DTW GED PREP

Understanding Word Choice and Transitional Words

In analyzing a text, it’s important to recognize how transitional words such as however, consequently, and nevertheless help signal shifts in meaning, contrast, or cause-and-effect relationships. These words help readers follow the author’s train of thought and better grasp the point being developed.

Passage Summary

The passage describes the life cycle and survival challenges of the loggerhead turtle, focusing especially on the perilous journey hatchlings face from nest to ocean. While natural predators like gulls and crabs present a traditional threat, modern, artificial dangers—such as bright lights from lampposts and cars—add a newer complication.

Question:

Why does the author use the word However in paragraph 2 to introduce the problem that bright artificial lights pose for hatchlings?

Correct Answer:

C. To emphasize that man-made items now add to the natural obstacles that hatchlings face

Explanation:

• The word However signals a contrast or an unexpected complication.
• In this context, the complication is that artificial lighting has disrupted the hatchlings’ natural instinct to head toward moonlight reflecting off the sea.
• This use of However contrasts the natural behavior of the hatchlings with the unnatural interference caused by humans.
• Choices A, B, and D either misinterpret the purpose of the word or focus on unrelated parts of the paragraph.

Using Context Clues to Understand Vocabulary

When reading, you may come across unfamiliar words or phrases. One effective strategy for understanding their meaning is to use context clues. These are hints or explanations located in the same sentence or nearby sentences that help you infer the meaning of the unknown word.

Example 1: Understanding Word Meaning Through Context

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

There was a portentous feeling to the night. Something was about to happen—something serious and unforgettable. Although it was quiet now, Miguel had heard that rebels might come down from the mountains to launch a surprise attack. He stayed awake, anxious about what the night would bring.

Question: Based on the context, what does portentous mean?

• A. calm
• B. noisy
• C. boring
• D. threatening

Explanation:
The phrase “something dramatic and unforgettable” and the possibility of an attack suggest a feeling of tension and danger. This context helps you figure out that portentous means threatening.
Correct answer: D

Example 2: Interpreting Phrases Using Context Clues

Directions: Read the excerpt from The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving. Then answer the question.

Tom looked where the stranger pointed and saw one of the tall trees—strong and healthy-looking on the outside, but rotten at the core—which had been nearly hewn through, so that even a strong wind might knock it down. He noticed that most of the other trees were marked with names of wealthy colonists, and many showed deep cuts from an ax.

Question: Based on the passage, what does the phrase hewn through most likely mean?

• A. pushed over
• B. in blossom
• C. cut in two
• D. shaking in the wind

Explanation:
The phrase “rotten at the core” and the detail about the trees being “marked by the ax” suggest the trees were cut or damaged. If a tree has been “hewn through,” it has likely been cut nearly all the way through and could fall at any moment.
Correct answer: C

Understanding Connotation

When reading, it’s important to recognize that words carry more than just their literal, dictionary definitions—these are called denotative meanings. Many words also carry connotative meanings, which are the emotional or cultural associations a word suggests in a particular context.

For example, the words clever and brilliant both mean “smart,” but they suggest different things.

• Clever might suggest someone who is quick, crafty, or practical.
• Brilliant might suggest someone with exceptional or even genius-level intelligence.

These associations are subjective, meaning they can depend on the reader’s or speaker’s experience, feelings, and how the word is used.

On the GED® test, recognizing connotative meanings will help you interpret a writer’s tone, purpose, and point of view.

Practice Example:

Directions: Read the passage below. Then answer the question.

“Yes,” said the real estate agent to the couple considering a home purchase, “this little town has a lot going for it. The streets are peaceful, the parks and playgrounds are well-kept, and there’s great shopping. But more than that, once you get to know your neighbors, I think you’ll find this isn’t just a nice place to live—it’s a real community.”

Question: What does the word community suggest in this passage?

