GED Language Arts (RLA) : Language Usage and Grammar
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Example Questions
Example Question #141 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Overfishing is a serious threat [Question 1]. 2 Essentially, it means that humans are depleting the ocean’s supply of fish, crustaceans, sea mammals, kelps, and other [Question 2]. 3 The problem [Question 3] when sailors killed vast numbers of whales for their valuable blubber. 4 Since then, industrial fishing fleets and increased consumer demand have led to [Question 4] everything from sharks to blue fin tuna. 5 Even species that are not typically eaten [Question 5] have become accidental “bycatch” and are thereby threatened with endangerment. 6 If the process is not reversed soon, [Question 6].
What is the correct way to rewrite Sentence 3?
occurred first in the 19th century
, occurred as early as the 19th century
, which was occurring in the 19th century,
has been occurring since the 19th century,
, occurring since the 19th century,
has been occurring since the 19th century,
Both “occurring since the 19th century” and “which was occurring in the 19th century” would lead to sentence fragments, so they are not good options. Both “occurred first in the 19th century” and “occurred as early as the 19th century” lack a crucial final comma to separate the independent clause from the dependent clause, so those choices are not good options, either.
Example Question #141 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Overfishing is a serious threat [Question 1]. 2 Essentially, it means that humans are depleting the ocean’s supply of fish, crustaceans, sea mammals, kelps, and other [Question 2]. 3 The problem [Question 3] when sailors killed vast numbers of whales for their valuable blubber. 4 Since then, industrial fishing fleets and increased consumer demand have led to [Question 4] everything from sharks to blue fin tuna. 5 Even species that are not typically eaten [Question 5] have become accidental “bycatch” and are thereby threatened with endangerment. 6 If the process is not reversed soon, [Question 6].
What is the correct way to rewrite Sentence 4?
the delineation of
the deliquescence of
the decimation of
the deliberation of
the demarcation of
the decimation of
This is a vocabulary question. The entire passage is discussing the killing of ocean species, so we should choose the word that best fits that topic. “Decimation,” or the killing/destruction of a large percentage of something, is the only word here that fits the context.
Example Question #61 : Syntax
1 Writer’s block is a challenge that faces many creative people [Question 1]. 2 Inventors and theoreticians alike have long speculated about the possible [Question 2]. 3 Some people believe that it comes from lack of preparation [Question 3]. Recently, neurological and psychological studies have identified potential underlying causes of creative block [Question 4]. 5 Still others assert that a lack of resources (including time, money, and community) [Question 5].
6 People faced with writer’s block [Question 6] may take comfort in the fact that many of the world’s greatest artists have struggled similarly. 7 Take Ludwig van Beethoven, Vincent van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo as just a few examples of individuals who [Question 7] prevailed in creating lasting masterpieces. 8 [Question 8] then an artist can always try consulting with peers, taking a break, or turning their attention to a new art form altogether. 9 After all, through [Question 9] a person can overcome almost any artistic impediment.
Which of the following phrases best completes Sentence 7?
— despite immense, bouts of writer’s block —
, despite immense bouts of writer’s block,
despite immense, bouts of writer’s block
— despite immense bouts of writer’s block;
: despite immense bouts of writer’s block,
, despite immense bouts of writer’s block,
As with the previous question, we can see that the non-bracketed parts of this sentence are a standalone independent clause. We thus know that what’s inside the brackets must be offset by a pair of commas, parentheses, or em dashes. Since “immense” is an adjective immediately preceding “bouts,” a noun, no comma is necessary between those two words.
Example Question #41 : Completing Sentences
1 Overfishing is a serious threat [Question 1]. 2 Essentially, it means that humans are depleting the ocean’s supply of fish, crustaceans, sea mammals, kelps, and other [Question 2]. 3 The problem [Question 3] when sailors killed vast numbers of whales for their valuable blubber. 4 Since then, industrial fishing fleets and increased consumer demand have led to [Question 4] everything from sharks to blue fin tuna. 5 Even species that are not typically eaten [Question 5] have become accidental “bycatch” and are thereby threatened with endangerment. 6 If the process is not reversed soon, [Question 6].
