Practice ACT Tests

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Passage I
Question 1. T he best answer is A because it provides punctuation (in this case, a period)
that appropri ately separates these two complete thoughts or statcments-"My grandfather is "not
known for embracing technological change" and "He still d.rives his '59 Chevy Impala. "
The best ansvyer is NOT:
B because it creates a run-on, or fused, sentence. There is no punctuation or conjunction (connecting word)
between the two statements.
C because the phrase "still drivi ng his '59 Chevy Impala" is not a complete statement (because there is
no stated subject). It could work in this sentence if it were set off from the main clause with a comma. lr
would t hen modify" My grandfather," the subject of the main clause. But this answer doesn't provide that
punctuation.
D because the conjunction and that connects the phrase "still driving his '59 Chevy Impala" to the main
clause creates confusion by linking groups of words that are not grammatically parallel.
Question 2. The best answer is G because it correctly punctuates this sentence, which is
actuall y a fa irly simple subjecr-verb-direct object sentenCe except that the direct object is a noun
clause. The sentence could also be written with rhe word that introducing t he clause.
The best answer is NOT;
F because it inserts an unnecessary comma between the verb says and the direct object, which is what he
says ("he can't imagine needing frivolous options like automatic transmission or power steering"). It's worth
pointing out that the comma would be correct if what foll owed the verb were a direct quotation, as in
speech: He says, " I can't imagineneeding frivolous options."
H because it inserts an unnecessary comma between the verb and the direct object clause.
J because it adds the same unnecessary comma as H does, plus it places an unnecessary comma between the
pronoun that and t he clause it introduces.
Question 3. The best answer is C because it provides the correct past tense form of the
irregular verb go.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the verb has went is grammatically incorrect. It should be has gone (which would still be incor-
rect here because it would create an awkward tense shift).
B because the verb had went is grammaticall y incorrect. It should be had gone.
D bccause ir is in rhe present tense, creating a shift in verb tense in this sentencc. The three verbs that fol-
low this one in the sentence are all in the past tense-had quit, tried, and resisted.

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Question 4. The best answer is H because rhe coordinating word because clearly and
cisely links this parenrhetical clause (" because his old model had finally quit") to
the preceding clause ("he went to buy a new color television" ). .
The best answer is NOT:
F because it is excessively wordy and clunky. The phrase "owing to the knowledge that his old black-and-
white model had fi nall y quit" doesn't express anyt hing that the clause "because his old
model had finally quit" doesn' t express more clearl y and more precisely.
G because it is unnecessarily wordy. The clause "due to the understandable fact that his old black-and-white
model had fi nally quit" seems, on first glance, impressive. But it is empty, pretentious language, and not con-
sistent with the style of the rest of this essay.
J because the coordi nating word so does not logicall y link this parenthetical clause to the preceding clause.
Question 5. The best answer is B because it adds an appropriate and relevant detail here.
In this sentence, the writer is expressing that the grandfather believed he was still healthy and had
no need of a remote control for bis television-" He said that he had two good legs and was per-
fectly capable of getting out of his chai r." The addition of "when he wanted to change the chan-
nel " fits with the point of the rest of the sentence. .
Thebest answer is NOT:
A because the fact that the chair "was made of black leather" is irrelevant to the writer's purpose here.
e because the fact that the chair is located "by the south window in the fami ly room" is a pointless
sian in this sentence. .
o because, agai n, the fact t hat the grandfather "liked to si t" in his chair is an insignificant detail here. Since
it was "' his chai r," he would presumably like to sit there.
Question 6. The best answer is J because, here, no adverb or phrase is needed to make a
connection between these two sentences. The essay works fine here without t lla[ kind of help.
The best answer is NOT:
F because the adverb howefler, as it is used here, indicates that this sentence is going to contradict or con-
trast with t he statement in the preceding sentence. This sentence does not do that.
G because the adverb additionally indicates that this sentence is going to add a point that builds on the state-
ment in the preceding sentence. This sentence does not do that.
H because the adverb cOllflersely expresses the same general idea that howeller does. This sentence does not
provide a contrast to the statement in the preceding sentence.
o
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PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 7. The best answer is C because rhe absence of commas here creates the clearest
and most understandable sentence. This is another case (like question 6) where less is more.
The best answer is NOT:
A because it inserts a comma that confounds your ability to understand the sentence. The comma after the
word time makes you think that Grandpa punched in the time and then he punched in the channel of his
favorite news program, when actually he punched in the time that the program came on and the channel it
was on.
B because it also inserts ;1Il unnecessary and confusi ng comma, this time after the conjunction aud rather
than just before ie.
D because the comma after the word chOllnel indicates that the phrase "of his favor ite daily news program"
is not essential. It's set off frOIll the rest of the sentence with commas, as if it were parenthetical-a nice piece
of information but not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. But if you try reading the sentence with-
out this phrase, the meaning of the sentence is no longer clear.
Question 8. The best answer is] because the phrase On the other hand signals that this sen-
tence is going to provide a contrasting point or a different perspective. Grandpa's logic goes like
this: The remote control's volume button is great for drowning out someone he doesn't want to
hear; on the other hand (from another perspective), rhe mute button is great f ~ H silencing the tel-
evision when he doesn't want to hear it.
The best answer is NOT:
F because the phrase For example indicates that this sentence will offer an example of the statement
-expressed in the sentence before it. This sentence does not provide that payoff.
G because it is incorrect for the same reason that F is. The phrase To illustrate is fairly close in meaning to
For example.
H because the phrase 011 the one hand suggests that the writer is going to make a point here and then make
another point. But the other point never gets made here; this is the last sentence in this paragraph.
Question 9. The best answer is B because advertisers is a spcc.ific noun that clearly com-
municates who Grandpa wants to be able to cut off in midsentencc.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the pronoun them does not have a clear antecedent (a noun that it refers to .and stands in for).
e because the pronoun it seems to refer back to the noun sound, but that is nonsensical. How do you "cut
sound off in midsentence"?
D because the possessive pronoull its might refer back to the noun sound or to the noun button, but both
of those would be nonsensical. What do you make of "the button that mutes the sound lets him cut the but-
ton's function off in midsentence"?
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Question 10. The best answer is F because it appropriately punctuates t his complex
rence. A complex semence, by definition, contains an independent clause ("This option automat-
icall y t urns TV off after a preset amount of time") and one or more dependent clauses ("which
is very convenient" and "when he falls asleep whi le watching a show").
The best answer is NOT:
G because by inserri ng a comma before the clause "when he falls asleep while watching a show" and setting
it off from t he rest of the sentence, the writer is signaling that the clause is not essential to the meaning of
the rest of the sentence. But that is not so. Try reading the sentence without that final clause. The opti on of
automaticall y turning off the TV is not always convenient, but it's sure handy when Grandpa falls asleep in
the mi ddle of a show.
H because it creates a sentence fragment. "When he fall s asleep while watchi ng a show" cannot stand alone.
It's not a complete thought. Readers want to know more.
J because it is incorrect for the same reason that H is wrong. As it is used here, the semicolon is signali ng
that the statements on either side of t he semicolon should be independent clauses (complete thoughts).
Question 11 . The best answer is D. Thi nk of t his sentence as a jigsaw puzzle. Each puzzle
piece is a phrase or clause. In this version, all the pieces of this sentence fi t together well. And the
" piccure" that resul ts looks li ke something t hat we can understand.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the parts of this complex sentence are poorly arranged-to the point of nonsense. Perhaps the
best way of answeri ng this question is to listen carefully to each wording as you read it out loud to
self. The clause "what he wants his TV doing ... is to know a source of both pleasure and power" is
ty funny, but it's probably not what the writer meant to say here.
