NC EOG Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

Lottie sees the lamp as a bother, but Granny values it for its memories.: Correct. Lottie thinks the lamp smells, smokes and must be carried "like a baby" (paragraph 7). Her mother explains that Granny read to her family by it for years (paragraph 9).

Lottie likes its soft light, but Granny thinks it smokes too much.: This swaps the two characters. Lottie is the one who complains about smoke, and Granny loves the lamp's "soft yellow circle."

Lottie wants to keep the lamp as a gift, but Granny wants to give it away.: The lamp was a wedding gift to Granny, and she is the one who wants to keep it.

Lottie is afraid of its flame, but Granny trusts it more than the bulb.: Lottie never says she is afraid of the flame; she finds the lamp smelly and annoying, not frightening.

To compare characters, look for what each one says or does about the same thing, and use other characters' explanations, like the mother's in paragraph 9.

Answer: D

Because the speaker is excited, the new houses are described as bright and fresh.: The houses are "beige" and all the same. Nothing in stanzas 1 and 3 sounds excited.

Because the speaker is angry at the neighbors, they are described as unfriendly.: The speaker never meets the neighbors in these stanzas and notices that "no one says hello." That is lonely, not angry.

Because the speaker misses Ada, the new street is described as louder than the old one.: The speaker does miss Ada, but the new street is described as quieter than the old one, not louder.

Because the speaker feels lonely, the street is described as plain and silent.: Correct. The speaker has just been "left" on the curb and misses the old block. The houses wear "the same beige coat," "no one said a word," and the quiet sits "like snow that will not go."

A speaker's feelings decide which details are noticed. A lonely speaker notices sameness and silence.

Answer: C

Because he is proud of his playing, he leaves out the mistakes he made.: This reverses the story. The narrator names his missed notes in paragraph 11 and lists every mistake in paragraph 13.

Because he does not know the other players, he cannot tell how they react.: He does report a reaction: the harmonica player's praise in paragraph 12. He just has trouble believing it.

Because he dwells on mistakes, the jam seems worse to him than to others.: Correct. The narrator lists "every mistake" "like a grocery list" (paragraph 13), but the harmonica player praises his "good bow arm" (paragraph 12), and nobody stopped playing. His worry makes his own account more negative than what others saw.

Because he is telling the story later, he remembers only the happiest parts.: Nothing shows that he remembers only happy parts. Much of what he remembers is his mistakes.

A first-person narrator tells only what he notices and believes. Compare the narrator's account with what other characters say to see how his feelings color the events.

Answer: A

Respecting the limits of nature can matter more than getting what you want.: Correct. Delia gives up the second pot when the wind turns, and Grandpa says "the water decides when you're done." At the end she feels she brought home "something better than crabs."

Hard work always earns a reward if a person refuses to give up.: Delia actually gives up the second pot. The story praises knowing when to stop, not refusing to stop.

Family members should pass down special objects to younger people.: Grandpa does give Delia the gauge, but that is one detail at the end. It is not the lesson the whole story builds toward.

Practicing something in your mind is the best way to learn a new skill.: Delia practiced steering in her head, but paragraph 8 shows that the real boat felt different. The story does not support this idea.

A theme is a lesson the whole story shows. Look at the main choice the character makes and what she learns from it.

Answer: C

She says that students do not really need to wash their hands after recess.: She accepts that students "would need to wash their hands." She never says it is unnecessary.

She suggests making recess shorter so that there is time for hand washing.: The author never suggests a shorter recess.

She admits washing takes time but says the nearby sinks keep it short.: Correct. In paragraph 5 she says "I understand this concern, but our sinks are right next to the cafeteria doors," and calls the extra minutes "a small price to pay" for the benefits.

She explains that lunch would start only twenty minutes later than it does now.: This answers a different worry, that kids would be too hungry to play (paragraph 6).

Strong opinion writers admit the other side's concern and then explain why their idea still works. Find the sentence with "but" after the concern.

