage is written from the perspective of
someone who is
A) actively involved in conducting hibernator
research.
B) a participant in a recent debate in the field of
cardiology.
C) knowledgeable about advances in hibernator
research.
D) an advocate for wildlife preservation.
21
It is reasonable to conclude that the main goal of the
scientists conducting the research described in the
passage is to
A) learn how the hibernation patterns of bears and
squirrels differ.
B) determine the role that fat plays in hibernation.
C) illustrate the important health benefits of
exercise for humans.
D) explore possible ways to prevent human diseases.
22
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 1-5 (Understanding . . . dystrophy)
B) Lines 10-13 (Fat . . . squirrels)
C) Lines 31-35 (To . . . bears)
D) Lines 42-46 (Once . . . tissues)
23
What main effect do the quotations by Andrews in
lines 10-18 have on the tone of the passage?
A) They create a bleak tone, focusing on the
difficulties hibernators face during the winter.
B) They create a conversational tone, relating
scientific information in everyday language.
C) They create an ominous tone, foreshadowing the
dire results of Andrewss research.
D) They create an absurd tone, using images of
animals acting as if they were human.
24
As used in line 19, stores most nearly means
A) preservatives.
B) reserves.
C) stacks.
D) shelters.
25
Based on the passage, what is Frberts hypothesis
regarding why bears arteries do not harden during
hibernation?
A) The bears increased plasma cholesterol causes
the arteries to be more flexible.
B) Sluggish circulation pinches off the blood vessels
rather than hardening the arteries.
C) Bears exercise in short, infrequent bursts during
hibernation, which staves off hardened arteries.
D) Bears possess a molecule that protects against
hardened arteries.
CO NTI N U E
1
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 19-20 (Bigger . . . spring)
B) Lines 24-27 (The brown . . . day)
C) Lines 69-72 (Even . . . streaks)
D) Lines 73-76 (Its . . . well)
27
What information discussed in paragraph 10
(lines 58-68) is represented by the graph?
A) The information in lines 58-62 (Recent . . .
reported)
B) The information in lines 62-64 (These . . .
hibernation)
C) The information in lines 64-65 (Lolling . . .
circulation)
D) The information in lines 67-68 (Its . . . strokes)
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
26
10
28
Which statement about the effect of hibernation on
the seven bears is best supported by the graph?
A) Only one of the bears did not experience an
appreciable change in its total plasma cholesterol
level.
B) Only one of the bears experienced a significant
increase in its total plasma cholesterol level.
C) All of the bears achieved the desirable plasma
cholesterol level for humans.
D) The bear with the lowest total plasma cholesterol
level in its active state had the highest total
plasma cholesterol level during hibernation.
CO NTI N U E
1
This passage is from Andrew Carnegie, "Wealth," originally
published in 1889. Arriving penniless in Pennsylvania from
Scotland in 1848, Carnegie became one of the richest
people in the United States through the manufacture of
steel.
Line
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
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11
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
CO NTI N U E
1
Which choice best describes the structure of the
first paragraph?
A) A personal history is narrated, historical
examples are given, and a method is
recommended.
B) A position is stated, historical context is given,
and earnest advice is given.
C) Certain principles are stated, opposing principles
are stated, and a consensus is reached.
D) A historical period is described, and its attributes
are reviewed.
30
The author most strongly implies which of the
following about the ties of brotherhood (line 2)?
A) They were always largely fictitious and are more
so at present.
B) They are stronger at present than they ever were
before.
C) They are more seriously strained in the present
than in the past.
D) They will no longer be able to bring together the
rich and the poor.
31
The author uses dwelling, dress, food, and
environment (lines 7-8) as examples of
A) things more valued in the present than in
the past.
B) bare necessities of life.
C) things to which all people are entitled.
D) possible indications of differences in status.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
29
12
32
The author describes the people who live in the
houses of some (line 15) as interested in the
A) materials from which their houses are
constructed.
B) size of their homes.
C) advantages of culture.
D) pedigree of their guests.
33
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 9-10 (the palace . . . laborer)
B) Lines 15-16 (all . . . arts)
C) Lines 18-19 (Much . . . squalor)
D) Lines 19-20 (Without . . . Maecenas)
34
The author uses the phrase good old times (line 20)
as an example of
A) a clich that still has life and usefulness left in it.
B) a bit of folk wisdom from his childhood.
C) something said by those who have acquired great
riches.
D) something said by people who do not share his
viewpoint.
35
What is the authors main point about the
disadvantages of the modern economic system?
A) It provides only a few people with the advantages
of culture.
B) It replicates many of the problems experienced
in the past.
C) It creates divisions between different categories
of people.
