Massachusetts: Alcohol and drugs — Part 3 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Which of these is an effect of alcohol on a driver?” · “Which of these processes alcohol in your body?”
Independent educational site · not affiliated with any government agency or DMV
Ready? Test yourself
- Instant feedback with an explanation
- Every answer cites its source in the manual
- Your best score is saved on this device
Questions are original and based on the official manual "Massachusetts Driver's Manual" (Revised April 2026), Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
All 18 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
Show the questions and answersHide the questions
-
Which of these is an effect of alcohol on a driver?
- It shortens the time needed to react
- It improves night vision
- It distorts vision and judgment
- It sharpens coordination
Show answer
Correct answer: It distorts vision and judgment
Alcohol slows your reflexes, increases the time you need to react, and distorts your vision and judgment.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
Alcohol often makes a person feel more confident. What can this cause a driver to do?
- Drive more slowly and carefully than usual
- Take chances he or she would not normally take
- React faster to hazards on the road
- Stay in the lane more easily
Show answer
Correct answer: Take chances he or she would not normally take
Feeling more confident can cause you to take chances while driving that you normally wouldn’t take.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
Alcohol use makes a driver more likely to do which of these?
- Remember to use a safety belt
- Stay in the lane
- Judge distances correctly
- Speed
Show answer
Correct answer: Speed
Alcohol use makes you less likely to remember to use your safety belt, more likely to speed, and less able to stay in your lane.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
Do you have to be drunk or completely intoxicated to be a dangerous driver?
- Yes, alcohol is only dangerous when a driver is completely intoxicated
- Yes, but only for drivers under 21
- No, even small amounts of alcohol or other drugs can lower your driving ability
- No, but only for alcohol and not for any other drug
Show answer
Correct answer: No, even small amounts of alcohol or other drugs can lower your driving ability
Even small amounts of alcohol or other drugs can lower the mental and physical abilities needed to drive safely, so you do not have to be drunk to be dangerous.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
Which of these can lower the mental and physical abilities you need to drive safely, according to the Massachusetts manual?
- Some over-the-counter medicines
- Any food eaten before a trip
- Caffeine-free soft drinks
- A short rest break
Show answer
Correct answer: Some over-the-counter medicines
Even small amounts of alcohol or other drugs, including some over-the-counter medicines, can lower the abilities you need to drive safely.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
Even one alcoholic drink in an hour can affect your driving. Which of these can make the effect much worse?
- Drinking beer instead of wine
- Driving a larger vehicle
- Driving in daylight
- Being tired
Show answer
Correct answer: Being tired
The effect of even one drink can be much worse if you are tired, emotionally upset, or haven’t eaten.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
After drinking, can you make up for the effects of alcohol by trying hard to be careful or to concentrate?
- Yes, careful concentration lets you drive safely after one drink
- No, your ability to drive safely is impaired no matter how hard you try
- Yes, but only on roads you know well
- Yes, but only if you drive slowly
Show answer
Correct answer: No, your ability to drive safely is impaired no matter how hard you try
It does not matter how much you try to be careful or concentrate, because there is still a drug inside your body affecting you physically and mentally.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 71 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 71)
-
If you have used, or plan on using, alcohol, what should you make sure you have?
- A strong cup of black coffee
- A safe option to get home
- A full tank of gas
- A plan to drive slowly
Show answer
Correct answer: A safe option to get home
The manual says to make sure you have a safe option to get home, such as a designated driver, a taxi, a rideshare app, or a call to a friend or family member.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
Which of these processes alcohol in your body?
- Your stomach and lungs
- Your lungs
- Your heart
- Your liver and kidneys
Show answer
Correct answer: Your liver and kidneys
Alcohol is processed by your liver and kidneys, which takes time, because you do not digest alcohol as you do food.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
What do drinking black coffee, taking a cold shower, exercising, or eating do to how quickly alcohol leaves your body?
- They have no effect on how fast alcohol leaves
- They help your body remove alcohol faster
- They remove alcohol in about half the time
- They slow down how quickly it leaves
Show answer
Correct answer: They have no effect on how fast alcohol leaves
These actions might make you feel more alert, but none of them affect how quickly alcohol leaves your body.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
What is the only thing that will rid you of the effects of alcohol?
- Fresh air
- Black coffee
- Time
- A cold shower
Show answer
Correct answer: Time
Only time will rid you of the effects of alcohol.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
How is the amount of unprocessed alcohol in your body measured?
- As blood alcohol content (BAC), by a blood or breath test
- As alcohol proof, measured by a urine test only
- As body alcohol weight, measured by a pulse test
- As drink count, measured by a field sobriety test
Show answer
Correct answer: As blood alcohol content (BAC), by a blood or breath test
The amount of unprocessed alcohol in your body is measured as blood alcohol content (BAC), which can be measured by a blood or a breath test.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
Which of these is one of the factors your BAC depends on?
- The color or flavor of the drink
- The brand name of the alcohol you drink
- The amount of food you ate before drinking
- The temperature at which it is served
Show answer
Correct answer: The amount of food you ate before drinking
Your BAC depends on factors including your body weight, how much you drank, the food you ate before drinking, how long you have been drinking, and how fast your body processes alcohol.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
What matters about the alcohol you drink, rather than the kind of beverage?
- Whether it is beer, wine, or hard liquor
- The amount of alcohol you drink over a period of time
- Whether it is mixed with a soft drink or juice
- Whether it is served cold or at room temperature
Show answer
Correct answer: The amount of alcohol you drink over a period of time
The kind of beverage does not matter; what is important is the amount of alcohol you drink over a period of time.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
About how much alcohol is in a 12 ounce beer, a five ounce glass of wine, or a one and a half ounce serving of 80-proof liquor?
- About 2 ounces in the beer and 1 ounce in the others
- About 1 ounce in the liquor and 1/2 ounce in the others
- The amount differs greatly between the three
- About the same amount, about 1/2 ounce
Show answer
Correct answer: About the same amount, about 1/2 ounce
Each of these drinks contains about the same amount of alcohol, about 1/2 ounce.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
Which serving of liquor contains about the same amount of alcohol as a 12 ounce beer?
- Three and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor
- Five and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor
- One and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor
- Twelve ounces of 80-proof liquor, undiluted
Show answer
Correct answer: One and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor
One and a half ounce serving of 80-proof liquor contains about the same amount of alcohol as a 12 ounce beer, even if mixed with a soft drink.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
About how much can one 12 ounce beer, one five ounce glass of wine, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor raise an average person’s BAC?
- 0.02
- 0.08
- 0.005
- 0.15
Show answer
Correct answer: 0.02
Any one of these drinks (a 12 ounce beer, a five ounce glass of wine, or one and a half ounces of 80-proof liquor) can raise an average person’s BAC by 0.02.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)
-
What does the Massachusetts Implied Consent Law require of every licensed driver in the state?
- To take a written alcohol test at every license renewal
- To carry a personal breath test device
- To report any drink consumed before driving
- To consent to a breathalyzer or blood test in certain cases
Show answer
Correct answer: To consent to a breathalyzer or blood test in certain cases
Massachusetts has an Implied Consent Law: every licensed driver must agree to consent to a breathalyzer or blood test in certain cases.
Source: Massachusetts Driver's Manual (Revised April 2026), page 72 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 72)