Chapter 9

Taking an RLA Practice Test

Ready to practice your language skills? You have 95 minutes to complete the question-and-answer section, followed by a 10-minute break, and then another 45 minutes to write the Extended Response (the essay). Remember, on the actual GED test, you can’t transfer unused time from one section to another.

The answers and explanations to this test’s questions are in Chapter 10. Review the explanations to all the questions, not just the ones you missed. Going over the answers is a good review technique.

Remember Practice tests work best when you take them under the same conditions as the real test. We can’t provide a computer test along with this book, but you can simulate the test-taking experience in other ways. Take this test in a room with no distractions, no music, no telephone, no munchies, and no interruptions. Do the test in one sitting. You have only one ten-minute break.

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 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.

Answer Sheet for Reasoning Through Language Arts Practice Test

image

Reasoning Through Language Arts Test

Questions 1–10 refer to the following article.

But not all brands of bottled water are the same, many bottlers use the same municipal water that comes from your tap. It merely has to completely remove the chlorine and 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 a “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 their bottled 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 led found in the water pipes of older buildings. This is an effective and inexpensive choice. Certainly our morning coffee and tea taste better for this filtration.

A more advanced and expensive counter-top system is a distillation pot. This system boils water, collects the steam, and condensed it into absolutely pure water. But not everyone likes the taste of totally mineral-free water, and the electricity costs add up.

They’re 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 installed on your kitchen sink. In houses, 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, but not dissolved materials. 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 the following sentence?

But not all brands of bottled water are the same, many bottlers use the same municipal water that comes from your tap.

(A) all brands of bottled water are the same, many bottlers use

(B) all brands of bottled water are the same; many bottlers use

(C) all brands of bottled water are the same many bottlers use

(D) all brands of bottled water are the same, but bottlers use

2. How would you correct the underlined portion of the following sentence?

It merely has to completely remove the chlorine and do some additional filtration to enhance the taste.

(A) It merely has to

(B) They merely have to

(C) It has to merely

(D) They merely has to

3. How would you correct the following sentence?

It also removes some of the led found in the water pipes of older buildings.

(A) It also removes some of the led found in the water pipes of older buildings.

(B) It also removes some of the led found in the water pipe of older buildings.

(C) It also removes some of the lead found in the water pipes of older buildings.

(D) It also removed some of the lead found in the water pipes of older buildings.

4. How would you correct the underlined portion of the following sentence?

This system boils water, collects the steam, and condensed it into absolutely pure water.

(A) This system boils water, collects the steam, and condensed it into absolutely pure water.

(B) This system boils water, collects the steam and condensed it into absolutely pure water.

(C) This system boils water, collects the steam, and condenses it into absolutely pure water.

(D) This system boils water, collects the steam and condenses it into absolutely pure water.

5. How would you correct the underlined portion of the following 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 following sentence?

They’re also more extensive systems available.

(A) They’re also more extensive systems available.

(B) There are also more extensive systems available.

(C) Their are also more extensive systems available.

(D) none of the above

7. What is a more effective filter than loose charcoal? .

8. What are the disadvantages of using ceramic filters?

(A) can't remove micro-particles

(B) don't remove dissolved chemicals

(C) removes taste

(D) leaves spores in water

9. How would you correct the following 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 installed on your kitchen sink.

(A) change the word fridge to refrigerator

(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) affective than loose charcoal filters, also removing traces

(B) effective than lose charcoal filters. Also removing traces

(C) effective than loose charcoal filters; also removing traces

(D) effective than loose charcoal filters, also removing traces

Questions 11–17 refer to the following business letter.

Urban Parent,
Northern Publications
447 Peer Rd.

Dear Sirs,

Please find enclosed a proposal for an article on Alternative Schools for your consideration.

(1) Your publication would be an ideal platform for an article on the alternative schools. (2) Your demographics include the very age group of parents who have concerns about the education our children are receiving. (3) However, many parents are unaware of the fascinating range of options available to them beyond the regular classroom.

