Part 1, Lessons 1-4 Suggested Resources
Subject Areas
The following are the four subjects addressed by the questions (descriptions reprinted with permission of the American Council on Education):
- Organization (15%): Restructure paragraphs or ideas within paragraphs, identify topic sentences, create unity and coherence in the document.
- Sentence Structure (30%): Correct sentence fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices, improper coordination and subordination, misplaced modifiers, and lack of parallel structure.
- Usage (30%): Correct errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and pronoun reference.
- Mechanics (25%): Correct errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling (restricted to errors related to possessives, contractions, and homonyms).
The lessons in this resource are based on these four subject areas. You might recognize some of the key words and concepts discussed in these lessons from previous classes or reading. Even though the lessons are specifically tailored to the GED, studying them will help you develop your language skills for use in many situations.
Types of Documents
The test will ask you to look at and answer questions about the following types of documents:
- How-to Documents, such as instructions and directions
- Workplace Documents, such as memos and business letters
- Informational Documents, such as analyses of public issues.
Types of Questions
The following are the three types of questions that you will answer:
- Correction Questions: These questions will ask you to find a sentence’s error and decide how to best fix it. In the sentences that do not contain any errors (there will be some of these), you should choose the answer that no correction is necessary.
- Revision Questions: These questions will ask you to pick the best revision for an underlined part of a sentence. As with the correction questions, if you think the sentence requires no revision, you should choose the answer that no revision is necessary.
- Construction Shift Questions: These questions will ask you to improve sentences that are wordy or awkward, though not necessarily incorrect.
Example Passage
(1) As you will see from my resume, I have a lot to offer your company. (2) For one, the management training I have receive at Layne Community College has prepared me for a variety of leadership challenges. (3) Additionally, I have previous work experience as a shift leader and employee trainer at Applebee’s. (4) I have both education and work experience. So, I know that I would be a valuable asset to your company.
Example Correction Question: (2) For one, the management training I have receive at Layne Community College has prepared me for a variety of leadership challenges.
Which correction should be made to sentence 2?
- remove the comma after “For one”
- change “receive” to “received”
- replace “has prepared me” with “had prepared me”
- insert a comma after “Layne Community College”
- no correction is necessary
Answer: 2
Example Revision Question: (3) Additionally, I have previous work experience as a shift leader and employee trainer at Applebee’s.
Which is the best way to rewrite sentence 3? If the original is the best way, choose option 1.
- a shift leader and employee trainer
- a shift leader, and employee trainer
- a shift leader (and employee trainer)
- a shift leader also employee trainer
- a shift leader. And employee trainer
Answer: 1
Example Construction Shift Question: (4) I have both education and work experience. So, I know that I would be a valuable asset to your company.
Which is the most effective way of combining these sentences?
- I have both education and work experience; I know
- I have both education and work experience, and I know
- I have both education and work experience, so I know
- I have both education and work experience, which makes me know
- I have both education and work experience; I would be a valuable asset
Answer: 3
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