All ACT English Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #101 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Who's dog is chasing the rabbit?
Whose dog is chasing the rabbit?
NO CHANGE
Whos dog is chasing the rabbit?
Whos' dog is chasing the rabbit?
Whose dog is chasing the rabbit?
There is no need for an apostrophe with this possessive pronoun "whose."
Example Question #672 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Second language acquisition has already been positively correlated to increased cognitive flexibility (1): what has yet to be investigated is the correlation between cultural literacy—as a potential result of second language acquisition—and the facilitation of social relationships on the individual and community levels, academic and career success, and personal cultural enrichment. Cultural literacy may be (2) viewed as a deepest sense of foreign language study, as it encompasses all facets of culture rather than just language. If these positive correlations are accurately established (3), the United State's education system and (4) its lack of priority given to foreign language studies must be reevaluated. Vastly extending foreign language requirements would allow individuals not only the obvious benefit of communicating in more than one language, (5) but also from greater academic success in high school, college, and the workplace, as well as less multicultural tension in social and professional arenas. (6) As the global market continues to be vital to the economic prosperity of nations, and immigration trends change their cultural make-up, (7) both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness is essential.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
; then the United States' education system
NO CHANGE
, then the United State's education system
, then the United States' education system
, then the United States' education system
First, "then" is needed after the comma in order to complete the "if...then" statement. Second, given that the "United States" is plural, the apostrophe must be placed outside of the "s" to indication possession.
Example Question #681 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Second language acquisition has already been positively correlated to increased cognitive flexibility (1): what has yet to be investigated is the correlation between cultural literacy—as a potential result of second language acquisition—and the facilitation of social relationships on the individual and community levels, academic and career success, and personal cultural enrichment. Cultural literacy may be (2) viewed as a deepest sense of foreign language study, as it encompasses all facets of culture rather than just language. If these positive correlations are accurately established (3) , the United State's education system and (4) its lack of priority given to foreign language studies must be reevaluated. Vastly extending foreign language requirements would allow individuals not only the obvious benefit of communicating in more than one language, (5) but also from greater academic\ success in high school, college, and the workplace, as well as less multicultural tension in social and professional arenas. (6) As the global market continues to be vital to the economic prosperity of nations, and immigration trends change their cultural make-up, (7) both linguistic and cultural understanding and awareness is essential.
Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded and underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
its lack of priority being given
it's lack of priority given
it's lack of priority
NO CHANGE
NO CHANGE
"Its" does not require an apostrophe when indicating possession. "It's" signifies "it is", which is a subject and verb as opposed to a possessive. Also, "given" must correspond to the same tense as "established."
Example Question #102 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
Becky's cat's favorite toy was a feather attached to a string, which he liked to carry around in his mouth.
Becky's cat
Becky cat's
Becky's cats'
NO CHANGE
Beckys' cat's
NO CHANGE
The sentence is correct as written because the toy belongs to the cat, and the cat belongs to Becky, so both should be in the possessive form. Since Becky is just one person, it is correct to use the singular plural, "Becky's." We also know from the second part of the sentence, "which he liked to carry around in his mouth," that Becky only has one cat, so the singular plural form, "cat's," is correct here.
Example Question #103 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
My three sister's joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.
NO CHANGE
My three sisters' joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.
My three sister's joint gift to my parent's was a new vacuum cleaner.
My three sister's joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.
My three sisters' joint gift to my parents' was a new vacuum cleaner.
My three sisters' joint gift to my parents was a new vacuum cleaner.
In this sentence, we know that, "sisters" is both plural (because the author specifies there are three sisters) and possessive (because it is their joint gift). Therefore, the apostrophe must come after the final "s" in order to indicate both plurality and possession.
Example Question #104 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's her's," replied Susan.
NO CHANGE
"Who's purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's hers," replied Susan.
"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's hers," replied Susan.
"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's her's," replied Susan.
"Who's purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's her's," replied Susan.
"Whose purse is this?" asked Kathy. "It's hers," replied Susan.
