CHAPTER 3 • LearningExpress Skill Builders
64
First, and most important, is the issue of
language. There is a violent assault being
perpetrated on our language. Students abuse it
when they speak and when they write.
Profanity prevails. In addition to their
disrespect for language, students have begun to
violate all the rules of common courtesy and
decency that were once the hallmarks of a
civilized society. And last, but not least, they
are committing violence every time they dress
in the morning. It is as if they are off to the
beach or a picnic instead of the serious
institution called school.
Notice that the biggest difference between analy-
sis/classification and order of importance is that the lat-
ter establishes a pecking order for the issues to be
addressed, i.e., most important, least important, first, sec-
ond. Other words that give clues as to order of impor-
tance, are more importantly, moreover, above all, last but
not least, etc.
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
The final organization pattern is comparison/contrast,
which does exactly what it says; it enables the writer to
use similarities and differences between two things in
order to present information. Here’s how the school vio-
lence issue might look presented this way:
At the same time that violence is on the rise in
America’s public schools, there has been no
appreciable rise in parochial schools. When the

two school systems are put side by side, it is
easy to see why. First, in public school the issue
of dress creates an atmosphere for social
disruption. On the other hand, uniforms in
parochial school have long been known to
establish order and respect. When students can
come to school in dirty jeans and tee shirts
with obscenities written on them, it is no
wonder that discipline is difficult. Contrast that
to the parochial school student who knows, as
he or she is getting dressed in the morning,
that just as the dress for the day is restricted so
will be the social conduct.
Words which signal comparison/contrast include
on the other hand, however, on the contrary, unlike, but,
yet, nevertheless, rather, instead, whereas, although, in con-
trast, etc.
It is important to note that a piece of reading can
combine many organizational patterns. Order of impor-
tance and cause and effect, for example, often go hand
in hand. When you read, it is important to pay atten-
tion to the organizational pattern. When you write, it
is important to determine which pattern(s) will best
serve your purpose as you set out to inform, persuade,
or entertain your reader.
TEST YOUR SKILLS
READING COMPREHENSION
PRACTICE PASSAGE
Now that you feel comfortable with different strategies
and techniques by which authors write, use this new

information to read the next paragraph and circle the
correct response for the questions that follow. Notice
that each sentence is numbered for easy reference.
TAXES
(1) There are many things you can do to make
tax time easier. (2) The single most important
strategy is to keep accurate records. (3) Keep all
of your pay stubs, receipts, bank statements,
and other relevant financial information in a
neat, organized folder so that when you’re
–BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE–
LearningExpress Skill Builders • CHAPTER 3
65
ready to prepare your form, all of your
paperwork is in one place. (4) The second
thing you can do is start early. (5) Get your tax
forms from the post office as soon as they are
available and then start calculating. (6) This
way, if you run into any problems, you have
plenty of time to straighten them out. (7) You
can also save time by reading the directions
carefully. (8) This will prevent time-consuming
errors. (9) Finally, if your taxes are relatively
simple (that is, you don’t have itemized
deductions or special investments), use the
shorter tax form. (10) It’s only one page, and if
your records are in order, it can be completed
in less than an hour.
1. The main idea of this passage is expressed in
which sentence?

a. 1
b. 3
c. 7
d. 10
2. This paragraph uses which of the following
organizational strategies?
a. cause and effect
b. analysis/classification
c. order of importance
d. chronology
3. Sentence (2) is a
a. fact.
b. opinion.
c. both.
d. neither.
4. Which of the following would be a good sum-
mary of this passage?
a. Simple strategies can make tax time less
taxing.
b. Don’t procrastinate at tax time.
c. Always keep good records.
d. Get a tax attorney.
5. Which of the following is the most effective
underlining of the passage?
a. You can also sa
ve time by reading the
directions carefully. This will prevent
time-consuming e
rrors. Finally, if your
tax

es are r
elatively simple (you don’t have
itemized deductions or special invest-
ments), use the sho
rter tax form.It’s only
one page, and if y
our rec
ords are in order,
it can be completed in less than an hour.
b. You can also save time by r
eading the
directions carefully. This will prevent
time-consuming errors. Finally, if your
taxes are relatively simple (y
ou don’t have
itemized deductions or special invest-
me
nts), use the shorter tax form. I
t’s only
one page, and it your records are in order,
it can be completed in less than an hour.
c. You can also save time by r
eading the
directions carefully. This will prevent
time-consuming errors. Finally, if your
taxes are relatively simple (you don’t have
itemized deductions or special invest-
ments), use the sho
rter tax form.It’s only
one page, and if your records are in order,

it can be completed in less than an hour.
–READING COMPREHENSION–
CHAPTER 3 • LearningExpress Skill Builders
66
d. You can also save time by reading the
directions carefully. This will prevent
time-consuming errors. Finally, if your
taxes are r
elatively simple (you don’t have
itemized deductions or special invest-
ments), use the shorter tax form. It’s only
one page, and if your records are in order,
it can be completed in less than an hour
.
ANSWERS
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. c
–BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE–
LearningExpress Skill Builders • CHAPTER 4
67
C
•
H
•
A
•
P

