GED Language Arts (RLA) : Bias

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Language Arts (RLA)

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Bias

Read the passage and answer the question below.

Dear Congressman Phillips,

I urge you to reconsider your closure of the shipyard. I'm a medical practitioner in the area, so I meet many of the men and women employed by the facility. Many of these people are living paycheck to paycheck, unable to afford regular medical care; any gap in their employment could be devastating. If you must see it economically, consider the tremendous cost to the taxpayers when these people must rely on public programs for assistance. I ask you to please keep this shipyard open.

Very truly yours, . . .

 

How might the author be biased, based on this passage?

Possible Answers:

He thinks the shipyard employees should join the medical profession.

He doesn't want to lose his job at the shipyard.

He may receive some benefits if the shipyard employees, his clients, stay employed.

He wants the shipyard employees to get public assistance. 

Correct answer:

He may receive some benefits if the shipyard employees, his clients, stay employed.

Explanation:

Bias means that the author has a preference towards one person or thing, or another. In this case, the author is a medical practitioner near the shipyard who doesn't want to see these employees lose their jobs.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors