Admission Tests Admission Tests Certifications PCAT Questions & Answers

• Question 61:

  Which of the following is the same as log 85?

  A. log 35 + log 50

  B. ln 1/85

  C. log 255 - log 3

  D. ln 85

  Correct Answer: C

  Recall the rules for condensing and expanding logarithms:

  log a + log b = log (ab)

  and

  log a - log b = log (a/b).

  Answer choice [log 255 - log 3] can be rewritten as: log (255/3) which is equal to log 85.

• Question 62:

  What is the value of:

  i2 × i−3

  A. 1

  B. -i

  C. 1/i

  D. -1

  Correct Answer: C

• Question 63:

  If (x) = 3x and g(x) = 2x2, what is g((-2))?

  A. 24

  B. -72

  C. 48

  D. 72

  Correct Answer: D

  First evaluate ƒ(−2): 3(−2) = −6

  Next evaluate g(−6): 2(−6)2 = 2 × 36 = 72

• Question 64:

  Jim has 10 apples and he gives 7 to Bill. Now Bill has 3 times as many apples as Jim had. How many apples did Bill have to begin with?

  A. 20

  B. 17

  C. 23

  D. 2

  Correct Answer: C

  Rephrase the question into an algebraic expression: 3 times Jim's original amount is 3 ?10 = 30. This came after Jim gave 7 to Bill, so reduce this number by 7 to find Bill's original amount: 30 - 7 = 23.

• Question 65:

  PLASTICS

  Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

  Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

  Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

  What particular risk does the author say the Great Pacific Garbage Patch poses to marine animals?

  A. The animals' habitat is poisoned by phthalates.

  B. It affects yearly temperature averages.

  C. Animals accidentally ingest the plastics and die.

  D. Seabirds cannot get to the fish below the garbage.

  Correct Answer: C

• Question 66:

  PLASTICS

  Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

  Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

  Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

  As used in this passage, the word "mimic" most nearly means:

  A. Intensify

  B. Reduce

  C. Cancerous

  D. Resemble

  Correct Answer: D

• Question 67:

  PLASTICS

  Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

  Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

  Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

  Which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea of this passage?

  A. The benefits of plastics outweigh their risks.

  B. Plastics decompose very slowly.

  C. Plastics pose a significant threat to humans and other living creatures.

  D. Phthalates should not be used in baby bottles.

  Correct Answer: C

• Question 68:

  PLASTICS

  Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

  Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

  Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

  Which of the following statements can be inferred from paragraph two?

  A. No one has determined why sea mammals and seabirds are dying at an alarming rate.

  B. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not a significant threat to humans.

  C. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is too large to be cleaned up by one country.

  D. Ocean currents carry the plastic to the middle of the ocean.

  Correct Answer: D

• Question 69:

  PLASTICS

  Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

  Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

  Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

  As used in this passage, the word "chief" most nearly means:

  A. Least likely

  B. Main

  C. Benefit

  D. Leader of a Native American tribe

  Correct Answer: B

• Question 70:

  PLASTICS

  Plastics have long been considered one of the great conveniences of the modern era, but evidence is mounting to indicate that these conveniences have come at an incredible cost. The chief benefit of plastics is their durability, but this benefit turns out to be the same reason plastic has become a significant problem: It takes 200 to 400 years to decompose. All of this plastic has accumulated into a catastrophic mess and has also caused disease in humans.

  Between Hawaii and Japan, a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas slowly swirls with the currents of the Pacific Ocean. This area has come to be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and its effects on the ecology of the ocean are unimaginable. According to United Nations researchers, a hundred thousand sea mammals and a million seabirds die each year. They are found with cigarette lighters, syringes, and other plastics that they mistake for food in their stomachs.

  Evidence also indicates that the plastic receptacles that people store their food in poses health risks. For instance, phthalates have been shown to have detrimental effects on the reproductive system, yet they are found in many plastic products including baby bottles and water bottles. They have also been linked to various forms of cancer. Additionally, a chemical called bisphenol A that is found in many plastics can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen, which can also affect the reproductive system.

  Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in writing this passage?

  A. To persuade readers to accept the author's point of view.

  B. To explain the benefits of plastic.

  C. To explain the risks of plastic bottles.

  D. To inform the reader of the effects of phthalates in plastics.

  Correct Answer: A