SCAT (School and College Ability Test) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: apple : tree ::

pan : chef
egg : chicken (Correct answer)
peach : pear
branch : bird

Correct answer: egg : chicken

The analogy 'apple : tree' describes a 'product : source' relationship, where an apple is a fruit that grows on a tree. Following this pattern, 'egg : chicken' represents a similar relationship. An egg is a product that comes from a chicken.

Question 2: On a strange planet, the following statements are true: All wimbles are zoodles. Some zoodles are flurgs. No flurgs are glonks. Which of the following statements must also be true?

Some wimbles are glonks.
Some zoodles are not glonks. (Correct answer)
All wimbles are flurgs.
No wimbles are zoodles.

Correct answer: Some zoodles are not glonks.

We know that some zoodles are flurgs, and we know that no flurgs are glonks. This means there is a specific group of zoodles (the ones that are also flurgs) that are definitely not glonks. Therefore, the statement 'Some zoodles are not glonks' must be true. We cannot be sure if the wimbles are part of the zoodles that are flurgs, so the other options are not guaranteed.

Question 3: PETAL : FLOWER :: SCALE : _____

FISH (Correct answer)
SKIN
SNAKE
REPTILE

Correct answer: FISH

A petal is a structural part of a flower, just as a scale is a structural part of a fish.

Question 4: A rectangular room measures 12 feet by 15 feet. What is the area of the room in square yards?

20 square yards (Correct answer)
27 square yards
60 square yards
180 square yards

Correct answer: 20 square yards

There are two ways to solve this. You can first calculate the area in square feet (12 ft × 15 ft = 180 sq ft) and then divide by 9 (since 1 sq yard = 9 sq ft) to get 20 square yards. Alternatively, you can convert the dimensions to yards first (12 ft = 4 yards, 15 ft = 5 yards) and then multiply them (4 yd × 5 yd = 20 sq yd).

Question 5: Compare the quantities in Column A and Column B. Column A: The value of x when 3x - 4 = 11 Column B: The value of y when 2y + 1 = 13

The two quantities are equal.
Quantity A is greater.
The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Quantity B is greater. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Quantity B is greater.

To solve for x in Column A: 3x - 4 = 11. Add 4 to both sides to get 3x = 15. Divide by 3 to get x = 5. To solve for y in Column B: 2y + 1 = 13. Subtract 1 from both sides to get 2y = 12. Divide by 2 to get y = 6. Since 6 is greater than 5, Quantity B is greater.

Question 6: A farmer has 240 feet of fencing to enclose a rectangular pen. What is the maximum possible area of the pen?

3,600 sq ft (Correct answer)
3,200 sq ft
3,500 sq ft
3,575 sq ft

Correct answer: 3,600 sq ft

Maximum area is achieved by a square: side = 240 ÷ 4 = 60 ft, area = 60 × 60 = 3,600 sq ft.

Question 7: Which of the following weights is the greatest?

20,000 milligrams
2,500 grams
0.003 metric tons (Correct answer)
2 kilograms

Correct answer: 0.003 metric tons

To accurately compare the weights, they must be converted to a common unit. Converting all options to grams: 2,500 grams remains the same; 0.003 metric tons is 3,000 grams (since 1 metric ton = 1,000 kg and 1 kg = 1,000 g); 2 kilograms is 2,000 grams; and 20,000 milligrams is 20 grams. Therefore, 0.003 metric tons (3,000g) is the greatest weight.

Question 8: Carlos is 3 times as old as his sister. In 6 years, he will be twice as old as his sister. How old is Carlos now?

21
15
18 (Correct answer)
12

Correct answer: 18

Setting sister's age as x: 3x + 6 = 2(x + 6) gives x = 6, so Carlos is 18.

Question 9: In the age of smartphones, the presence of cameras has become UBIQUITOUS. What is the best synonym for UBIQUITOUS?

Rare
Scarce
Limited
Omnipresent (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Omnipresent

Ubiquitous means present, appearing, or found everywhere. Omnipresent is the best synonym, as it also means constantly encountered or widespread.

Question 10: Alice paints a fence in 6 hours; Bob paints it in 4 hours. They work together for 1 hour, then Alice leaves. How much additional time does Bob need to finish alone?

2 hours 20 minutes (Correct answer)
1 hour 45 minutes
2 hours 40 minutes
2 hours

Correct answer: 2 hours 20 minutes

Together they complete 5/12 in 1 hour, leaving 7/12; Bob finishes 7/12 at rate 1/4 per hour in (7/12)/(1/4) = 7/3 hours ≈ 2 hours 20 minutes.

Question 11: Which word is most similar in meaning to METICULOUS?

Hasty
Careless
Vague
Thorough (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Thorough

Meticulous means showing great attention to detail, so 'thorough' is the closest synonym.

Question 12: A bar graph shows monthly sales: Jan=40, Feb=55, Mar=35, Apr=70. What is the mean monthly sales?

60
55
45
50 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 50

Mean = (40+55+35+70)/4 = 200/4 = 50.

Question 13: A rectangular garden is 12 ft long and 8 ft wide. A 2-ft-wide path surrounds the garden. What is the area of the path alone?

80 sq ft
96 sq ft (Correct answer)
112 sq ft
72 sq ft

Correct answer: 96 sq ft

Outer rectangle = 16 × 12 = 192 sq ft; garden = 96 sq ft; path area = 192 − 96 = 96 sq ft.

