Transcript The ACT English Test

WHAT IS THE ACT ENGLISH TEST?
• The English portion of the ACT consists of 75 multiplechoice questions over five reading passages—roughly
15 questions per passage
• Students have 45 minutes to complete all 75
questions
• The format of the ACT English Test questions is quite
distinctive, so it is well worth while to familiarize
yourself with the instructions and practice questions
USAGE/MECHANICS SKILLS COVERED ON ACT ENGLISH TEST
Punctuation: using commas, colons, dashes, periods, and semicolons
We were told to find the following items, a ladybug, an acorn, and a
cloverleaf.
We were told to find the following items: a ladybug, an acorn, and a
cloverleaf.
Punctuation: using apostrophes, quotation marks, and exclamation points
Your never too old to learn how to use a computer.
You’re never too old to learn how to use a computer.
USAGE/MECHANICS SKILLS COVERED ON ACT ENGLISH TEST
Grammar and Usage: agreement (subject-verb; pronoun-atecedent)
Everyone made sure their porches were swept and their curtains were
drawn.
All the neighbors made sure their porches were swept and their
curtains were drawn.
Grammar and Usage: case
My brother and me taught ourselves to put up a tent.
My brother and I taught ourselves to put up a tent.
Grammar and Usage: verb usage
Every one of the architect’s buildings are listed as a historical landmark.
Every one of the architect’s buildings is listed as a historical landmark.
USAGE/MECHANICS SKILLS COVERED ON ACT ENGLISH TEST
Sentence Structure: comma splices, run-ons, and fragments
The nation struggled during the Great Depression, too many people were
unemployed.
The nation struggled during the Great Depression; too many people were
unemployed.
Sentence Structure: placement of modifiers
I spotted a roadrunner driving on Route 66.
Driving on Route 66, I spotted a roadrunner.
RHETORICAL SKILLS COVERED ON ACT ENGLISH TEST
Style: word choice
The child’s uncanny ability to spell complicated words brought her
national infamy.
The child’s uncanny ability to spell complicated words brought her
national fame.
Style: clarity
The wrong conclusions about the experiment were drawn by me.
I drew the wrong conclusions about the experiment.
RHETORICAL SKILLS COVERED ON ACT ENGLISH TEST
Organization:
Organization questions deal with the logical order of ideas.
Although some questions may involve a single underlined
transition, such as however, you may need to take the entire
passage into account to determine whether that transition
is appropriate.
Writing Strategies:
These types of questions require you to consider the impact
of a certain revision on the purpose, audience, or unity of a
passage.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND ANALYSES
Many communities around the country
are debating whether or not to enact
helmet laws for (1) bicyclists, these
laws would require riders to wear
helmets while riding on public roads. As
a result, riders of all ages are
expressing clear opinions about the
issue.
1. A. NO CHANGE
B. bicyclists. These
C. bicyclists; and these
D. bicyclists these
Answer: The correct answer is B. This is a question about sentence structure and
punctuation.
Analysis: Option B corrects the comma splice in the underlined portion by breaking the
two independent clauses into two sentences.
Option A is incorrect because it allows the comma splice to stand.
Option C is incorrect because a coordinating conjunction is not necessary when a
semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses.
Option D results in a fused sentence, another grammatical taboo
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND ANALYSES
Many adult bicyclists feel that their
right to make personal decisions (2)
are infringed upon by the law. They feel
that, as adults, they should be free to
decide when and if they need to wear a
helmet. They object to the possibility
2. F. NO CHANGE
G. being
H. was
J. is
Answer: The correct answer is J. This is a question about usage.
Analysis: Option J is the only form of the verb that matches the subject in number and
keeps the paragraph in the present tense.
Option F is incorrect because are does not agree in number with the singular subject
right.
Option G is incorrect because being is not a verb but a participle; its use would result in a
fragment.
Option H is incorrect because the composition employs the present tense throughout.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND ANALYSES
of being ticketed by a (3) cop merely for
having their heads exposed. Many
adults who feel this way, however, also
understand that requiring young
cyclists to wear helmets makes sense.
4
3. A. NO CHANGE
B. policeman
C. police officer
D. police
Answer: The correct answer is C. This is a question about style.
Analysis: Option C is the only option that matches the tone of the essay and follows the
conventions of standard English usage.
Option A is incorrect because the word cop is too slangy for the relatively formal tone of
the essay.
Option B is incorrect because the police comprise both male and female officers.
Option D is incorrect because police, in standard usage, refers collectively to all police
officers or to a police department, not to a single officer.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND ANALYSES
Assuming all of the following sentences are true, which would most logically serve as the
final sentence in the paragraph?
4. F. These are the same types who object to seatbelt laws for automobile operators.
G. They understand the need to protect youngsters until they are old enough to make
their own decisions.
H. Some people advocate bicycle safety training for all young bicyclists.
J. These people evidently have no sense of the inherent hypocrisy in their
arguments.
Answer: The correct answer is G. This is a writing-strategies item. Unlike the previous
items, this item includes a particular question and does not refer to an underlined portion
of text but to the boxed number 4, which appears at the end of the paragraph.
Analysis: Option G is the only choice that follows logically from the preceding sentence
without violating the overarching idea of the paragraph or the purpose of the essay.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND ANALYSES
(5) Furthermore, supporters of the laws point to
the effectiveness of seatbelt laws in saving lives
and preventing injuries in automobile accidents.
They point out that accidents involving bicycles
and cars almost always have worse results
when the cyclists do not wear helmets. They
argue that the cost to the community in helping
helmetless riders recover from accidents is too
great and that the benefits of preventing head
injuries in cyclists offset any infringement of
personal rights.
5. A. NO CHANGE
B. Consequently,
C. Nevertheless,
D. In contrast,
Answer: The correct answer is D. This is an organization question.
Analysis: Option D is the only option that accurately reflects the basic comparison-contrast
structure of the essay.
Option A (the transition Furthermore) suggests that the subsequent text will consist of an
elaboration on the preceding text.
Option B (Consequently) suggests that the effect of the preceding paragraph is about to
be described.
Option C (Nevertheless) suggests that an unexpected twist on the topic in the previous
paragraph is about to be discussed
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND ANALYSES
Question 6 refers to the passage as a whole.
6. Suppose the writer’s purpose is to persuade readers to adopt the helmet laws. Does
the essay in its current state fulfill this purpose?
F. Yes; the writer explicitly takes a prohelmet position in the first paragraph.
G. Yes; the writer uses emotional language to advocate subtly for the pro-helmet camp.
H. No; the writer fails to support the prohelmet position with sound evidence.
J. No; the writer presents a balanced overview of both sides of the debate.
Answer: The correct answer is J. This type of “passage-as-a-whole” question appears at
the end of some, but not all, question sets.
Analysis: Since Option J most accurately describes the essay, the writer would have to
make substantial revisions to change the essay from an informative to a persuasive one.
PRACTICE ACT ENGLISH TEST
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60 Questions
35 Minutes
DO NOT WRITE ON PRACTICE TEST
Mark best answer on bubble sheet