B because of a simila rly flawed arrangement of the elements of this sentence. Pl acing the introductory clause
"Even when he sleeps" directly before the statement "Grandpa says" gives readers the wrong impression
that Grandpa is ta lking in his sleep.
e because of its clumsiness. The foll owing ma kes li ttle or no sense at all: "Doi ng what he wants .. . is to
know his TV is a source of both pleasure and power for him. "
Question 12. The best answer is F because it provides a l,l1ai n clause for t his sentence:
"Grandpa points his finger at the TV and ... seemi ngly t urns it on." Notice t hat the phrase
ducing t he sentence (which is often called a participial phrase) cannot be a main clause because it
has no stated subject.
The best answer is NOT:
G because it creates a sentence fragment. There. is no stated subject and no mai n clause.
H because it is incorrect for the same reason that G is incorrect-no subject, no mai n clause.
J-not because of a fragment problem but because of a tense shift problem. Both the verb in the precedi ng
sentence (uses) and the second verb in the compound predicate in this sentence (tums) express action in the
present. It doesn't make sense to place a verb here (has poillted) that expresses action that began in t he past
and conti nues in the present.
Practice ACT Tests

PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 13. The best answer is A because it provides a fjtting ending for this personal
essay because it refers CO Grandpa's continuing discovery of creative ways-of using his new televi-
sion remote control.
The best answer is NOT:
B because it provides a tlescription of Grandpa as in learning how to use his remote control.
That's inconsistent with the rest of the "essay's portraY<l1 of him as embracing this new technology.
C because it introduces elements that are insignific<lnt in terms of the rest of the essay. The 200-page manu-
al had not beeI! mentione9 elsewhere in the story, and the salesperson had onl y a minor role early in the story.
D because it suggests that the grandmother's feelings or thoughts are central to the essay, but the rest of the
essay has focllsed on the actions and opinions of the grandfather.
Question 14. The best answer is G because t he placement that creates the most logical
order is between Sentences 1 and 2. First, t he statement t hat Grandpa Ukes to use the program-
mi ng function to play jokes on his grandchiidren. Then, the explanation of how he does it: He pro-
grams the TV to rum on at a certain time; in t'he grandchildren's presence, he points his fi nger at
the TV when it's programmed to tllrn on.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it is not the most logical place to add this information. It doesn't make sense to explain Grandpa's
TV programming trick before the reader even knows that Grandpa likes to use the programmi ng function
to play jokes on his grandchi ldren.
H because it reverses the chronological order of how Grandpa's joke works. He can't play the trick on the
grandc.hildren and t hen program the TV to (urn on at a certain time.
J because it is incorrect for the same reason that H is. The chronological order of the setup of the remote-
control-finger joke is Out of whack.
Question 15. The best answer is D because jt provides an effective transition from the first
part of the essay to t he second part. The opening paragraphs focus on Grandpa's resistance to but"
evemual acquisition of a new TV with a remote comro!' The last sentence of Paragraph 2 indicates
that Grandpa his res istance to technology and began to use t he remote. The first' sen-
tence of Paragraph 3 poi nts out that Grandpa has actuall y grown interested in the llses of t he
remote, and t his leads into the rest of the essay's description of t he uses that he discovers, many of
which wouldn't be found in t hat 200- page manual.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the first sentence of Paragraph 3 is "Grandpa is intrigued by the various uses for that remote."
This sentence suggests that the remote cont rol ll1i ght have intriguing uses, but it doesn' t provide any infor-
mation about those uses. .
B because, again, the sentence does suggest that Grandpa liked ll sing the remote, but it doesn't provide any
details t hat support that as a fact.
C because it would be a vast overstatement to say that this sentence is "a humorous blend of descriptive
details and relevant information."

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PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Passage II
Question 16. The best answer is F because it provides a correct superlative adjective fO(1)1
(liveliest) as well as a singular subject (One) to match the predicate fOl;lnd later in this sentence (is).
The best answer is NOT:
G because the superlative adjective most liveliest is redundant. T'he word most and the ending -est both sig-
nal a comparison of more than two items.
H because it creates a plural sll bj'ect-"The most lively folk music forms"-which does not agree with the
singular predicate is.
J because it also creates a plural liveliest folk music forms."
Question 17. The best answer is B because it provides the correct for m of the possessive
pronoun its. The pronoun is standing in for "Tejano music's."
The best answer is NOT:
A because it proposes using the contraction it's (which means "it is") where the possessive pronoun its is
required. If we take it's as a contraction here, then the clause reads as a sentence structure error: "because
of it is having origins on both of the Texas-Mexico harder."
C because it proposes using the contractic;m it's where the. possessive pronoun its is called for.
D because it proposes using its' where the possessive pronoun its is called for.
Question 18. The best answer is F because adding this parenthetical phrase does fur ther
the description of the dance music that the German immigrams brought to south Texas and north-
ern Mex.ico. Maybe some readers might al ready know that the dance music of late-nineteenth-
century German iminigranrs was polkas and waltzes. Probably many readers wouldn't know that.
Stating it here does give most readers a better sense of this influence on Tejano music.
The best answer is NOT:
G because this brief addition does not in any way explain why German dance music became popular in
south Texas and northern Mexico in the late nineteenth century.
H because this phrase is a relevant addition to the sentence. It does not explain the connection between the
German dance music and the button accordion; however, that explanation is irrelevant to the essay.
J because this phrase is a relevant addition to the sentence. The essay does refer to other musical forms,
besides Tejano'of course, so this addition would not be inconsistent with the rest of the essay.
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PRACTICE TEST 2

Question 19. The best answer is B because it correctly uses a comma to set off the appos-
itive noun phrase "huapangos and rmlcheras" from the preceding noun phrase that it describes
and renames, "their own dance music."
The best answer is NOT:
A because it inserts an unnecessary comma between the noun accordiOIl and the prepositional phrase if I their
own dance music. This comma creates a confusing pause or break WhCftj none is needed.
C because it fails to place 'a comma between those two noun phrases. Occasionally, appositive nouns or noun
phrases arc lI ot set off by commas, but only if they arc essential to the basic meaning of the sentence, That
is not the case here.
D because it also fai ls to place a comma between the noun ph rase and thc;apposi ti ve phrase that further
describes it,
Question 20. The best answer is G because it offers the most appropriate punctuation for
this sentence. It might help you to think about words in this sentence that are not expressed even
though thei r meaning is understood. We could also write this sentence as follows: Eventuall y, a
unique musical sryle developed that was based on duet singi ng and an instrumentation of accor-
dion, drums, erc.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it places a semicolon between the main clause-"a unique nnisical style developed"-and a mod-
ifying phrasc-"based on duet si ngi ng and an instrumentation ... ," A semicolon is normally placed only
between independent clauses (that is, clauses that express complete thoughts).
H because it places an unnecessary and distracting comma between the preposition on and the object of that
preposition, duct singing.
J because it pl aces an unnecessary and distracting comma between the subject-a unique musical style-and
that subject's predicate-delle/oped.
Question 21 '. The best answer is B because it provides a wording t hat is clear and unam-
biguous. "This st yle" clearl y referst he reader back to the phras,e "a unique musical style" at t he
beginning of t he preceding sentence. The clause "known as cOlljunto" (which could also have been
written "which is known as conjlmto") modifies the noun t hat precedes it.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the pronoun It has no clear antecedent. What noun is It standing in for? Spanish twelve-stri ng bass
guimr? Upright bass? Accordion? Instrumentati on? Duet singi ng? Musical style? The reader is forced to guess.
On top of that, the sentence itself is rather clumsy: "It was con;unto and became the heart of Tejano music."
C because of the unclear pronoun antecedent, The fact that "it" is "known as c01l;unto" doesn't help the
reader. The Spanish twelve-string guitar is a ba;o sexto. Maybe the upright bass is a cOlli/mto? We reall y
don't know.
D because of that same pronoun a\ltecedent problem, In addition, the sentence "It being conjunto became
the heart of Tejano music" doesn't work well, raising lUore questions for the reader than it, answers.
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..
Question 22. The best answer is H. You need to pay close attention to the stated question,
because it tells you that the best answer iil thi s case is the worst answer-the alrcrnative to the
underlined portion that is not acceptable. The preposition on in the clause "The Mendoza family
made living on working" is si mply the wrong word to use here.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it is an accepwble alternative. The phrase "earned their living" means the same thing as "made
their livi ng." The word by sounds fine in the clause "The Mendoza fami lY'made their living by working."
G because it is an acceptable alternative. The word {rom sounds fine in the clause "The Mendoza family
made their living from working."
J because it is an acceptable alternative to the underl ined portion. As was stated earlier, the phrase "earned
their li ving" means the same thing as "made their li ving."
Question 23. The best answer is D because rhe preposition as provides rhe parallel
srruction rhat is call ed for by the adverb alternately (meaning simply "by turns") and the
neeting word and, resul ting in the phrase uworki ng alternately as field hands and as touring
musicians. "
The best answer is NOT:
A because of the lack of paralleli sm of "as field hands and they were touring musicians." For this sentence
to flow smoothl y and to make sense, the phrases on either side of the conjunction mzd should mirror or near-
ly mirror each other in terms of sentence structure.
B because of this same lack of parall elism. The phrase "as field hands and as well touring musicians" is
clunky and raises doubt about the famil y worked in these two roTes.
C because it is, li kewise, incorrect because of lack of parallelism: "worki ng alternately as field hands and
being touring musicians."
Question 24. The best answer is H because this clause should be kepr in the essay. Although
this information about music publishers printing song lyrics on bubbl e gum wrappets as a way to
promote the songs seems irrelevant to this essay about Tejano music, it sllre helps to explain that
preceding statement: "Mendoza learned the words to many of her songs from bubble gum
pers. "
The best answer is NOT:
F because this clause should 'lOt be deleted from the essay. It's [rue that this information is rather unrelated
to the main topic of the paragraph, but it is crucial to this particular sentence. Wit hout this clause, the sen-
tence would mystify most of us. Have you ever seen a bubble gum wrapper with entire song lyrics printed
on it?
G because this clause should flot deleted from the essay, and besides, the information irl this clause does not
diminish the musical accomplishments of Lydia Mendoza.
J because it's true that this clause should be kept in the essay. but the information preseuted in the clause
does flot show that the songs that Lydia Mendoza performed were popular, only that music publishers had
hopes of popularizing many of the songs that she performed.
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Practi ce ACT Tests

PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 25. The best answer is D because it creates a complete sentence. When we delete
the underl ined porti on, the sentence reads, "In 1928 in San Antoni o, Texas, Mendoza and her fam-
ily made their first recording. " '.
best answer is NOT:
A because it creates a sentence fragment. There is a dependent c1ause-"where Mendoza and her family
made their first recording"-but no independent clause.
B because it is needlessly wordy arid because it provides a weak link between the two introductory
tiona I phrases and the mai n clause: "it was there" seems to refer only to "in San Antonio, Texas" and not
to ''In 1928. " '
C because it creates a sentence fragment. The clause lacks a subject.
Question 26. The best answer is F because it appropriately and effectively punct uates this
sentence. Sometimes, less punctuation is best .
The best answer is NOT:
. .
G because it places an unnecessary and dist racting colon between the noun phrase her widespread popular-
ity and the prepositional phrase that follows and describes it .

H because it places unnecessary and distracting commas between the noun phrase her widespread popular-
ity and the preposi tional phrase (hat foll ows it, and between the prepositional phrase in the Spanish-
speakhlg regions and the prepositional phrase that follows it.
J because it places an unnecessary and distracting comma between the noun phrase the Spanish-speaking
regions and the prepositional phrase that follows and describes it.
Question 27. The best answer is D because this addition a bout how she became widely
known as La Alondra ,de la Fronrera fi ts best after the sentence that states that she "soon gained
. . . widespread popularity" (Sentence 6).
The best answer is NOT:
A because of the arrangement of the information in this paragraph; it doesn't make sense to
insert this sentence about Lydia Mendoza's populari ty right after a sentence about the Mendoza family
working as field hands and touring musicians (Sentence 3).
B because it is incorrect for the same reason as that given for A. It doesn't make sense to insert this sentence
right before the sentence about the Mendoza famil y making their first recording (Sentence 5).
C because it is incorrect for the same reason as that given for A and B. It doesn't make sense to insert this
sentence about her established reputation right before the selltence about her singing style soon gaining her
widespread popularity.
-- -- - --_.
@)
"b" ..
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PRACTICE TEST 2 EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 28. The best answer is C because it ties together Tejano music and Lydia
Mendqza, which a r!! arguably t he two main subjects of this essay. With rhe wording of G, rhe sen-
tence reads, "Others have followed Lydia Mendoza's lead and have expanded the influence of
Tejano music." .
The best answer is NOT:
F because it brings in the issue of immigration from Mexico to the u.s. Although the immigration of
Germans to Texas and Mexico is mentioned in the second paragraph and the Mendoza family's immigra-
tion to the U. S. is mentioned in the third paragraph, immigration is not one of the main topics of the essay.
H because it inttOduces Santiago and Flaco Jimenez, who are not mentioned elsewhere in this essay.
J beca use it focuses on large recordi ng contracts. Although the preceding paragraph mentions that the
Mendoza famil y made a recording, the essay makes no reference to large or lucrative recording contracts.
Question 29. The best answer is D because ir provides wording that is most consistent with
the overall style and tone of this straightforward informative essay.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the sratement that Tejano music will "stick around a whi le" uses an informal or casual phrasing
that is unlike anyt hing else in this essay. That phrasing also suggests a l ess respectful attitude toward Tejano
music than is expressed elsewhere in this piece.
8 bec:luse it is unnecessari ly wordy, vague, and repetitive. The phrase "causes it to be" could be more suc-
cinctly expressed by " results in," for example. Do we know what the writer means by "enduring thi ngs"?
Besides, something that is "enduring" is, by defi nition, "timeless." What is gai ned by using both of t hese
adjectives here?
C because, like A, it is more informal or casual t han the rest of t he essay. We might easily say " lots of peo-
ple really like It" in conversation with fri ends, but would we use t hat phrasing in a school resea rch paper or
in a coll ege admi ssions essay? At the very least, we can reasonably conclude that, in light of the rest of this
essay, we would not do so here. .
Question 30. The best answer is F because this essay has focli sed on the history and devel-
opment of Tejano music, in part by describing the career of one o f the earliest Tejano music stars.
The best answer is NOT:
G because alt hough the essay does describe how various Spanish, German, and English musical t raditions
influenced rhe development of Tejano music, the essay makes no ment ion of Tej:lno music's contributions to
other folk music traditions.
