6th Grade Math Textbook, Fundamentals

52 Chapter 2

Test Prep: Multiple-Choice Questions

Strategy: Try All the Answers

Multiple-choice questions provide several answer choices,
but only one of them is the correct choice. If you are not
sure about how to solve a problem directly, you might be
able to work backwardby testing each answer choice to
see which one works in the problem.

Look at the sample test item.

Read the whole test item, including the answer choices.

• Underline important words.

What value of xmakes  6 x 3 21 true?

The value of xis the number that replaces the variable.

• Restate the question in your own words.

What number can you use to replace xso that the

equation is true?

Solve the problem.

• Work backward from the answer choices.
  Replace xin the expression  6 x3 with each answer
  choice to find the one that equals 21.


• Use rules for signed numbers and follow the order of
  operations to evaluate the expressions.
  6(4)  3 ? 6(3)  3 ? 6(3)  3 ? 6(4)  3 ?
   24  3  27  18  3  21 18  3  15 24  3  21

Test-Taking Tips

• Underline important words.


• Restate the question.


• Apply appropriate rules,
  definitions, or properties.


• Analyze and eliminate
  answer choices.

Sample Test Item

What value of xmakes the equation

below true?

 6 x 3  21

F. 4

G. 3

H. 3

J. 4

page 55 for exercise sets.

Choose the correct answer. Explain how you used strategies.

Choose the answer.

• Analyze and eliminate answer choices. Watch out for distractors.

F. 4 6(4)  3 27 and  27 21. Eliminate this choice.

G. 3 6(3)  3 21 and  21 21. Eliminate this choice.

H. 3 6(3)  3 15 and 15 21. Eliminate this choice.

J. 4 6(4)  3 21. This is the correct choice!

1.If xy 3 y50 and y5, what is the value of x?

A.x 8

B.x 7

C.x 7

D.x 8

2.Which ordered pair lies in Quadrant III?

F.(2, 1)

G.(1, 3)

H.(3, 2)

J.(4, 1)