ACT English Test
45 minutes – 75 questions
Format – Five passages with phrases or words underlined. Multiple choice asks if the underlined is correct or should be corrected with alternatives listed
Skills tested – grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetorical skills
In other words - the rules of standard written English
Basic terminology (refer to handout)
Tom broke the vase. (noun, subject, verb, article, object)
Tom accidentally broke the big vase of flowers.
(adverb, adjective, preposition, phrase, prepositional phrase)
As he ran across the room, Tom accidentally broke the big vase of flowers.
(pronoun, independent and dependent clause)
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SENTENCE STRUCTURE ERRORS
Error #1 Sentence Fragments
A complete sentence must have a subject and a verb and be able to stand alone. (independent clause)
Watch for words that can change an independent clause to one that is dependent. For example:
when, where, why, how, if, as, because,
although, despite, while, that, who, what
Example:
Mary arrived on campus happy and content.
While Mary arrived on campus happy and content.
Two types of sentence fragments.
1) a dependent clause waiting for a second half that isn’t there.
2) incorporating the fragment into the complete sentence using punctuation marks
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SENTENCE STRUCTURE ERRORS (cont’d)
Error #2 Comma Splices and Run-Ons
Comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are put together with only a comma to hold them.
Example:
Mary arrived on campus, she was filled with anxiety.
Fix it!
Break into two sentences
Mary arrived on campus. She was filled with anxiety.
Add a conjunction.
Mary arrived on campus, and she was filled with anxiety.
Add a semicolon.
Mary arrived on campus; she was filled with anxiety.
A run on sentence is the same as a comma splice, without the comma.
Mary arrived on campus she was filled with anxiety.
The easiest solution? Break up into two sentences.
Mary arrived on campus. She was filled with anxiety. 3
SENTENCE STRUCTURE ERRORS (cont’d)
Error #3 Misplaced Modifiers
A modifying phrase needs to be near what it is modifying. If it gets too far away, it can be misplaced.
Example:
Pushing the cart, the refrigerator was dropped by Mary.
The noun being modified with the beginning phrase, must immediately follow or there is confusion.
Pushing the cart, Mary dropped the refrigerator.
Construction shifts are a form of misplaced modifier.
The modifier is in the wrong place and needs to be shifted.
Example:
Mary picked up the refrigerator; then she clumsily pushed the elevator button.
Mary clumsily picked up the refrigerator; then she pushed the elevator button. 4
SENTENCE STRUCTURE ERRORS (cont’d)
Error #4 Non-Parallel Construction
The ACT tests 2 types of parallel structure errors. Both involve listing.
There may be a list of verbs and the tense may be inconsistent.
Example:
Mary hung her clothes, arranged her desk and tapes posters on her walls.
There may be a list of nouns with an inconsistency.
Example:
Mary has a desire to learn, a passion for art and craving for adventure. WRONG!
Mary has a desire to learn, a passion for art and a craving for adventure. PARALLEL!
Parallel construction errors don’t always come in threes.
Example:
To know a new life and understanding diverse people is Mary’s dream. WRONG!
To know a new life and to understand diverse people is Mary’s dream. PARALLEL! 5
Give it try!
Sentence fragments
A)
B)
Comma splices & run ons
C)
D)
Misplaced Modifiers
E)
F)
GRAMMAR & USAGE RULES to KNOW for ACT
Pronoun Rule: Agreement
Pronouns always agree with the noun to which it refers (antecedent). Errors in pronoun agreement are common in spoken English.
Example: Every young girl treasures their first doll.
Every young girl treasures her first doll.
But in written English, agreement errors should be corrected.
Pronoun Rule: Case
Subject pronouns are: I, we, you, he, she, it, they and who
Object pronouns are: me, us, you, him her, it them and whom
Example: (She/Her) waited for a roommate to call (she/her).
ACT will have a who and whom error question. If the pronoun is acting as a subject of a clause, who is the choice.
The roommate, who arrived late, apologized to her.
If the pronoun follows a preposition and is the object of the preposition, whom is the right choice.
The roommate arrived late explaining about whom she met along the way.
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
If the verb or a sentence is singular, the subject must be singular. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.
