GED Language Arts (RLA) : Language Usage and Grammar
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Example Questions
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?
diametrically opposed, forces;
as diametrically opposed forces;
diametrically opposing forces
diametrically opposed, like forces,
as diametrically opposed 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?
being: cautious, civilized, and controlled.
to be cautious, civilized, and controlled.
cautious, civilized, and controlled.
being, cautious, civilized, and controlled.
, 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?
: considering the impeded logic
; is considered to impede logic
, considers impeding logic
; consider, impeded logic
, is considered to impede 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 #11 : Completing Sentences
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.
Example Question #115 : 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 6?
, happening upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes
, which calls upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes
, calling upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes
that happens to call upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes
; this calls upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes
, which calls upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes
While two of these options are technically grammatically correct, the best choice is “, which calls upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes.” The other grammatical option is to make the two halves of the sentences each independent clauses and separate them with a semicolon: “; this calls upon a complex series of both rational and intuitive processes.” This option, however, is clunkier and uses the imprecise pronoun “this.”
Example Question #116 : 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 7?
both your head and heart
, both your head and your heart
both one’s head and one’s heart
None of these other choices
both, one’s head and one’s heart
both one’s head and one’s heart
Since the beginning of Sentence 7 uses the 3rd-person pronoun “one,” the end should maintain that usage. We can therefore rule out those answer choices using the 2nd-person pronoun “you.” No comma is necessary in this part of the sentence.
Example Question #281 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
1 Igloos, a longstanding source of fascination for children and adults alike [Question 1]. 2 [Question 2] it is actually based on very practical specifications. 3 First, the snow must be packed firmly into rectangular shapes. 4 These shapes [Question 3]. 5 Continue to stack rows of rectangular blocks [Question 4] this will ensure that the igloo is dome-shaped and closes over your head. 6 Once you have assembled all the snow blocks, be sure to place the “capstone” block carefully [Question 5]. 7 Lastly [Question 6] and you’ll be on your way.
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 1?
are constructed in a very precise way.
, is constructed in a very precise way.
can be constructed in a very precise way.
, are constructed in a very precise way.
, constructed as they are in a very precise way.
, are constructed in a very precise way.
In Sentence 1, “a longstanding source of fascination…” is a parenthetical clause. In other words, it must be set off on both sides with commas. Since “igloos” is a plural noun, we need to use a plural verb conjugation: “are.” The only choice that is grammatically correct here is “, are constructed in a very precise way.”
Example Question #282 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
1 Igloos, a longstanding source of fascination for children and adults alike [Question 1]. 2 [Question 2] it is actually based on very practical specifications. 3 First, the snow must be packed firmly into rectangular shapes. 4 These shapes [Question 3]. 5 Continue to stack rows of rectangular blocks [Question 4] this will ensure that the igloo is dome-shaped and closes over your head. 6 Once you have assembled all the snow blocks, be sure to place the “capstone” block carefully [Question 5]. 7 Lastly [Question 6] and you’ll be on your way.
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 2?
Even though their design is appearing whimsical
Because their design appears whimsical,
Despite their design appears whimsical,
While their design may appear whimsical,
Moreover, their design may appear whimsical
While their design may appear whimsical,
Here we have a dependent clause followed by an independent clause. The correct way to separate these two clauses is with a comma. We also have a relationship of contrast between the two clauses, meaning that the transitional words “While,” “Even though,” and “Despite” are the only ones that fit the subject.
Example Question #283 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
1 Igloos, a longstanding source of fascination for children and adults alike [Question 1]. 2 [Question 2] it is actually based on very practical specifications. 3 First, the snow must be packed firmly into rectangular shapes. 4 These shapes [Question 3]. 5 Continue to stack rows of rectangular blocks [Question 4] this will ensure that the igloo is dome-shaped and closes over your head. 6 Once you have assembled all the snow blocks, be sure to place the “capstone” block carefully [Question 5]. 7 Lastly [Question 6] and you’ll be on your way.
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 4?
will line the bottom of a circular trench
lined the bottom, of a circular trench
will line it, the bottom of a circular trench
must line the bottom of, a circular trench
must have lined the bottom of a circular trench
will line the bottom of a circular trench
Don’t be confused by the use of “must” in the previous sentence; the future tense “will” is the correct choice for Sentence 4. No comma is necessary in this phrase.
Example Question #284 : Ged Language Arts (Rla)
1 Igloos, a longstanding source of fascination for children and adults alike [Question 1]. 2 [Question 2] it is actually based on very practical specifications. 3 First, the snow must be packed firmly into rectangular shapes. 4 These shapes [Question 3]. 5 Continue to stack rows of rectangular blocks [Question 4] this will ensure that the igloo is dome-shaped and closes over your head. 6 Once you have assembled all the snow blocks, be sure to place the “capstone” block carefully [Question 5]. 7 Lastly [Question 6] and you’ll be on your way.
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 5?
; being careful to slope them inward,
; careful to slope them inward,
; carefully sloping them inward,
, carefully slope them inward;
, being careful to slope them inward;
, being careful to slope them inward;
Observing that the second half of Sentence 5 is an independent clause lets us know that the missing phrase ends with a semicolon. Observing that the first half of Sentence 5 is also an independent clause and that the missing phrase should be a dependent clause lets us know that the missing phrase must be preceded by a comma.
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