FAST Florida Assessment — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Maya is buying tickets for a carnival. The admission fee is a flat $10, and each ride ticket costs $1.50. Which expression represents the total cost for Maya to enter the carnival and buy r ride tickets?

11.50r
10 - 1.50r
10r + 1.50
10 + 1.50r (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10 + 1.50r

The total cost is calculated by starting with the fixed admission fee ($10) and adding the variable cost of the ride tickets. The cost of the tickets is $1.50 multiplied by the number of rides (r), which is 1.50r. Therefore, the correct expression is 10 + 1.50r.

Question 2: Read the following excerpt from a story. The old lighthouse stood on a jagged tooth of rock, a lonely sentinel against the churning gray sea. For fifty years, Elias had been its keeper. He knew the rhythm of the waves like his own heartbeat, the cry of the gulls as the voices of old friends. Tonight was his last watch. A new automated light, a sterile, pulsing eye of technology, was to be activated at dawn. He polished the great lens, its glass cool beneath his weathered hands. It wasn't just a lamp to him; it was a heart, and he was its final beat. The foghorn blew, a long, mournful sigh that seemed to echo the feeling in his own chest. Which of the following sentences best states a theme of the passage?

Technological advancement inevitably leads to the displacement of tradition. (Correct answer)
The sea is a powerful and dangerous force.
Lighthouses are essential for the safety of ships at sea.
Loneliness can be overcome by a dedication to one's work.

Correct answer: Technological advancement inevitably leads to the displacement of tradition.

The central theme revolves around the transition from the old, human-maintained tradition (Elias and his lighthouse) to the new, impersonal technology (the automated light). The passage contrasts Elias's deep, personal connection to his work with the 'sterile, pulsing eye' of the new machine, highlighting the sense of loss that comes with this type of progress. The other options are minor details or too general.

Question 3: In a compare-and-contrast essay, which organizational structure presents all details about Topic A before discussing Topic B?

Chronological structure
Block structure (Correct answer)
Problem-solution structure
Point-by-point structure

Correct answer: Block structure

Block structure organizes a compare-and-contrast essay by discussing everything about one topic first, then everything about the other.

Question 4: A recipe for 12 cookies requires 3/4 cup of butter. How much butter is needed for 20 cookies?

1 and 3/4 cups
1 and 1/2 cups
1 cup
1 and 1/4 cups (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1 and 1/4 cups

(3/4 ÷ 12) × 20 = 1/16 × 20 = 20/16 = 1 and 1/4 cups.

Question 5: The author's attitude or feeling toward the subject of a text is called the author's:

Mood
Voice
Theme
Tone (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tone

Tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject, which can be formal, humorous, serious, sarcastic, or sympathetic.

Question 6: Read the following excerpt from a historical article: 'The construction of the Panama Canal was a monumental undertaking, fraught with challenges. French efforts in the 1880s were plagued by disease and financial problems, ultimately leading to their failure. The United States took over the project in 1904, and one of its first priorities was to control the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like yellow fever and malaria. Dr. William Gorgas implemented sanitation programs that virtually eradicated these diseases from the canal zone, a critical step that enabled the workforce to proceed. The engineering feats were equally impressive, involving the creation of the massive Gatun Lake and a series of complex locks to lift ships over the continental divide.' Which of the following statements best summarizes the central idea of the passage?

The primary challenge in building the Panama Canal was the engineering, such as creating Gatun Lake and the locks.
The successful construction of the Panama Canal by the United States was dependent on both overcoming disease and achieving significant engineering feats. (Correct answer)
French and American engineers collaborated to build the Panama Canal.
Dr. William Gorgas was the most important figure in the construction of the Panama Canal.

Correct answer: The successful construction of the Panama Canal by the United States was dependent on both overcoming disease and achieving significant engineering feats.

This answer choice correctly synthesizes the two main points discussed in the text: the crucial role of sanitation and disease control, and the impressive engineering accomplishments. The other options are either inaccurate or focus on only one aspect of the passage.

