The English Test – 5 Passages * 75 Questions * 45 Minutes

The English Test – 5 Passages * 75 Questions * 45 Minutes

RULE 1

Rule 1

YOU MUST TREAT THE ENGLISH PASSAGES AS COMPLETE READING PASSAGES!

Don’t stop reading as soon as you get to the underlined portion!

Keep reading to the END of the sentence. Many times there are contextual clues

AFTER the underlined portion, so make sure you understand the meaning of the FULL sentence.

Example for Rule 1

Unable to attract immigrant workers, the plantation owners rely

1. NO CHANGE2. must of relied3. have relied4. reliedThere is no way of knowing whether

the underlined portion is right or not – READ to the end of the sentence.

Example for Rule 1

Unable to attract immigrant workers, the plantation owners rely almost solely on slave labor, until slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War.

1. NO CHANGE2. must of relied3. have relied4. relied


RULE 2

Rule 2

Occasionally you’ll see 2 underlined parts within the same sentence.

How you answer one COULD influence how you answer the other.

If you’re unsure about one, DO THE OTHER ONE FIRST.

Example for Rule 2 (2) Studies showing that hospitals using

computer control systems have significantly fewer (3) errors. This means better outcomes for patients.

2. 3. Which of the following

F. NO CHANGE alternatives to the

G. Studies, showing underlined portion would

H. Studies which show NOT be acceptable?

I. Studies show A. errors; thisB. errors, whichC. errors thisD. errors, and that

Rule 2 – the answers!

#2 – the correct answer is I

#3 – the correct answer is C


RULE 3

Rule 3

Sometimes key contextual clues will be in the sentence(s) BEFORE or AFTER the underlined part.

Even sentences that DON’T contain underlined parts are essential to getting questions right.

Example for Rule 3

During this vacation, I am enjoying the beautiful beaches and the delicious food.

F. NO CHANGEG. enjoyedH. have been enjoyingI. will enjoy

This sentence ON ITS OWN doesn’t give enough info, so READ THE CONTEXT.

ANSWER for Rule 3 Last year, I took a vacation to

Hawaii. During this vacation, I am enjoying the beautiful beaches and the delicious food.

F. NO CHANGEG. enjoyedH. have been enjoyingI. will enjoy

And the answer is… G


A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED 4 COMMA RULES!

COMMA RULE #1

When a list of “things” is introduced, use a comma AFTER each “thing.”

Example for RULE #1

Individuals all over the world can tap into developments in the areas of computing, networking, and software engineering.

A. NO CHANGEB. computing networking, and software

engineering.C. computing, networking and, software

engineering.D. computing, networking, and software,

engineering.

Example for RULE #1 - ANSWER

AND THE ANSWER IS … A



COMMA RULE #2

Use commas to separate descriptive or introductory phrases.

Example for RULE #2

Twenty years ago, most Americans paid for their groceries including food and other goods using cash or a check.

F. NO CHANGEG. groceries, including food and other

goodsH. groceries including, food and other

goodsI. groceries, including food and other

goods,


And the answer is … I



COMMA RULE#3

Use commas with conjunctions to join two sentences.

Example for RULE #3

The executives of the company treat the employees with respect and warmth, this camaraderie creates a pleasant work environment.

A. NO CHANGEB. warmth, with this camaraderieC. warmth and this camaraderieD. warmth, and this camaraderie


And the answer is … D



COMMA RULE#4

DO NOT use a comma to break up a single idea.

Example for RULE #4

Gasoline and fuel oil were also, rationed, during this time. Gasoline supplies were especially tight.

F. NO CHANGEG. also rationed duringH. also, rationed, duringI. also rationed during,


And the answer is … G


A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED COLON RULES!

COLONS – PART 1 Colons are used to INTRODUCE A

LIST.

There are three branches of the government executive, legislative, and judicial.

A. NO CHANGEB. government executive: legislative

andC. government: executive, legislative

andD. government: executive, legislative,

and

COLONS – Part 1 ANSWERAnd the correct answer is… D


A REVIEW OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY TESTED COLON RULES!

COLONS – PART 2

Colons are sometimes used when the first part of a sentence introduces an idea and the second part of a sentence provides the details.

Colons Part 2 - Example His short-term plan was simple the vast farm

fields of western Maryland were ready for harvest, and lee saw in them an opportunity to feed his soldiers, replenish his supplies, and turn the residents of the undecided border state to his cause.

F. NO CHANGEG. simple: theH. simple, and the I. simple, the


Colons Part 2 – HINT and HELP

HOWEVER, if the sentence makes sense WITHOUT a colon, DON’T USE ONE (even if the sentence contains a list).

The three branches of the government are executive, legislative, and judicial.

A. NO CHANGEB. government are executive legislative

andC. government: are executive, legislative,

andD. government are: executive legislative

and

Colons Part 2 – ANSWER

And the answer is … A

HINT and HELP – and that is ALL colons are used for… Don’t react to seeing a colon on the ACT and ASSUME it is correct. Unless it is introducing a list OR used to set up the clarification of an idea, it’s going to be WRONG.


A REVIEW OF THE SEMICOLON RULE!

SEMICOLON RULE

Use semicolons to join TWO COMPLETE SENTENCES… You will be tested on semicolons about 3 times during an English test.

Remember semicolons can ONLY be used to combine two COMPLETE sentences.

Semicolon Rule - EXAMPLE In fact, applications for new tire

purchases had to be submitted to a rationing board for approval, many people chose, instead, to have their tires repaired to avoid all the paperwork and red tape.

F. NO CHANGEG. approval: manyH. approval; manyI. approval, but many

Semicolon Rule - ANSWERAnd the answer is … H

Comma, Colon, Semicolon Review

Correct John liked Janice;

he loved cookies. John liked Janice,

and he loved cookies.

John, the cookie-lover, liked Janice.

John was about four things: liking, loving, Janice, and cookies.

Incorrect John liked Janice;

loved cookies. John liked Janice,

he loved cookies. John liked: Janice.

He loved: cookies. John, liked Janice,

and he loved cookies.


REVIEW OF SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Subject-Verb Agreement

A SINGULAR noun goes with a SINGULAR verb; a PLURAL noun goes with a PLURAL verb.

Find the MAIN subject and say it together with the verb. Does it sound right and make sense?

Subject-Verb Agreement - EXAMPLE While shopping offers perhaps the

most visible sign of technological change, almost every industry, public or private, have come to depend on the generation, storage, and transmission of electronic information.

F. NO CHANGEG. has comeH. have cameI. has came

Subject-Verb Agreement - ANSWER



REVIEW OF VERB TENSE

VERB TENSE Verbs have PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE

tenses. Use the context of the sentence(s) to figure out WHEN THE ACTION IS HAPPENING.

This group will be the sole producer of his plays.

A. NO CHANGEB. beingC. wasD. IsNot entirely clear? Let’s add the context.

VERB TENSE - continued

In 1594, he helped form an acting company called “The Lord Chamberlain’s Men.” This group will be the sole producer of his plays.

A. NO CHANGEB. beingC. was D. is

And the answer is … C! You MUST READ the entire passage!


REVIEW OF SINGULAR AND PLURAL PRONOUNS

Singular and Plural PronounsA SINGULAR pronoun represents a

SINGULAR noun; a PLURAL pronoun represents a PLURAL noun.

When you see an underlined pronoun, find the noun it REPLACES. Is it SINGULAR or is it PLURAL?

S/P Pronouns - Example My mother said rationing was

important because they helped guarantee supplies for the thousands of military troops overseas.

F. NO CHANGEG. sheH. itI. one

And the answer is … H!


SUBJECT and OBJECT PRONOUNS

Subject and Object Pronouns

HE threw the ball to the ground.

He is doing the action.

Throw the ball to HIM. Someone else is

doing the action; “HIM” is receiving the ball.

Is a pronoun doing the action, OR is the action being done to the pronoun?

Subject/Object Pronouns

SUBJECT

I He She We They

OBJECT

Me Him Her Us Them

Memorize this tiny list . It WILL be tested on every ACT you take!

Subject and Object Pronouns - EXAMPLE If two pronouns are underlined, say them in context

ONE AT A TIME. Do they sound right individually?

Both John and Laura wanted to go to the game, so he and her were willing to pay the exorbitant ticket price.

A. NO CHANGEB. him and herC. he and sheD. him and she

Subject and Object Pronoun - ANSWER

And the answer is … C


POSSESSIVES

POSSESSIVES A word should end in –’s when a SINGULAR noun

owns something. ▪ “Charlotte’s dress” = the dress belongs to Charlotte

A word should end in –s’ when a PLURAL noun owns something.▪ “Wolves’ den”= the den belongs to many wolves

EXCEPTION: When a plural noun does not end in “s” you use –’s. “Children’s toys”= the toys belong to many children, but

children does not end in “s”

Possessives - EXAMPLE

For example, a breakdown in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) computer can shut down an entire regions airspace and cause countless flight delays.

F. NO CHANGEG. regions’H. region’sI. region

And the answer is… H

Possessives – HINT and HELP The most common way this concept

is tested is the use of it’s, its, and its’.

It’s ALWAYS means “it is” Its means “belonging to it” – THIS is the

possessive form Its’ is NOT A WORD

Example - The bloodiest single day of war in

United States history came when General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army undertook it’s first engagement on northern soil during the Civil War.

A. NO CHANGEB. theirC. itsD. its’And the answer is … C

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The English Test – 5 Passages * 75 Questions * 45 Minutes