GED-SECTION-4 Online Practice Questions and Answers

What Has Happened to Gregor?

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. He was lying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his domelike

brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely. His numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly

before his eyes.

What has happened to me? he thought. It was no dream. His room, a regular human bedroom, only rather too small, lay quiet between the four familiar walls.

Above the table on which a collection of cloth samples was unpacked and spread out Samsa was a commercial traveler hung the picture which he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and put into a pretty gilt frame. It showed a

lady, with a fur cap on and a fur stole, sitting upright and holding out to the spectator a huge fur muff into which the whole of her forearm had vanished!

. . . .

He slid down again into his former position. This getting up early, he thought, makes one quite stupid. A man needs his sleep. Other commercials live like harem women. For instance, when I come back to the hotel of a morning to write up the

orders Ive got, these others are only sitting down to breakfast. Let me just try that with my chief; Id be sacked on the spot. Anyhow, that might be quite a good thing for me, who can tell? If I didnt have to hold my hand because of my parents Id

have given notice long ago, Id have gone to the chief and told him exactly what I think of him. That would knock him endways from his desk! Its a queer way of doing, too, this sitting on high at a desk and talking down to employees, especially

when they have to come quite near because the chief is hard of hearing. Well, theres still hope; once Ive saved enough money to pay back my parents debts to him that should take another five or six years Ill do it without fail. Ill cut myself

completely loose then. For the moment, though, Id better get up, since my train goes at five.

Franz Kafka, from The Metamorphosis (1912)

Why must Gregor keep his current job for several more years?

A. His parents owe his boss money.

B. Gregor is an apprentice and must complete his program.

C. Gregor wants to take over the chief 's job.

D. His parents own the company he works for.

E. He needs to earn enough money to buy a bigger house for his family.

What Did the Speaker Learn from Alfonso?

Alfonso I am not the first poet born to my family. We have painters and singers, actors and carpenters.

I inherited my trade from my zio, Alfonso. Zio maybe was the tallest man in the village, he certainly was the widest. He lost his voice to cigarettes before I was born, but still he roared with his hands, his eyes, with his brow, and his deafening

smile.

He worked the sea with my nonno fishing in silence among the grottoes so my father could learn to write and read and not speak like the guaglione, filled with curses and empty pockets.

He would watch me write with wonder, I could hear him on the couch, he looked at the lines over my shoulder, tried to teach himself to read late in the soft Adriatic darkness. Wine-stained pages gave him away.

But I learned to write from Zio He didnt need words, still he taught me the language of silence, the way the sun can describe a shadow, a gesture can paint a moment, a scent could fill an entire village with words and color and sound, a

perfect little grape tomato can be the most beautiful thing in the world, seen through the right eyes.

Marco A. Annunziata (2002)

Reprinted by permission of the author.

In line 5, the speaker says, "I inherited my trade from my zio, Alfonso."What trade did the speaker inherit?

A. painting

B. fishing

C. writing poetry

D. singing

E. carpentry

What Did the Speaker Learn from Alfonso?

Alfonso I am not the first poet born to my family. We have painters and singers, actors and carpenters.

I inherited my trade from my zio, Alfonso. Zio maybe was the tallest man in the village, he certainly was the widest. He lost his voice to cigarettes before I was born, but still he roared with his hands, his eyes, with his brow, and his deafening

smile.

He worked the sea with my nonno fishing in silence among the grottoes so my father could learn to write and read and not speak like the guaglione, filled with curses and empty pockets.

He would watch me write with wonder, I could hear him on the couch, he looked at the lines over my shoulder, tried to teach himself to read late in the soft Adriatic darkness. Wine-stained pages gave him away.

But I learned to write from Zio He didnt need words, still he taught me the language of silence, the way the sun can describe a shadow, a gesture can paint a moment, a scent could fill an entire village with words and color and sound, a

perfect little grape tomato can be the most beautiful thing in the world, seen through the right eyes.

Marco A. Annunziata (2002)

Reprinted by permission of the author.

Which of the following statements about Alfonso is true?

A. He was a poet.

B. He could not speak.

C. He could speak many languages.

D. He was a farmer.

E. He was also a painter.

Whats Wrong with Commercial Television?