Question 14: DIMINISH : INCREASE :: CONTRACT : _____

GROW
REDUCE
EXPAND (Correct answer)
SHRINK

Correct answer: EXPAND

Diminish and increase are antonyms, just as contract and expand are antonyms meaning to shrink and enlarge, respectively.

Question 15: Which column is bigger?

Not enough information is given
Column A is greater
The two parts are equal
Column B is greater (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Column B is greater

For Column B to be greater, the numerical value or quantity represented in Column B must consistently exceed that of Column A. This implies that upon evaluating both columns, Column B would always be found to have a larger magnitude. Without the actual columns, we infer this based on the provided correct answer.

Question 16: A flight is scheduled to take 330 minutes. How long is the flight in hours and minutes?

5 hours and 50 minutes
6 hours and 10 minutes
5 hours and 0 minutes
5 hours and 30 minutes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5 hours and 30 minutes

To convert minutes to hours, divide the total number of minutes by 60. 330 divided by 60 is 5 with a remainder of 30. This means the flight is 5 full hours and 30 additional minutes.

Question 17: A line graph shows temperatures: Mon=72°, Tue=68°, Wed=75°, Thu=71°, Fri=74°. On which day was the temperature lowest?

Thursday
Friday
Monday
Tuesday (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Tuesday

Tuesday's temperature of 68° is the lowest value in the data set.

Question 18: Which word is most similar in meaning to CANDID?

Frank (Correct answer)
Secretive
Polite
Deceptive

Correct answer: Frank

Candid means truthful and straightforward, making 'frank' the best synonym.

Question 19: PEDESTRIAN : SIDEWALK :: MOTORIST : _____

STREET
CAR
ROAD (Correct answer)
HIGHWAY

Correct answer: ROAD

A pedestrian travels along a sidewalk, just as a motorist travels along a road.

Question 20: Which word is OPPOSITE in meaning to SERENE?

Quiet
Turbulent (Correct answer)
Peaceful
Calm

Correct answer: Turbulent

Serene means calm and untroubled; its antonym is 'turbulent,' meaning marked by conflict or disorder.

Question 21: A family has a father, a mother, a son, and a daughter. Their names are Pat, Sam, Lou, and Jo, not in order. You are given these clues: 1. Sam and Lou are of the same gender. 2. The daughter is the youngest member of the family. 3. Pat is older than Jo. Which of the following must be the two female members of the family?

Sam and Lou
Pat and Jo (Correct answer)
Lou and Jo
Pat and Sam

Correct answer: Pat and Jo

The family has two males and two females. From clues 2 and 3, Pat is older than Jo, and the daughter is the youngest. This means Pat cannot be the daughter, so Jo must be the daughter. Since Jo is female, and clue 1 states Sam and Lou are the same gender, they cannot be female (otherwise, there would be three females: Jo, Sam, and Lou). Therefore, Sam and Lou must be the two males (father and son). This leaves Pat and Jo as the two females (mother and daughter).

Question 22: A cyclist averages 12 mph uphill and 18 mph downhill over equal distances each way. What is the average speed for the entire round trip?

14.4 mph (Correct answer)
15 mph
15.5 mph
14 mph

Correct answer: 14.4 mph

Use the harmonic mean: 2 × 12 × 18 / (12 + 18) = 432 / 30 = 14.4 mph.

Question 23: Which word is most similar in meaning to VENERATE?

Despise
Revere (Correct answer)
Question
Ignore

Correct answer: Revere

Venerate means to regard with great respect and reverence, so 'revere' is the best synonym.

Question 24: SUMMIT : MOUNTAIN :: APEX : _____

TRIANGLE
PINNACLE
PYRAMID (Correct answer)
PEAK

Correct answer: PYRAMID

A summit is the highest point of a mountain, just as an apex is the highest point of a pyramid.

Question 25: Which of the following words is a synonym for BENEVOLENT?

Hostile
Charitable (Correct answer)
Malevolent
Stingy

Correct answer: Charitable

Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly. Charitable, which means giving help or money to those in need, is the closest synonym among the choices.

Question 26: OPTIMISTIC : PESSIMISTIC :: COURAGEOUS : _____

COWARDLY (Correct answer)
BOLD
TIMID
BRAVE

Correct answer: COWARDLY

Optimistic and pessimistic are antonyms, just as courageous and cowardly are antonyms.

Question 27: Which word is OPPOSITE in meaning to RETICENT?

Shy
Reserved
Quiet
Talkative (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Talkative

Reticent means not revealing one's thoughts freely; its antonym is 'talkative,' meaning eager to share thoughts.

Question 28: A shirt originally costs $80 and is on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?

$65
$55
$60 (Correct answer)
$70

Correct answer: $60

Discount = 0.25 × $80 = $20, so sale price = $80 − $20 = $60.

Question 29: ODOMETER : DISTANCE :: THERMOMETER : _____

FEVER
HEAT
TEMPERATURE (Correct answer)
WEATHER

Correct answer: TEMPERATURE

An odometer is an instrument that measures distance, just as a thermometer is an instrument that measures temperature.

Question 30: The politician's speech was so ________ that even his opponents found it compelling.

vague
confusing
boring
eloquent (Correct answer)

Correct answer: eloquent

Eloquent means well-spoken and persuasive, which explains why even opponents were swayed.

SCAT (School and College Ability Test)

The SCAT is a Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth above-level assessment for academically talented students in grades 2–11, measuring verbal reasoning through word analogies and mathematical reasoning through quantitative comparisons.

110

Questions

44 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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