ACT English : Reorganizing Content
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Example Question #53 : Writing And Revising Effectively
The student the hand of whom was up (1) gave the wrong answer. She was asked what was a substantive adjective (2), and she answered that a substantive adjective is one that describe (3) a substance. "No!" (4) the teacher barked. "A substantive adjective takes the place of a noun in a sentence, as when someone talks about the rich and the poor (5). Did you learn nothing in this class?" He then asked what a superlative adjective was, to which she replied (6) that a superlative adjective was one that took the place of a noun in a sentence. "But thats (7) what I just said," the teacher screamed! (8) The student had said (9) that she had heard him, therefore (10) she answered his question. "You answered my question previously, (11)" he bellowed, "not the last one!" "Ah, you mean the latest one," the student replied, the moment at which (12) the teacher turned to the wall and started beating his head against it.
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."
which she replies to by saying
to the which she replied to
NO CHANGE
which she replied to by saying
NO CHANGE
The best phrasing for the clause above is "to which she replied" because it is the least wordy and the most direct.
Example Question #51 : Writing And Revising Effectively
Passage adapted from Robinson Crusoe (1719) by Daniel Defoe
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull. He got a good estate by merchandise, and leaving off his trade, lived afterwards at York, from whence he had married my mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but, by the usual corruption of words in England, we are now called - nay we call ourselves and write our name - Crusoe; and so my companions always called me.
I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than my father or mother knew what became of me.
Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school generally go, and designed me for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that propensity of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which was to befall me.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York. Of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
NO CHANGE
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
"I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull," is the best answer because it contains no fragments. Both "I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country," and "My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull," are complete sentences on their own.
Each of the other answer choices contains a fragment.
Example Question #51 : Writing And Revising Effectively
Growing up, I used to find math very tedious. I abhorred algebra, couldn't stand geometry, and 1. was just hating trigonometry. I was sure calculus would be no different. 2. That was until I met, my calculus teacher, Ms. Sweed. 3. Calculus being the subject she taught, she used it to show me how 4. math makes our world go around.
5.Ms. Sweed was very educated, having two master’s and a PhD. 6. I can still remember one day that she talked to me after class after one of the first tests we took in class I had done not as well as I had wanted. When I went to talk to her after class, she told me that she thought I was very smart and could do better if I tried. I began to come to talk to her after class every day for extra study. 7.She only used these extra sessions to not help me understand the math, but showed how math can be used to apply to real life.She showed how math could be used to explain many natural phenomena. 8. However, she showed how math can be used to analyze patterns from studies. I never thought I would say math was my favorite subject, but with Ms. Sweed teaching, it was.
9. (1) Trying to use Mrs. Sweed’s wit, enthusiasm, and dedication, as I tried to inspire other students. (2) I even started to do well enough in math to start tutoring other students. (3) I never would have been able to do so without meeting Ms. Sweed. (4) I was soon one of the top tutors in our school, and I helped dozens of students increase their grades. [10] Thanks to her inspiration, I’ve decided to look into the field of engineering. 11. Now, an engineering major taking many math classes in college. I enjoy every single one of them. 12. Math is a subject everyone can enjoy.
In this passage, which of the following shows the best order for the sentences?
1, 4, 3, 2
2, 1, 4, 3
3, 1, 4, 2
3, 2, 1, 4
NO CHANGE
2, 1, 4, 3
The right answer shows the most logical progression of ideas: first, the author establishes that he/she became a tutor, then he/she describes their tutoring method, then they explain how they consequently became the top tutor.
Example Question #11 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
How can the writer most effectively combine the following sentences?
Mississippi Blues has its roots in both folk and gospel music. Blues songs often address the concerns of working-class people.
NO CHANGE
Mississippi Blues songs, which have their roots in both folk and gospel music, often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs, they have their roots in both folk and gospel music, and they often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues has its roots in both folk and gospel music, its songs often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs having their roots in both folk and gospel music and often addressing the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs, which have their roots in both folk and gospel music, often address the concerns of working class people.
The correct answer correctly places the second sentence as a modifying phrase.
The second incorrect answer uses a main clause as a modifier, thus creating a run-on sentence.
The third incorrect answer is a fragment.
The fourth incorrect answer is a comma splice
Example Question #21 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
What is the best way to combine the following sentences?
James wrote a detailed letter to his Chemistry professor. His professor had not provided James' class with the formulas necessary to complete the semester project.
James wrote a detailed letter to his Chemistry professor, the professor had failed to provide James' class with the formulas necessary to complete the semester projects.
James wrote a detailed letter to his Chemistry professor which had failed to provide James' class with the formulas necessary to complete the semester project.
James wrote a detailed letter to his Chemistry professor, failing to provide James's class with the formulas necessary to complete the semester project.
NO CHANGE
James wrote a detailed letter to his Chemistry professor, who had failed to provide James' class with the formulas necessary to complete the semester project.
James wrote a detailed letter to his Chemistry professor, who had failed to provide James' class with the formulas necessary to complete the semester project.
