TIME: 95 minutes
DIRECTIONS: Mark your answers on the answer sheet provided.
Questions 1–10 refer to the following passage.
But not all brands of bottled water are the same. Many bottlers use the same municipal water that comes from your tap. They merely have to completely remove the chlorine, do some additional filtration to enhance the taste. Bottled spring waters are different. The mineral content of waters differs from spring to spring, producing water with a unique taste. Other bottled waters are carbonated, either naturally or artificially in the bottling process, carbonation can add to the clean taste of water.
If you find mineral water whose taste you enjoy and don’t mind the cost, enjoy. From our “Green” perspective, the plastic litter is a huge negative. Also, the effect on the environment of moving large quantities of potable water from one area to another make this an undesirable solution.
Many people enjoy there bottle water taste. So how can you get the same clean taste without the waste? The least expensive way is to use a jug with a charcoal filter cartridge. Filling that jug with clean tap water removes the chlorine and unpleasant tastes or odors. It also removes some of the lead found in the water pipes of older buildings. This is an effective and inexpensive choice. Certainly our morning coffee and tea tastes better for this filtration.
A more advanced and expensive counter-top system is a distillation pot. This system boils water, collects the steam, and condenses it into absolutely pure water. But not everyone likes the taste of totally mineral-free water, and the electricity costs add up.
There are also more extensive systems available. If you get tired of changing cartridges or storing the plastic jug in your fridge, you can also have an under-the-counter system to be installed on your kitchen sink. In townhouses, you can add such a system on the main water pipe and provide the same filtration to the entire house. Some of these systems use carbon blocks and ceramic filters. The blocks are more effective than loose charcoal filters. Also removing traces of pesticides and other chemical contaminants. Ceramic filters remove cloudiness and micro-particles, spores, and other microscopic matter. They deliver excellent drinking water. In either case, there is little waste other than the filters.
1. How would you correct the underlined portion of this sentence?
But not all brands of bottled water are the same.
(A) No change required.
(B) Not all brands of bottled water are
(C) But, not all brands of bottled water is
(D) Not all brands of bottled water is
2. How would you correct the underlined portion of this sentence?
They merely have to completely remove the chlorine, do some additional filtration to enhance the taste.
(A) No change required.
(B) They merely have to remove the chlorine completely and
(C) They merely have to complete the removal of the chlorine and
(D) They merely have a removal of the chlorine and
3. How would you correct this sentence?
Bottled spring waters are different.
(A) No change required.
(B) Bottled, spring waters are different.
(C) Bottled spring waters were different.
(D) Bottled spring waters is different.
4. How would you correct the underlined portion of this sentence?
The mineral content of waters differ from spring to spring, producing water with a unique taste.
(A) No change required.
(B) The mineral content of water differ from spring to spring
(C) The mineral content of waters differs from spring to spring
(D) The mineral content of waters differ; from spring to spring
5. How would you correct the underlined portion of this sentence?
Other bottled waters are carbonated, either naturally or artificially in the bottling process, carbonation can add to the clean taste of water.
(A) are carbonated, either naturally or artificially in the bottling process, carbonation can add
(B) are carbonated naturally or artificially in the bottling process, carbonation can add
(C) are carbonated. Either naturally or artificially in the bottling process, carbonation can add
(D) are carbonated, either naturally or artificially in the bottling process. Carbonation can add
6. How would you correct the underlined portion of this sentence?
Many people enjoy there bottle water taste
(A) No change required.
(B) their bottled
(C) they’re bottling
(D) none of the above
7. Most people object to the taste of chlorine in their drinking water. The easiest and least expensive way to remove that taste is with a 
.
8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using distillation pots? Write the answers in the appropriate column.
(A) absolutely pure water
(B) expensive to use
(C) removes lead
(D) no mineral taste
9. How would you correct this sentence?
If you get tired of changing cartridges or storing the plastic jug in your fridge, you can also have an under-the-counter system to be installed on your kitchen sink.
(A) change to be installed to installed.
(B) change can also have to also can have
(C) insert a comma after jug
(D) no change required
10. How would you correct the underlined portion of these sentences?
The blocks are more effective than loose charcoal filters. Also removing traces of pesticides and other chemical contaminants.
(A) No change required.
(B) effective than lose charcoal filters. Also removing traces
(C) effective than loose charcoal filters; also removing traces
(D) effective than loose charcoal filters for removing traces
Questions 11–17 refer to the following business letter.
