GED Exam Questions

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81.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Which of the following cities was the home of America’s first planned factory town?

  • Lowell

  • Newburyport

  • Waltham

  • Pawtucket

Correct answer: Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts, named after Francis Lowell, was America’s first planned factory town. Francis Lowell was a merchant in Newburyport, Massachusetts, but after his death, his associates built the factory town and named it after him. 

Waltham, Massachusetts was where Lowell and his partners built the first cotton-to-cloth textile mill. Samuel Slater operated his first textile mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

82.

Simplify 

5 1/4 ÷ 2 1/2

  • 2 1/10

  • 13 1/8

  • 2 1/8

  • 8 1/8

Correct answer: 2 1/10 

In order to simplify the expression, convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.

5 1/4 = 21/4

2 1/2 = 5/2

5 1/4 ÷ 2 1/2 = 21/4 ÷ 5/2

To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal.

21/4 ÷ 5/2 = 21/4 × 2/5, or 42/20.

Reduce to its lowest terms.

42/20 ÷ 2/2 = 21/10

Finally, express 21/10 as a mixed number.

21/10 = 2 1/10

83.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

In regard to the passage, which of the following options best describes the author’s opinion of bearded irises?

  • Bearded irises are a beautiful addition to a flower garden

  • Bearded irises are too much work for their short flowering period

  • Bearded irises require a lot of attention compared to other perennials

  • Bearded irises smell sweet, causing them to attract a variety of insects

Correct answer: Bearded irises are a beautiful addition to a flower garden

You can understand the author’s impression of bearded irises the best in the second paragraph, as the author states, “Irises pair beautifully with other spring perennials” and their “grey-green foliage is a nice textural contrast to other perennials.” 

The other answer options can be quickly eliminated, as the author never states that the irises are too much work, require too much attention, or attract too many insects.

84.

(5 1/4) ÷ (2 1/2)

Which of the following options correctly simplifies the above expression?

  • 2 1/10

  • 13 1/8

  • 2 1/8

  • 8 1/8

Correct answer: 2 1/10

In order to simplify the expression, you should begin by expressing the mixed numbers as improper fractions: 5 1/4 = 21/4, and 2 1/2 = 5/2.

In order to divide by a fraction, you will need to multiply it by its reciprocal. Thus, 21/4 ÷ 5/2 = 21/4 * 2/5, or 42/20.

Then reduce it to its lowest term: 42/20 ÷ 2/2 = 21/10. Then, express 21/10 as a mixed number: 2 1/10.

85.

A school has 15 classes with 22 students in each class. In order to reduce class sizes to 20 students per class, how many new classes must be formed?

  • 2

  • 4

  • 3

  • 5

Correct answer: 2

There should be 2 new classes formed. The number of students in the school is 15 x 22 = 330. If there are to be no more than 20 students in a class, the number of classes needed is 330 / 20 = 16.5. We will round up to 17, since there is no such thing as half a class.

Therefore, the number of new classes needed is 17 - 15 = 2.

86.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

According to the passage, microwaves were originally invented in order to:

  • Spot Nazi warplanes

  • Cook food faster

  • Tan women’s skin

  • Replace the refrigerator

Correct answer: Spot Nazi warplanes

Microwaves were originally invented in order to spot Nazi warplanes during World War II. 

The passage’s first paragraph explains that the microwave was not invented as a result of someone trying to cook food faster, even though that is what most people commonly think. The passage did not state that the microwave was invented to replace the refrigerator; it stated that the first microwaves were as big as a refrigerator.

87.

Which of the following options is equivalent to 1 meter?

  • 100 centimeters

  • 10,000 millimeters

  • 10 kilometers

  • 1,000 centimeters

Correct answer: 100 centimeters

1 meter = 100 centimeters. There are 100 centimeters and 1000 millimeters in one meter. One kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters.

88.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

The princess can best be described as:

  • Unpleasant

  • Friendly

  • Helpless

  • Thoughtful

Correct answer: Unpleasant

The option that best describes the princess is unpleasant. The princess shows that she is unpleasant by throwing rocks at the peasants, pulling her tutor’s beard, and having her tutor beheaded because she was bored with him. 

The princess did not show any signs of being friendly or thoughtful; therefore, those two options can be eliminated. You may have thought she was helpless since she had to ask her scribe for her schedule, but the princess was unpleasant during that interaction as well. Therefore, “unpleasant” is the best option.

89.

If x ≠ 0 and x = x-3, what is the value of x?

  • 1

  • -1

  • 0

  • 2

Correct answer: 1

The easiest way to solve this problem is to plug the answers into the equation. When you do this, you will see that the only time that  x = x-3 is when x = 1 or 0. Because x ≠0, then x = 1.

90.

Solve the equation:

4x - 5 = 15

  • x = 5

  • x = 4

  • x = 6

  • x = 2

Correct answer: x = 5

Solve the equation 4x - 5 = 15

Add 5 on both sides of the equation.

4x - 5 + 5 = 15 + 5

4x = 20

x = 5

91.

Read the supporting details then correct the sentence below.

Sentence 5: In fact, the Badlands of Eastern Montana has the highest concentration of exposed dinosaur fossils in the world.

Which of the following options would correct sentence 5?

  • Change “has” to “have”

  • Change “Badlands” to “badlands”

  • Change “Eastern” to “eastern”

  • Change “dinosaur” to “dinosaur’s”

Correct answer: Change “has” to “have”

In order to correct sentence 5, you should change “has” to “have.” “Has” is a singular verb and is being used with a plural subject; therefore, “has” should be replaced with the plural verb “have” in order to correct the sentence. 

“Eastern” is being used as a section of the country and should remain capitalized and “Badlands” should be capitalized because it is a popular place and a name of an area. “Dinosaur” is not showing possession; therefore, it does not require use of the possessive form.

92.

Read the supporting details then correct the sentence below.

Sentence 10: The Duryea Brothers' success was little noted at the time, but it got the wheels turning for the introduction of the automobile, that would literally change the landscape of America.

Which of the following changes should be made to correct sentence 10?

  • Change “that” to “which”

  • Change “Brothers’” to “Brother’s”

  • Change “was” to “is”

  • Change “literally” to “literal”

Correct answer: Change “that” to “which”

In order to correct sentence 10, you would need to change “that” to “which.” This sentence contains a pronoun error. The pronoun “that” is not used correctly, as it should be used to refer to “automobile” in a restrictive clause (not set off with commas). Therefore, “that” should be replaced with “which,” as the pronoun “which” should be used to refer to “automobile” in a nonrestrictive clause (set off with commas). 

The other answer options are not options that would make the sentence grammatically correct.

93.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

According to the passage, which of the following options may help prevent and treat heart disease?

  • Relaxing

  • Drinking

  • Smoking

  • Yawning

Correct answer: Relaxing

Relaxing is the option that may help prevent and treat heart disease. This answer is found in the first sentence of the passage’s second paragraph. 

The passage informs the reader that smokers should quit smoking; therefore, smoking would not help prevent and treat heart disease. The passage informs the reader that drinking in moderation could reduce the risk of heart disease, but it does not imply that it will treat heart disease. Yawning is not mentioned in the passage, so it can be eliminated.

94.

If an 800 kg motorcycle races around a racetrack at 20 m/s with a centripetal acceleration of 5 m/s², what would the racetrack’s radius be?

  • 80 m

  • 4 m

  • 40 m

  • 8 m

Correct answer: 80 m

In order to find the radius, you will need to use the following equation: acceleration equals the speed squared divided by the radius (a = v² / R). 

Thus, 5 = 20² / R, or 400 / 5 = 80 m. 

The motorcycle’s mass is irrelevant for this problem.

95.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

According to the passage, the D-Day events were:

  • Successful

  • Disastrous

  • Expected

  • Spontaneous

Correct answer: Successful

According to the passage, the D-Day events were successful. From the passage, you can gather that the D-Day events were successful because the passage’s last sentence states that the “Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.” The passage also states that the Allies had defeated the Germans, which is another example of success for the D-Day events. 

D-Day was a well-planned initiative; therefore, it was not spontaneous. The Allies had also deceived the Germans by misleading them about their intended target; therefore, the Germans on D-Day did not expect the Allies.

96.

The diameter of one bicycle wheel is 22 inches, and its spokes run from the hub (or center) to the edge of the rim. The diameter of another bicycle wheel is 18 inches. What is the difference in inches between the length of the spokes of the two wheels?

  • 2

  • 2.5

  • 1.5

  • 1

Correct answer: 2

The spoke is equivalent to the radius, which is the diameter divided by 2. Therefore, the spoke for the 22-inch wheel is 11 inches. The spoke for the 18-inch wheel is 9 inches. 

11 - 9 = 2-inch difference between the two spokes.

97.

During which mitosis phase do chromosomes lie along the midline of a cell?

  • Metaphase

  • Anaphase

  • Telophase

  • Prophase

Correct answer: Metaphase

Metaphase is the mitosis phase in which chromosomes lie along the midline of a cell. Metaphase is the phase of mitosis during which the following actions occur:

  1. chromosomes lie along the midline of the cell
  2. some spindle fibers attach to kinetochores
  3. fibers of aster attach to the plasma membrane

98.

If 5x2 + 2 = 7, what is the value of x2 + 7x?

  • 8

  • 6

  • 18

  • 12

Correct answer: 8

To solve, you must first solve for x. 

5x2 + 2 = 7

5x2 = 7 - 2

5x2 = 5

x2 = 5/5 = 1

x = 1

Next, solve for the other equation (x2 + 7x) using the value of 1 for x.

x2 + 7x = (1 x 1) + 7(1) = 1 + 7 = 8

99.

Brady can grade 5 essays per hour. If he starts grading essays at 4:30 p.m., which of the following is the best estimate as to when he will be finished grading 29 essays?

  • 10:30 p.m.

  • 9:30 p.m.

  • 10:00 p.m.

  • 11:00 p.m.

Correct answer: 10:30 p.m. 

Since Brady can grade 5 essays in 1 hour, set up a proportion to find out how long it will take him to grade 29 essays.

5/1 = 29/x

5x = 29

x = 29/5 = 5 4/5

The question asks for an estimate, so we can round up 5 4/5 to 6 hours.

Add 6 hours to 4:30 p.m. to get 10:30 p.m.

100.

Solve:

2 : x = 22 : 121

  • 11

  • 20

  • 119

  • 60

Correct answer: 11

Rewriting the ratios as fractions shows us that:

2/x = 22/121

Cross multiply: 22x = 242

242/22 = x
11 = x