GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Course: Language and editing

1. Question 1 of 20

   Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: "The workers left ___ tools in the truck."

   • Athere
   • Bthier
   • Ctheir
   • Dthey're
   Show answer

   Answer: C. their

   "Their" shows ownership. "There" is a place, and "they're" means "they are."

2. Question 2 of 20

   Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: "The company changed ___ hours for the holidays."

   • Ait is
   • Bit's
   • Cits
   • Dits'
   Show answer

   Answer: C. its

   "Its" is the possessive form. "It's" always means "it is" or "it has."

3. Question 3 of 20

   Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: "The new schedule will ___ every employee."

   • Aeffects
   • Baffects
   • Ceffect
   • Daffect
   Show answer

   Answer: D. affect

   "Affect" is usually the verb meaning "to change or influence." After "will," use the base form "affect." "Effect" is usually a noun.

4. Question 4 of 20

   Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: "The box of printer cartridges ___ on the top shelf."

   • Ais
   • Bwere
   • Care
   • Dbe
   Show answer

   Answer: A. is

   The subject is "box," which is singular. "Of printer cartridges" is a phrase between the subject and the verb, so it does not change the verb.

5. Question 5 of 20

   Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: "Neither the manager nor the assistants ___ available on Sunday."

   • Awas
   • Bare
   • Chas been
   • Dis
   Show answer

   Answer: B. are

   With "neither ... nor," the verb agrees with the closer subject. "Assistants" is plural, so use "are."

6. Question 6 of 20

   Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: "The supervisor gave the keys to Ana and ___."

   • Amine
   • BI
   • Cmyself
   • Dme
   Show answer

   Answer: D. me

   After "to," use the object form "me." Test it by removing "Ana and": "gave the keys to me."

7. Question 7 of 20

   Which sentence is a complete sentence?

   • ABecause the speaker was sick and could not stay.
   • BThe speaker who was sick and went home after lunch.
   • CAfter the long meeting in the main office downstairs.
   • DThe meeting ended early because the speaker was sick.
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The meeting ended early because the speaker was sick.

   A complete sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a full thought. The others are fragments.

8. Question 8 of 20

   Which word in this sentence should be capitalized? "Last july, we drove south to visit my aunt in Texas."

   • Adrove
   • Bsouth
   • Cjuly
   • Daunt
   Show answer

   Answer: C. july

   Months are always capitalized. "South" is only a direction here, and "aunt" is not capitalized after "my" because it is not used as part of a name.

9. Question 9 of 20

   All of the employees use the lockers. Which phrase is correct?

   • Athe employee's lockers
   • Bthe employees' lockers
   • Cthe employees lockers
   • Dthe employees's lockers
   Show answer

   Answer: B. the employees' lockers

   For a plural noun ending in -s, add only an apostrophe to show possession: employees'.

10. Question 10 of 20

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • AAfter, the meeting ended we went to lunch.
    • BAfter the meeting, ended we went to lunch.
    • CAfter the meeting ended we, went to lunch.
    • DAfter the meeting ended, we went to lunch.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. After the meeting ended, we went to lunch.

    Put a comma after an introductory clause, before the main part of the sentence begins.

11. Question 11 of 20

    Choose the transition that best connects the ideas: "The forecast called for heavy rain. ___, the picnic was moved indoors."

    • AHowever
    • BIn contrast
    • CTherefore
    • DFor example
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Therefore

    The second sentence is a result of the first, so a cause-and-effect transition like "Therefore" fits.

12. Question 12 of 20

    Which revision is the most concise?

    • ABecause it was raining, the game was delayed.
    • BOwing to the reason that rain was falling, the game was delayed.
    • CBecause of the fact that it was raining outside, the game was delayed.
    • DDue to the fact that it was raining, the game was delayed.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Because it was raining, the game was delayed.

    "Because" says the same thing as "due to the fact that" in fewer words. Concise writing avoids wordiness.

13. Question 13 of 20

    Which sentence best combines these two sentences? "The bus was late. We missed the start of the show."

    • AThe bus was late, we missed the start of the show.
    • BBecause the bus was late, we missed the start of the show.
    • CThe bus was late, but we missed the start of the show.
    • DAlthough the bus was late, we missed the start of the show.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Because the bus was late, we missed the start of the show.

    The late bus caused the missed show, so "because" shows the correct relationship. "But" and "although" signal contrast, and the second choice is a comma splice.

14. Question 14 of 20

    Which revision corrects the dangling modifier? "Walking into the office, the smell of coffee was strong."

    • AWalking into the office the smell of coffee was strong and fresh.
    • BWalking into the office, I noticed the strong smell of coffee.
    • CWalking into the office, the coffee smelled strong to everyone.
    • DThe smell of coffee, walking into the office, was very strong.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Walking into the office, I noticed the strong smell of coffee.

    The opening phrase must describe the person who is walking. The smell and the coffee cannot walk.

15. Question 15 of 20

    Which sentence has a clear pronoun reference?

    • AShe told her that she had won it.
    • BSara told Kim that she had won the award.
    • CSara and Kim talked, and she said she won.
    • DSara told Kim, "I won the award."
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Sara told Kim, "I won the award."

    In the other sentences, "she" could mean Sara or Kim. Quoting Sara's words makes it clear who won.

16. Question 16 of 20

    Which sentence uses parallel structure?

    • AThe job requires typing, to file, and answering phones.
    • BThe job requires typing, filing, and to answer phones.
    • CThe job requires typing, filing, and answering phones.
    • DThe job requires to type, filing, and answering phones.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The job requires typing, filing, and answering phones.

    Items in a list should have the same form. Here all three are -ing words.

17. Question 17 of 20

    Which revision corrects the misplaced modifier? "We saw a deer driving to work this morning."

    • AWhile driving to work this morning, we saw a deer.
    • BWe saw a deer that was driving to work this morning.
    • CA deer driving to work was seen this morning.
    • DDriving to work, a deer was seen by us this morning.
    Show answer

    Answer: A. While driving to work this morning, we saw a deer.

    As written, the deer seems to be driving. Moving the phrase and naming who was driving fixes the meaning.

18. Question 18 of 20

    Which is the correct way to write sentence 2 of the email?

    To: All Staff
    From: Rachel Moore, Office Manager
    Subject: Kitchen cleaning schedule

    (1) Starting Monday, each department will take turns cleaning the break room kitchen. (2) The schedule is posted on the refrigerator door, please check it before Friday. (3) Each team are responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and to take out the recycling. (4) If you have a conflict, talk to you're team leader about trading weeks. (5) Thank you for helping keep our shared space clean.

    • AThe schedule is posted, on the refrigerator door, please check it before Friday.
    • BThe schedule is posted on the refrigerator door. Please check it before Friday.
    • CThe schedule is posted on the refrigerator door, please check it before Friday.
    • DThe schedule is posted on the refrigerator door please check it before Friday.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The schedule is posted on the refrigerator door. Please check it before Friday.

    Sentence 2 joins two complete sentences with only a comma (a comma splice). A period fixes it.

19. Question 19 of 20

    Which is the correct way to write sentence 3 of the email?

    To: All Staff
    From: Rachel Moore, Office Manager
    Subject: Kitchen cleaning schedule

    (1) Starting Monday, each department will take turns cleaning the break room kitchen. (2) The schedule is posted on the refrigerator door, please check it before Friday. (3) Each team are responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and to take out the recycling. (4) If you have a conflict, talk to you're team leader about trading weeks. (5) Thank you for helping keep our shared space clean.

    • AEach team is responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and to take out the recycling.
    • BEach team are responsible for wiping the counters, to empty the dishwasher, and taking out the recycling.
    • CEach team is responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and taking out the recycling.
    • DEach team are responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and taking out the recycling.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Each team is responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and taking out the recycling.

    "Each team" is singular, so use "is." The list also needs parallel -ing forms.

20. Question 20 of 20

    Which change should be made in sentence 4 of the email?

    To: All Staff
    From: Rachel Moore, Office Manager
    Subject: Kitchen cleaning schedule

    (1) Starting Monday, each department will take turns cleaning the break room kitchen. (2) The schedule is posted on the refrigerator door, please check it before Friday. (3) Each team are responsible for wiping the counters, emptying the dishwasher, and to take out the recycling. (4) If you have a conflict, talk to you're team leader about trading weeks. (5) Thank you for helping keep our shared space clean.

    • AChange "trading" to "trade"
    • BChange "you're" to "your"
    • CChange "conflict" to "conflicts"
    • DChange "talk" to "talks"
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Change "you're" to "your"

    "You're" means "you are." The sentence needs the possessive "your": your team leader.

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

The real test: 145 in each GED subject