Try your hand at a few college prep test questions

By Paul Takahashi

Thursday, March 21, 2013 | 2 a.m.

Know what to expect on the ACT or SAT?

Students who take the SAT or ACT often are urged to take sample tests in their preparation for the college entrance exams. Here are three sample questions, courtesy of the College Board, makers of the SAT, and the ACT:

• Sample SAT verbal question

  The jellyfish’s slow pulsing action propels it in a graceful, seemingly ------- drift, but its tentacles contain a poison potent enough to stun a swimming human.

  (A) sinister

  (B) rhythmic

  (C) murky

  (D) harmless

  (E) patient

  Answer: D

• Sample SAT math question

  If |a| - |b| = 5, which of the following could be true?

  (A) a = 0

  (B) b = 0

  (C) a = b

  (D) a = -b

  (E) a = 1

  Answer: B

• Sample ACT essay prompt

  Educators debate extending high school to five years because of increasing demands on students from employers and colleges to participate in extracurricular activities and community service in addition to having high grades. Some educators support extending high school to five years because they think students need more time to achieve all that is expected of them. Other educators do not support extending high school to five years because they think students would lose interest in school and attendance would drop in the fifth year. In your opinion, should high school be extended to five years?

  In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.