miniQUIZ Week of 4/14/2026

Directions

i) It is a skill to know when you do not know something. So, as you would do on test day, do not hesitate to acknowledge if there is something here that you do not currently know.

ii) Reply with your answers. For a non-multiple choice Math question, send the numeric response that you would have typed in to the answer box. Some questions below are meant to elicit what you currently think about certain test situations. For these questions, you’re writing out anything that you’re thinking versus sending a numeric answer or an answer of A, B, C, or D.

iii) Within the reply that you send, do not hesitate to make any comments or ask questions.

1. One way to organically commit things to memory is to physically(whether this be by hand or by keyboard) copy things. Accordingly, in your reply to this week’s miniQUIZ, type out what’s below.

It is certainly possible to know when or when not to use a comma by instinct. That said, test questions tend to use commas for more concrete reasons. For instance, an appositive, one of the few formal grammar terms that we use, is an idea that, if we know about, could nicely guide us when working through particular questions testing us on commas.

*Bonus - What do you currently know about appositives?

Did you notice the phrase “one of the few formal grammar terms that we use”, which is an appositive that we wrote in to the blurb that you typed this week? If this grammar term is new to you, read all about appositives now.

2. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

As Lizzie soon discovered, the customs in the area were clearly much different than _____ she had visited the previous week, though, to her credit, she adapted quite quickly.

A) the other area B) that in the other area C) the other areas’ D) those in the other area

The correct answer is (D).

This is what we call an improper comparison(IC).

It is the “customs” in one area that are being compared to other customs in another area. The plural word “those” within option (D) correctly corresponds to the fact that “customs” are plural.

Option (B), with the singular word “that”, would have been correct if something singular was being compared.

The issue with option (A) is that something about(“the customs”) one area would be being compared to another area.

We could say a couple of things about option (C). For now, let’s focus solely on the position of the apostrophe, as it beingafter the “s” would mean that plural areas are being mentioned.

If you’re not loving this item, there’s a fair amount of reason to think that this is not a concern, including the fact that there is only 1 currently published official question that we would deem an IC.

3. Cosmic neutrinos are predominantly generated whenever high-energy cosmic rays collide with other particles. The neutrino spectrum can therefore reveal information about how and where cosmic rays are accelerated. If the acceleration takes place exclusively in shock environments, where collisions produce neutrinos, the neutrino spectrum would be a single power law. However, the latest analysis of neutrino data by the IceCube Collaboration has uncovered a more complex spectrum.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) It reveals ramifications that have sent shockwaves through various scientific communities. B) It illustrates how new information has led to the belief that there are additional aspects to an existing mode of thinking. C) It contrasts a previous theory with a new theory that has rendered the former obsolete. D) It develops an understanding of neutrinos that was previously completely misunderstood.

The correct answer is (B).

If you found this blurb challenging to read, it might not be the issue it could currently seem to be. With that said, let’s dive in to some QUOTING and establish how we could arrive at (B) as our answer. Then, we’ll nitpick some wrong answers.

Key information can come from various sentences within a blurb. But, in the case of this blurb, it is the last sentence that proves to be most impactful. The mention of the “latest” ties nicely to the mention of “new information” in (B). The mention of “more complex” ties nicely to the mention of “additional aspects”. And, though we freely acknowledge this could feel a bit stretched, we could even put forth that the “However” at the start of the last sentence could hint at the idea that we are going beyond the “existing” idea.

Now depending on how new/not new you are to this training process, keep in mind that seeing how we can arrive at (B) is quite possibly much more significant to you than what we are about to rattle off. That said, read away and we can see what you think….

• i) Particularly if this was a question within the elevated second section, the mention of “neutrinos” in (D) is a good example of what we call the matches the blurb wrong answer. We could also think that the word “completely” pushes things in a too strong kind of way.
• ii) We could potentially ONE WORD critique option (C) by nitpicking the use of the word “contrasts”.
• iii) To maybe really get nitpicky, we could potentially further critique (C) by wondering if “theory” is really the right word to be using. Staying nitpicky, maybe we could find “various scientific communities” not quite right.

4. For a certain colony of bacteria, after 2 hours, the population decreased from 12,000 to 6,000. If the equation below models this population, what is the value of $r$?

$b(t) = 24000(r)^{t/2}$

The correct answer is .5 or 1/2.

This question is part of the exponential equation family.

The value inside the parentheses is tied to rate of increase/decrease. Knowing this, we can then also know that it is not a trick that since the number is getting cut in half that $r$ is .5 or 1/2.

As two mini-bonuses….

• i) The 24000 in front of the parentheses indicates how many bacteria there were at the start of things.
• ii) It is not a coincidence that the question mentions 2 hours and the exponent within the equation has a 2.

5. The value of tan M of right triangle LMN, where the measure of angle N is 90˚, is $\nicefrac{11}{2}$. What is the relationship between the value of sin $M$ and the value of cos $M$?

A) The value of sin $M$ is greater than the value of cos $M$. B) The value of sin $M$ is less than the value of cos $M$. C) The value of sin $M$ is equal to the value of cos $M$. D) The relationship between the two values cannot be determined.

The correct answer is (A).

Let’s start by acknowledging that if you felt fairly clueless about this one, we know it is a power move to simply give this question no attention and maybe happily LAUGH at it. That said, since there is no penalty for guessing, we would click on an answer. But, let’s not click on (D) because….

Now, if you picked (A) but were wondering if what you were thinking was legitimate, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that knowing that the Toa part of SohCahToa means what it means, we could know that the opposite is greater here than the adjacent and this would domino to the $sin M$ being greater than $cos M$.

We’re certainly big fans of anyone who drew out a triangle here and determined the hypotenuse.

If things aren’t really vibing here, you could consider clicking the SohCahToa link up above and seeing how that helps; you could also consider the fact that you can likely score a score that allows you to retire from this process without this question.

the nsivwotw(not-so-important-vocab-word-of-the-week)

remonstrate

definition - make a forcefully reproachful protest

more importantly….isn’t it amazing when the “official” definition of the word is unclear to the point where many of us would maybe feel compelled to have to look up a word within the definition.😅 What’s more important to acknowledge here is that we know that it would have been exceptionally unlikely for this word to have anything to do with demonstrate.

*Bonus - Do you know why we would not connect remonstrate to demonstrate?

On some level, our brains want to connect “remonstrate” with “demonstrate” because they rhyme. When words rhyme, they likely end the same. We do not make connections based on how words end.

Submit Answer

Select an option above to enable

_____________________

Have a request for a future weekly miniQUIZ?

Let us know, and your request may pop up sooner than later!

#OnlyHardWork