GED Practice Test, Part I

Directions:

The multiple-choice section consists of passages with lettered paragraphs and numbered sentences. Some of the sentences contain an error in sentence structure, usage, or mechanics (punctuation and capitalization). After reading the numbered sentences, answer the multiple-choice questions that follow. Some questions refer to sentences that are correct as written. The best answer for these questions is the one that leaves the sentence as originally written. The best answer for some questions is the one that produces a sentence that is consistent with the verb tense and point of view used throughout the text.

You should try to complete the 25 questions on this part of the test in 38 minutes or less. Work carefully, but do not spend too much time on any one question. Answer every question. You will not be penalized for incorrect answers. You may begin working on the essay section of this test as soon as you complete the multiple-choice section.

When you have finished the multiple-choice section, click on Submit Answers to receive feedback and results. You may also choose to e-mail your results to your instructor. After you have completed Part II of the test and have received an essay score from your instructor or determined your own score, click on GED Score in the sidebar on the left-hand side of your screen to determine your GED standard score.

Questions 1 through 6 refer to the following memorandum.

To: All Rehab Program Participants
From: Claudia Ortiz, Assistant Director
Re: Temporary Employment
Date: April 30, 2002

(A)
(1) If you are looking for a permanent job or plan to reenter the working world, you might find the job hunt a difficult task. (2) One way to ease this situation is to work for a temporary employment agency.

(B)
ADVANTAGES
(3) Temporary assignments let you explore the working world before you make up your mind. (4) As a "temp," you can work in many different situations while learning new skills and meeting people. (5) The variety of working in a different place every day or week stimulate many workers. (6) On the other hand, if you want to attend a computer seminar, lie in the sun on the first day of summer, or visit Aunt Grace on Columbus day, you can easily take the day off.

(C)
DISADVANTAGES
(7) Being a temp can also have its disadvantages. (8) Some temporary agencies offer health insurance and other benefits to their workers, but others do not. (9) If the one you work for does not, you will find it expensive to provide your own health insurance. (10) Another disadvantage to temporary work is that there is no guarantee of work you do not automatically draw a paycheck every Friday. (11) Temporary work may not be appropriate for people which crave security.

(D)
(12) There are risks involved with temporary work, but if you like a flexible schedule, thrive on change, or need to explore different careers, this approach might be for you.

1		Sentence 1: If you are looking for a job or plan to reenter the working world, you might find the job hunt a difficult task. If you rewrote sentence 1 beginning with Looking for a job or the next word should be
			A)	finding
			B)	being
			C)	looking
			D)	reentering
			E)	working
2		Sentence 5: The variety of working in a different place every day or week stimulate many workers. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	stimulate
			B)	stimulated
			C)	stimulating
			D)	will be stimulating
			E)	stimulates
3		Sentence 6: On the other hand, if you want to attend a computer seminar, lie in the sun on the first day of summer, or visit Aunt Grace on Columbus day, you can easily take the day off. Which correction should be made to sentence 6?
			A)	replace if with since
			B)	remove the comma after seminar
			C)	change summer to Summer
			D)	change Columbus day to Columbus Day
			E)	remove the comma after day
4		Sentence 8: Some temporary agencies offer health insurance and other benefits to their workers, but others do not. Which correction should be made to sentence 8?
			A)	insert which after agencies
			B)	remove the comma after workers
			C)	insert a comma after insurance
			D)	replace their with they’re
			E)	no correction is necessary
5		Sentence 10: Another disadvantage to temporary work is that there is no guarantee of work you do not automatically draw a paycheck every Friday. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	work you
			B)	working you
			C)	work. You
			D)	work, you
			E)	work because you
6		Sentence 11: Temporary work may not be appropriate for people which crave security. Which correction should be made to sentence 11?
			A)	insert a comma after work
			B)	replace for with four
			C)	insert a comma after people
			D)	replace which with who
			E)	no correction is necessary

Questions 7 through 12 refer to the following consumer advice.

Using a Microwave

(A)
        (1) Today many people have microwave ovens, and must learn a very different method of cooking. (2) Let's look, then, at how microwave ovens work when they cook food. (3) Microwaves are extra-short radio waves, the movement of these waves inside the oven does the actual cooking. (4) The air inside the oven usually don't heat up very much. (5) The waves bounce around the oven and pass through the food repeatedly. (6) This action causes cooking to begin just below the food's surface. (7) As the heat spreads through the rest of the food, full cooking is achieved.

(B)
        (8) While microwaving is quick, it does not always cook food evenly. (9) Although their cooking may be sometimes uneven, microwaves have become important tools in many kitchens. (10) Before new microwave owners master their ovens, we often find that some spots in a food will overcook, while others are still not completely cooked. (11) As a result, many microwave Recipes call for a 10- to 15-minute standing time after the power has been turned off.

7		Sentence 1: Today many people have microwave ovens, and must learn a very different method of cooking. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	have microwave ovens, and must learn
			B)	have microwave ovens and must learn
			C)	having microwave ovens, and must learn
			D)	have microwave ovens, and will learn
			E)	have microwave ovens and learning
8		Sentence 3: Microwaves are extra-short radio waves, the movement of these waves inside the oven does the actual cooking. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	waves, the
			B)	waves The
			C)	waves. The
			D)	waves, but the
			E)	waves; however the
9		Sentence 4: The air inside the oven usually don’t heat up very much. Which correction should be made to sentence 4?
			A)	insert a comma after air
			B)	change don't to didn't
			C)	change don't to doesn't
			D)	change don’t to do not
			E)	no correction is necessary
10		Sentence 9: Although their cooking may be sometimes uneven, microwaves have become important tools in many kitchens. Which revision should be made to the placement of sentence 9?
			A)	move sentence 9 to follow sentence 10
			B)	move sentence 9 to the end of paragraph B
			C)	move sentence 9 to the beginning of paragraph A
			D)	move sentence 9 to follow sentence 1
			E)	remove sentence 9
11		Sentence 10: Before new microwave owners master their ovens, we often find that some spots in a food will overcook, while others are still not completely cooked. Which correction should be made to sentence 10?
			A)	replace their with they're
			B)	remove the comma after ovens
			C)	replace we with they
			D)	replace Before with So that
			E)	change are to is
12		Sentence 11: As a result, many microwave Recipes call for a 10- to 15-minute standing time after the power has been turned off. Which correction should be made to sentence 11?
			A)	change microwave to Microwave
			B)	remove the comma after result
			C)	change Recipes to recipes
			D)	change call to calls
			E)	change has been turned to will be turned

Questions 13 through 17 refer to the following consumer advice.

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST COUNTERFEITING!

(A)
        (1) If someone mentioned the word counterfeit, most people would automatically think of fake dollar bills. (2) The Secret Service works to prevent the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. (3) In the manufacturing and consumer worlds, counterfeit refers to everything from fake designer jeans to bogus microchips in heart pumps. (4) Counterfeiting occurs in almost all kinds of consumer products. (5) It costs Americans billions of dollars and thousands of jobs each year. (6) The dramatic increase, analysts say, is due to the average consumer’s obsession with brand names. (7) The U.S. government has become involved. (8) To help combat this worldwide problem. (9) The Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 calls for harsh penalties in the United States for product counterfeiting, and consumer education is stressed in programs provided by the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition.

(B)
        (10) As a consumer, what can they do to protect yourself against fakes? (11) It is important to shop at a store that is operated by a trusted merchant and a merchant who is an honest business owner. (12) Also, check for fuzzy or misspelled labels and tags; these are usually fake. (13) Be careful whenever you buy something marked down more than 40 to 50 percent, especially if the seller is suspect. (14) Counterfeiting will continue to be a major problem, but being an aware consumer will help win the battle against the fakes.

13		Sentence 2: The Secret Service works to prevent the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Which revision should be made to the placement of sentence 2?
			A)	move sentence 2 to the beginning of paragraph A
			B)	move sentence 2 to the end of paragraph A
			C)	move sentence 2 to follow sentence 6
			D)	move sentence 2 to follow sentence 7
			E)	remove sentence 2
14		Sentence 6: The dramatic increase, analysts say, is due to the average consumer’s obsession with brand names. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	say, is
			B)	says, is
			C)	say, be
			D)	says, are
			E)	say, are
15		Sentences 7 and 8: The U.S. government has become involved. To help combat this worldwide problem. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of these sentences? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	become involved. To help
			B)	become involved to help
			C)	become involved, to help
			D)	become involved. So to help
			E)	becomed involved. To help
16		Sentence 10: As a consumer, what can they do to protect yourself against fakes? Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	what can they do
			B)	what can we do
			C)	what can you do
			D)	what can them do
			E)	what can I do
17		Sentence 11: It is important to shop at a store that is operated by a trusted merchant and a merchant who is an honest business owner. The most effective revision of sentence 11 would include which group of words?
			A)	to shop at a store that is operated by a trusted and honest merchant
			B)	to shop at a trusted store with a trusted merchant who is
			C)	to shop at a store operated by a trusted business owner and an honest business owner
			D)	to be a trustworthy and honest shopper,
			E)	no revision is necessary

Questions 18 through 21 refer to the following consumer information.

