20 Artificial-Language Reasoning Practice Questions & Answers

Every Artificial-Language Reasoning practice question from the Border Patrol Entrance Exam Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.

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1. In the invented language Tomik, 'ka' means 'dog', 'ru' means 'big', and adjectives come AFTER the noun. How do you say 'big dog'?
- A.ka ru✓ Answer
- B.ru ka
- C.ka ka
- D.ru ru
Because the rule states adjectives follow the noun, the noun 'ka' (dog) comes first and the adjective 'ru' (big) comes after, giving 'ka ru'.
Source: Stem rule: adjectives follow the nounReport a problem with this question
2. In language Velo, adding the suffix '-po' makes a word plural. If 'nem' means 'tree', what is 'trees'?
- A.ponem
- B.nempo✓ Answer
- C.nem
- D.ponempo
A suffix attaches to the END of a word, so '-po' is added after 'nem' to form 'nempo'.
Source: Stem rule: '-po' is a plural suffixReport a problem with this question
3. In language Sarn, sentences follow the order Verb–Subject–Object. 'lom'=eats, 'fa'=cat, 'ti'=fish. How do you say 'the cat eats fish'?
- A.fa lom ti
- B.lom fa ti✓ Answer
- C.ti fa lom
- D.lom ti fa
With Verb–Subject–Object order, the verb 'lom' (eats) comes first, then subject 'fa' (cat), then object 'ti' (fish): 'lom fa ti'.
Source: Stem rule: Verb–Subject–Object word orderReport a problem with this question
4. In language Duro, the prefix 'ne-' negates a word. If 'val' means 'true', what means 'not true' (false)?
- A.valne
- B.neval✓ Answer
- C.valval
- D.nene
A prefix attaches to the BEGINNING of a word, so 'ne-' goes before 'val' to make 'neval'.
Source: Stem rule: 'ne-' is a negation prefixReport a problem with this question
5. In language Kip, 'mo' means 'I', 'sa' means 'see', 'lu' means 'bird', and word order is Subject–Verb–Object. Translate 'mo sa lu'.
- A.The bird sees me
- B.I see the bird✓ Answer
- C.See the bird I
- D.The bird I see
Reading in Subject–Verb–Object order, 'mo'=I (subject), 'sa'=see (verb), 'lu'=bird (object), so it means 'I see the bird'.
Source: Stem rule: Subject–Verb–Object word orderReport a problem with this question
6. In language Brenn, 'ta' means 'water' and reduplicating a noun (saying it twice) makes it plural. What is 'waters'?
- A.ta
- B.ta ta✓ Answer
- C.ta po
- D.po ta
The rule makes plurals by repeating the noun, so 'water' (ta) becomes 'waters' by saying it twice: 'ta ta'.
Source: Stem rule: reduplication marks pluralReport a problem with this question
7. In language Onak, the suffix '-mi' marks past tense on verbs. If 'geb' means 'walk', how do you say 'walked'?
- A.migeb
- B.gebmi✓ Answer
- C.gebgeb
- D.mimi
A suffix is added to the end of the word, so past-tense '-mi' attaches after 'geb' to give 'gebmi'.
Source: Stem rule: '-mi' is a past-tense suffixReport a problem with this question
8. In language Zell, possessors come BEFORE the noun they own. 'do'=man, 'ken'=house. How do you say 'the man's house'?
- A.ken do
- B.do ken✓ Answer
- C.ken ken
- D.do do
Since the possessor comes before the owned noun, 'do' (man) precedes 'ken' (house): 'do ken'.
Source: Stem rule: possessor precedes the nounReport a problem with this question
9. In language Fint, questions are formed by adding 'ba' at the very end of a statement. The statement 'ki tol' means 'you run'. How do you ask 'do you run?'
- A.ba ki tol
- B.ki ba tol
- C.ki tol ba✓ Answer
- D.ki tol
The rule says the question marker 'ba' goes at the very end, so it follows the full statement 'ki tol' to give 'ki tol ba'.
Source: Stem rule: question marker 'ba' is sentence-finalReport a problem with this question
10. In language Groll, 'sen' means 'small' and 'sen sen' (doubling the adjective) means 'very small'. If 'rok' means 'fast', how do you say 'very fast'?
- A.rok
- B.rok sen
- C.rok rok✓ Answer
- D.sen rok
The pattern shows intensity is expressed by doubling the adjective, so 'very fast' is 'rok rok'.
Source: Stem rule: reduplication intensifies adjectivesReport a problem with this question
11. In language Yamu, 'pel' = 'she', 'nod' = 'gives', 'gru' = 'book', word order is Subject–Verb–Object, and the suffix '-t' marks past tense. How do you say 'she gave the book'?