• A. A town with a large population
• B. A suburb with good transport to the city
• C. A small rural town with one street
• D. A place where people are welcoming and share common goals

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:
The word community can literally mean any place where people live together, but here, it’s used to suggest a deeper emotional meaning—that people know each other, care for each other, and are connected by shared values. This positive connotation adds to the real estate agent’s persuasive tone.

Understanding Tone in a Text

An author’s tone is the attitude or feeling expressed through their word choices and style. Tone can affect how we understand a story, speech, or argument. It can be serious, ironic, inspiring, frightening, or even amusing.

When reading, pay close attention to the author’s language—especially adjectives, verbs, and the dialogue between characters. These choices can help you determine how the author wants the reader to feel and how ideas are being presented.

Practice Example: Literary Tone

Directions: Read the following passage from Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Then answer the question about tone.

Queequeg and I had just left the Pequod, walking away from the harbor, when a stranger suddenly stopped us. He was dressed in worn clothes, his face deeply scarred by smallpox. He asked if we had signed onto the ship. When we said yes, he began speaking strangely, questioning whether we had souls, and warning us about “Old Thunder”—Captain Ahab. His words and manner were unsettling and intense.

Question: What tone is created in this passage?

• A. Tragic
• B. Peaceful
• C. Ominous
• D. Lighthearted

Correct Answer: C. Ominous

Explanation:
The stranger’s dark and unusual language, his questions about the soul, and the warning about Captain Ahab create a feeling of unease and suspense. This ominous tone hints that something dangerous or mysterious is ahead, setting the stage for future events.

Recognizing Tone Through Word Choice

Word choice is key to tone. Even a single word can shift the emotional meaning of a sentence.

Example Sentence:

“Senators, I stand before you to urge you to vote for my bill.”

If the word urge is replaced with beg, the sentence becomes:

“Senators, I stand before you to beg you to vote for my bill.”

Question: How does the tone change when “urge” becomes “beg”?

• A. Desperate
• B. Formal
• C. Angry
• D. Lighthearted

Correct Answer: A. Desperate

Explanation:
While urge sounds persuasive and controlled, beg implies fear or helplessness. The speaker now sounds desperate, emotionally pleading for support. This shows how important word choice is to creating tone.

Understanding Figurative Language

Writers often make their writing more interesting or expressive by using figurative language—words or phrases that do not mean exactly what they say. Instead, these phrases suggest or symbolize something else.

For example:

“Adrien eats more than an elephant.”

This sentence is not meant to be taken literally. The writer is exaggerating to say that Adrien eats a lot. This kind of extreme exaggeration is called hyperbole, one of many types of figurative language.

Figurative language adds creativity and emotion to writing. It helps readers visualize ideas more clearly and feel more connected to the text.

Common Types of Figurative Language on the GED® Test

Term	Definition
Simile	A comparison using like or as (“cold as ice”)
Metaphor	A direct comparison without like or as (“time is a thief”)
Personification	Giving human traits to nonhuman things (“the wind whispered”)
Hyperbole	An extreme exaggeration (“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse”)
Alliteration	Repeating the same starting sounds (“Peter Piper picked a peck…”)
Onomatopoeia	A word that sounds like its meaning (“buzz,” “bang,” “splash”)

Being able to recognize and interpret figurative language is a key skill tested on the GED Reading and Language Arts exam.

Practice Question

Directions: Read the excerpt below. Then answer the question.

“We had been working inside the barn all afternoon. It was hot—really hot—and sweat ran down our faces and soaked our shirts. But when the sun finally set and I opened the door, the evening air swept over us like a fresh April shower, leaving us ready to enjoy the night.”

Question: What does the phrase like a fresh April shower suggest about the evening air?

• A. The air was humid and sticky.
• B. The air was bitterly cold.
• C. The air was warm and still.
• D. The air was cool and refreshing.

Correct Answer: D. The air was cool and refreshing.

Explanation:
The author uses a simile—“like a fresh April shower”—to compare the evening air to a cool, gentle rain. This implies that the air felt refreshing, pleasant, and restorative after a hot day of hard work.