•
T
•
E
•
R
SUMMARY
This chapter starts out with examples of the types of ques-
tions commonly found on college placement tests. In gen-
eral, you will be evaluated on your knowledge and skills in
the areas of arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry, and
measurement.
ollege placement tests include these formats: pencil and paper
tests, computer versions of these pencil and paper tests, and
adaptive computer tests. (Adaptive computer tests adjust your
test’s difficulty level as you take it.) Your test may be timed, in
which case you should expect it to be about half an hour long, but make
sure you check all the particulars with your school in advance. Specifically,
you should ask for the test format, time constraints, subject matter being
assessed, and if you may bring a calculator. In fact, the best idea is to find
out all of this information prior to reading this chapter. This way you will
know which areas to study (and which ones to skip), and you will be prac-
ticing under simulative testing conditions.
With this done, read through the sample questions. These examples
walk you through the common questions on a topic-by-topic basis. Then
at the end of the chapter, you have a chance to assess your strengths and
weaknesses with the Skill Builder questions. All of these questions have
detailed explanatory answers and serve as another chance to brush up on
ESSENTIAL PRACTICE
WITH MATH

4
4
C
C
CHAPTER 4 • LearningExpress Skill Builders
68
any skills you feel need work. If you have trouble with
any of the Skill Builder questions, go back to the sam-
ple questions and make sure that you really understand
the individual topics.
To recap, the game plan is: review (sample ques-
tions), practice and assess (Skill Builder), and go back
(rereview topics as necessary). This is the best way to
assure a solid foundation before attempting the sam-
ple test in the next chapter or the real test.
OPERATIONS WITH WHOLE
NUMBERS
1. Janice has started a wholesale jewelry making
business. She makes 36 bracelets a day, and sells
them to local shops for $18.00 a dozen. How
much does Janice make per week if she works 5
days a week?
a. $220
b. $270
c. $54
d. $378
2. At a baseball game,Deanna bought food for her-
self and her sister Jamie: 1 jumbo box of pop-
corn to share at $7 a box, 2 hot dogs for each of
them (4 total) at $3 a dog, and one soda for each

at $4 apiece. Jamie paid for their tickets at $13
a ticket.Who spent the most money and by how
much?
a. Deanna, by $1
b. Deanna, by $3
c. Jamie, by $2
d. Jamie, by $4
OPERATIONS WITH FRACTIONS
3. Jack is retiling his kitchen floor. Each tile he has
is 1
ᎏ
1
8
ᎏ
foot by 1
ᎏ
3
5
ᎏ
foot. What is the area of each
tile?
a.
ᎏ
4
3
0
ᎏ
square feet
b. 1
ᎏ

3
8
ᎏ
square feet
c. 1
ᎏ
4
5
ᎏ
square feet
d. 1
ᎏ
3
5
ᎏ
square feet
4. Divide
ᎏ
5
9
ᎏ
by
ᎏ
5
9
ᎏ
.
a.
ᎏ
9

5
ᎏ
b. 1
c.
ᎏ
2
8
5
1
ᎏ
d. 1
ᎏ
5
9
ᎏ
OPERATIONS WITH DECIMALS
5. Lauren and Jenna want to buy a present for their
mom, a bracelet that costs $50. Lauren has $5
from her allowance and $13.73 saved in her
piggy bank. Jenna has $2.50 from her allowance,
$7.19 in her piggy bank, plus she found $2 out-
side. If their dad gives them $10 towards the gift,
how much more money do they need?
a. $30.42
b. $19.58
c. $40.42
d. $ 9.58
6. Zoey needs to build a deck in her backyard that
is 12.84 feet by 14.3 feet. How many square feet
will the deck be?

a. 233.89 square feet
b. 1,836.12 square feet
c. 183.612 square feet
d. 183,612 square feet
–BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE–
LearningExpress Skill Builders • CHAPTER 4
69
RATIO AND PROPORTION
7. If it takes 27 nails to build 3 boxes, how many
nails will it take to build 7 boxes?
a. 64
b. 72
c. 56
d. 63
8. In Mrs. Sam’s first grade class, the ratio of boys
to girls is 3 to 4. There are 28 students total. How
many are girls?
a. 12
b. 20
c. 16
d. 4
PERCENTS
9. Change 35% into a decimal.
a. 3.5
b. .35
c. 35.0
d. .035
10. 75 people were invited to the Frazzettas’ wedding.
All but 9 were able to attend. What percent
couldn’t come?

a. 8.33%
b. 7.5%
c. 12%
d. 9%
ABSOLUTE VALUE
11. What is | 47 Ϫ 64 |?
a. 17
b. Ϫ17
c. 111
d. 47
12. Find | Ϫ
ᎏ
2
3
ᎏ
|.
a. Ϫ
ᎏ
2
3
ᎏ
b.
ᎏ
3
2
ᎏ
c. 1
ᎏ
1
2

ᎏ
d.
ᎏ
2
3
ᎏ
EXPONENTS
13. Calculate 43
2
ϫ 4.
a. 172
b. 129
c. 7,396
d. 1,849
14. Calculate (Ϫ
ᎏ
1
5
ᎏ
)
3
.
a.
ᎏ
1
1
25
ᎏ
b.
ᎏ

1
5
ᎏ
c. –
ᎏ
1
1
25
ᎏ
d. –
ᎏ
1
3
5
ᎏ
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
15. What is the correct way to write 3,600,000 in sci-
entific notation?
a. 3,600 ϫ 100
b. 3.6 ϫ 10
6
c. 3.6 ϫ 10
Ϫ6
d. 36 ϫ 10
6
16. 7.359 multiplied by 10
Ϫ6
is equal to
a. 0.0007359
b. 0.00007359

c. 0.000007359
d. 0.0000007359
–ESSENTIAL PRACTICE WITH MATH–