Curriculum for WorkKeys®
Curriculum for WorkKeys
MasteryPrep
Curriculum for WorkKeys®
Leverage the most comprehensive prep program for the WorkKeys® test.
Help more students earn a National Career Readiness Certificate™ with the most comprehensive test prep curriculum available for the WorkKeys test. The only program specifically designed to help students earn a Silver NCRC.
• How It Works:
Our comprehensive WorkKeys test prep curriculum is a supplementary workbook set that can be used all together or individually to target specific subject areas your students need the most help in.
• Implementation Models:
Essentials for WorkKeys is a supplementary workbook set that can be integrated into electives or CTE classes, used as classroom warm-up activities, or serve as a resource for targeted interventions.
• What’s
Included:
• Three student workbooks
• Teacher editions with detailed explanations
• Over 2,000 authentic practice questions
• Includes two full-length practice tests
• Ebooks available
A breakdown of what your students will learn in our
Applied Math:
Applied Math focuses on students’ ability to solve problems, think critically, and calculate workplace mathematics. Students will learn more about employing mathematical operations to solve world problems; convert numbers between fractions, decimals, and percentages; and solve problems that deal with negative numbers, money, and time.
Graphic Literacy:
Graphic Literacy, students learn to decipher and analyze a variety of visual depictions that are likely to arise in a workplace environment. Hundreds of practice questions improve the students ability to understand a wide range of real-world figures and graphics. Students learn how to read and fill out complicated forms; practice reading maps, plans, tables, graphs, and diagrams; improve their ability to locate and use data; and experience a wide variety of information presentation styles.
Workplace Documents:
Workplace Documents improves student ability in reading and understanding written text from actual work situations. Lessons and practice questions emphasize comprehending letters, emails, instructions, memos, notices, policies, and regulations. Students learn to pay attention to important details, how to follow step-by-step instructions, how to filter a problem when dealing with too much information, and a variety of ways to decipher unfamiliar words.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Workbook
Workbook
Table of Contents
Applied Math Conversion Chart.........................................................................................................................................7
Unit I Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................9
Unit I Initial Assessment........................................................................................................................................................11
Lesson 1: Addition.............................................................................................................................................................15
Lesson 2: Subtraction.......................................................................................................................................................33
Lesson 3: Equations..........................................................................................................................................................59
Lesson 4: Addition and Subtraction.................................................................................................................................61
Lesson 5: Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers.................................................................................................83
Lesson 6: Multiplication...................................................................................................................................................95
Lesson 7: Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication......................................................................................................113
Lesson 8: Division............................................................................................................................................................131
Lesson 9: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.....................................................................................147
Lesson 10: Multiplying and Dividing Negative Numbers...........................................................................................163
Lesson 11: Fractions........................................................................................................................................................177
Lesson 12: Decimals.......................................................................................................................................................187
Lesson 13: Converting Fractions into Decimals............................................................................................................201
Lesson 14: Percentages..................................................................................................................................................217
Lesson 15: Decimals and Money..................................................................................................................................241
Lesson 16: Time..............................................................................................................................................................257
Lesson 17: Unit I Overview............................................................................................................................................277
Unit II Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................291
Unit II Initial Assessment...................................................................................................................................................293
Lesson 18: Solving Using More than One Operation ...............................................................................................297
Lesson 19: Averages.......................................................................................................................................................315
Lesson 20: Multiplying Two Different Groups..............................................................................................................333
Lesson 21: How Many Will It Take?.............................................................................................................................357
Lesson 22: Adding Fractions.........................................................................................................................................369
Lesson 23: Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers..................................................................................................387
Lesson 24: Multiplying Fractions..................................................................................................................................405
Lesson 25: Multiplying Mixed Numbers......................................................................................................................419
Lesson 26: Decimals and Percentages.........................................................................................................................427
Lesson 27: Rates.............................................................................................................................................................441
Lesson 28: Ratios...........................................................................................................................................................449
Lesson 29: Conversions................................................................................................................................................455
Lesson 30: Adding Time...............................................................................................................................................465
Lesson 31: Area and Perimeter.....................................................................................................................................483
Lesson 32: Graphs.........................................................................................................................................................495
Lesson 33: Converting Area.........................................................................................................................................505
Lesson 34: Combining Area..........................................................................................................................................515
Lesson 35: Volume of Solid Shapes.............................................................................................................................525
Lesson 36: Surface Area of Solid Shapes...................................................................................................................537
Lesson 37: Unit II Overview..........................................................................................................................................547
Lesson 38: Test-Taking Tips...........................................................................................................................................559
Practice Test #1................................................................................................................................................................563 Practice Test #1 Answer Explanations............................................................................................................................573 Practice Test #2................................................................................................................................................................577 Practice Test #2 Answer Explanations............................................................................................................................587
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Applied Math Conversion Chart
Distance
1 foot = 12 inches
1 yard = 3 feet
1 mile = 5,280 feet
1 mile ≈ 1.61 kilometers
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 foot = 0.3048 meters
1 meter = 1,000 millimeters
1 meter = 100 centimeters
1 kilometer = 1,000 meters
1 kilometer ≈ 0.62 miles
Area
1 square foot = 144 square inches
1 square yard = 9 square feet
1 acre = 43,560 square feet
Volume
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
1 quart = 4 cups
1 gallon = 4 quarts
1 gallon = 231 cubic inches
1 liter ≈ 0.264 gallons
1 cubic foot = 1,728 cubic inches
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
Weight
1 ounce ≈ 28.350 grams
1 pound = 16 ounces
1 pound ≈ 453.592 grams
1 milligram = 0.001 grams
1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
1 kilogram ≈ 2.2 pounds
1 ton = 2,000 pounds
Rectangle perimeter = 2(length + width) area = length × width
Rectangular Solid (Box) volume = length × width × height board-footage = length x width x height (inches) 144
Cube volume = (length of side)3
Triangle sum of angles = 180° area = 1 2 (base × height)
Circle
number of degrees in a circle = 360°
circumference ≈ 3.14 × diameter area ≈ 3.14 × (radius)2
Cylinder volume ≈ 3.14 × (radius)2 × height
Cone volume ≈ 3.14 × (radius)2 × height 3
Sphere (Ball) volume ≈ 4 3 × 3.14 × (radius)3
Electricity 1 kilowatt-hour = 1,000 watt-hours amps = watts ÷ volts
Temperature
°C = 0.56(°F – 32) or 5 9 (°F – 32)
°F = 1.8(°C) + 32 or ( 9 5 × °C) + 32
APPLIED MATH
Unit I
Unit I focuses on some of the most basic questions of the WorkKeys® Applied Math test. These questions will be presented in a logical order with little extra information. The skills taught in this unit are a great place to start when preparing for the WorkKeys Applied Math test. Before you can move on to more advanced math problems, you need to have a strong foundation to build upon. You will not be able to fully grasp the more advanced information until you have first mastered the basics taught in this unit.
In Unit I, you will learn the four basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You will learn how to convert numbers between fractions, decimals, and percentages. Lastly, you will learn how to solve problems dealing with negative numbers, money, and time.
Completing this unit is your first step to earning a Silver ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT WorkKeys NCRC®). Good luck!
Curriculum for WorkKeys
WorkKeys Applied Math Unit I Initial Assessment
These questions will help you determine how well you understand the math skills covered in this unit. Some of the questions will require you to reference the conversion chart at the beginning of this book. Feel free to use it to help you solve any of the following questions. Calculators are allowed. If you answer at least 11 of the 12 questions correctly and feel confident in your knowledge of these subjects, you should move on to Unit II in this book.
1. You hire movers to deliver your new couch. It weighs 60 kilograms. How much does it weigh in pounds?
A. 60
B. 68
C. 110
D. 132
E. 164
2. You are carrying a stack of books in a library. The stack weighs 5 kilograms. How much does it weigh in pounds?
A. 5
B. 9
C. 11
D. 12
E. 23
3. You are renting an apartment. The living room is 412 square feet. The kitchen is 337 square feet. The bedroom is 265 square feet. How many square feet are in these three rooms?
A. 888 square feet
B. 943 square feet
C. 1,014 square feet
D. 1,028 square feet
E. 1,285 square feet
4. You receive paychecks every two weeks. Your first check is for $217. The second is for $258. The third is for $229. What is the combined value of these three paychecks?
A. $656
B. $678
C. $704
D. $714
E. $722
5. Boats are gathered in a harbor for a festival. The harbor gathering area is 168,000 square feet. If each boat is given roughly 700 square feet to anchor, how many boats can fit in the gathering area?
A. 215
B. 235
C. 240
D. 305
E. 315
Curriculum for WorkKeys
6. In a shale deposit, drills must be given space for operation. In a 5,488 square acre shale deposit, drills are spaced at about 4 square acres each. How many drills are there on the shale deposit?
A. 1,325
B. 1,372
C. 1,456
D. 1,828
E. 2,114
7. Jeans are on sale at a department store for $25 dollars per pair. The department store sells 28 pairs of jeans today. What was the total in sales of jeans at the department store today?
A. $359
B. $458
C. $650
D. $675
E. $700
8. The butcher shop is selling steaks for $7 a piece. The butcher sells 29 steaks today. How much money did the butcher make selling steaks today?
A. $176
B. $203
C. $234
D. $257
E. $331
9. You work at a clothing store. Today, you are offering coupons for $15.00 off any pair of dress shoes in the store. A customer comes in with a coupon and purchases one pair of dress shoes for $79.99 and a tin of shoe polish for $4.99. How much should you charge this customer before tax?
A. $68.89
B. $68.98
C. $69.98
D. $70.89
E. $70.98
10. You work at an electronics store. Today you are offering coupons for $20.00 off any pair of luxury headphones in the store. A customer comes in with a coupon and purchases one pair of luxury headphones for $129.99 and a case for $14.99. How much should you charge this customer before tax?
A. $121.89
B. $121.98
C. $122.98
D. $123.98
E. $124.98
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Addition
Addition is the combination of one item or group of items with another item or group of items, which results in a larger group of items than before.
You have 5 dollars:
Someone gives you 2 dollars:
You now have more than 5 dollars. As a matter of fact, you have 7 dollars.
When you add, you get more. Addition just means the process of adding. When you add, you end up with more than you started with.
Let’s look at another example:
If you know you have to wait 30 minutes for your flight, and then you find out you’ll need to wait an extra 5 minutes, you’ll end up having to wait longer.
You add the extra 5 minutes to the 30 minutes. Now your wait is 35 minutes.
The Addition Symbol
You can write addition using a math symbol: + . A symbol is something that stands for something else. In this case, use “+” to stand for the action of adding. Math symbols often show an action. Another word for action is operation Addition is one of the most important operations.
Going back to the dollar example, if you have 5 dollars and someone gives you 2 dollars, then you could write it like this: 5 dollars + 2 dollars. Sometimes in math, you have to drop the words. Then it would be 5 + 2.
In the real world, you will often be adding something. But when you are learning math, sometimes you don’t care about what the actual something is.
For example, 5 + 2 is always 7.
• 5 dollars + 2 dollars is 7 dollars.
• 5 wrenches + 2 wrenches is 7 wrenches.
• 5 hours + 2 hours is 7 hours.
You are going to use your calculator to add 5 + 2.
