GED Language Arts (RLA) : Language Usage and Grammar
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Language Arts (RLA)
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Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Completing Sentences
1 Baby elephants have an extensive gestation period of around two years, [Question One]. 2 Although they can walk soon after they are born, baby elephants are quite feeble for the first few weeks of their lives. 3 Around three months after birth, baby elephants are capable of foraging for their own food [Question 2]. 4 They communicate with their mothers by intertwining or touching their trunks [Question 3]. 5 Young elephants are very intelligent, [Question 4]. 6 That is to say, all ages of elephants can communicate, interpret human behavior, use tools, and even mourn their dead.
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 5?
: being much more clever than adults.
, as are adults.
, however, adults are too.
; whereas, adults being more clever.
, while adults tend to be slower.
, as are adults.
Reading Sentence 6 makes it clear that young elephants and adults are both very intelligent. The only choice that expresses this relationship grammatically is “as are adults.” (The choice beginning with “however” is incorrectly punctuated and should be preceded by a semicolon, not a comma.)
Example Question #2 : Completing Sentences
1 Over the past few decades, an abundance of new cooking techniques [Question 1]. 2 A combination of internet tutorials, popular cooking shows, and celebrity chefs [Question 2]. 3 Today, professional and amateur cooks alike have access to information and tools that allow them to explore everything from fire-roasting vegetables [Question 3]. 4 Some chefs [Question 4], a strategy they say allows them to respect tradition while maintaining innovation. 5 Among these old techniques [Question 5] pickling, fermenting, and smoking, for instance. 6 Whether you’re interested in X, Y, or Z [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 4?
which have also resurrected old techniques
having also resurrected old techniques
are also resurrecting old techniques
, also resurrecting old techniques
, were also resurrecting old techniques
are also resurrecting old techniques
Since the second half of Sentence 4 is a dependent clause, the missing part of the sentence must supply the subject and verb to make it an independent clause. The only choices here that do so are “are also resurrecting old techniques” and “, were also resurrecting old techniques.” The latter choice is incorrect because of the comma and the past tense verb “were.”
Example Question #3 : Completing Sentences
1 Over the past few decades, an abundance of new cooking techniques [Question 1]. 2 A combination of internet tutorials, popular cooking shows, and celebrity chefs [Question 2]. 3 Today, professional and amateur cooks alike have access to information and tools that allow them to explore everything from fire-roasting vegetables [Question 3]. 4 Some chefs [Question 4], a strategy they say allows them to respect tradition while maintaining innovation. 5 Among these old techniques [Question 5] pickling, fermenting, and smoking, for instance. 6 Whether you’re interested in X, Y, or Z [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 5?
are various antiquated means of preserving foods;
was various antiquated means of preserving foods:
is various antiquated means of preserving foods,
are various antiquated means of preserving foods:
were various antiquated means of preserving foods,
are various antiquated means of preserving foods:
Since the beginning of Sentence 5 introduces a list, the correct punctuation mark is a colon. Since several techniques are being listed, the correct verb conjugation is “are” (present tense and plural). This eliminates all but one of the choices.
Example Question #4 : Completing Sentences
1 Over the past few decades, an abundance of new cooking techniques [Question 1]. 2 A combination of internet tutorials, popular cooking shows, and celebrity chefs [Question 2]. 3 Today, professional and amateur cooks alike have access to information and tools that allow them to explore everything from fire-roasting vegetables [Question 3]. 4 Some chefs [Question 4], a strategy they say allows them to respect tradition while maintaining innovation. 5 Among these old techniques [Question 5] pickling, fermenting, and smoking, for instance. 6 Whether you’re interested in X, Y, or Z [Question 6].
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 6?
, certainly it is being an exciting time as a chef.
; it’s certainly an exciting time to be a chef.
, it’s certainly an exciting time to be a chef.
, certainly an exciting time as a chef.
: it is certainly an exciting time to be a chef.
, it’s certainly an exciting time to be a chef.
The beginning of Sentence 6 is a dependent clause, so we know that the rest of the sentence must be an independent clause. We also know that the two must be separated with a comma. Lastly, “certainly it is being an exciting time as a chef” is too convoluted to be the best choice.
Example Question #5 : 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 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.
, 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 #262 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
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?
, 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
, 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,
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 #271 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
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 is exasperating
, while the learning process may be exasperating,
; while the learning process was exasperating,
: while the learning process could have been exasperating
the learning process is 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 #272 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
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: 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
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 #273 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
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?
then others
None of these other choices.
than other ones
then others’ ones
than others
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 #274 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
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?
only earning you applause when you finally stop playing
will only earn you applause when you finally stop playing
earns you applause when you’d finally stopped playing
, earning you applause, when you finally stop playing
only earned you applause when you’ll 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.
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