D) It gives certain people great material advantages
over others.
CO NTI N U E
1
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 37-39 (The master . . . conditions)
B) Lines 43-45 (There was . . . State)
C) Lines 46-47 (The inevitable . . . prices)
D) Lines 65-66 (All intercourse . . . end)
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
36
13
37
As used in line 82, in its train is closest in
meaning to
A) before it.
B) with it.
C) anticipating it.
D) advancing it.
CO NTI N U E
1
Passage 1 is adapted from Stewart Brand, The Case for
Reviving Extinct Species. 2013 by the National
Geographic Society. Passage 2 is adapted from the editors
at Scientific American, Why Efforts to Bring Extinct Species
Back from the Dead Miss the Point. 2013 by Nature
America, Inc.
Passage 1
Line
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
14
40
45
50
55
60
65
38
The author of Passage 1 suggests that the usefulness
of de-extinction technology may be limited by the
A) amount of time scientists are able to devote to
genetic research.
B) relationship of an extinct species to
contemporary ecosystems.
C) complexity of the DNA of an extinct species.
D) length of time that a species has been extinct.
CO NTI N U E
1
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 7-9 (Thanks . . . life)
B) Lines 9-11 (Only . . . genetically)
C) Line 13 (It will be . . . difficult)
D) Lines 13-14 (It will take . . . succeed)
40
As used in line 27, deepest most nearly means
A) most engrossing.
B) most challenging.
C) most extensive.
D) most fundamental.
41
The authors of Passage 2 indicate that the matter of
shrinking biodiversity should primarily be
considered a
A) historical anomaly.
B) global catastrophe.
C) scientific curiosity.
D) political problem.
42
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A) Lines 37-41 (Species . . . ago)
B) Lines 42-45 (A program . . . woes)
C) Lines 53-56 (Against . . . irresponsible)
D) Lines 65-67 (Such . . . grave)
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
39
15
43
As used in line 37, great most nearly means
A) lofty.
B) wonderful.
C) large.
D) intense.
44
The reference to the black-footed ferret and the
northern white rhino (line 64) serves mainly to
A) emphasize a key distinction between extinct and
living species.
B) account for types of animals whose numbers are
dwindling.
C) provide examples of species whose gene pools
are compromised.
D) highlight instances of animals that have failed to
adapt to new habitats.
45
Which choice best states the relationship between the
two passages?
A) Passage 2 attacks a political decision that
Passage 1 strongly advocates.
B) Passage 2 urges caution regarding a technology
that Passage 1 describes in favorable terms.
C) Passage 2 expands on the results of a research
study mentioned in Passage 1.
D) Passage 2 considers practical applications that
could arise from a theory discussed in Passage 1.
CO NTI N U E
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
46
47
Which choice would best support the claim that the
authors of Passage 2 recognize that the imagination
soars (line 24, Passage 1) in response to
de-extinction technology?
A) Lines 28-30 (The . . . news)
B) Lines 30-33 (Yet . . . crisis)
C) Lines 58-59 (That . . . altogether)
D) Lines 61-63 (For . . . diversity)
STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only.
Do not turn to any other section.
16
2
Writing and Language Test
35 M I NU TES, 4 4 QUESTIONS
Turn to Section 2 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
DIRECTIONS
Each passage below is accompanied by a number of questions. For some questions, you
will consider how the passage might be revised to improve the expression of ideas. For
other questions, you will consider how the passage might be edited to correct errors in
sentence structure, usage, or punctuation. A passage or a question may be accompanied by
one or more graphics (such as a table or graph) that you will consider as you make revising
and editing decisions.
Some questions will direct you to an underlined portion of a passage. Other questions will
direct you to a location in a passage or ask you to think about the passage as a whole.
After reading each passage, choose the answer to each question that most effectively
improves the quality of writing in the passage or that makes the passage conform to the
conventions of standard written English. Many questions include a NO CHANGE option.
Choose that option if you think the best choice is to leave the relevant portion of the
passage as it is.
...................................................................................................................................
18
1
A) NO CHANGE
B) see an annual loss of $63.2 billion each year
C) lose $63.2 billion annually
D) have a yearly loss of $63.2 billion annually
CO NTI N U E
2
of sleep is the work itself. [2] To combat the problem of
sleep deprivation in a demanding work environment,
some companies have begun allowing workers to take
naps. [3] The hours the average American 3 spend
working have increased dramatically since the 1970s,
making it hard for many workers to get a good nights
sleep. [4] Although employees who sleep on the job are
often considered lazy and unproductive, napping in the
workplace has been shown to improve workers efficiency
and quality of life. [5] As long as companies continue to
demand long hours from 4 workers, and managers
should champion napping as a means to keep employees
happy, healthy, and functional. 5
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
19
2
A) NO CHANGE
B) main things leading up to
C) huge things about
D) primary causes of
3
A) NO CHANGE
B) have spent
C) spends
D) are spent
4
A) NO CHANGE
B) workers; managers
C) workers, managers,
D) workers, managers
5
To make this paragraph most logical, sentence 3
should be placed
A) where it is now.