BEST Institute of Technology
75 Ingram Drive
Concord, MA 51234
To whom it may concern:
(1) I am pleased to comment on the relationship of our organization to Peta Jackson of the York Square Employment resource Center. (2) The BEST Institute of Technology partnered with the York Square ERC in recruiting candidates for our Café Technician and Operator training programs since April 2010.
(3) In support of the partnership, Peta provided the following services to our programs
Set up information presentations as part of her job readiness seminars
Distributed print materials
Counseled applicants
Expedited meetings with potential candidates
Arranged five graduating ceremonies held at York Square ERC
(4) Peta has always been a strong advocate for our program, which has trained more than 50 technicians and operators during the past 18 months. (5) The fact that York Square was our primary source of referrals are a tribute to Peta’s efforts. (6) She has, with a high degree of professional competence and efficiency, pursued her responsibilities. (7) On a personal level, it has been a joy to work with Peta, and I wish her the very best in her future endeavors.
Dale Worth, PhD, Registrar
11. Sentence 1: I am pleased to comment on the relationship of our organization to Peta Jackson of the York Square Employment resource Center.
Which revision should be made to Sentence 1?
(A) change to Peta Jackson to of Peta Jackson
(B) change pleased to please
(C) change resource to Resource
(D) change Center to Centre
12. Sentence 2: The BEST Institute of Technology partnered with the York Square ERC in recruiting candidates for our Café Technician and Operator training programs since April 2010.
Which is the best way to improve Sentence 2?
(A) change partnered to has partnered
(B) move since April 2010 to between candidates and for
(C) change with to between
(D) change in recruiting to while recruiting
13. Sentence 3: In support of the partnership, Peta provided the following services to our programs
- Set up information presentations as part of her job readiness seminars
- Distributed print materials
- Counseled applicants
- Expedited meetings with potential candidates
- Arranged five graduating ceremonies held at York Square ERC
Which correction should be made to Sentence 3?
(A) remove the comma after partnership
(B) add a semicolon after seminars
(C) add a semicolon after materials
(D) insert a colon after programs
14. Sentence 4: Peta has always been a strong advocate for our program, which has trained more than 50 technicians and operators during the past 18 months.
Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If the original is the best way, choose Choice (A).
(A) has always been
(B) always is being
(C) had been always
(D) have always been
15. Sentence 5: The fact that York Square was our primary source of referrals are a tribute to Peta’s efforts.
Which correction should be made to Sentence 5?
(A) change Peta’s to Petas’
(B) change are to is
(C) change was to were
(D) change our to her
16. Sentence 6:
(1) She has
(2) ,
(3) with a high degree of professional competence
(4) and efficiency
(5) pursued her responsibilities
(6) .
Reorder these sentence fragments into the best possible word order. Insert punctuation only as needed.
17. Sentence 7: On a personal level, it has been a joy to work with Peta, and I wish her the very best in her future endeavors
.
How would you correct the underlined portion of Sentence 7?
(A) best in her future endeavors
(B) best, in her future endeavors
(C) best in her future, endeavors
(D) best; in her future endeavors
Questions 18–25 refer to the following excerpt from Customer Service For Dummies, by Karen Leland and Keith Bailey (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).
The Care Token Coupon
(1) A new copy shop opened recent near our office. (2) Modern and full of new, streamlined, state-of-the-art copiers. (3) The store was just what I needed. (4) The first time I went there, I waited 45 minutes to get served because of a shortage of trained staff. (5) They bounced back by apologizing, explaining the situation, and gave me a care token coupon that was worth 100 free copies. (6) Okay, I thought, fair enough, they’re new and getting their act together, no big deal. (7) A week later, I went back and waited 30 minutes for service. (8) When they apologized, explained the situation, and gave me a coupon for 100 free copies. (9) This time I was too little less understanding. (10) Two weeks later, I went back and the same thing happened again. (11) I didn’t want another free coupon — they had bounced back just once too often. (12) My opinion of their services were so soured that I began looking for another copy shop.
18. Sentence 1: A new copy shop opened recent near our office.
Which correction should be made to Sentence 1?
(A) change copy to copie
(B) change recent to recently
(C) change opened to is opening
(D) change a to an
19. Sentences 2 and 3: Modern and full of new, streamlined, state-of-the-art copiers. The store was just what I needed.
Which improvement should be made to Sentences 2 and 3?
