Ged reasoning through_language_arts_reading_section

40 questions
Entire Language Arts test is 150 minutes
with a 10-minute break.
REASONING THROUGH
LANGUAGE ARTS
Reading Section
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PracticeTest
Read the following excerpt from Thomas de Quincey’s essay, “The Vision of Sudden Death.”
What is to be thought of sudden death? It is remarkable that, in different conditions of society
it has been variously regarded as the consummation of an earthly career most fervently to be
desired, and, on the other hand, as that consummation which is most of all to be deprecated.
Caesar the Dictator, at his last dinner party, (cœna,) and the very evening before his assassina-
tion, being questioned as to the mode of death which, in his opinion, might seem the most
eligible, replied — “That which should be most sudden.” On the other hand, the divine Litany of
our English Church, when breathing forth supplications, as if in some representative character
for the whole human race prostrate before God, places such a death in the very van of horrors.
“From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and
from sudden death, — Good Lord, deliver us.” Sudden death is here made to crown the climax
in a grand ascent of calamities; it is the last of curses; and yet, by the noblest of Romans, it was
treated as the first of blessings. (In that difference, most readers will see little more than the
difference between Christianity and Paganism. But there I hesitate.The Christian church may be
right in its estimate of sudden death; and it is a natural feeling, though after all it may also be
an infirm one, to wish for a quiet dismissal from life — as that which seems most reconcilable
with meditation, with penitential retrospects, and with the humilities of farewell prayer. There
does not, however, occur to me any direct scriptural warrant for this earnest petition of the
English Litany. It seems rather a petition indulged to human infirmity, than exacted from human
piety. And, however that may be, two remarks suggest themselves as prudent restraints upon a
doctrine, which else may wander, and has wandered, into an uncharitable superstition. The first
is this: that many people are likely to exaggerate the horror of a sudden death, (I mean the objec-
tive horror to him who contemplates such a death, not the subjective horror to him who suffers
it,) from the false disposition to lay a stress upon words or acts, simply because by an accident
they have become words or acts. If a man dies, for instance, by some sudden death when he
happens to be intoxicated, such a death is falsely regarded with peculiar horror; as though the
intoxication were suddenly exalted into a blasphemy. But that is unphilosophic.The man was, or
he was not, habitually a drunkard. If not, if his intoxication were a solitary accident, there can
be no reason at all for allowing special emphasis to this act, simply because through misfortune
it became his final act. Nor, on the other hand, if it were no accident, but one of his habitual
transgressions, will it be the more habitual or the more a transgression, because some sudden
calamity, surprising him, has caused this habitual transgression to be also a final one? Could the
man have had any reason even dimly to foresee his own sudden death, there would have been
a new feature in his act of intemperance — a feature of presumption and irreverence, as in one
that by possibility felt himself drawing near to the presence of God. But this is no part of the case
supposed.And the only new element in the man’s act is not any element of extra immorality, but
simply of extra misfortune.
1. What is the main idea in this text?
A. Death, of any method, is horrible.
B. Slow death is preferable to sudden death.
C. The positive or negative qualities of sudden death are debatable.
D. Sudden death is preferable to slow death.
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ReasoningThroughLanguageArts
2. What can you infer about the relationships presented in this text?
A. Religion and philosophy agree about the preferential nature of sudden death.
B. There is a conflicting viewpoint about death from philosophy and religion.
C. Alcohol and death are matters that seem to go hand in hand.
D. A pious life determines whether a person will die suddenly or slowly.
3. What is the meaning of the word prostrate ?
A. Vertically positioned
B. In arms against
C. Angrily opposing
D. At the mercy of
4. What role does the sentence “What is to be thought of sudden death?” play in the
development of the purpose of this text?
A. It forces the reader to question this for themselves.
B. It lays the premise for the rest of the paragraph’s development of the scope of
this idea.
