THE GED TESTS continued...

TEST THREE: SCIENCE

The GED Science Test contains multiple-choice questions drawn from the following content areas:

• Biology
• Earth Science
• Physics
• Chemistry

All questions in the Science Test require you to use information provided in the test question or learned through life experience. The information may be a paragraph, or it may be a chart, table, graph, map, or figure. In every case, to answer the questions in the Science Test, you must understand the information provided or use the information to solve a problem or make a judgment.

Directions and Sample Questions for Science

Choose the one best answer to each item.

Item 1 is based on the following figure.

1. A large fiberglass tank was placed in a pit as shown in the diagram above. Before pipes could be attached and the tank filled with gasoline, the workers were asked to move the tank to another location.

Which of the following suggestions would be the best way to raise the tank off the bottom of the pit so cables could be placed under the tank?
(1) Fill the tank with gasoline.
(2) Fill the tank with water.
(3) Fill the pit with water.
(4) Fill the pit with water and the tank with gasoline.
(5) Fill both the pit and the tank with water.
Correct Answer: 3

Difficulty Level: Easy

Typical of most questions in the Science Test, this physics question presents a practical problem that must be solved. To answer the question correctly, you must be able to understand the key features of the figure and understand the physical reaction that will result from each of the proposed solutions.

Option (3) is the best answer because the method it proposes is most likely to cause the tank to float off the bottom of the pit. By filling the pit with water and leaving the tank filled only with air, the tank becomes buoyant and is likely to rise off the bottom of the pit so that cables can be placed under the tank.

2. An electric current releases heat to the wire in which it is traveling.
Which of the following electric appliances would best illustrate an application of the above statement?
(1) mixer
(2) clock
(3) vacuum
(4) toaster
(5) fan
Correct Answer: 4

Difficulty Level: Easy

Many of the questions in the Science Test, like this one, provide a scientific principle, followed by a question or problem regarding its application. Only one of the appliances named in the options--the toaster--uses heat produced by the electric current in the wire. In this sense, the toaster best illustrates an application of the principle. All of the appliances named in the other options contain wires which undoubtedly release heat, but the heat is a by-product and not central to the intended purpose of the appliance.

Item 3 refers to the following graph.

3. According to the graph above, which of the following colors of light is absorbed the least by a plant?
(1) red
(2) yellow
(3) green
(4) blue
(5) violet
Correct Answer: 3

Difficulty Level: Difficult

To answer this biology question correctly, you must first read and correctly interpret the graph that is provided. First, note that the question calls for you to identify the color absorbed the least. Next, notice the labels that identify the vertical and horizontal axes of the graph. You must recognize that the label on the vertical axis, "Percentage of Light Absorbed," is a measure of the quantity of light absorbed. Following the line graph to its lowest point, you can see that that point is closest to the label "green" on the horizontal axis.