(4) I and my colleague are educators, with experience at all levels. (5) We have taught elementary and secondary schools, as well as in university and adult education. (6) We both at various times Chairs of the District School Board’s Alternative Schools Advisory Council. (7) We founded four different alternative schools for the school board.

(8) We hope that this proposal is of interest; and, look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,

Adam Jamieson

11. Sentence 1: Please find enclosed a proposal for an article on Alternative Schools for your consideration.

Which revision should be made to Sentence 1?

(A) Please find enclosed a proposal for an article on Alternative Schools for your consideration.

(B) Please find enclosed a proposal for an article on alternative schools.

(C) Please find enclosed a proposal for an article on Alternative Schools, for your consideration.

(D) Enclosed is a proposal for a article on alternative schools.

12. Sentence 2: Your publication would be an ideal platform for an article on the alternative schools.

Which is the best way to improve Sentence 2?

(A) Your publication would be an ideal platform for an article on the alternative schools.

(B) Your publication will be an ideal platform for an article on the alternative schools.

(C) Your publication is an ideal platform for an article on the alternative schools.

(D) Your publication might be an ideal platform for an article on the alternative schools.

13. Sentence 3: Your demographics include the very age group of parents who have concerns about the education our children are receiving.

Which correction should be made to Sentence 3?

(A) no change required

(B) change parents who to parents that

(C) change our children to their children

(D) change include to included

14. Sentence 4: I and my colleague are educators, with experience at all levels.

Which is the best way to correct Sentence 4?

(A) I and my colleague are educators, with experience at all levels.

(B) My colleague and I are educators, with experience at all levels.

(C) I and my colleague are Educators, with experience at all levels.

(D) My colleague and me are educators, with experience at all levels.

15. Sentence 5: We have taught elementary and secondary schools, as well as in university and adult education.

Which correction should be made to Sentence 5?

(A) We have taught elementary and secondary schools, as well as in university and adult education.

(B) We have taught elementary and secondary, as well as university and adult education.

(C) We have taught elementary and secondary schools; and as well, as in university and for adult education.

(D) We teach elementary and secondary schools, as well as in university and adult education.

16. Sentence 6: We both at various times Chairs of the District School Board’s Alternative Schools Advisory Council.

Which correction should be made to Sentence 6?

(A) We both at various times Chairs of the District School Board’s Alternative Schools Advisory Council.

(B) We both at various times, Chairs of the District School Board’s Alternative Schools Advisory Council.

(C) We both at various times Chairs of the District School Board’s Alternative Schools Advisery Council.

(D) We were both at various times Chairs of the District School Board’s Alternative Schools Advisory Council.

17. Sentence 8: We hope that this proposal is of interest; and, look forward to hearing from you.

How would you correct Sentence 7?

(A) We hope that this proposal is of interest; and, look forward to hearing from you.

(B) We hope that this proposal was of interest; and, look forward to hearing from you.

(C) We hope that this proposal is of interest and look forward to hearing from you.

(D) We hope that this proposal is of interest, and look forward to hearing from you.

Questions 18–19 refer to the following excerpt adapted from Customer Service For Dummies by Karen Leland and Keith Bailey (Wiley).

The Care Token Coupon

(1) A new Copie Shoppe recently opened near our office. (2) Modern and full of new, streamlined, state-of-the-art copiers; (3) the Fast Copy Company store was just what I needed. (4) The first time I went over, I waited 45 minutes before service because of a shortage of trained staff. (5) They bounced back by apologized, explained 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) They apologised, explained the situation, and gave me a coupon for 100 free copies. (9) This time I was a 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 Copie Shoppe recently opened near our office.

Which correction should be made to the underlined portion of Sentence 1?

(A) no change required

(B) change Copie Shoppe to copy shop

(C) change Copie Shoppe to copy shoppe

(D) change a to an

19. Sentences 2 and 3: Modern and full of new, streamlined, state-of-the-art copiers; (3) the Fast Copy Company store was just what I needed.

Which improvement should be made to Sentences 2 and 3?

(A) no change required.

(B) remove the hyphens from state-of-the-art

(C) change the semicolon after copiers to a comma

(D) change store was to the copiers were

20. The president will visit our town today. It is a historical event.

What correction does this passage require?

(A) replace historical with historic

(B) capitalize president

(C) merge the two sentences with a comma after today.

(D) no correction required

21. We were about to leave when the Bradley’s arrived.

Which correction should be made to the following?

(A) add a comma after leave

(B) replace were with are

(C) replace Bradley’s with Bradleys

(D) no correction required

22. What is the correct word for the following sentence, compliment or complement?

The platoon had a full of specialists available.

23. How would you correct the following sentence?

Considered virtually unsinkable, the captain went down with the Titanic.

(A) delete considered virtually unsinkable and capitalize the.

(B) Change the sentence to “The Captain went down with the Titanic that had been considered virtually unsinkable.”

(C) Change the sentence to “The captain went down with the Titanic, which had been considered virtually unsinkable.”

(D) Change the sentence to “The Captain went down with the Titanic which had been considered virtually unsinkable.”

24. How would you correct the following sentence?

The detectives could not identify the man; who had they arrested?

(A) The detectives could not identify the man; who had they arrested?

(B) The detectives could not identify the man; whom had they arrested?

(C) The detectives could not identify the man who had they arrested.

(D) The detectives could not identify the man; that they had arrested?

25. How would you correct the following sentence?

Whenever that group of children sneeze, I get the urge to throw tissues at them.

(A) no change required

(B) change get to got

(C) change sneeze to sneezed

(D) change sneeze to sneezes

Questions 26–29 refer to the following excerpt from The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (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 does Machiavelli think the unarmed and armed cannot work together?

(A) The unarmed are suspicious of the armed, and the armed disdain the unarmed.

(B) A well-schooled prince would not allow it.

(C) The armed are suspicious of the unarmed, and the unarmed disdain the armed

(D) Peaceful men are respected by their soldiers.

27. What is the relationship between the armed and unarmed?

(A) They are proportionate.

(B) They must work together to avoid disdain and suspicion.

(C) They are disproportionate because the armed will always defer to the unarmed.

(D) They are disproportionate because the armed will never yield to the unarmed.

28. What is Machiavelli’s underlying premise in this passage?

(A) The art of war is the only means to power.

(B) Unarmed men are despised.

(C) War is the ultimate purpose of society.

(D) None of the above.

29. What does Machiavelli mean when he states someone is a “private person”?

(A) someone without power who is not a prince or leader

(B) someone withdrawn from public scrutiny

(C) reclusive aristocrat

(D) child of aristocrats

Questions 30–34 refer to the following passage from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain (www.gutenberg.org).

[Aunt Polly speaks about Tom] “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 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. What does this monologue tell you about the speaker?

(A) She hates children.

(B) She considers herself an old fool.

(C) She believes Tom will lead her into sin.

(D) She is a simple country woman who wants to do the best job she can raising Tom.

31. What is the source of the phrase “spare the rod and spile [spoil] the child” that the speaker refers to?

32. Why does the speaker worry about not being strict enough?

(A) She can’t make Tom go to church.

(B) She worries she’ll lose Tom.

(C) She fears she is not doing as the scriptures say, thus committing a sin.

(D) She wants Tom to work on Sundays.

33. How does Tom avoid being disciplined by the speaker?

(A) Her makes her laugh.

(B) He stays away from home.

(C) He pulls tricks on her.

(D) All of the above.

34. What does “He’s full of Old Scratch” mean?

(A) He’s hyperactive.

(B) He’s full of the devil.

(C) He’s injured because he was lashed.

(D) All of the above.

Questions 35–36 refer to the following excerpt from the Central Intelligence Agency Careers & Internships web page (www.cia.gov/careers/diversity).

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 who 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. To what does “common affinity” refer?

(A) people sharing best practices

(B) people sharing backgrounds

(C) resource group allies

(D) all of the above

36. What is the purpose of mentoring, according to the CIA?

(A) It fosters employee engagement.

(B) It promotes professional development.

(C) It helps career advancement.

(D) All of the above.

Questions 37–40 refer to the following passage from the U.S. Government Publishing Office web page (www.gpo.gov/careers/apply.htm).

What you’ll need:

We need certain information to evaluate your qualifications and determine if you meet legal requirements for Federal employment. Help speed the selection process by keeping your resume or application brief and to the point and by sending only the requested material. Type or print clearly in dark ink. Be sure to include the announcement number, title and grade(s) of the job for which you are applying. You must apply for a specific announcement.

Resumes must include the following:

  • Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day and evening phone numbers with area code.
  • Social security number.
  • Country of citizenship (most Federal jobs require United States citizenship).
  • Veteran’s preference and supporting documentation (if applicable).
  • Reinstatement eligibility documentation if applicable (attach SF 50 proof of your career or career-conditional status).
  • Highest Federal civilian grade held (give job series and dates held).
  • Name, city and state of high school and date of diploma or GED.
  • Name, city and state of colleges and universities attended and list types and year of any degree received. (If no degree, show total credits earned and indicate whether semester or quarter hours.) Send a copy of your college transcript(s) only if the job vacancy announcement requests it.

Other Qualifications

Give the following information for your paid and nonpaid work experience (do not send job descriptions): Job title (include series and grade if Federal job), Duties and accomplishments, Employer’s name and address, Supervisor’s name and phone number, Starting and ending dates (month and year), Hours per week, and Salary

  • Indicate if we may contact your current supervisor.
  • Job-related training courses (title and year).
  • Job-related skills, for example, other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, typing speed.

Work Experience

  • Job-related certificates and licenses (current only)
  • Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments, for example, publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, and performance awards. (Give dates but do not send documents unless requested.)
  • Address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the vacancy announcement. Submit a separate narrative addressing each knowledge, skill and ability statement (one per page) as part of your application package.

Additional information:

Veterans Preference

Individuals who have served in the military may be entitled to additional consideration. If you are a veteran, please attach a copy of your most recent DD-214, “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty” or letter from the Veterans Administration documenting your military service.

To claim 5-point veterans’ preference, attach a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof of eligibility.

To claim 10-point veterans’ preference, attach an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans’ Preference, plus the proof required by that form.

For more specific information about your veteran’s preference and eligibility, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/.

Citizenship

You must be a United States citizen to be considered for Federal employment.

37. Why are applicants asked not to send documents regarding awards and honors with their applications?

(A) The originals might get lost.

(B) They won’t be needed until the interview.

(C) Documents may not be returned.

(D) All of the above.

38. What does “veterans’ preference” mean?

(A) People who have had government jobs before are given preferential treatment.

(B) People who join the military are given preference in hiring.

(C) People who have served in the military are preferred.

(D) Former military personnel may receive ten additional points toward their applications.

39. How should you present your skills, abilities, and knowledge areas on your application?

(A) Write a separate letter for each skill, ability, and knowledge area.

(B) Attach a detailed job description that includes your skills.

(C) Attach letters from your employers covering your skills and abilities.

(D) All of the above.

40. Is the GED acceptable as a high school completion certification? Yes or No:

Questions 41–42 are based on the following text from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Termination page (www.dol.gov/dol/topic/termination/index.htm).

If you’ve lost your job, you have certain rights, such as the right to continue your health care coverage and, in some cases, the right to unemployment compensation.

Jobloss and Health Care Benefits

  • Upon termination of employment, some workers and their families who might otherwise lose their health benefits have the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time.
  • Employers may be required to provide certain notices to their employees.
    • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
    • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
  • For information on health insurance coverage under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) upon termination, see 29 CFR 825.209(f).

Unemployment Benefits

  • Workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own (as determined under state law) and meet other eligibility requirements, may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
  • Unemployment insurance payments (benefits) are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who meet the requirements of state law.
  • Under the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program, each state administers a separate unemployment insurance program within guidelines established by federal law.

41. Does anyone unemployed qualify for the Unemployment Insurance Program?

(A) Yes. Everyone automatically has a right to unemployment insurance.