As you learn more math, the lessons tend to be less about the objects, such as dollars, wrenches, or hours. You end up learning more rules, but you might become less certain about how to apply those rules to the objects. This is all to make math more convenient. It would be difficult, for example, to type out 5 hours + 2 hours on your calculator. Your poor calculator wouldn’t know what to do with that. Instead, you have to type out 5 + 2. Try solving this expression on your calculator: 5 + 2.
Use your calculator!
When you see this image of a calculator, try using your calculator to solve the math problem. If you need help operating your calculator, go online to www.calculator.com.
On the WorkKeys Applied Math test, all of the math that you do will be applied to something. You won’t be asked to find 5 + 2. For example, you have 5 gallons of gas in your car and you pump 2 more. You’ll be asked how many gallons of gas you end up with.
We are taught how to add because it’s faster to add than counting. Your mind can learn all of the steps and rules of addition and do the operation quicker than counting, so you learn addition in school. That’s the basic reason you learn all math.
Math is a way to train your brain to count faster and figure things out that would otherwise be impossible to figure out. Learning math makes you a problem solver and helps you obtain better jobs and bigger paychecks.
When you know how to do math well, you can use it to plan your life. You can learn how much you need to earn and how you need to earn it. You can plan trips and figure out how much you have left to spend on clothes and shoes. Most jobs require you to know math. You need it to run a cash register or to be a banker. With math, you can take control of your future rather than having to rely on someone else to do it for you. That’s why you’re learning math in this book.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
As you go through this book, you might feel like a lesson is too basic for you. That’s okay. Work through it anyway. Not only is this book here to teach you, but it’s also here to remind you. Say you’re solving word problems that use addition. Remember that operations, such as addition, will help you with more advanced math. Remember that numbers in math involve somethings; this will help you sor t through more advanced word problems. Breeze through these early chapters if you can, but go through them just the same. Now, back to addition.
Example
You are a bank teller. A client opens a bank account with $10. She comes back the next day and puts in an additional $5. How many dollars does she have in her account?
$10 + $5
A total of $15 is in her bank account.
Your employer asks you to come in for work for 4 hours tomorrow. He then calls you back and says that he needs you to come for an additional 2 hours. How many hours do you need to work tomorrow? 4 hours + 2 hours
You need to work a total of 6 hours tomorrow.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve the problem
Now it’s your turn to figure out some problems. There are two steps to solving any math problem. The first is to set it up, unless it’s already been set up for you. Set it up by gathering numbers and turning math actions into symbols, such as “+”.
Answer keys are at the end of this lesson. See page 30.
Solve Using Addition
1. You are a trucking dispatcher. Your manager tells you that you need to send 4 trucks to pick up cargo. Later that day, she tells you to send 2 more trucks. How many total trucks should you send? Set it up. _____
2. You deliver pizzas for a part-time job. You deliver 4 pizzas to a house on your route, and then you deliver 3 more pizzas to a different house. How many pizzas did you deliver in total?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
3. You are planting an herb garden in your backyard. You plant 5 pouches of seeds before lunch. After lunch, you plant 3 more pouches of seeds. How many pouches of seeds did you plant today?
Set it up.
4. You work in the produce department of a grocery store. Your manager tells you to shelve 6 cases of vegetables. Later, she tells you to shelve another 4 cases of vegetables. How many cases of vegetables did she ask you to shelve today?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
5. You are training for a marathon. On Saturday morning, you run 6 miles. On Sunday morning, you run 5 miles. How many miles did you run over the weekend?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
6. You are taking a biology quiz. On the quiz, there are 5 multiple choice questions. There are also 4 fill-in-theblank questions on the quiz. How many questions are there on the quiz in all?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
Curriculum for WorkKeys
7. You and your friends are having a movie marathon day. You watch 3 movies before going out to eat for dinner. After dinner, you watch another 3 movies. How many movies did you watch on your movie marathon day?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
3
5
6
9
12
8. You and your friend are having omelets. You make a 3-egg omelet for yourself. Then you make a 4-egg omelet for your friend. How many eggs were used to make both omelets?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
1
3
4
7 E. 8
9. You are playing a video game. You pass 4 levels before taking a break. After the break, you pass another 5 levels. How many levels of the video game did you pass in total?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
4
5
9
10. You are driving to work. You listen to 4 songs on the radio before stopping for gasoline. After you have stopped for gasoline, you listen to another 3 songs before arriving at work. How many songs did you listen to in the car in total?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
6 B. 7
8
10 E. 11
11. You are playing basketball. You score 6 baskets before the game goes to halftime. After halftime, you score another 8 baskets. How many baskets did you score during the game in all?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
6
8
12
14
16
12. You are doing your social studies homework. You complete 8 fill-in-the-blank questions. You also complete 3 essay questions. How many questions do you complete in total?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
3 B. 5 C. 8 D. 9 E. 11
13. You are making beaded jewelry. You make 4 bead bracelets, and then you make 4 bead necklaces. How many pieces of jewelry do you make in total?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
4
6
8
10
14
14. You are signing up for your first semester of college courses. You sign up for 2 Monday/Wednesday courses. You also sign up for 3 Tuesday/Thursday courses. How many courses do you sign up for in total?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
3 B. 5 C. 6 D. 7 E. 8
Curriculum for WorkKeys
15. You are writing an essay. You begin by writing 4 pages of the essay on Monday. On Tuesday, you write 3 more pages of the essay, finishing it. How many pages is the essay?
Set it up. _____ + _____ = _____
Multiple Numbers
You can always add several things together at once. This can save time and sometimes provide a clearer picture of what is happening in the real world. Look at this problem:
Set it up
When you see this icon, set up the problem by writing down the important numbers you need to use for solving the problem.
Example
You are an air traffic controller. You’re trying to figure out how many runways you need to keep available for incoming airplanes. Coming in are 3 airplanes from the south, 2 from the north, and 4 from the west. How many total airplanes are coming in?
Set it up. 3 + 2 + 4 Use your calculator. 3 2 4
A total of 9 airplanes are coming in.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve Using Addition
1. The answer is C. Use your calculator. 4 + 2 = 6.
2. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 4 + 3 = 7.
3. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 5 + 3 = 8.
4. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 6 + 4 = 10.
5. The answer is E. Use your calculator. 6 + 5 = 11.
6. The answer is C. Use your calculator. 5 + 4 = 9.
7. The answer is C. Use your calculator. 3 + 3 = 6.
8. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 3 + 4 = 7.
9. The answer is E. Use your calculator. 4 + 5 = 9.
10. The answer is B. Use your calculator. 4 + 3 = 7.
11. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 6 + 8 = 14.
12. The answer is E. Use your calculator. 8 + 3 = 11.
13. The answer is C. Use your calculator. 4 + 4 = 8.
14. The answer is B. Use your calculator. 2 + 3 = 5.
15. The answer is A. Use your calculator. 4 + 3 = 7.
Solve Using Addition II
1. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 20 + 5 + 15 = 40.
2. The answer is E. Use your calculator. 18 + 14 + 8 = 40.
3. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 12 + 4 + 2 = 18.
4. The answer is E. Use your calculator. 42 + 36 + 32 = 110.
5. The answer is C. Use your calculator. 10 + 25 + 20 = 55.
6. The answer is C. Use your calculator. 35 + 40 + 40 = 115.
7. The answer is D. Use your calculator. 25 + 17 + 18 = 60.
• Applied MAth Unit I
APPLIED MATH
Unit
II
Unit II continues to build on the information you learned in Unit I. The questions in this unit will not always be presented in the most straightforward way, which will require you to do more work to set up and solve the problems. The questions will frequently include unnecessary information that is meant to confuse you.
Although you will not be learning any new operations in Unit II, you will learn numerous ways to apply the four operations by calculating averages, rates, ratios, and conversions. You will also learn how to deal with complex problems that include fractions, mixed numbers, area, and perimeter.
Completing this unit is the next step to earning ACT’s Silver National Career Readiness Certificate. Good luck!
Solving Using More than One Operation
Math operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, are used to show actions and solve problems. Use operations to figure out situations that might otherwise take a long time to work out. Some problems just can’t be solved without using math.
On the WorkKeys Applied Math test, you’ll be tested on the strength of your problem-solving ability. Complicated problems require you to have a strong understanding of how to use multiple math operations. In some real-life situations, you’ll need to use more than one operation to figure out a problem. The key to solving these problems is to take them one step at a time and work in the sequence of the actions being described.
This lesson will act as a review of most of the information learned in the Unit I lessons. Although you will be using the same operations learned in Unit I, you will now encounter more complex questions that require multiple steps to solve the problem.
Take a look at an example on the next page.
You work as a banker. One of your clients opens a new account with $10,000 in it. He makes an additional $15,000 deposit. A week later, he withdraws $20,000 from the account. How much money is left in the account?
The word deposit means to make an addition. Withdraw means to take away.
There are two actions here. First, combine $10,000 and $15,000, which is addition. Then, take away $20,000, which is subtraction.
This is really two problems in one. First, figure out how much money the account had after the additional deposit. Then, figure out how much was left after the withdrawal.
The first operation is addition.
Set it up.
10,000 + 15,000
Use your calculator.
10,000 15,000 _____
At this point in the problem, your client has $25,000 in his account. This is not the final answer. You want to be careful about this sort of thing. On the WorkKeys Applied Math test, it can mean that you miss a question. In real life, however, it is cruicial to keep track of your bank account balance. You don’t want to accidentally spend more money than you have in your bank account because you forgot to complete all the steps in a math problem.
The next step is to subtract. Take away $20,000 from the new amount in the account. Set it up. Place $25,000 on the left of the subtraction symbol, since that is the amount in the bank account right now.
Set it up.
25,000 – 20,000
Use your calculator.
25,000 20,000 _____
$5,000 is your answer. This shows how much money is left in the account after all the transactions.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve the problem
In these questions, you may encounter two words with which you might not be familiar. One is profit. Profit is the amount of money which you earn. If you buy something for $3, and then sell it for $4, you make a $1 profit. The other is loss. A loss is how much money you lose. If you buy something for $3, then sell it for $2, you have made a $1 loss.
Answer keys are at the end of this lesson. See page 311.
Solve Using More Than One Operation
1. You work as a meter reader. One of the houses you check has a solar panel, so sometimes its meter can go down. The meter started the year at 2,500. In January, it went down 150. In February, it went up 350. What does the meter read now?
Set it up: ____
2. You are balancing your checkbook. You begin with $245.76 in your bank account. You make a deposit of $132.20 into the account. Afterwards, you withdraw $60.00 from this account at an ATM. What value should you write in your checkbook to accurately represent the value of your bank account after this?
Set it up: ____ + – ____ = ____
3. You are a cashier at a grocery store. There is currently $356.17 in your cash register. You ring up one customer, who pays with $80.00 and receives $13.72 in change. How much money is in the cash register after you give this customer his change?
Set it up: ____ + ____ – ____ = ____
4. You currently have 42 towels in your house. You decide to give 18 of them away to charity, but you also buy a new set of 12 towels. How many towels do you have now?
Set it up: ____ – + ____ = ____
5. You own a jewelry store. You start out with 261 pieces of jewelry in your display cases. This month you sell 44 pieces of jewelry. You also receive a shipment of 26 pieces of jewelry. After these transactions, how many pieces of jewelry do you have left in the store?
