Letts Verbal reasoning Paper A question 78

[Tinkers]

This is a series question
66, 6, 70, 12, 78, 24, 90, ??

I thought this was an easy question as did DD but according to the answers we have it wrong.
So folks what do you think the answer should be? (and just as important, why?)

[Sally-Anne]

It is the second set of numbers that need to be solved:

66, 6, 70, 12, 78, 24, 90, ??

The answer options are: 94 45 35 55 42

Therefore it is: +6, +12, +18 = 42

Once you look at the answers it is actually quite easy, because you know instinctively that the answer must be an even number, and 94 is too big.

[Tinkers]

Thanks
We both thought it could be 48
6 doubled to 12
12 doubled to 24
24 doubled to 48

Because DD will be doing a standard format I didn't give her the MC answer sheet so she couldn't see the answers on there.

The letts answer sheet gives the answers to both Standard and MC so it looks to me as though the questions are the same but the lay out would be a little different. The MC answers are not on the question sheet themselves but on the answer booklet so she didn't see the answers.

Obviously in a MC test with these answers it would be more obvious but I wouldn't expect an ambiguous question like that on a standard format test.

[patricia]

66, 6, 70, 12, 78, 24, 90, ??

There are 2 possible answers to the sequence 6, 12, 24

1] adding 6 then 12 then 18

2] double 6 double 12 double 24

One of the main techniques for multiple choice is to teach the child how to manipulate the answer sheet to their advantage, therefore 42 is the only answer.

This question should never be given in standard format.

Patricia

[Tinkers]

I guess the lesson here is not to try and use MC papers as standard format blindly.
I bought the Letts MC ones in error and was going to chuck them, but glanced at them to see if I could make uses of the questions in some other form. When I noticed the answers weren't on the paper itself I decided to try her with one anyway, so I can keep the GL ones I have for nearer the time.

Having explained how the 42 answer is arrived at she understands and has learnt something form it. She is normally very good at these types.

What could concern others is that this question MAY be the same in the standard format paper. Without looking at it I wouldn't know.

[Sally-Anne]

This question should never be given in standard format.

Patricia is absolutely correct, but Letts do offer these papers up as also being suitable for use in Standard format (in the Notes and Answers for Parents booklet), and the answer given is ... 42.

The answer to the ultimate question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, of course.

[patricia]

I rather liked the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy...

Patricia

[Tinkers]

me too

[Guest55]

Me too - I love being 42

In binary 42 is 101010 which is very neat ...