(B) Yes, but only if unemployed for more than 6 months.

(C) Conditions apply. Unemployment terms are dictated by state and federal government.

(D) Conditions apply. Unemployment terms are dictated by the state government.

42. What happens to employer health care benefits if you lose your job?

(A) They cease immediately.

(B) They may be continued for a limited period of time.

(C) Unemployed workers may chose to keep them indefinitely

(D) not stated

Questions 43–45 refer to the following letter.

TO: James Tiberius

FROM: Akira Hudson

RE: Consumer Math Book Proposal

We meet mathematical problems everyday of 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 the life skills courses in school that would help them later in life. As a result, they never learn some of the important life skills math. 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. Because 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. What do the authors suggest is the point of understanding “the deal?”

(A) to avoid overspending

(B) to ensure that buyers can determine whether “the deal” is actually a good deal

(C) to compare prices among vendors

(D) all of the above

44. What does “magic of time” mean?

(A) Debts fade away as inflation whittles them down.

(B) Interest rates may go down over time, saving money.

(C) Security deposits earn interest over time.

(D) Interest compounds over time, earning extra income.

45. Why are different ways of earning a living considered important enough to be given a heading of their own?

(A) Everyone needs to earn money.

(B) Many students don’t know that different employment payment methods are available.

(C) It looks good on the proposal.

(D) It is a generally overlooked topic in math classes.

46. How would you correct the following sentence?

Over there you can see my mother’s-in-law car, parked beside the shed.

(A) my mother's-in-law car

(B) my mothers-in-law car

(C) my mother-in-law's car

(D) my mother-in-laws car

Questions 47–48 refer to this passage from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, 1845 by Frederick Douglass (www.gutenberg.org/files/23/23-h/23-h.htm).

My mother was named Harriet Bailey. She was the daughter of Isaac and Betsey Bailey, both colored, and quite dark. My mother was of a darker complexion than either my grandmother or grandfather.

My father was a white man. He was admitted to be such by all I ever heard speak of my parentage. The opinion was also whispered that my master was my father; but of the correctness of this opinion, I know nothing; the means of knowing was withheld from me. My mother and I were separated when I was but an infant — before I knew her as my mother. It is a common custom, in the part of Maryland from which I ran away, to part children from their mothers at a very early age. Frequently, before the child has reached its twelfth month, its mother is taken from it, and hired out on some farm a considerable distance off, and the child is placed under the care of an old woman, too old for field labor. For what this separation is done, I do not know, unless it be to hinder the development of the child’s affection toward its mother, and to blunt and destroy the natural affection of the mother for the child. This is the inevitable result.

I never saw my mother, to know her as such, more than four or five times in my life; and each of these times was very short in duration, and at night. She was hired by a Mr. Stewart, who lived about twelve miles from my home. She made her journeys to see me in the night, travelling the whole distance on foot, after the performance of her day’s work. She was a field hand, and a whipping is the penalty of not being in the field at sunrise, unless a slave has special permission from his or her master to the contrary — a permission which they seldom get, and one that gives to him that gives it the proud name of being a kind master. I do not recollect of ever seeing my mother by the light of day. She was with me in the night. She would lie down with me, and get me to sleep, but long before I waked she was gone. Very little communication ever took place between us.

47. Why are children separated from their mothers when only months old?

(A) to permit mothers to go back to work

(B) to avoid emotional attachments between children and parents

(C) to provide a useful purpose to slaves too old to work in fields

(D) raising all the babies together is more efficient

48. What is the definition of a kind master in this passage?

(A) one who allows a slave to be absent from the fields at dawn

(B) one who allows a slave child and mother to stay together

(C) one who fathers a child by a slave

(D) one who does not whip slaves

Questions 49–50 refer to the following excerpt from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Concepts web page (www.epa.gov/climatestudents/basics/concepts.html).

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 weather, what length of time is involved?