Set it up: ____ – + ____ = ____
6. You are a programmer. You are working on a piece of software that is currently 1,539 lines of code. Today you will add 850 lines of code. Tomorrow, you will add 1,205 lines of code. How many lines of code will this piece of software be after adding these lines of code?
Set it up: ____ + ____ + ____ = ____
7. You are a biologist tracking the population of deer in an area. You observed that the population was 68 deer per square mile. The next year, you observed that the population had increased by 12 deer per square mile. The next year, however, you observed that the population had decreased by 9 deer per square mile. After these changes, what is the population of deer per square mile in this area?
Set it up: ____ + ____ – ____ = ____
8. You are making a final exam for your English class. The exam originally contained 20 multiple choice questions and 15 true or false questions. However, you removed 5 multiple choice questions. How many questions does the exam now contain?
Set it up: ____ + – ____ = ____
0
9. You have a new desktop computer with a 750 GB hard drive. In the first week of owning your desktop computer, you save 156 GB worth of data on the hard drive. In the second week, you save an additional 27 GB of data on the hard drive. How many GB of free storage space are left on the hard drive?
Set it up: ____ – – ____ = ____
401 B. 450 C. 567 D. 583 E. 599
10. You are on a road trip, and so far you have driven 100 miles. Your friend Kyle has driven twice as many miles as you have. How many miles, in total, have the two of you driven on your road trip?
Set it up: ____ × ____ = ____
Then: ____ + ____ = ____ A. 100 B. 200 C. 300 D. 400 E. 600
11. You have a collection of 197 DVDs. Last weekend, you decided to add 28 more DVDs to your collection. This weekend, you want to add another 13 DVDs to the collection. After adding these to the collection, how many DVDs will you have?
Set it up: ____ + + ____ = ____
A. 238 B. 259 C. 290 D. 304 E. 317
Solve Using More Than One Operation
1. The answer is C. The meter first goes down, so the correct operation is subtraction. You are taking away from the total. Use your calculator. 2500 – 150 = 2350. The meter then goes up, so addition is the correct operation. 2350 + 350 = 2700.
2. The answer is D. You are making a deposit first, so the correct operation is addition. Use your calculator. 245.76 + 132.20 = 377.96. Then you make a withdrawal, so the correct operation is subtraction. 377.96 – 60.00 = 317.96.
3. The answer is B. You ring up a customer first, so the correct operation is addition. Use your calculator. 356.17 + 80.00 = 436.17. Then you give the customer change, so the correct operation is subtraction. 436.17 – 13.72 = 422.45.
4. The answer is C. You give away towels first, so the correct operation is subtraction. Use your calculator. 42 – 18 = 24. Then you buy more towels, so the correct operation is addition. 24 + 12 = 36.
5. The answer is C. You sell jewelry first, so the correct operation is subtraction. Use your calculator. 261 – 44 = 217. Then you receive more jewelry, so the correct operation is addition. 217 + 26 = 243.
6. The answer is E. You are adding lines of code both times, so addition is the correct operation to use twice. Set up the first operation and use your calculator. 1539 + 850 = 2389. Set up the second operation. 2389 + 1205 = 3594.
7. The answer is B. The population increases first, so the correct operation is addition. Set it up. 68 + 12. Use your calculator. 68 + 12 = 80. Then the population decreases, so the correct operation is subtraction. 80 – 9 = 71.
8. The answer is D. First, you are adding questions, then you subtract questions. Set up the first operation and use your calculator. 20 + 15 = 35. Set up the second operation. 35 – 5 = 30.
9. The answer is C. You are subtracting both times, so subtraction is the correct operation to use twice. Set up the first operation and use your calculator. 750 – 156 = 594. Set up the second operation. 594 – 27 = 567.
10. The answer is C. First, you need to use multiplication to find out how far Kyle drove. Then you use addition to add the total miles that both of you drove. Set up the first operation. 100 × 2 = 200. Set up the second operation. 100 + 200 = 300.
11. The answer is A. You are adding DVDs both times, so addition is the correct operation to use twice. Set up the first operation and use your calculator. 197 + 28 = 225. Set up the second operation. 225 + 13 = 238.
12. The answer is A. First, use subtraction to find the number of candy bars you have left. Then use division to find out how many you and your brother will each get after you split them up. Set up the first operation. 100 – 24 = 76. Set up the second operation. 76 ÷ 2 = 38.
Lesson 31
Area and Perimeter
Perimeter is the total distance around an object. You find the perimeter of a shape or object by adding up the distances of all its sides.
Take a look at a problem involving perimeter:
You are working as a gardener. The perimeter of a garden has sides that are 5 feet long, 4 feet long, 6 feet long, and 7 feet long. If you want to build a picket fence all the way around the garden, how many feet of fence do you need?
Since the perimeter is the distance of all of the sides, you simply add up the lengths.
Use your calculator.
5 + 4 + 6 + 7 = 22
You need 22 feet of picket fence.
You have to add up the lengths of all of the sides of the shape. Sometimes the problem won’t tell you the lengths of all of the sides. If that happens, you’ll need to figure out the lengths of the sides which you are missing. If the problem doesn’t provide you a picture, create one.
Lesson 31 — AreA And periMeter • 483
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Remember that a rectangle has two sets of equal sides.
1 in 1 in 2 in 2 in
A square has 4 equal sides.
484 • Applied MAth Unit II
1 in 1 in 1 in 1 in
Here is an example problem:
Curriculum for WorkKeys
You are surveying a rectangular piece of land that is 250 feet long by 300 feet wide. What is the perimeter, in feet, of the land you are surveying?
Draw it out.
You know the lengths of two sides. Since the question says that the land is rectangular, the other two sides must be the same as the sides across from each of them.
Add up the side lengths to find the perimeter. Use your calculator.
The perimeter of the land is
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve the problem
Now, practice solving some word problems that require you to find the perimeter.
Answer keys are at the end of this lesson. See page 493.
Solve for the Perimeter
1. You are swimming laps along the edges of a large rectangular pool. The length of the longer side is 60 feet and the length of the shorter side is 35 feet. What is the distance, in feet, of one lap around the entire pool?
2. You are a surveyor. You are surveying a piece of land that has boundaries of the following lengths: 175 feet, 150 feet, 125 feet, and 100 feet. What is the length, in feet, of the perimeter of the piece of land.
3. You are a skateboarder. You decide that you will build a rectangular grind box for street-style skating. The box will have one side length of 6 feet and another side length of 12 feet. What is the total perimeter, in feet, of the grind box?
4. You are a painter. You purchase a large rectangular canvas for painting a landscape. The canvas has side lengths of 62 inches and 36 inches. What is the total perimeter of the canvas in inches?
5. You are building a small square pen for your rabbits. You decide that each side of the pen should have a length of 6 feet. What is the length, in feet, of the perimeter of this rabbit pen?
6. You are a security guard for a bank. Many times a night, you do a security sweep in the building where you walk the perimeter of the main lobby. The lobby is a rectangular room with dimensions of 80 feet by 65 feet. What is the total perimeter of the lobby in feet?
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Perimeter measures the size of the sides of a shape. Area measures the size of the inside of a shape. Area is described using squares. If the sides are described using inches, then the area is described using square inches. If the sides are described using feet, then the area is described using square feet. You multiply the side lengths of a rectangle in order to find the rectangle’s area.
In this example, one side of the rectangle has a length of 4 cm. The other side has a length of 6 cm. In other words, there are 6 rows of 4 square centimeters.
You can use multiplication to find the total number of square centimeters inside the shape.
Use your calculator.
This rectangle has an area of 24 square centimeters. 4 6
4 × 6 = 24
Lesson 31 — AreA And periMeter • 489
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve the problem
In the next set of problems you will be practicing finding the area of a shape. Use the examples above as a guide to help you work through each problem.
Answer keys are at the end of this lesson. See page 494.
Solve for the Area
1. You live in Wyoming. Your state is a rectangular shape with a width of 360 miles and a length of 280 miles. What is the area of the state of Wyoming in square miles?
98,800
2. You work as a computer engineer. You are building a laptop that has a width of 14 inches and a height of 11 inches. What is the total area, in square inches, of the surface of the laptop?
3
25
50
3. You are adding a square hot tub to your backyard pool area. The hot tub will have side lengths of 8 feet. What is the area, in square feet, of the hot tub you are adding to your backyard?
4. You are a construction worker. You are installing a rectangular window in a home you are currently building. The window is 48 inches by 36 inches. What is the total area, in square inches, of the window?
5. You are building a custom cabinet. You have decided to make the body have a height of 60 inches and a width of 45 inches. What is the area, in square inches, of the body of the cabinet?
6. You are an architect. You are drawing out plans for a house. The drawing of the house has a rectangular shape with a width of 18 inches and a length of 14 inches. What is the area, in square inches, of the scale drawing of the house you are designing?
7. You are sweeping in your living room. The living room is a rectangle with one wall that is 22 feet and another wall that is 18 feet. What is the area of your living room in square feet?
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve for the Perimeter
1. The answer is D. The rectangle has 2 sides 60 feet and 2 sides 35 feet. The perimeter is 60 + 60 + 35 + 35 = 190 feet.
2. The answer is C. The boundary has sides 175 feet, 150 feet, 125 feet, 100 feet. The perimeter is 175 + 150 + 125 + 100 = 550 feet.
3. The answer is D. The rectangle has 2 sides 6 feet and 2 sides 12 feet. The perimeter is 6 + 6 + 12 + 12 = 36 feet.
4. The answer is A. The rectangle has 2 sides 36 inches and 2 sides 62 inches. The perimeter is 36 + 36 + 62 + 62 = 196 inches.
5. The answer is D. The square has 4 sides 6 feet long. The perimeter is 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24.
6. The answer is B. The rectangle has 2 sides 80 feet and 2 sides 65 feet. The perimeter is 80 + 80 + 65 + 65 = 290 feet.
7. The answer is A. The rectangle has 2 sides 8 feet and 2 sides 4 feet. The perimeter is 8 + 8 + 4 + 4 = 24 feet.
8. The answer is C. The triangle has 3 sides 12 feet each. The perimeter is 12 + 12 + 12 = 36 feet.
9. The answer is B. The pentagon has 5 sides 920 feet each. The perimeter is 920 + 920 + 920 + 920 + 920 = 4,600 feet.
10. The answer is D. The diamond has 4 sides 18 inches each. The perimeter is 18 + 18 + 18 + 18 = 72 inches.
11. The answer is B. The diamond has 2 sides 24 inches and 2 sides 32 inches. The perimeter is 24 + 24 + 32 + 32 = 112 inches.
12. The answer is D. The rectangle has 2 sides 380 miles and 2 sides 280 miles. The perimeter is 380 + 380 + 280 + 280 = 1,320 miles.
13. The answer is A. The rectangle has 2 sides 4.7 inches and 2 sides 2.1 inches. The perimeter is 4.7 + 4.7 + 2.1 + 2.1 = 13.6 inches.
14. The answer is C. The rectangle has 2 sides 30.7 inches and 2 sides 51.5 inches. The perimeter is 30.7 + 30.7 + 51.5 + 51.5 = 164.4 inches.
