ACT English Practice

"Surrounded by the ancient city of Rome, Vatican City is an independent nation on the west bank of the Tiber River."

Given that all of the choices are true, which one best supports the sentence’s claim about Vatican City’s status as an independent nation?

• NO CHANGE

• with an interesting past.

• with its own government, banking system, postal service, and army.

• that has to import most of its supplies, even such necessities as food and water.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is "with its own government, banking system, postal service, and army." It informs the reader that Vatican City has "its own government, banking system, postal service," which is supporting evidence that Vatican City operates as "an independent nation."

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CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.W.11-12.9

This tiny country—​ (a)   —is also home to a disproportionately large number of sites with great historical, artistic, and ​ (b)   .

• about 1/6 of a square mile in all
• religious significance
• which have religious significance
• approximately about 1/6 of a square mile, all told

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CCSS.L.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

"This tiny country—about one-sixth of a square mile in all—is also home to a disproportionately large number of sites with great historical, artistic, and religious significance."

If the writer were to delete the words tiny and disproportionately from the preceding sentence, the sentence would primarily lose:

• elements of the setting of the essay.

• a contrast emphasizing the unusual number of sites.

• details that stress how important the sites are.

• a comparison between Vatican City and Rome.

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CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

"The Vatican Museums house ​ (a)   paintings, sculptures, pieces of jewelry, and tapestries, as well as the world’s most extensive collections of ancient manuscripts."

Given that all of the choices are true, which one best emphasizes the extent and worth of the museums’ holdings?

• thousands of invaluable
• a great many valuable
• numerous important
• a group of precious

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CCSS.L.11-12.4

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

"Scholars often probe the museums’ archives of early written works for insights into lives led long ago."

Choose the best answer.

• NO CHANGE

• grab an eyeful of

• check out

• pry

Answer explanation

This answer provides the most precise word choice for this sentence. The verb probe is best in this context because it suggests that the scholars were examining the museums' archives closely.

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CCSS.L.11-12.4

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

"Accordingly, St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest cathedral in the Northern Hemisphere, is remarkable. Built upon second-century foundations."

Choose the best answer.

• NO CHANGE

• Indeed,

• For instance,

• OMIT the underlined portion

Answer explanation

No transitional word is needed here because this paragraph focuses on a completely different topic, St. Peter's Basilica, than the preceding paragraph does.

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CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest cathedral in the Northern Hemisphere, is remarkable. Built upon second-century ​ (a)   St. Peter’s features a dome designed by the artist and architect Michelangelo.

• foundations,
• foundations.
• foundations:
• foundations;

Answer explanation

A comma is the best punctuation because it separates the introductory clause from the main clause of the sentence.

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CCSS.L.11-12.2

"St. Peter’s features a dome designed by the artist and architect Michelangelo. [BETWEEN SENTENCES] Intricate mosaics—enormous “paintings” fashioned from millions of tiny cut stones of various colors—lining each of the basilica’s several smaller domes."

Between sentences, the writer is considering adding the following true statement:

In addition to being an architect and artist, Michelangelo wrote poetry, including more than 300 sonnets.

Should the writer make this addition here?

• Yes, because it provides further details about Michelangelo, who designed the dome at St. Peter’s.

• Yes, because it reinforces the paragraph’s implication that Michelangelo was extremely talented.

• No, because it distracts attention from the paragraph’s focus, which is on the architecture and visual art of St. Peter’s.

• No, because it adds more information about Michelangelo, who made only small contributions to Vatican City’s art and architecture.

Answer explanation

The proposed sentence interrupts the logical flow of the paragraph because the main focus is St. Peter's Basilica and not the accomplishments of Michelangelo. The artist is mentioned in the paragraph only because some of his work is featured in St. Peter's Basilica.

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CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

Intricate mosaics—enormous “paintings” fashioned from millions of tiny cut stones of various colors—lining each of the basilica’s several smaller domes.

Choose the best answer.

• NO CHANGE

• that line

• line

• lines

Answer explanation

The "line" option creates a complete sentence and has subject-verb agreement.

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CCSS.L.11-12.1

"Intricate mosaics—enormous “paintings” fashioned from millions of tiny cut stones of various colors—line each of the basilica’s several smaller domes."

If the writer were to delete the quotation marks around the word paintings in the preceding sentence, the sentence would primarily lose a feature that suggests:

• that mosaics are not paintings in the usual sense of the word.

• how large and complicated the mosaics in St. Peter’s actually are.

• how carefully mosaics are put together.

• that the mosaics in St. Peter’s are not typical of mosaics in general.

Answer explanation

The best answer is "that mosaics are not paintings in the usual sense of the word."

This question essentially asks the test taker to determine why the writer most likely used quotation marks around the word paintings. These "paintings" refer to the intricate mosaics that line some of the basilica's dome, so they are not actual paintings. By using quotation marks, the writer signals the reader that the mosaics resemble paintings.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4