Massachusetts RMV Motorcycle Practice Test 20
- Questions25
- Correct to pass18
- Passing score72%
- Minimum age16 years
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1. Someone stops drinking heavily at two in the morning and drives to work at eight. What is true?
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Answer A: They may still be impaired and over the limit
The body removes alcohol at a slow, fixed rate, so a heavy night can leave a driver impaired well into the next morning no matter how they feel.
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2. In normal operation, which indication always comes between a green and a red on the same signal face?
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Answer C: A steady yellow
The yellow change interval must follow every green or green arrow, so a signal can never jump straight from green to red.
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3. You are riding up an entrance ramp to merge onto a freeway. What should you do?
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Answer D: Build up to traffic speed on the ramp, then signal and check the blind spot
Matching the speed of freeway traffic before merging avoids forcing others to brake, and a head check covers the area the mirrors do not show.
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4. What should you confirm about your saddlebags before riding away?
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Answer A: That both are latched shut and neither is overloaded
An unlatched or overstuffed bag can swing open or sag into the rear wheel or the exhaust, either of which can wreck the machine's handling at once.
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5. How many usable riding paths does a single traffic lane offer a motorcycle?
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Answer C: Three
A lane is normally treated as a left, center and right path, and the rider picks the one that gives the best visibility and the largest space cushion.
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6. A sign warns that the right lane ends ahead, and traffic is still flowing freely. What should you do if you are in that lane?
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Answer C: Signal, adjust your speed and move left in good time before the lane ends
When traffic is moving freely there is room to merge early and smoothly, which avoids the last-second lane change at the closure point.
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7. How should a group merge onto a busy highway from an entrance ramp?
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Answer D: One rider at a time into gaps in traffic, re-forming once all are on
Each rider needs a gap and enough speed of their own, so the group merges individually and only takes up the staggered formation again afterward.
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8. Besides school signing, which warning signs may also use a fluorescent yellow-green background?
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Answer C: Pedestrian and bicycle warning signs
Pedestrian crossing, bicycle and playground warning signs may use either the standard yellow or the fluorescent yellow-green background, which draws extra attention where people outside vehicles are present.
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9. You want to turn left across the oncoming lane into a shopping center driveway. Who must you yield to?
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Answer B: Oncoming traffic and anyone using the sidewalk
A left turn into a driveway crosses both the oncoming lane and the sidewalk, so you give way to traffic and to pedestrians before completing it.
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10. Your exit from a three-lane highway is about a mile ahead on the right, and you are in the left lane. What should you do?
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Answer B: Start moving right now, one lane at a time
Plan ahead and change lanes one at a time well before the exit, so you never have to cut across several lanes at the gore.
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11. You have had to leave the pavement onto a loose gravel shoulder and now need to stop. How should you brake?
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Answer D: Use both brakes gently and evenly, expecting a much longer stopping distance
Loose gravel cuts available traction sharply, so apply both brakes lightly and smoothly and allow far more room than you would need on pavement.
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12. The circular sign shape is reserved for which warning?
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Answer C: Advance warning of a highway-rail grade crossing
A round yellow sign with a black X and the letters RR is the grade crossing advance warning sign, and the circular outline is used for no other message.
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13. On a motorcycle with a standard shift pattern, where is neutral found?
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Answer C: Between first gear and second gear
The usual pattern is one down and the rest up, with neutral sitting half a click between first and second gear.
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14. Beyond the point this sign refers to, which movement becomes unlawful?
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Answer D: Driving on the far side of the separation, against the flow
Once the two directions are separated, each roadway carries one-way traffic, so crossing to the other side means driving into oncoming vehicles.
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15. A motorcycle in your group develops a mechanical problem on a busy highway. What is the best response?
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Answer C: Signal the group off at the next exit or wide, safe pull off area
A narrow shoulder beside fast traffic is a dangerous place to gather, so the group moves on to a spot where every machine is well clear of the roadway.
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16. How should a load be distributed between the two saddlebags?
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Answer B: Evenly, so the weight is balanced from side to side
An uneven load pulls the motorcycle toward the heavy side and makes it behave differently in left turns than in right turns.
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17. A bee gets inside your jacket while you are riding. What is the recommended action?
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Answer B: Pull off the road and stop before you try to deal with the insect
Being stung hurts, but losing control while swatting hurts much more, so ride to a safe place, stop and then deal with the insect.
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18. Which equipment falls outside the Massachusetts statutory definition of a mobile electronic device?
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Answer B: Navigation gear built into the vehicle
The statute excludes equipment installed or affixed in the vehicle for navigation or emergency assistance, and rear seat video entertainment, from the definition.
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19. Traffic is entering the freeway from a ramp ahead of you and you are in the right lane. What should you do?
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Answer C: Move to another lane if it is safe, or adjust your speed to make room
Merging drivers may have little room to adjust. Helping them in by changing lanes or easing your speed prevents conflicts even though they must legally yield to you.
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20. You are following a large truck on a two-lane road and cannot see past it. What should you do before deciding to pass?
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Answer D: Drop back so that your view of the road ahead opens up
Distance is what buys you a view around a large vehicle, and no decision to pass can be made from a position where you cannot see.
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21. A large truck ahead of you swings toward the left just before turning right at an intersection. What should you do?
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Answer B: Stay back and never try to move into the gap between the truck and the curb
Long vehicles need extra room and often swing wide to complete a right turn, so the space that opens on their right closes again as the trailer sweeps through it.
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22. Why should you stay out of an intersection you cannot clear, even on a green light?
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Answer B: Because you would block cross traffic when their signal turns green
A vehicle stranded in the intersection blocks the cross street when its light turns green, which stalls the whole junction and traps emergency vehicles.
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23. In the code that governs pavement markings, what does a double line stand for?
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Answer B: A maximum restriction
The marking code is consistent: a double line means the strongest restriction, a solid line discourages or forbids crossing, and a broken line is permissive.
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24. You have a steady green ball to turn left, and the oncoming traffic gets a green left arrow. What does that mean for you?
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Answer C: Oncoming vehicles will turn across your path, so you must wait
A green ball is permissive, so when the oncoming side receives a protected arrow those vehicles have priority and you must yield until they clear.
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25. Why is it useful to watch the vehicle two or three places ahead of you?
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Answer C: You get an earlier warning of slowing traffic than brake lights give
Trouble travels back through a line of traffic, so seeing it start several vehicles ahead gives you a head start on braking.