WONDERLIC TEST PRACTICE 2026 – COGNITIVE ABILITY
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
1. A jacket originally priced at $80 is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price?
A. $55
B. $60
C. $65
D. $70
Rationale: A 25% discount on $80 is $20. Subtracting $20 from $80 gives a sale price of $60.
2. A machine produces 18 parts every 6 minutes. At the same rate, how many parts will it
produce in 20 minutes?
A. 54
B. 60
C. 72
D. 90
Rationale: The machine produces 3 parts per minute. In 20 minutes, 3 × 20 = 60, so the correct
answer is actually $60. Therefore, the correct option is B.
3. Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to “scarce”?
A. Limited
B. Rare
C. Insufficient
D. Abundant
Rationale: Scarce means available in small quantities. Abundant means available in large
quantities, making it the opposite.
4. A train travels 240 miles in 4 hours. At the same speed, how far will it travel in 7 hours?
A. 360 miles
B. 400 miles
C. 420 miles
D. 480 miles
Rationale: The train travels 60 miles per hour because 240 ÷ 4 = 60. In 7 hours, it travels 60 × 7
= 420 miles.
5. COMPLETE THE ANALOGY:
BOOK is to READING as FORK is to:
,A. Kitchen
B. Plate
C. Food
D. Eating
Rationale: A book is an object used for reading. Similarly, a fork is an object commonly used for
eating.
6. What number should come next?
3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ___
A. 21
B. 22
C. 23
D. 24
Rationale: Each number increases by 4. Adding 4 to 19 produces 23.
7. A worker earns $18 per hour and works 35 hours. What is the worker’s gross weekly
pay?
A. $540
B. $600
C. $630
D. $650
Rationale: Multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours: $18 × 35 = $630.
8. Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Copper
B. Iron
C. Silver
D. Plastic
Rationale: Copper, iron, and silver are metals. Plastic is not a metal.
9. If all M are N, and all N are P, which statement must be true?
A. All P are M
B. Some P are not N
C. All M are P
D. No M are P
, Rationale: If every M belongs to N and every N belongs to P, then every M must also belong to
P.
10. A box contains 5 red balls, 3 blue balls, and 2 green balls. How many balls are in the box?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 10
D. 12
Rationale: Add the three groups: 5 + 3 + 2 = 10 balls.
11. Which date occurs earliest?
A. March 14, 2025
B. January 21, 2026
C. December 9, 2024
D. February 3, 2025
Rationale: December 9, 2024 occurs before all of the dates listed from 2025 and 2026.
12. A retailer buys an item for $40 and sells it for $50. What is the percentage increase from
the purchase price to the selling price?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 25%
D. 30%
Rationale: The increase is $10. Dividing $10 by the original $40 gives 0.25, or 25%.
13. Which word is most nearly similar in meaning to “rapid”?
A. Careful
B. Swift
C. Quiet
D. Delayed
Rationale: Rapid means occurring quickly. Swift has the same general meaning.
14. If 4 notebooks cost $12, how much would 7 notebooks cost at the same price per
notebook?
A. $18
B. $20
QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
1. A jacket originally priced at $80 is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price?
A. $55
B. $60
C. $65
D. $70
Rationale: A 25% discount on $80 is $20. Subtracting $20 from $80 gives a sale price of $60.
2. A machine produces 18 parts every 6 minutes. At the same rate, how many parts will it
produce in 20 minutes?
A. 54
B. 60
C. 72
D. 90
Rationale: The machine produces 3 parts per minute. In 20 minutes, 3 × 20 = 60, so the correct
answer is actually $60. Therefore, the correct option is B.
3. Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to “scarce”?
A. Limited
B. Rare
C. Insufficient
D. Abundant
Rationale: Scarce means available in small quantities. Abundant means available in large
quantities, making it the opposite.
4. A train travels 240 miles in 4 hours. At the same speed, how far will it travel in 7 hours?
A. 360 miles
B. 400 miles
C. 420 miles
D. 480 miles
Rationale: The train travels 60 miles per hour because 240 ÷ 4 = 60. In 7 hours, it travels 60 × 7
= 420 miles.
5. COMPLETE THE ANALOGY:
BOOK is to READING as FORK is to:
,A. Kitchen
B. Plate
C. Food
D. Eating
Rationale: A book is an object used for reading. Similarly, a fork is an object commonly used for
eating.
6. What number should come next?
3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ___
A. 21
B. 22
C. 23
D. 24
Rationale: Each number increases by 4. Adding 4 to 19 produces 23.
7. A worker earns $18 per hour and works 35 hours. What is the worker’s gross weekly
pay?
A. $540
B. $600
C. $630
D. $650
Rationale: Multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours: $18 × 35 = $630.
8. Which word does NOT belong with the others?
A. Copper
B. Iron
C. Silver
D. Plastic
Rationale: Copper, iron, and silver are metals. Plastic is not a metal.
9. If all M are N, and all N are P, which statement must be true?
A. All P are M
B. Some P are not N
C. All M are P
D. No M are P
, Rationale: If every M belongs to N and every N belongs to P, then every M must also belong to
P.
10. A box contains 5 red balls, 3 blue balls, and 2 green balls. How many balls are in the box?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 10
D. 12
Rationale: Add the three groups: 5 + 3 + 2 = 10 balls.
11. Which date occurs earliest?
A. March 14, 2025
B. January 21, 2026
C. December 9, 2024
D. February 3, 2025
Rationale: December 9, 2024 occurs before all of the dates listed from 2025 and 2026.
12. A retailer buys an item for $40 and sells it for $50. What is the percentage increase from
the purchase price to the selling price?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 25%
D. 30%
Rationale: The increase is $10. Dividing $10 by the original $40 gives 0.25, or 25%.
13. Which word is most nearly similar in meaning to “rapid”?
A. Careful
B. Swift
C. Quiet
D. Delayed
Rationale: Rapid means occurring quickly. Swift has the same general meaning.
14. If 4 notebooks cost $12, how much would 7 notebooks cost at the same price per
notebook?
A. $18
B. $20