Question 7: Read this sentence from a biography: 'Her rise through the company's ranks was meteoric; in just five years, she went from an entry-level assistant to the chief executive officer.' What is the meaning of the word 'meteoric' as it is used in this sentence?

Very rapid and brilliant (Correct answer)
Slow and steady
Related to outer space
Unexpected and disastrous

Correct answer: Very rapid and brilliant

The context clue 'in just five years, she went from an entry-level assistant to the chief executive officer' shows that her rise was extremely fast and impressive. Therefore, 'meteoric' is used figuratively to mean very rapid and brilliant, like a meteor streaking across the sky.

Question 8: A point is located at (-3, 5) on a coordinate plane. If this point is reflected across the y-axis, what will its new coordinates be?

(5, -3)
(3, -5)
(3, 5) (Correct answer)
(-3, -5)

Correct answer: (3, 5)

When a point is reflected across the y-axis, the y-coordinate remains the same, while the x-coordinate becomes its opposite. The opposite of -3 is 3. Therefore, the new coordinates are (3, 5).

Question 9: A scientific article about climate change includes a graph showing a steady increase in global average temperatures from 1880 to the present. The text discusses the correlation between rising CO2 levels and this temperature increase. What is the most likely purpose of including the graph?

To present the author's opinion about climate change in a visual format.
To show that temperature increases are a natural, cyclical phenomenon.
To visually represent the data discussed in the text, making the trend easier to understand. (Correct answer)
To provide a decorative element to the article's layout.

Correct answer: To visually represent the data discussed in the text, making the trend easier to understand.

In informational texts, graphs, charts, and other visual aids are used to present complex data in a way that is easy to comprehend and that supports the claims made in the text. The graph of rising temperatures visually reinforces the article's discussion of global warming.

Question 10: Read the following excerpt from a story. The old lighthouse stood on a jagged tooth of rock, a lonely sentinel against the churning gray sea. For fifty years, Elias had been its keeper. He knew the rhythm of the waves like his own heartbeat, the cry of the gulls as the voices of old friends. Tonight was his last watch. A new automated light, a sterile, pulsing eye of technology, was to be activated at dawn. He polished the great lens, its glass cool beneath his weathered hands. It wasn't just a lamp to him; it was a heart, and he was its final beat. The foghorn blew, a long, mournful sigh that seemed to echo the feeling in his own chest. In the sentence, 'The foghorn blew, a long, mournful sigh that seemed to echo the feeling in his own chest,' what is the primary effect of the figurative language?

It creates a suspenseful and dangerous mood.
It provides a technical description of how a foghorn operates.
It connects the sound of the foghorn to Elias's internal feelings of sadness. (Correct answer)
It establishes the loud volume of the foghorn.

Correct answer: It connects the sound of the foghorn to Elias's internal feelings of sadness.

The phrase 'a long, mournful sigh' is an example of personification and metaphor. It attributes a human-like expression of sadness to the foghorn. This directly reflects Elias's own sorrow about his last night, creating a powerful link between the external environment and his internal emotional state.

Question 11: In a survey, 45 out of 60 students preferred science over art. What percentage of students preferred science?

70%
65%
80%
75% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 75%

45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 = 75%.

Question 12: A student wrote the following sentence: 'While making a sandwich, the tomato fell on the floor.' Which of the following revisions best corrects the dangling modifier in the sentence?

While I was making a sandwich, the tomato fell on the floor. (Correct answer)
Falling on the floor, the tomato was making a sandwich.
The tomato, while making a sandwich, fell on the floor.
The tomato fell on the floor while making a sandwich.

Correct answer: While I was making a sandwich, the tomato fell on the floor.

The original sentence has a dangling modifier because the introductory phrase 'While making a sandwich' does not logically describe the subject 'the tomato' (the tomato wasn't making the sandwich). This revision clarifies who was making the sandwich ('I') and corrects the error.

