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ACT English 1, Set 2
Answers & Explanations
1. D The subject of the sentence is “one” so the
appropriate verb is the singular “is” followed
by the singular “lifecycle”.
2. F “Black bodies” is part of a list, so it should be
followed by a comma. The subject of the sen-
tence is plural, as is the possessive pronoun
“their”, so “bodies” must be plural as well.
3. A No punctuation is necessary.
4. H The sentence should be placed after sentence
1 because it clarifies that magicicadas are the
same as periodical cicadas. Without this infor-
mation, sentence 2 is unclear.
5. C Present tense is appropriate here because the
activity is ongoing. The cicadas continue to
come out of the earth.
6. J Choice J is the only one that effectively
connects the topic of the cicada’s time under-
ground (paragraph 1), and the topic of the
nymphs emerging and molting (paragraph 2).
7. A In order to preserve the parallel structure of
the sentence, the appropriate verb is “molt”.
The other choices are wordy.
8. G The subject of the sentence is “sight” so the
verb must be singular. G is the only choice
with a singular verb choice.
9. B The modifying clause that begins the sentence
must be placed immediately next to the noun
it modifies. “A few weeks before emerging”
modifies “the nymphs”.
10. H It preserves the chronology of the nymphs’
activity. Sentence 1 is a topic sentence that
introduces the journey to the surface. It
should be followed by sentence 3 that explains
why they begin burrowing. Sentence 5 must
come before sentence 2 because it explains
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ACT HOMEWORK ENGLISH 1, SET 2
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the exit tunnels. Finally, sentence 4 talks
about the cicadas once they are above ground.
11. A “After leaving…..” is a clause that modifies
the nymphs. The other choices are wordy or
do not have appropriate verb choices.
12. J Only choice J talks about the physical changes
in the appearance of the insect. The other
choices talk about the behavior of the insects.
13. D Choice D is the most concise answer. “Vol-
ume”, along with “development”, belongs to
the cicadas.
14. H “born Eric Blair” is a parenthetical phrase that
should be offset from the rest of the sentence
with commas.
15. B “Portrayal” is a noun that belongs to the book.
Therefore the correct form is “its” – the pos-
sessive. “Negative” is an adjective describing
the “portrayal” and “blatantly” is the correct
form of the adverb which describes an
adjective.
16. J The content of the sentence calls for a causal
word, not a contrasting word.
17. A Choices B and C talk about people’s per-
ception of other things, not of the novel.
Choice A indicates that the perceptions about
the book were still negative – not a change.
Only choice A implies that perceptions about
the book changed.
18. F Past tense is appropriate because the context
of the paragraph is about the changes that took
place immediately after the war.
19. D “Perusal” is defined as a careful study. Using
the adjective “careful” is redundant.
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20. H Sentence 2 must follow sentence 3, because
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it begins by contrasting minor characters to
the protagonists. Sentence 4 must follow
sentences 2 and 3 because it contrasts with
the characters. Sentence 5 is the best opening
sentence.

21. A “Who” is the best choice. “Whom” should

follow a preposition, or be the object of the
sentence.

22. J The sentence is integral in paragraph 4 be-

cause it indicates the roots of Orwell’s class
consciousness.

23. B The “forces” belong to Stalin; therefore a

possessive is required on “Stalin”.

24. J F, G, and H are wordy choices that confuse

the reader.

25. A Paragraph 1 is an introductory paragraph be-

ginning with Orwell’s birth. Paragraph 2
opens with a contrasting transition from
paragraph 1. Paragraph 5 should follow para-
graph 4 because it continues talking about
Orwell’s personal life.

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ACT HOMEWORK ENGLISH 1, SET 2
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