Kids who watch much commercial television ought to develop into whizzes at the dialect; you have to keep so much in your mind at once because a series of artificially short attention spans has been created. But this in itself means that the

experience of watching the commercial channels is a more informal one, curiously more homely than watching BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation].

This is because the commercial breaks are constant reminders that the medium itself is artificial, isn't, in fact, "real," even if the gesticulating heads, unlike the giants of the movie screen, are life-size. There is a kind of built-in alienation effect.

Everything you see is false, as Tristan Tzara gnomically opined. And the young lady in the St. Bruno tobacco ads who currently concludes her spiel by stating categorically: "And if you believe that, you’ll believe anything," is saying no more

than the truth. The long-term effect of habitually watching commercial television is probably an erosion of trust in the television medium itself.

Since joy is the message of all commercials, it is as well they breed skepticism. Every story has a happy ending, gratification is guaranteed by the conventions of the commercial form, which contributes no end to the pervasive unreality of it

all. Indeed, it is the chronic bliss of everybody in the commercials that creates their final divorce from effective life as we know it.

Grumpy mum, frowning dad, are soon all smiles again after the ingestion of some pill or potion; minimal concessions are made to mild frustration (as they are, occasionally, to lust), but none at all to despair or consummation. In fact, if the form

is reminiscent of the limerick and the presentation of the music-hall, the overall mood in its absolute and unruffled decorum is that of the uplift fables in the Sunday school picture books of my childhood.

Angela Carter, from Shaking a Leg (1997)

According to the author, what is the main thing that makes commercials unrealistic?

A. Everyone in commercials always ends up happy.

B. The background music is distracting.

C. Commercials are so short.

D. The people in commercials are always sick.

E. The claims commercials make are unrealistic.

What Is the Work-Study Program?

Overview of the Work-Study Program The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a student employment program subsidized by the federal government and designed to help students finance their post-secondary education. The program

provides funds to colleges, universities, and affiliated organizations which then provide employment to work-study students. Students receive their work-study financial awards in the form of paychecks from their work-study positions.

Applying for Work-Study Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Work-Study grants are awarded based upon demonstrated financial need. To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application must

be submitted each year Work-Study employment is desired.

What Are the Advantages of Work-Study?

A work-study job is essentially just like any other job you go to work, do your job, and get paid. But Work-Study positions have several distinct advantages over

"regular" jobs:

What Types of Work-Study Jobs Are Available?

The work-study positions at Madison Community College are as diverse as the functions of the college. Work-study students are employed as clerical assistants, data entry clerks, computer technicians, laboratory monitors, research

assistants, language tutors, and more. In addition, Madison Community College has long- standing relationships with a number of employers and agencies that provide services for the community and have been approved to participate in the

Federal

Work-Study Program, including the Madison County Childrens Museum, the Madison County Library, Children First Day Care, and Right Start Tutoring Agency.

Students may be employed as museum guides, library aides, child caregivers, research assistants, tutors, and more.

Who is eligible for the Work-Study Program?

A. first-year students only

B. undergraduate students only

C. graduate students only

D. undergraduate and graduate students

E. unemployed students only

What Is the Work-Study Program?

Overview of the Work-Study Program The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a student employment program subsidized by the federal government and designed to help students finance their post-secondary education. The program

provides funds to colleges, universities, and affiliated organizations which then provide employment to work-study students. Students receive their work-study financial awards in the form of paychecks from their work-study positions.

Applying for Work-Study Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Work-Study grants are awarded based upon demonstrated financial need. To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application must

be submitted each year Work-Study employment is desired.

What Are the Advantages of Work-Study?

A work-study job is essentially just like any other job you go to work, do your job, and get paid. But Work-Study positions have several distinct advantages over

"regular" jobs:

What Types of Work-Study Jobs Are Available?

The work-study positions at Madison Community College are as diverse as the functions of the college. Work-study students are employed as clerical assistants, data entry clerks, computer technicians, laboratory monitors, research

assistants, language tutors, and more. In addition, Madison Community College has long- standing relationships with a number of employers and agencies that provide services for the community and have been approved to participate in the

Federal

Work-Study Program, including the Madison County Childrens Museum, the Madison County Library, Children First Day Care, and Right Start Tutoring Agency.

