Question

instructions during the test

• no phones or personal bluetooth devices are allowed during the test
• if you are caught cheating and using your phone, your paper will be taken, and you will automatically receive a zero
• no notes or outside materials are allowed during the test
• voice level zero - no talking
• stay on task and no distractions

part 1: multiple choice questions. instructions:

1. read each question carefully before selecting your answer.
2. each question has four answer choices (a, b, c, d). only one answer is correct for each question.
3. write the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.
4. do not leave any question blank—if you are unsure, make your best guess.
5. manage your time wisely. erase your answers if you finish early.
6. when finished, check that you have answered all questions before submitting.

detective fiction / critical - thinking section
scenario (fictional): a detective story excerpt — two suspects, a locked - room murder case, and conflicting testimonies.
detective marlow entered the dim study. the victim, ms. langford, lay motionless at her desk, a single bullet through her heart. the window was locked from the inside; no sign of forced entry.
suspect a, mr. reynolds, said, “i came in, we argued, i left. when i came back, she was already dead.”
suspect b, ms. gray, claimed, “i was downstairs when i heard a muffled bang. by the time i got upstairs, she was slumped over. i touched the body, but i didn’t see anyone leave.”
on ms. langford’s desk was a half - burnt letter reading “... if you betray me, i swear i will expose everything.” there were also two cups of tea—one still steaming—and the window sill showed traces of recent rain, but no footprints on the inside floor.
questions 1 - 8 refer to the scenario.

1. which piece of evidence most strongly suggests that someone was in the room after the window was closed?

a. the locked window
b. the half - burnt letter
c. the steaming cup of tea
d. the rain traces on the window sill

1. if the cup of tea was still steaming, what might that suggest about the timing of the murder?

a. the murder happened long ago
b. the tea was poured after the murder
c. the tea was poured just before the detective arrived
d. the tea was never actually hot

Explanation:

Question 1

To determine which evidence suggests someone was in the room after the window was closed, we analyze each option:

• Option A (locked window) shows the window was closed from inside but doesn't prove someone stayed after.
• Option B (half - burnt letter) could have been burned before the window closed.
• Option C (steaming cup of tea): If the window was closed and the tea is still steaming, it implies the tea was made (or the person was present) after the window was locked (closed), as steam would dissipate over time. So this suggests someone was in the room after the window was closed.
• Option D (rain traces on window sill) shows recent rain but not someone in the room after the window closed.

If the cup of tea is still steaming, we analyze the options:

• Option A: If the murder happened long ago, the tea would have cooled, so A is wrong.
• Option B: If the tea was poured after the murder, the murderer (or someone) would have been in the room after the murder to pour the tea, and since it's still steaming, it was poured recently. This is a valid implication.
• Option C: The detective's arrival time isn't related to when the tea was poured based on the steaming alone.
• Option D: A steaming cup implies the tea was hot, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. The steaming cup of tea

Question 2