Hello. You have practiced key GED grammar skills, including sentence boundaries and agreement. Now you will do a 15-question mixed GED RLA practice set: reading for meaning, arguments and evidence, and editing.
Set a timer for 18 minutes. Work in three groups of five. Choose the best answer without checking notes. Do not worry about perfection—this is meant to show which skills need the most attention next.
Questions 1–5: Reading for Meaning
Suggested time: 7 minutes
Read the passage.
When the city library announced that it would stay open until 9 p.m. on weekdays, some residents questioned whether the added hours were necessary. For years, the library had closed at 6 p.m., which worked well for retirees and people with flexible schedules. However, it was difficult for many workers, students, and parents to visit before closing.
During the first month of the new schedule, evening attendance increased steadily. The library reported that many visitors used the quiet space to complete homework, apply for jobs, or use the computers. The children’s room was busiest between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., when parents stopped by after work.
Keeping the building open later costs money, including staff wages and electricity. Still, library officials say the extra cost is justified because the library can serve more members of the community. They plan to review attendance numbers again after six months.
1. What is the central idea of the passage?
A. Libraries should close earlier to save money.
B. The library’s later hours appear to help more community members use its services.
C. Retirees are the library’s most frequent visitors.
D. Parents should use the library computers to apply for jobs.
2. Which detail best supports the idea that later hours are useful for working parents?
A. The library had closed at 6 p.m. for years.
B. The children’s room was busiest after 6:30 p.m.
C. The library uses money for electricity.
D. Library officials will review attendance in six months.
3. What can reasonably be inferred about many evening visitors?
A. They cannot read during the daytime.
B. They probably have daytime responsibilities that limit when they can visit.
C. They prefer the library to be crowded.
D. They are mainly retired people.
4. In the final paragraph, the word justified most nearly means
A. explained as reasonable.
B. made more expensive.
C. delayed until later.
D. proven impossible.
5. Which statement is best supported by the passage?
A. Evening library hours will definitely continue forever.
B. The library’s evening attendance decreased during the first month.
C. Library officials are using attendance information to judge the new schedule.
D. The library is open every night until 9 p.m.
Questions 6–10: Arguments and Evidence
Suggested time: 7 minutes
Read the editorial excerpt.
Our town should add more covered bike racks near bus stops. Some people argue that few residents would use them because bad weather makes cycling unpleasant. Yet commuters already bike to bus stops during warm months, often leaving their bicycles attached to signs or fences. Covered racks would protect bicycles from rain and keep walkways clear.
The cost would be modest. The transportation department recently spent more on replacing damaged sidewalk signs than the estimated cost of installing ten covered racks. By giving commuters a secure place to leave bicycles, the town could make it easier for people to combine biking with public transportation.
6. What is the author’s main claim?
A. The town should replace damaged sidewalk signs.
B. The town should install covered bike racks near bus stops.
C. Residents should stop biking during bad weather.
D. Bus stops should be moved closer to people’s homes.
7. Which sentence gives the strongest evidence that people already bike to bus stops?
A. “Some people argue that few residents would use them...”
B. “Covered racks would protect bicycles from rain...”
C. “Commuters already bike to bus stops during warm months...”
D. “The cost would be modest.”
8. Which statement, if true, would most strengthen the author’s argument?
A. Several nearby towns installed covered bike racks, and their bus ridership increased.
B. Most commuters prefer driving directly to work.
C. Sidewalk signs are difficult to read from a distance.
D. The town has fewer rainy days than it did ten years ago.
9. The author mentions the cost of replacing sidewalk signs mainly to
A. show that sidewalk signs should be removed.
B. compare the bike-rack cost with another town expense.
C. prove that all transportation projects cost too much.
D. explain why bus stops need more signs.
10. Which assumption does the author make?
A. Every resident owns a bicycle.
B. Covered bike racks will make cycling completely safe.
C. At least some commuters would find it useful to bike to a bus stop.
D. Bad weather never prevents people from biking.
Questions 11–15: Grammar and Language
Suggested time: 4 minutes
Choose the best answer.
11. Which sentence is written correctly?
A. The meeting ended late, everyone missed the last bus.
B. The meeting ended late everyone missed the last bus.
C. The meeting ended late, and everyone missed the last bus.
D. The meeting ended late; and everyone missed the last bus.
12. The box of old photographs ___ in the closet.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have been
13. Choose the best revision of the sentence.
Walking through the park. Maria noticed that the playground had been repaired.
A. Walking through the park, Maria noticed that the playground had been repaired.
B. Maria walking through the park. Noticed that the playground had been repaired.
C. Walking through the park, the playground had been repaired by Maria.
D. Maria noticed. Walking through the park that the playground had been repaired.
14. The volunteers brought ___ own lunches to the cleanup event.
A. there
B. they’re
C. their
D. them
15. Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?
A. After the storm the roads were wet, slippery, and difficult to see.
B. After the storm, the roads were wet, slippery, and difficult to see.
C. After the storm the roads, were wet slippery and difficult to see.
D. After the storm, the roads were wet slippery and, difficult to see.
When you finish, send your answers in this format:
1. B, 2. A, 3. C...
Do not spend extra time changing many answers. Your first reasonable choice is often the best one when the passage gives clear evidence.
What to remember
This set tested the three major GED RLA areas:
- Reading: central idea, details, inferences, and word meaning in context
- Arguments: claims, evidence, assumptions, and reasoning
- Language: sentence boundaries, agreement, fragments, word choice, and commas
Next, we will sort any missed questions by skill so you know exactly what to review instead of trying to study everything at once.
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