Students may be employed as museum guides, library aides, child caregivers, research assistants, tutors, and more.

According to the passage, what is one way Work-Study employers are different from "regular" employers?

A. Work-Study employers offer higher wages.

B. Students work less hours with Work-Study employers.

C. Work-Study employers offer more flexible scheduling for students.

D. Work-Study employers offer a wide range of positions.

E. Students earn academic credit for positions with Work-Study employers.

Why Are the Characters Arguing?

[Sophie, the narrator, is talking with Tante Atie.

The first line is spoken by Tante Atie.]

"Do you know why I always wished I could read?" Her teary eyes gazed directly into mine. "I don't know why." I tried to answer as politely as I could. "It was always my dream to read," she said, "so I could read that old Bible under my pillow

and find the answers to everything right there between those pages. What do you think that old Bible would have us do right now, about this moment?" "I don't know," I said.

"How can you not know?" she asked. "You try to tell me there is all wisdom in reading but at a time like this you disappoint me." "You lied!" I shouted. She grabbed both my ears and twisted them until they burned. I stomped my feet and

walked away. As I rushed to bed, I began to take off my clothes so quickly that I almost tore them off my body. The smell of lemon perfume stung my nose as I pulled the sheet over my head. "I did not lie," she said, "I kept a secret, which is

different. I wanted to tell you. I needed time to reconcile myself, to accept it. It was very sudden, just a cassette from Martine saying, I want my daughter, and then as fast as you can put two fingers together to snap, she sends me a plane

ticket with a date on it. I am not even certain that she is doing this properly. Alls he tells me is that she arranged it with a woman who works on the airplane." "Was I ever going to know?" I asked. "I was going to put you to sleep, put you in a

suitcase, and send you to her. One day you would wake up there and you would feel like your whole life here with me was a dream." She tried to force out a laugh, but it didn't make it past her throat.

Edwidge Danticat, from Breath, Eyes, Memory (1998)

Why is the narrator so upset?

A. She misses her mother.

B. She doesn't want to leave.

C. She doesn't like Tante Atie.

D. She is afraid of flying.

E. She never learned to read.

What Is the Author Asking for?

The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? The land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our

brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man, all belong to the same family.

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and

memories in the life of my people. The waters murmur is the voice of my fathers father.

The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry out canoes and feed our children. So you must give to the rivers the kindness you would give any brother. If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the

air shares its spirit with all the life it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So, if we sell you our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a

place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.

Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth, befalls all sons of the earth. This we know:

The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites us all.

-

Chief Seattle, from "This We Know" (1854) What is the authors main goal in this essay?

A.

to convince the American government not to buy the land

B.

to convince Native Americans to fight the new Americans

C.

to persuade Americans that the land is not worth buying

D.

to convince the new Americans that the land is sacred

E.

to show how much power he has over his people

How Does the Speaker Feel about War?

War Is Kind Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind. Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky And the affrighted steed ran on alone, Do not weep. War is kind.

Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment Little souls who thirst for fight, These men were born to drill and die The unexplained glory flies above them Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom

A field where a thousand corpses lie. Do not weep, babe, for war is kind. Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches, Raged at his breast, gulped and died, Do not weep. War is kind. Swift, blazing flag of the regiment Eagle with crest

of red and gold, These men were born to drill and die Point for them the virtue of slaughter Make plain to them the excellence of killing And a field where a thousand corpses lie.

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button On the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind.

Stephen Crane, 1899

Which of the following words best describes the tone of the poem?

A. celebratory

B. mournful

C. sarcastic

D. angry

E. tender

How Does the Speaker Feel about War?

War Is Kind Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind. Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky And the affrighted steed ran on alone, Do not weep. War is kind.

Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment Little souls who thirst for fight, These men were born to drill and die The unexplained glory flies above them Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom

A field where a thousand corpses lie. Do not weep, babe, for war is kind. Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches, Raged at his breast, gulped and died, Do not weep. War is kind. Swift, blazing flag of the regiment Eagle with crest

of red and gold, These men were born to drill and die Point for them the virtue of slaughter Make plain to them the excellence of killing And a field where a thousand corpses lie.