- A.pel nod gru
- B.pel nodt gru✓ Answer
- C.pelt nod gru
- D.pel nod grut
Past tense marks the VERB, so '-t' attaches to 'nod' (gives) making 'nodt', while Subject–Verb–Object order keeps 'pel nodt gru'.
Source: Stem rules: SVO order + past-tense verb suffix '-t'Report a problem with this question
12. In language Coru, 'mel' = 'red', 'sil' = 'flower', and adjectives come BEFORE the noun. The phrase 'sil mel' would be incorrect for 'red flower'. Which is correct?
- A.sil mel
- B.mel sil✓ Answer
- C.sil sil
- D.mel mel
Because adjectives precede the noun in Coru, the adjective 'mel' (red) must come before 'sil' (flower): 'mel sil'.
Source: Stem rule: adjectives precede the nounReport a problem with this question
13. In language Habu, the prefix 're-' means 'again' and the suffix '-ka' means 'able to'. If 'plan' means 'build', how do you say 'able to build again'?
- A.replanka✓ Answer
- B.kaplanre
- C.planreka
- D.rekaplan
The prefix 're-' attaches to the front and the suffix '-ka' to the back of 'plan', giving 're + plan + ka' = 'replanka'.
Source: Stem rules: prefix 're-' + suffix '-ka'Report a problem with this question
14. In language Nuvi, plural nouns take the ending '-sh'. You see the word 'kelsh' and are told 'kel' means 'star'. What does 'kelsh' mean?
- A.one star
- B.stars✓ Answer
- C.no star
- D.big star
Removing the plural ending '-sh' from 'kelsh' leaves 'kel' (star), and the '-sh' marks plural, so 'kelsh' means 'stars'.
Source: Stem rule: '-sh' is a plural ending (reverse application)Report a problem with this question
15. In language Pral, negation is shown by the word 'zo' placed immediately BEFORE the verb. 'ami'=I, 'lok'=sleep, order is Subject–Verb. How do you say 'I do not sleep'?
- A.zo ami lok
- B.ami zo lok✓ Answer
- C.ami lok zo
- D.ami lok
'zo' must sit immediately before the verb 'lok', so with subject 'ami' first the order is 'ami zo lok'.
Source: Stem rule: negator 'zo' immediately precedes the verbReport a problem with this question
16. In language Tesk, 'gam' = 'cold' and the suffix '-el' turns an adjective into a noun (the quality). If 'gam' means 'cold', what is 'coldness'?
- A.elgam
- B.gamel✓ Answer
- C.gamgam
- D.elel
The suffix '-el' attaches to the end of the adjective 'gam', producing the noun 'gamel' meaning 'coldness'.
Source: Stem rule: '-el' derives an abstract noun (suffix)Report a problem with this question
17. In language Wodi, word order is Object–Verb–Subject. 'pa'=apple, 'chi'=eats, 'bo'=child. What does 'pa chi bo' mean?
- A.The apple eats the child
- B.The child eats the apple✓ Answer
- C.The child the apple eats
- D.Eats the apple child
In Object–Verb–Subject order, 'pa'=apple is the object, 'chi'=eats the verb, 'bo'=child the subject, so the child eats the apple.
Source: Stem rule: Object–Verb–Subject word orderReport a problem with this question
18. In language Lorn, the prefix 'bi-' means 'two' and the suffix '-un' marks a person who does something. If 'sing' means 'guard', which word means 'two guards' (two people who guard)?
- A.bisingun✓ Answer
- B.singbiun
- C.unsingbi
- D.bisinun
The prefix 'bi-' goes on the front and the agent suffix '-un' on the back of 'sing', giving 'bi + sing + un' = 'bisingun'.
Source: Stem rules: prefix 'bi-' + agent suffix '-un'Report a problem with this question
19. In language Ghen, adjectives follow the noun and the plural suffix '-ri' attaches to the NOUN. 'tak'=house, 'vem'=old. How do you say 'old houses'?
- A.takri vem✓ Answer
- B.tak vemri
- C.vem takri
- D.takri vemri
The plural '-ri' attaches to the noun 'tak' making 'takri', and since adjectives follow the noun, 'vem' comes after: 'takri vem'.
Source: Stem rules: adjective-after-noun + plural suffix on the nounReport a problem with this question
20. In language Umro, the prefix 'sa-' means 'not' and the suffix '-mo' means 'full of'. If 'dren' means 'fear', which word means 'not full of fear' (fearless)?
- A.sadrenmo✓ Answer
- B.drensamo
- C.modrensa
- D.sadren
The prefix 'sa-' attaches to the front and the suffix '-mo' to the back of 'dren', giving 'sa + dren + mo' = 'sadrenmo'.
Source: Stem rules: prefix 'sa-' + suffix '-mo'Report a problem with this question