C. It lays out the author’s direction of his opinion that sudden death is preferable.
D. It implores a more knowledgeable person to answer the question.
5. Which claim is NOT supported by reason?
A. “Sudden death is here made to crown the climax in a grand ascent of calami-
ties; it is the last of curses; and yet, by the noblest of Romans, it was treated as
the first of blessings.”
B. “There does not, however, occur to me any direct scriptural warrant for this
earnest petition of the English Litany.”
C. “The first is this: that many people are likely to exaggerate the horror of a
sudden death, (I mean the objective horror to him who contemplates such a
death, not the subjective horror to him who suffers it,) from the false disposi-
tion to lay a stress upon words or acts, simply because by an accident they have
become words or acts.”
D. “If a man dies, for instance, by some sudden death when he happens to be
intoxicated, such a death is falsely regarded with peculiar horror; as though the
intoxication were suddenly exalted into a blasphemy.”
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PracticeTest
6. Which sentence best supports the main idea of this passage?
A. “It is remarkable that, in different conditions of society it has been variously
regarded as the consummation of an earthly career most fervently to be desired,
and, on the other hand, as that consummation which is most of all to be
deprecated.”
B. “. . . being questioned as to the mode of death which, in his opinion, might
seem the most eligible, replied — “That which should be most sudden.”
C. “From lightning and tempest; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle
and murder, and from sudden death, — Good Lord, deliver us.”
D. “And the only new element in the man’s act is not any element of extra immo-
rality, but simply of extra misfortune.”
7. How would the tone of the sentence, “It seems rather a petition indulged to human
infirmity, than exacted from human piety.” differ if the word “infirmity” were to be
replaced with the word “suffering”?
A. By replacing “infirmity” with the weaker word “suffering,” the tone would seem
more in favor of the English Litany’s position.
B. By replacing “infirmity” with the stronger word “suffering,” the tone would
seem more in favor of the English Litany’s position.
C. By replacing “infirmity” with the stronger word “suffering,” the tone would
seem more condemnation for the English Litany’s position.
D. There would be no change in tone.
Consider the following two articles, “As Food Imports Rise, So Do Safety Concerns” and “Two
Concerns Addressed with One Stone” to answer the following questions.
As Food Imports Rise, So Do Safety Concerns
From New Zealand lamb to Mexican papaya and Colombian coffee, your local grocery store pro-
vides a truly international experience.And while plantains, eddoes and avocados expand culinary
horizons, importing these foods raises legitimate safety concerns.
Americans rely heavily on imported food — the U.S. now imports nearly 85 percent of its fish
consumption, and fruit and vegetable imports have doubled since 1998. Even products made in
the United States may contain foreign products, such as Chinese wheat gluten or Mexican green
onions.And while many countries enforce safety standards equal to those used in the U.S., newly
industrialized or industrializing nations may not have the resources or infrastructure to meet
safety and quality benchmarks.
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Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot pick up the slack. The FDA
reports that, due to its own lack of resources, 99 percent of the imports that enter the U.S. are
not inspected.
Experts agree that prevention, not inspection, will best ensure food safety. One life sciences
company, Global Food Technologies, Inc., has developed an organic processing method that
ensures that foods do not become contaminated during processing or packaging. By destroy-
ing the microbes in the food without harmful chemicals, the company achieves higher safety
standards than the minimum required by law. The processing method, designated by the iPura
brand name, is currently being used to produce seafood in several overseas nations.Any product
bearing the iPura label is guaranteed to be a result of its comprehensive Source-to-Retail food
safety program.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 325,000 Americans are hos-
pitalized and 5,000 die annually from foodborne illnesses.A food company that does not adhere
to food safety practices will eventually be driven out of business, a fact that tends to encourage
good practices and results in a relatively safe food supply.Yet, reports of new outbreaks continu-
ally surface, indicating that more work must be done to safeguard the food supply.
Two Concerns Addressed with One Stone
A global recession has a wearied public in its grip as consumers tighten their belts. Policymakers
are engaging in a fierce battle for short-term and long-term solutions while ordinary Americans
go about their daily lives with hopes that the situation won’t get any worse.
