GED: The Language of the Test: The Language of the Test, List 8

The verb favor means to prefer something, to like one thing more than another. A good way to remember this meaning of favor is that it makes up most of the word favorite (think of favoring as choosing your favorite). One author might favor a particular solution to a problem, while another argues in favor of a different solution.

Influence means "to have an effect on." On a standardized test, you may need to think about how one thing acts upon another. What is the influence of A on B? Does A strengthen the effect of B or does A weaken the effect of B? Since influence is a general word to describe all kinds of interactions, you could see it on many different sections of the GED Test.

Accompanying means "going along with" or "being a part of." A reading passage might be paired with accompanying graphics (tables, charts, graphs, etc.).

Data usually refers to numbers. On standardized tests, you are most likely going to have to interpret data in the form of some type of informational graphic like a table, chart, or graph.

A graph is a visual aid that organizes data or information. It could be a line graph or a bar graph, or even a pie chart. Regardless of the type of graph you encounter, you will likely be asked to draw conclusions about the data it presents.

A table is a set of facts or numbers displayed in columns and rows. Think of the tables you have to complete when writing a lab report.

In reading passages on the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Test, you may need to identify the function (or purpose) a certain paragraph serves in the passage as a whole. For example, the paragraph may provide support for the main claim of the argument, or it may provide a counterargument to be later refuted. You may also see the word function on the GED Mathematical Reasoning Test.

Something significant is important or meaningful. It's a word to cue you to take notice.

A stance is an attitude or a position on an issue of some kind. Stances can be political or personal. An author's stance on a particular topic is his or her opinion or point of view on the topic.

To mention is to reference or bring up something. When you mention something, you won't necessarily be going into great detail. Understanding why a certain detail or idea was mentioned can be very helpful when answering questions on the reading passages.

On standardized tests, you will often be asked to find patterns, including patterns in the way an argument develops or in the types of evidence supporting a claim. On the GED Science Test, you may be asked to evaluate patterns in sets of data.

To portray is to describe using words, in writing or verbally. To portray someone is to describe them in such a way that the reader is left with a general sense based on specific incidents or details. When you are analyzing literary narratives, you might need to evaluate how an author has portrayed a character.