Answer: C

Because the segments were made ahead, the bridge could be built in a straight line.: The bridge is not straight; every segment but one is curved (paragraph 6).

Because each segment weighed 50 tons, the bridge was strong enough for storms.: The weight is a detail, but the text does not connect it to storms or to protecting the mountain.

Because the crane worked from the bridge, heavy machines stayed off the slope.: Correct. Paragraph 5 says crews usually work "on the ground beneath a bridge," but here a crane on "the finished part of the bridge" placed the segments, and the only ground work was for the pier bases.

Because the bridge was built from above, it did not need any piers at all.: The bridge rests on piers, and workers dug bases for them (paragraphs 4 and 5).

To connect a method to a goal, ask what the method avoided or made possible. Building from above kept work off the mountain.

Answer: C

Red shows when chlorophyll is made, but yellow shows when it breaks down.: Chlorophyll is not being made in fall. Both colors become easier to see as chlorophyll breaks down.

Red comes from leftover waste, but yellow comes from new sugar in the leaf.: This mixes up the pigments. Brown comes from waste (paragraph 6), and red pigment is made from sugar (paragraph 5).

Red pigment is made new in fall, but yellow pigment is already there in summer.: Correct. The table says anthocyanins are "Made in late summer and fall," while carotenoids are in the leaf all year, "hidden by green until fall." Paragraphs 3 and 5 say the same.

Red needs warm, cloudy weather, but yellow needs an early hard frost.: Paragraph 5 says warm, cloudy weather makes duller reds and an early frost can end the colors.

When comparing with a table, read the matching row for each item and check it against the paragraph that explains it.

Answer: B

It gives the insect time to drink the nectar before the trap closes.: The nectar is what draws insects in (paragraph 3), but the text does not say the delay is for the insect's sake.

It keeps the trap from closing on things like raindrops that are not food.: Correct. Paragraph 4 says the two-touch system "keeps the trap from wasting energy on a falling raindrop or a bit of blowing leaf, which usually touch a hair only once."

It lets the trap close slowly and gently enough that the insect is not hurt.: The trap "snaps shut in about a tenth of a second," which is very fast, not slow.

It helps the plant tell large insects apart from very small ones.: Sorting out small insects happens after the trap closes loosely (paragraph 5), not because of the two touches.

To explain why something happens in a process, find the sentence in the text that states its purpose, often with words like "keeps" or "so that."

Answer: B

A wall would block visitors from climbing up the lighthouse.: The author mentions visitors climbing in paragraph 7, but never says a wall would block them.

A wall would not stop the beach from wearing away around the tower.: Correct. Paragraph 3 says scientists "explained that a wall might protect the tower for a while, but the beach around it would keep wearing away," so it could end up "standing alone in the ocean."

A wall would take longer to build than moving the tower would.: The passage gives no time needed to build a wall, so the author does not make this comparison.

A wall would hide the tower's black-and-white stripes from ships at sea.: The stripes are described in paragraph 1, but the author does not connect them to the seawall plan.

To find an author's reason, look for words like "explained" or "but" near the point being supported. The reason must come from the text, not from what seems sensible.

Answer: C, E

1. Value of the original expression: 6 × 11 = 66.
2. Check each option: 51, 42, 66, 144, 66.
3. The two options equal to 66 are (6 × 8) + (6 × 3) and (8 + 3) × 6.

$(6\times 8)+3$: Multiplies only the 8 by 6. The 3 must also be multiplied by 6. Its value is 51, not 66.

$(6+8)\times 3$: Moves the parentheses, which changes the operations. Its value is 42.

$(6\times 8)+(6\times 3)$: Correct. The distributive property: 6 × (8 + 3) = 6 × 8 + 6 × 3 = 48 + 18 = 66.

$6\times 8\times 3$: Multiplies all three numbers instead of adding 8 and 3. Its value is 144.

$(8+3)\times 6$: Correct. The commutative property lets the factors switch order: 11 × 6 = 66.

