ASVAB for Dummies (ISBN - 0470106719)

410 Pages·2021·8.01 MB·English

by Rod Powers

with Jennifer Lawler

ASVAB

FOR

DUMmIES

‰

2ND
EDITION

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by Rod Powers

with Jennifer Lawler

ASVAB

FOR

DUMmIES

‰

2ND
EDITION

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ASVAB For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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About the Authors

Rod Powers joined the United States Air Force in 1975 intending to become a spy. He was
devastated to learn that he should’ve joined the CIA instead because the military doesn’t
have that particular enlisted job. Regardless, he fell in love with the military and made it
both a passion and a career, retiring with 23 years of service. Rod spent 11 of those years as
a first sergeant, helping to solve the problems of the enlisted corps.

Since his retirement from the military in 1998, Rod has become a world renowned military
careers expert. Through his highly popular U.S. Military Information Web site on About.com
(http://usmilitary.about.com), Rod has advised thousands of troops about all aspects
of the U.S. Armed Forces career information.

Rod is the proud father of twin girls, both of whom enjoy successful careers in the United
State Air Force. Rod currently resides in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he attempts to prove
that there’s no such thing as too much sunshine. Even today, Powers tries to run his life
according to long-lived military ideals and standards, but he gets a bit confused about why
nobody will obey his orders anymore.

Jennifer Lawler has published nearly 20 books on topics ranging from country music to kick-
boxing. One of her books, Martial Arts For Dummies, was published by Wiley. A former college
English teacher, she taught test-prep skills to students before leaving the teaching profession to
become a full-time writer — not that teaching made her tear her hair out or anything.

Lawler never made it to boot camp, but she can do more pushups than a lot of people her
age. She teaches martial arts to children with special needs and lives with her daughter and
two rambunctious dogs.

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Dedication

To Jeanie and Chrissy — because everything is for you. Always.

— Rod Powers

Authors’ Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank SFC Thomas Johnson, test control officer/guidance counselor for
the Indiana Army National Guard, for reviewing the final manuscript for technical accuracy.
We would also like to thank Brian “Chip” Anderson, math teacher extraordinaire, for editing
the math chapters and reminding us how to solve for x.

Special thanks goes out to Tracy Boggier, our Acquisitions Editor; Kristin DeMint, our won-
derful Project Editor; and our top-notch Copy Editor, Carrie Burchfield, who dotted our i’s
and crossed our t’s.

Finally, we send more special thanks to the recruiting commands of the United States Army,
Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard for providing invaluable resource information.

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Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at
www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Kristin DeMint

(Previous Edition: Marcia L. Johnson)

Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier

Copy Editor: Carrie A. Burchfield

(Previous Edition: Mike Baker)

Technical Editor: SFC Thomas Johnson, Indiana Army

National Guard

Senior Editorial Manager: Jennifer Ehrlich

Editorial Assistants: Erin Calligan Mooney, Joe Niesen,

Leeann Harney

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Lynsey Osborn

Layout and Graphics: Carrie A. Foster, Denny Hager,

Joyce Haughey, Stephanie D. Jumper

Anniversary Logo Design: Richard Pacifico

Proofreaders: Laura Albert, Joanne Keaton

Indexer: Valerie Haynes Perry

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

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Contents at a Glance

Introduction.................................................................................1

Part I: Forewarned Is Forearmed: Understanding the ASVAB ...........5

Chapter 1: The ASVAB in a Nutshell...........................................................................................................7
Chapter 2: So, You Want to be a Tank Driver? What It Takes to Get Your Dream Job .......................17
Chapter 3: Test-Taking and Study Techniques .......................................................................................23

Part II: Words to Live By: Communication Skills...........................31

Chapter 4: Word Knowledge .....................................................................................................................33
Chapter 5: Paragraph Comprehension....................................................................................................43
Chapter 6: All’s Well That Tests Well: Communication Practice Questions........................................55

Part III: All’s Fair in Math and War: Arithmetic Skills ..................63

Chapter 7: Arithmetic Reasoning .............................................................................................................65
Chapter 8: Mathematics Knowledge........................................................................................................81
Chapter 9: Brother, Can You Spare an Equation? Arithmetic Practice Questions .............................99
Part IV: The Whole Ball of Facts: Technical Skills.......................107

Chapter 10: General Science ...................................................................................................................109
Chapter 11: Auto & Shop Information ...................................................................................................127
Chapter 12: Mechanical Comprehension ..............................................................................................141
Chapter 13: Electronics Information......................................................................................................157
Chapter 14: Assembling Objects ............................................................................................................169
Chapter 15: Facing the Facts: Technical Skills Practice Questions....................................................175
Part V: Practice ASVAB Exams..................................................185

Chapter 16: Practice Exam 1...................................................................................................................189
Chapter 17: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations...................................................................219
Chapter 18: Practice Exam 2...................................................................................................................231
Chapter 19: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations...................................................................261
Chapter 20: Practice Exam 3...................................................................................................................273
Chapter 21: Practice Exam 3: Answers and Explanations...................................................................305
Chapter 22: Practice AFQT Exam ...........................................................................................................319
Chapter 23: Practice AFQT Exam: Answers and Explanations...........................................................335
Part VI: The Part of Tens...........................................................341

Chapter 24: Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Fail the ASVAB...............................................................................343
Chapter 25: Ten Easy Ways to Improve Your ASVAB Score.................................................................347
Appendix: Matching ASVAB Scores to Military Jobs....................351

Index.......................................................................................371

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