ACT English

Last updated almost 6 years ago

15 questions

1

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

waiting, by the back door,

waiting by the back door,

waiting by the back door

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

would sit

sitting

sat

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

As my mother’s interest is science, she is

My mother’s occupation is that of

My mother is

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

There seemed to be no explanation for why Mom ran our household the way she did.

Our household didn’t run according to a typical schedule.

Mom ran our household in a most spectacular manner.

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

was defenseless in the face of

depended on

trusted in

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

Which choice most effectively signals the shift from the preceding paragraph to this paragraph?

NO CHANGE

Our lives were likewise affected by the phases of the moon.

A relationship exists between the moon and the tides.

The moon is a mysterious orb afloat in the sky.

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

NO CHANGE

Since the moon is

The moon is

The moon,

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

NO CHANGE

one's

it's

its'

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

If the writer were to delete the phrase “sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides” from the preceding sentence (ending the sentence with a period), the essay would primarily lose a detail that:
Individual Question

shows how the narrator’s interests are different from the mother’s interests.

contradicts a point made earlier in the paragraph.

helps establish the setting for the essay.

displays the narrator’s knowledge of tides.

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

NO CHANGE

brother, and I,

brother, and I

brother and I

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

NO CHANGE

away. Then we

away. We

away; we

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

NO CHANGE

hideouts where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins concealed and hid themselves.

places where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins were stashed away.

hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins.

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

Which of the following sequences of sentences makes this paragraph most logical?

NO CHANGE

2, 1, 3

2, 3, 1

3, 1, 2

For plankton tows, we would stand on the bridge while Mom lowered a cone-shaped net that is often used by marine biologists.(14)Then we would patiently wait. After a while, she would pull up the net, and we would go home. Later, we would see her sitting at the kitchen table, peering at a drop of water(15) through the lenses of her microscope from the bottle—watching the thousands of tiny swimming organisms.

Given that all of the choices are true, which one provides information that is relevant and that makes the rest of this paragraph understandable?

NO CHANGE

had a specimen bottle attached to its smaller end.

was woven from cotton and nylon material.

was shaped like a geometric figure.

For plankton tows, we would stand on the bridge while Mom lowered a cone-shaped net that is often used by marine biologists.(14)Then we would patiently wait. After a while, she would pull up the net, and we would go home. Later, we would see her sitting at the kitchen table, peering at a drop of water(15) through the lenses of her microscope from the bottle—watching the thousands of tiny swimming organisms.

The best placement for the underlined portion would be:

where it is now.

after the word lenses.

after the word microscope.

after the word bottle (but before the dash).

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

waiting, by the back door,

waiting by the back door,

waiting by the back door

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

would sit

sitting

sat

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

As my mother’s interest is science, she is

My mother’s occupation is that of

My mother is

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

There seemed to be no explanation for why Mom ran our household the way she did.

Our household didn’t run according to a typical schedule.

Mom ran our household in a most spectacular manner.

I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets waiting by the back door(1); hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator door; and a microscope was sitting(2) on the kitchen table. Having studied, my mother is(3) a marine biologist. Our household might have been described as uncooperative(4). Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper. Everything was subservient to the disposal of(5) the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.

NO CHANGE

was defenseless in the face of

depended on

trusted in

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

Which choice most effectively signals the shift from the preceding paragraph to this paragraph?

NO CHANGE

Our lives were likewise affected by the phases of the moon.

A relationship exists between the moon and the tides.

The moon is a mysterious orb afloat in the sky.

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

NO CHANGE

Since the moon is

The moon is

The moon,

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

NO CHANGE

one's

it's

its'

I have great respect for my mother(6). I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full or new moon, when low tide would be lower than average and high tide higher than average. The moon being(7) aligned with Earth and the sun when full or new, so its(8) gravity combines with the sun’s gravity to create an even stronger gravitational pull. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides(9). I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.

If the writer were to delete the phrase “sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides” from the preceding sentence (ending the sentence with a period), the essay would primarily lose a detail that:
Individual Question

shows how the narrator’s interests are different from the mother’s interests.

contradicts a point made earlier in the paragraph.

helps establish the setting for the essay.

displays the narrator’s knowledge of tides.

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

NO CHANGE

brother, and I,

brother, and I

brother and I

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

NO CHANGE

away. Then we

away. We

away; we

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

NO CHANGE

hideouts where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins concealed and hid themselves.

places where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins were stashed away.

hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins.

[1] Often, my brother and I(10), joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we(11) found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen(12).[3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13(13)

Which of the following sequences of sentences makes this paragraph most logical?

NO CHANGE

2, 1, 3

2, 3, 1

3, 1, 2

For plankton tows, we would stand on the bridge while Mom lowered a cone-shaped net that is often used by marine biologists.(14)Then we would patiently wait. After a while, she would pull up the net, and we would go home. Later, we would see her sitting at the kitchen table, peering at a drop of water(15) through the lenses of her microscope from the bottle—watching the thousands of tiny swimming organisms.

Given that all of the choices are true, which one provides information that is relevant and that makes the rest of this paragraph understandable?

NO CHANGE

had a specimen bottle attached to its smaller end.

was woven from cotton and nylon material.

was shaped like a geometric figure.

For plankton tows, we would stand on the bridge while Mom lowered a cone-shaped net that is often used by marine biologists.(14)Then we would patiently wait. After a while, she would pull up the net, and we would go home. Later, we would see her sitting at the kitchen table, peering at a drop of water(15) through the lenses of her microscope from the bottle—watching the thousands of tiny swimming organisms.

The best placement for the underlined portion would be:

where it is now.

after the word lenses.

after the word microscope.

after the word bottle (but before the dash).