Question 13: Read the following excerpt from a story. I crept through the silent market, the moonlight turning the canvas stalls into pale ghosts. Every shadow seemed to hold a secret, and the gentle flap of an awning in the breeze sounded like a whispered warning. My goal was the baker’s stall at the far end, where a single loaf of bread, forgotten on the counter, represented a feast. My stomach ached with a hunger so deep it had become a dull, constant companion. How does the author's choice of the word 'ghosts' to describe the market stalls affect the tone of the passage?

It suggests a festive and celebratory tone.
It develops an eerie and mysterious tone. (Correct answer)
It creates a comical and lighthearted tone.
It establishes a scholarly and academic tone.

Correct answer: It develops an eerie and mysterious tone.

The word 'ghosts' has connotations of the supernatural, emptiness, and the uncanny. By comparing the moonlit stalls to 'pale ghosts,' the author creates an eerie, mysterious, and slightly tense atmosphere. This is reinforced by other word choices like 'secret' shadows and 'whispered warning.'

Question 14: Two angles are supplementary. If the measure of the first angle is 115°, what is the measure of the second angle?

65° (Correct answer)
245°
115°
25°

Correct answer: 65°

Supplementary angles are two angles whose measures add up to 180 degrees. To find the measure of the second angle, subtract the known angle from 180: 180° - 115° = 65°.

Question 15: Which algebraic expression correctly translates the verbal phrase '8 less than the product of a number, n, and 3'?

8 - 3n
3(n - 8)
8 < 3n
3n - 8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3n - 8

First, identify 'the product of a number, n, and 3,' which translates to 3n. The key phrase 'less than' indicates subtraction, but it reverses the order of the terms. So, '8 less than' means you subtract 8 from the previously identified product. This results in the expression 3n - 8.

Question 16: A shipping company uses a box shaped like a rectangular prism with a length of 10 inches, a width of 6 inches, and a height of 4 inches. What is the total volume of the box?

64 cubic inches
20 cubic inches
240 cubic inches (Correct answer)
120 cubic inches

Correct answer: 240 cubic inches

The formula for the volume of a rectangular prism is V = length × width × height. Plugging in the given dimensions: V = 10 in × 6 in × 4 in = 240 cubic inches.

Question 17: The bar graph below shows the number of different types of books checked out from a school library in one week. How many more fiction books were checked out than biography books?

70
15
20 (Correct answer)
25

Correct answer: 20

To solve this, you need to read the values from the bar graph for 'Fiction' and 'Biography' and then find the difference. The bar for Fiction reaches 45, and the bar for Biography reaches 25. The difference is 45 - 25 = 20.

Question 18: A rectangular garden is 12 feet long and 8 feet wide. The owner wants to install a fence around the entire perimeter and cover the garden with a layer of topsoil. Which statement accurately describes the amount of fencing and topsoil needed?

40 feet of fencing and 96 square feet of topsoil are needed. (Correct answer)
20 feet of fencing and 96 square feet of topsoil are needed.
40 feet of fencing and 20 square feet of topsoil are needed.
96 feet of fencing and 40 square feet of topsoil are needed.

Correct answer: 40 feet of fencing and 96 square feet of topsoil are needed.

The amount of fencing required is the perimeter of the garden. The formula for the perimeter of a rectangle is P = 2(length + width). So, P = 2(12 ft + 8 ft) = 2(20 ft) = 40 feet. The amount of topsoil needed is the area of the garden. The formula for the area of a rectangle is A = length × width. So, A = 12 ft × 8 ft = 96 square feet.

Question 19: Read the following excerpt from a passage about a city council meeting. 'While the mayor's speech was full of promises, his plans remained nebulous, offering no specific details on how the new programs would be funded or implemented. This lack of clarity left many council members feeling uncertain.' What does the word 'nebulous' most likely mean?