Nearly one trillion dollars has been injected into the faltering system, but immediate success has
yet to materialize. Fears about the sagging pocketbook are coupled with feelings of insecurity
about the safety and quality of products being imported from overseas, especially the food being
imported into the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. Americans currently import over 80 percent of
seafood meals consumed, while statistics indicate that seafood is the leading cause of foodborne
illnesses. With the FDA able to inspect less than one percent of the shipments into U.S. ports,
consumers have expressed deep concern about the safety of their families.
A California-based life sciences company, Global Food Technologies (GFT), is primed to take
advantage of the current economic situation by offering its first product into the market, iPura.
The first of its kind, iPura is a food-safety company with a unique approach combining techno-
logical hardware and methods with trained technicians to ensure that the very highest standards
have been implemented in the delivery of seafood imported from overseas.
Including an organic “clean step” that reduces disease-causing pathogens, iPura escorts the
product from foreign-based factories to the U.S.-held fork with a seal of authenticity that includes
temperature monitoring, traceability, and full transparency for the consumer.
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PracticeTest
“iPura instills confidence in foreign-sourced seafood by giving consumers the peace of mind they
deserve,” says President of GFT Keith Meeks.
With the wild volatility of most sectors on Wall Street, household goods and staples have not
fallen as much as the others, reflective of the trend for consumers to take care of essentials
before discretionary purchases such as electronic goods and new automobiles. As food safety
has become a major concern for food company executives, with 84 percent in a recent survey
stating that food safety is their main priority, iPura offers investors a chance to profit in a time
of uncertainty and economic downturn by meeting market demand.
8. What thematic idea do these two articles share?
A. Foods imported from other countries can be dangerous to Americans’ health.
B. The economic crisis has caused Americans to import more foods.
C. Imported foods make up the vast majority of our diet.
D. Americans cannot produce their own foods fast enough to make enough pro-
duce to feed themselves without relying on imports.
9. Short Answer: Both articles use the same facts, but the statistic presented is different.
What are the possible reasons for this and what effect does it have?
10. What is one point about which the authors would disagree?
A. Imports are responsible for our failing economy.
B. Imports have a role in many of our health problems.
C. The biggest factor dealing with imported foods is the economy.
D. America should do more to increase its own food production.
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11. How does the impact of these two pieces differ?
A. The first article encourages readers to buy organic foods, while the second
article urges readers to consider more healthfully treated foods.
B. The first article broadens the scope of imports to many kinds of foods, whereas
the second article simply deals with seafood.
C. The first article urges Americans to be more health conscious, while the second
encourages us to be more fiscally conservative.
D. The first article informs readers of the potential impacts of imported food on
our health, and the second encourages readers to seek other solutions.
12. How is the idea of iPura differently emphasized in these two articles?
A. The first article uses it as a scare tactic, while the second article examines the
role it can play in ensuring American safety.
B. The first article discusses iPura as a business model, while the second discusses
its beneficial qualities as a scientific endeavor.
C. The first article mentions it as a new method to ensure safety, and the second
article furthers this by using it as a vehicle for helping our failing economy.
D. The first article examines it as a business model, and the second article uses it
to emphasize the dangers of imported foods.
13. What is the purpose of the first article?
A. To warn Americans about the potential hazardous impacts of imported foods.
B. To discuss the beneficial qualities of the company iPura.
C. To encourage Americans to grow their own food.
D. To criticize the FDA for not inspecting our imports.
14. What is the purpose of the second article?
A. To applaud iPura for its revolutionary business model.
B. To comment on the impacts a failing economy can have on America’s con-
sumer habits.
C. To inform Americans about alternatives to imported foods.
D. To warn Americans about the harmful effects of imported foods.
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PracticeTest
15. What is something these two authors would agree about?
A. A struggling economy creates innovative companies.
B. Reliance on imported foods should be diminished.
C. Health care should be the number one priority when dealing with imported
foods.
