ACT 64E English: Simple & Precise

ACT 64E English: Simple & Precise

Multiple Choice

Over many weeks, as time goes by, her collection slowly grows: clay bowls, cups, vases, and sculptures fill the studio.

• NO CHANGE

• with the passing of time,

• gradually,

• OMIT the underlined portion.

• Over many weeks, her collection slowly grows: clay bowls, cups, vases, and sculptures fill the studio.

• "As time goes by" was redundant with "over many weeks."

Multiple Choice

The chamber is just big enough for her to crouch in as she carefully arranges the pieces inside.

• NO CHANGE

• stoops to carefully arrange

• bends over to arrange with care

• carefully stoops over to arrange

• The chamber is just big enough for her to crouch in as she carefully arranges the pieces inside.

• All of the other options add redundant words.

Multiple Choice

Last week, he told me he had to go on a business trip in connection with his work and that I’d be staying with his sister for three days.

• NO CHANGE

• having something to do with his job

• that involved traveling to another city

• OMIT the underlined portion.

• Last week, he told me he had to go on a business trip and that I’d be staying with his sister for three days. 

• Because we already know it is a business trip, the additional references to travel and/or his job are unnecesary.

Multiple Choice

They can experience the satisfaction of contentment through a diet of grass clippings, lettuce, broccoli, melons, and other vegetables and fruit.

• NO CHANGE

• reap their necessary nutritional requirements from

• be kept as happy as a clam with

• be adequately nourished by

• They can be adequately nourished by a diet of grass clippings, lettuce, broccoli, melons, and other vegetables and fruit.

• "Be adequately nourished by" is the shortest and simplest option.

Multiple Choice

The clock kept precise time for—can you believe it?—over forty years.

• NO CHANGE

• for over forty years. Amazing!

• for over forty unbelievable years.

• for over forty years.

• The clock kept precise time for over forty years.

• "Can you believe it?" was unnecessary.

Multiple Choice

He also began to calculate annual tables of yearly sets of astronomical data, which became the basis for almanacs published under

his name from 1792 through 1797.

• NO CHANGE

• covering a year’s worth

• about twelve months

• OMIT the underlined portion.

• He also began to calculate annual tables of astronomical data, which became the basis for almanacs published under his name from 1792 through 1797.

• "Of yearly sets" was redundant with "annual tables".

Multiple Choice

Today, many people use kayaks recreationally for white-water sports and for touring wilderness areas that are extremely wild.

• NO CHANGE

• of great remoteness.

• that are uncivilized.

• OMIT the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

• Today, many people use kayaks recreationally for white-water sports and for touring wilderness areas.

• "That are extremely wild" is redundant with "wilderness areas".

Multiple Choice

Scientists have collected them from the Yellowstone National Park’s thermal pools, the park abounding with geysers like Old Faithful,

and from radioactive rock deep within South African gold mines.

• NO CHANGE

• pools, in contrast to the cool depths of Scandinavian fjords,

• pools, natural wonders formed by geologic magic,

• pools

• Scientists have collected them from the Yellowstone National Park’s thermal pools and from radioactive rock deep within South African gold mines.

• "The park abounding with geysers like Old Faithful" is unnecessary to the sentence.