GED 155 Text: English for Careers: Business

GED 155
Text:

English for Careers: Business, Professional, & Technical
11th Edition, 2014
ISBN-13: 9780132619301

Author(s):

Smith and Moore

Publisher:

Pearson

925 North Spurgeon Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-547-9625 Fax: 714-547-5777
www.calcoast.edu
07/15

Final Examination

English

GED 155 English

Final Examination

Multiple Choice Questions (Enter your answers on the enclosed answer sheet)
1. A lexicographer is a person who ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.

determines the grammar rules
compiles dictionaries
edits the reference guides
writes well

2. You should ________ go see the doctor for that cold of yours.
a.
b.
c.
d.

defiantly
definitely
definitly
definately

3. That man over at the next table keeps ________ at me.
a.
b.
c.
d.

staring
starring
stairing
None of the above.

4. The word run is what part of speech?
a.
b.
c.
d.

verb
adjective
noun
All of the above.

5. In the word congratulations, which syllable has the primary stress?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

first
second
third
fourth
fifth

6. What part of speech is the word accurate?
a.
b.
c.
d.

3

noun
verb
adjective
adverb

GED 155 English

Final Examination

7. Which of the following is not a good use for a college dictionary?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

find the definition of a word
understand the usage of a word
find out the etymology of a word
find out the preferred spelling of a word
answer a grammar question

8. A(n) ________ takes the place of a noun.
a.
b.
c.
d.

adjective
adverb
pronoun
preposition

9. To run, to see, and to go are examples of ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.

infinitives
verbs
gerunds
prepositional phrases

Identify the part of speech or the form of a part of speech in the underlined portion of each
sentence. (10-14)
10. The yellow house down the street from me is for sale.
a.
b.
c.
d.

preposition
conjunction
adjective
adverb

11. The groundhog looked down and saw its shadow.
a.
b.
c.
d.

4

preposition
conjunction
adjective
adverb

GED 155 English

Final Examination

12. The children steadily eased themselves into the cold water of the neighborhood pool.
a.
b.
c.
d.

common noun
proper noun
pronoun
adjective

13. What year did you graduate from high school?
a.
b.
c.
d.

proper noun
common noun
adjective
adverb

14. Matt has been helping me overcome some difficulties.
a.
b.
c.
d.

linking verb
action verb
helping verb
gerund

15. Two sentences joined together with a coordinating conjunction and a comma form a
________.
a.
b.
c.
d.

compound sentence
complex sentence
comma splice
run-on

Identify the subject and complete verb in each of the following sentences. (16-18)
16. A pen and a pad of paper are in the top drawer of my desk.
a.
b.
c.
d.

pen; are
pen/paper; are
pen/pad; are
paper/drawer; are

17. Please go to the store and buy some milk for the baby.
a.
b.
c.
d.
5

you; go/store
you; go/buy
store; go/buy
milk; go/buy

GED 155 English

Final Examination

18. Have you ever been to Georgetown to visit your brother?
a.
b.
c.
d.

you;
you;
you;
you;

been
have
have been
have ever been

Identify each as fragment, run-on, comma splice, or sentence. (19-21)
19. One legend has it that an old lady tried to dry off her sopping wet dog by putting it in the
microwave but this legend also predates the microwave oven.
a.
b.
c.
d.

fragment
run-on
comma splice
correct sentence

20. A couple renting a hotel room complained bitterly to management about a horrible smell,
they found the stench had been coming from a corpse under the bed.
a.
b.
c.
d.

fragment
run-on
comma splice
correct sentence

21. Clarissa carefully studied all her notes and worked on additional problems, then she took her
test online.
a.
b.
c.
d.

fragment
run-on
comma splice
correct sentence

22. Which of the following nouns will always be plural?
a.
b.
c.
d.

6

news
series
pants
politics

GED 155 English

Final Examination

23. The ________ will meet tomorrow to discuss some upcoming projects.
a.
b.
c.
d.

editor-in-chiefs
editors-in-chief
editor in chiefs
editors in chief

24. My ________ are coming over for Thanksgiving Dinner.
a.
b.
c.
d.

sister in laws
sisters in law
sisters-in-law
sister-in-laws

25. Several ________ have to be considered before making a final decision.
a. criteria
b. criterion
c. criterias
26. Have you completed all of your ________ yet?
a.
b.
c.
d.

homework
home work
homeworks
home-works

27. The editor is in charge of proofreading all of the ________ for the newspaper.
a.
b.
c.
d.

head lines
head-lines
headlines’
headlines

28. Which of the following nouns can be singular or plural, depending on the context of the
sentence?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

7

scissors
news
measles
statistics
None of the above.

GED 155 English

Final Examination

29. After a ________ consideration, I’ve decided to use my ________ savings.
a.
b.
c.
d.



weeks’/lives
week’s/life’s
weeks’/live’s
week’s/lifes’

30. My ________ cooking is the best.
a. mother-in-laws
b. mothers-in-law
c. mother-in-law’s
31. The ________ emails were forwarded to the ________ office.
a.
b.
c.
d.

secretaries/managers
secretary/manager
secretarys’/manager’s
secretary’s/manager’s

32. The new ________ salary for 12 ________ is $90,000.
a.
b.
c.
d.

principal’s/ months’
principals/months
principal’s/months
principals’/months

33. Several ________ ________ were missing the required documentation for the research
presented.
a.
b.
c.
d.

students/essays
student’s/essay’s
students’/essays
students/essay’s

34. My father-in-law’s retirement party, which was held at ________ and ________ house, was
actually more enjoyable than I thought it would be.
a.
b.
c.
d.

8

Cecil/Deborah
Cecil/Deborahs’
Cecil’s/Deborah’s
Cecil/Deborah’s

GED 155 English

Final Examination

35. Apostrophes should not be used with which of the following?
a. proper nouns ending in s
b. plural nouns
c. possessive nouns
36. The Volkswagen buses plastered with peace and flower-power decals, the people selling the
Grateful Dead paraphernalia, and the sharing of food and resources—no one enjoyed these
more than ________.
a. we
b. us
c. ours
37. Perhaps no one understands how influential the Beatles were more than ________.
a. her
b. she
c. herself
38. The email was confusing; the contents confused Veronica as well as ________.
a. I
b. myself
c. me
39. Choose the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Us kids are to blame for the mess in the kitchen.
Don’t talk to we teenagers about curfews.
Cheryl, Doug, and myself went to the beach on Independence Day.
He corrected himself immediately.
The manager and myself will attend the meeting.

40. Choose the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

9

He voted hisself a raise.
We voted ourselfs a raise.
She injured herself.
The twins dress theirselves.

GED 155 English

Final Examination

Choose the correct pronoun.
41. That quilt is ________; my grandmother and ________ made it before she passed away.
a.
b.
c.
d.

mines/I
mine/me
mines/myself
mine/I

42. You can’t trust ________ or ________ to complete the project on time.
a.
b.
c.
d.

him/she
him/her
he/her
he/she

Choose the correct pronoun to fit the context of the sentence.
43. The dog chewed ________ leash apart.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

its
his or her
it’s
their
its’

44. Either Brenda or her mother lost ________ keys.
a. their
b. her
c. hers
45. A pregnant person knows how difficult it is to get in and out of ________ car in ________
eighth month.
a.
b.
c.
d.

10

her, their
their, her
her, her
his or her, their

GED 155 English

Final Examination

46. Nobody on the Tri Rail seems to know ________ way around Miami.
a.
b.
c.
d.

their
his
there
his or her

47. Is technology with all ________ advances working for the better of ________?
a.
b.
c.
d.

its/mankind
it’s/humankind
it’s/mankind
its/humankind

48. Which sentence is correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.

The
The
The
The

salesman from Florida made record sales.
salesperson from Florida made record sales.
policeman fired a shot at the suspect.
stewardess made the announcement on the plane.

49. Which sentence is preferable?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Every
Every
Every
Every
Every

editor
editor
editor
editor
editor

has
has
has
has
has

his job to do.
his or her job to do.
a job to do.
her job to do.
their job to do.

Choose the correct verb to fit the context of the sentence.
50. If the manager ________ here, we could meet the person who ________ all loans.
a.
b.
c.
d.

were/approves
was/approves
were/approve
was/approve

51. If I ________ you, I ________ to find a better job.
a.
b.
c.
d.

11

was/will try
were/would try
were/try
was/would try

GED 155 English

Final Examination

52. I thought the massager was ________ , but it was just ________ out.
a.
b.
c.
d.

broken/wore
broken/worn
broke/worn
broke/wore

53. When I ________ to pay my restaurant bill, I realized I ________ my credit card at home.
a.
b.
c.
d.

try/forget
tried/have forgotten
tried/had forgotten
tried/had forgot

54. Kristen is a prolific writer. She ________ a couple books of poetry and about a hundred short
stories. Someday she ________ as famous as Edgar Allen Poe.
a.
b.
c.
d.

was writing/will be
has written/would be
had written/would be
has written/will be

55. When my daughter gets older, I ________ her the value of an education, so she won’t make
the same mistakes I ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.

will
will
will
will

teach/have done
teach/did
be teaching/did
be teaching/do

56. Identify the sentence that correctly uses the simple past tense.
a.
b.
c.
d.

12

Jeannie
Jeannie
Jeannie
Jeannie

begun her homework yesterday.
was beginning her homework yesterday.
began her homework yesterday.
had began her homework yesterday.

GED 155 English

Final Examination

Choose the correct verb to fit the context of the sentence.
57. Some of the students from class ________ to the Writing Center for help with writing because
they ________ often unclear on how to fix their errors.
a.
b.
c.
d.

go/are
goes/are
go/is
goes/is

58. On the mantle ________ my children’s softball trophies that they won when they ________
younger.
a.
b.
c.
d.

is/was
is/were
are/was
are/were

59. In the Miranda decision, the Supreme Court ________ that officers ________ warnings to
potential criminals.
a.
b.
c.
d.

require/provides
require/provide
requires/ provide
requires/provides

60. A house down the street and the duplex next door ________ for sale, but the prices ________
too expensive for most people to afford.
a.
b.
c.
d.

is/seem
are/seems
is/seems
are/seem

61. Identify the correct sentence.
a. Large corporations and small businesses today believe that “going green” is of
paramount importance.
b. Large corporations along with small businesses today believes that “going green” is of
paramount importance.
c. Large corporations and small businesses today believe that “going green” are of
paramount importance.
d. Large corporations along with small businesses today believes that “going green” are of
paramount importance.

13

GED 155 English

Final Examination

62. Identify the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

A giant spider with long legs are crawling on the wall in the living room.
A giant spider with long legs is crawling on the wall in the living room.
Neither the roach nor the spider are still alive.
Neither the spider nor the roaches is still alive.

63. Identify the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Fighting on school grounds are a serious offence.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets are a good movie.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a good movie.
A new Boys and Girls Club are keeping many children off the streets.

64. Identify the correct sentence.
a. In my top drawer
mother.
b. In my top drawer
mother.
c. In my top drawer
my mother.
d. In my top drawer
from my mother.

is a birthday card from my grandmother and a gold watch from my
are a birthday card from my grandmother and gold watch from my
are a birthday card from my grandmother as well as a gold watch from
are a birthday card from my grandmother in addition to a gold watch

65. Nureyev danced ________ than the others in the ballet troupe.
a.
b.
c.
d.

more gracefully
more gracefuller
gracefuller
more graceful

66. The class was asked to sit ________ ________.
a.
b.
c.
d.

14



quiet anywhere
quietly anywheres
quiet anywheres
quietly anywhere



GED 155 English

Final Examination

67. Which is ________ to write, a letter or an essay?
a.
b.
c.
d.

most easiest
more easy
easiest
easier

68. Dana works ________ than Susan.
a. more efficiently
b. most efficiently
c. more efficient
69. Since Sandra had her car repaired, it runs ________ than it did before.
a.
b.
c.
d.

more smoother
smooth
more smoothly
more smooth

70. Identify the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

The new air conditioner works quieter.
This engine runs smoother.
He speaks more distinct than she does.
I feel bad that I didn’t call you earlier.

71. Identify the incorrect sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

I can hardly see you.
She did well on her report card.
I can’t hardly see you.
The student answered me rather rudely.

72. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a. Social issues involving computers and society are, privacy, unemployment and
technological complexity.
b. Social issues involving computers and society are privacy, unemployment, and
technological complexity.
c. Social issues involving computers and society are, privacy, unemployment and,
technological complexity.

15

GED 155 English

Final Examination

73. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a. Boston, Massachusetts played an important role in American history and politics.
b. Boston, Massachusetts played an important role, in American history and politics.
c. Boston, Massachusetts, played an important role in American history and politics.
74. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a. These products may not seem as exciting as they did in the past but maybe that’s the
time to do a little buying.
b. Prior to Webster’s complete two-volume edition he had compiled three shorter and
incomplete versions.
c. Markets that will do well in the future include telecommunications and the energy sector.
75. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a. Here is our check, Mr. Vons, for $7.35.
b. Here is our check Mr. Vons, for $7.35.
c. Here is our check, Mr. Vons for $7.35.
76. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a. Once inside my mother’s house seemed much larger, than it appears on the outside.
b. Once inside, my mother’s house, seemed much larger than it appears on the outside.
c. Once inside, my mother’s house seemed much larger than it appears on the outside.
77. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a. She wore an unusual, attractive dress.
b. She wore an unusual, and attractive dress.
c. She wore an unusual attractive dress.
78. Identify the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
a.
b.
c.
d.

16

“Come
“Come
“Come
“Come

back
back
back
back

here”! screamed the boy’s mother as he ran into the street.
here!” screamed the boy’s mother. As he ran into the street.
here” screamed the boy’s mother, as he ran into the street!
here!” screamed the boy’s mother as he ran into the street.

GED 155 English

Final Examination

79. Identify the sentence that is correctly punctuated.
a. Clara did
answers.
b. Clara did
answers.
c. Clara did
answers.
d. Clara did
answers.

not study very much for her biology test, therefore, she guessed at many of the
not study very much for her biology test; therefore she guessed at many of the
not study very much for her biology test; therefore, she guessed at many of the
not study very much for her biology test, therefore; she guessed at many of the

80. Identify the sentence that is correctly punctuated.
a. We stopped at several places during our drive up the East Coast: Savannah, Georgia,
Charleston, South Carolina, Trenton, New Jersey, and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
b. We stopped at several places during our drive up the East Coast: Savannah, Georgia;
Charleston, South Carolina; Trenton, New Jersey; and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
c. We stopped at several places during our drive up the East Coast, Savannah, Georgia;
Charleston, South Carolina; Trenton, New Jersey; and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
d. We stopped at several places, during our drive up the East Coast; Savannah, Georgia;
Charleston, South Carolina; Trenton, New Jersey; and Allentown, Pennsylvania.
81. Identify the sentence that is correctly punctuated.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Our
Our
Our
Our

goal
goal
goal
goal

is
is
is
is

simple: we aim to be the best in the industry.
simple, we aim to be the best in the industry.
simple—we aim to be the best in the industry.
simple: we aim to be the best, in the industry.

82. Identify the sentence that is correctly punctuated.
a. My mother called earlier and asked if I wouldn’t mind taking her to the grocery store
since her car broke down?
b. My mother called earlier, and asked if I wouldn’t mind taking her to the grocery store.
Since her car broke down.
c. My mother called earlier and asked if I wouldn’t mind taking her to the grocery store
since her car broke down.
83. Use a ________ after an independent clause that introduces a clause, a phrase, or even a
single word that explains the original clause
a. comma
b. colon
c. semicolon

17

GED 155 English

Final Examination

84. Use ________ to emphasize a word or an expression.
a.
b.
c.
d.

quotation marks
italics
All of the above.
None of the above.

