ACT English : Writing and Revising Effectively

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #24 : Word Choice, Style, And Tone

Choose the word that most closely means "false." 

Possible Answers:

spurious

punctilious

plenary

unfeigned

veritable

Correct answer:

spurious

Explanation:

The correct choice is "spurious," which means phony or false.

Example Question #24 : Word Choice, Style, And Tone

Choose the best usage of the word "sagacity." 

Possible Answers:

Jessica told her mother, "I feel so much sagacity for you!"

The nobel prize winner's sagacity was revered and admired. 

"Do you think I gave my speech with enough sagacity?" asked Rhonda. 

"I don't know why sagacity is so hard to come by in movies these days," Kelly said to her friend. 

Julie thought her little sister's sagacity was so adorable. 

Correct answer:

The nobel prize winner's sagacity was revered and admired. 

Explanation:

The correct choice is: "The nobel prize winner's sagacity was revered and admired," because "sagacity" means wisdom, and the usage of sagacity here points to the likely wisdom of the nobel prize winner.

Example Question #141 : Act English

Which of these words is an antonym for ostentatious?

Possible Answers:

impoverished

jaunty

luxuriant

stylish

modest

Correct answer:

impoverished

Explanation:

"Impoverished" is an atonym for "ostentatious," because ostentatious means displaying signs of wealth, whereas impoverished is quite the opposite.

Example Question #25 : Word Choice, Style, And Tone

One of the most popular programs of all those featured on the Internet (1) is a video clip show.  The format of the show is simple, each (2) week the host, a short but attractive New York native named John Jackson introduces (3) a set of three video clips from all over the Internet.  These clips shows (4) people hurting themselves in accidents, getting into crazy situations, interacting stupidly with animals, and et cetera. (5) Jackson introduces each clip comically and often comments on the action with animations where (6) he makes fun of the people in the videos.  While the videos are often funny, there is definitely an element of schadenfreude involved in watching these clips.  Schadenfreude is a German word for "the pleasure one takes at seeing the suffering of others".  (7) Jacksons (8) show are (9) not far removed from popular TV programs like (10) The U.S. Laughs at You there is also a version of which (11) on the Internet.  It is an open question whether laughing at these videos is a harmless activity or it causes harm to us. (12)

The best revision of the underlined sentence is what?

Possible Answers:

One of the most popular programs that is featured on the Internet

Of all of the programs featured on the Internet, one of the most popular programs

NO CHANGE

One of the most popular programs on the Internet

Correct answer:

One of the most popular programs on the Internet

Explanation:

"One of the most popular programs on the Internet" is the most concise revision in that it condenses the original meaning of the sentence without leaving out any necessary information.

Example Question #26 : Word Choice, Style, And Tone

One of the most popular programs of all those featured on the Internet (1) is a video clip show.  The format of the show is simple, each (2) week the host, a short but attractive New York native named John Jackson introduces (3) a set of three video clips from all over the Internet.  These clips shows (4) people hurting themselves in accidents, getting into crazy situations, interacting stupidly with animals, and et cetera. (5) Jackson introduces each clip comically and often comments on the action with animations where (6) he makes fun of the people in the videos.  While the videos are often funny, there is definitely an element of schadenfreude involved in watching these clips.  Schadenfreude is a German word for "the pleasure one takes at seeing the suffering of others".  (7) Jacksons (8) show are (9) not far removed from popular TV programs like (10) The U.S. Laughs at You there is also a version of which (11) on the Internet.  It is an open question whether laughing at these videos is a harmless activity or it causes harm to us. (12)

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."

Possible Answers:

programs a lot like

programs similar with

programs such as

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

programs such as

Explanation:

In this case, "such as" is the more grammatically correct connector than "like."