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button On the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind.

Stephen Crane, 1899

The speaker addresses three people in the poem: a maiden (line 2), a babe (a child, line 16), and a mother (line 28).What feeling in these listeners is the speaker addressing?

A. their grief

B. their pride

C. their anger

D. their joy

E. their fear

How Does the Speaker Feel about War?

War Is Kind Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind. Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky And the affrighted steed ran on alone, Do not weep. War is kind.

Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment Little souls who thirst for fight, These men were born to drill and die The unexplained glory flies above them Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom

A field where a thousand corpses lie. Do not weep, babe, for war is kind. Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches, Raged at his breast, gulped and died, Do not weep. War is kind. Swift, blazing flag of the regiment Eagle with crest

of red and gold, These men were born to drill and die Point for them the virtue of slaughter Make plain to them the excellence of killing And a field where a thousand corpses lie.

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button On the bright splendid shroud of your son, Do not weep. War is kind.

Stephen Crane, 1899

From what you know about the speaker in the poem, what do you think he would do if his country went to war?

A. join the military right away

B. travel around the country trying to rally support for the war

C. protest against the war

D. cover the war as a reporter

E. hurt himself so he would not have to fight

Whats Wrong with Biff and Happy?

[Biff is talking with his brother, Happy. They are together with their parents in the home where they grew up.]

BIFF: [with rising agitation] Hap, Ive had twenty or thirty different kinds of jobs since I left home before the war, and it always turns out the same. I just realized it lately. In Nebraska, when I herded cattle, and the Dakotas, and Arizona, and

now in Texas. Its why I came home now, I guess, because I realized it.

This farm I work on, its spring there now, see? And theyve got about fifteen new colts. Theres nothing more inspiring or beautiful than the sight of a mare and a new colt. And its cool there now, see? Texas is cool now, and its spring. And

whenever spring comes to where I am, I suddenly get the feeling, my God, Im not gettin anywhere! What the hell am I doing, playing around with horses, twenty-eight dollars a week! Im thirty-four years old, I oughta be makinmy future.

Thats when I come running home. And now, I get here, and I dont know what to do with myself. [After a pause] Ive always made a point of not wasting my life, and every time I come back here I know that all Ive done is to waste my life.

HAPPY: Youre a poet, you know that, Biff?

Youre a youre an idealist! BIFF: No, Im mixed up very bad. Maybe I oughta get married. Maybe I oughta get stuck into something. Maybe thats my trouble.

Im like a boy. Im not married, Im not in business, I just Im like a boy. Are you content, Hap? Youre a success, arent you? Are you content?

HAPPY: Hell, no!

BIFF: Why? Youre making money, arent you?

HAPPY: [moving about with energy, expressiveness] All I can do now is wait for the merchandise manager to die. And suppose I get to be merchandise manager?

Hes a good friend of mine, and he just built a terrific estate on Long Island. And he lived there about two months and sold it, and now hes building another one.

He cant enjoy it once its finished. And I know thats just what I would do. I dont know what the hell Im workin for. Sometimes I sit in my apartment all alone.

And I think of the rent Im paying. And its crazy. But then, its what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women. And still, goddammit, Im lonely.

Arthur Miller, from Death of a Salesman (1949)

Based on this excerpt, which of the following can we conclude about Happys name?

A. It is ironic.

B. It is appropriate.

C. It is a nickname.

D. It is not his real name.

E. It is symbolic.

Why Is the Man Screaming?

Edvard Munch's 1893 painting "The Scream" is a powerful work of art that has true aesthetic value. In its raw depiction of the unavoidable human emotions of alienation, anxiety and fear, "The Scream" invites meaningful introspection as the

viewer internalizes its message of the vulnerability of the human psyche.

"The Scream" is a very dynamic and yet frightening painting. The blood-red sky and eerie water/air seem to be moving and twirling, even enveloping the screaming mans mind as he stands on a bridge completely disregarded by passers-by

who do not share in his horror. Viewers of the painting cannot help but ask:

Why is the man screaming? And why is he alone in is scream? What is he afraid of? Or, what has he realized or seen that is making him scream?

