“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Practice ACT Tests Question 1. The best answer is A because it provides punctuation (in this case, a period) that appropriately separates these two complete thoughts or statements—“My grandfather is not known for embracing technological change” and “He still drives his 59 Chevy Impala.” The best answer is NO" 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 driving his "59 Chevy Impala” is not a complete statement (because there is no stated subject). It could work in chis sentence if it were set off from the main clause with a comma. It ‘would then modify “My grandfather,” the subject of the main clause. But this answer doesn’t provide that punctuation. D because the conjunction ad 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 actually a fairly simple subject-verb-direct object sentence except that the direct object is a noun clause. The sentence could also be written with the word that introducing the 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”). k's worth pointing out that the comma would be correct if what followed the verb were a direct quotation, as in speech: He says, “I can’t imagine needing 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 the 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 grammatically incorrect. It should be had gone. D because it is in the present tense, creating a shift in verb tense in this sentence. The three verbs that fol- low this one in the sentence are all in the past tense—had quit, tried, and resisted. ees i eeenaee 351 "Practice ACT Tests“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Chapter 4 352 Question 4, The best answer is H because the coordinating word because clearly and con- cisely links this parenthetical clause (“because his old black-and-white model had finally quit”) to the preceding clause (“he went t0 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 finally quit” doesn’t express anything that the clause “because his old black-and-white model had finally quit” doesn’t express more clearly and more precisely. G because it is unnecessarily wordy. The clause “due to the understandable fact that his old black-and-white model had finally quit” seems, on frst glance, impressive, But itis empty, pretentious language, and not con- sistent with the style of che rest of this essay. J because the coordinating word so does not logically 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 his television—“He said that he had two good legs and was per- fectly capable of getting out of his chair.” The addition of “when he wanted to change the chan- nel” fits with the point of the rest of the sentence. The best answer is NOT: A because the fact that the chair “was made of black leather” is irrelevant to the writer's purpose here. C because the fact that the chair is located “by the south window in the family room” is a pointless digres- sion in this sentence. D because, again, the fact chat the grandfather “liked to sit” in his chair is an insignificant detail here. Since it was “his chair,” 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 wihout that kind of help. ‘The best answer is NOT: F because the adverb however, as it is used here, indicates that this sentence is going to contradict or con- trast with the 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 conversely expresses the same general idea that however does. This sentence does not provide a contrast to the statement in the preceding sentence. ‘The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Practice ACT Tests Question 7. The best answer is C because the 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 inseres 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 B because it also inserts an unnecessary and confusing comma, this time after the conjunction and rather than just before it, D because the comna after the word channel indicates that the phrase “of his favorite daily news program” is not essential. It’s set off from 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 J 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), the mute button is great for silencing the tel- evision when he doesn’t want to hear it. The best answer is NoT: F because the phrase For example indicates chat this sentence will offer an example of the statement expressed in the sentence before it. This sentence does not provide that payolt. 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 On 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 isthe last sentence in this paragraph. Question 9. The best answer is B because advertisers is a specific noun that clearly com- municates who Grandpa wants to be able to cut off in midsentenee. 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). C 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 pronoun its might refer back to the noun sornd 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 cue the but- ton’s function off in midsentence”? ‘The ONLY Oficial Prop Guide | from the Makers of the ACT 353 Practice ACT Tests“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Chapter 4 354 Question 10. The best answer is F because it appropriately punctuates this complex sen- tence. A complex sentence, by definition, contains an independent clause (*This option automat- ically turns the TV off after a preset amount of time”) and one or more dependent clauses (“which is very convenient” and “when he falls asleep while watching a show”). The best answer is NOT: G because by inserting a comma before the clause “when he falls asleep while watching a show” and setting it off from the 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 option of automatically turning off the TV is not always convenient, but it’s sure handy when Grandpa falls asleep in the middle of a show. H because it creates a sentence fragment. “When he falls asleep while watching a show” cannot stand alone. Ie’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 signaling that the statements on either side of the semicolon should be independent clauses (complete thoughts). Question 11. The best answer is D. Think of this sentence as a jigsaw puzzle. Each puzzle piece is a phrase or clause. In this version, all the pieces of this sentence fit together well. And the “picture” that results looks like something that 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 answering this question is to listen carefully to each wording as you read it out foud to your self. The clause “what he wants his ‘TV doing... is to know a source of both pleasure aad power” is pret~ ty funny, but it’s probably not what the writer meant to say here. B because of a similarly flawed arrangement of the elements of this sentence. Piacing the introductory clause “Even when he sleeps” directly before the statement “Grandpa says” gives readers the wrong impression that Grandpa is talking in his sleep. C because of its clumsiness. The following makes litte or no sense at all: “Doing what he wants . . . is to know his TV is a source of both pleasure and power for hirn.” Question 12. The best answer is F because it provides a main clause for this sentence: “Grandpa points his finger at the TV and .. . seemingly turns it on.” Notice that the phrase intco- ducing the 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 ic creates a sentence fragment. There is no stated subject and no main clause. H because it is incorrect for the same reason that G is incorrect—no subject, no main clause, J-not because of a fragment problem but because of a tense shift problem. Both the verb ia the preceding 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 pointed) that expresses action that began in the past and continues in the present. Se ee“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Practice ACT Tests Question 13. The best answer is A because it provides a fitting ending for this personal essay because it refers to 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 description of Grandpa as uninterested in learning how to use his remote control That's inconsistent with the rest of the essay’s portrayal of him as embracing this new technology. C because it introduces elements that are insignificant in terms of the rest of the essay. The 200-page manu- al had not been mentioned elsewhere in the story, and the salesperson had only a minor role early inthe story. D because it suggests that che grandmother's feelings or thoughts are central to the essay, but the rest of the essay has focused on the actions and opinions of the grandfather, Question 14. The best answer is G because the placement that creates the most logical order is between Sentences 1 and 2. First, the statement that Grandpa likes to use the program- ming function to play jokes on his grandchildren. Then, the explanation of how he does it: He pro- grams the TV to turn on at a certain time; in the grandchildren’s presence, he points his finger at the TV when it’s programmed to turn on. The best answer is NOT: F because itis 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 programming function to play jokes on his grandchildren. H because it reverses the chronological order of how Grandpa’s joke works. He can’t play the trick on the grandchildren and then program the TV to turn on ata certain time. J because it is incorrect for the same reason that H is, The chronological order of the setup of the remore- ‘control-finger joke is out of whack. Question 15. The best answer is D because it provides an effective transition from the first part of the essay to the second part. The opening paragraphs focus on Grandpa’s resistance to but eventual acquisition of a new TV with a remote control. The last sentence of Paragraph 2 indicates that Grandpa overcame his resistance to technology and began to use the remote. The first sen tence of Paragraph 3 points out that Grandpa has actually grown interested in the uses of the remote, and this leads into the rest of the essay’s description of the uses that he discovers, many of which wouldn’s be found in that 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 control might have intriguing uses, but it doesn’t provide any infor- ‘mation about those uses. B because, again, the sentence does suggest that Grandpa liked using the remote, but it doesn’t provide any details that support that asa fact. C because it would be a vast overstatement to say that this sentence is “a humorous blend of descriptive details and relevant information.” oe The ONLY Offa Prep Guide a) frorn the Makers of the ACT 355“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Chapter 4 356 Passage Il Question 16. The best answer is F because it provides a correct superlative adjective form (liveliest) as well as a singular subject (One) to match the predicate found later in this sentence (is). ‘The best answer is NOT: G because the superlative adjective most liveliest is redundant. The word mos? and the ending -est both sig: nal a comparison of more than ewo items. H because it creates a plural subject—"The most lively folk music forms”—which does not agree with the singular predicate is J because it also creates a plural subject—"The liveliest folk music forms.” Question 17. The best answer is B because it provides the correct form 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 its as a contraction here, then the clause reads as a sentence structure error: “because of itis having origins on both side of the Texas-Mexico border.” C because it proposes using the contraction its where the possessive pronoun its is called for D Kecause 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 further the description of the dance music that the German immigeants brought to south Texas and north- ern Mexico. Maybe some readers might already know that the dance music of late-nineteenth- century German immigrants 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 irtelevant 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, s0 this addition would mot be inconsistent with the rest of the essay. ty Te ONLY ofa Prp cute (AGT) trom tno Maker ot te Ac“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Practice ACT Tests Question 19. The best answer is B because it correctly uses a comma to set off the appos- itive noun phrase “buapangos and rancheras” 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 accordion and the prepositional phrase ir their own dance music. This comma creates a confusing pause or break where none is needed. C because it fils to place a comma between those two noun phrases. Occasionally, appositive nouns or noun phrases are nor set off by commas, but only if they are essential to the basic meaning of the sentence. That is not the case here. D because it also fails to place a comma between the noun phrase and the appositive 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 their meaning is understood. We could also write this sentence as follows: Eventually, a unique musical style developed that was based on duet singing and an instrumentation of accor- dion, drums, etc. The best answer is NOT: F because it places a semicolon between the main clause—"a unique musical style developed” —and a mod- ifying phrase—“based on duet singing 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 om and the object of that preposition, duet singing. J because it places an unnecessary and distracting comma between the subject—a unique musical style—and that subject's predicate—developed. Question 21. The best answer is B because it provides a wording that is clear and unam- biguons. “This style” clearly refers the reader back to the phrase “a unique musical style” at the beginning 6f the preceding sentence. The clause “known as conjuunto” (which could also have been written “which is known as conjunto”) modifies the noun that 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-string bass guitar? Upright bass? Accordion? Instrumentation? Duet singing? Musical style? The reader is forced to guess. (On top of that, the sentence itself is rather clumsy: “It was conjunto and became the heart of Tejano music C because of the unclear pronoun antecedent. The fact that “it” is “known as conjunto” doesn’t help the reader. The Spanish twelve-string guitar is a bajo sexto. Maybe the upright bass is a conjtento? We really don’t know. D because of that same pronoun antecedent problem, In addition, the sentence “It being conjuunto became the heart of Tejano music” doesn’t work well, raising more questions for the reader than it answers. a The ONLY Oficial Prop Gude (AGH) from the Makers of the ACT 387 Practice ACT Tests“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Chapter 4 358 underlined portion that is not acceptable. The preposition on in the clause “The Mendoza family made their living on working” is simply the weong word to use here, The best answer is NOT: F because it is an acceptable alternative. The phrase “earned their living” means the same thing as “made their living.” The word by sounds fine in the clause “The Mendoza family made their living by working.” G because it is an acceptable alternative. The word from sounds fine in the clause “The Mendoza family ‘made their living from working.” J because it is an acceptable alternative to the underlined portion. As was stated earlier, the phrase “earned their living” means the samme thing as “made their living.” Question 23. The best answer is D because the preposition as provides the parallel con- struction that is called for by the adverb alternately (meaning simply “by turns”) and the con- necting word and, resulting in the phrase “working alternately as field hands and as touring musicians.” The best answer is NOT: A because of the lack of parallelism of “as field hands and they were touring musicians.” For this sentence (0 flow smoothly and to make sense, the phrases on either side of the conjunction and should mirror or near- ly mircor each other in terms of sentence structure. B because of this same lack of parallelism. ‘The phrase “as field hands and as well touring musicians” is clunky and raises doubt about whether the family worked alternately in these two roles. C because it is, likewise, incorrect because of lack of parallelism: “working alternately as field hands and being touring musicians.” Question 24, The best answer is H because this clause should be kept in the essay. Although this information about music publishers printing song lyrics on bubble gum wrappers as a way Co promote the songs seems irrelevant to this essay about Tejano music, it sure helps to explain that preceding statement: “Mendoza learned the words to many of her songs from bubble gum wrap- pers.” ‘The best answer is NOT: F because this clause should not be deleted from the essay. I's true that this information is rather unrelated to the main topic of the paragraph, but itis crucial to this particular sentence. Without 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 not deleted from the essay, and besides, the information in this clause does nor diminish the musical accomplishments of Lydia Mendoza. J because it’s true that this clause should be kept in the essay, but the information presented in the clause ‘does not 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. ‘The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Practice ACT Tests Question 25. The best answer is D because it creates a complete sentence. When we delete the underlined portion, the sentence reads, “In 1928 in San Antonio, Texas, Mendoza and her fam- ily made their first recording.” The best answer is NOT: A because it creates a sentence fragment. There is a dependent clause—*where Mendoza and her family made their first recording”—but no independent clause. B because it is needlessly wordy and because it provides a weak link between the two introductory preposi- tional phrases and the main clause: “it was there” scems 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 punctuates this sentence. Sometimes, less punctuation is best. ‘The best answer is NOT: G because it places an unnecessary and distracting colon between the noun phrase her widespread popular~ ity and the prepositional phrase that follows and describes i. H because it places nnnecessary and distracting commas between the noun phrase her widespread popular- ity and the prepositional phrase that follows it, and between the prepositional phrase in the Spanish- speaking 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 about how she became widely known as La Alondra de la Frontera fits best after the sentence that states that she “soon gained widespread popularity” (Sentence 6). The best answer is NOT: A because of the chronological arrangement of the information in this paragraph; it doesn’t make sense to insert this sentence about Lydia Mendoza’s popularity 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 tight before the sentence about the Mendoza family 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 sentence about her singing style soon gaining her widespread popularity. one ‘The ONLY Oa Pron Guide (GAD) tom the Mater of te ACT 359 Practice ACT Tests“ACT IRE loviact ACERS Chapter 4 360 Question 28. The best answer is G because it ties together Tejano music and Lydia Mendoza, which are arguably the two main subjects of this essay. With the wording of G, the 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 immni 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 introduces Santiago and Flaco Jiménez, who are not mentioned elsewhere in this essay. J because it focuses on large recording contracts. Although the preceding paragraph mentions that the “Mendoza family made a recording, the essay makes no reference to large or lucrative recording contracts, Question 29. The best answer is D because it 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 statement that Tejano music will “stick around a while” uses an informal or casual phrasing that is unlike anything else in this essay. That phrasing also suggests a less respectful attitude coward Tejano ‘music than is expressed elsewhere in this piece. B because itis unnecessarily wordy, vague, and repetitive. The phrase “causes it to be” could be more sue- expressed by “results in,” for example. Do we know what the writer means by “enduring things”? Besides, something that is “enduring” is, by definition, “rimeless.” What is gained by using both of these adjectives heve? C because, like A, it is more informal or casual than the rest of the essay. We might easily say “lots of péo- pile really ike ie” in conversation with friends, bur would we use that phrasing in a school research paper or in a college admissions essay? At the very least, we can reasonably conclude that, in ight of the rest of this essay, we would not do so here. Question 30. The best answer is F because this essay has focused on the history and devel- opment of Tejano music, in part by describing the career of one of the earliest Tejano music stars, The best answer is NOT: G because although the essay does describe how various Spanish, German, and English musical traditions influenced the development of Tejano music, the essay makes no mention of Tejano music’s contributions to other folk muse 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. ‘because it’s true that Lydia Mendoza is the only Tejano musician described in any detail, bur she’s not men- tioned until halfway through the essay. The essay «does not limic its focus to Mendoza and, in fact, uses the story of Mendoza’ life as a way to continue the larger story of Tejano music ‘The ONLY Official Prep Guide from the Makers of the ACT