7th Grade Math

Preparing for Standardized Tests 483

Preparing for

Standardized Tests

Multiple Choice: Key Words

When solving multiple-choice questions, pay attention to words like most, least,

and NOT. These words will be boldfaced or uppercase.

The manager of a music store estimates that 60 out of every

100 instruments sold are guitars. What is the probability

that the next instrument sold is NOT a guitar?

A. _^1

1

C. _^3

5

B. _^2

5

D. _^1

60

P(a guitar) = _^60

100

or _^3

5

P(NOT a guitar) = 1 - _^3

5

or _^2

5

The correct answer is B.

Joleigh made the spinner below as an

interesting way to determine where to go

on Saturdays with her friends. What is the

probability that on the first spin, the arrow

will NOT land on a space for the library?

POOL

PARK

PARK

LIBRARY

LIBRARY

MOVIES

F. ^16 H. ^23

G. ^13 I. ^56

Check every answer

choice of a

multiple-choice

question. Each time you find

an incorrect answer, cross it

off so you remember that

you’ve eliminated it.

rr

The key word

tells you to find

the complement

of the event.

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