15. The answer is E. The triangle has 2 sides 18 cm and 1 side 14 cm. The perimeter is 18 +18 + 14 = 50 cm.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Solve for the Area
1. The answer is C. The rectangle has sides that are 360 miles and 280 miles. Use your calculator. The area is 360 x 280 = 100800 square miles.
2. The answer is D. The rectangle has sides that are 14 inches and 11 inches. Use your calculator. The area is 14 x 11 = 154 square inches.
3. The answer is C. The square has sides that are 8 feet and 8 feet. Use your calculator. The area is 8 feet x 8 feet = 64 square feet.
4. The answer is B. The rectangle has sides that are 48 inches and 36 inches. Use your calculator. The area is 48 x 36 = 1728 square inches.
5. The answer is B. The rectangle has sides that are 60 and 45. Use your calculator. The area is 60 x 45 = 2,700 square inches.
6. The answer is A. The rectangle has sides that are 18 inches and 14 inches. Use your calculator. The area is 18 x 14 = 252 square inches.
7. The answer is B. The rectangle has sides that are 22 feet and 18 feet. Use your calculator. The area is 22 x 18 = 396 square feet.
8. The answer is E. The rectangle has sides that are 8 feet and 6 feet. Use your calculator. The area is 8 x 6 = 48 feet.
9. The answer is C. The rectangle has sides 9 inches and 6.5 inches. Use your calculator. The area is 9 x 6.5 = 58.5 square inches.
10. The answer is B. The square has sides that are 4 inches and 4 inches. Use your calculator. The area is 4 x 4 = 16 square feet.
11. The answer is E. The rectangle has sides that are 9 feet and 5 feet. Use your calculator. The area is 9 x 5 = 45 square feet.
12. The answer is B. The rectangle has sides that are 120 feet and 85 feet. Use your calculator. The area is 120 x 85 = 10200 square feet.
13. The answer is D. There are three squares with sides that are 6 cm. Use your calculator. The area of one square is 6 x 6 = 36 square cm. The area of 3 squares is 3 x 36 = 108 square cm.
14. The answer is B. The rectangle has sides that are 8 feet and 6 feet. Use your calculator. The area of the rectangle is 8 x 6 = 48 square feet. The square is 10 feet by 10 feet, with an area of 10 x 10 = 100 square feet. The area of the kitchen is 48 + 100 = 148 square feet.
15. The answer is C. The doors are squares with sides that are 12 feet. Use your calculator. The area of each door is 12 x 12 = 144 square feet. There are two doors, so their total area is 2 x 144 = 288 square feet.
Lesson 38
Test-Taking Tips
The WorkKeys Applied Math test checks your ability to apply math to situations that could come up on the job. It’s measuring your problem-solving ability.
This test consists of 33 questions. These questions are labeled with levels 3 through 7. The first twelve questions are level 3 and 4. These are the types of questions that you learned about in this course. You should make sure that you get the first twelve questions correct. That’s the best way to kick off the test, so that should be your goal. In order to score at least a level 3 and 4, you need to answer at least 11 out of the first 12 questions correctly.
The WorkKeys Applied Math test is like any other test. It’s trying to measure your math skills. It also measures things that have nothing to do with math, such as test-taking skills, your ability to focus, and your ability to persist. If you don’t get the WorkKeys math score that you want, just try again.
This lesson will provide you with tips to help you get through the first part of the test.
• Don’t rush! Take one step at a time. Though you have 45 minutes to answer a total of 33 questions, you don’t need to rush. You need to move through the questions thoroughly at a pace of about one question per minute. If you try to save time by not thinking about what operation best describes the actions you are taking or if you use your calculator without properly setting up the problem, you can make costly mistakes. Trying not to rush, even when you are in a highpressure situation, can be very useful to you in your life. Many jobs and life situations require you to make well-informed decisions in a tight time frame.
• Make your best guess. There is no penalty for guessing on the WorkKeys Applied Math test. Choose the answer that is closest to your estimate of what the solution should be. Don’t choose answers that are impossible. For example, 8 bananas each costing 10 cents, can’t all together cost $800. By making your best guess as you go, immediately after you have considered the question and decided to skip it, you’ll improve the odds that you guess correctly.
• If you’re not sure at all, mark the question and move on. If you run into a problem that you don’t know how to solve, or if you think it will take up too much time before you can figure it out, make your best guess and put a star next to it in your test booklet. If you are taking the WorkKeys Applied Math test online, you can click the flag button to mark it and go back to it later. This way you can easily go back to the question if you have time.
• Try out different answers. You have 45 minutes for this test (55 if you’re taking the online version). Use every second of that time. Once you have worked through the problems you know how to answer, go back through the test from the beginning and work on the problems you guessed and skipped. Try each answer choice and see if any of them work better. You can use your calculator to figure out which choice works. This is just another way to solve the problem. This is not just a test-taking skill. It’s a useful skill in life to be comfortable with working things out
Curriculum for WorkKeys
through trial and error. Sometimes when there is no one around to help you learn how to use a computer program or run a cash register, you have to try things out and see what works. On the WorkKeys Applied Math test, this skill can help you answer questions that you might otherwise be unable to answer. Remember to check your answers if you find that you have extra time.
Example
Here’s an example question:
You start work at 7:00 a.m. You work until 11:00 a.m. How many hours did you work?
In this example, you would use subtraction since you are taking away 7 hours from 11 hours to find out the amount of time you are working. Imagine that you are confused about this problem, though. You could try the answer choices to see which one works best. When you use this technique, always start with the middle number.
If you start at 7:00 and work 5 hours, then the time is 7 + 5 = 12. That doesn’t match the word problem, so that is an incorrect answer. Mark off choice C. Now choose a number that is lower, since 12 was too high. Try B. If you start at 7:00 and work 4 hours, then the time is 7 + 4 = 11. That matches the word problem, so that is the correct answer.
• Cross off answers that don’t work. When you try out different answers and find that one doesn’t work, cross it off. The last thing you want to do in a high-pressure testing environment is forget which choices you have already eliminated. Likewise, if an answer looks like an impossible result, mark it off.
• Draw it out. Throughout this course, you’ve seen illustrations used to make certain concepts clear and easy to understand. During a test, if you find it difficult to understand a problem, draw it out. Just make a little sketch. It doesn’t have to be beautiful. It can just be little tally marks if you want. Drawing out the problem can help you visualize it, and it can also help you decide which operation to use. Sometimes you can even draw out the problem and then count up what you have drawn to find your answer. Even the best students will draw problems out and use their drawings to solve or check their answers. Recognizing confusion can be an excellent clue that you might need to draw it out.
• Set expectations. Before you actually perform an operation, set an expectation about what is going to happen with the numbers. According to the word problem, should the number you start with increase? Decrease? Increase by a lot? Decrease by a lot? Should your answer be positive? Negative? By setting an expectation, you give yourself something to use to judge your work against. If your results are wildly different than your expectations, it’s time to re-work the problem. Is it possible that you used the wrong operation? Does one of the numbers need to get converted to another format, like a fraction or a decimal? Did you forget to enter part of the
560 • Applied MAth Unit II
Curriculum for WorkKeys
number into your calculator? Did you remember to enter the negative sign? Once you figure out where you made a mistake, re-work the problem. Don’t be satisfied until you’re sure you’ve found a reasonable answer.
• Pace yourself. You don’t want to rush, but don’t forget that this is a timed test. You might miss out on getting several questions right if you never get to them because you let time run out on you. Begin the test with a high energy level and try to move through it as quickly as you can, while remaining accurate. To keep a fast pace, you should sense when a question is taking too long. If a question is too tough, make your best guess and move on. You can always go back to it later.
• Don’t give up! The WorkKeys Applied Math test is not only measuring your math skills, but also your persistence. Can you keep going until time is up? Students who work to check their answers and take the time to guess and check the questions they’re not sure about score better than those who don’t. Some of the questions on the WorkKeys Applied Math test may be extremely difficult. Don’t let this discourage you. You don’t have to answer every question correctly to get the score you want. Just as in life, if you give up, you won’t know what you’re capable of or be able to earn what you want.
• Practice! In the remainder of the book, you’ll find two full-length practice tests. It is vitally important that you complete these, and do so to the best of your ability. The tests were modeled after an actual WorkKeys Applied Math test and completing them will give you a good idea of what to expect on the real test.
Good luck!
Applied Math Practice Test #1
The following section is a full-length practice test designed to give you more practice with Applied Math questions. The chapters you have studied throughout this book have covered all of the major types of questions that may come up on the test. Remember that this section measures your skill and adeptness at performing workplace math—including percentages, time, equations, averages, area, perimeter, and decimals and money—that may come up in a workplace scenario. The practice test that follows will gradually increase in difficulty, just like the lessons throughout this book. How well you score on this practice test will be a close reflection of how well you’ll do on an actual WorkKeys Applied Math assessment. Don’t feel discouraged if you miss a few questions. Remember that practice makes perfect! If you feel confident about what you’ve learned within these chapters and while working through practice questions, you’re well on your way to achieving a Silver NCRC on the actual WorkKeys tests. Calculators are allowed on the practice test and for some of the questions, you will need to reference the conversion chart at the beginning of this book.
Since this is just a practice test, your score cannot replace a real WorkKeys test score. If you want to push yourself and make this practice test feel as much like a real WorkKeys test as possible, set a timer for 45 minutes. That’s how long you’ll have to work through the 33 questions on the actual WorkKeys Applied Math assessment on test day. Good luck!
Curriculum for WorkKeys
1. At a construction site, a stack of bricks weighs 75 kilograms. How much does this stack of bricks weigh, in pounds?
A. 2.2
B. 75
C. 165
D. 200
E. 215
2. On average, a writer produces 80 words per minute. At this rate, how long would it take them to write 3,600 words?
A. 30 minutes
B. 45 minutes
C. 55 minutes
D. 1 hour 15 minutes
E. 1 hour 20 minutes
3. George buys stock in three different companies on the New York Stock Exchange. He bought one for $168, one for $231, and another for $189. How much did George spend on all of these stocks combined?
A. $456
B. $567
C. $588
D. $614
E. $630
4. A farmer plants apple trees on a 235-acre farm. There are 47,000 apple trees evenly dispersed throughout the farm. How many apple trees are there on each acre of land?
A. 190
B. 200
C. 210
D. 340
E. 350
5. Action figures are $8 a piece at a toy store. The toy store sold 26 action figures today. How much money did the toy store receive from selling action figures today?
A. $185
B. $196
C. $208
D. $217
E. $290
Curriculum for WorkKeys
6. You work at a video game store. Today, you are offering coupons for $10.00 off any new video game. A customer comes in with a coupon and purchases one video game for $59.99 and one controller for $39.99. How much should you charge this customer before tax?
A. $79.98
B. $79.99
C. $89.98
D. $89.99
E. $99.98
7. You are opening a comic book shop. The shop’s inventory will cost $25,000. The supplier requires a down payment of 15% of the total cost at the time of purchase. What is the balance you will owe after making the down payment?
A. $21,000
B. $21,200
C. $21,250
D. $22,250
E. $23,250
8. Last week at the grocery store where you work, you sold 356 apples and lost 24 because they expired. The store paid $0.34 per apple and sold each apple for $0.79. What profit did the store make on apples last week?
