The Language Arts test rewards a good eye more than a big vocabulary. Most questions hand you a sentence and ask which version is correct, or which revision reads best - so the skill is spotting what's off and knowing the fix. Below are practice questions in the real test's style, each covering a skill the GED leans on, with a full explanation after every answer. Pick your answer before opening the solution.
Question 1 - Parallel structure
"Samantha worked quickly, efficiently, and she paid close attention to detail."
- A. Samantha worked quickly, efficiently, and she was very detailed.
- B. Samantha worked quickly, efficiently, and attentively.
- C. Samantha worked with quickness, efficiently, and paying attention to detail.
- D. Samantha worked quick, efficient, and attentive.
Show the solution
Items in a list have to share the same grammatical form. The first two are adverbs - quickly, efficiently - so the third has to be an adverb too. Choice A tacks on a whole clause, C mixes three different forms, and D switches to adjectives (quick, efficient). Only B keeps all three parallel.
Answer: B. Samantha worked quickly, efficiently, and attentively.
When you see a list, check that every item would fit the sentence on its own in the same form.
Question 2 - Subject-verb agreement
- A. The box of old photographs are in the attic.
- B. The box of old photographs is in the attic.
- C. The box of old photographs were in the attic.
- D. The box of old photographs have sat there for years.
Show the solution
The subject is box - singular - not photographs. The phrase "of old photographs" just describes the box; it can't be the subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb: is.
Answer: B. The box of old photographs is in the attic.
Cross out any phrase that starts with of, with, or along with, then match the verb to what's left.
Question 3 - Apostrophes and easily confused words
- A. Its going to rain, so bring you're umbrella.
- B. It's going to rain, so bring your umbrella.
- C. Its going to rain, so bring your umbrella.
- D. It's going to rain, so bring you're umbrella.
Show the solution
It's means "it is" - and the sentence needs "it is going to rain," so the apostrophe stays. Your shows possession (your umbrella); you're would mean "you are umbrella," which makes no sense.
Answer: B. It's going to rain, so bring your umbrella.
Test the apostrophe by expanding it: if "it is" or "you are" fits, use the apostrophe version.
Question 4 - Active voice
- A. The report was completed by the committee.
- B. The committee completed the report.
- C. The report had been completed on time.
- D. The report was being finished by the committee.
Show the solution
In the active voice, the subject does the action. Ask "who is doing it?" Here the committee is doing the completing, so the committee should be the subject acting on the report. A, C and D all put the report first and bury the doer (or drop it), which is passive.
Answer: B. The committee completed the report.
Passive voice often hides a "by ___" phrase or a form of was/were + been/being. Active is usually shorter and clearer.
Question 5 - Misplaced modifier
- A. Walking to school, the rain soaked Maria.
- B. Walking to school, Maria was soaked by the rain.
- C. The rain soaked Maria walking to school it was heavy.
- D. Soaked by the rain, the school was where Maria walked.
Show the solution
An opening phrase like "Walking to school" has to describe whoever comes right after the comma. In A, that's the rain - so the sentence literally says the rain was walking to school. B fixes it by putting Maria right after the phrase, since she's the one walking.
Answer: B. Walking to school, Maria was soaked by the rain.
After any introductory "-ing" phrase, the very next noun must be the one doing that action.
Question 6 - Choosing the right transition
The restaurant had a beautiful interior and friendly staff. ____, the food was bland and overpriced.
- A. Therefore
- B. However
- C. Similarly
- D. For example
Show the solution
The two sentences point in opposite directions - nice room, bad food. That's a contrast, and the transition has to signal it. Therefore shows cause, similarly shows likeness, and for example introduces support. Only however flags the flip.
Answer: B. However
Decide the relationship first - contrast, cause, or addition - then pick the transition that names it.
Question 7 - Vocabulary in context
- A. clearly proven
- B. not leading to a firm conclusion
- C. dishonest
- D. finished and complete
Show the solution
The prefix in- means "not," and conclusive means "leading to a conclusion." So inconclusive means the results didn't settle anything - which is exactly why they "required further investigation." That context line confirms it.
Answer: B. not leading to a firm conclusion
On vocabulary-in-context questions, the rest of the sentence almost always points to the answer. Read what happens next.
Bringing it together
Language Arts questions reward a simple habit: find the subject, check that everything agrees and stays parallel, and let the surrounding sentence tell you what a word means. Drill enough real questions and these checks stop feeling like rules and start feeling like instinct - which is exactly what you want on test day.
Want a full set of GED practice?
Our downloadable GED practice pack covers all four subjects - Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies - with a worked explanation behind every answer. Start with the free sample, then grab the complete pack.
Prefer the complete set? The full GED practice tests covering all four subjects are on Udemy with worked visuals for every question.