The distributive property multiplies each addend inside the parentheses; the commutative property lets you change the order of factors.

Answer: C

3.5, 3.45, 3.054, 3.405: Reads the digits after the decimal point as whole numbers (5, 45, 54, 405), so it thinks longer decimals are greater.

3.5, 3.45, 3.405, 3.054: This order is from greatest to least, not least to greatest.

3.054, 3.405, 3.45, 3.5: Correct. Compare tenths first: 0 < 4 = 4 < 5. Then 3.405 and 3.45 compare by hundredths: 0 < 5, so 3.405 < 3.45.

3.054, 3.45, 3.405, 3.5: Puts 3.45 before 3.405 because 405 looks greater than 45; but 3.45 = 3.450, which is greater than 3.405.

To compare decimals, line up the places (write 3.5 as 3.500) and compare digits from the left.

Answer: B

1. 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R2.
2. Share the 2 left-over pounds among 5 students: $\frac{2}{5}$ pound each.
3. Each student gets $3\frac{2}{5}$ pounds. Check: 5 × $3\frac{2}{5}$ = 15 + 2 = 17.

$3\frac{2}{17}$ pounds: Writes the remainder 2 over the dividend 17 instead of over the divisor 5.

$3\frac{2}{5}$ pounds: Correct. 17 ÷ 5 = 3 R2, and the 2 extra pounds are shared by 5 students, so each gets $3\frac{2}{5}$ pounds ($\frac{17}{5}$).

$3\frac{2}{3}$ pounds: Writes the remainder 2 over the quotient 3 instead of over the divisor 5.

4 pounds: Rounds up to the next whole number, but 5 × 4 = 20 pounds is more clay than Sione has.

When a remainder is shared, it becomes a fraction: remainder over the divisor. So 17 ÷ 5 = 17/5 = 3 2/5.

Answer: D

1. n = $2\frac{3}{8}$ + $1\frac{3}{4}$.
2. Rename $1\frac{3}{4}$ as $1\frac{6}{8}$.
3. Add: $3\frac{9}{8}$. Rename $\frac{9}{8}$ as $1\frac{1}{8}$: n = $4\frac{1}{8}$.
4. Check: $4\frac{1}{8}$ − $1\frac{6}{8}$ = $3\frac{9}{8}$ − $1\frac{6}{8}$ = $2\frac{3}{8}$.

$\frac{5}{8}$: Subtracts $1\frac{3}{4}$ from $2\frac{3}{8}$. To undo subtraction, add.

$3\frac{1}{8}$: Adds correctly to $3\frac{9}{8}$ but drops the extra whole in $\frac{9}{8}$ instead of renaming it as $1\frac{1}{8}$.

$3\frac{1}{2}$: Adds the numerators and the denominators of the fractions ($\frac{3}{8}$ + $\frac{3}{4}$ becomes $\frac{6}{12}$).

$4\frac{1}{8}$: Correct. n = $2\frac{3}{8}$ + $1\frac{3}{4}$ = $2\frac{3}{8}$ + $1\frac{6}{8}$ = $3\frac{9}{8}$ = $4\frac{1}{8}$.

To find the number you start with in a subtraction equation, add the two known numbers, then rename any improper fraction part.

Answer: B

Yes, because $\frac{4}{10}$ is less than $\frac{1}{2}$.: Accepts Talia's sum. $\frac{4}{10}$ comes from adding numerators and denominators, which is not how fractions are added.

No, because adding $\frac{3}{8}$ to $\frac{1}{2}$ must give a sum greater than $\frac{1}{2}$.: Correct. Adding a positive amount to $\frac{1}{2}$ always gives more than $\frac{1}{2}$. The real sum is $\frac{4}{8}$ + $\frac{3}{8}$ = $\frac{7}{8}$.