D. Failing health creates innovative companies.
Read the following article, “What Every Woman Should Know About Long-Term Care” to answer
the questions.
With women generally outliving men, planning for long-term care becomes more urgent for them
in their pre-retirement years.After all, while longevity definitely has its upside — including more
time to enjoy travel and family — there’s no denying its biggest potential downside: the increased
risk of health problems that can make caring for oneself difficult.
Today, seven in 10 nursing home residents are women.
They also represent a whopping 76 percent of assisted living residents, according to the latest
statistics, and two-thirds of all home-care recipients.
And that care isn’t necessarily what many would consider “affordable” — unless you’re perhaps
lucky enough to have the opportunity to enroll in the likes of the Federal Long Term Care Insur-
ance Program (FLTCIP).
“Like other forms of health care, long-term care is expensive, and costs continually increase,”
says Paul Forte, CEO of Long Term Care Partners, which administers the FLTCIP. The program is
specifically designed to help current and retired federal employees safeguard their retirement
income and savings while maintaining their independence and avoiding reliance on their children.
How Will You Pay for Care?
The most recent John Hancock Cost of Care Study puts the national average cost of a licensed
home health aide at $20 per hour, with private and semiprivate nursing home rooms going for
$235 and $207, respectively, a day.
Those costs aren’t generally covered by health plans such as Medicare, the Defense Department’s
TRICARE,TRICARE for Life, or even the regular Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.And
as for Medicaid, as Forte notes, “it covers long-term care only for those with very low income
and assets, so the responsibility for paying may fall on you.”
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Now suppose you’re a woman who is eligible for the FLTCIP, but you haven’t yet applied. Ask
yourself these four questions:
• Considering your health and family history, might you live a long life with health condi-
tions that could hinder caring for yourself?
• Do you live alone?
• If you don’t live alone, how might tending to you disrupt the professional and personal
lives of others, and do you wish to be dependent on them?
• If you do live alone, will you have the resources not just to pay for care, but to also main-
tain a comfortable lifestyle?
The Advantages of the FLTCIP
Established by an act of Congress in 2000 and overseen by the U.S. Office of Personnel Manage-
ment, the program is tailored exclusively to meet the budgetary and lifestyle needs of what’s
referred to as “the federal family.” And as so often is the case with the federal workforce, the
cost to enrollees is surprisingly affordable.
How affordable?
Well, there’s a choice of four prepackaged plans that combine the most popular program features,
with customizable plans also available.
So, say you’re a 45-year-old woman who chooses the FLTCIP’s most popular prepackaged plan
(Plan B, with the 4 percent inflation rider).You’d pay a biweekly premium of $33.90 — less than
$68 per month, or slightly more than $2 a day — for protection that can save you thousands of
dollars in future care costs.
The program’s consumer-friendly website lets you calculate the premium rate for your age and
choice of plans (www.LTCFEDS.com/rate ), and view current and past informational webinars
(www.LTCFEDS.com/webinar ). Personal consultants can also walk you through the entire process,
including plan design and applications.
Again, not everyone is eligible for FLTCIP, and certain medical conditions, or combinations of
conditions, will prevent some from being approved for coverage. Premiums are set with the
expectation that they’ll suffice, but aren’t guaranteed. While the group policy is in effect, OPM
must approve an increase in premium.
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PracticeTest
16. What is the underlying premise of this article?
A. Men should take better care of themselves so they can live as long as their
female partners.
B. The assumption is that women outlive men.
C. Without proper planning for the future, people can suffer serious consequences.
D. People should find ways to care for themselves rather than moving into assisted
living facilities.
17. Which sentence proves the author has taken other, potentially conflicting factors into
consideration before making this argument?
A. “After all, while longevity definitely has its upside — including more time to
enjoy travel and family — there’s no denying its biggest potential downside: the
increased risk of health problems that can make caring ‘for oneself difficult.’ ”
B. “Today, seven in 10 nursing home residents are women.”
C. “Established by an act of Congress in 2000 and overseen by the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management, the program is tailored exclusively to meet the budget-
ary and lifestyle needs of what’s referred to as ‘the federal family.’”