The original sentences are choppy and somewhat redundant. Main clauses cannot be used as modifiers since they create run-on sentences. "Which" cannot be used to refer to people.
Example Question #21 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
What is the best way to effectively combine the following sentences?
Highway construction legislation is often controversial. It is controversial due to high costs, complex structures, and conflicting jurisdictions.
Highway construction legislation, it has high costs, complex structures, and conflicting jurisdictions, and is often controversial.
Highway construction legislation is often controversial; having high costs, complex structures, and conflicting jurisdictions.
Highway construction costs that are often controversial, with high costs, complex structures, and conflicting jurisdictions.
Highway construction legislation is often controversial due to high costs, complex structures, and conflicting jurisdictions.
NO CHANGE
Highway construction legislation is often controversial due to high costs, complex structures, and conflicting jurisdictions.
The original sentences are choppy and redundant.
Placing a main clause into a modifying position creates a run on sentence.
A semi-colon requires two main clauses and may only be used to separate two independent clauses.
Example Question #22 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
Choose the answer that best reorders the sentences in this passage.
(1) Baking a cake is an easy way to celebrate a birthday with your family. (2) It doesn't require much planning in advance, and it's not expensive. (3) When you are finished, you can all enjoy the results of your project by slicing and serving the cake. (4) Decorations like sprinkles and candles make the baking process more fun for children.
Move Sentence 4 before Sentence 1.
NO CHANGE
Move Sentence 2 before Sentence 1.
Move Sentence 1 after Sentence 4.
Move Sentence 4 before Sentence 3.
Move Sentence 4 before Sentence 3.
This question asks you about the most effective way to order sentences in a paragraph. The best answer is to move Sentence 4 before Sentence 3. Sentence 1 introduces the topic of the sentence, so it should come first. Sentence 2 expands upon the topic introduced in Sentence 1. Sentence 4 adds further detail about the process of baking the cake. Sentence 3 begins with the phrase "When you are finished," indicating that it provides a conclusion for the paragraph as well as coming last chronologically. Therefore, Sentence 3 should end the paragraph.
Example Question #23 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
Which choice most effectively combines the given sentences?
Accurate forecasting of the weather is a somewhat inexact science. Relying on many factors that are constantly changing and difficult to measure exactly.
Forecasting the weather accurately is a somewhat inexact science, it relies on many factors that are constantly changing and are difficult to measure exactly.
Relying on many factors that are constantly changing and are difficult to measure exactly is the inexact science that is forecasting the weather accurately.
NO CHANGE
Forecasting the weather accurately is a somewhat inexact science since it relies on many factors that are constantly changing and are difficult to measure exactly
An inexact science is forecasting the weather accurately, relying on many factors that are constantly changing and are difficult to measure exactly.
Forecasting the weather accurately is a somewhat inexact science since it relies on many factors that are constantly changing and are difficult to measure exactly
The original answer choice has a fragment. The correct answer correctly links the main clause with a subordinate clause, signalled by "since." The other answer choices are wordy and awkward.
Example Question #23 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
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.
[1] She said that there was no need to be afraid. [2] Josh’s mom told him that dogs only barked because they were excited to see him. [3] She told him that he just needed to be confident and not act afraid of this dogs’ barking, and speak in a reassuring tone. [4] 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.
Which of the following would best correct the sentence order in Paragraph 2? If the sentences are in the correct order as written, select "NO CHANGE."
Move Sentence 2 before Sentence 1
NO CHANGE
Move Sentence 2 after Sentence 4
Move Sentence 4 before Sentence 1
Move Sentence 3 before Sentence 1
Move Sentence 2 before Sentence 1
This sentence asks you about the best order for sentences in a paragraph. Sentence 2 is the topic sentence of the paragraph; it also introduces the character of "Josh's mother," who is referenced as "she" in Sentence 1 and Sentence 3. Therefore, Sentence 2 should be the first sentence in the paragraph. Sentence 1 and Sentence 3 provide further evidence and should follow Sentence 2. Sentence 4 should come last because it provides a conclusion, summing up the result of the actions described in Sentence 3.
Example Question #24 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Sentences
[1] Some people are excited, some people are just annoyed. [2] Being called to jury duty can inspire a range of different emotions. [3] Unsure how long the trial will take, a call to jury duty can be stressful for people who can’t afford to miss work or school.
Some people will be making attempts to get out of jury duty. However, most will still need to serve. Fortunately, many cases are settled before going to trial and is not uncommon for trials to just last only one day. Either way, once you have served on a jury, you won’t have to do it again for a while!
The author is considering moving Sentence 2. What is the most logical placement for this sentence?
Delete the sentence entirely
After Sentence 3
NO CHANGE
At the very end of the passage
Before Sentence 1
Before Sentence 1
This question asks you about the most logical order for sentences in a paragraph. The sentence "Being called to jury duty can inspire a range of different emotions" is the topic sentence of this paragraph, so it should come first. The information in Sentence 1 about different emotions ("excited" and "annoyed") references the idea introduced in Sentence 2, so Sentence 2 should come first.
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