A. $151.46
B. $152.04
C. $152.46
D. $154.86
E. $168.04
9. You are repairing your computer and need to loosen a screw that is fastening the top case down. You tried a 3 4 mm screwdriver, which was too large, and a 5 8 mm screwdriver, which was too small. Which of the following screwdrivers might fit the screw?
Practice Test #1 Answer Explanations
1. The answer is C.
2. The answer is B.
3. The answer is C.
4. The answer is B.
5. The answer is C.
6. The answer is C.
7. The answer is C.
Use the conversion chart to convert kilograms to pounds. 1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds. Multiply 2.2 by the number of pounds in order to get the answer. 2.2 × 75 = 165 pounds
Divide the total number of words written by the rate of words per minute in order to determine the length of time it takes to write 3,600 words. 3,600 / 80 = 45 minutes
Find the sum of all of the stocks purchased by adding them together. 168 + 231 + 189 = $588
Divide the total number of apple trees by the number of acres of land. 47,000 / 235 = 200 trees per acre
Multiply the cost of one toy by the number of toys. 26 × $8 = $208
Find the sum of the purchase. Use the $10 off coupon on the video game. (59.99 – 10.00) + 39.99 = $89.98
Find the difference between the total inventory cost and the 15% that is paid at the time of purchase in order to determine how much money is still owed. 25,000 – (25,000 × 0.15) = $21,250
8. The answer is B.
9. The answer is C.
Find the profit from the apples sold, not including the lost apples. Then find the difference between the profit and the cost of all of the apples, including the lost apples. (356 × 0.79) – [(356 + 24) × 0.34] = $152.04
In order to compare the fractions, convert the fractions so that they have common denominators.
3/4 = 6/8; neither Choice A nor B is between 6/8 and 5/8
3/4 = 12/16 and 5/8 = 10/16 11/16 is between 10/16 and 12/16 so 11/16 is the answer.
10. The answer is C.
Use the conversion chart to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius. 0.56 (123 – 32) = 50.96; rounds to 51 degrees Celsius
11. The answer is B. Find the perimeter of the box by adding two lengths and two widths together. (24.3 × 2) + (36.4 × 2) = 121.4
12. The answer is C.
Divide the total number of miles driven by the average miles per hour in order to find out how many hours you spend driving to work. This will be a decimal number because you spend less that one hour driving to work. Multiply the decimal number by 60 in order to convert your answer to minutes. (29 / 45) × 60 = 38.667; rounds to 39 minutes
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Workbook
Workbook
Table of Contents
Lesson 1: Reading a Form..................................................................................................................................................9
Lesson 2: Filling out a Form..............................................................................................................................................19
Lesson 3: Reading a Table...............................................................................................................................................29
Lesson 4: Reading a Bar Graph......................................................................................................................................45
Lesson 5: Reading a Line Graph (with a Bar Graph).....................................................................................................57
Lesson 6: Reading Diagrams, Maps, and Floor Plans...................................................................................................69
Lesson 7: Creating Figures...............................................................................................................................................83
Lesson 8: Predictions......................................................................................................................................................105
Lesson 9: Fill in the Blanks..............................................................................................................................................125
#1
#2 Answer Explanations.............................................................................................................................359
Lesson 1
Reading a Form
A form provides information. There aren’t very many rules about what a form can contain or how it has to be formatted. Below is an example of a form.
You are buying a new, personal desktop computer.
Standard Features:
- Back Panel Casing
- Model # N700 (7720)
- Processor 4-core 3.2 Ghz
- Memory 12 GB
- Hard Drive 500 GB
- DVD Optical Drive
- Visaclear 1 GB Graphics
- Power Supply 550 W
- Chipset 100 Z Modi
- 2x USB 3.0
- 2x USB 2.0
- Weight 25.5 lbs
Standard PC Price:
Additional Options/Upgrades:
PC Price with Upgrades: $1095.99
When you are provided a form, it helps to look it over and try to understand it before reading the questions.
On the left side of the form are standard features Standard, as it is used here, means that these features are usually included and are not add-ons or upgrades. A feature, as it is used here, is one of the parts that make up the whole device. Usually, people learn about the features of a computer to figure out if it’s right for them.
Standard Features:
- Back Panel Casing
- Model # N700 (7720)
- Processor 4-core 3.2 Ghz
- Memory 12 GB
- Hard Drive 500 GB
- DVD Optical Drive
- Visaclear 1 GB Graphics
- Power Supply 550 W
- Chipset 100 Z Modi
- 2x USB 3.0
- 2x USB 2.0
Additional Options/Upgrades:
Drive 1 TB $200.00 Memory 16 GB $100.00 Visaclear 2 GB Graphics $150.00
Standard PC Price with Upgrades: $1095.99
- Weight 25.5 lbs Standard PC Price: $645.99
List three standard features.
On the right side, there are three parts.
The first part, standard PC price, means that the price for a computer with just the standard features (listed on the left) is $645.99.
The second part lists the additional options/upgrades. You want three additional options: memory 16 GB, hard drive 1 TB, and Visaclear 2 GB graphics. The prices for these add-ons are also listed: $100.00, $200.00, and $150.00.
The final part shows the final costs. The price of your computer with the upgrades is $1095.99. Shipping/handling costs $39.99, and tax costs $76.72.
Standard Features:
- Back Panel Casing
- Model # N700 (7720)
- Processor 4-core 3.2 Ghz
- Memory 12 GB
- Hard Drive 500 GB
- DVD Optical Drive
- Visaclear 1 GB Graphics
- Power Supply 550 W - Chipset 100 Z Modi - 2x
What is the total price for the computer, including upgrades, shipping/handling, and tax?
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the meaning of some of the words that are shown on the form. For example, if you aren’t sure what USB stands for, or what a 4-core 3.2 Ghz processor is, you can still figure out that they are standard features
This is the key to handling information. Even if some of it is confusing, you can usually sort through it.
10 • GraphIc LIteracy
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Below are some example questions that ask about the same form.
1. You are buying a new, personal desktop computer. The order form below shows the features included in your order. According to the order form, what additional upgrades will be included in the order?
A. Memory 8 GB, hard drive 2 TB, Visaclear 1 GB graphics
B. Memory 16 GB, hard drive 2 TB, Visaclear 1 GB graphics
C. Memory 16 GB, hard drive 1 TB, Visaclear 1 GB graphics
D. Memory 16 GB, hard drive 1 TB, Visaclear 2 GB graphics
E. Memory 8 GB, hard drive 1 TB, Visaclear 2 GB graphics
First, focus on what the question is asking you to find.
1. You are buying a new, personal desktop computer. The order form below shows the features included in your order. According to the order form, what additional upgrades will be included in the order?
The question is asking you to list the additional upgrades that are on the form. This information is on the right side of the form, under the heading Additional Options/Upgrades
Standard Features:
- Back Panel Casing
- Model # N700 (7720)
- Processor 4-core 3.2 Ghz
- Memory 12 GB
- Hard Drive 500 GB
- DVD Optical Drive
- Visaclear 1 GB Graphics
- Power Supply 550 W
- Chipset 100 Z Modi
- 2x
3.0 - 2x USB 2.0 - Weight 25.5 lbs
As it is used here, a colon [:] is used to introduce a list or information that has something to do with what’s written before. In this case, the colon tells you that the items immediately below Additional Options/Upgrades are all additional upgrades. There are three items listed: memory 16 GB, hard drive 1 TB, and Visaclear 2 GB graphics
Find the answer choice that best fits the information that you found.
A. Memory 8 GB, hard drive 2 TB, Visaclear 1 GB graphics
B. Memory 16 GB, hard drive 2 TB, Visaclear 1 GB graphics
C. Memory 16 GB, hard drive 1 TB, Visaclear 1 GB graphics
D. Memory 16 GB, hard drive 1 TB, Visaclear 2 GB graphics
E. Memory 8 GB, hard drive 1 TB, Visaclear 2 GB graphics
Choice D matches the information exactly.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
1. You are buying a new digital camera. The order form below shows the features included in your order. According to the order form, what is the cost of the digital camera before accessories, shipping and handling, and tax?
A. $29.99
B. $142.45
C. $1,585.00
D. $2,035.00
E. $2,207.44
2. You are buying a new digital camera. The order form below shows the features included in your order. According to the order form, what is the cost of the digital camera after accessories, shipping and handling, and tax?
A. $29.99
B. $142.45
C. $1,585.00
D. $2,035.00
E. $2,207.44
3. You are buying a new digital camera. The order form below shows the features included in your order. According to the order form, what accessories are included in your order?
A. Telephoto 2 mm lens, 64 GB micro-memory card, and universal tripod
B. Telephoto 2 mm lens, 48 GB micro-memory card, and universal tripod
C. Telephoto 2 mm lens, 32 GB micro-memory card, and universal tripod
D. Extra life battery pack, 64 GB micro-memory card, and universal tripod
E. Extra life battery pack, 64 GB micro-memory card, and universal monopod
You are buying a new digital camera.
Standard Features:
- Height 4.2 in
- Width 8.5 in
- Depth 2.9 in
- Weight 27.1 oz
- Megapixels 20.3
- Image Resolution 5472x3648
- Lead Focal Length 18-200 mm
- LCD Screen Size 3”
- Image Stabilization
- Face Detection
- Burst Made
- Panorama Made
- Shutter Speeds 1/60-1/6000 sec
- Movie Made
Standard Digital Camera Price: $1585.00
Additional Accessories: 64 GB Micro-Memory Card
$60.00 Telephoto 2mm Lens
$350.00 Universal Tripod $40.00
Standard Camera Price w/ Accessories: $2035.00 Tax
$142.45 Shipping/Handling $29.99
- Touch Screen - WiFi Total
$2207.44
Curriculum for WorkKeys
7. You run a popular burger joint where patrons can make custom burgers. The menu is shown below. A customer orders an angus beef burger in Boston butter style with bacon, mushrooms, and cheddar. According to the menu below, what should you write on the order ticket?
A. 1, B, A, D, G
B. 1, C, A, T, O
C. 1, A, A, E, F
D. 2, B, A, D, G
E. 2, E, H, F, C
8. You run a popular burger joint where patrons can make custom burgers. The menu is shown below. A customer orders a spicy black bean burger in teriyaki zinger style with spinach, tomato, and pulled pork. According to the menu below, what should you write on the order ticket?
A. 1, B, K, E, Q
B. 2, C, S, R, M
C. 2, D, F, G, T
D. 2, C, E, B, N
E. 3, A, A, H, J
9. You run a popular burger joint where patrons can make custom burgers. The menu is shown below. A customer orders a white meat turkey burger in Memphis barbecue style with muenster, avocado, and mustard. According to the menu below, what should you write on the order ticket?
A. 1, D, F, T, C
B. 2, C, D, S, A
C. 3, B, F, R, E
D. 3, A, I, O, J
E. 3, A, H, D, E
You run a popular burger joint where patrons can make custom burgers. The menu is shown below.
BURGER JOINT
BURGER:
1. Angus Beef Burger
2. Spicy Black Bean Burger
3. White Meat Turkey Burger
STYLES:
A. Memphis Barbeque
B. Boston Butter
C. Teriyaki Zinger
D. Spicy Buffalo
E. Swiss and Blue Cheese
MAKE YOUR OWN (UP TO 10 TOPPINGS):
A. Bacon
B. Tomato
C. Lettuce
D. Mushrooms
E. Spinach
F. Feta
G. Cheddar
H. Swiss
I. Muenster
J. Mustard
K. Ketchup
L. Ranch
M. Teriyaki
N. Pulled Pork
O. Avocado
P. Onions
Q. Maple
R. Double Patty
S. Triple Patty
T. Surpise Me!
Answer Explanations
1. The answer is C. Look at the picture and find where it says Standard Digital Camera Price. This is where you can find the price of the camera before accessories, shipping and handling, and tax. You can see that the price is $1,585.
