GED Exam Questions

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141.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Which of the following would best represent the moral behind this story?

  • Be thankful for all your blessings

  • Always be prepared for anything

  • Survival tips can save your life

  • Make use of everything around you

Correct answer: Be thankful for all your blessings

The moral behind the story is that you should be thankful for all your blessings. Ed and his men asked for a blessing and they received a seagull. Many men would have swatted the seagull away, but not Ed. Ed used this blessing to help save his and his men’s lives and he has been thankful ever since.

It is true that you should be prepared for anything, that survival tips can save your life, and that you should make use of everything, but those were not the morale behind this story. The story focused around Ed giving thanks to the seagull for saving his life.

142.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

From the passage, you can determine that Native Americans used the American buffalo for:

  • Feeding their people

  • Plowing their fields

  • Pulling their wagons

  • Guarding their lands

Correct answer: Feeding their people

The passage does not directly state that the Native Americans consumed the American buffalo, but it does state that the Native Americans were able to use every part of the buffalo and that they did not waste any of it; therefore, you can determine that the buffalo’s carcass was used by the Native Americans. 

In order for the American buffalo to plow, pull, or guard, it would need to be alive; therefore, you can eliminate those options as possible answers.

143.

Determine the value of x:

3x - 2 = 25x - 37

  • 35/22

  • 22/29

  • 22/35

  • 35/28

Correct answer: 35/22

Rearrange the equation to get variables on one side and whole numbers on the other.

3x - 25x = -37 + 2

Combine like terms.

-22x = -35

Divide both sides by 22.

x = -35/-22

A double negative equals a positive.

-35/-22 = 35/22

144.

If a homozygous dominant organism is crossed with a heterozygous organism, what is the likelihood of producing a heterozygous organism?

  • 50%

  • 25%

  • 75%

  • 100%

Correct answer: 50%

By using a Punnett square, we can see that matching a homozygous dominant (RR) with a heterozygous (Rr) will produce four possible outcomes: RR, RR, Rr, Rr. This gives a 50% chance of Rr.

145.

Simplify 25% of (3/4 - 1/2)

  • 1/16

  • 1/4

  • 1/8

  • 1/2

Correct answer: 1/16

25% of (3/4 - 1/2)

First, change the fractions to have a common denominator.

3/4 - 1/2

3/4 - (1/2)(2/2)

3/4 - 2/4 = 1/4

Next, find 25% of 1/4.

25% = 25/100

25/100 × 1/4 = 25/400 = 1/16

146.

Express 6,234,093 in scientific notation.

  • 6.234093 x 106

  • 0.6234093 x 107

  • 62.34093 x 105

  • 623.4093 x 104

Correct answer: 6.234093 x 106

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 6.234093. In going from 6.234093 to 6,234,093, you move the decimal point 6 places to the right. Each move represents a multiplication by 10, and 6 moves represents a multiplication by 106. Therefore, the correct answer is 6.234093 x 106.

147.

A couple tipped their waitress 18% of their $62.43 check. What amount did the waitress receive as a tip?

  • $11.24

  • $9.36

  • $12.49

  • $10.61

Correct answer: $11.24

In order to solve this problem, convert 18% to a decimal.

18% = 18/100 = 0.18

Multiply the check total by the percentage and round to the nearest penny.

$62.43 × 0.18 = $11.2374 = $11.24

148.

Based on the supporting details, which of the following best describes the movement of the tennis ball?

  • Projectile motion

  • Acceleration

  • Frictional motion

  • Scalar motion

Correct answer: Projectile motion

Projectile motion incorporates both the horizontal and vertical components of motion simultaneously. The tennis ball is an example of projectile motion and the path that the ball (projectile) follows is called its "trajectory."

149.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

In which economic structure does price play a major role?

  • Market economy

  • Mixed economy

  • Traditional economy

  • Command economy

Correct answer: Market economy

A market economy is one in which price plays a major role. As stated in the passage, a market economy is one which bases the allocation of resources through a price mechanism.

150.

Determine the momentum of a 75-kg football player who is running south at 2 m/s.

  • 150 kg m/s south

  • 37.5 kg m/s south

  • 300 kg m/s south

  • 18.75 kg m/s south

Correct answer: 150 kg m/s south

The football player’s momentum is 150 kg m/s south. The formula for momentum is mass × velocity. Thus, 75 kg x 2 m/s = 150 kg m/s south.

151.

Read the supporting details then answer the following question.

Which of the following options is most likely the profession of Individual 1 based on his or her definition of war?

  • Teacher

  • Historian

  • Psychologist

  • Economist

Correct answer: Teacher

Individual 1 is most likely a teacher. You can determine this by how the term war was defined. Individual 1 provided a dictionary definition of war, which is most likely the opinion of a teacher.

Individual 2 would like you to look at the past wars in order to define war; thus, this individual is most likely a historian.

Individual 3 is viewing war from its roots and what it stems from; thus, this individual is most likely a psychologist.

Individual 4 has an economical view in regards to war; thus, this individual is most likely an economist.

152.

If the caterer plans on one pound of potato salad per 3 guests, how many pounds of potato salad will be needed for 105 guests?

