Quiz: How would you do on the PSAT?
Your PSAT score is more than a prediction of your ACT or SAT score; it can also qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship.
Take this quiz to find out how you might score on the PSAT.
Answer 1
C: If a linear equation has no solution, the variables cancel out, leaving two numbers that are not equal to each other. Start by simplifying the left side of the equation:
Answer 2
B:
Pay careful attention to the units. You need to convert all of the dimensions to inches, then set up and solve a proportion. There 12 inches in 1 foot, so the real plane’s length is (220 x 12) + 6 = 2,640 + 6 = 2,646 inches; the length of the wingspan on the real plane is 176.5 x 12 = 2,118 inches; the length of the amusement park ride is 36 feet, 9 inches or 441 inches; the length of the wingspan on the ride is unknown. Set up a proportion. Try writing the proportion in words first.
(real wingspan / real width) = (ride wingspan / ride width)
(2,118 / 2,646) = ( x / 441)
441 x 2118 = 2646(x)
934,038 = 2,646x
353 = x
The ride’s wingspan should be 353 inches, which is equal to 29 feet, 5 inches, (B).
Answer 3
B: There is only one variable here, so solve each inequality for a and then eliminate incorrect answer choices.
First inequality: a + 2 > 5, so a > 3.
This means you can eliminate A because 3 is not greater than itself. Second inequality: a − 4 < 1, so a < 5.
This means you can eliminate C and D because neither 5 nor 6 is less than 5. The number 4 is the only answer choice that is both greater than 3 and less than 5, so (B) is correct.
Answer 4
A: A line with a downward slant has a negative slope, so you can immediately eliminate C and D. Mark the bordered area using equal measures, then estimate the slope of a line drawn through the center of the points. The line appears to fall 2 and run 1, so a good estimate for the slope is −2, (A).
Answer 5
C: Think about how the text in the question stem provides evidence for the author’s central idea. Eliminate any answer choices that don’t match the author’s purpose. For instance, “argue” in B does not match the author’s informative tone. The author describes how the assembly line impacts the American workforce in both good and bad ways. Choice (C) correctly supports this claim.
Answer 6
C: Determine the author’s reasoning using context. The author uses the keyword “unlike” to show contrast. The passage states that railroads brought people together, while cars brought people apart. Choice (C) correctly expresses this idea.
Answer 7
C: On Vocab-in-Context questions, it’s often helpful to use a one-word paraphrase as your prediction. The author’s purpose is to explain how cars have “greatly” affected American life, so look for a similar word among the answer choices. Choice (C) matches. Choice A is extreme; an “absolute” effect would mean that there are no other influences. Choice B doesn’t make sense in context. Choice D is related to a common meaning of “profound,” as when an idea is described as profound. It doesn’t fit here, however, as “effects” cannot be “thoughtful.”
Answer 8
A: When a single word is underlined, make sure that it is the word that best conveys the author’s intended meaning in the context of both the sentence and paragraph. No change is necessary. One of the definitions of “propagate” is “to cause to spread out” over a great area or population. This sense of the word is correct in the context of this sentence and paragraph.
Answer 9
D: When an underlined sentence fragment includes a parenthetical remark, look for the answer that shows the correct way to punctuate that clause. Choice (D) is correct. “Such as murder” is a parenthetical remark because it is not necessary for the sentence to be complete. It is best set aside by two commas.
Answer 10
B: An underlined section that includes punctuation requires an assessment of the punctuation. Choose the answer that provides the correct punctuation for the sentence and context. Choice (B) is correct. The sentence cannot be correctly combined with the following sentence using a semicolon, so a question mark is the only appropriate option to follow the word “child.”