Michigan SOS Motorcycle Practice Test 21

  • Questions20
  • Correct to pass16
  • Passing score80%
  • Minimum age16 years

20 questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why; you need 16 correct answers to pass.

  1. 1. You are moving at walking pace through a crowded parking area. Which combination gives the steadiest control?

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    Answer B: Steady throttle, the clutch held in the friction zone and light rear brake

    Slipping the clutch in the friction zone against a steady throttle and a light drag of rear brake keeps power smooth and the machine stable below walking speed.

  2. 2. An obstacle appears ahead and you can see there is no room left to stop before it. What should you do?

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    Answer D: Swerve around it

    Once the distance is too short to stop, changing direction is the only option left, and a motorcycle can change direction faster than it can stop.

  3. 3. About how far behind a tractor-trailer does the driver's rear blind spot reach?

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    Answer C: Around 30 feet

    The area behind a large truck is hidden for roughly 30 feet, so a driver tucked in there cannot be seen at all.

  4. 4. 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.

  5. 5. A dog runs out and chases your motorcycle. What is the recommended response?

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    Answer D: Downshift and approach slowly, then accelerate away as you reach the animal

    Approaching slowly keeps the dog aiming at where you are now, and accelerating as you reach it leaves the animal behind without a sudden swerve.

  6. 6. You are approaching a narrow bridge where the road has one lane in each direction and no shoulder. What should you do about passing?

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    Answer B: Do not pass on or near the bridge

    A narrow bridge gives neither vehicle anywhere to go, so passing is prohibited there in the same way as on a hill or in a tunnel.

  7. 7. Why is standing water across a road dangerous even when it looks shallow?

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    Answer B: It can hide a washed out roadbed, a deep hole or a missing cover

    You cannot see the surface under the water, and floods commonly wash the roadbed away or lift covers off drains.

  8. 8. As a general rule, how far should you travel along a center two-way left-turn lane before you turn?

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    Answer C: Only a short distance, just enough to slow down and wait for a gap

    The center lane is for making or preparing a left turn, so you enter it only shortly before the turn and never travel along it as a through lane; several states set a specific limit such as 200 or 300 feet.

  9. 9. A bicycle symbol topped by two chevrons is painted in the middle of a travel lane. What does that marking indicate?

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    Answer D: Bicyclists share the lane with motor vehicles and may ride away from the curb

    A shared lane marking shows drivers where bicyclists are likely to ride in a lane used by both bicycles and motor vehicles.

  10. 10. How much room must a Michigan driver leave when overtaking a bicycle?

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    Answer C: At least 3 feet

    A driver overtaking a bicycle must pass at a safe distance of at least 3 feet to the left, or, where that is impracticable, at a safe distance and a safe speed.

  11. 11. Your vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing and will not restart. What should you do first?

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    Answer A: Get everyone out and away from the tracks immediately

    Everyone must leave the vehicle and move well clear of the tracks at once, walking toward the train at an angle so that debris from an impact travels away from you.

  12. 12. You feel dizzy, weak and clammy after an hour of riding in high heat. What should you do?

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    Answer B: Stop in the shade, drink water and cool down before riding further

    Those are early signs of heat illness and they get worse with continued exertion, so get out of the sun, rehydrate and cool off before you ride on.

  13. 13. A crash happens directly in front of you and vehicles are blocking both lanes. What should you do?

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    Answer B: Stop at a safe distance, put on the hazards and warn the traffic behind

    The greatest danger after a crash is a second collision, so stop short of it and make sure the traffic behind you can see the problem.

  14. 14. How many alcoholic drinks does it take to begin affecting driving ability?

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    Answer C: Even one drink can affect it

    A single drink can slow reactions and weaken judgment before you feel any change. Impairment starts long before a person feels drunk.

  15. 15. You are crossing a long, high bridge in a strong crosswind. Where should you expect the wind to change most suddenly?

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    Answer A: At the ends of the bridge and where towers or trucks briefly block the wind

    Wind is gustiest where something shelters you and then stops, such as bridge abutments, towers and large vehicles, so be ready for a push as you move in and out of the shelter.

  16. 16. You are riding where fresh pavement meets an older lane that sits an inch or two lower. How should you move across that edge?

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    Answer A: Slow down and cross the edge at as sharp an angle as the lane allows

    A pavement edge break can steer the front wheel along it if you meet it at a shallow angle, so slow, hold the bars firmly and cross it steeply.

  17. 17. What is a microsleep?

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    Answer D: A few seconds of sleep, sometimes with the eyes open

    A microsleep is an involuntary lapse of a few seconds during which the driver is asleep and the vehicle travels blind, often without the driver knowing.

  18. 18. How does a NO OUTLET sign differ from a DEAD END sign?

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    Answer B: It warns that a whole group of streets has no way out

    No Outlet is posted where the road leads into a network of streets from which there is no through route, while Dead End refers to the single street itself.

  19. 19. What is the best way to handle fatigue on a long ride?

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    Answer C: Take rest breaks regularly and dress to keep wind and cold out

    Wind, vibration and cold tire a rider faster than a driver, and the safe answer is planned breaks and protective clothing rather than pressing on.

  20. 20. A barricade carries a sign reading ROAD CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC. What does it permit?

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    Answer B: Local access for people whose destination is on that road

    This closure keeps out drivers who are only passing through while still allowing residents and deliveries to reach addresses within the closed section.