  • 35 pounds

  • 21 pounds

  • 70 pounds

  • 55 pounds

Correct answer: 35 pounds

This question can be solved by setting up a ratio: 1 pound per 3 guests is equal to x pounds per 105 guests:

1/3 = x/105

Cross multiply and divide to find x:

105 = 3x

105 ÷ 3 = 35 pounds of potato salad

153.

Write the following expression in words:

2x² - 3 = x + 12

  • Three less than twice the square of a number is twelve more than the number

  • Twice the square of a number is twelve more than the number

  • Twice the square of a number less than three is twelve more than the number

  • Three less than twice a number is twelve more than the number

Correct answer: Three less than twice the square of a number is twelve more than the number

Start with the left side of the equation.

x² can be written as 'the square of a number.'

2x² can be written as 'twice the square of a number.'

2x² - 3 can be written as 'three less than twice the square of a number.'

Next, write out the right side of the equation.

x + 12 is written as 'twelve more than a number.

Therefore, the entire equation can be written as 'Three less than twice the square of a number is twelve more than the number.'

154.

A dealer sold a car, making a loss of 5%. Find the ratio of the cost to that of the selling price.

  • 20:19

  • 20:23

  • 19:20

  • 23:20

Correct answer: 20:19

Let's say the cost of the car is 100%. The loss on the sale is 5%. Subtract to find the percentage that represents the selling price.

100% - 5% = 95%

The ratio of the cost, 100%, to the selling price, 95% is 100:95.

Simplify the ratio to lowest terms.

100:95 = 20:19

155.

Dividing a number by 10 is the same as multiplying that number by what?

  • 1/10

  • 1/5

  • 5

  • 10

Correct answer: 1/10 

If x represents a number, then that number divided by 10 is x/10. Multiply x by each answer to find one that equals x/10.

x × 1/5 = x/5, so 1/5 is not the correct answer.

x × 5 = 5x, so 5 is not the correct answer.

x × 10 = 10x, so 10 is not the correct answer.

x × 1/10 = x/10, so 1/10 is the correct answer.

156.

A pharmacy filled 25 brand name prescriptions, 35 generic prescriptions, and some OTC prescriptions. There is a 1 to 3 ratio of generic prescriptions to OTC prescriptions. Which of the following numbers in the problem are needed to find the total number of OTC prescriptions that were filled?

  • 35, 1, and 3 only

  • 25, 1, and 3 only

  • 35, 25, 1, and 3

  • 1 and 3 only

Correct answer: 35, 1, and 3 only

In order to find the actual number of OTC prescriptions, you need the numbers in the initial ratio, plus one actual number. This can be set up as an equation:

1 = 35
3     x

You do not need the number of brand name prescriptions because this is not part of the ratio that is given.

157.

A book writing conference of 800 individuals had a 3 to 1 ratio of women to men. How many men attended the book writing conference?

  • 200 men

  • 150 men

  • 220 men

  • 260 men

Correct answer: 200 men

Set up an equation, with x representing the number of men.

Because there were 3 times as many women as men, 3x equals the number of women.

Solve the following equation:

x + 3x = 800

4x = 800

x = 200 

158.

Nick has 2 3/4 pounds of wheat flour while his friend has 4 1/5 pounds of wheat flour. How many pounds of flour do they have altogether?

  • 6 19/20 pounds

  • 7 1/20 pounds

  • 6 9/20 pounds

  • 6 1/25 pounds

Correct answer: 6 19/20 pounds

First, change the fractions to improper fractions by multiplying the denominator by the base number and adding it to the numerator.

2 3/4 = 4 × 2 + 3 = 11/4

4 1/5 = 5 × 4 + 1 = 21/5

Next, find a common denominator by multiplying the two denominators.

4 × 5 = 20

Now convert each fraction so that both have denominators of 20.

11/4 × (5/5) = 55/20

21/5 × (4/4) = 84/20

Add the fractions together.

55/20 + 84/20 = 139/20

To convert to a proper fraction, divide 139 by 20.

139/20 = 6 19/20 pounds

159.

The model car was designed on a 1:20 scale of the original car. If the original car had a length of 9 feet and a height of 4 feet, what are the measurements of the model car?

  • 5.4” x 2.4”

  • 4.5” x 2”

  • 18” x 8”

  • 9.2” x 4.2”

Correct answer: 5.4” x 2.4”

This question can be solved by setting it up as a proportion. 

First, you will need to convert the feet into inches: 9 feet = 108 inches and 4 feet = 48 inches. 

Then, solve each of the following proportions: 1/20 = x/108 and 1/20 = x/48. 

  • 1/20 = x/108; 20x = 108; x = 5.4 inches. 
  • 1/20 = x/48; 20x = 48; x = 2.4 inches. 

Therefore, the 9’ x 4’ car will measure 5.4” x 2.4” as a model.

160.

View the supporting details to answer the following question.

Based only on the pupils per teacher ratios provided, which of the following states would have the worst educational system?

  • Utah

  • Connecticut

  • Nevada

  • Alaska

Correct answer: Utah

When basing the educational system’s value on the number of pupils per teacher, the state with the highest ratio would be the worst, as the teacher has less time to focus on each student. Out of the states listed as options, Utah has the highest pupils per teacher ratio; therefore, Utah would be the state with the worst educational system.