ASVAB — All Questions

A vendor buys 200 shirts for $6 each and sells 175 of them at $14 each. What is the profit?

• a.$1,450
• b.$2,450
• c.$1,250✓
• d.$1,050

Revenue is 175 x $14 = $2,450, but the cost covers all 200 shirts at $6, or $1,200. Profit is 2,450 - 1,200 = $1,250.

An award of $840 is divided among three people in the ratio 3 to 4 to 5. How much does the person with the largest share receive?

• a.$210
• b.$420
• c.$350✓
• d.$280

The ratio has 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 parts, so each part is 840 / 12 = $70. The largest share is 5 x $70 = $350.

A generator burns 0.8 gallon of fuel per hour and runs from 0600 until 1830. How much fuel does it burn?

• a.11.2 gallons
• b.12.5 gallons
• c.9.6 gallons
• d.10.0 gallons✓

From 0600 to 1830 is 12.5 hours, and 12.5 x 0.8 = 10.0 gallons.

Brand A sells 18 ounces for $4.32 and Brand B sells 24 ounces for $5.52. How much less per ounce is the cheaper brand?

• a.$0.01✓
• b.$0.03
• c.$0.02
• d.$0.05

Brand A costs 4.32 / 18 = $0.24 per ounce and Brand B costs 5.52 / 24 = $0.23 per ounce, a difference of $0.01 per ounce.

A room measures 14 feet by 18 feet. Carpet is sold by the square yard. How many square yards are needed?

• a.32 square yards
• b.24 square yards
• c.36 square yards
• d.28 square yards✓

The floor is 14 x 18 = 252 square feet. One square yard is 9 square feet, so 252 / 9 = 28 square yards.

Five machines fill 300 boxes in 2 hours. At the same rate, how many boxes will 8 machines fill in 3 hours?

• a.640 boxes
• b.480 boxes
• c.900 boxes
• d.720 boxes✓

One machine fills 300 / (5 x 2) = 30 boxes per hour. Eight machines for 3 hours give 30 x 8 x 3 = 720 boxes.

What is a 15 percent tip on a bill of $46.40?

• a.$9.28
• b.$7.42
• c.$5.80
• d.$6.96✓

Ten percent of $46.40 is $4.64 and 5 percent is half of that, $2.32. Together the tip is $6.96.

A saver deposits $45 the first week and increases the deposit by $5 each following week. How much has been deposited after six weeks?

• a.$315
• b.$370
• c.$330
• d.$345✓

The deposits are 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70. That is six deposits of $45 plus 5 x (1+2+3+4+5) = $75, for $345.

A car with a 16-gallon tank averages 27 miles per gallon. How far can it travel on a full tank?

• a.405 miles
• b.432 miles✓
• c.448 miles
• d.486 miles

Range equals gallons times miles per gallon: 16 x 27 = 432 miles.

Of 450 recruits, 60 percent are men, and 20 percent of the men wear glasses. How many men wear glasses?

• a.54 recruits✓
• b.108 recruits
• c.45 recruits
• d.90 recruits

There are 450 x 0.60 = 270 men, and 20 percent of 270 is 54. The second percentage applies to the men only, not to all 450.

A shipment of 1,250 items has a defect rate of 4 percent. How many items are not defective?

• a.1,200 items✓
• b.1,206 items
• c.1,150 items
• d.1,246 items

Four percent of 1,250 is 50 defective items, so 1,250 - 50 = 1,200 are good.

A driver travels 2 hours at 55 miles per hour and then 3 hours at 65 miles per hour. What was the average speed for the whole trip?

• a.63 mph
• b.61 mph✓
• c.60 mph
• d.58 mph

The distance is 110 + 195 = 305 miles over 5 hours, so 305 / 5 = 61 mph. Averaging 55 and 65 ignores that more time was spent at the faster speed.

A shopper pays with a $50 bill for items costing $12.75, $8.40, and $19.99. How much change is due?

• a.$9.16
• b.$7.86
• c.$8.86✓
• d.$8.14

The items total $41.14, and 50.00 - 41.14 = $8.86.

A batch that feeds 48 people uses 6 pounds of rice. How much rice is needed for 20 people?

