Reasoning Through Language Arts Reading Comprehension Flashcards
6 cards from real GED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
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Read the excerpt: 'While some researchers argue that social media increases loneliness, others point to studies showing it helps people maintain distant relationships and find communities of shared interest. The full picture is complex and may depend on how and how much individuals use these platforms.' What type of writing structure does this passage demonstrate?
Answer: Compare and contrast — presenting multiple perspectives on an issue
The passage presents two opposing viewpoints (social media causes loneliness vs. helps relationships) and acknowledges complexity — this is compare and contrast structure presenting multiple perspectives.
Which of the following sentences contains a bias that could affect the reliability of a source?
Answer: Of course, anyone who disagrees with this policy clearly doesn't care about children.
Option C contains loaded language ('clearly doesn't care about children') that attacks those who disagree rather than addressing their arguments — this is an ad hominem fallacy and indicates bias.
Read the paragraph: 'Early morning light filtered through the curtains. Coffee gurgled in the kitchen. Somewhere down the hall, a radio played a song she hadn't heard in twenty years. She sat at the edge of the bed, unable to tell if she was waking up or waking back into a dream.' What is the dominant mood of this passage?
Answer: Dreamlike and disoriented
The passage creates a hazy, in-between feeling — soft sensory details (filtered light, gurgling coffee, an old song) and the final lines about uncertainty between waking and dreaming establish a dreamlike, disoriented mood.
A student reads an article arguing that 'fast food causes obesity.' To evaluate this argument critically, what question should the student ask first?
Answer: What evidence does the author provide to support the claim, and is it reliable?
Critical evaluation of an argument centers on examining the evidence — what proof supports the claim, who conducted it, and whether it is credible, recent, and relevant.
In the sentence 'Despite his initial reluctance, Marcus eventually embraced the new technology with enthusiasm,' what does 'reluctance' most likely mean?
Answer: Unwillingness or hesitation
'Despite his initial reluctance' contrasts with 'eventually embraced with enthusiasm.' The contrast signals that reluctance is the opposite of enthusiasm — meaning unwillingness or hesitation.
A passage states: 'The company's new policy increased employee productivity by 23% and reduced turnover by 18% within one year, according to internal company reports.' What limitation should a critical reader note about this evidence?
Answer: The data comes from the company's own internal reports, which could be biased
Internal company reports are produced by the company itself, creating a potential conflict of interest. The company has an incentive to report positive results, making this a less objective source than independent research.