QUESTIONS

 Directions: Read the following text, which is excerpted from “The

 Snow-Walkers” from In the Catskills by John Burroughs. Then answer

 the questions.

        He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter. It is true the pomp and the pageantry are swept away, but the essential elements remain—the day and the night, the mountain and the valley, the elemental play and succession and the perpetual presence of the infinite sky. In winter the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a look of a more exalted simplicity. On the other hand, summer is more wooing and seductive, more versatile and human, appeals to the affections and the sentiments, and fosters inquiry and the art impulse. Winter is of a more heroic cast, and addresses the intellect. The severe studies and disciplines come easier in winter. One imposes larger tasks upon himself, and is less tolerant of his own weaknesses.

       The tendinous part of the mind, so to speak, is more developed in winter; the fleshy, in summer. I should say winter had given the bone and sinew to Literature, summer the tissues and blood.

       The simplicity of winter has a deep moral. The return of nature, after such a career of splendor and prodigality, to habits so simple and austere, is not lost either upon the head or the heart. It is the philosopher coming back from the banquet and the wine to a cup of water and a crust of bread.

       And then this beautiful masquerade of the elements, the novel disguises our nearest friends put on! Here is another rain and another dew, water that will not flow, nor spill, nor receive the taint of an unclean vessel. And if we see truly, the same old beneficence and willingness to serve lurk beneath all.

 9.   How does the transition phrase on the other hand in paragraph 1 influence the text?

 A.   It introduces a critical analysis.

 B.   It suggests that the essay has many topics.

 C.   It helps the author focus on what he plans to say.

 D.   It prepares the reader for information that is new.

 10.  In paragraph 1, what is the meaning of essential?

 A.   basic

 B.   complex

 C.   irrelevant

 D.   problematic

 11.  To what does the author compare the return to winter?

 A.   to a return to water and bread

 B.   to a return to wine and a banquet

 C.   to a return to pomp and pageantry

 D.   to a return to versatility and humanity

 12.  Read the sentence from paragraph 3, “The simplicity of winter has a deep moral.” Why does the author include this sentence?

 A.   to focus on winter’s beauty

 B.   to emphasize his love of winter

 C.   to suggest that winter is a difficult period

 D.   to show what can be learned from the season

ANSWERS

8. What does the author suggest by using the word vaguely?
✅ Answer: C. that Linda is not all that interested in Jonathan’s problem
Explanation:
By saying she speaks “vaguely,” the author implies Linda is detached or indifferent. While Jonathan is pouring out strong feelings, Linda gives a half-hearted response, suggesting a lack of deep engagement with his concerns.

---

Passage 3: The Snow-Walkers by John Burroughs

9. How does the phrase on the other hand influence the text?
✅ Answer: D. It prepares the reader for information that is new.
Explanation:
The transition signals a contrast between summer and winter. While the first part describes winter’s strengths, “on the other hand” introduces a discussion of summer’s qualities, helping the reader anticipate a shift in focus.

---

10. What is the meaning of essential?
✅ Answer: A. basic
Explanation:
“Essential elements” refers to the fundamental parts of nature (e.g., sky, day/night, landforms) that remain in winter, even after summer’s visual grandeur is gone. “Essential” here means “core” or “basic.”

---

11. To what does the author compare the return to winter?
✅ Answer: A. to a return to water and bread
Explanation:
Burroughs uses the metaphor of a philosopher returning from luxury to simplicity to illustrate how winter, after summer’s extravagance, offers moral and intellectual renewal—like replacing indulgence with the essentials of life.

---

12. Why does the author include the sentence: “The simplicity of winter has a deep moral”?
✅ Answer: D. to show what can be learned from the season
Explanation:
This sentence introduces the idea that winter teaches discipline, reflection, and austerity. The author contrasts winter’s simplicity with summer’s indulgence, suggesting moral growth and introspection are benefits of the colder season.