Core Academic Skills Assessment Core Academic Skills MCQ 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An author uses the phrase 'the elephant in the room' in an essay. This is an example of:
- A simile
- An idiom (Correct answer)
- Personification
- Alliteration
Correct answer: An idiom
An idiom is a fixed expression whose figurative meaning differs from the literal meaning of its words.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning?
- All mammals breathe air; whales are mammals; therefore, whales breathe air.
- Every crow I have observed is black; therefore, all crows are probably black. (Correct answer)
- If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
- A law applies universally, so it applies in this specific case.
Correct answer: Every crow I have observed is black; therefore, all crows are probably black.
Inductive reasoning draws a general conclusion from specific observations, though the conclusion is probable, not certain.
Question 3: Solve: What is 40% of 85?
- 32
- 34 (Correct answer)
- 36
- 38
Correct answer: 34
40% × 85 = 0.40 × 85 = 34.
Question 4: A line graph shows a company's revenue rising steadily from $500K in Year 1 to $800K in Year 5. What is the average annual increase?
- $60K
- $75K (Correct answer)
- $80K
- $100K
Correct answer: $75K
Total increase = $300K over 4 intervals; average = $300K ÷ 4 = $75K per year.
Question 5: Which sentence best demonstrates parallel structure?
- She enjoys hiking, to swim, and reading.
- She enjoys hiking, swimming, and reading. (Correct answer)
- She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to read.
- She enjoys to hike, swimming, and reading.
Correct answer: She enjoys hiking, swimming, and reading.
Parallel structure requires all items in a list to use the same grammatical form; 'hiking, swimming, and reading' are all gerunds.
Question 6: A triangle has angles measuring 45°, 90°, and x°. What is x?
- 35°
- 45° (Correct answer)
- 55°
- 60°
Correct answer: 45°
The angles of a triangle sum to 180°; x = 180 − 45 − 90 = 45°.
Question 7: Which of the following is the best definition of 'tone' in a written passage?
- The physical length and structure of the text
- The author's attitude toward the subject or audience (Correct answer)
- The sequence of events in a narrative
- The use of technical vocabulary in the text
Correct answer: The author's attitude toward the subject or audience
Tone refers to the author's attitude or emotional stance toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style.
Core Academic Skills Assessment Core Academic Skills MCQ 5
An author uses the phrase 'the elephant in the room' in an essay.
This is an example of: