GED Language Arts Reading Answers
1. B The author is being very descriptive about the setting. Choice A is incorrect because the author is not using any stimulating language to catch the reader's attention. Choice C is incorrect because there is no action so no climax can be present. The passage has no obvious plot because it is an informative piece. Choice D is incorrect because the author does not reveal anything about his own feelings towards the houses. Choice B is the obvious answer because of the direct and descriptive nature of the passage.
2. D The author refrains from using any words that convey emotion which indicates that choice D is the correct answer. The author is simply describing the look of the cottages in the most accurate manner possible. He refrains from passing any judgment or relating any emotion. The author is not excited or happy, but he is also not angry or sad.
3. D This question will demonstrate a candidate's basic ability to comprehend information. The candidate must read the paragraph and understand the information provided. This question is a very basic one that requires the candidate to identify a specific piece of information within the passage. The candidate may remember the answer from reading the passage or they may have to review the passage again to find the answer. This is stated in line 7 of the last paragraph.
4. C This question will demonstrate a candidate's basic ability to comprehend information. The candidate must read the paragraph and understand the information provided. This question is a very basic one that requires the candidate to identify a specific piece of information within the passage. The candidate may remember the answer from reading the passage or they may have to review the passage again to find the answer. This is stated in line 8 of the last paragraph.
5. B This question will demonstrate a candidate's basic ability to comprehend information. The candidate must read the paragraph and understand the information provided. This question is a very basic one that requires the candidate to identify a specific piece of information within the passage. The candidate may remember the answer from reading the passage or they may have to review the passage again to find the answer. This is stated in the second line of the passage.
6. D This question tests the candidate's ability to understand how word choice and tone affect the overall feeling of a poem. Choice D is the only choice that reflects the sentiment expressed by the author. The overall tone of the poem is dismal and pessimistic. Choices A, B and C are very optimistic and anxious. They do not reflect the author's attitude towards love.
7. D This type of question is often tricky because it asks which statement is not true. Candidates who are in a rush to finish the test may overlook what the question is asking for. The first line of stanza 3 cautions that lovers will die. The first line of stanza 2 warns that lovers can change. The fourth line of stanza 2 states that lovers may be disloyal. The author warns that lovers will die, change, and cheat. The only thing the author does not mention is that a lover may become wealthy.
8. A Choice A is the correct choice because the other three choices do not reflect the line's meaning. Choice B is incorrect because it addresses timeless love for the same person. Choice C is incorrect because it makes a judgment about the type of people who are capable of love. Choice D is incorrect because it addresses the act of loving rather that the author's warning against love.
9. B Choice B is the only reasonable answer because it is the most pessimistic. The other three choices are too optimistic. The author is not happy about love, she is not anxious to fall in love again, and she is not content with her past loves. The author would not use choices A, C or D because they would be in complete opposition to the mood of her poem.
10. C Choice C is correct because angels wear halos but birds, sheep, and kings do not. Choice A is incorrect because birds do not wear halos. Choice B is incorrect because sheep do not wear halos. Choice D is incorrect because while kings wear crowns, which can be likened to halos, angels are the actual bearer of halos and that is the option provided in choice C. Candidates must recognize that this is a metaphor and be able to identify the entities that are being compared.
11. A Choice A is correct because it is the most pessimistic. The other three choices are too optimistic. The author is not happy about love, she is not anxious to fall in love again, and she is not content with her past loves. The author speaks about love with such loathing that we must assume she has experienced all of the hurt she describes in her poem. The other three choices are too optimistic.
12. B Candidates must recognize that this is a metaphor and be able to identify the entities that are being compared. The metaphor is implied in the first stanza. The way the question is worded limits the metaphor to the first stanza of the poem. Choice A is incorrect because the author does not mention birds in the first stanza. Choices C and D are incorrect because they are also not mentioned in the first stanza.
13. B Choice B is correct because the author describes death as having an "ethereal lightness" and a lack of pain. The other three choices are too negative. The author uses certain words to describe death in an unfrightening manner. Words such as lightness, emancipation and peace create the feeling that death is a painless and easy experience.
14. B Choice B is correct because the author uses words like water and tide in paragraphs 4 and 5. The author does not mention riding in a car, playing jump rope or riding a roller coaster. The metaphor used by the author compares death to drifting in a body of water. The water is sweet and filled with light. It gently rocks the speaker on its rising and falling waves.
15. C This question will demonstrate a candidate's basic ability to comprehend information. The candidate must read the paragraph and understand the information provided. This question is a very basic one that requires the candidate to identify a specific piece of information within the passage. The candidate may remember the answer from reading the passage or they may have to review the passage again to find the answer. The exact age of the speaker is stated in paragraph 6 line 2.
16. C The author wrote this article to convince teachers that playing games with students is just as important to their development as more formal learning. The author's intention is obvious as she attempts to explain what areas of growth can be fostered with games. Choice A is incorrect because the article does not mention discipline. Choice B is incorrect because the author does not mention the importance of a formal classroom. Choice D is incorrect because it states the exact opposite to what the author believes.
17. A This question tests a candidate's ability to understand words in context of an entire passage. Candidates must use context clues to correctly interpret the meaning of the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because the question does not imply that children are difficult to teach. C is incorrect because it states the exact opposite of the statement in question 17. Choice D is incorrect because it addresses the learning ability of children rather than the attitudes of children.
18. B Choice B contains words that are used by the author to describe the benefit of games. Choices A, C and D offer behaviors that the author claims can be corrected by repetition of various games. The author claims that games are the most effective way to help children learn and develop.
19. D This type of question is often tricky because it asks which statement is not true. Candidates who are in a rush to finish the test may overlook what the question is asking for. Choices A, B and C are all specifically addressed in the article. The only topic not addressed by the author is choice D which states that playing games with sick children can make them feel better. The author does not discuss this topic in this particular document.
20. C Choice C is the only logical choice because it is the only choice in which the author enjoys being around children. If the author disliked children it is unlikely they would have written this article. Choice A, B and D are incorrect because the author obviously likes and encourages games. The other three choices are too negative.