2. The answer is E. Look at the bottom right of the picture and find where it says Total. This is where you can find the price of the camera after accessories, shipping and handling, and tax. You can see that the price is $2,207.44.
3. The answer is A. Look at the picture and find where it says Additional Accessories. This is where you can find the accessories that were added on to the camera. You can see that these are telephoto 2mm lens, a 64 GB micro-memory card, and a universal tripod.
4. The answer is D. Look at the picture and find where the items that the customer ordered are on the menu. The New York strip is entrée B, the clam chowder is side dish C, and the coffee is beverage A
5. The answer is A. Look at the picture and find where the items that the customer ordered are on the menu. The eggplant parmesan is entrée D, the fried potatoes are side dish D, and the tea is beverage B.
6. The answer is C. Look at the picture and find where the items that the customer ordered are on the menu. The veal piccata is entrée E, the portobello mushrooms are side dish E, and the soda is beverage C
7. The answer is A. Look at the picture to figure out what to write on the ticket. The angus beef and Boston butter style give you 1, B to start out with. Then you add bacon, mushrooms, and cheddar, giving you A, D and G. The final answer is 1, B, A, D, G
8. The answer is D. Look at the picture to figure out what to write on the ticket. The spicy black bean and teriyaki zinger style give you 2, C to start out with. Then you add spinach, tomato, and pulled pork, giving you E, B and N. The final answer is 2, C, E, B, N
9. The answer is D. Look at the picture to find out what to write on the ticket. The white meat turkey and Memphis barbeque style give you 3, A to start out with. Then you add muenster, avocado, and mustard, giving you I, O and J. The final answer is 3, A, I, O, J.
Graphic Literacy Practice Test #1
The following section is a full-length practice test designed to give you even more exposure to Graphic Literacy questions. The chapters you have studied throughout this book have covered all of the major types of questions that may come up on the test. Remember that this section measures your skill and adeptness at reading infographics like charts, graphs, tables, floor plans, and maps. The practice test that follows will gradually increase in difficulty, just like in the Additional Practice section. How well you score on this practice test will be a close reflection of how well you’ll do on an actual WorkKeys Graphic Literacy assessment. Don’t feel discouraged if you miss a few questions. Remember that practice makes perfect! If you feel confident about what you’ve learned within these chapters and while working through practice questions, you’re well on your way to achieving a Silver NCRC on the actual WorkKeys tests.
Since this is just a practice test, your score cannot replace a real WorkKeys test score. If you want to push yourself and make this practice test feel as much like a real WorkKeys test as possible, set a timer for 55 minutes. That’s how long you’ll have to work through the 38 questions on the actual WorkKeys Graphic Literacy assessment on test day. Good luck!
1. You are the owner of Frosty Treats. According to the pie chart shown, what percentage of your annual sales are from popsicles?
A. 10%
B. 13%
C. 14%
D. 17%
E. 24%
Frosty Treats Annual Sales
Frozen Yogurt Soft Drinks
Popsicles Ice Cream
Slushies
Curriculum for WorkKeys
2. You are the manager of a clothing store. Your boss asks you to fill out the following form to be delivered to the bank, along with the day’s sales. According to the deposit form below, how much of the day’s deposit will be in checks?
A. $ 3.21
B. $ 8.25
C. $ 70.00
D. $430.40
E. $836.31
DEPOSIT FORM
Employee Name: Janelle Rivers
Date: 02/21 Store Number: 067
270 • GraphIc LIteracy
Curriculum for WorkKeys
3. Your job is to insert the symbols depicting weather trends into the almanacs your company produces. According to the table, what was the weather like in the fourth week of May?
E. There was no data collected for the fourth week of May.
Weather Trends March April May June
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
Curriculum for WorkKeys
4. You work in the customer support office of an international company. A client from Costa Rica is looking to contact the sales representative assigned to her country. Who should you put her in contact with?
A. Vivianne Lent
B. Jane Hayes
C. Lee Wright
D. Inez Feldman
E. Nancy Dias
Continent
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
Oceania
South America
Participating Country Sales Representative
Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
Bangladesh, India, Laos, Singapore, Yemen
Austria, Belarus, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine
Vivianne Lent
Jane Hayes
Lee Wright
Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, United States Inez Feldman
Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa
Edward Gosnell
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela Nancy Dias
272 • GraphIc LIteracy
Curriculum for WorkKeys
5. Your company is responding to an emergency call from a customer who reported a gas leak in her house. What were the sign(s), as indicated on the diagram shown, that alerted her to the presence of the leak?
A. A hissing sound behind the stove and a strange odor near the air vent
B. A hissing sound behind the stove and a strange odor in the closet
C. A hissing sound behind the stove only
D. A strange odor behind the stove and a hissing sound near the air vent
E. A strange odor behind the stove only
BEDROOM B
hissing sound behind stove
LIVING ROOM
BEDROOM A
strange odor near air vent
Curriculum for WorkKeys
6. You are painting a signboard and need to double-check the alignment of your letters before you start painting. What is the measurement at the dotted line drawn on the sign shown?
Curriculum for WorkKeys
7. You work at an eye clinic. According to this form, when is the patient NOT available for an appointment?
A. 9–11 a.m. only
B. 9–11 a.m. and 2–3 p.m.
C. 2–3 p.m. only
D. 4–5 p.m. only
E. Next week
Appointment Scheduling
Patient Name __________________ Phone Number __________________ Leave Message? ( Y / N )
Preference? ( AM / PM )
Helen Segura 555-2995 9-11 am, 2-3 pm
Times Not Available _________________ Urgent? ( Y / N )
Curriculum for WorkKeys
8. As your company’s department manager, you must schedule regional staff meetings for the last Friday of every month. According to the calendar shown, this month’s meeting should be scheduled for:
A. November 1.
B. November 5.
C. November 19.
D. November 26.
E. November 30.
NOVEMBER
276 • GraphIc LIteracy
Curriculum for WorkKeys
9. As the principal of a high school, you are shown a chart that depicts the students’ average GPA in certain subject areas. According to the bar graph shown, in what subject area are the students scoring the poorest grades?
A. Math
B. English
C. History
Curriculum for WorkKeys
10. As you are taking stock of warranty cards, you come across this warranty claim. According to the form, what type and model of equipment was purchased?
A. Leaf Blower #4625-4
B. Leaf Blower #264-9
C. Leaf Blower #11125-a0
D. Weed Eater #264-9
E. Weed Eater #462-54
Purchaser Name: Michael Davis
Address: 2632 Clay St.
City: Indianapolis
WARRANTY CLAIM
Warranty Expiration Date: 07/13/2017
Phone Number: 317-555-8862
State: Indiana Zip: 46254
Indicate Faulty Item
Lawn Mower (push) _____ Leaf Blower
Lawn Mower (ride) _____ Sprinkler
Tractor Weed Eater
Model # 264-9
Serial # 11125-a0
Reason(s) for Return: crack running along the length of the blower’s tube; not as powerful as advertised
Dealer: Finley’s LawnCare
Address: 546 Center St.
City: Indianapolis
278 • GraphIc LIteracy
Phone Number: 317-555-2285
State: Indiana Zip: 46254
Curriculum for WorkKeys
11. You work in the information booth at a zoo. A customer asks you where the elephants are located. You tell the customer that the elephants are at the corner of:
A. Zone 6 and Avenue D.
B. Zone 2 and Avenue I.
C. Zone 6 and Avenue F.
D. Zone 8 and Avenue F.
E. Zone 3 and Avenue A.
Lemur Lagoon
Elephants
Lions
Kangaroos
Lemurs
Curriculum for WorkKeys
12. You are a librarian at your local public library. According to the document shown, how much in late fees does Michelle Crocker owe on the first book she checked out?
A. $1.00
B. $1.25
C. $1.55
D. $3.00
E. $3.20
Arlington Public Library
Payment Receipt
Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Items are due on the date listed below. A fine is charged for each day, including Sundays and holidays, for each item that is overdue.
Name: Michelle Crocker
Account Number: 00345251
Street: 1717 Aberdeen Dr. State: TX Zipcode: 76015
Title Due Amount
To Kill a Mockingbird 5/5/2014
The Hunger Games 8/6/2014
Pride and Prejudice 8/6/2014
The Giving Tree 9/6/2014
The Chronicles of Narnia 10/7/2014
Animal Farm 10/7/2014
The Book Thief 11/6/2014
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 12/6/2014
Twilight 5/5/2014
280 • GraphIc LIteracy
$1.55
$1.25
$1.00
$1.25
$1.00
$1.55
$1.75
$1.40
$1.25
Curriculum for WorkKeys
13. As a nurse, you must track your patient’s weight on a weight chart. You just weighed a 7-year-old boy who has gained 4.5 pounds in the last year. According to the chart shown, the patient’s weight rate is:
A. equal to the average growth rate of boys his age.
B. equal to the average growth rate of girls his age.
C. off the chart for growth rate.
D. slightly less than the average growth rate of boys his age.
E. slightly more than the average growth rate of boys his age.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
14. As the manager of Caffè! Caffè! coffee house, you are reviewing the closing checklist for the week. Based on the table shown, what duty did the employee with the initials BH miss when preparing to close on Tuesday?
A. Straighten chairs and stools
B. Empty ice buckets
C. Wipe all tables
D. Take out cardboard boxes
E. Wipe down counters
Caffè! Caffè!
DUTIES CHECKLIST
Preparation for Closing
Call for last orders
Collect dirty glasses
Stock displays
Stock fridges
Wipe down counters
Straighten chairs and stools
Take out cardboard boxes
Take in menu boards
Check bathrooms
After Closing
Collect dirty cloths
Switch off window lights
Switch off music and TV
Switch off outside lights
Count and lock drawer
Wipe all tables
Sweep and mop floors
Empty ice buckets
Clean espresso machine
Rinse glasswasher
Set alarm
Lock all doors
282 • GraphIc LIteracy
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
EM JM EM
Practice Test #1 Answer Explanations
1. The answer is B.
2. The answer is D.
3. The answer is D.
Look at the circle graph and find the part labeled popsicles. Popsicles were 13% of Frost Treats’ sales.
Look at the deposit form and find the part labeled checks. Checks were $430.40 of the day’s deposit.
Look at the chart and find the column for month of May and the row for Week 4. On the fourth week of May, the weather was cloudy.
4. The answer is D. Look at the chart and find Costa Rica under the list of participating countries. Costa Rica is supported by sales representative Inez Feldman in the North American office.
5. The answer is A.
6. The answer is B.
7. The answer is B.
8. The answer is D.
Look at the diagram and find the handwritten notes on the diagram. They show where there was a hissing sound behind the stove and where there was a strange odor near the air vent that alerted the customer to the gas leak.
The sign is lined up with the one-inch sign. If the sign were lined up the zero on the ruler, then 2 1/2 would be the correct answer. Either the graphic needs to be changed or the answer choice 1 1/2 needs to be given.
