ACT English Quiz 3

The oval-shaped, white lace cloth was placed in the middle of the table.

• NO CHANGE

• oval-shaped, white lace, cloth

• oval-shaped, white, lace cloth

• oval-shaped, white, lace, cloth

Answer explanation

Choice B is incorrect because it places a comma between the adjective lace and the noun it’s modifying, cloth. Choices C and D are incorrect because they both place a comma between the compound adjective white lace, which is not necessary. Choice A is the best option because it places a comma between the two adjectives oval-shaped and white lace without placing an interrupting comma before cloth.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2

The movie was over, we had just left the theater; and I had forgotten my wallet!

• NO CHANGE

• over, we had just left the theater,

• over we had just left the theater;

• over we had just left the theater,

Answer explanation

Choice A is incorrect because although the comma after over is placed correctly, the semicolon disrupts the list and makes the first sentence a run-on. Choice C is incorrect because it is missing the comma after over and has the same incorrect semicolon usage as choice A. Choice D is incorrect because although the use of a comma after theater is correct, it lacks a comma after over to begin the list. Choice B is correct because it places commas after the appropriate words to make the sentence a list.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

Each winter, as they prepare to hibernate, many bears lower their metabolic rate and drop their core temperature by about ten degrees. 

• NO CHANGE

• needing to drop their temperature to hibernate, 

• after preparing by dropping their metabolic rate,

• DELETE the underlined portion. 

Answer explanation

Choices B and C are incorrect because they repeat information already stated in another part of the sentence. Choice D is incorrect because it deletes a key part of the sentence that explains the reasons for the actions described in the latter half. Choice A is correct because it provides key information to the sentence without repeating points stated later. 

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.2

CCSS.W.9-10.4

His landscapes of sunsets have garnered extensive awards and made his work some of the most highly prized in the world. 

• NO CHANGE

• extensive awards that are many 

• numerous, extensive awards

• extensive awards numbering many 

Answer explanation

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they repeat information already contained in the phrase extensive awards. Choice A is correct because it contains all the key information in the sentence without any redundancies. 

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.4

Stan decided that if he sold concessions at his new baseball stadium, so the fans would spend more money.

• NO CHANGE

• while

• then

• than

Answer explanation

Choice A is incorrect because the first clause uses the word if, which needs then to finish the cause-and-effect structure. Choice B is incorrect because while suggests that the two clauses occur simultaneously, which is not the case. Choice D is incorrect because than is used for comparison. Choice C is correct because then opens the second clause, which is the effect of the first clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

Tarpons feed on food at the top of the water, so a fisherman can use fly fishing techniques normally utilized in streams or rivers to catch trout. Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would be LEAST acceptable?

• water. Thus,

• water. Consequently,

• water, and, as a result,

• water. Yet

Answer explanation

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they use transition words that show the second clause is a result of the first clause. Choice D is correct because the transition yet indicates the second clause contradicts the first one. Because the question asks for which alternative is LEAST acceptable, this is the best choice.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.3

Historical accounts record several creation myths throughout the world, the stories span thousands of years.

• NO CHANGE

• world, and the

• world, with

• world,

Answer explanation

Choices A and D are incorrect because they both create comma splices. Choice C is incorrect because the phrase with stories span is awkward and not grammatically correct. Choice B is correct because the conjunction and links the two independent clauses.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.2

Chanting became insistent. Protesters were irritated by the company ignoring their requests.

Which of the following would NOT be an acceptable replacement?

• insistent, protestors

• insistent because protesters

• insistent; protesters

• insistent since protesters

Answer explanation

Choices B and D are incorrect because the subordinating conjunctions because and since are used to link the clauses. Choice C is incorrect because it uses a semicolon to link two sentences. Choice A is correct because it creates a comma splice. The question asks which choice is NOT an acceptable replacement, so grammatically correct answers can be eliminated.

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1

CCSS.L.9-10.3

CCSS.L.9-10.4

In addition to digging for bones, Grant also found: soda cans an old car, some trash bags, and a burrow that was once the home of a family of groundhogs. 

• NO CHANGE 

• found soda cans, 

• found; soda cans 

• found soda cans 

Answer explanation

Choice A is incorrect because the colon is unnecessary for how the sentence is constructed. A colon is not necessary for this sentence to be complete. Choice C is incorrect because the semicolon is not needed and is incorrectly used in a list. Choice D is incorrect because a comma is necessary to separate each item in a list. Choice B is the correct answer because the phrase is beginning the first item in a list and needs a comma after soda cans. 

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2

CCSS.L.9-10.2A

Dozens of people, many of them hikers in the national park reported seeing large bear pawprints, hearing deep growling, and finding grizzly droppings along one of the major trails.

• NO CHANGE

• people-many of them hikers in the national park-

• people; most of them hikers in the national park,

• people, most of them having hiked in the national park-

Answer explanation

The correct answer is B . The phrase many of them hikers in the national park is nonessemtial and should be offset from the rest of the sentence with two of the same puctuation marks. there are no answers that set of the phrase with two commas. Choice B is most appropriate

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.2

CCSS.L.9-10.2A