B) before sentence 1.
C) after sentence 1.
D) after sentence 4.
CO NTI N U E
2
in fact, allowing employees to nap could save companies
hours of lost productivity. Studies reveal that napping
improves memory and boosts wakefulness for the
remainder of the day. 6 Napping can also have a
positive effect on mood and overall job satisfaction, while
constant drowsiness reduces reaction time and hampers
ones ability to concentrate. Employee naps might also
lead to reduced health care costs for companies, since
regular napping leads to long-term health benefits,
7 and it improves workers average weekly attendance.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
20
6
At this point, the writer is considering adding the
following sentence.
Even fifteen-minute power naps improve
alertness, creativity, and concentration.
Should the writer make this addition here?
A) Yes, because it demonstrates that the benefits of
napping can be gained without sacrificing large
amounts of work time.
B) Yes, because it explains the methodology of the
studies mentioned in the previous sentence.
C) No, because a discussion of the type of nap
workers take is not important to the writers
main point in the paragraph.
D) No, because it contradicts the writers discussion
of napping in the previous sentences.
7
Which choice provides a supporting example that
reinforces the main point of the sentence?
A) NO CHANGE
B) including a lower risk of cardiovascular
problems such as heart attack and stroke.
C) which are essential in an era of rising health care
costs.
D) in addition to making employees more efficient.
CO NTI N U E
2
advocates in the worlds of technology, finance, and news
media, and some businesses are beginning to set aside
special nap rooms. A few companies, such as Google,
have even invested in high-tech nap pods that block out
light, play soothing music, and 8 gently waking
nappers.
Zephrin Lasker, CEO of the mobile-advertising firm
Pontiflex, has observed that employees are happier and
more productive since he created a nap room in the
companys Brooklyn headquarters. Ryan Hodson of
Kodiak Capital Group and Arianna Huffington of the
Huffington Post Media Group have promoted napping
9 throughout their workers and have been effusive
about the results. In light of the benefits not only to
employees efficiency 10 and again to their health and
sense of well-being, these executives enthusiasm is not
surprising. 11 These executives are among the most
successful leaders in their respective fields.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
21
8
A) NO CHANGE
B) gently wake
C) gently to wake
D) gentle waking of
9
A) NO CHANGE
B) among
C) between
D) into
10
A) NO CHANGE
B) but it benefits
C) as also to
D) but also to
11
The writer wants a concluding sentence that restates
the main argument of the passage. Which choice best
accomplishes this goal?
A) NO CHANGE
B) Clearly, employers should consider reducing
employees hours when they are overworked.
C) Companies should consider employee schedules
carefully when implementing a napping policy.
D) More businesses should follow their lead and
embrace napping on the job.
CO NTI N U E
2
Vanishing Honeybees: A Threat to Global Agriculture
Honeybees play an important role in the agriculture
industry by pollinating crops. An October 2006 study
found that as much as one-third of global agriculture
depends on animal pollination, including honeybee
12 pollinationto increase crop output. The
importance of bees 13 highlights the potentially
disastrous affects of an emerging, unexplained crisis:
entire colonies of honeybees are dying off without
warning.
14 They know it as colony collapse disorder (CCD),
this phenomenon will have a detrimental impact on
global agriculture if its causes and solutions are not
determined. Since the emergence of CCD around 2006,
bee mortality rates have 15 exceeded 25 percent of the
population each winter. There was one sign of hope:
during the 20102012 winter seasons, bee mortality rates
decreased slightly, and beekeepers speculated that the
colonies would recover. Yet in the winter of 20122013,
the 16 portion of the bee population lost fell nearly
10 percent in the United States, with a loss of 31 percent
of the colonies that pollinate crops.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
22
12
A) NO CHANGE
B) pollination: this is
C) pollination,
D) pollination;
13
A) NO CHANGE
B) highlights the potentially disastrous effects
C) highlight the potentially disastrous effects
D) highlight the potentially disastrous affects
14
A) NO CHANGE
B) Known as colony
C) It is known as colony
D) Colony
15
Which choice offers the most accurate interpretation
of the data in the chart?
A) NO CHANGE
B) been above the acceptable range.
C) not changed noticeably from year to year.
D) greatly increased every year.
16
Which choice offers an accurate interpretation of the
data in the chart?
