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Here’s one of the really important things on the GED test! This isn’t just in the GED reading test, but it’s in the science test and especially the social science test. That’s understanding someone’s “point of view.” What I mean is, understanding where someone’s coming from, what they’re trying to say. Do you remember talking about “inference” on the GED? That’s kind of like reading between the lines… understanding what isn’t really said straight out, but something that’s pretty obvious from what you read. Well, point of view is like that, too.

A writer’s point of view isn’t said right out… but it’s how they see things, and whether they take a side of an issue. Well, here’s an example GED question that asks about point of view… not in those words, but that’s what it means. You can read the passage at The Study Guide Zone, but here’s a small part of it to show you what it’s like…

The Second Continental Congress was held May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia. George Washington became the commander of the Americans, mainly because it was felt he would be able to bring the Southern colonies into the fold. This Congress also drew up the Olive Branch petition, a peace offering made to the King of England. The Articles of Confederation were drawn up here; their emphasis on states’ rights proved to be a poor setup for organizing a comprehensive military strategy. This Congress created the Committees of Safety, a system for training community militias. This Congress created a bureaucracy for the purpose of organizing a navy and raising money. Finally, it was here that the colonists formally declared independence.

So, think about why someone would write this passage? What are they trying to tell you? Do they show you an opinion? Or what?

There are different ways that people can ask a point of view question. Here’s the example question:

9. This passage primarily:
A: indicates the idiocy of both British and Americans
B: gives facts in favor of the British
C: supports the American colonists
D: gives facts in an impartial manner

Okay, so this uses some big words. “Passage” just means what you’re reading, that’s pretty easy. “Primarily” means mostly. They’ll put in words like “primarily” so that you’re looking at the whole reading overall, and not just one little part of the reading. The question asks you to identify something that’s true of the whole reading, mostly. What describes it best?

There’s four choices… “indicates the idiocy” of Americans and British…well, if you look at the word “idiocy,” it’s really close to “idiot.” Answer A is asking whether the writer thinks the Americans and British are both idiots. What do you think? The writer seems to talk about what’s happening without trying to say that anyone’s an idiot. He just sort of gives facts.

Answer B is  “gives facts in favor of the British.” Does the writer think the British are right, or somehow better than the Americans? It doesn’t seem like it. I mean, I don’t think the writer says anything to show that one is better than the other.

Answer C is  “supports the American colonists.” This is the opposite. Does he think the Americans are right? The writer talks about what the Americans did, but he doesn’t seem to say if it’s good or not. I mean, most people in America are pretty proud of the American Revolution! But that doesn’t seem to be the writer’s point. I don’t see any words like “important,” “good,” “right,” “just,” or “intelligent.” Adjectives, I mean. Adjectives are words that DESCRIBE, and sometimes they can be words that put a VALUE on something. They show point of view. The writer doesn’t say that what the Americans are doing is good in any way.

Answer D says it “gives facts in an impartial manner.” Well, you might not know what “impartial” means. If none of the other answers sound right, you could guess and choose this one. Or, you can try to guess what this answer means based on the other answers. The first answer says the writer thinks both the Americans and British are bad, the second one says the writer thinks the British are better, and the third says the writer thinks the Americans are better. So, what could this one be? Either it’ll mean the Americans and British are both good (which doesn’t seem right, because the answer doesn’t mention Americans or British.) Or, it’ll mean the writer has no opinion. Is that what “impartial” could mean? Having no opinion? It could…and it does. The answer means that the writer gives facts without giving an opinion. The writer’s main goal seems to be just to give facts and information. So, this is the best answer!

Understanding point of view is important because you can see if a writer is biased or not…and you can figure out for yourself whether you agree with the writer’s point of view or think the writer is wrong. And point of view questions are something to watch out for on the GED test!

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

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