D. “Again, not everyone is eligible for FLTCIP, and certain medical conditions,
or combinations of conditions, will prevent some from being approved for
coverage.”
18. Short Answer: How does the author’s structure (specifically subheadings) support the
fluid transitions?
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19. What is the inherent cause-and-effect argument presented in this article?
A. If you do not raise your children properly, they will not take care of you when
you are old.
B. Longevity will impact choices you will have to make.
C. The cost of living will not rise in the future.
D. Living longer will not impact the future.
20. How can this information be applied to readers in different situations?
A. Readers can be encouraged to make smart decisions (such as saving money) for
their future.
B. Readers can take more time to spend with their children to ensure a healthier
relationship.
C. Readers can ensure they take the right steps to care for themselves in the future.
D. Readers can visit the websites provided to receive the care mentioned in this
article.
21. Drag and drop all the supporting details for the main idea.
A. With women generally outliving men, planning for long-term care becomes
more urgent for them in their pre-retirement years.
B. They also represent a whopping 76 percent of assisted living residents, accord-
ing to the latest statistics, and two-thirds of all home-care recipients.
C. The program is specifically designed to help current and retired federal employ-
ees safeguard their retirement income and savings while maintaining their
independence and avoiding reliance on their children.
D. The most recent John Hancock Cost of Care Study puts the national average
cost of a licensed home health aide at $20 per hour, with private and semipri-
vate nursing home rooms going for $235 and $207, respectively, a day.
E. And as for Medicaid, as Forte notes, “it covers long-term care only for those
with very low income and assets, so the responsibility for paying may fall on
you.”
F. How affordable?
G. Personal consultants can also walk you through the entire process, including
plan design and applications.
For this paper-and-pencil setting, simply place the letter for your selected answers below.
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PracticeTest
Consider the following two pieces of information: the article, “Crowdfunding Brings Relief to Stu-
dent Debt Burden,” and the graph, “Crowdfunded Projects on Kickstarter, 2012” to answer the
following questions.
Crowdfunding Brings Relief to Student Debt Burden
Whether you’re a supportive parent, an eager high school grad, or an adult looking to return
to school, the reality of higher education is gloomy. Tuition keeps climbing, the job market isn’t
improving fast enough, and the mountain of student loan debt passed the $1 trillion mile marker
and kept on trucking with enthusiasm.
Successful entrepreneur and owner of NBA team the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban blogged a
great question, “We freak out about the trillions of dollars in debt our country faces.What about
the trillion dollar plus debt college kids are facing?”
Student debt is a growing problem for more than 37 million Americans. People are falling behind
on student loans at a worse level than before. Now, long-term delinquency rates for student loans
are higher than delinquency rates for car loans, mortgages, and home equity loans.
These dismal statistics aren’t surprising, considering a recent labor analysis by the Associated
Press indicating that over half the adults below 25 with a bachelor’s degree are under-employed
or can’t find a job at all.
“Although the situation is growing worse, the federal government hasn’t been able to find a
real solution to the student loan crisis,” says Amy Mintz, founder of Student Body of America
Association (SBAA). SBAA is a nonprofit organization that offers information, support, and viable
solutions to the student debt crisis and escalating costs of higher education through several
programs including movie production and disbursement of funds for U.S. students.
SBAA is the fiscal sponsor of CrowdFundEDU — a new and potentially integral piece in the
student debt puzzle. CrowdFundEDU is a social fundraising platform with tangible results and
real-world applications.
“CrowdFundEDU is basically Kickstarter for education,” explains Mintz. “People hold an online
fundraiser for any education-related goal. That includes tuition, student loans, seminars, equip-
ment, study-abroad programs, activities, you name it.”