What is the correct way to conclude Sentence 1?
, in the face of our planet’s fisheries
None of these
facing our planet’s fisheries
, faced by our planet’s fisheries
being faced by our planet’s fisheries
facing our planet’s fisheries
This question requires you to choose not only the grammatically correct option but also the most efficient option. No comma should be used in this sentence, as it’s one uninterrupted independent clause. Both “facing our planet’s fisheries” and “being faced by our planet’s fisheries” are grammatically fine, but the former is more concise.
Example Question #41 : Completing Sentences
1 Overfishing is a serious threat [Question 1]. 2 Essentially, it means that humans are depleting the ocean’s supply of fish, crustaceans, sea mammals, kelps, and other [Question 2]. 3 The problem [Question 3] when sailors killed vast numbers of whales for their valuable blubber. 4 Since then, industrial fishing fleets and increased consumer demand have led to [Question 4] everything from sharks to blue fin tuna. 5 Even species that are not typically eaten [Question 5] have become accidental “bycatch” and are thereby threatened with endangerment. 6 If the process is not reversed soon, [Question 6].
What is the correct way to conclude Sentence 2?
species faster than the ecosystem can replenish them
species as fast as the ecosystem replenishing them
species, as fast as the ecosystem replenished them
species, faster than the ecosystem can replenish them
species, fast as ecosystems replenished
species faster than the ecosystem can replenish them
No comma is necessary after “species,” as what follows it is integral to the meaning of the entire independent clause it’s part of. Both “species as fast as the ecosystem replenishing them” and “species, fast as ecosystems replenished” lead to mixed constructions and are not grammatical.
Example Question #141 : Language Usage And Grammar
1 Overfishing is a serious threat [Question 1]. 2 Essentially, it means that humans are depleting the ocean’s supply of fish, crustaceans, sea mammals, kelps, and other [Question 2]. 3 The problem [Question 3] when sailors killed vast numbers of whales for their valuable blubber. 4 Since then, industrial fishing fleets and increased consumer demand have led to [Question 4] everything from sharks to blue fin tuna. 5 Even species that are not typically eaten [Question 5] have become accidental “bycatch” and are thereby threatened with endangerment. 6 If the process is not reversed soon, [Question 6].
What is the correct way to complete Sentence 5?
, such as dolphins and loggerhead turtles,
such as dolphins and loggerhead turtles
, such as dolphins, and loggerhead turtles
such as dolphins, and loggerhead turtles
, such as dolphins, and loggerhead turtles,
, such as dolphins and loggerhead turtles,
This question requires you to know your comma rules. Since “such as dolphins and loggerhead turtles” is a parenthetical (dependent) clause, it’s separated from the surrounding sentence by a comma at the beginning and at the end. No comma is necessary before the conjunction (“and”), though, since what’s being separated by the conjunction is not two independent clauses.
Example Question #51 : Completing Sentences
1 Overfishing is a serious threat [Question 1]. 2 Essentially, it means that humans are depleting the ocean’s supply of fish, crustaceans, sea mammals, kelps, and other [Question 2]. 3 The problem [Question 3] when sailors killed vast numbers of whales for their valuable blubber. 4 Since then, industrial fishing fleets and increased consumer demand have led to [Question 4] everything from sharks to blue fin tuna. 5 Even species that are not typically eaten [Question 5] have become accidental “bycatch” and are thereby threatened with endangerment. 6 If the process is not reversed soon, [Question 6].
What is the correct way to complete Sentence 6?
scientists predict that the collapse of every oceanic ecosystem by the year 2050
scientists predicting the collapse of every oceanic ecosystem by the year 2050
it is predicted by scientists that every oceanic ecosystem will have collapsed by the year 2050
scientists predict that every oceanic ecosystem will have collapsed by the year 2050
scientists, having predicted that every oceanic ecosystem will collapse, estimate that this disaster will occur by the year 2050
scientists predict that every oceanic ecosystem will have collapsed by the year 2050
Some of these choices are overly wordy: “it is predicted by scientists that every oceanic ecosystem will have collapsed by the year 2050” and “scientists, having predicted that every oceanic ecosystem will collapse, estimate that this disaster will occur by the year 2050.” Others are simply grammatically incorrect: “scientists predict that the collapse of every oceanic ecosystem by the year 2050” leads to a sentence fragment, as does “scientists predicting the collapse of every oceanic ecosystem by the year 2050.”
Example Question #1 : Other Sentence Structure
Adapted from As You Like It by William Shakespeare (1623)
[This is a monologue by the character Jacques]
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;
Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like a snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like a furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans every thing.
To what does the underlined phrase refer?
satchel
face
every man and woman
morning
school-boy
school-boy
Although the participial phrase "creeping like a snail . . ." comes directly after "face," this latter word is not the antecedent for the phrase. Generally, we do place participial phrases directly after their antecedents. For instance, we would say, "The boy, walking to the park, decided to get some soda." Here, "walking to the park," describes, "boy." In our sentence, the phrase comes at some distance from its antecedent. However, context and meaning clearly indicate that it is referring to the school-boy, who is the one that is creeping along to school with such reluctance.
Example Question #1 : Other Sentence Structure
Adapted from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, III.ii.82-117 (1599)
[This is a speech by Mark Antony.]
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest-
For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men-
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me;
But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept;
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal [a public festival]
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And sure he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause;
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
What is the function of the underlined expression, "Friends, Romans, countrymen"?
To announce the names of those being called to a meeting.
To express the people being addressed in the speech.
It is the predicate of the sentence.
To call out the perpetrators of Caesar's murder.
It is the subject of the sentence.
To express the people being addressed in the speech.
Notice several things in this question. First, we have three classes of people (or three names for one class): "friends," "Romans," and "countrymen." Furthermore, the last of these are separated from the main clause by a comma. You can find the main clause by looking for the part of the sentence that can "stand on its own." That portion is: "Lend me your ears." This is an imperative statement. It is a command by Mark Antony and is the main clause. The list of people is separated from this by a comma because they are three nouns of direct address. They are the people whom he is addressing. The context provided by the sentence and its grammar—without the further context of the play—is all that is necessary to figure this out.
Example Question #3 : Interrupting Phrase Errors
Coupons
Are you trying to stick to a budget? Using coupons for [61] purchases, also known as “couponing” is a great way to save money on groceries. [62] Coupons are a little piece of paper that can give you a discount on what you buy. You will be amazed at the [63] great bargains and amazing savings you can get!
It’s easy to get started. [64] When you open up your daily newspaper, one might find a glossy insert full of coupons. [65] Some of the coupons will be for things you don’t buy, some will be for things you buy all the time. Go through the coupons and [66] chop out the ones you can use.
The key to successful couponing is getting multiple copies of coupon circulars. Ask [67] your friends, your neighbors, and family if they have any extras. Some coupon users even go through the recycling at their office to find more coupons! [68] Completely devoted, these circulars help coupon users to get even more savings.
Couponing might sound like hard work, but for [69] many people, it’s also a hobby. Not only does it help them save hundreds of dollars per year, [70] but instead it gives them a fun challenge every time they do their shopping.
Is there perhaps a greater value to a life lived without constant counting, penny-pinching, and miserliness? [71] But of what value are such savings? [72] At the end of the day; money is a construct, invented by the elite for the sole purpose of controlling the populace. [73] If we accept this fundamental truth, it behooves one to question the monetary structures that control our lives. Indeed, from this perspective, the very practice of couponing might seem a venial distraction from the valuable human endeavor of personal philosophical consideration. [74]
The papers we pore over should be in our books; the pennies we save should be in the currency of our happiness; [75] the budget we have made should have been a budget of our contentment.
A sort of couponing of the soul might ultimately be the solution.
Choose the answer that best corrects section [61].
purchases, also known as "couponing," is
NO CHANGE
purchases; also known as "couponing," is
purchases, also known as "couponing." Is
purchases, also known as "couponing," is
This question asks you to correct an interrupting phrase error. An interrupting phrase is a phrase that provides extra information, but can be removed without changing the sentence. These phrases should be surrounded on either side by commas. In the original text, the second comma after "couponing" is missing.
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