Introduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 2 Beyond the Book 2 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started with the ASVAB 5 Chapter 1: Putting the ASVAB under a Microscope 7 Knowing Which Version You''re Taking 7 Mapping Out the ASVAB Subtests 8 Deciphering ASVAB Scores 9 Do-Over: Retaking the ASVAB 14 Chapter 2: Knowing What it Takes to Get Your Dream Job 17 Eyeing How ASVAB Scores Determine Military Training Programs and Jobs 18 Understanding How Each Branch Computes Line Scores 18 Chapter 3: Getting Acquainted with Test-Taking and Study Techniques 23 Taking the Test: Computerized or Paper? 23 Tackling Multiple-Choice Questions 26 When You Don''t Know an Answer: Guessing Smart 27 Studying and Practicing for the ASVAB 28 Making Last-Minute Preparations: 24 Hours and Counting 29 Part 2: Words to Live By: Communication Skills 31 Chapter 4: Word Knowledge 33 Grasping the Importance of Word Knowledge 33 Checking Out the Word Knowledge Question Format 34 Building Words from Scratch: Strategies to Help You Decipher Word Meanings 35 Yin and Yang: Understanding Synonyms and Antonyms 40 ASVAB Word Knowledge Strategy: Finding the Answer When You Just Don''t Know 40 You are What You Speak: Improving Your Vocabulary, Improving Yourself 46 Word Knowledge Practice Questions 49 Answers and Explanations 51 Chapter 5: Paragraph Comprehension 53 Understanding the Importance of Paragraph Comprehension for Military Jobs 53 Eyeing the Physique of the Paragraph Comprehension Subtest 54 Trying the Four Flavors of Comprehension Questions 54 Do You Get My Point? Breaking down Paragraphs 57 Analyzing What You''ve Read: Guessing at What the Writer Really Means 59 Faster than a Speeding Turtle: Tips for Slow Readers 60 Test-Taking Tips for Reading and Gleaning 62 Paragraph Comprehension Practice Questions 63 Answers and Explanations 67 Part 3: Making The Most of Math: Arithmetic Skills 69 Chapter 6: Mathematics Knowledge and Operations 71 Just When You Thought You Were Done with Vocab: Math Terminology 72 Operations: What You Do to Numbers 73 Working on Both Sides of the Line: Fractions 76 A Powerful Shorthand: Writing in Scientific Notation 84 Getting to the Root of the Problem 84 Test-Taking Techniques for Your Mathematical Journey 86 Math Knowledge and Operations Practice Questions 89 Answers and Explanations 91 Chapter 7: Algebra 93 Coming to Terms with Basic Algebra Lingo 93 Solving for x 94 When All Things are Equal: Keeping an Algebra Equation Balanced 95 Tackling Two-Variable Equations 98 Explaining Exponents in Algebra 99 A Step Back: Factoring Algebra Expressions to Find Original Numbers 99 Making Alphabet Soup: Solving Quadratic Equations 100 All Math isn''t Created Equal: Solving Inequalities 101 Algebra Practice Questions 103 Answers and Explanations 105 Chapter 8: Geometry 111 Outlining Angles 112 Pointing Out Triangle Types 114 Back to Square One: Quadrilaterals 115 Going around in Circles 116 Fillin'' it Up: Calculating Volume 118 Mapping Out Coordinates 123 Geometry Practice Questions 125 Answers and Explanations 128 Chapter 9: Arithmetic Reasoning: Math Word Problems 131 Tackling the Real World of Word Problems 132 The Guessing Game: Putting Reason in Your Guessing Strategy 135 Arithmetic Reasoning (Math Word Problems) Practice Questions 137 Answers and Explanations 140 Part 4: Examining General Science Under a Microscope 145 Chapter 10: General Science and Life Science 147 There''s a Scientific Method to the Madness 148 Understanding Forms of Measurement 149 Uncovering Biology, from Big to Small 150 Perusing the Human Body Systems 154 Digging through Plant Physiology 160 Thinking Small: A Look at Cells 162 Swimming in the Gene Pool: Genetics 164 Using Common Sense to Hypothesize about Answers 165 General and Life Science Practice Questions 166 Answers and Explanations 167 Chapter 11: Physical Sciences 169 Chemistry: Not Blowing Up the Lab 169 Physics: it Matters (and It''s Matter) 176 Physical Science Practice Questions 185 Answers and Explanations 187 Chapter 12: Earth and Space Sciences 189 Staying Down to Earth with Geology and Meteorology 189 Paleontology: Can You Dig It? 197 Where Few Have Gone Before: Astronomy 199 Getting Back to Your Latin Roots to Improve Your Test Score 204 Earth and Space Science Practice Questions 205 Answers and Explanations 207 Part 5: The Whole Ball of Facts: Technical Skills 209 Chapter 13: Auto & Shop Information 211 Checking under the