Reasoning Through Language Arts Writing Flashcards

A student writes: 'The committee has not yet reached their decision, nor have they disclosed when they plan to do so.' Which revision best corrects the grammatical inconsistency while preserving the original meaning?

Answer: The committee has not yet reached its decision, nor has it disclosed when it plans to do so.

In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' are treated as singular, requiring singular pronouns ('its') and singular verbs ('has,' 'has it'). The original sentence mixed singular verbs with plural pronouns ('their,' 'they'), creating an inconsistency. Option A applies singular agreement consistently throughout the entire sentence.

An author argues: 'Because violent video games are popular among teenagers, and because teenagers commit crimes, violent video games must cause criminal behavior.' Which logical fallacy does this argument commit?

Answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc

The argument assumes that because two things correlate (popularity of violent games and teen crime), one must cause the other. This is 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' ('after this, therefore because of this'), a fallacy of false causation. No causal mechanism is established — correlation alone does not prove causation.

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

Answer: The policy was unpopular; even the senators who drafted it later disavowed it.

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. In option D, 'The policy was unpopular' and 'even the senators who drafted it later disavowed it' are both independent clauses. Option A is missing a comma after 'however' (a conjunctive adverb). Option B uses a semicolon before a participial phrase, not an independent clause. Option C uses a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction ('but'), which is incorrect — a comma is used there instead.

A GED Extended Response essay prompt asks you to analyze two passages with conflicting views on mandatory voting. Your essay should 'use relevant and specific evidence from both sources.' Which approach BEST fulfills this requirement?

Answer: Cite specific quotes or data points from each passage to support a clear analytical claim about how the arguments differ in their use of evidence.

The Extended Response is scored on analysis and use of textual evidence. The highest-scoring responses make a clear analytical claim and support it with specific, cited evidence drawn from both sources — not summaries, personal opinions, or one-sided engagement. Option B is the only choice that integrates evidence from both passages in service of an analytical argument.

Read the following paragraph opener: 'Many experts believe the new tax policy will reduce inequality. Furthermore, critics argue it will disproportionately burden the middle class.' Which revision best corrects the transitional logic?

Answer: Many experts believe the new tax policy will reduce inequality. However, critics argue it will disproportionately burden the middle class.

'Furthermore,' 'In addition,' and 'Similarly' all signal agreement or continuation of an idea. But the second sentence introduces an opposing viewpoint (critics vs. experts), so a contrast transition is needed. 'However' correctly signals that the second idea contradicts or qualifies the first. 'As a result' would incorrectly imply the expert view caused the critics' argument.

Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier?

Answer: Determined to finish by noon, the report was completed ahead of schedule.

A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory phrase has no clear subject to modify in the main clause. In option C, 'Determined to finish by noon' implies a person is determined, but the subject of the main clause is 'the report' — reports cannot be determined. The sentence should read: 'Determined to finish by noon, she completed the report ahead of schedule.' The other options correctly place the appropriate person immediately after the introductory phrase.