Why arent the others as affected as he? The threat must be internal, yet the brushstrokes, colors and perspective seem to indicate that the horror is also bound to something in nature, something outside of the man. In any case, the agony

and alienation are inescapable. Something horrible has happened or been realized by the man who cannot contain his horror, but has not affected the others on the bridge.

That the people in the background are calm and do not share this horror conveys a truth regarding the ownership of our own feelings. We are often alone in our feelings, as can be especially noticed when we are in pain. The horror is the

mans own; he must carry it himself. In this expressionist piece, the black, red, and orange colors are both bold and dark, illuminating and haunting at the same time. Remarkably, the light from the blood-reds and vibrant oranges in the distant

sky seem to be somewhat detached from the figure in the forefront, failing to reach his persona, suggesting that there is little to illuminate his (and the viewers) fears.

The mans face is nondescript; in fact, it almost looks more like a skull than a living mans face, hollow with two simple dots to indicate the nostrils, no hair, no wrinkles of the skin. This could be any man or woman, left to deal with his or her

own horrors.

According to the author, what is the main effect of viewing this painting?

A. We feel sorry for the screamer.

B. We feel haunted by his agony and horror.

C. We feel relieved that we are not on the bridge.

D. We feel a sense of calm and quiet.

E. We feel like screaming.

What Is the New Dress Code Policy?

MEMORANDUM

TO:All Employees FROM:Helen Suskind, Director,

Human Resources Department

DATE:March 22, 2005 RE: Implementation of New Dress Code

A new dress code for all employees will take effect on September 1. All employees will be required to wear professional business attire while in the office. In this context, professional business attire excludes T-shirts, sleeveless shirts, shorts,

jeans, athletic attire, miniskirts, sandals, flip-flops, and sneakers. The attached sheet provides a complete list of attire that is inappropriate for the office. Please be sure to review this list carefully.

Violations of the new dress code will be handled as follows:

If you have any questions about the parameters of the dress code, please contact Martin Lamb in Human Resources immediately to schedule an appointment.

It is important that all employees understand the seriousness of this policy. Management based its decision to implement this code upon evidence that the lack of a dress code leads to a decrease in productivity. Our new dress code will help

maintain the reputation and integrity of our company by keeping us aware of the need for professionalism. Thank you for your cooperation.

According to the memorandum, management decided to implement a formal dress code because

A. a formal dress code makes a good impression on customers.

B. casual dress may ruin the company's reputation.

C. not having a dress code makes people less productive.

D. formal dress reflects management's personal taste.

E. formal dress helps create an atmosphere of cooperation.

What Inspires Thomas?

[Thomas Builds-the-Fire is a Spokane Indian living on the Spokane Indian Reservation.]

So Thomas went home and tried to write their first song. He sat alone in his house with his bass guitar and waited for the song. He waited and waited. Its nearly impossible to write a song with a bass guitar, but Thomas didn't know that. He’d

never written a song before. "Please," Thomas prayed. But the song would not come, so Thomas closed his eyes, tried to find a story with a soundtrack. He turned on the television and watched The Sound of Music on channel four. Julie

Andrews put him to sleep for the sixty-seventh time, and neither story nor song came in his dreams.

After he woke up, he paced around the room, stood on his porch, and listened to those faint voices that echoed all over the reservation. Everybody heard those voices, but nobody liked to talk about them. They were loudest at night, when

Thomas tried to sleep, and he always thought they sounded like horses. For hours,

Thomas waited for the song.

Then, hungry and tired, he opened his refrigerator for something to eat and discovered that he didnt have any food. So he closed the fridge and opened it again, but it was still empty. In a ceremony that he had practiced since his youth, he

opened, closed, and opened the fridge again, expecting an immaculate conception of a jar of pickles. Thomas was hungry on a reservation where there are ninety-seven different ways to say fry bread.

[. . . .]

As his growling stomach provided the rhythm, Thomas sat again with his bass guitar, wrote the first song, and called it "Reservation Blues."

Sherman Alexie, from Reservation Blues (1995)

Why does Thomas keep opening and closing the refrigerator?

A. He keeps hoping food will magically appear.

B. He can't believe that the refrigerator is empty.

C. He is angry and wants the door to break off.

D. He likes the noise the door makes.

E. He is bored.