(A) hours or days

(B) a decade

(C) probably a few months

(D) whatever is going on today

50. Is a report of heavy rains in a region year after year most likely a feature of weather or climate?

The Extended Response

Passage One

We all want our tap water to be safe and drinkable. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Tests of municipal water supplies across America raise concerns. They have found traces of pesticides, and residues of industrial and agricultural chemicals, as well as traces of pharmaceuticals and other contaminants. There is real concern about the effects of long-term exposure to these chemicals, even in trace amounts.

The EPA monitors and has standards for only a few chemicals. However, there are traces of more than 100,000 manmade chemicals in municipal water. Despite all the purification measures, they remain. They include antibiotics, and industrial pollutants. Tests have found traces of pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, linked to reproductive and neurological issues and cancer. Dissolved chemicals are not removed during filtration as long as they are below limits set by the EPA.

Municipalities filter their water, and also add treatment chemicals, including fluoride. Many people are concerned about fluoridation of water and its health effects. Water treatment plants use chlorine to sterilize and remove bacteriological contaminants. As these treatment chemicals break down, the by-products remain in the water and are potentially harmful.

Even when municipal water is perfectly clean, tap water in your home still can be contaminated. In older parts of town, lead pipes were once common. Lead pipes are still in use on many older areas, and that lead leaches into the water in the pipes. Lead ingestion can lead to developmental delays and neurological problems.

Bottled water is always an option for drinking water. However, some bottlers merely add extra filtration to the same municipal water that comes from your tap. Others don’t even do that before bottling. Studies have discovered contaminants in many brands of bottled water.

The only real safe answer is some form of home filtration. The least expensive way to improve your drinking water somewhat is to use a jug with a charcoal filter cartridge. That filter removes chlorine, lead, and unpleasant tastes or odors. This is an effective and inexpensive choice. More extensive systems, ranging from distillation systems to high-quality filtration, will do much more, even removing dissolved chemicals from the water supply.

Despite municipal efforts, city water supplies still have trace contaminants. If you want the taste of truly clean water, use bottled water and supplement that with a filtration system that covers your house. These systems provide you with exceptionally clean water, free of the many chemical impurities that municipal water systems do not remove.

Passage Two

Municipal drinking water is clean and safe. It comes from two main sources: ground waters or surface water. That water is filtered, treated, and distributed in a safe manner throughout our cities. Municipalities have done this for nearly 200 years and improved the process continuously.

Municipalities started chlorinating water at the turn of the last century after several severe outbreaks of disease. Jersey City was the first, starting in 1908. In the subsequent two decades, childhood diseases from municipal water declined by 90 percent and major infectious diseases by two thirds. More recently, the water treatment process has been improved to remove dissolved chemicals, improve taste, and even reduce tooth decay. The delivery system too has been improved by removing old lead pipes, once a cause for concern.

Water flows through coarse screens to remove debris, and then filtration removes fine particles. Flocculants remove suspended solids, and chlorination removes disease-causing organisms. Some municipalities treat water with ozone or ultraviolet light rather than chlorine for extra safety. Adding activated charcoal before final filtration removes organic compounds and improves taste. The final step is aeration to reduce further dissolved chemicals that affect the taste of water.

The EPA sets standards for more than 60 contaminants, from bacteria to filtration residues and organic and inorganic chemicals. That includes microorganisms such as cryptosporidium and coliform bacteria. The standards set limits on permissible levels of the breakdown chemicals of chlorine and other treatment chemicals. Metals such as cadmium and chromium, asbestos, and arsenic are also monitored. Municipal water systems must meet all of these standards. The EPA monitors treatment plants to ensure compliance.

Municipal water can have an “off” taste. Absolutely pure water has no taste, but the water we drink is not just H2O. Rains, snows, and runoff from various sources leach chemicals from the soil. Most of these are harmless natural salts. They add their own taste to the water. Sometimes, algae or agricultural runoff in surface water also adds an unpleasant odor and taste. None of this makes the drinking water unsafe.

Municipal water treatment guarantees clean and safe water. The water is so safe, in fact, that nearly one-third of bottled water is simply municipal water repackaged by bottlers. Why bother with bottled water or extra filtration when your municipal supply is perfectly safe?

image
image