• a.2.0 pounds
• b.2.5 pounds✓
• c.3.0 pounds
• d.3.5 pounds

Each person needs 6 / 48 = 0.125 pound, and 0.125 x 20 = 2.5 pounds.

An account pays 0.5 percent simple interest per month. How much interest does $500 earn in 8 months?

• a.$25.00
• b.$20.00✓
• c.$12.50
• d.$40.00

Each month earns 500 x 0.005 = $2.50, and $2.50 x 8 = $20.00.

A truck has a load limit of 2,000 pounds and is carrying 46 crates weighing 38 pounds each. How many more pounds may it carry?

• a.152 pounds
• b.232 pounds
• c.252 pounds✓
• d.348 pounds

The crates weigh 46 x 38 = 1,748 pounds, so 2,000 - 1,748 = 252 pounds remain.

Two-fifths of a class of 35 students chose the morning shift and the rest chose evenings. How many chose evenings?

• a.21 students✓
• b.25 students
• c.18 students
• d.14 students

If 2/5 chose mornings, then 3/5 chose evenings. One-fifth of 35 is 7, so 3/5 is 21 students.

A copier prints 22 pages per minute for 9 minutes, jams for 4 minutes, then prints at the same rate for 6 more minutes. How many pages are printed?

• a.264 pages
• b.330 pages✓
• c.198 pages
• d.418 pages

The copier actually prints for 9 + 6 = 15 minutes, so 22 x 15 = 330 pages. The 4-minute jam produces nothing.

After a 20 percent discount, a coat costs $96. What was the original price?

• a.$108.00
• b.$124.80
• c.$120.00✓
• d.$115.20

The sale price is 80 percent of the original, so the original is 96 / 0.80 = $120.00. Checking, 20 percent of $120 is $24, and 120 - 24 = 96.

A garden 20 feet by 30 feet is bordered by a walkway 3 feet wide on all sides. What is the area of the walkway alone?

• a.396 square feet
• b.276 square feet
• c.306 square feet
• d.336 square feet✓

The walkway adds 3 feet on each side, making the outer rectangle 26 by 36, or 936 square feet. Subtracting the 600-square-foot garden leaves 336.

A driver covers 60 miles at 30 miles per hour and returns over the same 60 miles at 60 miles per hour. What is the average speed for the round trip?

• a.40 mph✓
• b.45 mph
• c.36 mph
• d.48 mph

The outbound leg takes 2 hours and the return takes 1 hour, so 120 miles are covered in 3 hours, or 40 mph. Averaging 30 and 60 to get 45 ignores the unequal times.

A box holds 24 red markers, 16 blue markers, and 40 green markers. What percent of the markers are blue?

• a.25%
• b.20%✓
• c.16%
• d.18%

There are 80 markers in all, and 16 / 80 = 0.20.

Abate most nearly means

• a.subside✓
• b.conclude
• c.repeat
• d.enlarge

To abate is to lessen or die down, as a storm abates. Enlarge is its opposite, and the other choices describe different actions entirely.

The sergeant gave a terse reply. Terse most nearly means

• a.brief✓
• b.loud
• c.rude
• d.long-winded

Terse describes speech that is short and to the point. It can sound abrupt, but the meaning is about length rather than politeness or volume.

Lenient most nearly means

• a.punctual
• b.tolerant✓
• c.strict
• d.unforgiving

A lenient supervisor is easygoing about the rules and slow to punish. Strict and unforgiving both point the other way.

Candid most nearly means

• a.hidden
• b.clumsy
• c.formal
• d.frank✓

A candid remark is honest and unguarded. Hidden is the reverse, and formal describes tone rather than honesty.

Deter most nearly means

• a.determine
• b.deteriorate
• c.postpone
• d.discourage✓

To deter is to prevent someone from acting by making the action unattractive. Postponing an act only delays it, and the other choices concern deciding and decaying.

Frugal most nearly means

• a.thrifty✓
• b.hungry
• c.careless
• d.wealthy

A frugal person spends sparingly. Wealth is unrelated, since a rich person may be frugal and a poor person may not be.