No, because the sum is $\frac{4}{8}$, which is equal to $\frac{1}{2}$.: Adds the numerators without renaming $\frac{1}{2}$ as $\frac{4}{8}$, so it gets $\frac{4}{8}$ instead of $\frac{7}{8}$.

Yes, because $\frac{3}{8}$ is less than $\frac{1}{2}$, so the sum is less too.: Comparing one addend to $\frac{1}{2}$ says nothing about the sum; the sum is greater than each addend.

Use benchmark fractions to check whether an answer is reasonable: a sum is always greater than either positive addend.

Answer: B, D

1. Read the points: 8, 14, 14, 20, 16, 12.
2. Greatest value: 20 on Day 4 ✓.
3. Day 2 to Day 3: 14 to 14, no change ✓.
4. Day 1 to Day 2 rose 6, not 14; Day 4 to Day 6 dropped 8, not 4; the depth did not rise every day.

The depth of the water increased every day.: The depth stayed at 14 inches from Day 2 to Day 3 and went down after Day 4.

The depth of the water was greatest on Day 4.: Correct. The highest point of the graph is 20 inches on Day 4.

The depth of the water rose 14 inches from Day 1 to Day 2.: Reads the Day 2 value instead of the change. The depth rose from 8 to 14 inches, which is 6 inches.

The depth of the water stayed the same from Day 2 to Day 3.: Correct. The depth was 14 inches on both days; the line is flat there.

The depth of the water dropped 4 inches from Day 4 to Day 6.: Uses only one day's drop. From Day 4 (20 inches) to Day 6 (12 inches) the depth dropped 8 inches.

Read each point carefully and find changes by subtracting values; a flat segment means no change.

Answer: B

1. Box M: 6 × 4 × 5 = 120 cubic inches.
2. Box N: 8 × 3 × 4 = 96 cubic inches.
3. 120 − 96 = 24 cubic inches.

0 cubic inches: Adds the edge lengths (6 + 4 + 5 = 15 and 8 + 3 + 4 = 15) instead of multiplying them, so the boxes seem equal.

24 cubic inches: Correct. Box M: 6 × 4 × 5 = 120 cubic inches. Box N: 8 × 3 × 4 = 96 cubic inches. 120 − 96 = 24.

96 cubic inches: This is the volume of Box N, not the difference between the two boxes.

120 cubic inches: This is the volume of Box M, not the difference between the two boxes.

Find each volume with length × width × height, then subtract to compare; the sum of the edges does not measure volume.

Answer: B

1. Find each hourly change: +2, +4, +6, +4, +2, −2.
2. The greatest increase is +6, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

8 a.m. and 9 a.m.: The temperature rose only 2 degrees, from 52°F to 54°F.

10 a.m. and 11 a.m.: Correct. The temperature rose from 58°F to 64°F, an increase of 6 degrees, the steepest part of the graph.

11 a.m. and 12 p.m.: The temperature rose 4 degrees, from 64°F to 68°F, which is less than 6.

12 p.m. and 1 p.m.: The graph reaches its highest point at 1 p.m., but the temperature rose only 2 degrees in that hour.

On a line graph, the greatest increase between two times is the steepest upward segment, not the highest point.

Answer: C

1. Bottom prism: 6 × 4 × 2 = 48 cubic inches.
2. Top prism: 3 × 4 × 3 = 36 cubic inches.
3. Total: 48 + 36 = 84 cubic inches.
4. Check: 84 is less than the full box 6 × 4 × 5 = 120, as it should be.

36 cubic inches: This is the volume of the top prism only (3 × 4 × 3).

48 cubic inches: This is the volume of the bottom prism only (6 × 4 × 2).

84 cubic inches: Correct. Bottom: 6 × 4 × 2 = 48. Top: 3 × 4 × 3 = 36. Total: 48 + 36 = 84 cubic inches.

120 cubic inches: Treats the stand as one full box, 6 × 4 × 5, which counts empty space beside the top prism.

Find the volume of each prism separately with l × w × h, then add the two volumes.