Free APCAT Cognitive Ability Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Every river in Alberta flows eastward. Alberta has a city called Edmonton. A lone tiny child is inside a boat that is floating past while a fisherman fishing along the north river bank in central Edmonton observes it. The child is wailing for assistance. The east part of Edmonton is home to all of the police rescue boats. As soon as the fisherman phones the police, one of them hops into a boat and goes to save the child.
- The police officer must pass the person fishing to reach the child
- The police officer must travel downstream to reach the child
- The police officer must travel east to reach the child
- The police officer must travel upstream to reach the child (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The police officer must travel upstream to reach the child
The river flows eastward, meaning the current moves east (downstream). The fisherman and the child are in central Edmonton, with police boats located in the east part of Edmonton, which is downstream from the child's current position. Since the child is floating eastward with the current, the police officer, who is already downstream, must travel upstream (west) to intercept the child. If the officer traveled downstream, the child would continue to float away from them.
Question 2: Out of the four words, which one is misspelled?
- Alcohol
- Silencer
- Pursuent (Correct answer)
- Vehicle
Correct answer: Pursuent
To identify the misspelled word, each option must be checked for correct spelling. 'Alcohol', 'Silencer', and 'Vehicle' are all spelled correctly. 'Pursuent' is misspelled; the correct spelling is 'Pursuant'. Therefore, 'Pursuent' is the word that does not follow standard English spelling rules.
Question 3: Which word or phrase, when written in capital letters, has the closest meaning? <br> <br> ACKNOWLEDGING
- to legalize
- to dig
- to measure
- to verify (Correct answer)
Correct answer: to verify
The word 'ACKNOWLEDGING' means to recognize, admit, or confirm the truth or existence of something. Among the given options, 'to verify' is the closest in meaning. To verify something is to confirm its truth or accuracy, which aligns with the act of acknowledging.
Question 4: In terms of grammar, which of the following is least correct?
- We returned to the station when we heard that the witness had arrived
- After roll call, I checked the crime bulletin and signed out a patrol vehicle
- The low priority reports were not completed until the end of the shift
- Due to many calls that night, the bank alarm was assigned to my partner and I (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Due to many calls that night, the bank alarm was assigned to my partner and I
The grammatically incorrect sentence is 'Due to many calls that night, the bank alarm was assigned to my partner and I'. The error lies in the use of the pronoun 'I'. When 'my partner and I' is the object of a preposition (in this case, 'to'), the objective pronoun 'me' should be used instead of 'I'. A simple test is to remove 'my partner and', which would leave the clearly incorrect phrase 'assigned to I' instead of 'assigned to me'.
Question 5: Option "After roll call, I checked the crime bulletin and signed out a patrol vehicle" and Option "Due to many calls that night, the bank alarm was assigned to my partner and I" may not need commas, according to some. Nevertheless, there isn't a glaring grammatical fault in their conclusion like there is in "My partner and I were assigned the bank alarm that night due to numerous calls." The word "I" is not being used correctly. "Me" is the appropriate answer. The most obvious way to see this mistake is to take off the words "my partner" from the sentence, which leaves us with the obviously incorrect phrase, "...the bank alarm was assigned to I."
- broadcast a description of the sports car to all police units
- pursue the sports car and issue a violation to the driver
- check the area further for the child's parents or caregivers
- get out of the vehicle and take control of the toddler (Correct answer)
Correct answer: get out of the vehicle and take control of the toddler
This question appears to be a scenario-based problem, likely asking for the most appropriate action in a given situation, despite the preceding text being an explanation for a previous question. Assuming the implied scenario involves finding an unattended toddler, the most immediate and critical action for a police officer is to ensure the child's safety and well-being. Therefore, 'get out of the vehicle and take control of the toddler' is the most appropriate first step to secure the child.
Question 6: The worth of the goods taken determines the charge that will be filed for shoplifting. A suspect steals three sets of earrings for $21 apiece, two watches for $95 apiece, and a $196 gold chain. How much money was taken in by the thieves?
- $449 (Correct answer)
- $443
- $445
- $447
Correct answer: $449
To find the total value of the stolen goods, calculate the value of each item type and then sum them. Three sets of earrings at $21 each total $63 (3 × $21). Two watches at $95 each total $190 (2 × $95). One gold chain costs $196. Adding these amounts together: $63 + $190 + $196 = $449. This is the total value of the items stolen.
Question 7: Of the four groupings of letters, three adhere to a certain rule or pattern. Which one doesn't?
- PONQ
- YXWZ
- HGFI
- TSRV (Correct answer)
Correct answer: TSRV
To find the grouping that doesn't follow the pattern, analyze the letter sequences. In options A (PONQ), B (YXWZ), and C (HGFI), the first two letters are consecutive and decreasing (P-O, Y-X, H-G), followed by a third letter that is also decreasing (O-N, X-W, G-F). The fourth letter then jumps forward by three positions from the third letter (N to Q, W to Z, F to I). Option D (TSRV) follows the decreasing pattern for the first three letters (T-S-R), but the fourth letter 'V' is four positions ahead of 'R' (R-S-T-U-V), breaking the consistent '+3' pattern seen in the other options.
Question 8: Which number comes after 2, 4, 6, 8, and why?
- 12
- 10 (Correct answer)
- 16
- 14
Correct answer: 10
This is an arithmetic sequence where each number increases by 2. The pattern is consistently adding 2 to the previous number (2+2=4, 4+2=6, 6+2=8). Therefore, the next number in the sequence is 8 + 2 = 10.
Question 9: The following number is 8 + 2 = 10, since the sequence grows by 2 each time.
- 220 km
- 150 km
- 180 km (Correct answer)
- 200 km
Correct answer: 180 km
The provided question text, 'The following number is 8 + 2 = 10, since the sequence grows by 2 each time,' describes a number sequence and does not align with the options, which are distances in kilometers. Without the actual question that led to '180 km' as the correct answer, it is impossible to provide a specific explanation. In cognitive ability tests, distance problems typically involve calculations based on speed, time, or multiple travel segments, which would yield a numerical result like 180 km.
Question 10: Out of the following terms, which one is unique?
- Snake (Correct answer)
- Elephant
- Giraffe
- Lion
Correct answer: Snake
The terms Elephant, Giraffe, and Lion are all classified as mammals. A snake, however, is a reptile, belonging to a different biological class. This distinction in biological classification makes the snake the unique term among the given options.
Question 11: In the scenario where 3x + 5 = 20, what is x?
- 10
- 5 (Correct answer)
- 7
- 8
Correct answer: 5
To solve the equation 3x + 5 = 20 for x, first subtract 5 from both sides, resulting in 3x = 15. Next, divide both sides of the equation by 3. This calculation yields x = 5.
Free APCAT Cognitive Ability Questions and Answers
Every river in Alberta flows eastward.
Alberta has a city called Edmonton.
A lone tiny child is inside a boat that is floating past while a fisherman fishing along the north river bank in central Edmonton observes it.
The child is wailing for assistance.
The east part of Edmonton is home to all of the police rescue boats.
As soon as the fisherman phones the police, one of them hops into a boat and goes to save the child.