The bridge was declared obsolete. Obsolete most nearly means

• a.unstable
• b.crowded
• c.outdated✓
• d.expensive

Something obsolete has been replaced by something newer and is no longer in use. An obsolete item may still be perfectly sound structurally.

Meager most nearly means

• a.scant✓
• b.steady
• c.bright
• d.heavy

Meager means small in amount and less than is needed, as in a meager portion.

Placid most nearly means

• a.sour
• b.flat
• c.calm✓
• d.tense

Placid describes something untroubled and still, such as a placid lake or a placid temperament. Tense is its opposite.

Taut most nearly means

• a.tight✓
• b.sudden
• c.damp
• d.hollow

A taut rope is pulled tight with no slack left in it. The word says nothing about moisture, weight, or speed.

Vigilant most nearly means

• a.truthful
• b.cheerful
• c.restless
• d.watchful✓

A vigilant sentry stays alert for danger. Restless describes an inability to keep still, which is a different idea.

Fledgling most nearly means

• a.soldier
• b.specialist
• c.beginner✓
• d.teacher

A fledgling bird has only just left the nest, and the word carries over to anyone just starting out. A specialist sits at the opposite end of the same scale.

Fog began to shroud the harbor. Shroud most nearly means

• a.carry
• b.clean
• c.find
• d.hide✓

To shroud something is to cover it so that it cannot be seen. Find is roughly its opposite.

Diligent most nearly means

• a.forgetful
• b.talkative
• c.hardworking✓
• d.unpredictable

A diligent worker applies steady, careful effort. The word describes effort, not results or personality.

The corporal's account of the incident was accurate. Accurate most nearly means

• a.correct✓
• b.recent
• c.lengthy
• d.unusual

An accurate account matches the facts. Its length and how recently it was given say nothing about whether it is right.

Adjacent most nearly means

• a.distant
• b.neighboring✓
• c.concealed
• d.crooked

Adjacent things lie next to each other, as in adjacent rooms. Distant is its opposite.

Potent most nearly means

• a.gentle
• b.clever
• c.hollow
• d.strong✓

A potent dose or a potent argument carries great force or effect. Gentle suggests the opposite kind of strength.

Perilous most nearly means

• a.risky✓
• b.doubtful
• c.pleasant
• d.lengthy

A perilous route is one that puts a traveler at risk. Doubtful concerns uncertainty rather than danger.

Halt most nearly means

• a.climb
• b.join
• c.rush
• d.stop✓

To halt is to bring movement to an end, as a column halts on command. Rush points the opposite way.

Reluctant most nearly means

• a.prompt
• b.capable
• c.hesitant✓
• d.enthusiastic

A reluctant volunteer holds back. Enthusiastic is its opposite, and capable concerns ability rather than willingness.

Lethargy most nearly means

• a.irritation
• b.tiredness✓
• c.hunger
• d.muscle

Lethargy is a heavy lack of energy and unwillingness to move. Hunger and irritation are different states entirely.

Void most nearly means

• a.narrow
• b.hidden
• c.filled
• d.empty✓

A void space contains nothing at all. Filled is its opposite, and the other choices describe shape and visibility.

Summit most nearly means

• a.border
• b.peak✓
• c.valley
• d.meadow

The summit is the highest point of a mountain. Valley is the low ground between mountains.

Ponder most nearly means

• a.consider✓
• b.release
• c.forget
• d.measure

To ponder is to think something over carefully before acting.

Legible most nearly means

• a.breakable
• b.lawful
• c.spoken
• d.readable✓

Legible handwriting can be made out easily. Lawful sounds similar to legal but is a different word family from legible.

Barren most nearly means

• a.bare✓
• b.rocky
• c.muddy
• d.green

Barren land produces little or no vegetation. Rocky ground can still support plants, so it is not the same idea.

Congregate most nearly means

• a.inspect
• b.deliver
• c.disperse
• d.gather✓

To congregate is to come together in a crowd. Disperse is its opposite, describing a crowd breaking up.

The colonel issued a stern warning. Stern most nearly means

• a.vague
• b.final
• c.harsh✓
• d.brief

A stern warning is severe and unsmiling in tone. It may be short, but shortness is not what the word means.