GED Language Arts (RLA) : Syntax
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Example Questions
Example Question #10 : Completing Sentences
1 Learning a new musical instrument can be frustrating, challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating. 2 While some experts recommend jumping in on your own [Question 1]. 3 For example [Question 2] or you might pay a pianist to show you scales. 4 It’s important to remember that [Question 3] the payoff will be well worth it. 5 If you find yourself on the brink of giving up [Question 4]. 6 Of course, some instruments have a steeper learning curve [Question 5]. 7 Learning the bagpipes, for instance, may be a process that [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 2?
, most suggest that beginners take at least a few lessons to learn the rudimentary techniques.
most suggest that beginners take at least a few lessons, to learn the rudimentary techniques.
most suggest that beginners, taking at least a few lessons, to learn the rudimentary techniques.
, most suggesting that beginners take at least a few lessons to learn the rudimentary techniques.
, most suggest that beginners, taking at least a few lessons to learn the rudimentary techniques.
, most suggest that beginners take at least a few lessons to learn the rudimentary techniques.
Since the first half of Sentence 2 is a dependent clause, we know the second half of the sentence must be an independent clause. We also know that a comma will separate these two halves. No comma is necessary between “a few lessons” and “to learn,” since the entire clause is necessary to convey the meaning here.
Example Question #31 : Syntax
1 Learning a new musical instrument can be frustrating, challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating. 2 While some experts recommend jumping in on your own [Question 1]. 3 For example [Question 2] or you might pay a pianist to show you scales. 4 It’s important to remember that [Question 3] the payoff will be well worth it. 5 If you find yourself on the brink of giving up [Question 4]. 6 Of course, some instruments have a steeper learning curve [Question 5]. 7 Learning the bagpipes, for instance, may be a process that [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 3?
, one might ask a guitar player to teach you basic chords and strumming techniques,
: you might ask a guitar player to teach you basic chords and strumming techniques,
, you might ask a guitar player to teach you basic chords and strumming techniques,
, you might ask a guitar player to teach you basic chords and strumming techniques
one might ask a guitar player to teach basic chords and strumming techniques
, you might ask a guitar player to teach you basic chords and strumming techniques,
Since “For example” is an introductory clause, it must be followed by a comma. Since “you might pay a pianist to show you scales” is an independent clause preceded by a conjunction, a comma must come before “or.” Considering both these rules, only “, you might ask a guitar player to teach you basic chords and strumming techniques,” works grammatically.
Example Question #32 : Syntax
1 Learning a new musical instrument can be frustrating, challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating. 2 While some experts recommend jumping in on your own [Question 1]. 3 For example [Question 2] or you might pay a pianist to show you scales. 4 It’s important to remember that [Question 3] the payoff will be well worth it. 5 If you find yourself on the brink of giving up [Question 4]. 6 Of course, some instruments have a steeper learning curve [Question 5]. 7 Learning the bagpipes, for instance, may be a process that [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 4?
, while the learning process may be exasperating,
; while the learning process was exasperating,
while the learning process is exasperating
the learning process is exasperating,
: while the learning process could have been exasperating
, while the learning process may be exasperating,
Sentence 4 is constructed in a way that suggests that the missing piece is a parenthetical clause. Such clauses are always separated from the main body of the sentence by commas and are always dependent clauses. With this in mind, the only option that works grammatically is “, while the learning process may be exasperating,”.
Example Question #33 : Syntax
1 Learning a new musical instrument can be frustrating, challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating. 2 While some experts recommend jumping in on your own [Question 1]. 3 For example [Question 2] or you might pay a pianist to show you scales. 4 It’s important to remember that [Question 3] the payoff will be well worth it. 5 If you find yourself on the brink of giving up [Question 4]. 6 Of course, some instruments have a steeper learning curve [Question 5]. 7 Learning the bagpipes, for instance, may be a process that [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 5?
, imagine yourself, performing your favorite song, to an audience of admiring fans
imagine yourself; you are performing your favorite song to an audience of admiring fans
imagine yourself: performing your favorite song to an audience of admiring fans
, imagine yourself: performing your favorite song to an audience of admiring fans
, imagine yourself performing your favorite song to an audience of admiring fans
, imagine yourself performing your favorite song to an audience of admiring fans
Other than a comma to separate the first half of the sentence (a dependent clause) from the second half (an independent clause), no punctuation is necessary here. It’s good to note that the use of second person (“you” and “your”) is fine in this context, since it appears consistently in the rest of the passage.
Example Question #34 : Syntax
1 Learning a new musical instrument can be frustrating, challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating. 2 While some experts recommend jumping in on your own [Question 1]. 3 For example [Question 2] or you might pay a pianist to show you scales. 4 It’s important to remember that [Question 3] the payoff will be well worth it. 5 If you find yourself on the brink of giving up [Question 4]. 6 Of course, some instruments have a steeper learning curve [Question 5]. 7 Learning the bagpipes, for instance, may be a process that [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 6?
