MA Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

Every question below comes from the Massachusetts question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. What does the ban on parking in a traffic lane next to a row of parked vehicles describe?

   1. Double parking in a live traffic lane
   2. Angle parking at a marked curb
   3. Parking overnight in a rest area
   4. Backing into a legal curb space
   Show answer

   Double parking in a live traffic lane. Parking in a traffic lane next to a row of parked vehicles is double parking. The manual lists it among prohibited parking locations. Angle parking uses a marked curb position rather than a live lane. Rest area overnight rules are not what this list item describes. A legal curb space keeps the vehicle out of the traffic lane. The cited passage states the point directly: In a traffic lane next to a row of parked vehicles (“double parked”)

   Study this in the handbook: Parking rules and hills

2. 2. What should you always wear when driving on bright, sunny days?

   1. A brimmed hat instead of eye protection
   2. No eyewear, to keep vision natural
   3. Tinted windows closed without sunglasses
   4. Sunglasses
   Show answer

   Sunglasses. On bright, sunny days, you should always wear sunglasses. The manual names sunglasses, rather than a hat or tinted windows, as the eyewear to use in these conditions. Tinted windows do not replace the sunglasses that should always be worn on bright, sunny days. The manual recommends sunglasses on bright, sunny days, not a hat as a substitute. The manual says you should always wear sunglasses on bright, sunny days.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and safe following distance

3. 3. Which headlights should you use in fog in Massachusetts, and why?

   1. Low beam headlights, to reduce glare
   2. High beams, to see farther through fog
   3. Parking lights only
   4. No lights, to avoid reflection
   Show answer

   Low beam headlights, to reduce glare. In fog, use your low beam headlights to reduce glare. High beams are not the fog choice, because the stated purpose in fog is reducing glare rather than reaching farther. Parking lights only are not named for fog driving, and driving with no lights leaves the low beam instruction unmet. The adjustment is to select the low beams when fog appears, slow the vehicle, and let road edge markings guide progress when pavement or posts disappear from view. That pairing of low beam headlights with reduced speed matches the fog rule as stated for Massachusetts drivers.

   Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, headlights, night and bad weather

4. 4. You miss your exit while traveling through a rotary. What should you do?

   1. Back up to the exit you missed
   2. Stop in the rotary until you can change lanes
   3. Check traffic and go around again when safe, positioning for the exit
   4. Turn directly across other lanes to reach the missed exit
   Show answer

   Check traffic and go around again when safe, positioning for the exit. Missing a rotary exit is a reason to check surrounding traffic and make another circuit when safe. Use that circuit to position the vehicle for the proper exit. The handbook specifically says not to stop in the rotary. Backing up or cutting directly across other lanes is not the described recovery. Stay aware of traffic on both sides and wait for a safe opportunity to move into the needed position.

   Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

5. 5. A road test applicant fails the test. What does the $35 road test fee mean for booking another attempt?

   1. The failed attempt is free, so booking again costs nothing
   2. The $35 fee still applies for the failed test and must be paid before a new test is booked
   3. Half the fee carries forward toward the next booking
   4. A waiver applies whenever a sponsor was present
   Show answer

   The $35 fee still applies for the failed test and must be paid before a new test is booked. The $35 road test fee still applies if you fail the test, do not appear, are rejected by the examiner, or cancel with less than 72 hours notice. It must be paid before a new test is booked. The fee covers processing the application and scheduling the test. For a Class D road test a sponsor is part of the test setup, but that creates no waiver of the fee after a failure.

   Study this in the handbook: The learner's permit and permit exam

6. 6. Which serving contains about as much alcohol as a 12-ounce beer?

   1. A twenty-ounce glass of wine
   2. A twelve-ounce glass of wine
   3. A one-ounce glass of wine
   4. A five-ounce glass of wine
   Show answer

   A five-ounce glass of wine. Serving size matters when comparing drinks. The handbook lists twelve ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, and one and a half ounces of eighty-proof liquor as containing about the same amount of alcohol. A full twelve-ounce glass of wine is not equivalent to a twelve-ounce beer. Compare both the kind of beverage and the amount served, rather than assuming every glass or bottle contains one standard amount.

   Study this in the handbook: Operating under the influence and chemical tests

7. 7. Which vehicles in a funeral procession must have hazard lights on?

   1. The first and last vehicles
   2. The vehicles carrying the family
   3. The first three vehicles
   4. Every vehicle in the procession
   Show answer

   The first and last vehicles. The handbook singles out the first and last vehicles in a funeral procession for hazard-light use. It separately requires headlights and taillights for procession vehicles. Both ends of the procession are included, so choosing the first three vehicles or only the family vehicles leaves out part of the instruction. The rule does not require every vehicle to use hazard lights. When joining an authorized procession, identify whether you occupy either end and use the lighting required for that position.

8. 8. A Massachusetts passenger vehicle has a spot light fitted. How high may its beam shine at a point 30 feet from the vehicle?

