GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Course: Reading literature

1. Question 1 of 17

   In a story, what is the theme?

   • AA short summary that retells the main events in order
   • BA message or idea about life that the story suggests
   • CThe name and the age of the story's main character
   • DThe time and the place where the events of the story happen
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A message or idea about life that the story suggests

   Theme is the larger message. Setting is time and place, and a summary retells events.

2. Question 2 of 17

   Which sentence uses a simile?

   • AHer voice was sharp, loud and very angry.
   • BHer voice was a piece of broken glass.
   • CHer voice was as sharp as broken glass.
   • DShe spoke to the whole crowd for ten minutes.
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Her voice was as sharp as broken glass.

   A simile compares two things using "like" or "as." "Her voice was a piece of broken glass" is a metaphor, which compares without "like" or "as."

3. Question 3 of 17

   Which sentence uses personification?

   • AThe streets were empty and quiet after dark.
   • BThe wind whispered through the empty streets.
   • CThe wind was cold and strong all through the night.
   • DThe wind blew at 30 miles per hour from the north.
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The wind whispered through the empty streets.

   Personification gives human actions to something that is not human. Wind cannot really whisper.

4. Question 4 of 17

   From what point of view is the bakery story told?

   The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

   On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

   Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

   Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

   She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

   • AFirst person: Grandma Lupe tells the story from her hospital bed
   • BSecond person: the story speaks directly to the reader as "you"
   • CFirst person: Marisol tells her own story using "I" and "me"
   • DThird person: a narrator outside the story describes Marisol
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Third person: a narrator outside the story describes Marisol

   The narrator calls the main character "Marisol" and "she," not "I," so it is third-person point of view.

5. Question 5 of 17

   What is the setting of the story?

   The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

   On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

   Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

   Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

   She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

   • AA bakery in the evening, after it has closed for the day
   • BA busy bakery early in the morning as customers line up
   • CGrandma Lupe's hospital room on the morning after her fall
   • DA crowded movie theater on a Saturday night with friends
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A bakery in the evening, after it has closed for the day

   The sign is flipped to CLOSED and the clock says 6:15 in the evening.

6. Question 6 of 17

   The notebook's cover is "soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers." What does this detail suggest?

   The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

   On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

   Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

   Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

   She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

   • AThe notebook's cover is made of soft cotton fabric.
   • BThe notebook is brand new and has never been opened.
   • CMarisol does not care about the notebook or its recipes.
   • DThe notebook has been used a great deal for a long time.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The notebook has been used a great deal for a long time.

   The simile and the words "years of flour and fingers" show long, heavy use.

7. Question 7 of 17

   Mrs. Ellis says the bread is "nearly the same," but "her smile did not quite reach her eyes." What can you infer?

   The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

   On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

   Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

   Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

   She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

   • AShe did not taste the bread before giving her opinion.
   • BShe is being polite but notices the bread is not as good.
   • CShe honestly thinks the bread is better than it was before.
   • DShe is angry and plans to complain to Grandma Lupe.
   Show answer

   Answer: B. She is being polite but notices the bread is not as good.

   An inference uses clues. A smile that does not reach the eyes suggests politeness that hides disappointment.

8. Question 8 of 17

   Why does the author include the detail that Grandma Lupe never seemed to sit down?

   The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

   On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

   Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

   Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

   She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

   • ATo show how hard Grandma worked and the standard Marisol is trying to meet
   • BTo suggest that Marisol is lazy and does not want to work in the bakery
   • CTo explain to the reader exactly how and why Grandma Lupe had her fall
   • DTo show that the small bakery had no chairs or benches for its workers
   Show answer

   Answer: A. To show how hard Grandma worked and the standard Marisol is trying to meet

   The detail comes right after Marisol's feet ache, contrasting her tiredness with Grandma's years of hard work.

9. Question 9 of 17

   What does the final paragraph show about Marisol?

   The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

   On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

   Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

   Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

   She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

   • AShe chooses to make the bread properly, even though she will miss the movie.
   • BShe calls Teo and asks him to come in and bake the morning rolls instead.
   • CShe decides to close Grandma's bakery for good and sell the old notebook.
   • DShe leaves the bakery to meet her friends at the movie theater on time.
   Show answer

   Answer: A. She chooses to make the bread properly, even though she will miss the movie.

   Taking off her coat and reaching for the flour shows she is following "Never rush the dough" and giving up her plans.

10. Question 10 of 17

    Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?

    The bell over the bakery door rang one last time as Mr. Okafor left with his loaf. Marisol flipped the sign to CLOSED and leaned against the counter. Her feet ached. Grandma Lupe had run this shop for thirty-one years without, as far as Marisol knew, ever sitting down.