Look at the form and find the information listed on the line next to “Times Not Available”.
Look at the calendar and find “F” for Friday. Go down the column until you get to the last Friday of the month, November 26.
9. The answer is E. Look at the chart and find the school subject with the lowest GPA bar, Science.
10. The answer is B.
11. The answer is D.
Look at the warranty claim form and find the “Indicate Faulty Item” section. Leaf Blower has been selected, and the model number is listed as 264-9.
Look at the grid map of the zoo and find the picture of the elephants. The picture of the elephant appears to be between the zones 8 and 9 but closer to zone 8. It also appears to be between the avenues E and F but closer to avenue F. Since neither zone 9 nor avenue E are part of the answer choices and the picture is closer to zone 8 and avenue F anyway, the answer must be zone 8 and avenue F.
12. The answer is C. Look at the payment receipt and find the title of the first book in the list. It is To Kill a Mockingbird. The amount owed for this book is $1.55.
13. The answer is E.
Find the dashed line for boys on the graph. Find the location of the dashed line for the average boy who is 7 years old. The average weight gain per year for a 7-yearold boy is 3.5 pounds. The patient’s weight gain of 4.5 pounds is slightly more than the average growth rate.
14. The answer is A. Find “TUE” for Tuesday on the checklist. Go to the “Preparation for Closing” portion of the checklist for Tuesday. “BH” did not initial “straighten chairs and stools”.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Workbook
Workbook
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Table of Contents
Finding Details
Details, Details
Missing one small detail might be all that it takes to get fired from a well-paying job.
Paying attention to an important detail might be the key to a promotion and better pay.
The word detail means individual facts or features. Details are the small parts that make up the larger whole. Here’s an example sentence: He is still working out the details of his master plan.
People who aren’t aware of details often stumble through life, unaware of exactly why they keep losing jobs and having trouble.
In this chapter, you will practice finding important details in notes or instructions.
Give an example of a time when you paid careful attention to details. What was the end result?
Give an example of a time when someone missed an important detail. What happened?
Building a Parking Lot
Look at these instructions for mixing concrete. Imagine that you are working in construction. Your company is building a parking lot, and it’s your first day on the job. If you can follow instructions well, your supervisor might notice you and give you a promotion. If you mess up the instructions too badly, your first day on the job may also be your last!
While you are reading instructions, try to imagine yourself taking the steps that are described. That way, you realize if something is confusing or if there is something you don’t understand.
Here are the instructions your supervisor provided:
To mix the cement for the parking lot:
1) Empty the mix into a mortar tub or wheelbarrow and dig out a small hole in the middle of the mix.
2) Measure the recommended water amount. (Each 80-pound bag of concrete mix will require about 3 quarts of water.)
3) Pour half of the water into the hole in the middle of the mix.
4) Work the mix with a hoe, gradually adding the rest of the water until the concrete is ready. Properly mixed concrete should look like thick oatmeal and hold its shape when squeezed in a gloved hand.
1. Based on these instructions, you should first pour the water into the:
A. empty wheelbarrow.
B. hole in the mix.
C. oatmeal.
D. parking lot.
E. 80-pound bag.
If the question says based on these instructions, your job is to find the information in the instructions, not information you may have learned elsewhere. Even if you have experience pouring concrete, you should look in the instructions for the answer. Your experiences may not match the instructions. Choose your answer based on the instructions given.
Find the detail being discussed in the question, and then find the same detail in the passage.
1. Based on these instructions, you should first pour the water into the...
The main detail is pour the water. Find where pour the water appears in the instructions.
12 • Workplace documents
Curriculum for WorkKeys
To mix the cement for the parking lot:
1) Empty the mix into a mortar tub or wheelbarrow and dig out a small hole in the middle of the mix.
2) Measure the recommended water amount. (Each 80-pound bag of concrete mix will require about 3 quarts of water.)
3) Pour half of the water into the hole in the middle of the mix.
4) Work the mix with a hoe, gradually adding the rest of the water until the concrete is ready. Properly mixed concrete should look like thick oatmeal and hold its shape when squeezed in a gloved hand.
Instruction #3 discusses pouring the water. Where are you supposed to pour the water?
3) Pour half of the water into the hole in the middle of the mix.
What answer choice best matches into the hole in the middle of the mix?
A. empty wheelbarrow.
B. hole in the mix.
C. oatmeal.
D. parking lot.
E. 80-pound bag.
Choice B is the best fit.
Now try a slightly more complicated question about these instructions.
To mix the cement for the parking lot:
1) Empty the mix into a mortar tub or wheelbarrow and dig out a small hole in the middle of the mix.
2) Measure the recommended water amount. (Each 80-pound bag of concrete mix will require about 3 quarts of water.)
3) Pour half of the water into the hole in the middle of the mix.
4) Work the mix with a hoe, gradually adding the rest of the water until the concrete is ready. Properly mixed concrete should look like thick oatmeal and hold its shape when squeezed in a gloved hand.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
2. Based on these instructions, you should pour the mix into the:
A. water.
B. hole.
C. parking lot.
D. wheelbarrow.
E. glove.
First, look for the main detail being discussed in the question.
2. Based on these instructions, you should pour the mix into the...
You’re looking for what it says to pour the mix into. In this question, the exact words from the question aren’t used in the passage. It tells you where to pour the water, but it doesn’t use the word pour when discussing the mix. There is a sentence, though, that says almost the same thing as pour the mix
To mix the cement for the parking lot:
1) Empty the mix into a mortar tub or wheelbarrow and dig out a small hole in the middle of the mix.
2) Measure the recommended water amount. (Each 80-pound bag of concrete mix will require about 3 quarts of water.)
3) Pour half of the water into the hole in the middle of the mix.
4) Work the mix with a hoe, gradually adding the rest of the water until the concrete is ready. Properly mixed concrete should look like thick oatmeal and hold its shape when squeezed in a gloved hand.
While empty the mix into a mortar tub or wheelbarrow doesn’t use exactly the same words, it still answers the question. If you are emptying the mix into the mortar tub or wheelbarrow, you are probably pouring it.
Which answer choice best fits this sentence?
A. water.
B. hole.
C. parking lot.
D. wheelbarrow.
E. glove.
Choice D is the best fit.
By the way, the first instruction mentions a mortar tub. This is a big tub or container that you can use for mixing concrete. If you run across a word that you don’t understand, don’t panic! It’s probably a special word specific to the work being discussed in the question. If it’s important for a question, it will be defined in the instructions. Don’t let it confuse you. In these questions, you don’t need to know what a mortar tub is to get the answers right.
14 • Workplace documents
Curriculum for WorkKeys
The word or after mortar tub tells you that the word that comes next is an acceptable alternative to a mortar tub
1) Empty the mix into a mortar tub or wheelbarrow and dig out a small hole in the middle of the mix.
If you need to figure out what a mortar tub is, the word or tells you that it can’t be much different from a wheelbarrow. Both can hold concrete for mixing.
What are the two most important steps for answering a question that asks you to find a detail?
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Lesson 2
Following Instructions
Being able to follow instructions is key to being successful at work and in life.
People lose their jobs because they don’t follow instructions correctly. People miss out on big opportunities because they are afraid of complicated instructions.
Even tasks such as getting a driver’s license or applying to attend a technical school require you to follow instructions.
Give an example of a time when someone didn’t follow directions. What happened as a result?
Imagine you are a manager at a restaurant. A waiter who works for you has not been following instructions about how to clock in or out on the job. What could you tell the waiter to convince him that it’s important to follow instructions?
Some questions on the WorkKeys Workplace Documents test measure your ability to follow directions. They give you a set of directions and then ask you a question about how to apply the rules.
You need to find the direction that applies to the situation that the question describes. Then, use the directions to answer the question.
You will practice with a couple sets of instructions.
Lesson 2 — FolloWIng InstructIons • 25
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Getting Ready to Party
To: All Kitchen Staff
From: Kitchen Manager
Re: Procedure for Preparing for Restaurant Event
Next Friday, our restaurant has been rented to HEATCO for their Christmas party. We will not be offering all of our menu items. Please only prepare the ingredients that are needed for the Christmas party menu. Several HEATCO staff members have food allergies to peanuts, so no peanuts should be used in recipe preparation.
All seats in the restaurant will be filled. No time-off requests will be allowed on that day. If you are scheduled to work, you need to be here. Please check the calendar before you leave today. You may be scheduled to work on the day of the party, even if it is not your regular work day.
Place our special red and green holiday napkins at each seat. Each table will also need full sets of spoons, forks, and knives. Do not set any tables with soup spoons. There is no soup on the menu. Provide steak knives only to customers who order steaks. Steak knives should not be set at the tables beforehand.
Remember that Re means regarding or about. If the subject is regarding work, you’re going to discuss something about work in the email.
1. You work in the kitchen of the restaurant. According to the memo shown, you should only prepare ingredients that are:
A. delicious.
B. available from the market.
C. needed for the Christmas party menu.
D. made with peanuts.
E. going into the soup.
First, you need to find what the question is asking for.
1. You work in the kitchen of the restaurant. According to the memo shown, you should only prepare ingredients that are...
You are looking for information about the ingredients that you are asked to prepare.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
To: All Kitchen Staff
From: Kitchen Manager
Re: Procedure for Preparing for Restaurant Event
Next Friday, our restaurant has been rented to HEATCO for their Christmas party. We will not be offering all of our menu items. Please only prepare the ingredients that are needed for the Christmas party menu. Several HEATCO staff members have food allergies to peanuts, so no peanuts should be used in recipe preparation.
All seats in the restaurant will be filled. No time-off requests will be allowed on that day. If you are scheduled to work, you need to be here. Please check the calendar before you leave today. You may be scheduled to work on the day of the party, even if it is not your regular work day.
Place our special red and green holiday napkins at each seat. Each table will also need full sets of spoons, forks, and knives. Do not set any tables with soup spoons. There is no soup on the menu. Provide steak knives only to customers who order steaks. Steak knives should not be set at the tables beforehand.
This sentence closely matches what is being asked for. Now look for the answer choice that best answers the question.
A. delicious.
B. available from the market.
C. needed for the Christmas party menu.
D. made with peanuts.
E. going into the soup.
Choice C is the best answer.
Choice D doesn’t work because the memo says not to use peanuts. You can eliminate choice E because the memo says that the party won’t have soup. Choices A and B aren’t mentioned in the memo. Choice C is the only answer that works.
Now try another question.
2. As the assistant manager of the restaurant, it is your job to approve requests for time off. According to the memo, what should you do if one of your waiters who is scheduled to work during the Christmas party asks for time off?
A. Find out if it’s a regular working day for the waiter.
B. Let him have the day off.
C. Don’t let him take the day off.
D. Ask him to set the spoons, forks, and knives before he leaves.
E. Let him have the day off if all the seats are filled in the restaurant.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
You need to focus on what the question is asking for:
2. As the assistant manager of the restaurant, it is your job to approve requests for time off. According to the memo, what should you do if one of your waiters who is scheduled to work during the Christmas party asks for time off?
You need to find the instructions that apply to this situation.
