GED Exam Questions

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21.

Read the supporting details then correct the sentence below.

Sentence 8: This was followed by to digits that more closely pinpointed population concentrations and those sectional centers accessible to common transportation networks.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct sentence 8?

  • Change “to digits” to “two digits”

  • Insert a comma after “concentrations”

  • Change “that” to “which”

  • Change “centers” to “center”

Correct answer: Change “to digits” to “two digits”

In order to correct sentence 8, you should change “to digits” to “two digits.” The sentence is requiring the use of the number 2, which is spelled two, not to. 

The sentence does not require a comma after “concentrations” to make it grammatically correct. The pronoun “that” is used correctly, as it refers to “digits” in a restrictive clause (not set off with commas). The plural form of “centers” is used correctly to refer to multiple locations.

22.

The class of 32 children had 14 boys and the remainder were girls. What was the ratio of boys to girls?

  • 7/9

  • 1/14

  • 7/16

  • 9/16

Correct answer: 7/9

The class had 32 children in all, including 14 boys. Subtract to find the number of girls.

32 - 14 = 18

Therefore, the ratio of boys to girls is 14/18. To reduce this, divide the numerator and denominator by 2.

(14 ÷ 2)/(18 ÷ 2) = 7/9

23.

Ammonia is considered to be an alkaline solution. With that being said, which of the following would best represent its pH level?

  • 10.8

  • 7.0

  • 2.3

  • 6.2

Correct answer: 10.8

10.8 would best represent the pH level of ammonia or an alkaline solution. The less acidic a solution is, the higher the pH number it will have.

24.

Express 92,345 in scientific notation.

  • 9.2345 x 104

  • 92.345 x 103

  • 0.92345 x 105

  • 923.45 x 102

Correct answer: 9.2345 x 104

To express a number in scientific notation, express it as the product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10. In this case, the number between 1 and 10 is 9.2345. In going from 9.2345 to 92,345, you move the decimal point 4 places to the right. Each move represents a multiplication by 10, and 4 moves represents a multiplication by 104. Therefore, the correct answer is 9.2345 x 104.

25.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Based only on the number of injuries that is provided, which of the following states would have the safest work environment?

  • Hawaii

  • Pennsylvania

  • Louisiana

  • Montana

Correct answer: Hawaii

When basing the safety level of a state on only the number of injuries, the state with the lowest number of injuries would be the safest, as fewer injuries occur in that state. 

Out of the states listed as options, Hawaii has the lowest number of injuries; therefore, Hawaii would be the state with the safest work environment.

26.

Find the value of x by solving the following proportion.

18:x :: 3:60

  • 360

  • 30

  • 180

  • 75

Correct answer: 360

1. Rewrite the proportion as a fraction

18/x = 3/60

2. Simplify 3/60 to 1/20

18/x = 1/20

3. Multiply both sides by x

18 = 1/20 x

4. Simplify 1/20 x to x/20

18 = x/20

5. Multiply both sides by 20

360 = x

6. Switch sides

x = 360

27.

The local motorcycle dealership was hosting a ride on Saturday. There were 310 motorcycle riders on Saturday's ride. If there were four times as many male riders as female, how many female riders were on Saturday's ride?

  • 62 female riders

  • 258 female riders

  • 46 female riders

  • 80 female riders

Correct answer: 62 female riders

Set up an equation to find the number of female riders, represented by x.

Because there are four times as many male riders, this can be expressed as 4x.

The total number of riders is 310, so 4x + x = 310. Solve for x.

4x + x = 310

5x = 310

x = 62

28.

A trader made a profit of 15% when he sold a 30-gallon plastic tank for $400. What was the original cost of the tank?

  • $348

  • $460

  • $340

  • $471

Correct answer: $348

The trader made a 15% profit and sold the tank for $400. 

First, convert 15% to a decimal.

15% = 15/100 = 0.15

Set up an equation to find the original cost of the tank, x.

$400 = x + 0.15x

$400 = 1.15x

x = $400/1.15 

x = $347.83 ≈ $348

29.

Read the supporting details then correct the sentence below.

Sentence 3: As of 2000, about half the population of the United States live in suburbs.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct sentence 3?

  • Change “live” to “lived”

  • Change “live” to “lives”

  • Change “suburbs” to “suburb”

  • Remove the comma after “2000”

Correct answer: Change “live” to “lived”

In order to correct sentence 3, you would need to change “live” to “lived.” The sentence is referring to the past (“As of 2000”), so you would need to use a past tense verb (“lived”). 

Commas should be used after an introductory phrase, so you would not want to remove the comma after “2000.” Half of the United States population would live in more than one suburb, so you would not want to use “suburb” in its singular tense.

30.

Which of these happens last in the scientific process?

  • Conclusion

  • Hypothesis

  • Experiment

  • Modification

Correct answer: Conclusion

There are three steps to the scientific process: hypothesis, then experiment, then conclusion. It is important to conduct these steps in order.

31.

Which of the following temperature scales does not use negative numbers?

