CHAPTER 7 Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

No penalty for guessing Multiple-choice questions with five answer choices Knowledge of organization, sentence structure, standard usage, and mechanics Short passages (200–300 words) Business, instructional, and informational documents CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Part I: 75 minutes; 50 questions

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Business documents Letters, memos, meeting notes, reports, executive summaries, applications Instructional documents How to secure a job, how to write a résumé, how to lease a car Informational documents Position papers, critical evaluations, support papers

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Complete sentences Run-ons and comma splices He left early, we met him at the train. Because it was a holiday. Sentence structure (30%): Because it was a holiday, we had the day off from school. He left early, so we met him at the train.

I went to the grocery store to buy some milk, and I went to the grocery store to buy some eggs. Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Wordy and repetitive sentences Coordination or subordination Computers are easy to use, so people are afraid of them. Sentence structure (30%): I went to the grocery store to buy some milk and eggs. Computers are easy to use, yet people are afraid of them. (Continued)

Sitting in front of the television, her eyes became glassy. Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Modification Parallel structure The report is intended to inform, amuse, and being instructional. Sentence structure (30%): As she sat in front of the television, her eyes became glassy. The report is intended to inform, amuse, and instruct. (Continued)

Jim and Raoul was at the meeting today. Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Subject-verb agreement Verb tense or form Tomorrow, the fun was just getting started. Usage (30%): Jim and Raoul were at the meeting today. Tomorrow, the fun will be just getting started. (Continued) Pronoun-antecedent agreement Everyone should bring their driver’s license. Everyone should bring his or her driver’s license.

I just flew in from england. Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Capitalization Comma usage Abby my dog loves to play fetch. Mechanics (25%): I just flew in from England. Abby, my dog, loves to play fetch. (Continued) Spelling (homonyms, possessives, contractions) They took they’re film to the photo shop. They took their film to the photo shop.

Many products containing seaweed are used by people every day—toothpaste, shaving cream, ice cream, and salad dressing. People are often surprised to learn just how prevalent seaweed is as an additive in foods and skin-care products. Although there is a big market for seaweed, companies in the United States have not been producing it. However, a recent discovery called cell culturing may make seaweed farming profitable. Scientists at several U.S. companies are learning how to use this process to grow profits. Many products containing seaweed are used by people every day—toothpaste, shaving cream, ice cream, and salad dressing. People are often surprised to learn just how prevalent seaweed is as an additive in foods and skin-care products. Although there is a big market for seaweed, companies in the United States have not been producing it. However, a recent discovery called cell culturing may make seaweed farming profitable. Scientists at several U.S. companies are learning how to use this process to grow profits. Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Text division Organization (15%): (Continued)

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Topic sentence Organization (15%): (Continued) For example, a roommate, like a brother or a sister, is likely to borrow your clothes without asking. What happens if it turns out that your roommate does not care to clean up after himself or herself? In addition, figuring out who pays what bills and when can be a major source of disagreement. There are bound to be many difficult issues that will arise no matter how compatible two people are. Though having a roommate can save you money, this kind of living situation is not completely problem free. Though having a roommate can save you money, this kind of living situation is not completely problem free.

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Unity or coherence Organization (15%): (Continued) I’d like to apply for a job at SafeCorp Investments. I read that you have some openings in your customer service department, and the positions sound interesting to me. I am currently employed at WorldBank, and I would welcome a change. Staying in one lousy place for a long time can really start bugging me, know what I mean? I would be appreciative if you would call me for an interview. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Sentence correction (45%): Sentence 1: Sentence 1: Mr. Anderson, why does all the files need to be printed now? What correction should be made to sentence 1? (1) remove the comma after Anderson (2) change does to do (3) insert a comma after files (4) change need to needed (5) no correction is necessary  Answer choice (2) is correct. The verb does does not agree with the subject, files, in this question.

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Sentence revision (35%): Sentence 2: Sentence 2: Several improvements have been made to our office, it’s a more pleasant place to work. Which is the best way to write the underlined portion of the text? If the original is the best way, choose option (1). (1) our office, it’s a (2) our office it’s a (3) our office, but it’s a (4) our office, in fact it’s a (5) our office, so it’s a  Answer choice (5) is correct. The conjunction so corrects the comma splice and makes sense in the sentence. (Continued)

Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Construction shift (20%): Sentence 3: Sentence 3: We left the house so that we would be on time for the conference, but we arrived late for the conference. If you rewrote sentence 3 beginning with Although we left the house the next words should be (1) on time for the conference, but we (2) we arrived late for the conference (3) so that we would be on time, but we arrived (4) on time, we arrived late for (5) on time for the conference, we arrived late for the conference  Answer choice (4) is correct. This revision keeps the meaning of the original sentence. (Continued)

THE END Chapter Review QuizGED Practice Quiz Practice the skills you learned in this chapter by taking the Chapter Review Quiz or the GED Practice Quiz. CHAPTER 7: Test-Taking Strategies Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.