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Home > About USPS & News > Forms & Publications > Postal Periodicals and Publications > Publications > Publication 60-E - Test 460 Orientation Guide for Rural Carrier Associate Jobs > Test 460 for Rural Carrier Associate Jobs > Section C: Number Series
Section C of test 460 consists of 24 questions to be completed in 20 minutes.
Marking in your test book is allowed for this section of the test. In the sample
exercises that follow, you are to identify the next 2 missing numbers in an
incomplete number series.
Section C of test 460 is scored based on the number of questions that you
answer correctly. There is no penalty for guessing, so plan to answer every
question.
As you work through the sample questions, you may want to select a few
numbers within the series and focus on them. For example, look at the first,
third, and fifth numbers. Do you recognize a pattern? If not, try the second,
fourth, and so on.
• Keep trying different combinations until you are able to identify a
pattern. Certain patterns may be identified more easily than other
patterns. There are several possible number patterns in Section C. To
do your best, stay relaxed and focused. If you don't recognize the
pattern quickly, you might try sounding it out silently (to yourself) and/or
mark the changes directly on your test guide. Look for repeated
numbers and alternating series. Most importantly, do not get frustrated.
• Consider completing the easiest questions first. Once easier questions
are completed, consider going back to answer the more difficult ones.
• Remember that only right answers count. It is to your advantage to
attempt every question.
Note: Do not spend too much time on any one question, and make sure
to mark your answers in the correct spaces on your answer sheet.

Step 1: Have the sample answer sheet (Appendix B) before you.
Step 2: Complete Exercise Set 4: Number Series.
Your task is to:
• Determine the relationships among a series of numbers. Some of the
number patterns will be obvious, while others will require more thought.
Some patterns will be easy to identify.
• Remember that you must recognize various types of patterns. For this
part of the test, you are allowed to mark changes directly in the actual
test book as well as in the following sample exercises.
• To assist you in determining the differences between the number
patterns, try marking the pattern changes near the actual numbers
(either above or next to the numbers).
• Try the following exercise sets to determine which numbers should
follow in the series. Darken A, B, C, D, or E.
Step 3: Check answers to Exercise Set 4.
When you are finished, check your answers against those in Appendix A and
read the explanations.
Exercise Set 4: Number Series
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1.
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1 2 3 1 2 3 1
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(A) 1 2
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(B) 2 3
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(C) 3 4
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(D) 4 5
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(E) 0 1
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2.
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48 52 56 60 64
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(A) 66 68
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(B) 70 74
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(C) 68 72
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(D) 68 70
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(E) 66 70
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3.
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15 14 13 12 11 10 9
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(A) 8 10
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(B) 8 9
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(C) 9 8
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(D) 10 11
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(E) 8 7
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4.
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10 20 30 10 20 30 10
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(A) 20 30
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(B) 10 20
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(C) 30 20
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(D) 20 10
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(E) 30 10
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5.
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7 6 7 6 7 6 7
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(A) 7 6
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(B) 6 7
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(C) 8 9
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(D) 7 8
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(E) 8 7
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Step 4: Complete Exercise 5: Number Series.
Complete the exercise set that follows. You may be able to answer some of
these questions right away, while others may require more thought. Refer, as
necessary, to Step 2.
Step 5: Check answers to Exercise 5.
When you are finished, check your answers against those in Appendix A and
read the explanations.
Exercise Set 5: Number Series
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1.
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2 2 3 3 4 4 5
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(A) 5 6
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(B) 6 7
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(C) 6 6
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(D) 2 6
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(E) 7 7
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2.
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41 43 45 47 49 51 53
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(A) 54 56
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(B) 55 56
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(C) 56 58
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(D) 55 57
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(E) 56 57
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3.
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4 6 5 6 6 6 7
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(A) 8 6
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(B) 6 8
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(C) 8 9
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(D) 8 7
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(E) 7 7
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4.
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66 56 10 46 36 10 26
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(A) 10 16
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(B) 16 6
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(C) 10 6
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(D) 36 10
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(E) 16 10
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5.
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2 2 3 3 2 3 4 2
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(A) 2 3
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(B) 5 2
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(C) 3 5
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(D) 2 5
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(E) 3 3
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Step 6: Complete Exercise 6: Number Series.
Step 7: Check answers to Exercise Set 6.
When you have finished, check your answers against those in Appendix A
and read explanations.
Exercise Set 6: Number Series
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1.
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1 2 4 7 11 16 22
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(A) 23 25
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(B) 24 28
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(C) 29 37
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(D) 30 39
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(E) 25 32
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2.
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45 50 47 52 49 54 51
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(A) 56 53
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(B) 55 52
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(C) 56 58
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(D) 54 49
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(E) 56 61
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3.
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2 4 8 16 32 64
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(A) 84 122
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(B) 82 104
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(C) 102 208
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(D) 128 256
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(E) 124 248
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4.
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16 8 24 12 36 18
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(A) 48 24
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(B) 54 27
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(C) 9 27
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(D) 27 54
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(E) 32 64
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5.
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26 23 29 25 31 26 32
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(A) 38 32
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(B) 26 34
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(C) 39 33
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(D) 37 42
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(E) 26 32
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Step 8: Complete Exercise Set 7: Number Series.
Step 9: Check answers to Exercise Set 7.
When you have finished, check your answers against those in Appendix A
and read explanations.
Exercise Set 7: Number Series
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1.
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24 18 22 16 20 14 18
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(A) 12 16
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(B) 20 24
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(C) 24 20
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(D) 22 28
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(E) 14 20
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2.
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13 13 13 16 16 16 19 19
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(A) 19 21
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(B) 19 22
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(C) 19 19
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(D) 21 22
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(E) 16 19
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3.
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3 0 0 3 1 3 3 2 6
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(A) 3 3
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(B) 3 4
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(C) 2 3
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(D) 6 8
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(E) 6 9
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4.
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48 48 38 37 37 27 26
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(A) 16 26
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(B) 26 15
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(C) 16 15
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(D) 26 16
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(E) 26 17
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5.
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21 34 47 60 73 86
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(A) 94 120
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(B) 99 112
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(C) 97 118
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(D) 95 113
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(E) 92 102
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6.
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16 8 24 12 36 18 54
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(A) 48 72
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(B) 72 96
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(C) 66 72
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(D) 108 48
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(E) 27 81
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7.
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92 86 20 81 77 20 74 72
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(A) 70 68
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(B) 20 70
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(C) 20 71
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(D) 68 66
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(E) 68 20
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8.
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41 12 40 11 39 10 38 9
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(A) 10 37
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(B) 8 37
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(C) 12 37
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(D) 37 8
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(E) 37 12
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9.
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8 7 6 9 7 6 10 7 6 11
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(A) 12 10
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(B) 12 6
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(C) 10 9
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(D) 12 7
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(E) 7 6
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10.
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14 16 18 15 17 19 16
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(A) 18 20
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(B) 17 19
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(C) 18 17
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(D) 15 18
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(E) 17 20
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11.
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31 30 30 29 29 29 28
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(A) 28 27
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(B) 28 28
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(C) 27 27
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(D) 27 26
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(E) 28 29
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12.
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96 48 48 24 24 12 12
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(A) 12 8
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(B) 6 3
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(C) 6 6
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(D) 12 6
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(E) 12 10
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13.
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2 2 4 6 8 18 16
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(A) 54 48
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(B) 36 64
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(C) 24 32
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(D) 54 32
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(E) 28 32
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14.
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34 33 31 28 27 25 22
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(A) 21 19
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(B) 21 20
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(C) 20 18
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(D) 20 19
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(E) 19 18
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15.
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86 27 41 86 27 41 86
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(A) 41 27
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(B) 86 41
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(C) 41 86
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(D) 86 27
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(E) 27 41
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16.
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4 0 4 4 4 8 4 12 4
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(A) 8 12
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(B) 16 12
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(C) 8 16
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(D) 16 8
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(E) 16 4
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17.
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100 81 64 49 36 25 16
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(A) 8 4
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(B) 9 4
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(C) 8 2
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(D) 9 3
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(E) 9 5
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18.
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0 22 5 0 23 6 0 24 7
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(A) 25 8
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(B) 0 8
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(C) 24 8
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(D) 0 25
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(E) 25 0
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19.
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25 25 25 27 27 27 29
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(A) 29 31
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(B) 31 33
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(C) 29 29
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(D) 31 31
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(E) 30 31
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20.
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28 31 24 27 20 23 16
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(A) 13 11
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(B) 19 21
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(C) 19 12
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(D) 23 20
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(E) 27 30
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