Name ____________________________________________
Date _____________
STEM Thinking Skills Assessment Post-Test
1. Forty dollars less than ½ of Tim’s weekly salary is 800 dollars. How much does Tim earn each week?
A. $1,280
B. $1,680
C. $1,980
D. $2,050
E. $2,130
2. The length of a rectangle is 25 cm more than its width. If the perimeter is 98 cm, determine the
dimensions.
A. width = 12 cm, length = 37 cm
B. width = 14 cm, length = 32 cm
C. width = 15 cm, length = 40 cm
D. width = 20 cm, length = 39 cm
E. width = 24 cm, length = 35 cm
3. If Andrew can do a job in 8 hours and Bobby can do the same job in 12 hours, how long would it take the
two men working together?
A. 4 hours and 20 minutes
B. 4 hours and 25 minutes
C. 4 hours and 30 minutes
D. 4 hours and 40 minutes
E. 4 hours and 48 minutes
4. The sum of two numbers is 225 and their difference is 65. What is the possible value of the smaller
number?
A. 45
B. 60
C. 70
D. 80
E. 85
Questions 5 and 6 refer to the following scenario:
A lab technician has a 40% alcohol solution and a 60% alcohol solution. He needs to make 1000 grams of a solution
that is 48% alcohol.
5. How much of the 40% alcohol solution should he use?
A. 300 grams
B. 400 grams
C. 500 grams
D. 600 grams
E. 700 grams
6. How much of the 60% alcohol solution should he use?
A. 300 grams
B. 400 grams
C. 500 grams
D. 600 grams
E. 700 grams
7. Cameron bought four begonias and a $19 fern from his local nursery. He spent a total of $63. What is the
price of a single begonia?
A. $15.75
B. $11
C. $20.50
D. $44
E. $22
8. A swimming club manager needs to fill the pool in 8 hours, and she knows that the built-in water line will
take 12 hours to fill the pool. What should be the minimum rate of an auxiliary hose, in “hours to fill the
pool,” to get the pool filled on time if both the main line and auxiliary hose are used?
A. 24 hours
B. 25 hours
C. 30 hours
D. 35 hours
E. 38 hours
9. The cost of 3 tables and 5 chairs is $600. The cost of 1 table and 2 chairs is $210. What is the cost of a
table?
A. $100
B. $120
C. $135
D. $150
E. $160
10. Which two shapes are exactly the same size?
11. Which two shapes are exactly the same?
12. Choose the letter of the shape that is the same as the shape to the left of the line.
13. Choose the letter of the shape that is the same as the shape to the left of the line.
14. In this question, a flat pattern is presented. This pattern is to be folded into a three-dimensional figure.
The outside of the folded shape is what is seen as the flat pattern. Select the three-dimensional shape that
the flat pattern produces when folded.
15. In this question, a flat pattern is presented. This pattern is to be folded into a three-dimensional figure.
The outside of the folded shape is what is seen as the flat pattern. Select the three-dimensional shape that
the flat pattern produces when folded.
16. For this question, examine the angles to the right for
INTERIOR angles and rank each in terms of degrees from
SMALLEST to LARGEST. Choose the answer choice that has the
correct ranking.
A. 4-3-1-2
B. 3-4-2-1
C. 3-4-1-2
D. 4-3-1-2
17. Consider the figure to the left, which is made from cubes of the
same size. After being put together, each cube in the figure was
painted on all sides except for the bottom on which it is resting.
Not all cubes may be visible in the figure, but the only hidden
cubes are those required to support other cubes.
In the figure to the left, how many cubes have ​four​ of their sides
painted?
A. 4 cubes
B. 5 cubes
C. 1 cube
D. 2 cubes
E. 3 cubes
18. A flat square of paper is folded one or more times. The broken lines indicate the original position of the
paper. The solid lines indicate the position of the folded paper. The paper is never turned or twisted. The
folded paper always remains within the edges of the original square. There may be from one to three folds
in each item. After the last fold, a hole is punched in the paper.
Your task is to mentally unfold the paper and determine the position of the holes on the original square.
Choose the pattern of b
​ lack​ circles that indicates the position of the holes on the original square.
Questions 19-23 refer to the information below:
Enzymes play an important role in human digestion. The organs of the digestive system have enzymes that function
specifically for their pH of that environment. A pH from 0-6 is acidic, a pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH of 8-14 is basic.
Part of the
Digestive
System
pH Range
Amount of
Time for
Digestion
Saliva
6.5-7.5
Up to 1 minute
Stomach
1.5-6.5
1-4 hours
Duodenum
7-8.5
30-60 minutes
Small Intestine
4-7
1-5 hours
Enzyme
Macromolecules Digested
Amylase
Carbohydrates
Lipase
Lipids (Fats)
Trypsin
Protein
19. According to the data, which part of the digestive system does not provide a neutral pH environment for
enzymes?
A. Saliva
B. Stomach
C. Duodenum
D. Small intestine
20. Which enzyme is most effective in the duodenum?
A. Amylase
B. Lipase
C. Trypsin
D. None of the enzymes provided will be effective in the duodenum.
21. Papain is a digestive enzyme extracted from papaya that aids in the breakdown of proteins. Papain is
most reactive at a pH of 6. In which part of the digestive system would papain be least effective?
