GED Information Bulletin

Questions You May Have - Language Arts, Writing - Social Studies - Science
Lanuage Arts, Reading - Mathematics - Sample Score Report - General Hints

The Language Arts, Reading Test contains 40 multiple-choice questions that measure your ability to comprehend and interpret workplace and academic reading selections and to apply those interpretations to new contexts. The questions ask you to understand, apply, analyze, and synthesize information that you are given in the reading selections.

Literary texts constitute 75% of each test and include at least one selection from each of the following areas:

• Poetry
• Drama
• Prose fiction before 1920
• Prose fiction between 1920 and 1960
• Prose fiction after 1960

Nonfiction texts constitute 25% of each test and include two selections of nonfiction prose from any two of the following areas:

• Nonfiction prose
• Critical review of visual and performing arts
• Workplace and community documents, such as mission. and goal statements, rules for employee behavior, legal documents, and communications (for example, letters and excerpts from manuals)

The reading selections in the Language Arts, Reading Test range from 200 to 400 words, with poetry running from 8 to 25 lines. A purpose question appears in bold before each selection; the question is designed solely to help you focus and provide a purpose for reading the text. You are not asked to answer the purpose question. Each selection is followed by four to eight questions.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Directions: Choose the one best answer to each question.

Questions 1 through 8 refer to the following document.

1. Based on the information in this excerpt, what would be the company's policy about accepting gifts or entertainment from people representing your competitors?

Accepting gifts or entertainment from people representing competitors would be considered

(1) dangerous
(2) practical
(3) reasonable
(4) unacceptable
(5) good business

Answer: 4

The clear statement in this section of the excerpt--"Gifts for Influence"--is that this kind of business dealing is unacceptable to this company.

2. Based on the information in this excerpt, when is it permissible to give money that might be considered a bribe or a tip to a government official in order to facilitate business?

(1) It is never permissible to give a gift or other payment to influence government or business decisions.
(2) It may be necessary in certain foreign countries where it is expected.
(3) Payments to government officials can be made at any time with prior approval of the division president.
(4) Modest gratuities can be offered at any time.
(5) All payments or gratuities must be worth their fair trade value.

Answer: 1

This level of comprehension question is slightly more difficult than the previous question because the answer is implied but not stated. Alternatives (2) and (3) are distractors requiring that you read the passage with; accuracy and precision.

3. What is the meaning of the phrase "or even creates the appearance of" (lines 14-15)

(1) an actual conflict of interest
(2) a conflict between the company's interests and your personal or immediate family's interest
(3) a situation that is not truly a conflict of interest but may appear to be
(4) the company's high standards for employee personal appearance and behavior
(5) a situation that is within your personal affairs

Answer: 3

This analysis question requires you to closely read a specific line in the text integrated with the context.

4. What is an example of a conflict of interest?

(1) Your cousin works for the same company.
(2) You have given gratuities to foreign government officials.
(3) You often meet with the employee's union representative.
(4) You have cheated on your income tax.
(5) Your spouse owns stock in one of the company's competitors.

Answer: 5

The question requires you to analyze the rules about conflict of interest to conclude that the alternative (5) would be an example of this issue.

5. While this excerpt is discussing a very serious topic, it tries to maintain a feeling of sincere interest in the employee

Which of the statements below most clearly reflects that feeling?

(1) "No payment or gift of money, goods, or services should be given or received to influence government or business decisions" (lines 6-7).
(2) ". . . records for all accounts will be strictly monitored . . ." (lines 7-8).
(3) "Don't use your position with this company to obtain a personal benefit of any kind" (line 19).
(4) "This company respects your privacy, as well as your right to conduct your personal affairs without interference" (lines 25-26).
(5) "Your cooperation ... is a condition of your employment" (lines 32-33).

Answer: 4

With the exception of alternative (4), all of the other alternatives use a similar instructional tone as in most of the excerpt. Alternative (4) is the only example of the milder language that appears occasionally in the excerpt to soften the strong tone.

6. How is this excerpt organized?

(1) statements of fact supported by personal stories
(2) specific topics followed by explanations
(3) rules for behavior supported by warnings of consequences
(4) general policy statement without specific performance standards
(5) debate of public versus personal philosophies

Answer: 2

The strongest distractor for this question is alternative (3) beeause it references "rules for behavior," which is an attractive choice. However, the excerpt does not contain any warnings or consequences, which the second half of this distractor mentions.

7. Earlier in this document, the company describes how employees of this company are to behave toward each other. It includes a statement about complete and enforced intolerance for discrimination in form.

Based on this information and the information in this excerpt, why might a potential employee want to read all this company's rules and, regulations for employee behavior carefully?

(1) One mistake with this company could cost an employee his or her job
(2) Competitors have several option for securing their rights.
(3) Employees and their managers interact carefully.
(4) Unfair labor practices will not be tolerated.
(5) This company has high expectations for employee behavior.

Answer: 5

This is another example of a synthesis question. As described in Question 7, the stem of the question gives an additional piece of information that you must consider with the information from the passage. In this case, the new information covers a completely different area of employee behavior. The conclusion must be drawn that the company is very strict about employee behavior in at least these two discrete areas. The clear implication is that employees are probably held to high expectations in all areas, and a prudent prospective employee might want to be forearmed with this information.

8. If you were running this company and you wanted to hire someone to enforce these rules, what primary characteristic would you want in this potential employee?

(1) knowledge about the company's product
(2) honesty and integrity
(3) communication skills
(4) human relations skills
(5) familiarity with your employee

Answer: 2

The stem for this question casts the excerpt in a completely new light. Now you must consider the rules from the point of view of the owner who wishes to enforce them, rather than the employee who wishes to obey them. Furthermore, the employer wants to identify a person to enforce the rules and is considering the characteristics that person must possess.

Hints for Language Arts, Reading

Before you read the selection, look at the purpose question, which is printed in bold, so that you will have a focus and purpose in mind as you start reading.

Some test-takers benefit from glancing at the test questions before starting to read the text; others prefer to read the selection first. You should try both methods to see which works best for you.

Read the selection before you start answering the questions. Most of the questions demand an overall understanding of the text even when a very specific question is asked.

If you come to a word you don't know, use the meaning of the whole sentence to guess at the meaning of the word.

Pay attention not only to the actual excerpts themselves, but also to any explonatory notes, which are set off in square brackets. In excerpts from plays, the stage directions are printed in italics; make sure to pay attention to these sections in addition to dialogue because the stage directions often contain important information about the setting and characters` actions and emotions.

Some questions refer to line numbers in the text. When answering questions, make sure to go back to the passage to reread those in their correct context. Do not rely solely on your memory!

The excerpts and questions are arranged in order from easiest to hardest.