Much like Kickstarter, CrowdFundEDU relies on social networks to stir interest and urge support-
ers to donate to a good cause. People can make direct contributions to fundraisers or a general
donation to SBAA, which is tax-deductible and allocated to student and school fundraisers. As
with other online fundraisers, seeing strangers and acquaintances alike rally to help someone is
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inspiring. Get a glimpse of the CrowdFundEDU mentality at www.projectpayitforward.org, SBAA’s
documentary film currently in pre-production.
CrowdFundEDU can be used for all levels of education, including grades K–12 up to a Ph.D. plus
trade school degrees and certifications. But, given the heightened interest in the skyrocketing
costs of education, the platform sparked special interest in its potential to alleviate the student
debt problem.To learn more about the unsustainable student loan system mired in higher educa-
tion, visit www.thefallenamericandream.com.
22. How does the information in the chart clarify the information presented in the article?
A. The chart negates all information presented in the article because it does not
show specific scholarship awards through crowdfunding.
B. The chart indicates that only fine arts majors, such as photography, music, and
dance, will have any success with Kickstarter.
C. Certain Kickstarter projects have made nearly $80 million dollars, which gives
proof there is a substantial amount of money to be made through the venue.
D. The chart indicates that technology projects receive the highest pledge value,
but games have the most interest.
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PracticeTest
23. What is the common theme between the two pieces of information?
A. Crowdfunding can help fund major projects.
B. Crowdfunding is an unfair and unethical manner to raise money.
C. Kickstarter is only successful with independent projects that will yield returns.
D. Patrons do not want to support the arts.
24. How will the graph potentially affect the intended audience of the article?
A. Students will be incredibly pleased with the graph because it will give them
many ideas about the types of projects they can potentially crowdsource.
B. Students will be angered by the graph because it indicates that traditional
methods of paying for school are no longer available to them.
C. Students with full scholarships will not be affected by the graph.
D. Students may be disappointed by the information presented by the graph, as
it does not show the data regarding educational projects.
25. What conclusions can be drawn from the information presented?
A. A person will likely come up against many obstacles when attempting to
crowdfund his education.
B. Education is becoming more and more costly as times progress.
C. Without a college degree, a person cannot be successful in life.
D. A person must have the proper tools and motivation to make money off of
crowdfunding.
26. How can the overall impact of this information be applied to different situations?
A. People looking to crowdfund might find the best opportunities for projects
other than education given the information presented in the chart.
B. People will find that education is no longer a necessary commodity and will
enter the workforce.
C. People will learn how to use the internet as a tool to build businesses.
D. People will become more interested in attending or supporting projects backed
by crowdfunding websites such as Kickstarter.
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27. How does the data in the chart support the author’s claims?
A. The chart indicates that crowdfunding can be lucrative.
B. The chart indicates that many crowdfunded projects fail.
C. The chart indicates that education is directly affected by Kickstarter.
D. The chart indicates that crowdfunding is a time-consuming effort.
28. What conclusions can be drawn from the article and the chart?
A. Kickstarter projects ultimately make people happy.
B. Funding through crowdfunding is the solution to trying times in this economy.
C. Crowdfunding will pave the way for more independent film projects.
D. Crowdfunding is a legitimate option for funding one’s education.
Read the following excerpt from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, “Illusions.”
I own, I did not like the cave so well for eking out its sublimities with this theatrical trick. But
I have had many experiences like it, before and since; and we must be content to be pleased
without too curiously analyzing the occasions. Our conversation with Nature is not just what it
seems.The cloud-rack, the sunrise and sunset glories, rainbows, and northern lights are not quite
so spheral as our childhood thought them; and the part our organization plays in them is too
large.The senses interfere everywhere, and mix their own structure with all they report of. Once,
we fancied the earth a plane, and stationary. In admiring the sunset, we do not yet deduct the
rounding, coordinating, pictorial powers of the eye.
