ACT English : Writing and Revising Effectively
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Example Question #102 : Act English
Adapted from The Autobiography of John Adams (ed. 1856)
Not long after this, the three greatest measures of all were carried. Three committees were appointed, one for preparing a declaration of independence, another for reporting a plan of a treaty to be proposed to France, and a third to digest a system of articles of confederation to be proposed to the States. I was appointed on the committee of independence and on that for preparing the form of a treaty with France. On the committee of confederation Mr. Samuel Adams was appointed. The committee of independence were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year a member of Congress, but had attended his duty in the house a very small part of the time, and, when there, had never spoken in public. During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. It will naturally be inquired how it happened that he was appointed on a committee of such importance. There were more reasons than one. Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen; he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia, in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses, which had given him the character of a fine writer. Another reason was, that Mr. Richard Henry Lee was not beloved by the most of his colleagues from Virginia, and Mr. Jefferson was set up to rival and supplant him. This could be done only by the pen, for Mr. Jefferson could stand no competition with him or any one else in elocution and public debate.
If you wanted to split this paragraph into two separate paragraphs, which sentence would be the best beginning for the second paragraph?
"Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen . . ."
"On the committee of confederation Mr. Samuel Adams . . . "
"During the whole time that I . . ."
"The committee of independence were . . ."
"Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year . . ."
"Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year . . ."
Although the choice is a bit subjective, the best option among those provided is the sentence that marks the shift to focus on Jefferson himself. The first paragraph would thus describe the set of committees that were established. The second would discuss Jefferson's character and his selection. The most tempting wrong answer is likely, "Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen." That is not acceptable because it is part of a set of reasons being provided. It would be better to keep these together with their explanatory introduction.
Example Question #2 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Paragraphs
Adapted from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1890)
As they entered, they saw Dorian Gray who was seated at the piano his back to them, turning over the pages of a volume of Schumann's "Forest Scenes." "You must lend me these, Basil," he cried. "I want to learn them. They are perfectly charming." "That entirely depends on how you sit to-day, Dorian."
"Oh, I am tired of sitting, and I don't want a life-sized portrait of myself," answered the lad, swinging round on the music-stool in a willful, petulant manner. When he caught sight of Lord Henry, a faint blush colored his cheeks for a moment, and he started up. "I beg your pardon, Basil. I did’nt know you had any one with you."
"This is Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian, an old Oxford friend of mine. I have just been telling him what a capital sitter you were, and now you have spoiled everything."
"You have not spoiled my pleasure in meeting you, Mr. Gray," said Lord Henry, stepping forward and extended his hand. "My aunt has often spoken to me about you. You are one of her favorites, and, I am afraid, one of her victims also."
"I am in Lady Agatha's black books at present," answered Dorian with a funny look of penitence. "I promised to go to a club in Whitechapel with her last Tuesday, and I really forgot all about it. We were to have played a duet together: three duets, I believe. I don't know what she will say to me. I am far too frightened to call."
After which sentence must there be a paragraph break in the first paragraph?
"I want to learn them. They are perfectly charming."
After both "'I want to learn them. They are perfectly charming.'" and "'You must lend me these, Basil,' he cried."
No paragraph break is necessary.
"You must lend me these, Basil," he cried.
"I want to learn them. They are perfectly charming."
There must be a break in the paragraph when the new speaker takes up the dialogue. This happens at the sentence, "That entirely depends on how you sit to-day, Dorian." You can tell this because the speaker uses "Dorian" as the direct address of the sentence. (This is indicated by the comma preceding his name.)
Example Question #3 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Paragraphs
“What is Leisure?”
It would likely surprise [1] modern readers if he or she were told that the meaning of life is leisure. This seems to be the same thing as saying that the meaning of life is nothing more than relaxing by the side of the pool. [2] One can imagine almost anyone thinking to himself, “What a preposterous idea.” This idea is not as foreign as it might appear at first glance. Indeed, [3] it could be considered the classic Western position about the very meaning of life. [4] This, of course, lies in contrast to all other global positions, but that’s a topic for another day.
[5] Of course, we need to understand what is meant by the word leisure if we are going to understand this assertion. The best way to understand this is to consider a contrast between two different kinds of activity. [6] On the one hand, there are many activities that are for the sake of something else. [7] On the other hand. There are those activities that are done for their own sake. These latter kinds of activities are those that are properly understood as being leisurely. [8] For example, when someone cuts onions for a meal, the cutting of the onions is not done for their own sake. The easiest way to figure out if something is being done for the sake of another end is to ask, “Why are you doing that.” [9] The onion cutter will answer, “I am doing it so that I can make dinner.” This helps us to see that the cutting of the onions is for the sake of something else. [10] Indeed, even the eating of dinner is for the sake of something else, namely attaining adequate nutrition.
