ACT English Test Practice 1

Which of the following sentences uses parallel structure correctly?

• She likes reading, to jog, and swimming.

• She likes reading, jogging, and swimming.

• She likes to read, jogging, and to swim.

• She likes reading, jogging, and to swim.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'She likes reading, jogging, and swimming,' uses parallel structure by maintaining the same grammatical form for all items in the list (gerunds). The other options mix forms, disrupting parallelism.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly.

• My brother who is a doctor, lives in New York.

• My brother, who is a doctor, lives in New York.

• My brother who is a doctor lives, in New York.

• My brother, who is a doctor lives in New York.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'My brother, who is a doctor, lives in New York.' because it properly uses commas to set off the non-restrictive clause 'who is a doctor', providing additional information about 'my brother'.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.L.11-12.2

Select the sentence that uses a semicolon correctly.

• I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.

• I have a big test tomorrow, I can't go out tonight.

• I have a big test tomorrow: I can't go out tonight.

• I have a big test tomorrow I can't go out tonight.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.' because a semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses. The other options either misuse punctuation or lack necessary punctuation.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.L.11-12.2

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

• She has three favorite hobbies: reading, writing, and painting.

• She has three favorite hobbies, reading: writing, and painting.

• She has three favorite hobbies reading, writing: and painting.

• She has three favorite hobbies reading, writing, and: painting.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence is 'She has three favorite hobbies: reading, writing, and painting.' because a colon is used to introduce a list. The other options misuse the colon, making them grammatically incorrect.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.L.11-12.2

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

• The list of items are on the desk.

• The list of items is on the desk.

• The list of items were on the desk.

• The list of items be on the desk.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'The list of items is on the desk.' because 'list' is a singular noun, requiring the singular verb 'is' for proper subject-verb agreement.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

Choose the sentence with correct pronoun agreement.

• Everyone should bring their own lunch.

• Everyone should bring his or her own lunch.

• Everyone should bring their lunches.

• Everyone should bring his lunch.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Everyone should bring his or her own lunch.' This maintains proper pronoun agreement, as 'everyone' is a singular indefinite pronoun, requiring a singular pronoun ('his or her').

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.W.11-12.5

Select the sentence that maintains verb tense consistency.

• She was walking to the store and buys some milk.

• She walked to the store and buys some milk.

• She walks to the store and bought some milk.

• She walked to the store and bought some milk.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'She walked to the store and bought some milk,' maintains verb tense consistency by using the past tense 'walked' and 'bought' throughout, unlike the other options which mix present and past tenses.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

Which sentence is the most concise?

• Due to the fact that it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.

• Because it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.

• Since it was raining, we made the decision to stay indoors.

• Owing to the rain, we decided to stay indoors.

Answer explanation

The sentence 'Because it was raining, we decided to stay indoors.' is the most concise. It uses fewer words and simpler structure compared to the other options, effectively conveying the same meaning.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.L.11-12.3

CCSS.W.11-12.4

CCSS.W.11-12.5

Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.

• The coach told the players to get plenty of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises.

• The coach told the players to get plenty of sleep, not to eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises.

• The coach told the players to get plenty of sleep, not eating too much, and to do some warm-up exercises.

• The coach told the players to get plenty of sleep, not eat too much, and to doing some warm-up exercises.

Answer explanation

The correct choice maintains parallel structure by using 'to' before each verb: 'to get', 'not to eat', and 'to do'. This consistency in form is essential for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

Choose the sentence that uses commas correctly.

• After the movie, we went to dinner, and then we went home.

• After the movie we went to dinner, and then we went home.

• After the movie, we went to dinner and then we went home.

• After the movie we went to dinner and then we went home.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'After the movie, we went to dinner, and then we went home.' It properly uses commas to separate the introductory phrase and the two independent clauses, ensuring clarity in the sentence.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.L.11-12.2