H because the essay does tell the story of Tejano music. Anyway, just because an essay mentions other folk
music forms and traditions, that doesn' t mean the essay can' t also focus on describing the history of one par
ticular folk music. . -
J because it's rrue rhat Lydia Mendoza is the only Tejano musician described in any detail, bur she's not men-
tioned unti l halfwa y through the es"Say. The essay does not limit its focus to Mendoza and, in fact, uses the
Story of Mendoza's life as a way to continue the larger story of Tejano music.
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PRACTICE TEST 2
Passage III
Question 31. The best answer is A because it provides the punctuation (a comma) that best
indicates the relationship between the introductory prepositional phrases ("Duri ng the early morn-
ing hours of October 28, 1965!') and the main clause ("engineers stationed 630 feet above the
ground made careful measurements").
The best answer is NOT:
B because the connecting word and creates confusion here. A word like and usuall y connects similar kinds
of grammacical units-nouns (Tom and Mary), verbs (wander and search), adverbs (high and low), etc.
Here, the word tries to connect an introductory phrase and a main clause.
C because placi ng a period here creates a sentence fragment: "Duri ng the early morning hours of October
28, 1965."
D because it is incorrect for the same reason that C is wrong. A semicolon is normally used to connect two
independent clauses (that is, clauses that could each stand alone as complete senrences).
Question 32. The best answer is H because it shows the o r r ~ t use of the apostrophe in
expressions of time. You're probably more familiar with the uses of the apost rophe to express pos-
session or ownership or to indicate a contraction (letters left out when words are combined). But
you've probably seen phrases such as "yesterday's news" and "tomorrow's. headlines" and "an
hour's delay"-they all fo llow the same puncruation rule as "the day's work."
The best answer is NOT:
F because it leaves out that necessary apostrophe. Without the apostrophe, a reader might misread "the
days" as a subject and "work" as a predicate.
G because it places the apostrophe in the wrong location. The rast of this sentence makes it clear that this
is one day's work.
J because one would never use an apostrophe like this-by adding's to the end of a plural noun.
Question 33. The best answer is A because this story of the last step in the construction of
rhe Gateway Arch is told in the past tense. The past tense verb threatened is consistent with the
other predicate verbs used in this paragraph-statio,ted, made, btdicated.
The best answer is NOT:
B because the passive voice of the verb had been threatened doesn't make sense in this sentence.
C because the future perfect tense verb will have threatened creates an awkward and confusing shift from
the past tense used elsewhere in this essay.
D because the present tense verb threatens creates a similarly awkward and confusing. shift in tense.
o .
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Question 34. The best answer is J because it provides t he most concise wording for this
sentence a nd avo ids the poi ntless repetition of tpe other choices.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it is pointlessly repetit ive. The word delay doesn't add any information here that's not already
clearly expressed by the word postpone.
G because the phrase "postpone to a later t ime" is pointlessly wordy. Can you postpone something to an
ea rli er time? The information "to a later time" is already clearly expressed by the word postpone.
H because it is incorrect for the same reason that F is. The phrase " postpone by delaying" is anot her exam*
pie of overki ll. Readers can sometimes feel disrespected when an essay tells them the same thing over
and over.
Question 35. The best answer is B because this sentence explains the topping*out cer*
emony being referred to here is "the placement of the fina l section between the two freestanding
legs of the St. Louis Gateway Arch." Without this phrase, we wouldn't be able to figure o ut what
"topping out" meanr until we were halfway inro the essay.
The best answer is NOT:
A the essay would tlot lose a minor detail if this phrase were deleted. This is a key piece of information.
C becaus.e the wording of this phrase is strai ghtforward and factual-there's nothi ng to suggest that the
writer is expressing his or her opinion on the Significance of anythi ng.
o because the phrase does not state the ceremony's importance to St. Louis residents. Readers might draw a
conclusion about the ceremony's importance based on the essay as a whole, but that's something else entirely.
Question 36. The best answer is F because the phrase " Luther Ely Smith" is an apposi-
tive for (renames or explains) the phrase it foll ows, "attorney and civic leader. " Most appositive
phrases are set off by commas, but this one shou ld no t be, because it is essential to the meaning
of the Sentence. Try reading the sentence without "Lut her Ely Smith "-does n't it sound strange
o r cl unky?
The best answer is NOT:
G because the comma between the nouns attomey and civic leader is unnecessary and distracti ng. The word
a'ld is linking up these two nouns; the comma just gets in the way of that.
H because there should not be a comma separating the noun phrase "attorney and civic leader" and the
nOll n phrase that defines and specifies it, " Luther Ely Smith."
J because it is incorrect for the reasons for G and H as well as the reason that the proliferation of com-
mas just totall y confuses things: " In 1933, attorney, and civic leader" startS looking like it might be a series
of three items.
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Question 37. The best answer is C because this sentence states, Uln 19l3, attorney and civic
leader Luther Ely Smith envisioned a memorial that would recognize Sr. LOl,lis's major role in the
westward expansion of the United States." Ir does provide some helpful background about the his-
tory leading up to t he construction of rhe Gareway Arch, and ie's the only place in rhe essay where
such background is provided.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the sentence docs state that St. Louis played a role in t he westward expansion, but it does not
explain whY,St. Louis played that role.
B because t he sentence does state that Smith envisioned a memorial, but it docs not mention what the memo-
rial that he envisioned might look like.
D because the se.ntence does provide some biographical facts about Smi th-he was an attorney and a civic
leader, and he had an idea about a memorial. However, this information is not particularly cruciaL The
information that is most relevant and meaningful to this paragra ph is t hat a memori al to Sr. Louis's role in
the U.S. westward expansion (that is, the Gateway Arch) was first envisioned in 1933.
Question 38. The best answer is H because it iNhe onl y choice t hat makes t his a complete
sentence.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it creates a sentence fragment-a noun phrase ("Architect Ecro Saari nen") and a dependent clause
t hat modifies the noun phrase ("who created the design that symbolized the memorial's theme").
G because it too creates a sentence fragment- that same noun phrase and an appositive phrase t hat renames
the noun phrase ("creator of the design that symboli zed the memorial's theme").
j-becall se i't too creates a sentence fragment-that same noun phrase and a participial phrase modifying the
noun phrase ("creating the design that symbol ized the memorial's theme").
Question 39. The best answer is D because this question as ks you to decide which word
wou ld provide the most logical and effective t ransition from one sentence to another. The best
decision here is to use no transitional adverb at all . The preceding sentence states that Saari nen
designed t he Gateway Arch. Thi s sentence is t he first of three that descri be the detail s of that
design.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the sense of Meanwhile is t hat this event takes place at the same time that the preceding event
rakes place. That sense doesn't work logically here.
B because the sense of Therefore is that this condition exists or event takes place as a result of the preced-
ing condition or event. That sense would work here only if we'd already been told that Saarinen's designs
always look li ke the description that foll ows.
C because the sense of However is that this condition exists or event takes place in contrast to the preced-
ing condition or event. That sense would work only if we'd already been told that Saarinen's designs never
look like the description that follows.
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Question 40_ The best answer is F. All of t hese word choices are similar in meaning, hav
ing something to do wi th " decreasing or reduci ng in size," but they are not interchangeable syn-
onyms. The context of t his sentence helps us to decide t he best choice: "spraying t he [metal and
concrete} leg [of the Gateway Arch] with water to cool it would make it contract." Merriam-
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th cd.) supports the accuracy of this choice, stati ng that "CON-
TRACT applies to a drawing togetber of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length" (p. 271).
