Montana MVD Motorcycle Practice Test 37

  • Questions33
  • Correct to pass27
  • Passing score82%
  • Minimum age16 years

Minimum age: 16 years, or 15 years with an approved Montana traffic education course

33 questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why; you need 27 correct answers to pass.

  1. 1. On a Montana interstate, what speed reduction is required when you approach a stationary emergency vehicle and you are able to change lanes?

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    Answer B: 20 miles an hour below the posted limit

    On a Montana interstate a driver who can change lanes must move to a lane that is not adjacent and reduce speed to 20 miles an hour below the posted limit; a driver who cannot change lanes must slow to half the posted limit.

  2. 2. A funeral procession with headlights on is crossing an intersection when your light turns green. What should you do?

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    Answer A: Wait and let the whole procession go through

    Most states let a funeral procession stay together once the lead vehicle has lawfully entered an intersection, and in every state you must yield to vehicles already in the intersection, so wait until the line has passed.

  3. 3. You are entering a freeway using an on-ramp with an acceleration lane. What is the correct technique?

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    Answer C: Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of traffic, then merge into a gap while yielding to traffic already on the freeway

    The acceleration lane exists so you can match the speed of freeway traffic before merging, and drivers already on the freeway have the right-of-way.

  4. 4. Small green signs with white numerals posted at regular intervals along a highway are used to

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    Answer B: show distance along the route and give a reference point for reporting a location

    Reference location signs, commonly called mileposts, carry white numerals on green and let a driver describe exactly where a breakdown or crash has occurred.

  5. 5. In a staggered formation, where does the second rider belong?

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    Answer C: In the right portion of the lane, about one second behind the leader

    The second rider uses the opposite side of the lane roughly one second behind the leader, which staggers the group without stretching it out or putting the two riders alongside each other.

  6. 6. The queue for an exit ramp has backed up into the right lane of the highway. What should you do if you want that exit?

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    Answer B: Join the back of the queue in the lane instead of cutting in later

    Passing a queue and forcing in at the front stops the whole line, and using the shoulder puts you where broken-down vehicles are expected to be.

  7. 7. A wide solid white line separates the through lanes from an exit lane. What does it tell drivers?

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    Answer B: The choice of lane should already have been made

    A channelizing line marks where the paths separate and crossing it is discouraged or prohibited, so the lane change has to happen upstream.

  8. 8. A driver passes this sign and the signal beyond it is already showing green. What is the safest response?

    A yellow diamond showing a traffic signal with three stacked lights
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    Answer C: Ease off the accelerator and be ready to stop, because an indication that has been showing for a while is about to change

    A signal that has been displaying the same indication for some time is close to changing, so arriving at a controlled speed with the brake covered is safer than accelerating to beat it.

  9. 9. You are joining a highway from a short ramp that has no acceleration lane. What should you do?

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    Answer A: Stop or slow at the end of the ramp and wait for a safe gap

    Without an acceleration lane there is no room to match speed, so you must yield at the end of the ramp and enter only when a gap allows it.

  10. 10. Why is an underinflated tire especially risky on a long drive in hot weather?

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    Answer C: It flexes more, builds up heat and can fail at speed

    A soft tire flexes on every rotation, and that flexing makes heat that the hot road and high speed add to until the tire can come apart.

  11. 11. Why is parking against the flow of traffic dangerous even when nobody complains?

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    Answer D: Because you had to cross traffic to get there and must cross again to leave

    Parking on the wrong side means driving against traffic at both ends of the stop, and your reflectors and lights face the wrong way while you are there.

  12. 12. Why are sign shapes and colors standardized across the whole country?

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    Answer D: So a driver knows the kind of message before reading it

    Uniform shapes and colors let a driver classify a sign as regulatory, warning or guide from a distance, before the legend can be read.

  13. 13. A sign showing a walking figure carries a plaque below it with an arrow slanting down to the right. What does the plaque add?

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    Answer B: The crossing is at that very spot

    A downward-slanting arrow plaque marks the crossing itself, whereas an AHEAD or distance plaque would place it further along the road.

  14. 14. You want to move into the right lane just as an entrance ramp joins the highway at that point. What is the better choice?

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    Answer B: Wait until you are past the merge area so you do not squeeze the entering traffic

    The merge area is where ramp traffic has to find a gap, so adding a lane change of your own into the same space creates a conflict.

  15. 15. What will the driver have to do at the point this sign refers to?

    A yellow diamond showing a small downward pointing triangle above a black arrow pointing at it
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    Answer C: Slow down and let conflicting traffic go first, stopping if that is what it takes

    Further along, the driver has to let conflicting traffic and pedestrians go first, reducing speed and stopping whenever that is necessary to avoid interfering with them.

  16. 16. Why are motorcycles so often missed by other drivers?