The same interference from our organization creates the most of our pleasure and pain. Our first
mistake is the belief that the circumstance gives the joy which we give to the circumstance. Life
is an ecstasy. Life is sweet as nitrous oxide; and the fisherman dripping all day over a cold pond,
the switchman at the railway intersection, the farmer in the field, the negro in the rice-swamp,
the fop in the street, the hunter in the woods, the barrister with the jury, the belle at the ball,
all ascribe a certain pleasure to their employment, which they themselves give it. Health and
appetite impart the sweetness to sugar, bread, and meat. We fancy that our civilization has got
on far, but we still come back to our primers.
We live by our imaginations, by our admirations, by our sentiments.The child walks amid heaps
of illusions, which he does not like to have disturbed. The boy, how sweet to him is his fancy!
how dear the story of barons and battles! What a hero he is, whilst he feeds on his heroes! What
a debt is his to imaginative books! He has no better friend or influence, than Scott, Shakespeare,
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PracticeTest
Plutarch, and Homer. The man lives to other objects, but who dare affirm that they are more
real? Even the prose of the streets is full of refractions. In the life of the dreariest alderman, fancy
enters into all details, and colors them with rosy hue. He imitates the air and actions of people
whom he admires, and is raised in his own eyes. He pays a debt quicker to a rich man than to a
poor man. He wishes the bow and compliment of some leader in the state, or in society; weighs
what he says; perhaps he never comes nearer to him for that, but dies at last better contented
for this amusement of his eyes and his fancy.
29. What is the theme of this passage?
A. At some point in our lives, we all must grow up and abandon the illusions of
our youth.
B. Imagination is detrimental to achievement.
C. People’s imaginations and attitude are what shape our experience of events.
D. Illusions color our perceptions of reality.
30. What is the meaning of the word fop? (This would be a drop-down question type on
the GED® test.)
A. Goat
B. Fancy gentleman
C. Angry
D. Rubbish
31. What is the author’s attitude toward illusions?
A. Illusions are sentimental aspirations, which, while necessary, should be kept
separate from our professional lives.
B. Illusions are what help us become better people.
C. Illusions are only to be embraced because to deny them would be a distraction
that will keep us from productivity.
D. Illusions are a necessary and integral part of our lives, and grow with us from
childhood into adulthood.
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32. How does the structure of the sentence “Life is sweet as nitrous oxide; and the fisher-
man dripping all day over a cold pond, the switchman at the railway intersection, the
farmer in the field, the negro in the rice-swamp, the fop in the street, the hunter in the
woods, the barrister with the jury, the belle at the ball, all ascribe a certain pleasure to
their employment, which they themselves give it” affect its message?
A. The use of figurative language helps to draw the reader into believing that life
is very sweet.
B. The use of dependent clauses as part of a run-on sentence helps to sway the
reader into the melodious nature of imagination.
C. The listing employed helps to portray a universal aspect of the idea that all
walks of life require imagination and joy.
D. The semicolon joins the two sentences together, making them a coherent
argument.
33. What is the main rhetorical approach employed by Emerson in this passage?
A. Emotional appeal
B. Appeal to tradition
C. Logical persuasion
D. Ethical appeal
34. What is the author’s implicit purpose in this text?
A. To encourage readers to reflect on what makes them so lucky in life.
B. To encourage readers to embrace imagination and live life joyously.
C. To encourage readers to be nicer to each other.
D. To encourage readers to live every day as if it was their last.
Read the following passage from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action;
and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine,
and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides
political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to
be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties,
and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint,
too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more
privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and
knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn
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PracticeTest
them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced
necessary for their sex.
When thus alone, I not unfrequently heard Grace Poole’s laugh: the same peal, the same low,
slow ha! ha! which, when first heard, had thrilled me: I heard, too, her eccentric murmurs;
stranger than her laugh.There were days when she was quite silent; but there were others when
I could not account for the sounds she made. Sometimes I saw her: she would come out of her
room with a basin, or a plate, or a tray in her hand, go down to the kitchen and shortly return,
generally (oh, romantic reader, forgive me for telling the plain truth!) bearing a pot of porter. Her
appearance always acted as a damper to the curiosity raised by her oral oddities: hard-featured
and staid, she had no point to which interest could attach. I made some attempts to draw her
into conversation, but she seemed a person of few words: a monosyllabic reply usually cut short
every effort of that sort.
