Barron's How to Prepare for the Ged: High School Equivalency Exam

by Rockowitz, Murray; Brownstein, Samuel C.; Wolf, Ira K., Ph.D.; Peters, Max; Bolton, Johanna M.; Feinstein, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780764175299
• ISBN10: 0764175297
• Edition: CD
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc

Summary

Updated to reflect the recent major changes in the high school equivalency exam, this manual presents a full-length diagnostic test with answer keys, answer analyses, and self-appraisal charts. The diagnostic is followed by reviews of all GED test subjects, which emphasize proficiency in high-school level math, reading comprehension, and writing skill, as well as knowledge of social studies, arts, and literature. Two full-length practice exams modeled after the new GED exam complete this manual. They come with all questions answered and explained. The CD-ROM packaged with this book offers a computerized practice GED with automatic scoring plus additional subject review material.

Table of Contents

The 2002 GED Examination	ix
Preface	xxviii
UNIT I INTRODUCTION TO THE GED EXAMINATION	1	(96)
Preparing for the GED Examination	3	(7)
The Importance of the GED Examination	3	(1)
The Five GED Test Areas	3	(1)
Commonly Asked Questions About the GED Tests	4	(1)
Timetable of a High School Equivalency Examination	4	(1)
Organizing Your Plan of Study	5	(2)
Tactics and Strategies in the Examination Room	7	(1)
A Suggested Study Schedule	8	(2)
A Diagnostic Examination	10	(87)
Diagnostic Examination	13	(62)
Writing Skills, Part I	13	(12)
Writing Skills, Part II	25	(1)
Social Studies	26	(14)
Science	40	(13)
Interpreting Literature and the Arts	53	(10)
Mathematics	63	(12)
Answer Keys, Summaries of Results, and Self-Appraisal Charts	75	(6)
Answer Analysis	81	(16)
UNIT II WRITING SKILLS, TEST 1, PART I	97	(92)
Sentence Structure	99	(17)
Run-On Sentences	99	(3)
Sentence Fragments	102	(4)
Parallel Structure	106	(4)
Misplaced Modifiers	110	(5)
Writing Correct Sentences	115	(1)
Usage	116	(20)
Agreement	116	(5)
Case of Nouns and Pronouns	121	(4)
Verbs	125	(5)
Adjectives and Adverbs	130	(2)
Glossary of Usage	132	(4)
Mechanics	136	(26)
Capitalization	136	(3)
Punctuation	139	(7)
Spelling	146	(16)
Additional Writing Skills	162	(18)
Correct Use of Words	162	(5)
Wordiness: The Problem of Too Many Words	167	(3)
A Basic 750-Word Vocabulary	170	(10)
Practice with Sample Test Paragraphs	180	(9)
Three Additional Sample Test Paragraphs with Answer Analyses	183	(6)
UNIT III WRITING SKILLS, TEST 1, PART II	189	(34)
The Essay	191	(32)
What Is an Essay?	191	(1)
The Sentence	191	(8)
What Is a Paragraph?	199	(3)
Types of Essays	202	(2)
Setting Up an Essay	204	(7)
Creating Quick Outlines for Essays	211	(2)
Writing the Essay	213	(10)
UNIT IV SOCIAL STUDIES, TEST 2	223	(98)
Reading and Interpreting Social Studies Materials	225	(49)
How to Read Political Science, History, Economics, and Geography	225	(6)
Practice with Social Studies Readings	231	(8)
Practice with Interpreting Tables, Graphs, Maps	239	(19)
Basics in Interpreting Political Cartoons	258	(2)
Practice with Interpreting Political Cartoons	260	(3)
Practice with Interpreting Historical Documents	263	(3)
Practice with Interpreting Photographs	266	(2)
Practice with Interpreting Practical Documents	268	(6)
Handling Social Studies Skills Questions	274	(32)
Comprehension Items	274	(1)
Application Items	275	(1)
Analysis Items	276	(1)
Evaluation Items	277	(1)
Practice with Social Studies Skills Questions	278	(5)
Outline of Study for the Social Studies Test	283	(10)
Glossary of Social Studies Terms	293	(13)
Social Studies Practice	306	(15)
Political Science	306	(2)
Economics	308	(3)
History	311	(3)
Geography	314	(7)
UNIT V SCIENCE, TEST 3	321	(72)
Reading and Interpreting Science Questions	323	(12)
Single-Item Questions	323	(1)
Multiple-Item Questions Based on Readings	324	(4)
Questions Based on Graphs, Diagrams, and Data Tables	328	(7)
Handling Science Skills Questions	335	(18)