(A) combine the two sentences by changing The to the and replacing the period after copiers with a comma
(B) remove the hyphens from state-of-the-art
(C) change streamlined to streamlining
(D) change store was to the copiers were
20. Sentence 4:
The first time I went there, I waited 45 minutes to get served because of a shortage of trained staff.
What change to the underlined portion of Sentence 4 is the most effective way to begin the sentence?
(A) Because to get served
(B) I waited 45 minutes
(C) To get served because
(D) no correction required
21. Sentence 5: They bounced back by apologizing, explaining the situation, and gave me a care token coupon that was worth 100 free copies.
Which correction should be made to Sentence 5?
(A) change apologizing to apologized
(B) replace explaining with explained
(C) change gave to giving
(D) no correction required
22. Sentence 6: Okay, I thought, fair enough, they’re new and getting their act together, no big deal.
Which revision should be made to Sentence 6?
(A) change thought to am thinking
(B) change the one sentence into three sentences
(C) change no to know
(D) change getting to got
23. Sentence 7: A week later, I went back and waited 30 minutes for service.
Which addition should be made to Sentence 7?
(A) Delete the comma after later
(B) add a comma after back
(C) add a colon after back
(D) no correction is needed
24. Sentence 8: When they apologized, explained the situation, and gave me a coupon for 100 free copies.
Which correction is required for Sentence 8?
(A) change gave me a coupon to gave a coupon to I
(B) change explained to explaining
(C) change When they apologized to They apologized
(D) no correction required
25. Sentence 9: This time I was too little less understanding.
Which correction should be made to Sentence 9?
(A) change too to a
(B) change was to am
(C) change less to least
(D) change understanding to understood
Questions 26–29 refer to the following excerpt from The Prince, by Niccolò Machiavelli (Project Gutenberg; www.gutenberg.org).
A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank. And, on the contrary, it is seen that when princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states. And the first cause of your losing it is to neglect this art; and what enables you to acquire a state is to be master of the art. Francesco Sforza, through being martial, from a private person became Duke of Milan; and the sons, through avoiding the hardships and troubles of arms, from dukes became private persons. For among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised, and this is one of those ignominies against which a prince ought to guard himself, as is shown later on. Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants. Because, there being in the one disdain and in the other suspicion, it is not possible for them to work well together. And therefore a prince who does not understand the art of war, over and above the other misfortunes already mentioned, cannot be respected by his soldiers, nor can he rely on them. He ought never, therefore, to have out of his thoughts this subject of war, and in peace he should addict himself more to its exercise than in war; this he can do in two ways, the one by action, the other by study.
26. Why should a prince concentrate on the study of war?
(A) It is the knowledge that preserves their position.
(B) It allows the prince to lead a more comfortable life.
(C) Not being focused on war makes you more beloved by the people.
(D) Peaceful men are respected by their soldiers.
27. Why should a prince master the study of war and be armed?
(A) Having a large army ensures lots of jobs.
(B) People are suspicious of princes with large armies.
(C) Slaves fear soldiers.
(D) The armed do not readily yield authority to the unarmed.
28. How does Machiavelli think the population will react to a prince who is unarmed?
They will .
29. Which of these phrases best describes Machiavelli’s attitude to the study of the art of war?
(A) Study infrequently.
(B) In times of peace, prepare for war.
(C) Avoid war to gain the respect of your people.
(D) Warriors respect only warriors.
Questions 30–34 refer to the following passage from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain (Project Gutenberg; www.gutenberg.org).
“Hang the boy, can’t I never learn anything? Ain’t he played me tricks enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time? But old fools is the biggest fools there is. Can’t learn an old dog new tricks, as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, and how is a body to know what’s coming? He ’pears to know just how long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it’s all down again and I can’t hit him a lick. I ain’t doing my duty by that boy, and that’s the Lord’s truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile the child, as the Good Book says. I’m a laying up sin and suffering for us both, I know. He’s full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he’s my own dead sister’s boy, poor thing, and I ain’t got the heart to lash him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the Scripture says, and I reckon it’s so. He’ll play hookey this evening, * and [* Southwestern for “afternoon”] I’ll just be obleeged to make him work, tomorrow, to punish him. It’s mighty hard to make him work Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more than he hates anything else, and I’ve GOT to do some of my duty by him, or I’ll be the ruination of the child.”