A) NO CHANGE
B) portion of bees lost was double what it had been
the previous year, rising to
C) number of losses, which had fallen within the
acceptable range the previous year, rose to
D) portion of total colonies lost rose almost 10
percentage points, with a loss of
CO NTI N U E
40%
2
Managed Honey Bee
Colony Losses in the US
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
acceptable range
0%
09
08
13
07
10
11
12
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
23
17
Which choice most smoothly and effectively
introduces the writers discussion of studies of CCD
in this paragraph?
A) NO CHANGE
B) Bees are vanishing, and according to studies
there are several possible reasons for this trend.
C) Several possible reasons, offered by studies, may
explain why bees are vanishing.
D) DELETE the underlined sentence.
18
At this point, the writer is considering adding the
following sentence.
Prolonged exposure to neonicotinoids has been
shown to increase bees vulnerability to disease
and parasitic mites.
Should the writer make this addition here?
A) Yes, because it provides support for the claim
made in the previous sentence.
B) Yes, because it introduces a new idea that will
become important later in the passage.
C) No, because it would be better placed elsewhere
in the passage.
D) No, because it contradicts the main idea of the
passage.
CO NTI N U E
2
impact of this loss of hives on fruit, vegetable, seed, and
nut crops 19 is not to be scoffed at. A reduction in bee
numbers leads to less pollination, which in turn leads to
smaller harvests and higher food prices. Some farmers
have resorted to renting hives from beekeepers to
pollinate their 20 crops; when there is a shortage of bees
this being an expensive proposition. Other farmers have
increased 21 theyre dependence on costly
hand-pollination by human workers. Furthermore, there
may be sociological repercussions. Agroecologist
Alexandra-Maria Klein has suggested that rising produce
prices could lead to an increase in obesity as people turn
to cheaper, less wholesome fare.
Though the precise causes of CCD are yet unclear,
some commonsense measures may be taken. A decrease
in the use of certain pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides,
as well as greater attention to the nutrition, habitat, and
genetic diversity of managed hives, could begin a shift in
a favorable direction. 22
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
24
19
A) NO CHANGE
B) is a pretty big deal.
C) cant be put on the back burner.
D) cannot be ignored.
20
A) NO CHANGE
B) crops, this is an expensive proposition when
there is a shortage of bees.
C) crops, an expensive proposition when there is a
shortage of bees.
D) crops; an expensive proposition when there is a
shortage of bees.
21
A) NO CHANGE
B) there
C) their
D) its
22
The writer wants a conclusion that addresses the
future of efforts to combat CCD. Which choice
results in the passage having the most appropriate
concluding sentence?
A) NO CHANGE
B) Still, bee colonies have experienced such
devastating losses that the consequences of the
issue have been felt worldwide.
C) Although CCD is a relatively new phenomenon,
scientists have been studying other aspects of
honeybees for over a century.
D) Genetic variation in bee colonies generally
improves bees productivity, disease resistance,
and ability to regulate body temperature.
CO NTI N U E
2
Lunar Farming
Late last autumn, Giuseppe Ferrua 23 stood, on the
hillside he farms overlooking Italys Serchio River valley,
a landscape of low mountains dotted 24 with vineyards.
Ferrua grows grapes and olives, and he does so according
to the phases of the Moon. He didnt always farm this
way. When he began, he exercised modern,
one-size-fits-all farming methods but says he soon
became convinced that plants are completely prone to
elements in the cosmos, the rhythms of day and night.
Following the lunar calendar, this type of farming is
driven by the belief that the Moon influences levels of
moisture in the soil, just as the Moons gravitational pull
affects great bodies of water. Lunar farmers believe,
25 for example, that from the new Moon to quarter
Moon phases, when the Moon is waxing, a soils moisture
content increases, whereas drier periods occur during the
waning phase. 26 Although moisture influences seed
germination, a lunar guide on when to plant and weed
can be advantageous to a grower.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
25
23
A) NO CHANGE
B) stood;
C) stood
D) stood
24
A) NO CHANGE
B) inside
C) for
D) on
25
A) NO CHANGE
B) however,
C) by contrast,
D) thereafter,
26
A) NO CHANGE
B) Given that
C) So
D) DELETE the underlined portion and begin the
sentence with a capital letter.
CO NTI N U E
2
Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder stated in his Natural
History that the Moon replenishes the Earth; when she
approaches it, she fills all bodies, while, when she recedes,
she empties them. Chinese and Egyptian people
performed agricultural tasks according to the lunar
calendar for millennia, and, to this day, the vaunted Old
Farmers Almanac includes regional lunar calendars and
advice on 28 when to conduct farm chores. The
29 almanacs editor, Janice Stillman, says, That
information is of value to our readers who practice these
traditional methodsand claim great success.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
26
27
Which choice most effectively sets up the paragraph?
