ACT Bellringer Passage 5 Section 1

Last spring, I had been fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application essay, I was careful to express how much I wanted to see France. I suppose my excitement really came through in my words. Once I knew that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and interesting friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was exciting, nothing about my semester in France was what I expected. Choose the correct form of the verb to fit in the context:

• NO CHANGE

• will be

• was

• have been

Answer explanation

The best answer is C. The narrator was chosen “last spring,” which was in the past. Answer choice A is incorrect because the moment the narrator is referring to is relative to the time the narrator wrote the passage, not another time in the past. Answer choices B and D can be eliminated because they are not past tense.

The moment I arrived in Paris, I was greeted by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. Select the option that best maintains the standard written English:

• NO CHANGE

• couple that

• couple, Jean and Christine

• couple, in a few hours

Answer explanation

The best answer is F.  The sentence appropriately uses the relative pronoun who to introduce the clause that modifies couple; this sentence is correct as it is written. The pronoun who also functions as the subject of the clause.

The bit of French I had taken in high school began pouring from my mouth. Speaking the language would only become more natural over the course of the semester. Choose the option that best completes the sentence:

• NO CHANGE

• pouring from my mouth, speaking

• pouring from my mouth speaking

• pouring from my mouth by speaking

Answer explanation

The best answer is A. The sentence represents a clear, complete thought that is grammatically correct. It is correct to begin a new sentence with speaking. You can eliminate the other answer choices because either they create incomplete sentences (B), or are otherwise grammatically incorrect.

At the airport, we all got into the couple's little two-door hatchback and began the journey to their townhouse in the suburbs. We talked the whole way there, getting to know one another bit by bit. Everyday thereafter, I eat breakfast with the two of them, so we'd all go our separate ways for the day.

• F. NO CHANGE

• G. was eating

• H. began to eat

• J. would eat

Answer explanation

The best answer is J. The sentence indicates that eating breakfast with the host family was a routine action in the past. Answer choice J is best because it includes would, which suggests repeated eating of breakfast with the couple. You can eliminate answer choice F because it is written in the present tense.

Everyday thereafter, I would eat breakfast with the two of them, so we'd all go our separate ways for the day. Choose the option that best completes the sentence.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. since

• C. therefore

• D. then

Answer explanation

The best answer is D. The two clauses are unrelated and, therefore, you can connect the two separate ideas by using the word then. Answer choices B and C can be eliminated because they express a cause-and-effect relationship that does not fit with the sentence.