Here’s a practice question about restated information:

On June 22, 1941, Germany attacked the Soviet Union with three million soldiers, mainly German. Hitler thought the war with Soviet Russia would end in six months or less. It lasted for four years, getting worse and worse. On the Russian front, where Hitler’s German tyranny fought Stalin’s Russian tyranny, the German army lost. Russia’s win over the Germans changed the course of World War II and helped the Allies–England, Russia, and the U.S.–win the war. From 20 million to 27 million Russian people, both soldiers and civilians, lost their lives.

Which of the following statements is true based on the above paragraph?

A) Three million Soviet soldiers fought the Germans.
B) The war between the Soviet Union and Germany was over in less than six months.c
C) Stalin and Hitler were friends, even though their countries fought each other.
D) Russia’s victory over Germany did not have far-reaching consequences.
E) Over 20 million Russians were killed in the war with Germany.

So, what’s your answer? To answer this question, you need to look for which idea is stated in the passage. A lot of the time, you’ll find some of the words from the passage are repeated. The passage mentions 3 million solderis, six months, and Stalin and Hitler. But the only statement that means the same thing as something in the reading is the last one: “Over 20 million Russians were killed in the war with Germany.” That means the same thing as: “From 20 million to 27 million Russian people, both soldiers and civilians, lost their lives.”

“From 20 million to 27 million” and “Over 20 milion” get the same idea across. So do “Russians” and “Russian people.” Both sentences also say the Russian people died. “Lost their lives” means the same as “were killed.” And, even though this sentence doesn’t say they were killed in the war with Germany, that’s the context. That’s what it means in the paragraph. So, the answer is E.

If you can recognize the same idea said in a different way, you’ll have a valuable skill for the GED test!

For more information about the GED test and GED test preparation, visit The GED Academy at http://www.passGED.com.

HI BECCA,Im just starting the GED online here and Im new to this where is SStudies do i start thanks.

It’s always hard to know where to start… So, Valerie, welcome to the program! I think it would be good to give you an overview of the GED Social Studies test, so you really know what to expect, and that’ll help you study. The social studies test is one of the tests where thinking (and reading) are really important… and you don’t need to know a lot of facts about history or economics or anything. The best way to study for the test is to learn how to think through GED-type questions.

Since you have the GED study program, start by taking a GED social studies practice test, if you haven’t already. See how your score is, and what kinds of questions were hard for you. Remember, when you’re taking the test, all the information you need to know will be in the question, so try to think it through. When the answer is too hard, what are you missing?

After you do the practice test, to get an idea where you’re starting out, go ahead and do the three social studies courses… you’ll be basically answering questions like on the test, but the questions will both help you get more familiar with some of the important ideas in social studies and will help you learn how to answer the questions. Pay special attention to questions like the ones that were hard for you on the practice tests.

There are a few important ideas that it’ll help to be familiar with. It helps you understand what you’re reading to have some background. When you get to questions about these, take some time to explore the links:

–The Declaration of Independence. Here are some resources: http://www.passged.com/links/the-declaration-of-independence/

–The Constitution and Bill of Rights: http://www.passged.com/links/the-us-constitution/
http://www.passged.com/links/the-bill-of-rights/

–Basic Ideas about U.S. Government: http://www.passged.com/links/bens-guide-to-the-us-government/

–Supply and Demand: http://www.passged.com/links/supply-and-demand/

–”-isms”: http://www.passged.com/links/isms/

You also want to pay close attention to thinking and reading skills. That’s what most of the test is really about.

After you go through the courses, take a second practice test. You should be ready to pass the social studies test with a great score! Studying the science and reading lessons will also help you with social studies, because they use some of the same thinking and reading skills.

Good GED studyin’! And be sure to let me know how you’re doin’.

Thanks,
Becca

For more information about the GED test and GED test preparation, visit The GED Academy at http://www.passGED.com.