   1. No more than three feet above the roadway
   2. No more than two feet above the roadway
   3. Up to the height of the roof at 30 feet
   4. Any height, provided it is aimed at a sign
   Show answer

   No more than two feet above the roadway. A passenger vehicle spotlight may be used to read signs or as an emergency light if the headlights are not working. Its beam may shine only two feet above the roadway at a distance of 30 feet from the vehicle. The limit is measured above the roadway, not by the height of the vehicle roof. The manual specifies two feet above the roadway at 30 feet, not the height of the vehicle roof.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and safe following distance

9. 9. What vision must you show for a full Massachusetts Class D or M license?

   1. At least 20/40 in the better eye, corrected, with at least 120 degrees of horizontal peripheral vision in both eyes together
   2. At least 20/70 in the better eye with 90 degrees of peripheral vision
   3. At least 20/20 in both eyes with no correction allowed
   4. At least 20/50 in either eye with 100 degrees of peripheral vision
   Show answer

   At least 20/40 in the better eye, corrected, with at least 120 degrees of horizontal peripheral vision in both eyes together. Full licensure pairs sharpness in the stronger eye with a wide side view. The standard is at least 20/40 visual acuity in the better eye, corrected, plus at least 120 degrees of horizontal peripheral vision with both eyes together. The 20/70 pairing understates acuity and narrows the field. Demanding uncorrected 20/20 in both eyes invents a stricter test that would exclude ordinary glasses wearers who pass. 20/50 acuity may qualify for a daylight-only license, but it does not meet the full-license acuity standard; 100 degrees also falls short of the required 120-degree field. Check both parts before assuming vision qualifies.

   Study this in the handbook: The learner's permit and permit exam

10. 10. Midway through an intersection turn you decide against it. What must you do?

    1. Stop in the turn and reverse direction
    2. Back out of the intersection
    3. Follow through; do not stop mid turn to change direction, and work back from the next intersection if needed
    4. Honk and cut across remaining lanes
    Show answer

    Follow through; do not stop mid turn to change direction, and work back from the next intersection if needed. Once you have started a turn through an intersection, you must follow through. Do not stop in mid-turn and change direction. If you decide you do not want to make the turn, drive to the next intersection and work your way back. Complete the turn and work your way back from the next intersection; backing out is not the instructed correction. You must follow through with the turn; honking and cutting across lanes is not the instructed correction.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, right of way and rotaries

11. 11. When may children under 12 ride in the bed of a pickup truck in Massachusetts?

    1. Freely, at any speed, if they sit down
    2. Only within very limited exceptions, and never at speeds over five mph
    3. Never, without exception
    4. Whenever an adult rides in the bed with them
    Show answer

    Only within very limited exceptions, and never at speeds over five mph. Children under 12 are not allowed to ride in pickup truck beds, with very limited exceptions and never at speeds over five mph. The manual acknowledges exceptions but does not list them in this passage. Sitting down or having an adult present is not stated as a general permission to ride in the bed. The manual does not give adult accompaniment as a general exception; it states very limited exceptions and never allows speeds over five mph.

    Study this in the handbook: Hands free law and distracted driving

12. 12. What should you do with antilock brakes during braking?

    1. Use only the parking brake
    2. Pump them rapidly
    3. Alternate between pumping and releasing for several seconds
    4. Do not pump them
    Show answer

    Do not pump them. The braking guidance says never to pump antilock brakes. Do not confuse that instruction with the separate emergency procedure for brake failure in a vehicle without antilock brakes. Knowing which braking system your vehicle has matters before an emergency happens. The handbook also recommends looking well ahead and braking early and gently when preparing to stop or turn. Replacing normal braking with the parking brake is not the instruction here.

    Study this in the handbook: Stopping distance, headlights, night and bad weather

13. 13. How do NO U-TURN signs in Massachusetts convey their message?

    
    1. With words only and no image
    2. With a red background and white words
    3. With words and images combined
    4. With images only and no words
    Show answer

    With images only and no words. Regulatory signs use different mixes of words and pictures. Others, such as NO U-TURN signs, use only images. Describing that sign as words and images combined blends it with a separate group of signs that mix both forms. A driver reads the U-turn arrow under the red slash without any wording. Look for the slashed arrow picture and obey it even though no words appear.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic sign colors and types

14. 14. What fuel benefit can proper tire pressure provide on each tankful in Massachusetts driving?

    1. Up to 13% benefit per tankful of fuel
    2. Up to 3% benefit per year, not per tankful
    3. Up to 3% benefit per tankful of fuel
    4. No benefit unless the tires are overinflated
    Show answer

    Up to 3% benefit per tankful of fuel. Proper tire pressure in Massachusetts guidance is safer, extends tire life, and can provide up to 3% benefit per tankful of fuel. Inflating the figure to 13% promises savings far beyond the stated per tankful gain. Tying the gain to a year confuses it with the roughly $120 yearly saving linked to a tight fuel tank cap. Check the pressure regularly, since billions of gallons of fuel are wasted by driving on underinflated tires.