85. Which of the following means expressing someone else’s exact words?
a.
b.
c.
d.

direct quotation
paraphrasing
plagiarizing
indirect quotation

86. He took the womans hat and hid it in the men’s room.
a.
b.
c.
d.

correctly punctuated
change womans to womens’
change men’s to mens’
change womans to woman’s

87. Among her last words were, “I am settled in my own faith.”
a.
b.
c.
d.

correctly punctuated
change the comma to a semicolon
move the period outside of the quotation mark
add a comma after settled

88. The case against the Dallas based-company was handled in Seattle.
a.
b.
c.
d.

correctly punctuated
add a comma after company
add a hyphen after Dallas and delete the hyphen after based
add a hyphen after Dallas

89. The article “Bug Off” is in the March issue of Camper’s Guide.
a.
b.
c.
d.

18

correctly punctuated
underline or italicize Camper’s Guide
add a comma after off
underline Bug Off

GED 155 English

Final Examination

Choose the option that corrects the error in the underlined portion. If no error exists, choose “No
change is necessary.”
90. Bill, the foreman of the construction company, is concerned about the safety in the large
building. They have had three accidents in the past week.
a.
b.
c.
d.

It has had
She has had
Members of the crew have had
No change is necessary.

91. It says that more students learn through visual and hands-on teaching methods than through
auditory ones.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Chapter 19 says
They say
She says
No change is necessary.

92. Ted told James that they had been given too much work by their boss and the deadline was
tomorrow, which seemed unfair.
a.
b.
c.
d.

tomorrow; which seemed unfair
tomorrow, although it
tomorrow. This demand seemed
No change is necessary.

93. If you want to feel really well, you should get enough sleep.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

properly constructed sentence
lacks parallel parts
comma splice
misplaced words
dangler

94. Identify the correct sentence.
a. While studying for her psychology test, Francina had trouble concentrating because her
friends were calling her, her brother’s blasting stereo, and her dad mowing the lawn.
b. While studying for her psychology test, Francina had trouble concentrating because her
friends were calling her, her brother was blasting his stereo, and her dad was mowing the
lawn.
c. While studying for her psychology test, Francina had trouble concentrating because of
phone calls from her friends, noise from her brother’s stereo, and her dad was mowing
the lawn.

19

GED 155 English

Final Examination

95. Identify the correct sentence.
a. The
and
b. The
and
c. The
and

suspicious man in the black trench coat walked through the yard, across the street,
down the dark alley.
suspicious man in the black trench coat walked through the yard, crossed the street,
down the dark alley.
suspicious man in the black trench coat walked through the yard, across the street,
went into the dark alley.

96. Which of the following is the correct abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy?
a. PhD
b. Ph.D.
c. Phd.
97. Identify the correct sentence.
a. 3 CEOs will meet at the Regency Hotel tomorrow to discuss the possible merging of
companies.
b. Three CEOS will meet at the Regency hotel tomorrow to discuss the possible merging of
companies.
c. Three CEO’s will meet at the Regency Hotel tomorrow to discuss the possible merging of
companies.
d. Three CEOs will meet at the Regency Hotel tomorrow to discuss the possible merging of
companies.
98. Identify the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

I’ve
I’ve
I’ve
I’ve

seen
seen
seen
seen

the
the
the
the

movie
movie
movie
Movie

Raiders
Raiders
Raiders
Raiders

of the Lost Ark 3 times.
Of The Lost Ark 3 times.
of the Lost Ark three times.
of the Lost Ark three times.

99. Identify the correct sentence.
a.
b.
c.
d.

20

Have
Have
Have
Have

you
you
you
you

spoken
spoken
spoken
spoken

to
to
to
to

your
your
your
your

professor about your grade in English class?
prof about your grade in english class?
Professor about your grade in English class?
Prof. about your grade in English class?

GED 155 English

Final Examination

100. Identify the correct sentence.
a. Daniel’s science class starts at 7:30 am in the morning.
b. Daniel’s science class starts at 7:30 a.m.
c. Daniel’s Science class starts at 7:30 in the morning.

21