Hood 211 Picking Up the Tools of the Trade 216 Sticking Materials Together with Fasteners 222 Building a Better Score 223 Auto & Shop Information Practice Questions 225 Answers and Explanations 227 Chapter 14: Mechanical Comprehension 229 Understanding the Forces of the Universe 230 You Call That Work?! 234 Relying on Machines to Help You Work 235 Working Your Way to a Better Test Score 243 Mechanical Comprehension Practice Questions 245 Answers and Explanations 248 Chapter 15: Electronics Information 251 Uncovering the Secrets of Electricity 251 Switching Things Up with Alternating and Direct Current 257 Picture It: Decoding Electrical Circuit Codes 259 Eyeing Some Electronic Information Test Tips 262 Electronics Information Practice Questions 264 Answers and Explanations 266 Chapter 16: Assembling Objects 269 Getting the Picture about Assembling Objects 269 Two Types of Questions for the Price of One 270 Tips for the Assembling Objects Subtest 273 Assembling Objects Practice Questions 275 Answers and Explanations 277 Part 6: Practice ASVAB Exams 279 Chapter 17: Practice Exam 1 281 Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 1 283 Subtest 1: General Science 285 Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 287 Subtest 3: Word Knowledge 291 Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension 294 Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge 297 Subtest 6: Electronics Information 300 Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information 302 Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension 305 Subtest 9: Assembling Objects 310 Chapter 18: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations 313 Subtest 1: General Science Answers 313 Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 315 Subtest 3: Word Knowledge Answers 318 Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 320 Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 321 Subtest 6: Electronics Information Answers 324 Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information Answers 326 Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension Answers 327 Subtest 9: Assembling Objects Answers 329 Chapter 19: Practice Exam 2 333 Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 2 335 Subtest 1: General Science 337 Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 339 Subtest 3: Word Knowledge 343 Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension 346 Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge 349 Subtest 6: Electronics Information 352 Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information 354 Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension 357 Subtest 9: Assembling Objects 362 Chapter 20: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations 365 Subtest 1: General Science Answers 365 Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 367 Subtest 3: Word Knowledge Answers 369 Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 371 Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 372 Subtest 6: Electronics Information Answers 375 Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information Answers 376 Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension Answers 378 Subtest 9: Assembling Objects Answers 379 Chapter 21: Practice Exam 3 383 Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 3 385 Subtest 1: General Science 387 Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 390 Subtest 3: Word Knowledge 393 Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension 396 Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge 399 Subtest 6: Electronics Information 402 Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information 404 Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension 407 Subtest 9: Assembling Objects 412 Chapter 22: Practice Exam 3: Answers and Explanations 415 Subtest 1: General Science Answers 415 Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 417 Subtest 3: Word Knowledge Answers 421 Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 422 Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 424 Subtest 6: Electronics Information Answers 426 Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information Answers 428 Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension Answers 429 Subtest 9: Assembling Objects Answers 431 Chapter 23: AFQT Practice Exam 1 435 Answer Sheet for AFQT Practice Exam 1 437 Subtest 1: Arithmetic Reasoning 439<.