A. Saliva
B. Stomach
C. Duodenum
D. Small intestine
22. In what part of the digestive system are carbohydrates broken down?
A. Saliva
B. Stomach
C. Duodenum
D. Small intestine
23. What is the optimal pH for the digestion of carbohydrates?
A. 4
B. 6
C. 7.5
D. 8
Questions 24-25 refer to the information below:
Rocks in Earth’s crust are changed by heat and pressure
over time. The diagram to the right shows the cycle of
change.
24. Which of the following could ​not b
​ e inferred from
the diagram?
A. Igneous rock is formed when magma solidifies.
B. Metamorphic rock is formed when igneous rock
melts.
C. Sediments are formed by the weathering of
metamorphic rock or igneous rock.
D. Metamorphic rocks can be formed from changes in
igneous, sedimentary, or other metamorphic rocks.
25. Which conclusion is n
​ ot s​ upported by data in the diagram?
A. Once heat and pressure reach a certain point, rocks melt and magma forms.
B. Weathering and erosion of all rocks lead to sediments.
C. When molten material deep inside Earth cools, it forms igneous rocks.
D. Magma that reaches Earth’s surface flows from volcanoes as lava.
Question 26 refers to the information below:
The process of photosynthesis begins when light is absorbed by
pigments in a plant cell. The main pigment in green plants,
chlorophyll, does not absorb light equally at all wavelengths. In
fact, different forms of chlorophyll have their peak absorptions
at different wavelengths. The graph to the right shows the
relative absorption of light by chlorophyll 1 and chlorophyll 2.
Wavelengths are given in nanometers (nm), and colors of the
spectrum corresponding to different wavelengths are shown
(violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red).
26. Which is a valid conclusion from the data shown in the graph?
A. Both forms of chlorophyll, chlorophyll 1 and chlorophyll 2, absorb red and blue light much more readily
than they absorb green light.
B. Neither form of chlorophyll absorbs any green, yellow, or orange light.
C. Chlorophyll 1 absorbs green light, but chlorophyll 2 does not.
D. Chlorophyll 1 and chlorophyll 2 reflect light mainly at wavelengths that are less than 475 nm or greater than
625 nm.
Questions 27-29 refer to the following scenario:
Jason enters six races: biking, canoeing, horseback riding, ice skating, running, and swimming. He places between
first and fifth in each. Two places are consecutive only if the place numbers are consecutive.
●
Jason's places in canoeing and running are consecutive.
●
His places in ice skating and swimming are consecutive.
●
He places higher in biking than in horseback riding.
●
He places higher in canoeing than in running.
27. If Jason places higher in running than in biking and places higher in biking than in ice skating and
swimming, which one of the following allows all six of his race rankings to be determined?
A. He places fourth in horseback riding.
B. He places fourth in ice skating.
C. He places the same in both horseback riding and ice skating.
D. He places the same in both horseback riding and swimming.
E. He places higher in horseback riding than in swimming.
28. If Jason places higher in running than in biking and places higher in horseback riding than in ice skating,
exactly how many of his rankings can be determined?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6
29. Assume that Jason’s rank in running is higher than his rank in ice skating and consecutive with it, and
that his rankings in swimming and running differ. Which one of the following must be true?
A. Jason places both first and second.
B. Jason places both first and third.
C. Jason places both second and fourth.
D. Jason places both second and fifth.
E. Jason places both fourth and fifth.
30. The recent proliferation of newspaper articles in major publications that have been exposed as
fabrications serves to bolster the contention that publishers are more interested in selling copy than in
printing the truth. Even minor publications have staff to check such obvious fraud.
The above argument assumes that
A. Newspaper stories of dubious authenticity are a new phenomenon
B. Minor publications do a better job of fact checking than do major publications
C. Everything a newspaper prints must be factually verifiable
D. Only recently have newspapers admitted to publishing erroneous stories
E. Publishers are ultimately responsible for what is printed in their newspapers
31. Historians frequently argue that an outlet for population overflow is required for a country's economy
to prosper. But we need look no further than our own shores to find counterevidence: Cuba has long been
able to rid itself of its surplus population by sending people here, and yet its economy has done quite
poorly.
The reasoning above is most vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?
A. It mistakenly interprets the historians to be claiming that a factor that guarantees, rather than is necessary
for, a result.
B. It relies on evidence that merely restates the argument’s conclusion.
C. It uses an analogy that ignores an important distinction between the things being compared.
D. It attacks a view by calling into question the character of the supporters of that view.
E. It presents an argument without offering any evidence in support.
32. John will eat the apple if Danny does not cook.
Based only on the information above, which of the following must be true?
A. John will not eat the apple if Danny cooks.
B. If John did not eat the apple, Danny did cook.
C. If John eats the apple, then Danny did not cook.
D. If Danny does not cook, John will not eat the apple.
E. If John did not eat the apple, Danny did not cook.
33.The maximum time a member is allowed to run on a treadmill at the gym is 30 minutes. Ben has been
running on a treadmill for at least 45 minutes.
Based only on the information above, which of the following statements is a valid conclusion?
A. The time limit has been established to give every member a chance to run.
B. If Ben is not violating the gym rules, then he is not running at the gym
C. If Ben is running at the gym, he will have his membership revoked.
D. Ben will be getting off the treadmill as soon as possible.
E. Ben is not running on a treadmill at the gym
34. Deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall. Conifers keep their leaves all year round. Conifers are
deciduous. If the first 2 statements are true, then the third statement is:
A. True
B. False
C. Uncertain
35. The silver fish can swim faster than the black fish. The gold fish can swim faster than the black fish. The
gold fish can swim faster than the silver fish. If the first 2 statements are true, then the third statement is:
A. True
B. False
C. Uncertain