THE HISTORY OF BAR CODES

(A)
        (1) Bar codes have helped retailers save millions of dollars by doing computerized inventories at the checkout counter. (2) In 1948, a graduate student in Philadelphia uses movie soundtrack technology and Morse code to invent the first scanning system. (3) The student's ideas were not practical for the technology of post-World War II America. (4) Computers were too large and too slow to make a scanning system work efficiently. (5) The scanning system was improved, but the computers were improved first. (6) The first working system was installed to keep track of railroad freight cars. (7) Grocery stores were interested in a scanning system for inventory control, but first products had to labeled properly. (8) In 1973, the Universal Product Code was adopted, and manufacturers began labeling their product. (9) Cheap lasers and integrated circuits made the system work. (10) Today, using bar codes has spread to other areas. (11) For example, scientists tags bees with tiny bars codes to keep track of the bees’ mating habits.

18		Sentence 2: In 1948, a graduate student in Philadelphia uses movie soundtrack technology and Morse code to invent the first scanning system. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	uses
			B)	will use
			C)	will have used
			D)	used
			E)	using
19		Sentence 5: The scanning system was improved, but the computers were improved first. If you rewrote sentence 5 beginning with After computers were improved, The next words should be
			A)	as the scanning system improved
			B)	scanning system was improving
			C)	the scanning system was also improved
			D)	along with the scanning system
			E)	also the scanning system
20		Which sentence would be most effective at the beginning of paragraph A?
			A)	Bar codes have changed the retail world.
			B)	Computers translate information in the bar code into information about an item.
			C)	Optical scanners read the lines and bars in a bar code.
			D)	Many stores in the United States and Canada have computerized cash registers that read bar codes.
			E)	Some stores allow customers to scan their purchases themselves.
21		Sentence 11: For example, scientists tags bees with tiny bars codes to keep track of the bees’ mating habits. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose option (1).
			A)	scientists tags
			B)	scientists tagging
			C)	scientist tag
			D)	scientists is tagging
			E)	scientists tag

Questions 22 through 25 refer to the following letter of complaint.

City of Chicago
Department of Streets and Sanitation
Central Auto Pound
400 E. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60601

July 1, 2002

To Whom It May Concern:

(A)
(1) I am writing to complain about the recent towing of a vehicle registered in my name. (2) This vehicle, a black 2001 Honda Accord, was towed from it's location at 901 W. Cornelia Ave. on June 15. (3) When I went to retrieve my vehicle from the auto pound, I was told that it had been towed because I was illegally parked in a permit parking zone. (4) Because, since January 2001, I have had a registered permit to park in this zone, I am challenging this accusation. (5) This permit was clearly visible in the lower right-hand corner of my windshield on the day my vehicle was towed.

(B)
(6) In addition to the hassle of retrieving my car from the auto pound, I discovered that the front bumper was severely dented as a result of the towing equipment. (7) It is costing me $600 to have this bumper repaired, and I do not think I should have had to pay for it.

(C)
(8) I would like to request a hearing to contest this unnecessary tow, and to discuss responsibility for the damage done to my car. (9) Please contact me at (312) 555-0562 to discuss the hearing procedure.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Snyder

22		Sentence 2: This vehicle, a black 2001 Honda Accord, was towed from it’s location at 901 W. Cornelia Ave. on June 15. Which correction should be made to sentence 2?
			A)	remove the comma after Accord
			B)	change was to were
			C)	remove the comma after vehicle
			D)	replace it’s with its
			E)	no correction is necessary
23		Sentence 4: Because, since January 2001, I have had a registered permit to park in this zone, I am challenging this accusation. If you rewrote sentence 4 beginning with I am challenging this accusation the next words should be
			A)	since January 2001 because
			B)	because I have had a registered permit
			C)	I have had a registered permit
			D)	because having had a registered permit
			E)	because, since January 2001, I had a registered permit
24		Sentence 7: It is costing me $600 to have this bumper repaired, and I do not think I should have had to pay for it. Which correction should be made to sentence 7?
			A)	remove the comma after repaired
			B)	replace and with but
			C)	change should have had to should have
			D)	change do not think to don’t think
			E)	no correction is necessary
25		Sentence 8: I would like to request a hearing to contest this unnecessary tow, and to discuss responsibility for the damage done to my car. Which correction should be made to sentence 8?
			A)	remove the comma after tow
			B)	change to discuss to discussing
			C)	replace and with but
			D)	insert a comma after hearing
			E)	no correction is necessary