None of these other choices.
than other ones
then others
than others
then others’ ones
than others
Although the sentence is simply constructed, it’s easy to confuse the correct answer. Comparisons are always made with “than,” never “then.” Likewise, “others” is sufficient; “other ones” and “others’ ones” is unnecessarily redundant.
Example Question #35 : Syntax
1 Learning a new musical instrument can be frustrating, challenging, rewarding, and exhilarating. 2 While some experts recommend jumping in on your own [Question 1]. 3 For example [Question 2] or you might pay a pianist to show you scales. 4 It’s important to remember that [Question 3] the payoff will be well worth it. 5 If you find yourself on the brink of giving up [Question 4]. 6 Of course, some instruments have a steeper learning curve [Question 5]. 7 Learning the bagpipes, for instance, may be a process that [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 7?
will only earn you applause when you finally stop playing
only earned you applause when you’ll finally stop playing
earns you applause when you’d finally stopped playing
only earning you applause when you finally stop playing
, earning you applause, when you finally stop playing
will only earn you applause when you finally stop playing
This tongue-in-cheek conclusion only works grammatically with the future tense: “will only earn you applause when you finally stop playing.” All of the other choices will result in a mixed construction, which is incorrect. No punctuation is necessary in this part of the sentence, either.
Example Question #111 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Reason and emotion are often seen [Question 1] in other words, people believe the two can’t coexist. 2 Pure rationality is often considered [Question].3 Emotion, on the other hand [Question 3]. 4 However, scientists have recently discovered that the reason-emotion binary is in fact a false dichotomy. 5 [Question 4] the two are not mutually exclusive, and emotion often aids reason in filtering out poor, dangerous, or distracting choices. 6 This symbiosis is particularly obvious in decision making [Question 5]. 7 All in all, one should strive to make choices using [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 1?
as diametrically opposed forces;
as diametrically opposed forces,
diametrically opposed, like forces,
diametrically opposed, forces;
diametrically opposing forces
as diametrically opposed forces;
Both halves of this sentence are independent clauses (complete sentences in their own right). This means that either a period or a semicolon is required to separate them. It’s also important to note that reason and emotion aren’t themselves doing any opposing; they’re oppositional forces.
Example Question #112 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Reason and emotion are often seen [Question 1] in other words, people believe the two can’t coexist. 2 Pure rationality is often considered [Question].3 Emotion, on the other hand [Question 3]. 4 However, scientists have recently discovered that the reason-emotion binary is in fact a false dichotomy. 5 [Question 4] the two are not mutually exclusive, and emotion often aids reason in filtering out poor, dangerous, or distracting choices. 6 This symbiosis is particularly obvious in decision making [Question 5]. 7 All in all, one should strive to make choices using [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 2?
, cautious, civilized, and controlled.
being, cautious, civilized, and controlled.
to be cautious, civilized, and controlled.
cautious, civilized, and controlled.
being: cautious, civilized, and controlled.
to be cautious, civilized, and controlled.
The only choice that results in a complete sentence here is “to be cautious, civilized, and controlled.” Using the gerund, “being,” results in a sentence fragment, as does leaving out the “to be” verb altogether.
Example Question #113 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Reason and emotion are often seen [Question 1] in other words, people believe the two can’t coexist. 2 Pure rationality is often considered [Question].3 Emotion, on the other hand [Question 3]. 4 However, scientists have recently discovered that the reason-emotion binary is in fact a false dichotomy. 5 [Question 4] the two are not mutually exclusive, and emotion often aids reason in filtering out poor, dangerous, or distracting choices. 6 This symbiosis is particularly obvious in decision making [Question 5]. 7 All in all, one should strive to make choices using [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 3?
, is considered to impede logic
: considering the impeded logic
, considers impeding logic
; is considered to impede logic
; consider, impeded logic
, is considered to impede logic
In Sentence 3, “on the other hand” is a parenthetical clause that requires commas both before and after it. Reading closely for meaning, we can deduce that “emotion” itself is not engaged in the act of considering; rather, emotion is being considered in a certain way. With these two observations, we can narrow down the answer choices to the correct one, “, is considered to impede logic.”
Example Question #114 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Reason and emotion are often seen [Question 1] in other words, people believe the two can’t coexist. 2 Pure rationality is often considered [Question].3 Emotion, on the other hand [Question 3]. 4 However, scientists have recently discovered that the reason-emotion binary is in fact a false dichotomy. 5 [Question 4] the two are not mutually exclusive, and emotion often aids reason in filtering out poor, dangerous, or distracting choices. 6 This symbiosis is particularly obvious in decision making [Question 5]. 7 All in all, one should strive to make choices using [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 5?
Whereas
Furthermore,
Yet
However,
That is to say,
That is to say,
Sentence 5 clarifies and restates the point made in Sentence 4. The only transitional phrase that makes sense in this context, then, is “That is to say.” All the other choices indicate different relationships between Sentences 4 and 5.
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