Both the word "whose" and "hers" are exceptions to the traditional apostrophe rules surrounding possessive nouns. These words are written without apostrophes.
Example Question #105 : Apostrophe Errors
Adapted from "The Philosophy of Composition" by Edgar Allan Poe (1846)
Charles Dickens in a note now lying before me (1) alluding to an examination I once made of the mechanism of [the novel] Barnaby Rudge (2), says (3) "By the way, are you aware that Godwin wrote his 'Caleb Williams' backwards? He first involved his hero in a web of difficulties, forming the second volume, and then, for the first, cast about him for some mode of accounting for what had been done" (4)
I cannot think this the exacting (5) mode of procedure on the part of Godwin — and indeed what he himself acknowledges, is not altogether in accordance with Mr. Dickens idea (6) — but the author of “Caleb Williams” was too good an artist not to perceive the advantage derivative (7) from at least a somewhat similar process. Nothing is more clear than that every plot, worth the name, must be elaborated to its dénouement before any thing be attempted with the pen. It is only with the dénouement constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable (8) air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents (9) and especially the tone at all points, tend to the development of the intention.
There is a radical error I think (10) in the usual mode of constructing a story. Either history affords a thesis — or one is suggested by an incident of the day — or, at best, the author sets himself to work in the combination of striking events to form merely the basis of his narrative — designing, generally, to fill in with description, dialogue, or autorial (11) comment, whatever crevices of fact, or action, may from page to page (12) render themselves apparent.
Choose from the following four options the answer that best corrects the underlined mistake preceding the question number. If there is no mistake or the original text is the best option, choose "NO CHANGE."
Mr. Dicken's idea
Mr. Dickens idea
NO CHANGE
Mr. Dickens' idea
Mr. Dickens' idea
While some outdated grammar guides still suggest adding an apostrophe and -s onto words or names that end in -s already, the best way to show possession with such a name is to add the apostrophe only. The author's name is "Dickens" and not "Dicken," so choosing to put the apostrophe before the -s is also incorrect.
Example Question #106 : Apostrophe Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
The league office is responsible for compiling all of the 32 team's statistics throughout the season and for reporting them to the national media
statistics of the teams
team statistics
NO CHANGE
teams' statistics
statistics teams
teams' statistics
"Teams" is plural and since the statistics belong to all of the teams, the genitive form "teams'" is correct here.
Example Question #661 : Punctuation Errors
Josh suffered from a fear of dogs ever since he is a little boy. He would shiver in his boots thinking of a dog barking at him, biting him, or that could chase him. He had never met a single dog he liked. The scarier dog he had ever seen was Mr. Green’s dog, whom he had to pass every day. On his way to school. This dog barked so loudly it made Josh’s hairs stand on end.
She said that there was no need to be afraid. Josh’s mom told him that dogs only barked because they were excited to see him. She told him that he just needed to be confident and not act afraid of this dogs’ barking, and speak in a reassuring tone. Then the dog would quiet down and act more friendly.
Josh felt that neither confidence or a reassuring tone would make any difference. He didn’t think he would ever get over his fear. However, one day he had enough. Barking for hours, he realized the dog was bored and just needed a friend. He wasn’t sure if his mother’s advice would prove true? Hiding his fear, he approached the dog and spoke to it in a reassuring tone. To his surprise, the dog wagged it’s tail and quieted down right away.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
NO CHANGE
dogs's
dog
dog's
dogs
dog's
This question asks you about the correct use of an apostrophe in a possessive form. In this sentence, the use of the word "this" indicates that the author is describing a single dog, not multiple dogs. The "barking" belongs to the dog, so we know that a possessive form should be used. The correct singular possessive form of the noun "dog" is "dog's."
Example Question #686 : Correcting Grammatical Errors
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, select “NO CHANGE.”
The cat was playing with it's toy mouse in the corner.
its'
NO CHANGE
it's own
theirs
its
its
This question asks you about the correct use of an apostrophe to indicate possession. The correct possessive form of the pronoun "it," which refers to the cat, is "its." An apostrophe should only be used it "it's" to indicate a contraction of "it is."