Example:
The best moment on campus, of all her exciting experiences, were when she met her roommate. WHAT’s WRONG? 6
PRONOUN-VERB AGREEMENT
Pronouns used as subjects must also agree with the verb tense.
Example:
Each of these moments has played in her mind again and again as she recalled the excitement of her first days of college. WHAT’s the subject?
VERB TENSE
Do you remember all the tenses of verbs?
present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, future perfect
How does the ACT test verb tense?
They will test if you can spot inconsistencies in verb tense.
Example:
Mary is walking to the theater when she found a kitten. WRONG
Mary is walking to the theater when she finds a kitten.
Or
Mary was walking to the theater when she found a kitten.
ADJECTIVES & ADVERBS
Adjectives modify nouns and adverbs modify everything else – verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
A simple test: Fill in the blank> He is very ______.
If a word fits the blank it’s an adjective.
Watch for comparative adjectives and adverbs.
Comparative adjectives compare two things usually by adding –er to a word. Example: Mary is taller than her roommate.
Some comparative adjectives require the words “more” or “less.”
Example: Mary is more careful than her roommate when walking.
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Comparative adverbs are used when a sentence is comparing 2 actions.
Mary studies more diligently than her roommate.
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
Idiomatic expression is a law unto itself. Native speakers sometimes understand an expression is as it is “just because.”
Example: Mary’s art project is based after Rodin’s Thinker. WRONG
Mary’s art project is based on Rodin’s Thinker.
Your ear may be your best tool to handle this type question on the ACT.
*Now, a Grammar Drill
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PUNCTUATION
Comma Rules
Rule #1 – The Serial Comma
The ACT test writers expect you to use a comma after each item listed in a series…INCLUDING the item placed before the conjunction “and.”
Example: When Mary walked to the library she saw a squirrel, a boy flying a kite, a woman eating a bagel, and a bird.
Rule #2 – Separating Clauses and Phrases
The ACT tests your ability to use commas when separating two independent clauses, or a clause and a phrase.
Two independent clauses
Mary noticed there was a bird in the classroom, and she decided to open the window.
An independent clause and a dependent clause
Before Mary could reach the window, the bird flew to the top book shelf.
An independent clause and a modifying phrase
Frustrated and tired, Mary slammed the window shut.
Rule #3 – Separating restrictive and nonrestrictive elements
Restrictive phrase is ESSENTIAL to the sentence-requires NO comma
Nonrestrictive phrase is NOT ESSENTIAL – requires a comma
Mary, who never liked birds, picked up her books and left. (not essential)
People who like birds have more patience. (essential)
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Semicolon
Use the semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are closely related.
Mary is majoring in animal science; she wants to someday be a veterinarian.
Colon
Colons are used to designate a list following an independent clause. An ACT trick is to use a colon following an incomplete thought which would be incorrect. Beware the phrases “including” and “such as” as a list is introduced – a colon should not be used as punctuation.
Mary went camping and took lots of gear: a flashlight, tent, cook stove, mosquito netting, and sleeping bag. CORRECT
Mary went camping and took lots of gear including: a flashlight, tent, cook stove, mosquito netting and sleeping bag. IT’s A TRICK!!!
Dashes
Dashes (-) are used to show an abrupt break in thought or introduce an explanation or afterthought.
Mary was grateful to be home – even though she enjoyed the company – she didn’t enjoy sleeping in a tent.
Apostrophes
An apostrophe is used to show possession or mark missing letters (as in contractions).
Review rules of possession
Singular noun ‘s girl’s doll
Plural noun s’ girls’ houses
Plural form w/o an s women’s houses 11
Common apostrophe errors
Its/It’s/Its’
Its mother curled around him.
It’s a good mother cat.
Its’ is not a word at all, but ACT likes to try to TRICK YOU!
There are other punctuation questions that may appear on the ACT –
the exclamation point, parentheses, question mark, and quotation marks
but those presented have proved to be the most challenging.
*Punctuation Drill*
RHETORICAL SKILLS
The ACT writers break down rhetorical skills into 3 subcategories: strategy, organization and style.
Strategy Questions.
Most strategy questions concern transitions. Three main words used for sentence connectors are but, therefore and also.
But (contradiction) – however, despite, rather, on the other hand, although, yet, nevertheless
Therefore (cause and effect) – hence, and so, thus, consequently, for example, finally, because of, in conclusion
Also (in addition) – for example, furthermore, another, and , first, second, moreover, by the same token, similarly, besides
The ACT test will want you to recognize the shades of meaning in the context presented. 12
Organizational Questions
There are 3 kinds of organizational questions.
1. check placement of word or phrase
2. reorder sentences in a paragraph
3. reorder paragraphs in a passage
Style Questions
Redundancy represents a large number of style questions.
The ACT likes economy in sentences. If something is stated twice, take it out!
*Rhetorical Drill*
The ACT Reading Test
4 passages, 40 questions(10 per passage) 35 min. for the Reading test
ACT says the passages are “typical of what a college freshman might be required to read…”
ACT says the questions are to test your ability to “understand” the passage.
REALITY CHECK! Understanding may not be possible by simply reading a fragment. And college professors will never ask you to read a passage in 8-9 min., think it through and understand it. SO, in reality you are reading to find the right answers.
Best advice – Get WISE to the test & approach it with some strategy.
Some Strategies
1) Attack passages in the order that suits you.
2) See through the camouflage that hides correct answers
3) Get wise to distracters & use Process of Elimination (POE)
4) Answer questions without really reading the passage
Strategy #1 ORDERING THE PASSAGES
The four passages will be from the following fields of study:
1) prose fiction (short story or novel)
2) social studies (history, econ., psych., pol. sci., anthropology)
3) humanities (art, music, architecture, dance)
4) natural science (biology, chemistry, physics, phys. Science)
The passages are always in the same order. Choose the passage from the field you will handle best, FIRST!
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A few points about the passages…
*Prose fiction asks you to “read between the lines” and recognize characterization and what motivates characters
*Social Studies & Humanities - an author’s view is given and you are asked to draw inferences about it
*Natural Science – the passages are filled with detail and technical descriptions. The questions follow the text closely with few inferences.
Other considerations:
*Sometimes your best is still difficult. And some students find all fields difficult.
Still think of ordering the passages.
-Which passage is “user-friendly?”
Maybe social studies is not your strength, but reading something presented in chronological order is less difficult for you. You notice the social studies passage is approached chronologically so you might select it for this reason alone.
Maybe the science passage covers a topic you recently studied and you feel confident reading this passage. Go for it first!
-Are the questions and answers “user friendly?” Check out the questions. If they appear to be miniature novels, they may take some time. If they are straightforward referring to particular line numbers, italicized words, dates, etc. they may take less time to answer.
REMEMBER – You don’t have to understand the passage, you have to find the right answer!!!!
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Strategy #2 SEE THROUGH THE CAMOUFLAGE
Look at these two phrases:
“rationally conceived idea” “concept born of reason”
There’s not a single word in common but they essentially mean the same thing. One is a paraphrase of the other. ACT does this with many of their reading questions.
Look at this passage:
Regardless of personal religious belief, no true student of history can emerge from study without a scholarly appreciation for the significant role of religion in the development of human civilization.
1. Which of the following represents the author’s belief regarding the role of religion in the study of history?
A. Few historians have gained a complete appreciation for the development of religion.
B. Historians should not allow their personal religious beliefs to affect the historical conclusions with which they emerge.
C. Serious historians regard religious belief as an important force in man’s social evolution.
D. A true student of religious history should not ignore a general study of human development.
Here’s the camouflage:
“serious historians” = “true student of history”
“important force” = “significant role”
“man’s social evolution = “development of human civilization” 3
Strategy #3 –RECOGNIZE DISTRACTORS and use POE
Standard test makers purposefully design answers that misdirect your thinking by breaking your concentration, distracting you, and throwing you off course.
4 kinds of distracters
1) Deceptive Answers
2) Switches
3) Extremes
4) “Nice” Choices
Distracter 1 – Deceptive Answers
This type distracter steals words from the passage and includes them in the answer that does not reflect the content of the passage.