ACT English - Start of the Nuclear Era

An American-made, plutonium bomb was detonated in the desert of New Mexico, and created a force that was large enough to level a small city.

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• An American-made plutonium bomb

• An American-made plutonium bomb,

• An American made plutonium bomb

An American-made plutonium bomb was detonated in the desert of New Mexico, and created a force that was large enough to level a small city.

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• gigantic explosion

• colossal impact

• ground-shaking devastating destruction

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable?

Accordingly, the scientist did not think it was necessary to waste a valuable weapon on a test run.

• As a result

• Consequently

• Therefore

• Nevertheless

The plutonium bomb, however, had a more complex mechanism.

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• The plutonium bomb had, nonetheless, a more complex mechanism.

• Thus, the plutonium bomb had a more complex mechanism.

• The plutonium bomb had a more, however, complex mechanism.

The scientists were concerned that the bomb may not correctly function, so they wanted to test the bomb before it was used on the battlefield.

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• them

• it

• the plutonium bomb

Due to a fear that there could be an accident, key scientists dissolved over the test area to ensure the survivability of the research program.

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• dissipated

• diffused

• dispersed

There were reasonable fears, such as whether the radiation would be sufficient contained to the test area.

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• reasonable fears; such as

• reasonable fears such as

• reasonable fears. Such as

Then, there were skeptics - lead scientist, Robert Oppenheimer placed a bet against George Kistiakowky that the bomb would not work.

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• skeptics, lead scientist

• skeptics lead scientist

• skeptics - lead scientist

In the coming days, months and years, this delight turned from a haunting contemplation.

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• on

• to

• onto

Afterwards, they were more concerned with the question of why they built the bomb in the first place, unleashing the terrific yet terrible power of the atom for human use.

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• Consequently,

• In contrast,

• Additionally,