Example Question #27 : Word Choice, Style, And Tone

It was about halfway through his last set of conferences that Mr. Man realizes (1) he did not (2) much like his current set of students.  Unlike his students in the past, none of them seemed to care about their (3) grades, (4) none of them was able to tell a dangling modifier from a participle, (4) and, apart from a few, (4) they didn't know (5) how to start a paper.  He would never tell any of them this, of course, (6) they might get offended, and if there was one thing that Mr. Man learned (7) about teaching, its (8) that in order to keep one's job, you couldn't offend your students (9).  As yet another student whined about not understanding Mr. Man's (10) perfectly clearly written assignments, he sighed inwardly (and possibly outwardly as well), (11) and waited for the last (12) one to finish so that he could get to the next one, finish his conferences, and get back to daydreaming about being anything but a teacher.

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."

Possible Answers:

the latest

the next

the newest

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

the latest

Explanation:

"The latest" indicates that the student he is now meeting with is the most recent one on the list, whereas "the last" would incorrectly indicate that this is the final student he will see today, and the other two choices do not work.

Example Question #111 : Writing And Revising Effectively

In the last day of classes (1), everyone was distracted and unable to do their (2) work.  Even the teacher, which normally (3) was attentive and cheery, seems (4) unable to focus.  The final test took (5) way too long for everyone to complete, and many of students (6) had put down his head (7) on the desk.  The sound of the heat blowing through the room was enough to put everyone (8) to sleep, and the teachers' (9) eyes began drooping despite hisself (10).  After what seemed an eternity; (11) the bell had rung (12) and everyone, including the teacher, ran out of the room.

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."

Possible Answers:

the many students

many of the students

the many of students

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

many of the students

Explanation:

"Many of the students" completes the phrase grammatically without changing the meaning of it as "the many students" (meaning nearly all of them) would.

Example Question #112 : Writing And Revising Effectively

In the last day of classes (1), everyone was distracted and unable to do their (2) work.  Even the teacher, which normally (3) was attentive and cheery, seems (4) unable to focus.  The final test took (5) way too long for everyone to complete, and many of students (6) had put down his head (7) on the desk.  The sound of the heat blowing through the room was enough to put everyone (8) to sleep, and the teachers' (9) eyes began drooping despite hisself (10).  After what seemed an eternity; (11) the bell had rung (12) and everyone, including the teacher, ran out of the room.

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."

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

his or her heads

their heads

his or her head

Correct answer:

their heads

Explanation:

"Many" indicates a plural, so "their heads" would be the correct combination of possessive pronoun and number for this phrase.

Example Question #113 : Writing And Revising Effectively

In the last day of classes (1), everyone was distracted and unable to do their (2) work.  Even the teacher, which normally (3) was attentive and cheery, seems (4) unable to focus.  The final test took (5) way too long for everyone to complete, and many of students (6) had put down his head (7) on the desk.  The sound of the heat blowing through the room was enough to put everyone (8) to sleep, and the teachers' (9) eyes began drooping despite hisself (10).  After what seemed an eternity; (11) the bell had rung (12) and everyone, including the teacher, ran out of the room.

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."

Possible Answers:

someone

no one

anyone

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

The word "everyone" most accurately implies that all students in the class are likely to be put to sleep by the sound of the heat.

Example Question #151 : Act English

In today's society, (1) they have a popular TV series that (2) follows the life of 4-5 (3) young teenage girls who are trying to raise their child while being a teenager at the same time (4). The television series shows hardships, but they (5) focus more on the relationships of these girls rather than how much their baby’s diaper is changed or how often the baby spits up all over them. They always have a happy ending, giving teen girls these days hope that it (6) will do the same for them. The show focuses of (7) a different group of teen moms each season, but all being held back by having a child at a young age. Some are alone, some have significant others, and some even decided to give (8) their baby up for adoption, but not one of their lives are perfect nor easy (9). Some teenagers enjoy watching the show just to watch the babies grow, but others watch it because they think it’s popular, they think it will make them popular as well (10). The show is based upon these girl’s (11) lives and it doesn’t always seem to have to do with their children it has to do with them being teenagers (12).

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."

Possible Answers:

NO CHANGE

the lives of four-five

the lives of four or five

the life of four or five

Correct answer:

the lives of four or five

Explanation:

Since there is more than one girl, "life" should be a plural, and since it is either four or five girls rather than a range of four to five girls, the "or" is more appropriate.

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