GED Reading: Books Online
Hola, GED readers! You know, one of the best ways to improve your reading is to start reading every day. And read things that you like, make it your new hobby. If you read all the time, you’ll get to be a much better reader even before you know it. You can read to your children… that’s one of the things I do with my son, is read him from books, like Peter Pan. It’s good for him, because it makes him interested in reading, and it’s good for my reading, too. Of course, it’s fun to read for yourself, too. And I found out, there’s a lot of free books online to read.
I found books at the Online Books Page, Classic Reader and also Google Books (if you search for “full view”). It’s easy to find a book to read, any time. I like to read mysteries, because they’re sort of like puzzles, to think about what the solution is. I started reading this one I found on Classic Reader, called Where There’s a Will. So, I thought I’d make a GED reading practice question from it… Here it is!
He sauntered over and dropped a quarter into the slot-machine by the door, but the thing was frozen up and refused to work. I’ve seen the time when Mr. Sam would have kicked it, but he merely looked at it and then at me.
“Turned virtuous, like everthing else around the place. Not that I don’t approve of virtue, Minnie, but I haven’t got used to putting my foot on the brass rail of the bar and ordering a nut sundae…”
When Mr. Sam says “ordering a nut sundae,” it’s a metaphor for:
1) going crazy
2) being virtuous
3) gambling
4) being sinful
What do you think? Can you answer the question?
Going into a bar and ordering an ice-cream sundae isn’t literal language, it’s not talking about really ordering a sundae. It’s what’s called figurative language. It’s talking about something else. That’s what it means to be a “metaphor.” So, what’s it really talking about? What does it mean?
You need to read the passage to understand what he’s saying. He tries to use a slot machine, and it doesn’t work. He says it’s being virtuous… that’s because the slot-machine is “refusing” to gamble. That’s what’s called personification… he’s talking about the slot machine like it’s a person. So there’s lots of figurative language in this quote!
He says he doesn’t disapprove of virtue but he’s not used to going into a bar and ordering a sundae. The part about the sundae is the metaphor. So, what answer can replace the part about the sundae, and still make sense?
He doesn’t disapprove of virtue but he’s not used to going crazy? That doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t disapprove of virtue but he’s not used to being virtuous? That’s more like it. It makes sense! What about the next one? He doesn’t disapprove of virtue but he’s not used to gambling? That’s not very logical! What about, he doesn’t disapprove of virtue but he’s not used to being sinful? That doesn’t make sense, either, not as much as answer 2. Answer 2 is right… ordering a sundae is virtuous (instead of ordering liquor, at a bar). So, that’s the metaphor.
Good reading! And good GED studying!
For more information about the GED test and GED test preparation, visit the GED Academy at http://www.passGED.com.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:15 am
i m so happy about ths site.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:17 am
i hope to learn a lot and success in the GED tests
October 26th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Hi Maria. I got a question. On the GED Test I had a couple of questions that I didn’t understand. Could you help me with these questions. I will type the poem and questions. Thank
What Are the Fish At The Aquarium?
At the Aquarium
SERENE the silver fishes glide,
Stern-lipped, and pale, and wonder-eyed!
As through the aged deeps of ocean,
They glide with wan and wavy motion.
They have no pathway where they go, 5
They flow like water to and fro,
They watch with never-winking eyes,
They watch with staring, cold surprise,
The level people in the air,
The people peering, peering there: 10
Who wander also to and fro,
And know not why or where they go,
Yet have a wonder in their eyes,
Sometimes a pale and cold surprise.
Max Eastman. At The Aquarium, 1883:
MODERN AMERICAN POETRY
Louis Untermeyer, ed. 1919
What feelings does the speaker attribute to the fish by calling them “wonder-eyed” (line 2)?
(1) fear of the crowds
(2) sadness at the plight
(3) interest in their surroundings
(4) anxiety about their fact service
(5) happiness with each other’s company
Why do people appear “level… in the air” (line 9) to the fish?
(1) lying down on the beach
(2) waving frantically at the fish
(3) walking away from the water
(4) swimming around the ocean
(5) standing outside the fish tanks