    On the counter sat the notebook. Its cover was soft as cloth from years of flour and fingers. Inside were Grandma's recipes, written in pencil, with notes squeezed into the margins: "Less sugar when it rains." "Ask Teo about the oven." "Never rush the dough."

    Marisol had been running the shop for two weeks, since Grandma's fall. Every morning the bread came out a little flat, a little pale. Customers were kind about it. Mrs. Ellis said it was "nearly the same," and her smile did not quite reach her eyes.

    Marisol opened the notebook to the page for the morning rolls and read the note again. Never rush the dough. She looked at the clock. It was 6:15 in the evening. If she started now and let the dough rest overnight, the way the old pencil seemed to say, she would miss the movie with her friends.

    She took off her coat, hung it on the hook, and reached for the flour.

    • ABakeries make more money in the evening than the morning.
    • BOld family recipes should be replaced with new ones.
    • CFriends are always more important than family duties.
    • DDoing work well takes patience and sometimes sacrifice.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Doing work well takes patience and sometimes sacrifice.

    Marisol learns that rushing the dough fails and gives up her evening to do it right. That is a message about patience and sacrifice.

11. Question 11 of 17

    From what point of view is the bus stop story told?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • AThird person: the bus driver watches and tells the whole story
    • BFirst person: the narrator is a character who uses "I"
    • CThird person: an outside narrator describes Andre and the street
    • DSecond person: the narrator speaks directly to the reader as "you"
    Show answer

    Answer: B. First person: the narrator is a character who uses "I"

    The narrator says "I stood" and "my brother," so the story is told in the first person.

12. Question 12 of 17

    "I ... watched my breath turn to smoke." What does this description tell the reader?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • AIt is very cold outside.
    • BThe narrator is smoking.
    • CSomething nearby is on fire.
    • DThe air is full of pollution.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. It is very cold outside.

    Breath looks like smoke in cold air. The description is figurative, not literal.

13. Question 13 of 17

    What is the main conflict in the story?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • AThe narrator is lost and cannot find the laundromat across the street.
    • BThe bus driver refuses to stop for the narrator at the broken shelter.
    • CThe narrator and Andre argue about money and who should pay for the fries.
    • DThe narrator is waiting alone late at night for a brother who is very late.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The narrator is waiting alone late at night for a brother who is very late.

    The problem is the long, uneasy wait for Andre, who promised to come in twenty minutes.

14. Question 14 of 17

    Which word best describes the mood of the first three paragraphs?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • AJoyful
    • BSilly
    • CTense
    • DPeaceful
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Tense

    The broken streetlight, flickering sign, dying phone and silent car all create a tense, uneasy mood.

15. Question 15 of 17

    Why does the author include the detail that the phone has 4 percent battery?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • ATo add to the feeling that the narrator is alone and cut off
    • BTo show that the narrator spends far too much time on the phone
    • CTo explain to the reader why Andre got lost on the way there
    • DTo tell the reader the exact time that the 11:40 bus arrived
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To add to the feeling that the narrator is alone and cut off

    A nearly dead phone means the narrator may not be able to call for help, which raises the tension.

16. Question 16 of 17

    How does the mood change when the car window slides all the way down?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • AIt stays tense and frightening until the very end.
    • BIt shifts from tension to relief and warmth.
    • CIt shifts from calm and comfort to sudden fear.
    • DIt shifts from joy and laughter to deep sadness.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. It shifts from tension to relief and warmth.

    The stranger turns out to be Andre, grinning with hot fries, so the fear turns to relief.

17. Question 17 of 17

    What do the last two lines, "I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good," suggest?

    The 11:40 bus was late again. I stood under the broken streetlight with my hands deep in my pockets and watched my breath turn to smoke. Across the street, the laundromat's sign buzzed and flickered, spelling LAUNDR and then nothing.

    My brother had said he would meet me here. "Twenty minutes, tops," he had promised on the phone. That was an hour ago. I checked my phone: 4 percent battery and no new messages.

    A car slowed beside the curb. The window came down an inch, then stopped. Nobody spoke. I took a step back toward the bus shelter and felt the cold glass against my shoulders.

    Then the window slid all the way down, and there was Andre, grinning, a paper bag of hot fries on his lap. "Got lost," he said. "Get in before you freeze."

    I wanted to stay angry. The fries smelled too good.

    • AThe narrator's anger is fading, and the narrator will forgive Andre.
    • BThe narrator refuses to get into the car and waits for the bus instead.
    • CAndre is still lost, and the narrator is only imagining the smell of fries.
    • DThe narrator is angry because Andre brought fries instead of a real meal.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The narrator's anger is fading, and the narrator will forgive Andre.

    The narrator admits the anger is hard to hold on to. The light, funny ending suggests forgiveness.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 145 in each GED subject