A) NO CHANGE
B) People all over the world farm by the Moon.
C) Farming by the Moon is not new.
D) Talk of the Moons influence is far-reaching.
28
Which choice provides the most specific information
on the type of advice a lunar calendar offers?
A) NO CHANGE
B) actions relevant to farming.
C) points in time at which to undertake certain
tasks.
D) optimal times to plant, weed, prune, and harvest.
29
A) NO CHANGE
B) almanacss
C) almanacs
D) almanacs
CO NTI N U E
2
of the methods efficacy. Recalling advice he received on
the best lunar time to plant potatoes, an English farmer
says his first reaction was Hoopla. Current mainstream
agriculture does not factor the Moon into 31 their
practices, so the concept might seem quaint or irrational.
Additionally, lunar farming is based in astrology as
opposed to astronomy, and no extensive scientific studies
have yet been conducted that measure the Moons overall
influence on farming, 32 so supporters continue to wait
for their practices to be verified scientifically.
Stillman says, We are of the mind that you accept or
believe by choice. Indeed, despite his doubts, the
skeptical English farmer wound up planting his potatoes
according to the lunar cycle and claims they were the
best I have tasted. Agricultural professor Jennifer
Coffman has a similar response to Ferruas bounty in
Italy. 33 Smell this rosemary, she says. Smell how
amazingly fragrant that is. At this stage, one could say
that the evidence must be experienced to be believed.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
27
30
A) NO CHANGE
B) skeptics, who have yet to be convinced.
C) skepticsthose who doubt the method.
D) skeptics.
31
A) NO CHANGE
B) those
C) its
D) its
32
The writer wants to conclude the paragraph
effectively while also reinforcing the point that
skepticism toward lunar farming still exists. Which
choice best accomplishes this goal?
A) NO CHANGE
B) and therefore no sound scientific data on the
subject exist to date.
C) yet many continue to practice lunar farming.
D) leading many to conclude that the practice is
based in folklore, not fact.
33
Which choice gives an additional supporting
example that emphasizes the importance of the
senses in judging the success of the lunar farming
method?
A) NO CHANGE
B) She has taken photographs of the grapevines and
landscape.
C) She takes careful notes about Ferruas farming
methods, asking Ferrua to clarify how he
prepares the soil.
D) She dips bread into Ferruas olive oil as he
explains a soil preparation he does in the fall.
CO NTI N U E
2
Recipes for History: The Szathmary Cookbook
Collection
In 1990, chef Louis Szathmary, a voracious collector
of cookbooks, donated approximately 20,000 culinary
artifacts to the University of Iowa library. The gift
included more than 100 manuscript recipe books
34 collections of recipes handwritten by the people
who used them. The manuscripts, some of which date
back to the seventeenth century, are an invaluable
resource for food historians as well as the general public.
35 Because of the astonishing size and range of
Szathmarys 36 donation to the University of Iowa,
making this cornucopia of information available to
readers was a challenge. Working in conjunction with the
library, the University of Iowa Press published volumes
as varied as The P.E.O. Cookbook, written in rural Iowa in
1908, and Ladie Borlases Receiptes Booke, written in the
English countryside from 1665 to 1822. Librarians were
happy to show the Szathmary collection to people who
were able to visit the library, 37 so the manuscripts, too
delicate to be checked out to library patrons, remained
largely unexplored.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
28
34
The writer is considering deleting the underlined
portion (ending the sentence with a period). Should
the writer make this deletion?
A) Yes, because the underlined portion detracts
from the paragraphs focus on the Szathmary
collection.
B) Yes, because the information in the underlined
portion is provided in the previous sentence.
C) No, because the underlined portion defines a
term that is important to the passage.
D) No, because the underlined portion gives an
example of a particular culinary artifact.
35
A) NO CHANGE
B) Regardless of
C) In contrast to
D) In addition to
36
A) NO CHANGE
B) donation of so many culinary artifacts,
C) massive donation of cookbooks,
D) donation,
37
A) NO CHANGE
B) for
C) and
D) but
CO NTI N U E
2
university expanded its DIY History Project (DIY
stands for do it yourself) to include the manuscripts.
The project enlists volunteers to transcribe the recipes:
working from 38 our home computers, the volunteers
type up the scanned handwritten recipes. After a page is
transcribed and proofread, it is digitized and becomes
part of a searchable online archive. Volunteer
transcribers need no particular expertise; 39 prosaic
directives are provided on the DIY History website.