To: All Kitchen Staff
From: Kitchen Manager
Re: Procedure for Preparing for Restaurant Event
Next Friday, our restaurant has been rented to HEATCO for their Christmas party. We will not be offering all of our menu items. Please only prepare the ingredients that are needed for the Christmas party menu. Several HEATCO staff members have food allergies to peanuts, so no peanuts should be used in recipe preparation.
All seats in the restaurant will be filled. No time-off requests will be allowed on that day. If you are scheduled to work, you need to be here. Please check the calendar before you leave today. You may be scheduled to work on the day of the party, even if it is not your regular work day.
Place our special red and green holiday napkins at each seat. Each table will also need full sets of spoons, forks, and knives. Do not set any tables with soup spoons. There is no soup on the menu. Provide steak knives only to customers who order steaks. Steak knives should not be set at the tables beforehand.
If someone requests time off, they are asking for time off of work. The instructions say that no time-off requests will be allowed. The next step is to find the answer choice that best follows the instructions.
A. Find out if it’s a regular working day for the waiter.
B. Let him have the day off.
C. Don’t let him take the day off.
D. Ask him to set the spoons, forks, and knives before he leaves.
E. Let him have the day off if all the seats are filled in the restaurant.
Choice C is the best fit.
Choices B, D, and E all say to let the waiter have the day off, but the instructions from the manager say that no time off should be allowed. Choice A does not work because the memo says, You might be scheduled to work on the day of the party, even if that is not your regular working day.
Workplace Documents Practice Test #2
The following section is a full-length practice test designed to give you even more practice with Workplace Documents questions. The chapters you have studied throughout this book have covered all of the major types of questions that may come up on the test. Remember that this section measures your skill and adeptness at reading written text—including signs, memos, emails, letters, bulletins, directions, and regulations—that may come up in a workplace scenario. The practice test that follows will gradually increase in difficulty, just like in the Challenger Questions section. How well you score on this practice test will be a close reflection of how well you’ll do on an actual WorkKeys Workplace Documents assessment. Don’t feel discouraged if you miss a few questions. Remember that practice makes perfect! If you feel confident about what you’ve learned within these chapters and while working through practice questions, you’re well on your way to achieving a Silver NCRC on the actual WorkKeys tests.
Since this is just a practice test, your score cannot replace a real WorkKeys test score. If you want to push yourself and make this practice test feel as much like a real WorkKeys test as possible, set a timer for 45 minutes. That’s how long you’ll have to work through the 33 questions on the actual WorkKeys Workplace Documents assessment on test day. Good luck!
Curriculum for WorkKeys
To: All Business
From: Sasha Bryans, Hampton Commons Manager
Re: New Parking Meter Policies
Hampton Commons has purchased new parking meters and hired additional security for the enforcement of parking meter penalties. From the first of next month, a new set of regulations for parking meters will be in full effect.
Various security personnel will circle the entirety of the Hampton Commons so that each individual parking meter will be checked for proper funds every 35 minutes, down from the previous 45-minute checking period. Additionally, the fees for parking violations have been changed. A vehicle found to be in violation for one hour or less will receive a $12 parking penalty, up from $10. A vehicle found to be in violation for more than one hour will receive a $30 parking penalty, up from $20. Per usual, vehicles of Hampton Commons staff are prohibited from parking in metered parking spaces. Please ensure that you and your staff are aware of these new parking meter policies so that they may accurately inform any and all customers who may have questions. Thank you for your cooperation.
1. After the first of the month, vehicles found to be in violation for one hour or less will receive parking penalties of which of the following amounts?
A. $10
B. $12
C. $20
D. $30
E. $35
2. After the first of the month, each individual parking meter will be checked for proper funds in intervals of which of the following lengths of time?
A. 15 minutes
B. 20 minutes
C. 25 minutes
D. 35 minutes
E. 45 minutes
Memorandum
To: IT Staff
From: Nicholas Pearson, IT Department Manager
Subject: Reference and Certification Materials
Policy
As you all know, the IT Department has historically supplied staff with all necessary material for reference and continued certification. We will be changing our policy regarding these materials as to better account for whereabouts of materials.
Previously, employees were permitted to have checked out up to six different manuals at any given time. However, employees will now be permitted to have checked out up to four different manuals at a given time. If you currently have more than four manuals in your possession, we ask that you turn in excess manuals by the end of the day on this coming Friday
Additionally, we will be cataloguing all current reference and certification materials with identification numbers. Please find a time this week to bring your currently checked out manuals to the front office for cataloguing. The process should take no more than 2 or 3 minutes per manual.
3. According to the memorandum, on which days will employees be expected to turn in their excess manuals?
A. Monday
B. Tuesday
C. Wednesday
D. Thursday
E. Friday
Continuum Marketing
145 Stetson Drive San Antonio, TX
To: Employees
Fr: Lane Davidson, President
Re: Holiday Bonus
Congratulations on another incredible year! This year alone, Continuum has taken on 12 new clients for ongoing services in digital, print, and social media.
As such, all employees will be receiving monetary Christmas bonuses equal to 115% of last year’s bonus. We will also be closing our doors from December 23 to January 3 as an additional paid holiday vacation for all employees. This holiday vacation will not count against the vacation days that you have earned throughout the last year. Thank you all so much for your hard work. We’ll see you next year!
4. Based on the memo shown, the monetary Christmas bonuses received by employees this year will be equal to what percentage of last year’s bonus?
A. 15%
B. 85%
C. 100%
D. 115%
E. 150%
To: All Baristas
From: General Manager
Re: Cup Ordering and Cleaning
The busy season is coming up and it is vitally important that we ensure smooth timing from coffee orders at the cash registers to drinks being made at the espresso machines. Therefore, each employee at the cash register needs to be sure to arrange cups in order received along the back of the espresso bar. Do not let cups get jumbled! If the cups get jumbled, those working at the espresso machines will not know which drink to make next and customers will likely get skipped.
At the end of the night, please also remember to clean both espresso machines on the northern espresso bar and both espresso machines on the southern espresso bar. Also, the two panini presses and two ovens should be scrubbed. The night staff does not need to restock cups, lids, and straws. Restocking can be left for the morning staff at opening time.
5. You are a barista working in the coffee shop described above. According to this memo, how should you arrange cups if you are working at the cash register?
A. Order received along the back of the espresso bar
B. Order received along the front of the espresso bar
C. Order received along the side of the espresso bar
D. Reverse order received along the back of the espresso bar
E. Reverse order received along the front of the espresso bar
6. According to the memo shown, the restocking of which of the following items can be left for the morning staff?
A. Cups, napkins, and straws
B. Cups, lids, and napkins
C. Cups, lids, and straws
D. Lids, napkins, and coasters
E. Lids, napkins, and straws
Curriculum for WorkKeys
From: Tyler Handy, President
School Luncheon
To: Mastery University Faculty & Staff
Our academic calendar for Spring 2015 provides an extended break for both students and faculty with classes beginning on January 13, 2015. However, the college will open as usual on January 2nd for student registration and processing. This year, we will be holding two separate kick-off meetings as described below. I look forward to your return and to another great semester!
Staff Spring Kick-Off Meeting
Monday, January 6th
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Longmire Building 302
The Staff Spring Kick-Off Meeting will feature a luncheon. Please remember to RSVP by January 3rd in order to reserve a seat. The buffet style luncheon will be no cost to staff members.
Faculty Spring Kick-Off Meeting
Friday, January 10th
8:30AM - 10:30 AM, Stadium 117
The Faculty Spring Kick-Off Meeting will feature a breakfast. Please remember to RSVP by January 6th in order to reserve a seat. The buffet-style breakfast will be no cost to staff members.
Student Services will close offices to attend the Staff Spring Kick-Off on January 6th at 12:00 PM and off-campus sites will close at 11:00 PM.
I wish each of you a very happy and safe holiday season!
Curriculum for WorkKeys
13. You are a staff member of Mastery University. According to the memo shown, your Spring Kick-Off Meeting will be held when?
A. January 2nd, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
B. January 2nd, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
C. January 6th, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
D. January 6th, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
E. January 10th, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
14. As a member of the faculty of Mastery University, you need to RSVP for your Kick-Off Meeting by which of the following days?
A. January 2nd
B. January 3rd
C. January 4th
D. January 6th
E. January 10th
Curriculum for WorkKeys
Message
From: Jared Newton
To: All Employees
Sent: Thursday, 11:21 AM
Subject: Payroll
As you are all aware, we will be switching payroll companies effective 2015. We will maintain our bi-weekly Friday pay periods; however, the company will require all payroll items be approved earlier than the company we currently use. Effective Jan. 1, 2015 all payrollrelated items will require submission no later than the FRIDAY before payroll. Monday morning submissions will no longer be accepted, as they will not allow adequate time for Angela and the PR company to do what needs to be done for payroll processing.
Please ensure that all payroll items are delivered no later than Friday in order to avoid difficulties with the payroll process.
In addition, we will be discussing training of the new payroll system soon. Currently, it is expected that employees will be able to day-in punch, day-out punch, lunch-in punch, and lunch-out punch. This is subject to change, so I will keep you all posted as to how and when this will take effect.
15. According to the email provided, effective Jan. 1, 2015, all payroll related items will require submission no later than which of the following days?
A. Monday
B. Tuesday
C. Wednesday
D. Thursday
E. Friday
16. According to the email provided, which of the following is NOT expected to be a valid function of the payroll system?
A. Day-out punch
B. Day-in punch
C. Break-out punch
D. Lunch-in punch
E. Lunch-out punch
Practice Test #2 Answer Explanations
1. The answer is B. According to the second paragraph, “a vehicle found to be in violation for one hour or less will receive a $12 parking penalty”.
2. The answer is D. According to the second paragraph, “each individual parking meter will be checked for proper funds every 35 minutes”.
3. The answer is E. According to the second paragraph, extra manuals should be turned in “by the end of the day on this coming Friday”.
4. The answer is D. According to the second paragraph, employees get “Christmas bonuses equal to 115% of last year’s bonus.
5. The answer is A. According to the first paragraph, cups should be “in the order received along the back of the espresso bar.
6. The answer is C. According to the second paragraph, “the night staff does not need to restock cups, lids, and straws”.
7. The answer is B. According to item #1, meeting is with “dry-dock cleaning crew and wash-water recovery crew”.
8. The answer is E. According to item #4, they should “record number and sizes of hoses used”.
9. The answer is B. According to the first paragraph, faculty will be told “of a 2-week time frame within which the fire drill will occur”.
10. The answer is C. According to the second bullet point, before activating the alarm system coordinators should “disable any multifunction switches”.
11. The answer is D. According to the last Q&A, “it can take anywhere between 3 and 14 days to completely set a diamond into a mount.
12. The answer is B. According to the second Q&A, notable diamond cuts include “pear, round, oval, radiant, and heart”. Emerald is not one of cuts listed.
13. The answer is D. According to the first event information in bold print, the staff meeting is on “Monday, January 6th, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM”.
14. The answer is D. According to the third paragraph, faculty should RSVP “by January 6th in order to reserve a seat”.
15. The answer is E. According to the first paragraph, “effective Jan. 1, 2015 all payroll-related items will require submission no later than the FRIDAY before payroll”.
16. The answer is C.
According to the third paragraph, the payroll system lets employees “day-in punch, day-out punch, lunch-in punch, and lunch-out punch”. Break-out punch is not one of the functions of the system.
Curriculum for WorkKeys
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