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    Answer C: Their narrow shape is easily hidden in traffic

    A motorcycle presents a narrow outline that disappears behind pillars, mirrors and other vehicles, and it is harder to judge its speed and distance.

  17. 17. Why is it better for a passenger to hold the rider's waist or hips rather than the rider's shoulders?

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    Answer A: Weight held low is less likely to disturb the rider's steering

    Pulling on the shoulders feeds the passenger's movement straight into the rider's arms and handlebars, while a grip at the waist keeps that weight low and central.

  18. 18. You are leaving a freeway on an exit ramp posted with an advisory speed of 25 mph. Where should you slow to that speed?

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    Answer A: In the deceleration lane, before you reach the curve of the ramp

    Slowing belongs in the deceleration lane so you arrive at the curve already at the advisory speed and do not hold up traffic still in the through lanes.

  19. 19. A signal on an entrance ramp changes from red to green and lets one vehicle at a time onto the highway. What should you do?

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    Answer A: Stop on the red and go on the green, one vehicle for each green

    A ramp meter spaces vehicles out so they join the highway one at a time instead of arriving as a group, and it is a traffic signal like any other.

  20. 20. You come to a place where a storm has dropped a power line across the road ahead. What should you do?

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    Answer B: Stop well back, keep everyone away from it and report it to the police

    A downed line may be live and can energize the ground around it, so keep well clear and let the utility or the police handle it.

  21. 21. How does becoming chilled affect a rider before any shivering is obvious?

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    Answer D: It slows reactions and clouds judgment while the rider still feels fine

    Cooling degrades reaction time and decision making before the rider notices it, so dress for the coldest part of the ride and stop to warm up rather than pressing on.

  22. 22. You are leaving a freeway by an exit ramp. Where should you slow down?

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    Answer D: On the ramp itself, after you have left the through lane

    Braking in the through lane surprises the traffic behind, so the rider signals, moves onto the ramp and does the slowing in the space provided for it.

  23. 23. Why should a rider avoid painting a helmet or cleaning it with strong solvents?

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    Answer D: Chemicals can weaken the shell and the liner without showing it

    Solvents and some paints attack the shell and the foam, so use mild soap and water and follow the maker's instructions to keep the helmet's protection intact.

  24. 24. Why is passing on a curve prohibited even when the traffic seems light?

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    Answer C: You cannot see far enough around it to know the lane is clear

    A pass is only as safe as the distance you can see, and a curve hides the very lane the maneuver uses.

  25. 25. What does Montana impose for throwing a lighted cigarette from a vehicle onto a highway?

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    Answer B: A fine of not more than $500

    Montana bars throwing lighted matches, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars or other lighted material onto a road or right-of-way, with a fine of up to $500 on conviction.

  26. 26. How far from a stopped Montana school bus with red lights flashing must an approaching driver stop?

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    Answer C: At least 30 feet

    Montana requires a driver meeting or passing a school bus with flashing red lights from either direction to stop at least 30 feet from the bus and to wait until the red lights are turned off.

  27. 27. An ambulance has just gone by and traffic starts to move again. Why should you wait a moment before pulling back out?

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    Answer B: Another emergency vehicle may be following the first one

    Emergency calls often bring several vehicles, so check that nothing else is coming before you rejoin the traffic lane.

  28. 28. From which lane should a permitted U-turn be started?

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    Answer A: The lane nearest the center line, the same one used for a left turn

    A U-turn is begun from the far left lane for your direction, the same position used for a left turn, so you do not cut across traffic beside you.

  29. 29. You want to turn right from a lane marked for through traffic and right turns, and the driver behind you wants to go straight. What should you do?

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    Answer C: Signal, stay in the lane and make the turn when it is safe

    A shared lane is the correct place to turn right from, so signal early and turn from the lane; the driver behind must wait or use another lane.

  30. 30. How should you follow a school bus in traffic?

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    Answer A: Far enough back to see its lights and stop in time

    A school bus stops often and with little warning, so a longer following distance gives you time to see the lights come on and stop clear of it.

  31. 31. You are driving on a rural road with no sidewalk. Where should you expect to meet pedestrians?

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    Answer A: Walking toward you on your side of the road

    Where there is no sidewalk, pedestrians are taught to walk facing traffic, so they appear on your side of the road coming toward you.

  32. 32. The posted limit is 55 mph, but heavy traffic and rain make that speed unsafe. What does the law expect of you?

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    Answer D: You must slow to a speed that is safe for the conditions

    The basic speed rule requires a speed that is reasonable for the traffic, weather and road, and that speed is often well below the posted maximum.

  33. 33. What changes most when a rider moves from a light motorcycle to a much heavier one?

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    Answer A: It takes longer to stop and is harder to hold up at low speed

    Extra mass means longer stopping distances and more effort in slow maneuvers and when holding the machine up, so build up gradually on an unfamiliar heavy motorcycle.