Transcribing is easy. The ingredients (one recipe requires
something called ringon root) and measurements (a
ditto of baking soda), 40 moreover, can be puzzling.
The goal is to digitize all the manuscripts in the
Szathmary collection, making them available to anyone
with 41 access of a computer and the Internet.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
29
38
A) NO CHANGE
B) his or her
C) their
D) ones
39
A) NO CHANGE
B) simple directions
C) bare-bones how-tos
D) facile protocols
40
A) NO CHANGE
B) therefore,
C) however,
D) in short,
41
A) NO CHANGE
B) access to
C) excess of
D) excess to
CO NTI N U E
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
42
A) NO CHANGE
B) work
C) worked
D) could have worked
43
A) NO CHANGE
B) almond, cheesecake summer, mince,
C) almond cheesecake summer, mince
D) almond, cheesecake, summer, mince,
44
The writer plans to add the following sentence to this
paragraph.
The judges reported that the entries were
delicious.
To make this paragraph most logical, the sentence
should be placed
A) after sentence 1.
B) after sentence 2.
C) after sentence 3.
D) after sentence 4.
STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only.
Do not turn to any other section.
30
3
Math Test No Calculator
25 M I NU TES, 1 7 QUESTIONS
Turn to Section 3 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
For questions 1-13, solve each problem, choose the best answer from the choices provided,
and fill in the corresponding circle on your answer sheet. For questions 14-17, solve the
problem and enter your answer in the grid on the answer sheet. Please refer to the
directions before question 14 on how to enter your answers in the grid. You may use any
available space in your test booklet for scratch work.
V = wh
a
c 2 = a2 + b 2
2x
b
1
A = bh
2
A = w
A = pr 2
C = 2pr
4
V = pr 3
3
s 45
s2
30
45
s
x3
Special Right Triangles
h
r
V = pr 2h
60
1
V = pr 2h
3
V = 1 wh
3
32
CO NTI N U E
3(x + y ) = y
If (x, y ) is a solution to the equation above and
4
3
B)
2
3
C)
1
3
D)
2
3
x
?
y
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
33
1
x
2
1
x
8
1
y = 10
4
1
y = 19
8
B) (64, 88)
232 224
,
C)
3
3
D) (288, 536)
CO NTI N U E
3
A
E
B
5
In a certain game, a player can solve easy or hard
puzzles. A player earns 30 points for solving an easy
puzzle and 60 points for solving a hard puzzle. Tina
solved a total of 50 puzzles playing this game, earning
1,950 points in all. How many hard puzzles did Tina
solve?
A) 10
B) 15
C) 25
D) 35
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
34
2x 2 + 7x 15 = 0
If r and s are two solutions of the equation above
and r > s , which of the following is the
value of r s ?
A)
15
2
B)
13
2
C)
11
2
D)
3
2
7
To cut a lawn, Allan charges a fee of $15 for his
equipment and $8.50 per hour spent cutting a lawn.
Taylor charges a fee of $12 for his equipment and
$9.25 per hour spent cutting a lawn. If x represents
the number of hours spent cutting a lawn, what are
all the values of x for which Taylors total charge is
greater than Allans total charge?
A) x > 4
B) 3 x 4
C) 4 x 5
D) x < 3
CO NTI N U E
3
n = 456 3T
9
A truck enters a stretch of road that drops 4 meters
in elevation for every 100 meters along the length of
the road. The road is at 1,300 meters elevation where
the truck entered, and the truck is traveling at
16 meters per second along the road. What is the
elevation of the road, in meters, at the point where
the truck passes t seconds after entering the road?
A) 1,300 0.04t
B) 1,300 0.64t
C) 1,300 4t
D) 1,300 16t
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
35
10
If f (x 1) = 2x + 3 for all values of x, what is the
value of f (3) ?
A) 7
B) 5
C) 3
D) 1
11
( ts ) ?
s
s
t
B)
s
st
t
C)
s2
s
t
D)
s2
s
2
t
t
CO NTI N U E
3
p(x ) = 3(x 2 + 10x + 5) 5(x k )
D)
..................................................................................
12
36
13
In the xy-plane, if the parabola with equation
CO NTI N U E
3
7
Answer: 12
DIRECTIONS
For questions 1417, solve the problem and
enter your answer in the grid, as described
below, on the answer sheet.
1. Although not required, it is suggested that
you write your answer in the boxes at the top
of the columns to help you fill in the circles
accurately. You will receive credit only if the
circles are filled in correctly.
2. Mark no more than one circle in any column.
3. No question has a negative answer.
4. Some problems may have more than one
correct answer. In such cases, grid only one
answer.
Write
answer
in boxes.
7 / 12
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Grid in
result.