The Four Skills	335	(9)
Glossary of Scientific Terms	344	(9)
Science Practice	353	(40)
Biology	353	(17)
Earth Science	370	(12)
Chemistry	382	(6)
Physics	388	(5)
UNIT VI LITERATURE AND THE ARTS, TEST 4	393	(52)
Reading and Interpreting Literature and the Arts	395	(23)
Basic Reading Skills	395	(2)
Reading Prose, Poetry, and Drama	397	(17)
Reading Commentary on the Arts	414	(2)
Glossary of Literary Terms	416	(2)
Literature and the Arts Practice	418	(27)
Current Literature (Prose, Poetry, and Drama)	418	(11)
Earlier Literature	429	(3)
Poetry	432	(2)
Drama	434	(1)
Commentary on the Arts	435	(10)
UNIT VII MATHEMATICS, TEST 5	445	(136)
Basic Operations	447	(17)
Place Values	447	(1)
Addition	447	(1)
Subtraction	448	(2)
Multiplication	450	(1)
Division	450	(2)
Word Problems Using Basic Operations	452	(1)
Setups	453	(1)
Parentheses	454	(1)
Multiple Questions on One Topic	454	(1)
Exponents	455	(1)
Square Roots	456	(1)
Order of Operations	456	(1)
Mean and Median	457	(1)
Not Enough Information Is Given	458	(1)
Basic Geometry	458	(6)
Fractions	464	(16)
Writing Fractions	464	(1)
Equivalent Fractions and Reducing to Lowest Terms	465	(1)
Raising Fractions to Higher Terms	465	(1)
Converting Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers	466	(1)
Adding and Subtracting Fractions	466	(1)
Lowest Common Denominator	467	(1)
Comparing and Ordering Fractions	468	(1)
Working with Mixed Numbers	468	(4)
Triangles	472	(1)
Parallelograms	473	(1)
Standard Measurements	473	(2)
Word Problems with Fractions	475	(5)
Decimals	480	(10)
Decimal Places	480	(1)
Decimals and Fractional Equivalents	480	(1)
Using Zeroes with Decimals	481	(1)
Adding and Subtracting Decimals	482	(1)
Multiplying Decimals	482	(1)
Dividing Decimals	483	(2)
Scientific Notation	485	(1)
Circles and Cylinders	486	(4)
Percents	490	(8)
Changing Percents to Decimals	490	(1)
Changing Decimals to Percents	491	(1)
Converting Fractions and Percents	491	(1)
Comparing and Ordering Fractions, Decimals, and Percents	492	(1)
Solving Word Problems with Percents	493	(1)
Word Problems with Percents	494	(1)
Multistep Problems with Percents	495	(1)
Percent of Increase or Decrease	495	(3)
Tables, Graphs, and Charts	498	(7)
Tables	498	(1)
Bar Graphs	499	(2)
Line Graphs	501	(1)
Pie Charts	502	(3)
Algebra	505	(18)
The Number Line and Positive and Negative Numbers	505	(2)
Working with Variables	507	(4)
Inequalities	511	(1)
Multiplying Binomials	512	(1)
Factoring Quadratic Expressions	513	(1)
Quadratic Equations	513	(1)
Algebra and Word Problems	514	(1)
Setups Using Variables	515	(1)
Converting Words into Algebraic Equations	516	(1)
Converting Words to Equations and Solving	516	(1)
Multistep Algebraic Word Problems	517	(1)
Coordinate Geometry	518	(5)
Geometry	523	(14)
Angles	523	(8)
Geometry and Proportion	531	(2)
Geometry and Algebra	533	(4)
Test-taking Strategies	537	(4)
The Two-step Evaluation	537	(1)
Skipping and Returning	538	(1)
Plugging In	539	(1)
Eliminating	539	(1)
Making the Educated Guess	540	(1)
Using the Formula Page	540	(1)
Using the Practice Exams	540	(1)
Three Practice Mathematics Tests	541	(40)
Practice Test One	542	(7)
Answer Key	549	(1)
Answer Analysis	550	(5)
Practice Test Two	555	(7)
Answer Key	562	(1)
Answer Analysis	562	(5)
Practice Test Three	567	(8)
Answer Key	575	(1)
Answer Analysis	575	(6)
UNIT VIII TWO PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS	581	(186)
Practice Examination One	583	(71)
Writing Skills, Part I	585	(13)
Writing Skills, Part II	598	(1)
Social Studies	599	(17)
Science	616	(15)
Interpreting Literature and the Arts	631	(10)
Mathematics	641	(13)
Answer Keys, Summaries of Results, and Self-Appraisal Charts	654	(7)
Answer Analysis	661	(16)
Practice Examination Two	677	(90)
Writing Skills, Part I	679	(13)
Writing Skills, Part II	692	(1)
Social Studies	693	(17)
Science	710	(14)
Interpreting Literature and the Arts	724	(11)
Mathematics	735	(11)
Answer Keys, Summaries of Results, and Self-Appraisal Charts	746	(7)
Answer Analysis	753	(14)
Acknowledgments	767