[11] In contrast to these examples, leisurely activities are those that are done for they’re own sake. [12] For example, ask someone who enjoys organ music why he is listening to an organ concert. The answer will almost certainly be, “For the sake of listening to organ music. It is that important and beautiful!” Many things can be considered leisurely, including forms of games that are played merely for their own enjoyment; however, it is important to bear in mind that there is a hierarchy of goods. [13] Some types of leisure are better than others and likely are more preferable.
[15] After which sentence should there be a paragraph break?
These latter kinds of activities are those that are properly understood as being leisurely.
Many things can be considered leisurely, including forms of games that are played merely for their own enjoyment.
On the other hand, there are those activities that are done for their own sake.
One can imagine almost anyone thinking to himself, “What a preposterous idea.”
These latter kinds of activities are those that are properly understood as being leisurely.
To understand this answer, read the following two sentences in order: These latter kinds of activities are those that are properly understood as being leisurely. For example, when someone cuts onions for a meal, the cutting of the onions is not done for their own sake.
So long as you read this passage thoughtfully, you will realize that the example actually is about the first class of things. This is confused by the lack of a paragraph break. Therefore, you should place the break right here so as to key the reader into the fact that the passage is going to discuss each kind of activity in order. (The new paragraph and the paragraph following it parallel the points expressed in the current paragraph in the language of "On the one hand . . . On the other hand.")
Example Question #1 : Separating, Combining, Or Reordering Paragraphs
1. First of all, you have to fit apartment visits and rental applications into your already busy schedule.
2. Additionally, you are competing against many others who want the same apartment you want.
3. With perseverance and luck, though, you can beat the odds and get that cute apartment you've been dreaming of!
4. Finding an apartment to rent in a crowded city can be difficult.
Place the following sentences in the best order to form a paragraph.
2, 1, 3, 4
4, 1, 3, 2
4, 1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3, 4
3, 1, 2, 4
4, 1, 2, 3
This question asks you to place sentences in the most logical order to form a paragraph. Sentence 4 is the topic sentence of the paragraph, so it should come first. Sentence 1 begins with the phrase "First of all," suggesting that it provides the first piece of evidence for the topic sentence. Sentence 2 continues with more detail, and we know it should come next because it begins with the transitional phrase "additionally." Sentence 3 includes the phrase "with perseverance and luck, though" indicating that it contrasts previously introduced information--in this case, the information introduced in Sentences 1 and 2. Sentence 3 also provides a conclusion for the paragraph and therefore should come last.
Example Question #1 : Introductions, Transitions, And Conclusions
Humanities: This passage is adapted from chapter three of Sir John Lubbock’s The Pleasures of Life. The chapter is entitled “A Song of Books” and was written in 1887.
Of all the privileges we enjoy in this nineteenth century there is none, perhaps, for which we ought to be more thankful than for the easier access to books.
The debt we owe to books was well expressed and articulated by Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, author of Philobiblon, written as long ago as 1344, published in 1473, and the earliest English treatise on the delights of literature: "These,” he says, “are the masters who instruct us without rods and ferules, without hard words and anger, without clothes or money. If you approach them, they are not asleep; if you interrogate them, they conceal nothing; if you mistake them, they never grumble; if you are ignorant, they cannot laugh at you. The library, therefore, of wisdom is more precious than all riches, and nothing that can be wished for is worthy to be compared with it. Whosoever therefore acknowledges himself to be a zealous follower of truth, of happiness, of wisdom, of science, or even of the faith, must of necessity make himself a lover of books.”
This feeling that books are real friends is constantly present to all who love reading. “I have friends,” said Petrarch, “whose society is extremely agreeable to me; they are of all ages, and of every country. They have distinguished themselves both in the cabinet and in the field, and obtained high honors for their knowledge of the sciences. It is easy to gain access to them, for they are always at my service, and I admit them to my company, and dismiss them from it, whenever I please. They are never troublesome, but immediately answer every question I ask them. Some relate to me the events of past ages, while others reveal to me the secrets of Nature. Some teach me how to live, and others how to die. Some, by their vivacity, drive away my cares and exhilarate my spirits; while others give fortitude to my mind, and teach me the important lesson how to restrain my desires, and to depend wholly on myself. They open to me, in short, the various avenues of all the arts and sciences, and upon their information I may safely rely in all emergencies. In return for all their services, they only ask me to accommodate them with a convenient chamber in some corner of my humble habitation, where they may repose in peace; for these friends are more delighted by the tranquillity of retirement than with the tumults of society.”
“He that loveth a book,” says Isaac Barrow, “will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counsellor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, so in all fortunes.”
