Massachusetts RMV Motorcycle Practice Test 37

1. A driver leaves the vehicle at the curb where this sign is posted and walks away for two minutes. Is that allowed?

• A Yes, because so short an absence is not covered
• B No, leaving the vehicle unattended there is prohibited whatever the length of the absence
• C Yes, as long as the vehicle stays within the driver's sight
• D Yes, as long as the engine is left running

2. Where is ice most likely to form first on a cold day?

• A On long straight stretches in direct sunlight
• B In shaded areas and on bridges and overpasses
• C In the middle of large open parking lots
• D On freshly paved surfaces

3. An overhead lane signal shows a flashing yellow X above your lane. What does it mean?

• A The lane will close shortly, so move out of it before the next block
• B The lane is open for through travel just as a green arrow would show
• C The lane is reserved for buses and other high occupancy vehicles
• D The lane may be used only for a left turn

4. What limits how much weight a motorcycle can carry?

• A The load limit given by the manufacturer for that machine
• B The size of the passenger seat and the saddlebags fitted to it
• C The strength of the elastic cords used to tie the luggage down
• D The weight the rider can still hold upright with both feet on the ground

5. You approach an intersection where the signal is flashing yellow. What should you do?

• A Stop completely before the crosswalk and then proceed as at a stop sign
• B Stop and wait, because a flashing yellow means the signal is about to turn red
• C Keep your speed, since a flashing yellow tells cross traffic to stop for you
• D Slow down and cross the intersection with caution

6. When should you enter a destination into a navigation device?

• A While stopped at a red light
• B Before you start driving, or after parking in a safe place
• C While driving slowly in the right lane
• D Whenever the road ahead is straight and empty

7. What is the main danger of grabbing the front brake lever abruptly?

• A The front tire will lose its air pressure through sudden heat build up
• B The chain can jump off the rear sprocket and lock up the rear wheel
• C The engine will stall, which cuts the power going to the brake system
• D The front wheel can lock, and a locked wheel cannot steer or balance

8. What should be done with a group that has grown too large to manage?

• A Ride two abreast so the line takes up less road
• B Ask the slowest riders to leave the group
• C Increase speed so the whole group clears intersections together
• D Split it into smaller groups, each with its own leader and sweep rider

9. What should be adjusted on the motorcycle before carrying a passenger?

• A Nothing, because the motorcycle already comes set up for two people
• B Only the mirrors
• C The suspension and the tire pressure, following the owner's manual
• D The final drive gearing

10. The crossbuck, formed by two rectangular arms crossed in an X, is placed

• A at the start of a no-passing zone on a two-lane road
• B at the entrance to a rest area beside the main roadway
• C at the end of a divided highway where the median ends
• D on each highway approach to a railroad grade crossing

11. Besides the traffic behind you, what else must you check before moving into the next lane?

• A Only the surface of the lane you are entering, in case of potholes or spilled material
• B Only the position of the vehicle that is traveling directly behind you in your own lane
• C That the vehicle you are currently following has already signaled the same lane change
• D That there is room ahead in the new lane for your normal following distance

12. A mixed drink is made with two shots of spirits. How much alcohol is that?

• A About one drink, because it is served in a single glass
• B About one drink, because the mixer dilutes the alcohol
• C About two standard drinks
• D About half a drink, since spirits are sipped very slowly

13. You are entering a marked school zone during the posted hours. What should you do?

• A Slow to the school zone limit and watch for children
• B Keep the normal street limit unless a crossing guard is standing in the road
• C Slow only when you can actually see children on the sidewalk or in the street
• D Sound your horn as you enter so that children near the curb hear you coming

14. A minor drop has left the clutch lever bent, although it still works. What should be done?

• A Nothing, provided the lever still reaches far enough to disengage the clutch
• B Have the lever replaced before the motorcycle is ridden again
• C Bend it back by hand at the roadside and carry on with the ride as planned
• D File the bent section smooth so that it cannot cut the rider glove

15. Before pulling out to pass on a two lane road, which lane position gives the best view of the road ahead?

• A The right portion, so you stay as far as possible from oncoming traffic
• B The left portion of your lane
• C The center portion, because it is a balance between the two extremes
• D The right portion, because a driver ahead checks the right mirror first

16. What does Massachusetts law say about motorcycle handlebar height?

• A Handlebars must not rise above the operator's shoulders when properly seated
• B Handlebars must not rise above the operator's waistline when the rider is properly seated
• C Handlebars must sit below the top of the headlight housing
• D Massachusetts sets no handlebar height limit for registered motorcycles

17. Where do the greatest number of collisions involving motorcycles occur?

• A On the shoulder of divided highways, where riders pull off to rest
• B In parking areas and driveways, where speeds are lowest of all
• C On long open curves outside built-up areas, where speeds are highest
• D At intersections

18. What counts as a complete stop at a stop sign?

• A Rolling slowly through the intersection while looking both ways carefully
• B Any speed under five miles an hour, which is slow enough to see cross traffic
• C The wheels stop turning before the stop line
• D A brief pause once the front of the vehicle has entered the intersection

19. Why is repeatedly changing lanes to work through heavy traffic a poor idea?

• A It raises the crash risk and saves almost no time
• B It is allowed only on roads with three or more lanes in the same direction
• C It makes the engine work harder and shortens the life of the transmission
• D It is safe as long as you signal each change and check the mirrors first

20. On a hot summer day you notice long black strips of crack sealant snaking across the pavement. What should a rider know about them?

• A They soften in heat and can be slippery, especially under a leaned tire
• B They are laid with grit on top and give better traction than the pavement itself
• C They only matter in freezing weather, when the sealant becomes hard and brittle
• D They mark the position of buried utilities and are always safe to ride over

21. To make a motorcycle lean into a turn at normal riding speed, the rider should:

• A Pull back on the handgrip on the side of the turn
• B Lean the upper body only and keep the handlebars still
• C Press forward on the handgrip on the side of the turn
• D Shift weight onto the outside footrest

22. What should motorcycle footwear provide?

• A Soft canvas uppers with smooth soles that slide onto the footrests
• B Sturdy support above the ankle with hard, slip resistant soles
• C Tall heels shaped to hook over the footrests and hold the feet
• D Open sides and open toes to let air reach the feet in hot weather

23. A rider adjusts the mirrors and finds each one mostly filled with a view of an elbow. What should be done?

• A Nothing, because a view of the rider gives a fixed reference for judging distance
• B Lower both mirrors so they show the pavement immediately behind the rear wheel
• C Remove the mirrors, since a shoulder check covers everything a mirror could show
• D Readjust them outward so that more of the lane behind becomes visible

24. On a busy multilane highway, where is the best place to travel?

• A Beside another vehicle, so that you always have company on one side
• B In a gap in the traffic, with space open on both sides
• C Directly behind a large truck, which shields you from the wind ahead
• D In the far left lane, where drivers are said to be more attentive

25. You are driving along a street lined with parked cars. What should you watch for?

• A Only the vehicles that have their brake lights on, since the rest are safely parked
• B Doors opening, vehicles pulling out and pedestrians stepping from between cars
• C Only the cars with a driver visible, since empty cars cannot move
• D Nothing special, because parked vehicles are outside the travel lane