Long-term
Expensive
Unclear or vague (Correct answer)
Controversial

Correct answer: Unclear or vague

The correct answer is 'Unclear or vague'. The sentence provides direct context clues by stating the plans offered 'no specific details' and resulted in a 'lack of clarity,' which are hallmarks of something that is nebulous.

Question 20: A roller coaster has a sign that reads, 'Riders must be at least 48 inches tall.' Which of the following inequalities correctly represents the height, h, in inches, that a person must be to ride?

h ≤ 48
h < 48
h ≥ 48 (Correct answer)
h > 48

Correct answer: h ≥ 48

The phrase 'at least 48 inches' means that a height of exactly 48 inches is allowed, as well as any height greater than 48 inches. The mathematical symbol for 'greater than or equal to' is ≥. Therefore, the inequality h ≥ 48 correctly represents the height requirement.

Question 21: Which of the following sentences uses capitalization correctly?

My Cousin, David, said his favorite holiday is the Fourth of july.
Last Summer, my family took a trip to visit my Aunt in California.
We drove across the Hoover Dam and then went to see the Grand Canyon. (Correct answer)
Our favorite restaurant was an italian place called 'Nonna's Kitchen.'

Correct answer: We drove across the Hoover Dam and then went to see the Grand Canyon.

This sentence correctly capitalizes the proper nouns 'Hoover Dam' and 'Grand Canyon.' In option A, 'Summer' should not be capitalized unless it's part of a proper name. In option C, 'Italian' should be capitalized. In option D, 'cousin' should not be capitalized, and 'July' should be.

Question 22: An online article argues that schools should implement later start times for high school students. Which of the following pieces of evidence would most effectively support the author's claim?

An anecdote from a teacher who feels more alert in the morning.
A quote from a student who enjoys sleeping in.
A chart showing the bus schedules for the local school district.
A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics linking adolescent sleep cycles to improved academic performance with later school start times. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics linking adolescent sleep cycles to improved academic performance with later school start times.

To support a claim in an informational text, the strongest evidence is typically from a credible, expert source. A study from a professional medical organization like the American Academy of Pediatrics provides authoritative, research-based evidence, which is more persuasive than personal opinions or unrelated data.

Question 23: Read the following excerpt from a poem. The winter oak, a skeleton’s hand, Reaches for a sky of stone. Its gnarled fingers, bleak and bare, Remember sun they once had known. A lone crow lands, a spot of ink, And shifts upon the brittle wood, A silent, feathered question mark, By all the world misunderstood. Based on the poem's details, what can the reader infer about the speaker's feelings?

The speaker feels a sense of hope for the coming spring.
The speaker is interested in the scientific study of birds.
The speaker is experiencing feelings of isolation and gloom. (Correct answer)
The speaker is angry about the harshness of winter.

Correct answer: The speaker is experiencing feelings of isolation and gloom.

The poem uses words with negative connotations like 'skeleton's hand,' 'sky of stone,' 'bleak and bare,' and 'brittle wood.' The crow is described as a 'spot of ink' and a 'misunderstood' question mark. This consistent use of imagery associated with emptiness, coldness, and misunderstanding suggests the speaker is projecting feelings of sadness and isolation onto the scene.

Question 24: A box weighs 4 pounds and 8 ounces. How many total ounces does the box weigh?

72 ounces (Correct answer)
48 ounces
56 ounces
64 ounces

Correct answer: 72 ounces

4 pounds × 16 ounces/pound = 64 ounces + 8 ounces = 72 ounces.

Question 25: Read the following excerpt from a story. I crept through the silent market, the moonlight turning the canvas stalls into pale ghosts. Every shadow seemed to hold a secret, and the gentle flap of an awning in the breeze sounded like a whispered warning. My goal was the baker’s stall at the far end, where a single loaf of bread, forgotten on the counter, represented a feast. My stomach ached with a hunger so deep it had become a dull, constant companion. From which narrative point of view is this passage written?