The best answer is NOT:
G because reduce has more of a sense of "bri nging down or lowering in size or degree or intensity," which is
not exactly the action being described in this sentence. It's a much less precise word choice than contract is.
H because decrease has more of a sense of "decl ining in size or number or amounr," which is not exactly
the action being described here. It's a much less precise word choice than contract is.
'. ,
J because compress primaril y means "to reduce in size by pressing or squeezing," which is not the action
being described here.
41. The best answer is C because this phrasing uses the correct forms of the pos-
sessive pronouns their and its: " in t heir attempt to reduce its expansion."
The best answer is NOT:
A because it uses the contraction they're (meaning "they arc") where the possessive pJ'OIlOUIl their is for.
B because it uses the conrraction they're and the contraction it's (meaning "it is") where the possessive pro-
nouns their and its are called for. ' .
o because i,t uses the contraction it's where the possessive pronoun its is call ed for.
Question 42. The best answer is G because it provides the most logical and fluent arrange-
ment of t he possible parts of this sentence: an introducrory dependent clause ("as the crowd
cheered") followed by a main clause wit h a compound predicate ("the final section was hoisted up
and welded to the two legs of the arch").
The best answer is NOT:
F because this arrangement of the pieces of information provides us with the nonsensical image of the final
section being hoisted up after it had been welded to the legs of the arch.
H because this arrangement of the pieces of information provides us with the absurd image of the crowd
being welded to the legs of the arch.
J because this arrangement of the pieces of information provides us with the c9nfusing image of the crowd
ei ther doing some of the weldi ng or being welded to the legs of the arch.
,
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PRACTICE TEST 2
Question 43. The best answer is D because it offers the most concise wording and avoids
the redundancy of the other choices. (Have you ever heard of the Department of Redundancy
Department? That might be a handy way to remember what the word redundant means.)
The best answer is NOT:
A because, since a decade is ten years and three decades are thirty years, the phrase "Over three decades and
more than thirty years" is redundant.
B because its phrasing is redundant and pointless, "Over three decades" do amount to "more than thirty
yea rs," but there's no reason to inform readers of that here.
C because the parenthetical phrase "over thirty years" merely repeats the time span just reported in a dif-
ferent measure of time (decades).
,Question 44. The best answer is G because this is the LEAST acceptable alternative to the
underlined portion. The sentence with the underlined portion reads, "Over three decades of plan-
ning and buildi ng had come to a conclusion, and the tallest monument in the Uni ted States was
now complete," Replacing the word conclusion with halt creates a meaning problem in the con-
text of this sentence because "coming to a halt" expresses rhe idea of stopping or suspendi ng
before or without completion.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it provides an acceptable wordi ng. The phrase "rcached completion" works in the context of this
sentence just as well as "come to a conclusion" docs.
H because it provides an acceptable wording. The phrase "come to an end" works in this sentence just as
well as "come to a conclusion" does.
J because it provides an acceptable wording. The word "ended" works in this sentence just as well as "come
cd a conclusion" does,
Question 45. The best answer is C because the ti tle of t his essay-"'Topping Out' the
Gateway Arch"-is a fairly good summary of the piece and helps us to arrive at the
answer. The essay does not do a good job of describing the entire process of designing and build-
ing the Gateway Arch because it focuses instead on telling the story of this one step in the process.
The best answer is NOT:
A because this essay does mention the materials used to make the exterior and interior structural supports,
but that doesn't it has described the entire design and construction process.
B simply it presents an inaccurate description of this essay. An essay that did do what B claims to
do would indeed fulfi ll the intended goal.
D because it is incorrect for the same reason as B is-it inaccurately describes this essay. This essay devotes
just a few sentences to the early stages in the development of the arch.
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EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Passage 'IV
Question 46. The best answer is F because it ptovides the word that sounds right in tlus
sentence. When we refer to periods of the day, such as "the dusk of a later summer evening," we
generall y use the preposition in: in the morning I got up; in the'afternoon he took a nap; we went
to a movie in the evening.
The best answer is NOT:
G because the preposition On wrong here, especiall y when you co;nbine this introductory phrase
with the main clause: "On the dusk of a late summer evening, I walked." This wording makes the dusk
sound like some sort of hard surface that can be walked upon.
H because the preposi tion With sounds wrong here. Try to imagine "walki ng with the dusk of a late sum-
mer evening"-maybe hand in hand? It just doesn't work.
J beoause the preposition From sounds wrong here. "From the dusk of a late summer evening, I walked ...
toward a shelter." This wording makes the dusk s{)Und like a location rather than a period of time.
Question 47. The best answer is C because it provides the correct pronouns-most and
tpho-in this context. The pronoun most carries the sense of "the greatest part"-not all of the
people but not merely a few of them. The pronoun lvho is a relative pronoun; in an adjective or
relative clause, it takes the place of the noun that precedes it. In this sentence, who is standing in
for "the people" in the clause "who wal ked with me."
The best answer is NOT:
A because the pronoun more d'oesn't fit here. It calls for some sort of comparison: 'more of the people than
you met or more of the people than I knew before this evening. But those comparisons are not being made
in this sentence. .
B because the pronoun more doesn't fit here. The pronoun whom is also wrong here: this pronoun is used
only when it is functioni ng as the direct object or the object of a preposi tion in the adjective clause. In this
clause, the pronoun is functioning as the subject.
D because the pron,oun whom doesn't fit here. In this clause, the pronoun is serving as the subject. The pro-
noun whom is used only when serves as the direct object or the object of a preposition in the clause. (Have
you heard of Ernest Hemi ngway's war novel For Whom the Bell Tolls?)
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EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 48. The best answer is J because it achieves exactl y what the writer wants to
achieve, accordi ng to the question. The clause " I felt a kins hip with them" balances the statement
made in the first part of this sentence with a decai l that suggests the unity of these people.
The best answer is NOT:
F because, although this clause works well with the first half of the sentence, it's not successful at express-
ing a sense of unity among the people. It onl y mentions that the narrator knew a few of the people that he
or she walked with.
e because it not only fa ils to suggest a sense of unity among the people, it expresses the somewhat contra-
dictory 'sense of individualism: "we each our own reasons for being there."
H because this clause expresses the narrator's hope of making fri ends with some of these people, which is
not the as expressi ng a feeling of u'nity that actuall y exists among a group of people.
Question 49. The best answer is A because this word is lIot an acceptable alternative to
the underlined word. This wri ting issue is simi lar to the issue presented in question 46. These lit-
tle prepositions can be hard to pin down and explain, but if we just li sten to how they fit in a
particular sentence, we often know what is right. Would you "make this journey among Miami.
land"? This preposition usuall y has the mea ning of " in the mjdst of" or "surrounded by" obj ects
or people.
The best answer is NOT:
B because this word is an acceptable alternative to the underli ned word. In this sentence, the preposition
oller works JUSt about as well as across does.
C because this word is an acceptable alternative to the underli ned word. The preposition on does not give
as .strong a sense of traversing as across and oller do, but it still makes sense here. The bottom line is this:
onc can travel across or over or on land, but one can't travel among land.
o because this word is an acceptable alternative to the underlined word. As with oller and 011, the preposi-
tion through works we ll here. When the narrator makes this journey across Miami la nd, he or she is also
ma ki ng it through that land.
Question 50. The best answer is G because, in the opening sentence of this paragraph, the
reader is told that the people walking "toward a shelter at the edge of a field in northern
Indiana." But this phrase adds some important description about the shelter-that it's made of
sapli ngs and earth, that it's called a longhouse, and that it has a ceremonial function or purpose.
