7th Grade Math

Preparing for Standardized Tests 311

Preparing for

Standardized Tests

Multiple Choice: Unreasonable Answer Choices

Sometimes answer choices are not reasonable for the information given in a

problem. These choices can be eliminated.

A scenic trail circles Loon Lake. Hikers traveled on

the trail from East Marina to Perry’s Landing. This

distance on a map is about 1 inch. Based on the scale

below, how far did the hikers travel in miles?

Scale

_ 21 in. = 6 _^14 mi

A. 2 _^1

2

miles C. 6 _^1

4

miles

B. 3 _^1

8

miles D. 12 _^1

2

miles

Since the distance on the map is

greater than _^1

2

inch, the actual distance

must be greater than 5 miles. So, choices

A and B can be automatically eliminated.

Since 1 inch is twice as long as _^1

2

inch, the

actual distance will be twice as long as 6 _^1

4

miles.

The correct answer is D.

On a model of a roller coaster, the first hill is 15 inches high.

The actual height of the first hill is 240 feet. If the second hill

on the roller coaster is 180 feet high, how high is the second

hill on the model?

F. 11 _^14 inches H. 16 inches

G. 12 inches I. 20 inches

If your answer is not one

of the choices given, then

reread the question

carefully to check

that you understand what

is being asked.

v

not toone

ven, ththen

ti

k

dwht

ven, ththen

iooooooooooooooooooooon n n n nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

k

ee

ces

Perry’s

Landing

East

Marina

South Marina

Lewiston

Haven’s

Corner

Lakeside

Prairie

Canal

Loon Beach

DeSoto’s

Creek

-PPO

-BLF

311_313_C05_STP_895130.indd 311 12/29/09 1:11 PM