15. 15. In Massachusetts, where must a back-facing child safety seat never be placed when that seating position has an air bag?

    1. On the rear bench behind the driver
    2. In the rear middle seating position
    3. Behind the front passenger seat
    4. On the front passenger seat
    Show answer

    On the front passenger seat. The manual says never to put a back-facing child safety seat in the front passenger seat if that seat has an air bag. It says the back seat is safest for children and the back middle seat is best. Infant seats must face the back of the vehicle. The manual identifies the back seat as the safest place for a child; the stated prohibition concerns the front passenger seat with an air bag.

    Study this in the handbook: Seat belts, child seats and safe following distance

16. 16. You stop on a divided highway in Massachusetts and set out warning triangles or LED flares. Where do they go?

    1. 100 feet in front of the vehicle and 10 feet beside the vehicle
    2. 10 feet in front of the vehicle and 100 feet in front of the vehicle
    3. 10 feet behind the vehicle and 100 feet behind the vehicle
    4. 200 feet behind the vehicle and 200 feet in front of the vehicle
    Show answer

    10 feet behind the vehicle and 100 feet behind the vehicle. On a divided highway, place warning triangles or LED flares 10 feet and 100 feet behind your vehicle. The separate instructions for witnessing a crash call for warning devices 200 feet or more in front of and behind the crash. Both front placements ignore approaching traffic behind the stopped vehicle on a divided highway. The divided-highway instructions place the devices 10 feet and 100 feet behind the vehicle.

    Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, skids, brake failure and breakdowns

17. 17. If your electronic turn signals are not working while driving in Massachusetts, how should you give hand signals?

    1. Through the passenger window, and only for turns
    2. Through the driver side window, and knowing them is required to pass the road test
    3. By a passenger waving, with no test effect
    4. Hand signals are optional when electronics fail
    Show answer

    Through the driver side window, and knowing them is required to pass the road test. Signal failure never cancels the duty to communicate. Regardless of vehicle type, signals are required for lane changes, turns, pulling away from a curb, pulling over, and entering or exiting highways. If electronic signals are not working, the three hand signals must be used, made through the driver side window, and you must know these signals to pass the road test. Passenger window gestures put the signal on the wrong side. A waving passenger substitutes the wrong person. Optional signaling leaves following drivers guessing, which is exactly what check, signal, then move prevents.

    Study this in the handbook: Signaling, lane use and highway driving

18. 18. How is the Massachusetts Driver Retraining course scheduled, and what does completing it leave on your record?

    1. One two hour evening class, and offenses are erased
    2. Four separate full day sessions, and surcharges are removed
    3. An eight hour program held as two four hour sessions, with a single eight hour Saturday session possibly available; completing it does not remove offenses or surcharges
    4. A self paced online quiz with no set hours
    Show answer

    An eight hour program held as two four hour sessions, with a single eight hour Saturday session possibly available; completing it does not remove offenses or surcharges. The Driver Retraining course is an eight-hour program held as two four-hour sessions. A single eight-hour Saturday session may be available in your area. Completing it does not remove offenses or surcharges from your record or replace other requirements. For example, a drunk-driving conviction may also require alcohol treatment or education. The format is two four hour sessions or one Saturday session, and surcharges remain.

19. 19. Traffic signals at an intersection are completely blacked out and not functioning. How should you proceed?

    1. Treat the green direction as open and drive through at normal speed
    2. Be cautious and proceed as though there is a stop sign in all directions, going when safe
    3. Follow the largest vehicle through without stopping
    4. Honk and continue, since no signal means no control
    Show answer

    Be cautious and proceed as though there is a stop sign in all directions, going when safe. Dark signals remove the usual color commands, so caution replaces them. Proceed as though a stop sign faces every direction and move only when safe. Assuming the last green direction stays open ignores drivers arriving from streets that also face darkness. Following a large vehicle through copies its timing instead of judging your own gaps. A horn blast creates noise, not control. Picture an octagon on every corner until crews restore the lights.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and pedestrian signals

20. 20. A blind pedestrian is crossing ahead. Should you honk or wave to tell the person to continue?

    1. No, do not honk or wave the person on
    2. Honk once so the person knows you are waiting
    3. Wave repeatedly until the person moves
    4. Honk whenever the person pauses
    Show answer

    No, do not honk or wave the person on. Do not honk or wave a blind pedestrian onward. The handbook tells drivers to stay stopped until the person has safely crossed, allowing the crossing to finish without these prompts. A pause does not change that instruction. This question concerns how to behave while waiting, rather than whether the initial stop is required. A white cane or guide dog may identify a blind pedestrian, but the waiting behavior is the same.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and mopeds