2 / 3
2 . 5
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
. 666
Decimal
point
. 667
/ /
/ /
. . . .
. . . .
.
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2
2
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4
4
5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5
5
6 6 6 6
6
6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7
7
7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8
8
8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9
9
Answer: 201 either position is correct
201
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
.
Fraction
line
2
Acceptable ways to grid 3 are:
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
Answer: 2.5
37
201
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
.
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
NOTE: You
may start your
answers in any
column, space
permitting.
Columns you
dont need to
use should be
left blank.
CO NTI N U E
h
6 ?
10
15
What is the value of a if (2a + 3) (4a 8) = 7 ?
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
14
16
If x is not equal to zero, what is the value
of
4(3x )2
(2x )2
17
If x 2 is a factor of x 2 bx + b, where b is a
constant, what is the value of b ?
STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only.
Do not turn to any other section.
38
4
Math Test Calculator
45 M I NU TES, 3 1 QUESTIONS
Turn to Section 4 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
V = wh
a
c 2 = a2 + b 2
2x
b
1
A = bh
2
A = w
A = pr 2
C = 2pr
4
V = pr 3
3
s 45
s2
30
45
s
x3
Special Right Triangles
h
r
V = pr 2h
60
1
V = pr 2h
3
V = 1 wh
3
40
CO NTI N U E
A) C(x ) = 5.25x
B) C(x ) = 5x + 0.25
C) C(x ) = 5 + 0.25x
D) C(x ) = 5 + 25x
2
A grocery store sells a brand of juice in individual
bottles and in packs of 6 bottles. On a certain day,
the store sold a total of 281 bottles of the brand of
juice, of which 29 were sold as individual bottles.
Which equation shows the number of packs of
bottles, p, sold that day?
A) p =
281 29
6
B) p =
281 + 29
6
C) p =
281
29
6
D) p =
281
+ 29
6
41
3
Monthly Rainfall in Chestnut City
6
Rainfall (inches)
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5
4
3
2
1
0
CO NTI N U E
2P w
B) A =
2
P 2w
C) A =
2
D) A = 2P 2w
5
Which ordered pair (x, y ) satisfies the system of
equations shown below?
2x y = 6
x + 2y = 2
A) (6, 2)
B) (2, 2)
C) (2, 2)
D) (4, 2)
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
42
6
A soda company is filling bottles of soda from a tank
that contains 500 gallons of soda. At most, how
many 20-ounce bottles can be filled from the tank?
(1 gallon = 128 ounces)
A)
25
B)
78
C) 2,560
D) 3,200
7
A car traveled at an average speed of 80 miles per
hour for 3 hours and consumed fuel at a rate of 34
miles per gallon. Approximately how many gallons
of fuel did the car use for the entire 3-hour trip?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 6
D) 7
CO NTI N U E
1
5
passes through the points , 1 and , 4 ?
2
2
A) 1
2
B)
3
C)
D)
3
2
9
Dimensions of Envelopes
Height (inches)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
3
4
5
Width (inches)
B)
C)
D) 12
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
43
10
A high school basketball team won exactly 65 percent
of the games it played during last season. Which of
the following could be the total number of games the
team played last season?
A) 22
B) 20
C) 18
D) 14
11
110x + y = 1,210
A coffee shop is running a promotion where a
number of free coffee samples are given away each
day. The equation above can be used to model the
number of free coffee samples, y, that remain to be
given away x days after the promotion began. What
does it mean that (11, 0) is a solution to this
equation?
A) During the promotion, 11 samples are given
away each day.
B) It takes 11 days during the promotion to see
1,210 customers.
C) It takes 11 days during the promotion until none
of the samples are remaining.
D) There are 11 samples available at the start of the
promotion.
CO NTI N U E
A)
10
x
10
y
B)
10
x
10
y
C)
10
x
10
y
D)
10
O
x
10
44
13
Frequency
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
12
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
CO NTI N U E
Ages 1415
Ages 1617
Total
Have a
summer job
20
39
59
Do not have a
Total
summer job
69
89
81
42
111
170
14
Which of the following is closest to the percent of
those surveyed who had a summer job?
A) 22%
B) 35%
C) 47%
D) 53%
15
In 2012 the total population of individuals in the
United States who were between 14 and 17 years old
(inclusive) was about 17 million. If the survey results
are used to estimate information about summer
employment of teenagers across the country, which
of the following is the best estimate of the total
number of individuals between 16 and 17 years old in
the United States who had a summer job in 2012 ?
