The toughest GED® Language Arts questions and how to solve them

Students sometimes worry about passing the GED® Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) exam because they need to answer about 46 questions and write one essay in 150 minutes. 

That can sound like a lot, but you can do it!

With practice, you can tackle the toughest GED Language Arts questions and solve them. You can start practicing right now with the example questions we’ve created.

You can also explore our mobile app for additional help. 

GED RLA practice questions and answers

These aren’t real test questions—but they reflect the types of problems many test-takers find challenging. They also reflect similar GED Language Arts test answers that may appear. 

Practice question #1: Making an inference from a newspaper article

There is a secret about Lindon's Easter Egg Hunt. Everyone knows it begins right on the hour and lasts for a minute or two. “If you ever want to see 15,000 eggs disappear in less than a minute. . .” the mayor told the city council April 6. Then she revealed that she holds back a special stash for stragglers, and those eggs have some of the best prizes.

Question: What can the reader most reasonably infer from this information?

• The reporter didn’t get the full quote, as indicated by the ellipses.
• The mayor likes to withhold important information from the city council and residents.
• The reporter is biased in suggesting a lack of transparency in the city government.
• The mayor recognizes how important the Easter Egg Hunt is to children, and doesn’t want them to be disappointed.

How to solve it

1. Identify the key facts in the passage.

2. Ask what conclusion those facts support.

3. Eliminate answers that go beyond the evidence.

4. Choose the answer most directly supported by the passage.

Answer

The fourth answer is correct. 

Ellipses can indicate that the speaker left something unstated that the audience would understand. However, there’s nothing in the paragraph to suggest that anyone speaking in a public meeting with a reporter present is hiding important information.

Practice question #2: Revising for clarity and grammar

The original sentence: The students finished the project late, however they still presented it confidently.

Question: Which revision is most correct?

• The students finished the project late, however, they still presented it confidently.
• The students finished the project late; however, they still presented it confidently.
• The students finished the project late. They still presented it confidently.
• The students finished the project late and they still presented it confidently.

How to solve it

1. Check whether punctuation joins two independent clauses correctly.

2. Look for the clearest, grammatically correct revision.

3. Pick the choice that fixes the error without making the sentence awkward.

Answer

This one is tricky because there are two correct answers, but the second revised version of the sentence is the best answer because it connects the independent clauses most clearly. 

Try more practice questions. 

Practice question #3: Short essay question

Are Tweens Ready for Cell Phones? 

View 1: “Tweens” Are Ready for Cell Phones by Deborah Pendergast 

Thank you for inviting me to the first “Safer Kids Summit.” We are here to discuss ways to keep our children safe in an increasingly complex world. Today’s focus is on technology—specifically on the ideal age to give kids their own cell phones. As a representative of a large telecommunications company, I receive many inquiries from parents on this topic, and this is what I tell them: It depends on the child, of course, but in general, age 10 is just about right. 

A 2012 survey by the National Consumers League backs me up. The survey found that almost 60 percent of children ages 8 to 12 already have cell phones. These “tweens” can contact their parents at any time, and vice versa, giving the kids a sense of empowerment and their parents a feeling of security. Caroline Knorr, of the group Common Sense Media, says, "We want our kids to be independent, to be able to walk home from school and play at the playground without us. We want them to have that old-fashioned, fun experience of being on their own, and cell phones can help with that.” Picture the following scenario: You told your fourth-grader that you would pick her up after school, but you are stuck in traffic. She is waiting for you …and waiting, and waiting. But if you both have cell phones, you can call her to let her know you are delayed, and she can go back inside the school, where there are adults around. You both breathe a sigh of relief.

Psychologists tell us that the period between ages 10 and 12 is one of growing independence. It is a time to teach children about responsibility, and to give them opportunities to earn our trust. Providing a 10-year-old with a cell phone offers an ideal way to achieve these goals and gives parents peace of mind as well.” 

View 2: Wait Until They Are Older by Linda Sidner 

Good morning! I come to this topic as a parent and a veteran teacher of so-called “tweens.” I love kids this age for their curiosity and energy, but those same qualities can lead to trouble if not overseen by adults. That’s why giving children their own phones actually makes them less safe, not more. I believe that the best age for a cell phone is 16, the point at which we consider kids grown-up enough to learn to drive — and even then, parents must set firm limits on phone use! 

Why are tweens with phones less safe? For one thing, parents may be lulled into a false sense of security if their kids have phones. They may become careless about knowing where their child is and who he is with, thinking, “I can always reach him on his phone.” For another, cell phones give children access to all the frightening, dangerous, and inappropriate sites on the Internet, with no parent nearby to monitor this activity. But perhaps the most worrisome aspect of giving cell phones to children is the rise in “cyberbullying” or “text bullying.” Text bullying means using a cell phone to send cruel, embarrassing, or false text messages to or about someone. In one study, researcher Elizabeth Englander found that by middle school, over 90% of children report that they use their cell phones to text or go onto the Internet. She also found that in grades 3 through 5, between 14 and 19 percent of children reported being victims of cyberbullying. What if it’s your child on the receiving end of this cruelty? Or, perhaps worse, what if your child is the bully? Children of this age are simply not mature enough to handle this technology, and we shouldn’t expect them to be. It’s our job as adults to protect them. That’s why I say: It’s better to wait. 

Task: In your essay, develop an argument to claim which view is better supported. Use evidence from both opinions to support your decision. 

How to solve it

1. Read both views carefully.

2. Choose which view is better supported.

3. Pick out evidence that supports your argument.

4. Write out your thoughts clearly and use the evidence to support your argument.

Answer

There is no “right answer” for this part of the exam. 

Instead, your score depends on how well you analyze both views and clearly write your evidence and reasoning. You also need to ensure your essay is grammatically correct. 

Explore more essay examples. 

How to get better at GED Reasoning Through Language Arts fast

Here are more ways to practice:

• Read news articles: You’ll read a lot of information in a short amount of time due to how news articles are formatted.

• Write essays about topics you like: Practice formatting your arguments and thoughts by writing essays about topics that interest you. 

• Use GED ReadyⓇ: Use this practice test that mimics the real GED RLA exam. It will not only tell you your score but also what areas you should study more to strengthen your skills. (We also have a shorter free version.)

You can also try our mobile app!