Question

Read the following sentences from paragraph 3. He seemed to have before him a brilliant career. He had won a lovely bride to make a home for him, so that no man seemed to have more attractive prospects. What was there which at this time interposed in some malignant way to blight his future? The detailed description of Houston's situation enhances the story by A. providing a contrast to the story development in the following paragraphs. B. elaborating on Houston's character with details from his life. C. comparing Houston to other politicians of his time. D. adding to the narrative by revealing the fact of Houston's marriage.

Short answer

The correct answer is B. elaborating on Houston's character with details from his life.

Step-by-step solution

First, read the given sentences and try to gain a general understanding of the text. Notice how the description talks about Houston's brilliant career, lovely bride, and attractive prospects. #Step 2: Analyze the provided options#

Consider each of the provided options: A. providing a contrast to the story development in the following paragraphs. B. elaborating on Houston's character with details from his life. C. comparing Houston to other politicians of his time. D. adding to the narrative by revealing the fact of Houston's marriage. #Step 3: Identify the correct option#

Read the question again: "The detailed description of Houston's situation enhances the story by" Now, relate the question to the provided options, keeping the context of the sentences in mind: A. Does the description provide a contrast to the story development? – No, the text does not mention anything about contrasting future events. B. Does the description elaborate on Houston's character with details from his life? – Yes, it details Houston's career, bride, and prospects, thus providing more information about him. C. Does the description compare Houston to other politicians of his time? – No, there is no comparison mentioned. D. Does the description add to the narrative by revealing the fact of Houston's marriage? – Although the text does mention Houston's marriage, it's not the primary focus of the description. #Step 4: Choose the correct option#

Based on the analysis in Step 3, the correct option is B. elaborating on Houston's character with details from his life.

Key concepts

GED Reading Comprehension

Mastering the GED reading comprehension section is a vital step towards achieving a high score on the GED test. Reading comprehension on the GED involves understanding, analyzing, and interpreting written passages from a variety of genres. Students are expected to make inferences, identify themes, and analyze characters, just as demonstrated in the exercise about Houston's situation. To enhance comprehension skills, one should practice actively reading by summarizing paragraphs, asking critical questions, and highlighting or noting key points.

When faced with a passage, focusing on context is essential. Understanding not just the literal meaning of the words, but also the subtext and implications can help in answering related questions more accurately. Additionally, referring back to the text for evidence is crucial. Just as the solution process shows, linking the question to specific information from the passage can guide you to the correct answer, which in this case surrounds Houston's character and not just a mere fact like his marriage.

Character Analysis

In texts that involve character analysis, it's important to dig into the details regarding a character's actions, motivations, and development. The exercise example asks about how the detailed description of Houston's situation enhances the story. This focuses on character analysis, as it is about understanding how additional information on Houston's life adds depth to his persona in the narrative.

Effective character analysis goes beyond the surface to consider how various elements of a character's life influence their identity. This includes their relationships, careers, and life events. To assess a character, consider the character's traits, the challenges they face, and the resolutions they find. Such an approach enables a reader to better understand the integral role a character plays in the story, as revealed by the details of Houston’s brilliant career and marriage, which work together to elaborate on his character.

Test Taking Strategies

When taking a test, especially standardized ones like the GED, employing effective strategies can make a significant difference in performance. The step-by-step solution to the given exercise exemplifies good test-taking strategies in action. Firstly, it’s vital to carefully read and comprehend the question, then systematically consider each answer option.

Elimination is a powerful technique used in multiple-choice questions – discard options that are clearly inconsistent with the text. Time management is also critical; do not spend too much time on one question. Additionally, practice with similar questions can help familiarize you with the format and types of questions asked. Always review your answers if time permits, ensuring that you have read the questions correctly and that your answers align with the information provided in the questions' context. These strategies, applied with consistency, can boost confidence and improve test results.