GED Language Arts (RLA) : Punctuation

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Language Arts (RLA)

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Commas

In this popular car ad a pony stands against a rural prairie backdrop. He is flashing a set of gold teeth. Dark, clouds overhead indicate the arrival of a rainstorm. In the top right hand corner of the ad, the tagline reads: “Now in the Prairies. The urban-inspired, 2009 Forota Hattrick.” Created for the Canadian Prairie Forota Dealers organization by an advertising firm; this ad is one in a series of three, each of which feature farm animals sporting so-called “urban-inspired” accessories: a pony with a grill, a sheep with an afro pick, and a cow with a Band-Aid under his left eye (reminiscent of the one once regularly worn by rapper Nelly).

The urban pony ad has a dark color scheme that is more muted then saturated. The dark background emphasizes the sparkle bouncing off the pony’s grill. There’s also a strong contrast between the images’ foreground and background. While the environment is hazy and its details soft, the pony is seen up close, a bright light source illuminating texture in the individual strands of its hair and the indentations in its gold teeth. Overall, the image of the pony is highly stylized—particularly in contrast—with its visually subdued surroundings. The pony’s aestheticized or artificial qualities being at odds with its rural environment.

On the other hand, there are also visual cues indicating affinity between the animal and its surroundings. For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint yellow rectangular shape floating in the sky. The pattern of shadow and light mottling the pony’s cheek bones also mimics the pattern of dark and light in the gathering storm clouds. This might suggest that the animal is being allies with its natural, prairie setting. The storm, however, contains its own ambiguity: though it is a part of nature, it can also be read as foreboding symbol signally the arrival of the urban-inspired car. These visual details serve to simultaneously place the pony within and alienate it from its surroundings. 

Select the answer that best corrects the underlined sentence. 

Possible Answers:

Overall the image of the pony is highly stylized, particularly, in contrast with its visually subdued surroundings. 

The sentence contains no error. 

Overall, the image of the pony is highly stylized, particularly in contrast with its visually subdued surroundings. 

Overall, the image of the pony is highly stylized—particularly in contrast with its visually subdued surroundings. 

Overall the image of the pony is highly stylized particularly in contrast with its visually subdued surroundings. 

Correct answer:

Overall, the image of the pony is highly stylized, particularly in contrast with its visually subdued surroundings. 

Explanation:

In the original sentence, the dashes offsetting the parenthetical is nonsensical. Everything following "particularly" is an adverbial phrase modifying the adjective "stylized." It's therefore offset by a comma. 

 

Example Question #1 : Commas

In this popular car ad a pony stands against a rural prairie backdrop. He is flashing a set of gold teeth. Dark, clouds overhead indicate the arrival of a rainstorm. In the top right hand corner of the ad, the tagline reads: “Now in the Prairies. The urban-inspired, 2009 Forota Hattrick.” Created for the Canadian Prairie Forota Dealers organization by an advertising firm; this ad is one in a series of three, each of which feature farm animals sporting so-called “urban-inspired” accessories: a pony with a grill, a sheep with an afro pick, and a cow with a Band-Aid under his left eye (reminiscent of the one once regularly worn by rapper Nelly).

The urban pony ad has a dark color scheme that is more muted then saturated. The dark background emphasizes the sparkle bouncing off the pony’s grill. There’s also a strong contrast between the images’ foreground and background. While the environment is hazy and its details soft, the pony is seen up close, a bright light source illuminating texture in the individual strands of its hair and the indentations in its gold teeth. Overall, the image of the pony is highly stylized—particularly in contrast—with its visually subdued surroundings. The pony’s aestheticized or artificial qualities being at odds with its rural environment.

On the other hand, there are also visual cues indicating affinity between the animal and its surroundings. For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint yellow rectangular shape floating in the sky. The pattern of shadow and light mottling the pony’s cheek bones also mimics the pattern of dark and light in the gathering storm clouds. This might suggest that the animal is being allies with its natural, prairie setting. The storm, however, contains its own ambiguity: though it is a part of nature, it can also be read as foreboding symbol signally the arrival of the urban-inspired car. These visual details serve to simultaneously place the pony within and alienate it from its surroundings. 

Select the answer that best corrects the highlighted sentence. 

Possible Answers:

For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint, yellow rectangular shape floating in the sky.

For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint-yellow, rectangular shape floating in the sky.

For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint, yellow, rectangular shape floating in the sky.

For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint (yellow rectangular) shape floating in the sky.

The sentence contains no error. 

Correct answer:

For example, the shape of its teeth are echoed in a faint, yellow, rectangular shape floating in the sky.

Explanation:

"Faint," "yellow," and "rectangular" are all adjectives of equal weight modifying the noun "shape." They therefore need to be separated by commas. 