The best answer is NOT:
F because this phrase does not offer a comparison to the journeys made by the members of other American
Indian tribes.
H because this phrase does help establish the place of the events descri bed in this paragraph, but it doesn't
contribute anything to establ ishing the timc of those events.
J because this phrase provides relevant information; it introduces and explains the term longhouse, wruch is
used elsewhere in the essay, as a ceremonial building made of saplings and earth.
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EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 51. The best answer is C because it provides till; ckart:st and most concise word-
ing in this sentence. This wording ensures that the pronoun that follows in this sentence, them, has
a clear anrecedem (other Miami) .
The best answer is NOT:
A because this wording leads to an ambigui ty later in the sentence. The pronoun them in the phrase "many
of them the ancesrors of the people" would seem to be referring back to the nearest noun, pictures, even
though that doesn't make sense.
R because it is clunky phrasing and needlessly wordy. Nothing meaningful is gained by stati ng that "other
Miami were present" in the pictures that the narrator had seen for years.
o because it, too, is needlessly wordy. It also has [he same sense problem that choice A has-this wording
makes pictures the most likely antecedent' for the pronoun them that appears later in the sentence.
Question 52. The best answer is J because it provides the correct punctuation for this
clause. The relative clause "who walked along with me to the longhouse that summer evening"
modifies or describes the noun people. This clause is not set off from the rest of the sentence with
a comma because it is restrictive, or necessary: it provides information that the reader needs to
know in order to make sense of the sentence.
The best answer is NOT:
F because the comma setting off the relative clause from t he noun it describes is wrong, and the comma
between the prepositional phrase "with me" and the prepositional phrase "to the longhouse" is unnecessary
and distracting.
G because the comma between the relative pronoun (who, which. is standing in for the noun people) and the
predicare verb of this clause (walked) is ,:,rong and distracting.
H because the commas setting off the relative clause from the noun ir describes is wrong, and the comma
between the adverb along and the preposirional phrase "with me" is unnecessary and distracting.
Question 53. The best answer is D because, by introducing the rooms that the narrator's
grandmother and mother had dedicated to their tribe, this sentence effectivel y bridges the preced-
ing sentence (about having seen pictures of the ancestors of many of the Miami walking with the
narrator that evening) and the following two sentences (about .the rooms and the framed photos
lining their walls and what the grandmother and mother did there).
The best answer is NOT:
A because it makes no mention of the rooms that are referred ro in rhe next twO sentences. If this sentence
were used here, how would we know what the wrirer meant by "these rooms" in the next sentence?
B because it is incorrect for the same reason that A is. This sentence does a good job of explaining the pic-
tures mentioned in the preceding sentence, bur it makes no mention of the rooms referred to in the follow-
ing sentences.
C because it is incorrect (or the same reason. This sentence also mentions the pictures and at least nares rhat
rhey are displayed in the grandmorher's and mother's houses, but the sentence still fails to mention any spe-
cific rooms, which makes rhe reference to "these rooms" in the next sentence a confusi ng one.
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Question 54. The best answer is H because it provides the most logical referent in terms of
the information al ready provided. The preceding two sentences refer to ."these rooms" and " my
mother and grandmother each sitting quietly in her own room." This sentence clearl y continues
that description of "those rooms."
The best answer is NOT:
F because we are not sure what "That room" refers to-the mother's room or the grandmother's room. It
could be either one, and we readers are left to wonder.
G b.ecause we are not sure who Her refers to-the narrator's mother or grandmother. Each bne has her own
special room, so using the plural rooms with the singular Her also makes no sense.
J because it is incorrect for the same reason that F is. The phrase "This room" leaves us wondering whedler
the writer is referring to the mother's room or the grandmother's room.
Question 55. The best answer is D because it correctly and effectively punctuates these two
clauses as separate sentences. Sometimes, combining clauses into one sentence can be a good w'ri t-
ing decis ion. In this case, however, the statements in these two clauses are too different from each
other-one is about the room; the other is about the tri be.
The best answer is NOT:
A because this sentence rambles. Sometimes we might tal k this way, but we should try to avoid writing sen-
tenCes in which clauses are randomly connected by the conjuncti on and. We might call this kind of sentence
problem an "on-and-on sentence."
B because it creates a ,fun-on, or fused, sentence. Where does one statement end and the other begin? As
readers, we're not really sure what to do with that prepositional phrase "unlike the larger Plains tribes."
. C because it creates a comma splice. As with the punctuation decision in B, this one doesn't give us a due
about where one statement ends and the other begins.
Question 56. The best answer is H because it provides relevant information in terms of the
focus of this paragraph. The preceding sentence states that the Miami had not retained reservation
lands. Later in the paragraph, we learn that the tribe owned no' land where a tribal longhouse
could be built or religious ceremonies held. Thus, the information provided by H that the Miami
also had [0 hold their powy.'ow "on borrowed land" builds on the poinr that the Miami were lack-
ing because they had no tribal or communal land.
The best answer is NOT:
F because the that the powwow "was always well attended" doesn't fit here. In the context of
this paragraph, which is bui lding a case for the tribe's need [Q own a piece of land"what is the POi llt of shar-
ing this detail?
G because the detail that the Miami powwow is "notable for its exquisi te dancing" is pointless and periph-
eral in terms of the main focll s and purpose of this paragraph.
J because the detai l that the powwow "lasted several days" is random. As with the information provided in
F and G, the writer makes no attempt to link this detail to the other statements being made in this paragraph.
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Question 57. The best answer is A because this wording creates parallelism in verb form
and clause structure. In this compound dependent clause, the two parts are inrroduced by the r l ~
ative pronoun which and linked by the conjunction and, and the auxi liary verbs are understood
(not stated) in the second part: " no land on which a longhouse could be builr and Miami religious
ceremonies [could be] conducted." Both verbs are in the passive voice. Using the passive a lot is
often a bad move, but here it places emphasis on that which could be built (a longhouse) and con-
ducted (religiolls ceremonies).
The best answer is NOT:
. B because this wording causes the verbs in the two parts of the compound clause to shift from "could be
built" to "were conducted," Also, the adverb there is confusing and unnecessary; the relative pronoun in the
prepositional phrase "on which" has al ready communicated a sense of place or location.
C because this wording is awkward and unnecessarily wordy, Here, the parts of the compound clause shift
from "a longhouse could be built" to "there were Miami ceremonies conducted." As in B, the adverb there
is redundant.
o because the parts of the compound clause ate not parallel in structure. The first part contains a passive voice
verb; the second part consists of the participial phrase "the conducting of Miami ceremonies. n Notice, for
example, how the parall el verb forms and clause structures of A make it much easier to understand than D.
Question 58. The best answer is H because it logically connects the statements in these two
senrences. The preceding sentence states that the narrator "had never attended a Miami religious
ceremony, neyer danced in frOnt of a crowd of Miami." The phrase "In fact " communicates to
reade'rs that the statement to follow will build on the preceding one, perhaps taking it one step fur-
t her. The statement that the narrator "had never known any other Mjami children outside of my
own fami ly" does that.
The best answer is NOT:
F because the word Still, when used as a transitional adverb, generally communicates a time relationship or
a sense of contradiction (similar to nevertheless). Neither one of those meanings logically works to connect
these two sentences.
-
G because the tra nsitional adverb Meanwhile expresses a time relationship that doesn't make sense in terms
of connecting the statements in these two sentences.
J because the transitional phrase "On the other hand" expresses a sense of contrast, which doesn't work log-
ically to connect the statements in these two sentences. .
