Word Choice

Word Choice

English 9

Word Choice

One of the most commonly tested concepts is word choice, choosing the most appropriate word in context. Unfortunately, it's impossible to cover the infinite number of ways the concept can show up on the ACT. After all, there are hundreds of thousands of words and no formulaic rules for why one word should be chosen over the other. Although you'll have to rely on your fluency in English for most of them, the ACT does not make these questions difficult. In fact, the answer must be clear enough so that it's not up to opinion. Here are a few general guidelines.

Multiple Choice

1. Choose lively and expressive words.

What do I mean by expressive words? Try this:

With a thousand people staring at me, I suddenly felt the need for fresh air and went outside.

Which of the following choices best expresses the idea that the narrator left in a hurry?

• No Change

• went

• moved

• dashed

D!

The answer here is D not only because it implies that the person was in a rush but also because went and moved are boring everyday words. If the ACT wants an expressive word, don't choose a boring word.

Multiple Choice

Choose specific words

Fish with bright colors have to be especially careful of dangerous things that lurk in the sea.

Which choice fits best in the context of this sentence?

• No Change

• animals

• mammals

• predators

D!

The answer is D. The most specific words convey the most meaning, and on the ACT, the most meaningful words will usually be the answer.

Multiple Choice

3. Choose the word that's unlike the others.

The tennis player smashed his racquet in disgust, aggravated by his poor performance.

Which of the following alternatives would NOT be acceptable?

• angered

• enraged

• repelled

• infuriated

Multiple Choice

4. Don't choose casual or informal language.

Tired from the 20 mile hike, Yasmine retired to her tent and snoozed.

• No Change

• hit the sack.

• slept.

• dozed off.

Multiple Choice

5. Don't forget your grammar rules.

The zombie raised from their graves and hunted the survivors.

• No Change

• rise

• rose

• rised

C!

A lot of students think this is a word choice question when it's not. Notice that choice D - rised - is not a word. Choice B is in the present tense when the sentence is in the past tense. Choice A uses the wrong verb, the meaning of raise is not quite the same as that of rise. The answer is C.

Multiple Choice

Let's try this:

I do laundry while she does the dishes.

Which of the following alternatives would NOT be acceptable.

• while

• at the same time

• as

• then

D!

The answer is D. yes, all the other choices share the same meaning but more importantly, choice D would make the sentence a run-on. No matter what type of question you're on, always keep your grammar rules in mind.

Multiple Choice

Joseph Campbell's 1949 comparative study of mythology, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, presents a fascinating concept that can be applied to many of the great stories of modern times.

Which of the following alternatives would be the LEAST acceptable?

• theory

• idea

• thesis

• opinion

Multiple Choice

He found that many hero stories among time and cultures follow a similar pattern, a 17-state journey, in fact.

• No Change

• across

• on

• over

Multiple Choice

The three major divisions of this journey are the hero's departure, his initiation, and his return.

Which of the following alternatives would be the LEAST acceptable?

• parts

• stages

• phases

• areas

Multiple Choice

In agreement with Campbell's schema, every hero receives a call to adventure into the unknown, usually inspired by a vision that changes the hero's understanding of himself and his purpose in life.

• No Change

• Pertaining to

• According to

• In relation to

Multiple Choice

In Star Wars, Luke learns that his father was a Jedi knight and receives his father's lightsaber from Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Which of the following alternatives would not be acceptable?

• No Change

• discovers

• finds out

• detects

Multiple Choice

After his foster parents are killed, Luke chooses to embark with Obi-Want on an adventure through distant galaxies. Similarly, in The Matrix, Neo is presented with the truth that he has not been living in the real world, which is actually a barren wasteland.

Which choice fits most specifically in the context of this sentence?

• No Change

• is shown

• confronts

• sees

Multiple Choice

He chooses to take "the red pill," unplugs from the civilized world he has known for his entire life, and enters a desolate reality.

Which of the following alternatives would NOT be acceptable?

• elects

• is forced

• decides

• opts

Multiple Choice

He chooses to take "the red pill," unplugs from the civilized world he has known for his entire life, and enters a desolate reality.

Which choice fits most specifically in the context of the sentence?

• No Change

• unpleasant

• sad

• painful