  • Kelvin

  • Celsius

  • Fahrenheit

  • Joule

Correct answer: Kelvin

The Kelvin (K) temperature scale is an extension of the degree Celsius scale down to "absolute zero," a hypothetical temperature characterized by a complete absence of heat energy. Temperatures on this scale are called Kelvins, as opposed to "degrees Kelvin."

32.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Based only on the fatal injury percent change from 2010 that is provided, which of the following states would have the safest work environment?

  • Pennsylvania

  • Arizona

  • Hawaii

  • Montana

Correct answer: Pennsylvania

When basing the safety level of a state on only the percent change from the previous year, the state with a negative percent change would be the safest, as a negative percent would indicate a reduction in fatal injuries from the previous year.

Out of the states listed as options, Pennsylvania has the highest negative percent change; therefore, Pennsylvania would be the state with the safest work environment.

33.

If a ball is thrown off the roof with a starting velocity of 10 mph and hits the ground at a final velocity of 30 mph, what is the average velocity of its descent?

  • 20 mph

  • 23 mph

  • 17 mph

  • 27 mph

Correct answer: 20 mph

The equation is:
Average velocity = (final velocity + initial velocity) ÷ 2

Fill in the appropriate values:
Average velocity = (30 mph + 10 mph) ÷ 2

Simplify:
Average velocity = 40 mph ÷ 2 = 20 mph

34.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

According to the passage, what may have given people the idea that owls were wise?

  • The owl’s face looks serious

  • The owl’s eyes do not move

  • The owl’s enlarged brain

  • The owl’s hunting skills

Correct answer: The owl’s face looks serious

The owl’s serious-looking face is what may have given people the impression that it is wise. This answer is found in the second sentence of the passage’s second paragraph. 

The passage does inform you that the owl’s eyes do not move, but it does not infer that this is the reason people think that it is wise. The passage states that an owl’s brain is small, so you can eliminate the option that states that the owl’s brain is enlarged. The passage only states that the owl’s vision helps with its hunting skills, it does not state that people believe it is wise because of its hunting skills.

35.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Which of the following options best describes the American soldiers' actions?

  • They were trying to comfort the civilians

  • They were trying to rid the area of Germans

  • They were trying to ration their food

  • They were trying to clean the streets

Correct answer: They were trying to comfort the civilians

The option that best describes the actions of the American soldiers is: They were trying to comfort the civilians. The aftermath of war can be quite harmful to one’s emotional state; therefore, the soldiers were trying to lighten the mood by whistling and passing out candy, food, and clothing to the civilians. These actions were comforting to the civilians, as stated in the poem, “with kindness he scattered my painful tears.”

36.

When 7 is added to a number y, the result is 2 more than twice the number. What is the value of y?

  • y = 5

  • y = -9

  • y = -5

  • y = 9

Correct answer: y = 5

7 added to y can be expressed as 7 + y

2 more than twice the number is 2y + 2

Therefore, the equation is 7 + y = 2y + 2

y - 2y = 2 - 7

-y = -5

y = 5

37.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Based on the film review, which of the following would most likely enjoy this film?

  • An individual who likes animations

  • An individual who likes mysteries

  • An individual who likes science fictions

  • An individual who likes fantasies

Correct answer: An individual who likes animations

Based on the film review, the person who would most likely enjoy this film is an individual who likes animations. The third paragraph identifies this film as an animation; therefore, you can determine that an individual who likes animations would like this film. 

The reviewer did not imply that the film revolved around a mystery or that it was based on scientific or futuristic ideas; therefore, those two options can be eliminated. You may have thought that fantasy was the correct option since the man tied balloons to his house and they carried it away, but animation is the better choice, since the film is actually an animation.

38.

A box is pushed with a constant force of 300 N. The frictional force acting between the box and the surface is 100 N. What is the net force acting on the box?

  • 200 N

  • 400 N

  • 100 N

  • 300 N

Correct answer: 200 N

Use the equation: 
Net Force = Force (right) + (-) Force (left)

Insert values:
Net Force = 300 N + (-) 100 N

Solve:
Net Force = 200 N

39.

Carrie sold 112 boxes of cookies, Megan sold 126 boxes of cookies, Julie sold 202 boxes of cookies, and Ashton sold 176 boxes of cookies. What was the average number of boxes of cookies sold by each individual?

  • 154

  • 125

  • 136

  • 162

Correct answer: 154

In order to find the average, you will first need to sum the number of boxes sold: 112 + 126 + 202 + 176 = 616. Then, to find the average, you will need to divide the sum by the number of individuals who sold cookies: 616 ÷ 4 = 154.

40.

|5 + x| = 10

Which of the following options is the correct solution set for the above equation?

  • {-15, 5}

  • {5, 15}

  • {-5, 5}

  • {-15, -5}

Correct answer: {-15, 5}

The bars which surround the equation signify “absolute value,” which refers to the distance away from zero. Therefore, solutions to absolute value equations can be either positive or negative. The equation |5 + x| = 10 can be written in two ways:

5 + x = 10 and 5 + x = -10

Solve the first equation.

5 + x = 10

x = 5

Solve the second equation.

5 + x = -10

x = -15

Therefore, the correct solution set is {-15, 5}.