Practice questions modeled on the general aptitude domains of the CBP Border Patrol Agent entrance exam (logical reasoning, reading comprehension, artificial-language test, situational reasoning). Not legal or immigration advice and not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Check the official announcement for the current exam format. CBP Careers →

1. In the invented language Tomik, 'ka' means 'dog', 'ru' means 'big', and adjectives come AFTER the noun. How do you say 'big dog'?

2. In language Velo, adding the suffix '-po' makes a word plural. If 'nem' means 'tree', what is 'trees'?

3. In language Sarn, sentences follow the order Verb–Subject–Object. 'lom'=eats, 'fa'=cat, 'ti'=fish. How do you say 'the cat eats fish'?

4. In language Duro, the prefix 'ne-' negates a word. If 'val' means 'true', what means 'not true' (false)?

5. In language Kip, 'mo' means 'I', 'sa' means 'see', 'lu' means 'bird', and word order is Subject–Verb–Object. Translate 'mo sa lu'.

6. In language Brenn, 'ta' means 'water' and reduplicating a noun (saying it twice) makes it plural. What is 'waters'?

7. In language Onak, the suffix '-mi' marks past tense on verbs. If 'geb' means 'walk', how do you say 'walked'?

8. In language Zell, possessors come BEFORE the noun they own. 'do'=man, 'ken'=house. How do you say 'the man's house'?

9. In language Fint, questions are formed by adding 'ba' at the very end of a statement. The statement 'ki tol' means 'you run'. How do you ask 'do you run?'

10. In language Groll, 'sen' means 'small' and 'sen sen' (doubling the adjective) means 'very small'. If 'rok' means 'fast', how do you say 'very fast'?

11. In language Yamu, 'pel' = 'she', 'nod' = 'gives', 'gru' = 'book', word order is Subject–Verb–Object, and the suffix '-t' marks past tense. How do you say 'she gave the book'?

12. In language Coru, 'mel' = 'red', 'sil' = 'flower', and adjectives come BEFORE the noun. The phrase 'sil mel' would be incorrect for 'red flower'. Which is correct?

13. In language Habu, the prefix 're-' means 'again' and the suffix '-ka' means 'able to'. If 'plan' means 'build', how do you say 'able to build again'?

14. In language Nuvi, plural nouns take the ending '-sh'. You see the word 'kelsh' and are told 'kel' means 'star'. What does 'kelsh' mean?

15. In language Pral, negation is shown by the word 'zo' placed immediately BEFORE the verb. 'ami'=I, 'lok'=sleep, order is Subject–Verb. How do you say 'I do not sleep'?

16. In language Tesk, 'gam' = 'cold' and the suffix '-el' turns an adjective into a noun (the quality). If 'gam' means 'cold', what is 'coldness'?

17. In language Wodi, word order is Object–Verb–Subject. 'pa'=apple, 'chi'=eats, 'bo'=child. What does 'pa chi bo' mean?

18. In language Lorn, the prefix 'bi-' means 'two' and the suffix '-un' marks a person who does something. If 'sing' means 'guard', which word means 'two guards' (two people who guard)?

19. In language Ghen, adjectives follow the noun and the plural suffix '-ri' attaches to the NOUN. 'tak'=house, 'vem'=old. How do you say 'old houses'?

20. In language Umro, the prefix 'sa-' means 'not' and the suffix '-mo' means 'full of'. If 'dren' means 'fear', which word means 'not full of fear' (fearless)?