Shapes Midterm Practice Questions

Which shape has four equal sides and four right angles?

• Rectangle

• Square

• Parallelogram

• Trapezoid

Answer explanation

A square has four equal sides and four right angles, making it a specific type of rectangle. In contrast, a rectangle has equal opposite sides but not necessarily all four equal, while parallelograms and trapezoids do not meet these criteria.

What is a defining property of a parallelogram?

• Only one pair of opposite sides is parallel

• All four angles are 90 degrees

• Opposite sides are parallel and equal in length

• All sides are equal and angles are 90 degrees

Answer explanation

A defining property of a parallelogram is that opposite sides are parallel and equal in length. This distinguishes it from other quadrilaterals, making the correct choice the one that states this property.

Which shape has only one pair of parallel sides?

• Square

• Trapezoid

• Rhombus

• Kite

Answer explanation

A trapezoid is defined as a shape with exactly one pair of parallel sides, distinguishing it from squares, rhombuses, and kites, which have either no parallel sides or two pairs.

Which quadrilateral is a special case of both a rectangle and a rhombus?

• Trapezoid

• Kite

• Square

• Parallelogram

Answer explanation

A square is a special case of both a rectangle (all angles are right) and a rhombus (all sides are equal). Therefore, the correct answer is square.

Which shape has no parallel sides?

• Rectangle

• Parallelogram

• Kite

• Trapezoid

Answer explanation

A kite has two pairs of adjacent sides that are equal but no parallel sides, distinguishing it from rectangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids, which all have at least one pair of parallel sides.

What makes a rhombus different from a parallelogram?

• A rhombus has four right angles

• A rhombus has equal-length sides

• A rhombus has only one pair of parallel sides

• A rhombus has no diagonals

Answer explanation

A rhombus is a specific type of parallelogram where all four sides are of equal length. This distinguishes it from a general parallelogram, which may have sides of different lengths.

Which shape has diagonals that bisect each other at right angles?

• Square

• Parallelogram

• Trapezoid

• Rectangle

Answer explanation

A square has diagonals that bisect each other at right angles, making it a special type of parallelogram. In contrast, a rectangle's diagonals bisect but not necessarily at right angles, and trapezoids do not have this property.

Which shape always has two pairs of equal adjacent sides?

• Rhombus

• Rectangle

• Kite

• Square

Answer explanation

A kite is defined by having two pairs of adjacent sides that are equal in length. In contrast, a rhombus and square have all sides equal, and a rectangle has opposite sides equal, not adjacent.

If a quadrilateral has one pair of parallel sides and no equal-length sides, what is it?

• Trapezoid

• Rectangle

• Parallelogram

• Square

Answer explanation

A trapezoid is defined as a quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides. Since the question specifies one pair of parallel sides and no equal-length sides, the correct answer is a trapezoid.

Which shape has all four sides equal but does not necessarily have right angles?

• Square

• Rhombus

• Parallelogram

• Trapezoid

Answer explanation

A rhombus has all four sides equal in length but does not require right angles, distinguishing it from a square, which has right angles. Therefore, the correct answer is rhombus.