Core Academic Skills MCQ Flashcards

A student reads a passage arguing that social media harms teen mental health. The author cites one study from 2015. What is the strongest critique of this argument?

Answer: A single study is insufficient to establish a broad causal claim

Relying on one study makes the argument weak because a single source cannot reliably support a broad generalization.

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Answer: After finishing the report, it was submitted by the team.

In 'After finishing the report, it was submitted by the team,' the modifier 'After finishing the report' has no logical subject to modify.

Solve for x: 3(2x − 4) = 18

Answer: x = 5

Distributing gives 6x − 12 = 18, so 6x = 30 and x = 5.

In a bar graph showing monthly sales, January has a bar reaching 40 and February reaching 60. By what percent did sales increase from January to February?

Answer: 50%

Percent increase = (60 − 40) / 40 × 100 = 50%.

Which of the following best defines the word 'ambiguous' as used in academic writing?

Answer: Open to more than one interpretation

Ambiguous means capable of being understood in more than one way, creating uncertainty.

A rectangle has a length of 12 cm and a width of 7 cm. What is its perimeter?

Answer: 38 cm

Perimeter = 2(12 + 7) = 2(19) = 38 cm.

Which transition word best signals a contrast between two ideas?

Answer: However

'However' introduces a contrasting or opposing idea, making it the correct contrast signal.

A passage states: 'Most experts agree that exercise improves mood.' Which type of evidence would most strengthen this claim?

Answer: Meta-analyses of multiple randomized controlled trials

Meta-analyses synthesizing randomized controlled trials provide the highest quality scientific evidence.

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

Answer: She loves cooking, her family, and her dog.

The Oxford comma after 'family' correctly separates three list items and avoids the ambiguous reading that family and dog are being cooked.

If a car travels 150 miles in 2.5 hours, what is its average speed in miles per hour?

Answer: 60 mph

Speed = distance ÷ time = 150 ÷ 2.5 = 60 mph.

A pie chart shows that 25% of a school budget goes to athletics. If the total budget is $800,000, how much is allocated to athletics?

Answer: $200,000

25% of $800,000 = 0.25 × 800,000 = $200,000.

In an argument, a 'premise' is best described as:

Answer: A statement offered as evidence to support a conclusion

A premise is a supporting statement or reason given to justify the argument's conclusion.

Simplify: (4² + 3²) ÷ 5

Answer: 5

(16 + 9) ÷ 5 = 25 ÷ 5 = 5.

Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?

Answer: If he were taller, he could play center.

The subjunctive 'were' is used for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions in formal English.

A student wants to determine the main idea of a passage. Where is the main idea most commonly found?

Answer: In the thesis or topic sentence, often at the beginning or end

The main idea is typically expressed in the thesis or topic sentence, which can appear at the start or end of a passage.

Identify the error in the following sentence: 'Between you and I, the results were surprising.'

Answer: 'Between' requires the objective pronoun 'me,' not 'I'

Prepositions like 'between' require objective pronouns; 'me' is correct, not 'I.'

A store discounts a $120 jacket by 15%. What is the sale price?

Answer: $102

Discount = 15% × $120 = $18; sale price = $120 − $18 = $102.

A table shows that City A has a population of 350,000 and City B has 280,000. Approximately what percentage larger is City A than City B?

Answer: 25%

(350,000 − 280,000) / 280,000 × 100 ≈ 25%.

Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy?

Answer: Dismissing a scientist's findings because she once failed an exam

Ad hominem attacks the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

What is the least common multiple (LCM) of 6 and 8?

Answer: 24

Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24… Multiples of 8: 8, 16, 24… The LCM is 24.