A) 8,200,000
B) 3,900,000
C) 2,000,000
D)
390,000
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
45
16
Based on the data, how many times more likely is it
for a 14 year old or a 15 year old to NOT have a
summer job than it is for a 16 year old or a 17 year
old to NOT have a summer job? (Round the answer
to the nearest hundredth.)
A) 0.52 times as likely
B) 0.65 times as likely
C) 1.50 times as likely
D) 1.64 times as likely
CO NTI N U E
Percent protein
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
C
D
B
Food products
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
17
46
18
19
Boyd grows only tomatoes and raspberries in his
garden. Last year, he grew 140 pounds of tomatoes
and 60 pounds of raspberries. This year, the
production, by weight, of tomatoes declined by
20 percent, and the production, by weight, of
raspberries declined by 50 percent. By what
percentage did the total yield, by weight, of
Boyds garden decline?
A) 29 percent
B) 30 percent
C) 35 percent
D) 70 percent
CO NTI N U E
Frequency
4
3
2
1
0
4 5 6
Integers
9 10
3.0
B)
3.5
C)
4.25
D) 12.0
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
20
47
21
y
4
2
CO NTI N U E
VelocityDistance Relation
among Galaxies
Velocity (km/s)
1,500
1,000
500
Galaxy Q
0
500
0.5
2.0
2.5
22
According to Hubbles data, how fast, in meters per
second, is Galaxy Q moving away from Earth?
A) 2 106 m/s
B) 5 105 m/s
C) 5 102 m/s
D) 2.5 102 m/s
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
48
23
There are four galaxies shown in the graph at
approximately 0.9 Mpc from Earth. Which of the
following is closest to the range of velocities of these
four galaxies, in kilometers per second?
A) 100
B) 200
C) 450
D) 700
24
Based on the model, what is the velocity, in
kilometers per second, of a galaxy that is 15 Mpc
from Earth?
A) 7,500 km/s
B) 5,000 km/s
C) 1,100 km/s
D) 750 km/s
CO NTI N U E
26
B
a
A
b
?
a
A) sin A
B) sin B
C) tan A
D) tan B
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
25
49
27
y x
2y > 3x + 2
section Q
section R
section P
x
section S
CO NTI N U E
4
7
Answer: 12
DIRECTIONS
For questions 28 -31, solve the problem and
enter your answer in the grid, as described
below, on the answer sheet.
1. Although not required, it is suggested that
you write your answer in the boxes at the top
of the columns to help you fill in the circles
accurately. You will receive credit only if the
circles are filled in correctly.
2. Mark no more than one circle in any column.
3. No question has a negative answer.
4. Some problems may have more than one
correct answer. In such cases, grid only one
answer.
5. Mixed numbers such as 3 1 must be gridded
2
Write
answer
in boxes.
7 / 12
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Grid in
result.
2 / 3
2 . 5
.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
. 666
Decimal
point
. 667
/ /
/ /
. . . .
. . . .
.
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
1
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2
2
3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3
3
4 4 4 4
4 4 4 4
4
5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5
5
6 6 6 6
6
6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7
7
7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8
8
8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9
9
Answer: 201 either position is correct
201
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
.
Fraction
line
2
Acceptable ways to grid 3 are:
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
Answer: 2.5
50
201
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
.
/ /
. . .
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 2 2
3 3 3
4 4 4
5 5 5
6 6 6
7 7 7
8 8 8
9 9 9
NOTE: You
may start your
answers in any
column, space
permitting.
Columns you
dont need to
use should be
left blank.
CO NTI N U E
4
y
(4, 19)
(v, w)
(0, 3)
(2, 1)
(0, 9)
..............................................................................................................................
28
51
29
In a college archaeology class, 78 students are going
to a dig site to find and study artifacts. The dig site
has been divided into 24 sections, and each section
will be studied by a group of either 2 or 4 students.
How many of the sections will be studied by a group
of 2 students?
CO NTI N U E
4
v = v0 gt
(speed-time)
h = v0t 1 gt2
2
(position-time)
v 2 = v02 2gh
(position-speed)
30
What is the maximum height from the ground the
arrow will rise to the nearest meter?
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
31
How long will it take for the arrow to reach its
maximum height to the nearest tenth of a second?
STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only.
Do not turn to any other section.
52
TEST CENTER
NUMBER
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
You may work on only one section at a time.
If you finish a section before time is called, check
your work on that section. You may NOT turn to any
other section.
MARKING ANSWERS
Be sure to mark your answer sheet properly.
COMPLETE MARK
TEST ID
22
EXAMPLES OF
INCOMPLETE MARKS
5KPT06
ROOM NUMBER
21
FORM CODE
(Copy and grid as on
back of test book.)
Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material,
do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board or National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK UNTIL THE SUPERVISOR TELLS YOU TO DO SO.