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I’ve got another GED reading practice question from the Study Guide Zone, along with how I thought through the answer…because I think what really helps get you ready for your GED is understanding how to think through the answers to GED questions. 

This question asks if you understand a specific part of the reading. Here’s the part of the reading it’s talking about…if this was on the GED test, I’d find the part of the reading by skimming and scanning to find the quote the question mentions.

The issuing of the Declaration of Independence had effects both on the Revolutionary War and on world history at large. As far as its immediate effects, it changed the war in America from a war for liberty to a war for independence, by rhetorically emancipating America from Britain.

8. How did the Declaration of Independence change the war in America from a ‘war for liberty to a war for independence’?
A: It declared that England was dependent on the United States.
B: It suggested that America was a sovereign nation entitled to independence.
C: It abandoned the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
D: It started a new war against a new adversary.

This is what they call a comprehension question…do you understand what the text is saying? Can you recognize the same thing said in different words? That’s something called “restating.” Restating is actually a good thing to do when you read, to understand better. If you can restate something in your own words, then you really can understand it. So, exactly what words do I want to restate for this question?

The question asks how the Declaration of Independence changed the war from a war for liberty to a war for independence. Well, I know where the answer is in the reading. It says that it did that “by rhetorically emancipating America from Britain.” So I just need the answer that says the same thing as those six words.

Unfortunately I don’t know two of those words at all.  “Rhetorically?” “Emancipating?” Am I supposed to know these? Well, it helps if I do. But you can’t learn all the vocabulary in the world, so if you run across something like this on the test, what are you going to do?

One thing you can do is to read more of the text and see if you can get what it means by what else it’s saying. What do you know about the Declaration of Independence? How could something change the war from being for “liberty” to being for “independence”? What’s the difference, anyway? Well, liberty means freedom… and independence sort of means the same thing, too, doesn’t it? I’m thinking there’s a difference here, though. I think “liberty” just means having some freedom…stopping the government in England from taking advantage of people. But “independence,” I think they mean making their own government, separate from England. That seems to make sense. And it fits with what I know about the Declaration of Independence, which stated that the colonies were going to make their own government…the United States.

So, which of the answers seems to fit with that? Because if you don’t know the words you’re trying to restate, you should look for an answer that makes sense with what you know.

Answer A says the Declaration said England was dependent on the U.S. Why would it say that? That doesn’t seem to fit.

Answer B is closer. It says the Declaration “suggested that America was a sovereign nation entitled to independence.” I’m not sure about that word “sovereign,” but saying America was a nation that should have independence makes sense with what I’m thinking.

Answer C says the Declaration “abandoned the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Abandoned? That means gave up. I don’t think we gave up the ideal of liberty. That doesn’t make sense.

The last answer says the Declaration started a new war. But I don’t think that’s true. I mean, people were already fighting against England. I’m pretty sure the right answer is B. And if I look up those words, I can restate the reading to say, “By saying in words America was free from Britain.” Does that mean something similar to saying that America is “sovereign”? I think that means the same as free…independent…emancipated. B is the right answer, but this is a tough one because of the long words!

Good GED studying!

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

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