30. Why did Mark Twain write this dialogue in such an ungrammatical manner?
(A) He did not know any better.
(B) He assumed his readers spoke in a “folksy” dialect.
(C) He wanted to reflect the character of the speaker.
(D) Everyone spoke like that back then.
31. Which allusion to the Bible (the Good Book) does Aunt Polly use to support her child-rearing method?
32. Why does the speaker believe she is committing a sin?
(A) She can’t make Tom go to church.
(B) She occasionally hits Tom.
(C) She is not strict enough with Tom.
(D) She makes Tom work on Saturdays.
33. What evidence is there in the text to support the idea that the speaker considers herself a good, God-fearing woman?
(A) She makes numerous references to the Bible.
(B) She worries about making Tom work on Saturdays.
(C) She gets mad at Tom for the tricks he pulls.
(D) All of the above.
34. What does Tom Sawyer hate the most?
Questions 35 and 36 refer to the following excerpt from the Central Intelligence Agency Careers website (www.cia.gov).
Instilling Inclusive Work Practices
In our organization, we are working to ensure every officer’s views are heard and that their ideas and skills are given due consideration. This enables us to fully leverage our talented and dedicated workforce.
The Agency has a variety of employee resource groups comprised of employees whom share a common affinity (gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic, and racial backgrounds) and their allies. The employee resource groups make the organization stronger by:
- increasing cultural awareness,
- providing insight, practical solutions, and best practices, and
- promoting engagement and collaboration.
In addition, mentoring, coaching, training, and recognition for collaborative and inclusive behaviors foster employee engagement, professional development, and career advancement.
35. What correction does the following sentence require?
The Agency has a variety of employee resource groups comprised of employees whom share a common affinity (gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic, and racial backgrounds) and their allies.
(A) change The Agency has to The Agency have
(B) change whom to who
(C) change comprised to compromised
(D) change their to its
36. Why does the CIA use employee resource groups?
(A) They make the organization stronger.
(B) They encourage competition.
(C) They reduce tensions with other agencies.
(D) They produce diverse employment opportunities.
Questions 37–42 refer to the following passage.
Facilities for Access to Creative Enterprise (FACE)
Originally founded in 1982 to train unemployed youth in small “hand skill” craft workshops, this project provides occupational and entrepreneurial skills as an alternative to traditional manufacturing jobs. Beginning with glass engraving and sign writing, FACE now offers training in more than 200 hand skill occupations, including antique restoration, clothing manufacturing, graphic design, masonry, sail making, specialist joinery, weaving, and wood turning. Funded through the Youth Training Scheme, FACE provides 800 training places in the west and northeast of England under the premise that even if the young people can’t secure employment, they at least will have the skills to create their own businesses.
Based on its experience, FACE has developed, with the Royal Society of Arts, a Certificate in Small Business and Enterprise Skills. The aim of the certificate is “to develop the basic skills of enterprise across a range of occupational sectors, within small business and in general employment and which are applicable in a wide range of personal and social contexts outside work.” Competencies include self-evaluation, decision making, initiative taking, resource and time management, opportunism and self-motivation, problem solving, and learning-to-learn skills, as well as communication and number skills vital to personal effectiveness.
37. What is the overall purpose of the FACE project?
(A) to provide manufacturing jobs
(B) to engrave glass
(C) to train unemployed youth
(D) to write signs
38. Which of the following is not an example of a hand skill craft occupation?
(A) weaving
(B) wood turning
(C) sail making
(D) robotic assembly
39. How can young people best secure employment northeast of England?
(A) by engaging in traditional manufacturing
(B) by creating new enterprises
(C) by joining the Royal Society of Arts
(D) by obtaining a Certificate in Small Business
40. Who helped FACE develop the Certificate in Small Business and Enterprise Skills?
(A) Youth Training Scheme
(B) west and northeast England
(C) hand skill workshops
(D) Royal Society of Arts
41. Which competency is not included in training for the Certificate?
(A) self-evaluation
(B) anger management
(C) decision making
(D) problem solving
42. What wording in the text suggests that FACE does not expect its graduates to find traditional employment, even after completing their training?
(A) develop the basic skills
(B) an alternative to traditional manufacturing jobs
(C) train unemployed youth in small “hand skill” craft workshops
(D) in general employment
Questions 43–46 refer to the following letter.