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EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 59. The best answer is D because it provides a verb form that makes this a com-
plete sentence. The introductory clause "As we wal ked together through the open fi eld that
evening" is a subordinate, or dependent, clause .. It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. The
verb flashed enables the second clause in this sentence to be an independent clause: "hundreds of
tiny fireflies flashed softly from the tall grasses. " This clause can stand alone or function as the
main clause of a sentence.
The best answer is NOT: .
A because inserting the participle verb flashing here makes this into a participial phrase instead of a clause.
Because t here is no main clause, this becomes a sentence fragment.
B because it creates a sentence fragment. There are two dependent clauses here-"As we walked together
through the open fiel d that evening" and "which flashed softly from the tall grasses"-but no main or inde-
pendent clause.
e because it is incorrect for the same reason that B is. This choice creates two dependent clauses but no
mai n clause.
Question 60. The best answer is F because the preposition like fits well here because it
expresses the comparison.of the fireflies and the ancestral spirits. In this setting, like means "in the
manner of" or "similarly to" (definition 2 in Merrial1l- Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edi -
tion).
The best answer is NOT:
G because the phrase "j ust as" causes readers to stumble over various misreadings. The first misreading
leads one to as in its role as a conjunction meaning "as if" or "i n the way or manner chac." The second mis-
reading leads one to the most common meaning of the preposition as-"in the capacity, character, condi -
tion, or role of"- wbich makes no sense here. The preposition as can also mean "similarly to," but what do
we make of the adverb just meaning "exactly, precisely"? Here, "just as" would mean' " precisely similarly
to," which sounds overstated if not redundant:
H because this combination of two prepositions ("as like") is not found in standard written Engl ish.
J because the phrase "such as" usually means "for example,'" which doesn't make sense in the context of
this sentence.

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PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Passage V
Question 61. The best answer is A because this choice provides a sentence structure that
won't fall down on us. Here, rhe subjecr-"Ho":,,ling"-is followed by an appositive-"'the sound
most often associated with wolves." Do you recall that an appositive renames or describes the
noun it follows? The word howling may look morc like a verb tha n a noun, but it's what's called
a gerund, a verb form being used as a noun. The verb in this sentence shows up later and is either
perform or /Jerforms, depending on how you answer question 62. You may already be thinking
that the sentence wi ll sound best like thi s: "Howling ... by itself performs several social functions
within wolf packs."
The best answer is NOT:
B because it creates an awkwardly constructed sentence: two verb phrases-"has been the sound most often
associated with wolves" and "by itself performs several key social functions within wolf packs"-that are
connecred by a mere comma.
e because it creates an introductory dependenr clause-"While howling is rhe sound most often associated
with wolves"-which can serve as a wing or annex to this sentence structure. Bur the main clause is miss-
ing; rhere's no foundation.
o because it results in basically the same lopsided senrence construction that B does.
Question 62. The best answer is H because we've already been thinking about this prob-
lem while answering question 61. If the subject of this sentence is HOf.uJing, then the pronoun that
refers back to it must agree wit h it in number (the singular itseJf), and t he verb of this subject must
also be in agreement (the third-person singular performs). The result, of course, is an agreeable
sentence.
The best answer is NOT:
F because of its problt: ms with pronoun-antecedent and agreemenr. It's easier to see the prob-
lem with this sentence when we leave ol}t the apposi tive: " Howling ... by themselves perform several key
social functions.'"
C because of the same pronoun-antecedent and subject-verb agreement problems described in F.
J because it is incorrecr for a different The phrase "by itself" expresses rhe meani ng "alone" or
"without help or company, " which firs well in this sentence. The phrase "on itself" does not have that same
sense. In fact, do we know what the phrase "howling on itself" might mean?
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Question 63. The best answer is B because it creates a complete sentence. Here, the mai n
clause is "One of these is which is followed by a dependent clause that modifies the
noun ("which includes protecting territory").
The best answer is NOT:
A because it's a sentence fragment. There's no verb in the main clause-it feels like all the action has been
sucked out of the statement "One of these,
C because, li ke A, it creates a sentence fragment. We start off with a noun ("One"), then a partici pial phrase
("bei ng then a dependent clause ("which includes protecting territory" ).
o because it is incorrect for the same reason that A is. Those' words posing as a main clause have now been
pared down to less than their bare essentials: "One, This might work when taking nOes for
oneself but not when communicati ng with someone else.
Question 64. The best answer is J because it wraps up this sentence in a way that is apt and
correct. This phrase after the comma (" usually other wolves'?) becomes an appositive that renames
or defi nes the preceding noun phrase ("potential intruders"). This wraps up a of
tions about sentence structure (see questions 61 and 63).
The best answer is NOT:
F because it creates a confusing comma splice. When just a comma (without a conjunction word) connects
two clauses, it's hard to tell what that connection means. The comma normally isn't strong enough to
nal that these two clauses can each stand on their own.
G because it is incorrect for the same reason that F is-that pesky comllla splice.
H gecause the phrase that wraps up the sentence-"and are typically other wolves"-is poorly attached' to
the mai n trunk of the sentence. Are the I' potential intruders" (the closest noun) typically other wolves? Or
are the "packs" (the main subject) typically other wolves? The structure of the sentence seems to suggest the
latter is the case, bu't good sense otherwise. And readers are left to scratch their heads.
Question 65. The best answer is A. This is one of those questions where you have to choose
the wording that is least or not acceptable. The underlined word, because, is a conjunction
ing two clauses. It expresses the idea that [he statement to follow is a reason for or cause of the
other statement in the sentence. The conjunction although expresses a relationship between these
two clauses- one of counteraction or counterbalance-that is not logical here.
The best answer is NOT:
B because it is an acceptable alternative. The conj unctive phrase "in that" 'expresses the same kind of causal
relationship that the underlined word does.
C because it is acceptable. The conjunction since is closely synonymous to the word becaus.e.
o because it, too, is acceptable. One of the meanings of the conjunction as is identical to the meaning
* of because. .
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PRACTICE TEST 2
Question 66. The best answer is F because it states thfs action in the active voice, thus pro-
viding an agent for the action-"Wolves"- which ensures t hat the pronoun that appears later in
t he sentence (in the phrase "with one another") has a noun to refer back to.
The best answer is NOT:
G because it is unnecessarily wordy and because the sentelfce that it creates offers no antecedent for the pro-
noun "one another." The reader is left asking the question, "One another what?"
H because, like G, it is wordy and 90esn't provide a clear antecedent for the pronoun. That pronoun has to
be standing in for some noun. The most li kely candidate would b!! the subject the sentence, but "ho.wl-
ing" doesn't make sense. The reader then retreats to the last sentence of the preceding paragraph--coul d it
be "mates" or "prey" or "packs"'? ,At that point, he or she is lost.
J because it, too, fails to offer a noun that provides the pronoun "one another" a clear and logical
meamng.
Question 67. The best answer is C because t he adjective acute, meaning "sensitive" or
"sharp," is an appropriate word choice to describe t he sense of hearing. The context of this sen-
tence makes it clear t hat the hearing of the wolves is being described as very good.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the adjective Intense doesn't fit here. One common meaning of this word is "deeply felt" or "pro-
found," which doesn't make sense here. Another common meaning is "extreme in degree or size," which
seems close but no cigar. Would it sound right to you to say that "wolves possess extreme hearing"?
B because the adjective cunning, which generally means "crafty" or "sly" or "havi -:tg skill or keen insight,"
isn't the right word to the sense of hearing.