The other members of the household, viz., John and his wife, Leah the housemaid, and Sophie the
French nurse, were decent people; but in no respect remarkable; with Sophie I used to talk French,
and sometimes I asked her questions about her native country; but she was not of a descriptive
or narrative turn, and generally gave such vapid and confused answers as were calculated rather
to check than encourage inquiry.
October, November, December passed away. One afternoon in January, Mrs. Fairfax had begged a
holiday for Adele, because she had a cold; and, as Adele seconded the request with an ardour that
reminded me how precious occasional holidays had been to me in my own childhood, I accorded
it, deeming that I did well in showing pliability on the point. It was a fine, calm day, though very
cold; I was tired of sitting still in the library through a whole long morning: Mrs. Fairfax had just
written a letter which was waiting to be posted, so I put on my bonnet and cloak and volunteered
to carry it to Hay; the distance, two miles, would be a pleasant winter afternoon walk. Having
seen Adele comfortably seated in her little chair by Mrs. Fairfax’s parlour fireside, and given her
her best wax doll (which I usually kept enveloped in silver paper in a drawer) to play with, and
a story-book for change of amusement; and having replied to her “Revenez bientot, ma bonne
amie, ma chere Mdlle. Jeannette,” with a kiss I set out.
35. Which of the following has the correct order of events in this passage. (This would be
a drop-and-drag question type on the GED® test.)
A. Jane discusses the need for women to have an occupation.
B. Jane invites Adele for a holiday.
C. Jane sees Grace Poole steal beer from the kitchen.
D. Jane speaks with Sophie, the French nurse.
E. Jane hears the strange laugh of Grace Poole.
F. Jane goes for a walk.
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22
A. (A), (F), (B), (C), (D), (E)
B. (B), (C), (A), (D), (F), (E)
C. (E), (B), (C), (A), (D), (F)
D. (A), (E), (C), (D), (B), (F)
For this paper-and-pencil setting, simply place the letter for your selected answers below.
36. Which sentence best indicates Brontë may be a feminist?
A. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men
feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much
as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stag-
nation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more
privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to mak-
ing puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering
bags.
B. There were days when she was quite silent; but there were others when I could
not account for the sounds she made.
C. The other members of the household, viz., John and his wife, Leah the house-
maid, and Sophie the French nurse, were decent people; but in no respect
remarkable; with Sophie I used to talk French, and sometimes I asked her ques-
tions about her native country; but she was not of a descriptive or narrative
turn, and generally gave such vapid and confused answers as were calculated
rather to check than encourage inquiry.
D. One afternoon in January, Mrs. Fairfax had begged a holiday for Adele,
because she had a cold; and, as Adele seconded the request with an ardour that
reminded me how precious occasional holidays had been to me in my own
childhood, I accorded it, deeming that I did well in showing pliability on the
point.
37. Short Answer: What is Jane’s feeling about Grace Poole?
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PracticeTest
38. What is the effect of the figurative language used in the sentence, “Nobody knows how
many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people
earth.”
A. Repeating the word “rebellions” helps to cement the author’s purpose that
mutiny is a way of life.
B. Using the word “ferment” to describe internal struggles indicates a rising boil
of passion within a person, inflaming the audience’s senses.
C. The phrase, “masses of life which people earth” is particularly effective in indi-
cating the sheer number of people who live on earth.
D. No figurative language is used in this sentence.
39. What is the effect of the first paragraph on the rest of the selection?
A. It sets the stage for the events to unfold.
B. It describes the characters in the rest of the piece.
C. It sets the tone for the entire novel.
D. It indicates Jane’s fierce independence.
40. What can you conclude about Jane’s character?
A. Jane is weak.
B. Jane is more interested in the affairs of others than she is in her own.
C. Jane is curious and strong-willed.
D. Jane is cruel-hearted.
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