The author is considering adding the following sentence to the end of the second paragraph:
"But if the debt were great then, how much more now."
Should the author make this addition?
No, because the author has already made a similar comparison between the present and the past in the first paragraph.
No, because references to the present in paragraphs three and four are not clear enough to make the addition helpful.
No, because the author is not concerned with the present.
Yes, because the appreciation of books that the author describes in the past is not adequate evidence for the author's claim.
Yes, because a link to the present is crucial to the author's argument.
No, because references to the present in paragraphs three and four are not clear enough to make the addition helpful.
There are no clear references to the appreciation of books in the present as contrasting with their appreciation in the past; thus, the sentence is unhelpful and unnecessary.
Example Question #1 : Introductions, Transitions, And Conclusions
This year, my New Year's resolution was to not buy any more books until I had read all of the books I already had. But, after getting fifty dollars for my birthday, I couldn't resist stopping by the library's used book sale.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”
That is,
Additionally,
For instance,
NO CHANGE
Moreover,
NO CHANGE
Here, “But” is the best transition word. “But” implies a contrast, and there is indeed a contrast between the idea expressed in the first sentence (making a commitment not to buy more books) and the idea expressed in the second (stopping by the book sale). The relationship of the second sentence to the first is not that of an example, an additional detail, or a clarification, which is why the other answers are not correct.
Example Question #1 : Introductions, Transitions, And Conclusions
My mother was born in China. Additionally, she emigrated to the US when she was twenty-seven, but she was never able to get used to this country. She was used to haggling in loud, bustling street markets—not walking through the silent, orderly rows of American grocery stores. She also never became fluent in English; filling out forms and writing business letters confused her.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose “NO CHANGE.”
For example,
However,
OMIT the underlined portion and begin the sentence with the word “She”
Accordingly,
NO CHANGE
OMIT the underlined portion and begin the sentence with the word “She”
Here, the best correction would be to delete the word “Additionally” and to use no transition word. The word “additionally” is usually used in a list or when you are adding details on to a description; however, in this case we do not have a list, and the first two sentences are more action rather than description. The relationship of the second sentence to the first is also not an example, a contrast, or a necessary event, which is why the other answers are not correct.
Example Question #1 : Introductions, Transitions, And Conclusions
The truth is, I kinda hate my brother. Can you blame me? We're always fighting. Today, he "borrowed" my favorite book and now its ripped in two. Likewise, my brother and I like to play sports together. We both bond over games like volleyball, and basketball. We both play real good. We even were considering trying out for the high school team together.
What is the best alternative for the underlined word, "Likewise"?
Hence,
Nevertheless,
Furthermore,
NO CHANGE
For instance,
Nevertheless,
The author is contrasting negative feelings he/she has regarding his/her brother with more positive feelings towards the brother. Therefore, a transition word that shows contrast is the best option. "Likewise" shows similarity, "For instance" shows an relationship of clarification, while "Hence" and "Therefore" imply causation. "Nevertheless" implies a contrasting relationship between ideas and is the best choice.
Example Question #2 : Introductions, Transitions, And Conclusions
Many people believe that the current admissions process for colleges is detrimental for high school students. They claim that current admissions standards place a lot of emphasis on things that do not actually measure a child's success in college, such as standardized test scores. They also believe, that there is an augmented attitude among youth of insincerity, as they do community service just or pretend to be interested in activities solely for admissions.
On the other hand, some believe that there is nothing wrong with the admissions process: any insincerity is a result of active choices on the part of the student, as well as an increase in competition for colleges resulting from economic and social trends. Also, they believe that colleges are in the right for looking for active, rounded students involving in their school and community, and they perceive that there is nothing wrong in encouraging students to have more involvement.
Which of the following is the best alternative for the bolded phrase, "On the other hand"?
In fact
Indeed
NO CHANGE
Likewise
Instead
NO CHANGE
The phrase "On the other hand" is used to indicate a contrast between ideas, and that is correct in this instance: the first paragraph describes the thoughts of people who disagree with the college admissions process, while the second paragraph describes the thoughts of people who agree. "Likewise" and "Indeed" both indicate similarity of ideas, which is incorrect. "In fact" implies that the second paragraph is an example of the first, which is also incorrect. "Instead" is incorrect because it implies the second paragraph is a substitute for the first.
Example Question #2 : Introductions, Transitions, And Conclusions
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.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I never saw myself being into math.
I had never saw myself being into math
Math is a subject that every high school student should master.
It was Mrs. Sweed's dedication to my learning that completely changed my approach to math.
NO CHANGE
It was Mrs. Sweed's dedication to my learning that completely changed my approach to math.
This option is the best as it introduces the idea of Ms. Sweed helping the author to enjoy math through working with her. The other options are off-topic.
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