Example Question #1 : Commas

Passage adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts employed the fine days, and for rainy ones, they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more or less original. One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club. With a few interruptions, they had kept this up for a year, and met every Saturday evening in the big garret, on which occasions the ceremonies were as follows: Three chairs were arranged in a row before a table on which was a lamp, also four white badges, with a big `P.C.' in different colors on each, and the weekly newspaper called, The Pickwick Portfolio, to which all contributed something, while Jo, who reveled in pens and ink, was the editor. At seven o'clock, the four members ascended to the clubroom, tied their badges round their heads, and took their seats with great solemnity. Meg, as the eldest, was Samuel Pickwick, Jo, being of a literary turn, Augustus Snodgrass, Beth, because she was round and rosy, Tracy Tupman, and Amy, who was always trying to do what she couldn't, was Nathaniel Winkle. Pickwick, the president, read the paper, which was filled with original tales, poetry, local news, funny advertisements, and hints, in which they good-naturedly reminded each other of their faults and short comings. On one occasion, Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass, rapped upon the table, hemmed, and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass, who was tilting back in his chair, till he arranged himself properly, began to read:

Correct the bolded and underlined section of the passage.

Possible Answers:

Gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts, employed the fine days

Gardening, walks rows on the river and flower hunts employed the fine days

Gardening walks, rows on the river and flower hunts employed the fine days

Gardening walks rows on the river, and flower hunts employed the fine days

(no change)

Correct answer:

(no change)

Explanation:

A series of things, in this case "gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts," must have a comma after each item in the list except the last item. Therefore, there must be a comma after gardening and walks and rows on the rivers but not after flower hunts.

Example Question #1 : Commas

Passage adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts employed the fine days, and for rainy ones, they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more, or less original. One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club. With a few interruptions, they had kept this up for a year, and met every Saturday evening in the big garret, on which occasions the ceremonies were as follows: Three chairs were arranged in a row before a table on which was a lamp, also four white badges, with a big `P.C.' in different colors on each, and the weekly newspaper called, The Pickwick Portfolio, to which all contributed something, while Jo, who reveled in pens and ink, was the editor. At seven o'clock, the four members ascended to the clubroom, tied their badges round their heads, and took their seats with great solemnity. Meg, as the eldest, was Samuel Pickwick, Jo, being of a literary turn, Augustus Snodgrass, Beth, because she was round and rosy, Tracy Tupman, and Amy, who was always trying to do what she couldn't, was Nathaniel Winkle. Pickwick, the president, read the paper, which was filled with original tales, poetry, local news, funny advertisements, and hints, in which they good-naturedly reminded each other of their faults and short comings. On one occasion, Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass, rapped upon the table, hemmed, and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass, who was tilting back in his chair, till he arranged himself properly, began to read:

Correct the bolded and underlined section of the passage.

Possible Answers:

they had house diversions, some old some new, all more or less original.

(no change)

they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more or less original.

they had house diversions, some old, some new all more or less original.

they had house diversions some old some new all more or less original.

Correct answer:

they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more or less original.

Explanation:

A series of items in a sentence must have a comma between each item but in this series "more or less original" is considered one item even though there is an "or" in it. It is a common phrase that cannot be broken up by a comma.

Example Question #1 : Commas

Passage adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts employed the fine days, and for rainy ones, they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more, or less original. One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one; and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club. With a few interruptions, they had kept this up for a year, and met every Saturday evening in the big garret, on which occasions the ceremonies were as follows: Three chairs were arranged in a row before a table on which was a lamp, also four white badges, with a big `P.C.' in different colors on each, and the weekly newspaper called, The Pickwick Portfolio, to which all contributed something, while Jo, who reveled in pens and ink, was the editor. At seven o'clock, the four members ascended to the clubroom, tied their badges round their heads, and took their seats with great solemnity. Meg, as the eldest, was Samuel Pickwick, Jo, being of a literary turn, Augustus Snodgrass, Beth, because she was round and rosy, Tracy Tupman, and Amy, who was always trying to do what she couldn't, was Nathaniel Winkle. Pickwick, the president, read the paper, which was filled with original tales, poetry, local news, funny advertisements, and hints, in which they good-naturedly reminded each other of their faults and short comings. On one occasion, Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass, rapped upon the table, hemmed, and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass, who was tilting back in his chair, till he arranged himself properly, began to read:

Correct the bolded and underlined section of the passage.

Possible Answers:

One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club.

One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club.

One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion; it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club.

One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club.

(no change)

Correct answer:

One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club.

Explanation:

"One of these was the 'P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one" and "as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club" are both independent clauses, which means they can be stand alone sentences. When two independent clauses are linked together in a sentence, they require a semicolon or a conjunction with a comma. A semicolon can only be used if there are two independent clauses and no conjunction. The use of 'and' between "have one" and "as all" means that there must be a comma and not a semicolon.

Example Question #51 : Language Usage And Grammar

Passage adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts employed the fine days, and for rainy ones, they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more or less original. One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called herselves the Pickwick Club. With a few interruptions, they had kept this up for a year, and met every Saturday evening in the big garret, on which occasions the ceremonies were as follows: Three chairs were arranged in a row before a table on which was a lamp, also four white badges, with a big `P.C.' in different colors on each, and the weekly newspaper called, The Pickwick Portfolio, to which all contributed something, while Jo, who reveled in pens and ink, was the editor. At seven o'clock, the four members ascended to the clubroom, tied their badges round their heads, and took their seats with great solemnity. Meg, as the eldest, was Samuel Pickwick, Jo, being of a literary turn, Augustus Snodgrass, Beth, because she were round and rosy, Tracy Tupman, and Amy, who was always trying to do what she couldn't, was Nathaniel Winkle. Pickwick the president, read the paper, which was filled with original tales, poetry, local news, funny advertisements, and hints, in which they good-naturedly reminded each other of their faults and short comings. On one occasion, Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass, rapped upon the table, hemmed, and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass, who was tilting back in his chair, till he arranged himself properly, began to read:

Correct the bolded and underlined section of the passage.

Possible Answers:

Pickwick: the president, read the paper

Pickwick, the president, read the paper

Pickwick, the president read the paper

Pickwick the president read the paper

(no change)

Correct answer:

Pickwick, the president, read the paper

Explanation:

Commas are used to separate nonessential words or clauses. "The president" is considered nonessential. It is important information but it is non essential for the sentence to be considered a complete sentence.  

Example Question #51 : Language Usage And Grammar

Passage adapted from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Gardening, walks, rows on the river, and flower hunts employed the fine days, and for rainy ones, they had house diversions, some old, some new, all more or less original. One of these was the `P.C', for as secret societies were the fashion, it was thought proper to have one, and as all of the girls admired Dickens, they called themselves the Pickwick Club. With a few interruptions, they had kept this up for a year, and met every Saturday evening in the big garret, on which occasions the ceremonies were as follows: Three chairs were arranged in a row before a table on which was a lamp, also four white badges, with a big `P.C.' in different colors on each, and the weekly newspaper called, The Pickwick Portfolio, to which all contributed something, while Jo, who reveled in pens and ink, was the editor. At seven o'clock, the four members ascended to the clubroom, tied their badges round their heads, and took their seats with great solemnity. Meg, as the eldest, was Samuel Pickwick, Jo, being of a literary turn, Augustus Snodgrass, Beth, because she was round and rosy, Tracy Tupman, and Amy, who was always trying to do what she couldn't, was Nathaniel Winkle. Pickwick, the president, read the paper, which was filled with original tales, poetry, local news, funny advertisements, and hints, in which they good-naturedly reminded each other of their faults and short comings. On one occasion, Mr. Pickwick put on a pair of spectacles without any glass, rapped upon the table, hemmed, and having stared hard at Mr. Snodgrass, who was tilting back in his chair, till he arranged himself properly, began to read:

Why is a comma needed after the word "interruptions" in the bolded and underlined section?

Possible Answers:

It is an introductory clause

None of these

It is the start of a comma sandwich

It is a logical point for a breath

There shouldn't be a comma there

Correct answer:

It is an introductory clause

Explanation:

With few interruptions is considered an introductory clause. It is not necessary to make the sentence complete making it nonessential information and therefore requires a comma after it. 

Example Question #11 : Commas

Nina was wondering if, after the doctor’s appointment, she will have time to stop by the design studio?

Possible Answers:

appointment, she will have time to stop by the farmers market.

(no change)

appointment, she will have time: to stop by the farmers market?

appointment: will she have time to stop by the farmers market?

appointment she will have time to stop by the farmers market?

Correct answer:

appointment, she will have time to stop by the farmers market.

Explanation:

Here, the sentence is providing declarative information about Nina (“she is wondering”)  and not actually asking a question (“is she wondering?”). Even though the sentence is expressing uncertainty, it is not an interrogative sentence and therefore should not have a question mark. Because “after the doctor’s appointment is a parenthetical clause, it needs a comma both before and after it. Adding a period to the end of this sentence is therefore the only necessary change.

Example Question #11 : Commas

Being an excellent swimmer Alicia was often frustrated with her teammates’ sloppy strokes and haphazard diving technique.

Possible Answers:

(no change)

Being an excellent swimmer, Alicia, was often frustrated with her teammates’ sloppy strokes and haphazard diving technique.

Being an excellent swimmer Alicia was often frustrated with her teammates’ sloppy strokes, and haphazard diving technique.

Being an excellent swimmer, Alicia was often frustrated with her teammates’ sloppy strokes and haphazard diving technique.

Being an excellent swimmer — Alicia was often frustrated — with her teammates’ sloppy strokes and haphazard diving technique.

Correct answer:

Being an excellent swimmer, Alicia was often frustrated with her teammates’ sloppy strokes and haphazard diving technique.

Explanation:

“Being an excellent swimmer” is an introductory clause and a modifier that describes “Alicia,” so a comma is needed to separate the two. Because the conjunction “and” is not separating two independent clauses, no comma is necessary there. (Note also the correct use of the plural possessive with “teammates’.”)

Example Question #12 : Commas

Aidan, Jack, and their aunt, Maria, spent nearly half an hour trying to find their car in the parking lot.

Possible Answers:

Aidan, Jack and their aunt Maria,

Aidan, Jack, and their aunt, Maria;

None of these other choices

Aidan, Jack, and their aunt Maria,

(no change)

Correct answer:

(no change)

Explanation:

Here, the list of people is punctuated correctly. There should be a comma between each person on the list and an additional comma on either side of “Maria,” as that’s a modifier for “their aunt.” In other words, no changes are necessary.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors