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 #2 : Commas

Passage adapted from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890)

The passenger booked by this history, was on the coach-step, getting in; the two other passengers were close behind him, and about to follow. He remained on the step, half in the coach and half out of; they remained in the road below him. They all looked from the coachman to the guard, and from the guard to the coachman, and listened. The coachman looked back and the guard looked back, and even the emphatic leader pricked up his ears and looked back, without contradicting.

The stillness consequent on the cessation of the rumbling and labouring of the coach, added to the stillness of the night, made it very quiet indeed. The panting of the horses communicated a tremulous motion to the coach, as if it were in a state of agitation. The hearts of the passengers beat loud enough perhaps to be heard; but at any rate, the quiet pause was audibly expressive of people out of breath, and holding the breath, and having the pulses quickened by expectation.

The sound of a horse at a gallop came fast and furiously up the hill.

"So-ho!" the guard sang out, as loud as he could roar. "Yo there! Stand! I shall fire!"

The pace was suddenly checked, and, with much splashing and floundering, a man's voice called from the mist, "Is that the Dover mail?"

"Never you mind what it is!" the guard retorted. "What are you?"

"Is that the Dover mail?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I want a passenger, if it is."

"What passenger?"

"Mr. Jarvis Lorry."

Our booked passenger showed in a moment that it was his name. The guard the coachman and the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

"Keep where you are," the guard called to the voice in the mist, "because, if I should make a mistake, it could never be set right in your lifetime. Gentleman of the name of Lorry answer straight."

"What is the matter?" asked the passenger, then, with mildly quavering speech. "Who wants me? Is it Jerry?"

("I don't like Jerry's voice, if it is Jerry," growled the guard to himself. "He's hoarser than suits me, is Jerry.")

"Yes, Mr. Lorry."

"What is the matter?

Correct the bolded and underlined portion of the text.

Possible Answers:

The guard, the coachman, and, the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

The guard, the coachman, and the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

The guard the coachman, and the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

The guard the coachman and the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

The guard, the coachman, the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

Correct answer:

The guard, the coachman, and the two other passengers eyed him distrustfully.

Explanation:

A list of words requires a comma after each item but the last item. For example pear, apple, grape, and orange - as you can see, there is a comma after each fruit but the last, orange. In the question sentence there needs to be a comma after "guard" and after "coachmen."

Example Question #1 : Punctuation

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 allied 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:

In this popular car ad, a pony stands against a rural prairie backdrop.

The sentence contains no error. 

In this popular car ad, a pony stands against a rural, prairie backdrop.

In this popular car ad a pony stands, against a rural, prairie backdrop. 

In this popular car ad a pony stands against a rural prairie backdrop. 

Correct answer:

In this popular car ad, a pony stands against a rural prairie backdrop.

Explanation:

The sentence requires a comma after "ad" in order to offset an introductory prepositional phrase of more than four words ("In this popular car ad"). 

Though students might be tempted to put a comma between "rural" and "prairie" because they are both adjectives, in this case, "rural" modifies "prairie" and not "backdrop."

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:

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. 

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. 

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. 

The sentence contains no error. 

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. 

Correct answer:

The sentence contains no error. 

Explanation:

The first comma after "soft" offsets an introductory subordinate clause (the adverb "while" makes it a subordinate clause). Everything that follows after the second comma is a participle phrase modifying the subject of the main clause ("the pony").

Student might be tempted to select the answer that offsets "up close" with parenthetical commas. This is incorrect because logically "up close" is inseparable from the main clause: without "up close," there would be no contrast to the "hazy," "soft" details outlined in the first half of the sentence, which would make the word "while" nonsensical. While grammatically offsetting "up close" with commas is sound, reading for meaning makes it impossible in this case. 

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. 

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