TO: James Tiberius
FROM: Akira Hudson
RE: Consumer Math Book Proposal
We meet mathematical problems everyday in our lives. How we handle them makes the difference between winning and losing. Many of our decisions require knowledge of “survival mathematics,” the skills and concepts that help us survive in an increasingly complex world. Many students drop high-school mathematics as soon as they can. Few are willing or able to take in school the life skills courses that would help them later in life. As a result, they never learn some of the important math life skills. This book has a built-in target audience, the people who need “survival mathematics” to get ahead in this world.
The key life skills are the everyday arithmetic that helps one survive in the market place. We propose to help readers learn and practice the following skills:
- Different methods of earning a paycheck: We explain hourly wages and piecework, commission and salary.
- Calculating deductions from pay slips: What comes off and why.
- Budgeting: Making the money last from paycheck to paycheck; creating a household budget.
- The deal: How to read ads. Just how good a deal is “the deal”?
- Credit cards: How you pay, what you pay for, and the real cost of loyalty programs.
- Compound interest: The true cost of money. Comparing interest rates on debt, ranging from bank loans to credit card debt. Working out just how expensive credit card debt is.
- Compound interest: The mortgage. Working out the true costs of “zero down” financing of a home.
- Compound interest: Earning money on money. How can one reinvest to earn more, and the magic of time in accumulating wealth.
- Keeping more of what you earn: Some simple strategies to minimize taxes, from education and retirement savings to mortgage interest deductibility.
- The car: Calculating the pros and cons: We compare used vs. new, purchase vs. lease, and examine the true cost of owning a car. Since the car is probably the second biggest purchase most people will ever make, this is an important part of consumer knowledge. This unit is specially aimed at first-time car purchasers.
The application of basic arithmetic skills will help readers become better consumers and teach them how to deal with mathematical issues in everyday life.
43. Why do the authors suggest “survival mathematics” is a skill many young people need?
(A) Many students drop high-school math as soon as possible.
(B) Many students cannot or will not take life skills courses.
(C) Both Choices (A) and (B) are correct.
(D) Neither Choice (A) nor (B) is correct.
44. What do the authors suggest is the point of budgeting?
(A) to avoid credit card fraud
(B) to make the money last between paychecks
(C) to set aside some savings from each paycheck
(D) all of the above
45. What does zero down mean?
(A) a lack of involvement
(B) no interest payments on the first part of a loan
(C) no security deposit
(D) no initial payment on the mortgage before monthly payments start
46. Why are car purchases considered important enough to be given a heading of their own?
(A) Everyone needs a car.
(B) Students in particular want to buy cars.
(C) Car loans are more expensive than credit card debts.
(D) Cars are among the largest purchases most people ever make.
47. If John owns a car, that is _____ car.
(A) John’s
(B) Johns
(C) Johns’
(D) none of the above
48. Which version of the underlined portion of this sentence is correct?
Their car was they’re when we got there.
(A) Their car was they’re
(B) There car was their
(C) Their car was there
(D) They’re car was their
Questions 49 and 50 refer to the following excerpt from the Environmental Protection Agency website (www.epa.gov).
Weather Versus Climate
- Weather is a specific event or condition that happens over a period of hours or days. For example, a thunderstorm, a snowstorm, and today’s temperature all describe the weather.
- Climate refers to the average weather conditions in a place over many years (usually at least 30 years). For example, the climate in Minneapolis is cold and snowy in the winter, while Miami’s climate is hot and humid. The average climate around the world is called global climate.
Weather conditions can change from one year to the next. For example, Minneapolis might have a warm winter one year and a much colder winter the next. This kind of change is normal. But when the average pattern over many years changes, it could be a sign of climate change.
49. When scientists consider climate, what length of time is involved?
(A) 30 years or more
(B) a decade
(C) probably a few months
(D) whatever is going on today
50. What is more likely to be variable from year to year, weather or climate?
Practice tests work best when you take them under the same conditions as the real test. Unless you require accommodations, you’ll be taking the GED test on a computer. You’ll see all the questions on a computer screen and use a keyboard or mouse to indicate your answers. We formatted the questions and answers formatted the questions and answer choices in this book to make them visually as similar as possible to the real GED test. We had to retain some A, B, C, D choices for marking your answers, and we provide a separate answer sheet for you to do so. Also, to make it simpler for you to time yourself, we present the question and answer sections as one unit, rather than two, followed by the Extended Response at the end.