D because the adjective vivid is usually used to describe a color or graphic image. It can also mean "produc-
ing a strong impression on the senses," but this meaning wouldn't make sense when describing hea ri ng.
. .
Question 68. The best answer is J because it provides wordi ng that is succinct that
avoids !he pointless repetition of meaning that t he other choices offer.
The best answer is NOT:
F because of the repetitiousness of "Frequently, common activi ties ... often." Both of these adverbs mean
the same thing. It's unnecessary to use them together in this sentence to describe the same action.
G because of the repetitiousness of "Quite regular/y, common activities ... often." Repetition can occasion-
ally be used in writing to emphasize a point, but there's no need for that ki nd of emphasis here.
H because of the repeti tiousness of "Many times, common activities ... oftetl." Sometimes in w.riting, less
is more.

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PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 69. The best answer is B because it describes a situation-"activities, such as
hunting for prey, often disperse a pack over large areas of land"-that clearly and logically leads
to the action described later in this senrence-"in order to relmite, the separated wolves howl to
one another." Because the wolves become widely spread out over a hunting territory, howling
serves a specific role in bringing the wolves back together.
The best answer is NOT:
A because the clause that follows this underlined portion states, "in order to reunite, the separated wolves
howl fO one another. " As readers, we; have to wonder why thc pack became separated in the first placc.
This statemcnt-"activit ies, such as hunting for prcr, oftcn call upon ani,uals' sharp instincts"-docsn't
give us a cl ue.
C bccausc this statement that activities such as hunting often "require the pack to travel some distance"
might seem to lead readers to the second statement in this sentence; however, that first statement suggestS
,
that the pack is traveling together. If so, why would they need to howl to be reunited ?
o because this statement that activities such as hunting often "involve the entire pack" also seems to lead
to that second statement, but it doesn' t go far enough in providing a logical reason for the pack's howling.
Through this Statement, readers learn that :he entire pack participates in activities such as hunting. But it at
least suggestS that they do these activities together. And if they do, t hen there's no need to reunite.
Question 70. The best answer is F because the adverb Finally provides an effective and log
ical transition from the preceding paragraph to this one. As the title suggests, this essay is attempt
ing to explain "Why Wolves Howl. " The second paragraph explains the purpose of sel fdefense
and protecting territory. Tne third paragraph focllses on the purpose of communication among
pack members. This paragraph addresses the role of howling in terms of the pack's social rituals.
It's the third and final reason given for why wolves howl.
The best answer is NOT:
G because the adverb Nevertheless creates an odd' logical shift here. This sentence and paragraph are not
pJ'Oviding a contrast O( counterbalance to what came before them. The movement of this essay is more dea r
Iy that of an accumulation of points. .
H because.rhe adverb Second doesn't logically fit here. The seconCl paragraph begi ns with "One of these [key
social functionsJ." The third paragraph begins with "Wolves also howl." If the writer wanted to count the
functions of howling, t hcn this paragraph would begin with "Third, wolves use howling."
J because the adverb Tlms doesn't work logicall y here. This word normall y introduces an effect that results
from a previously stated condition or cause. There's no indication that the wolves' use of howling in pack
social rituals has a cause-effect relationship with statements in the preceding paragraph about the wolf
pack's use of howli ng to communicate with each other.
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375
Chapter 4

376

PRACTICE TEST 2

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
Question 71. The best answer is B because it provides a phrasing that is parallel in
ture with the.other two in this seri es. This kind of parallel construction not only results in
prose b.ut also contributes to clear communication.
The best answer is NOT:
A because it upsets the parallel ism suggested by the two phrases on either side of it-"wagging their tails"
and "engaging in mock fights. n This wording also creates a comma spl ice that makes the sentence confus-
ing and difficult to read.
e because it, too, upsetS the parallelism and confuses the meaning of the sentence. The verbs in the other
rwo phrases in this series have -ing endings, suggesting ongoing action, while this middle one has an -ed end-
ing, which causes an odd shift to action completed in the past.
o because it is incorrect for rhe same reason as C is. Here, the proposed wording creates a troubling shift
in this series of actions from ongoing to present (nllzzle) and then back to ongoing.
Q'uestion 72. The best answer is G because it effectively uses commas to set off the
itive or dominant from the word it is explaining, alpha. The conjunction or giVes readers a clue
that this is an appositive, but the commas make it clear that the word dominant is actuaUy restat-
ing what precedes it and not describing a separate item.
The best answer is NOT:
F because it places the first of two commas after the conjunction rather than before it. The commas used
with an appositive signal that the appositive can be deleted wit hout disturbing the senrence. Compare these
two versions of this phrase: "Usuall y begun by the alpha pair of wolves" (G) and "Usuall y begun by the
alpha or pair of wolves" (F).
H because the apposilive is nor set off with commas and an unnecessary and distracting comma has been
placed between the noun pair and the prepositional phrase of wolves.
J because it places a single comma after the conjunction or, which does nor set off the appositive from the
word it restates or from the of the senrence .
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Practice ACT Tests
Question 73. The best answer is D because it provides the best arrangement of the parts of
this sentence. The participial phrase at the beginning of this sentence-"Usuall y begun by the
alpha, or dominant, pair ofwolves"-is modifying a noun. Such phrases should be placed as close
as possible to the noun they modify. By making "chorus howling" the subject of the main clause,
and placing it directly after the phrase that logically modifies it, D provides a good solution to this
writing problem.
The best answer is NOT:
A because it results in a misplaced modifier. The prepositional phrase string "in preparation for the bunt, "
placed right after the verb phrase "is excited," weakly modifies that verb. The prepositional phrase that
more effectively and more closely modifies the verb-"by chorus howling"-is placed fart her away from
the verb.
S because it results in a misplaced modifier. As the sentence reads, "the purpose of chorus howling" is usu-
ally begun by the alpha pair of wolves. This arrangement creates a nonsense sentence.
C because it results in misplaced modifiers. As the sentence reads, "excitement in the pack" is usuall y begun
by the alpha pair of wolves. Furthermore, the prepositional phrase string "in preparation for the hunt, "
placed ri ght after the verb phrase "is raised," weakly modifies that verb. Again, the phrase that more close-
ly modifies the verb-"by chorus howling"-is located farther away from it.
Question 74. The best answer is J because it ensures thar the verb "makes" agrees in num-
ber with the subject "the collective sound." Both are singular in number.
The best answer is NOT:
F because the plural verb "make" doesn't agree with the singular subject "the collective sound. " One way
to confirm that this is wrong is to rake ou[ all the words that come between the subject and its verb-"of
wolves howli ng in va riOliS keys also." Now read the openi ng of this sentence: "The coll ective sound make
the pack seem larger and more powerful." Does that sound right to you?
G because the pl ural verb "have" doesn't agree with the si ngular subject "the collective sound."
H because the pl ural verb "are intended" doesn't agree with the singular subj ect "the collective sound."
Question 75. The best answer is 'D because ir effectively punctuates this sentence (by resist-
ing the impulse to add a comma when one is not necessary) .
The best answer is NOT:
A because it inserts an unnecessary and distracting comma between the subject clatlse "What's already clear"
and the verb is. .
B because it inserts an unnecessary and distracting comma between the relative pronoun that and the clause
it introduces.
C because it inserts an unnecessary and distracting comma between the verb is and the predicate noun clause
"that tbe stereotypical image of the lone wolf howling at the full moon obscures the importance howling has
in the social life of these animals." (If you're not familiar with the term predicate noun, think of is or any
other linking verb as an equal sign. In stich cases, [the subject} = [the predicate noun].)
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