Third-person omniscient
Third-person limited
Second-person
First-person (Correct answer)

Correct answer: First-person

The passage is told from the first-person point of view. This is evident through the use of first-person pronouns like 'I,' 'My,' and the direct access to the narrator's personal thoughts and feelings ('My stomach ached...'). The reader experiences the events directly through the narrator's eyes.

Question 26: During a FAST Mathematics assessment, a proctor observes a student using a smartwatch with a calculator function. The Test Administrator is notified, secures the device, and reports the incident to the School Assessment Coordinator. This situation will most likely result in which outcome for the student's test?

The student's test will be paused and resumed the next day.
The student will be given extra time to compensate for the disruption.
The student's test score will be invalidated. (Correct answer)
The student will be moved to a different room to finish the test.

Correct answer: The student's test score will be invalidated.

Using an unapproved electronic device, such as a smartwatch, is a form of cheating and a severe breach of test security. The standard procedure for such an incident is to invalidate the student's test for that administration.

Question 27: What is the primary purpose of a thesis statement in an informational essay?

To list all the evidence that will be presented
To state the central argument or main point the essay will support (Correct answer)
To provide an entertaining anecdote to hook the reader
To summarize the conclusion of the essay

Correct answer: To state the central argument or main point the essay will support

A thesis statement clearly states the main argument or central idea that the rest of the essay will develop and support.

Question 28: Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in a text that explains the process of photosynthesis, detailing the roles of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide?

To inform the reader about a biological process. (Correct answer)
To persuade the reader to plant more trees.
To entertain the reader with a story about a plant.
To express feelings about the beauty of nature.

Correct answer: To inform the reader about a biological process.

The text's focus on explaining a scientific process (photosynthesis) by providing factual details and steps indicates that the author's primary purpose is to inform or explain. The other options (persuade, entertain, express feelings) do not align with the content described.

Question 29: When writing a narrative, sensory details are used to:

List facts and statistics
Explain the author's opinion
Help the reader experience the scene through sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste (Correct answer)
Summarize the plot quickly

Correct answer: Help the reader experience the scene through sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste

Sensory details engage the reader by creating vivid mental images that bring the narrative scene to life.

Question 30: What is the fraction equivalent to 0.14?

7⁄50 (Correct answer)
3⁄5
1 2⁄5
1⁄14

Correct answer: 7⁄50

0.14 = 14⁄100 Simplify by dividing 2 into the numerator and the denominator to get 7⁄50

Question 31: A worker earns $15 per hour. Which equation represents total earnings (e) based on hours worked (h)?

e = 15 + h
e = h divided by 15
e = 15h + 10
e = 15h (Correct answer)

Correct answer: e = 15h

Total earnings equal the hourly rate multiplied by hours worked, so e = 15h.

Question 32: A student ends an essay with: 'In conclusion, as I said before, dogs are good pets.' What is the weakness of this conclusion?

It is too long
It uses the word 'dogs'
It is written in first person
It simply repeats the introduction without synthesizing ideas or leaving a lasting impression (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It simply repeats the introduction without synthesizing ideas or leaving a lasting impression

An effective conclusion should synthesize the essay's ideas and leave the reader with a meaningful takeaway, not just restate the introduction.

Question 33: Read the following excerpt from a story. Liam traced the rim of the chipped teacup, the last of his grandmother’s set. His older sister, Clara, breezed into the kitchen, dropping a stack of mail on the table. 'Still moping over that old thing?' she asked, not unkindly. 'It’s just a cup.' Liam shook his head. 'It’s not just a cup,' he mumbled. 'It’s the feel of the handle, worn smooth where she held it. It’s the memory of her stories, the scent of cinnamon tea.' Clara paused, her expression softening. She picked up the cup, her fingers finding the same worn spot. 'I remember,' she said softly. 'She always said a story was just a memory you shared out loud.' How does Clara's perspective on the teacup change over the course of the passage?

She becomes angry that Liam is so focused on the past.
She shifts from viewing the cup as a simple object to understanding its sentimental importance. (Correct answer)
She remains convinced that the cup is just an object with no real value.
She decides that she should be the one to keep the teacup.

Correct answer: She shifts from viewing the cup as a simple object to understanding its sentimental importance.

Initially, Clara dismisses the teacup as an 'old thing' and 'just a cup,' indicating she sees only its physical, utilitarian value. However, after Liam explains its connection to their grandmother's memory and stories, her 'expression softening' and her quiet statement, 'I remember,' show she has come to understand and share in its sentimental value.

Question 34: Kevin is creating a small birdhouse with a cube base using the following net with dimensions in inches. If each square of wood is equal and each triangle for the top is equal, how many square inches of wood does Kevin need?

160
185
130
155 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 155

The surface area of the birdhouse net is calculated by summing the area of each panel: the five square faces of the cube base plus the two triangular roof panels. Using the given dimensions, the total comes to 155 square inches. The other values result from miscounting panels or using incorrect dimensions.

Question 35: On a pictograph, each picture of a sun represents 4 sunny days. If there are 5 suns shown for July, how many sunny days were there?

5 days
20 days (Correct answer)
9 days
45 days

Correct answer: 20 days

5 suns × 4 days per sun = 20 sunny days in July.

Question 36: Read the sentence below. 'After the team lost the championship game by a single point, the mood in the locker room was somber, with players sitting in silence, their heads in their hands.' What is the meaning of the word 'somber' in this context?

Gloomy and serious (Correct answer)
Angry and aggressive
Loud and chaotic
Hopeful and optimistic

Correct answer: Gloomy and serious

The correct answer is 'Gloomy and serious'. The context clues 'lost the championship game,' 'sitting in silence,' and 'heads in their hands' all point to a sad, serious, and dark mood, which is the definition of somber.

Question 37: Leo sold boxes of cookies for a fundraiser, earning $2.50 for each box he sold. By the end of the fundraiser, he had raised a total of $112.50. If b represents the number of boxes Leo sold, which equation correctly models this situation?

112.50 - b = 2.50
b / 2.50 = 112.50
2.50 + b = 112.50
2.50b = 112.50 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2.50b = 112.50

The total amount raised ($112.50) is the result of multiplying the earnings per box ($2.50) by the number of boxes sold (b). Therefore, the situation is correctly modeled by the equation 2.50b = 112.50.

Question 38: Which of the following is an example of a primary source a student might cite in a research report about the Florida environment?

A children's book about Florida animals
A textbook chapter summarizing Florida ecosystems
An encyclopedia article about the Everglades
A scientist's original research journal documenting water quality measurements (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A scientist's original research journal documenting water quality measurements

A primary source is original, firsthand material such as original research data, diaries, or eyewitness accounts.

Question 39: A thermometer reads 32°F. What does this temperature represent?

Boiling point of water
Room temperature
Normal body temperature
Freezing point of water (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Freezing point of water

32°F is the freezing point of water on the Fahrenheit scale.

Question 40: An informational text is structured with the following headings: I. The Problem: Plastic in Our Oceans II. A Major Source: Single-Use Plastics III. A Potential Solution: Biodegradable Alternatives IV. The Path Forward: Policy and Personal Responsibility What is the primary organizational structure of this text?

Compare and contrast
Problem and solution (Correct answer)
Chronological order
Cause and effect

Correct answer: Problem and solution

The headings clearly indicate that the text first identifies a problem (plastic in oceans), explores its cause (single-use plastics), and then proposes solutions (biodegradable alternatives, policy changes). This is a classic problem-and-solution structure.

FAST Florida Assessment

The FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) measures student proficiency in ELA and Mathematics for grades 3-10, using computer-adaptive testing.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

60%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds