ACT English Test-taking Strategies: 25 Questions with Verified Answers, Exams of English Language

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English ACT Test-taking strategies 25 Questions with

Verified Answers

Pick the most concise way of stating something. - CORRECT ANSWER Shortest is best. To select the best way to organize words in a sentence, pick the answer choice that is both clear and concise. Use process of elimination. - CORRECT ANSWER Try to eliminate wrong answers as you look for the right one on all sections of the ACT. THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR GUESSING on the ACT, so eliminating wrong answers also increases your probability of guessing correctly. Do not jump from question to question when completing the English passages. - CORRECT ANSWER Although it is tempting to simply go straight to the underlined portions of the English test, you must answer each question in order. Be sure to read the entire English passage, answering questions in their context. Don't be afraid to pick NO CHANGE as an answer. - CORRECT ANSWER The first answer choice is always NO CHANGE. It is correct about 25% of the time. So be sure to consider it and do not be afraid to select it as your answer. Work at a good pace on the English test. - CORRECT ANSWER The entire English test is 45 minutes in length. There are 5 sections each with 15 questions. As a general guide, spend 9 minutes per passage to finish on time. Do not leave any blank answers. The ACT uses four methods to separate two complete sentences. - CORRECT ANSWER Two complete sentences can be separated by a:

1. Period
2. Comma before a conjunction (and, but, or, so)
3. Semicolon
4. Colon A comma is used in four ways on the English test. - CORRECT ANSWER A comma can:

1. separate a dependent clause from a complete sentence.
2. surround a nonessential group of words, appositive.
3. separate two adjectives or or separate words in a list.
4. connect two sentences before a conjunction. Set off a proper name with a pair of commas. - CORRECT ANSWER Set off a proper name with a pair of commas if the name can be taken out of the sentence without changing the meaning. Example: Our 44th President was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Our 44th President, Barack Obama, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. This example doesn't work: The songwriter Bob Dylan is considered a lyrical genius. The songwriter is considered a lyrical genius. A colon is used in two ways on the English test. - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Use a colon after a complete sentence that introduces either a list or an explanation.
5. Use a colon between two sentences when the second sentence explains the first. Use a dash in two ways on the English test. - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Use dashes instead of commas to surround a group of nonessential words.
6. Use a dash before an afterthought. Check subject-verb and subject-pronoun agreement. - CORRECT ANSWER Long sentences are often filled with interrupting details in the English passages. Subjects can be far from the verb or pronoun with which they agree. Ask yourself who or what is doing the action or what word is being replaced with a pronoun. Know the differences between its, it's, and its'. - CORRECT ANSWER "Its" is a possessive pronoun. Like all possessive pronouns, this word lacks as apostrophe, even though we normally associate apostrophes with possession. "Its" is the correct choice whenever "it's" is not correct (i.e., whenever mentally plugging in "it is" does NOT make sense).

"It's" is a contraction of "it is." If mentally plugging in "it is" does NOT make sense, then "it's" is wrong. There is no such word as "its'." However, the ACT English test sometimes make it an answer choice just to confuse you. NEVER pick it! "Being" is frequently an answer choice, but is virtually never correct. - CORRECT ANSWER Because people so frequently misuse "being" when writing, the ACT English loves to include it among the wrong answer This word tricks many people every time. Do not use being as a synonym for "because" or for "is". Remember: "Being" is seldom used correctly on the ACT. Be careful of the way ACT uses the word "although." - CORRECT ANSWER The addition of "although" at the beginning of a sentence turns it from an independent clause into a dependent one. If a sentence was correct with "although" and then you either delete or change "although" to something else, you have created a run-on sentence. Do not be tricked by "suppose the writer's goal... " questions. - CORRECT ANSWER This most common trick asks you whether the writer succeeded in addressing a broad subject when the passage is about a much more specific one. The answer will be one of the "No" choices that gives this explanation. Reasons to choose OMIT/DELETE on answer choices. - CORRECT ANSWER Use OMIT/DELETE when:

1. the underline portion is redundant.
2. the underlined portion explains something that the reader already knows.
3. the underlined portion gives an unnecessary definition for a common word. Learn when to add a phrase or sentence. - CORRECT ANSWER Do not add a new phrase or sentence without reading the previous sentence and the sentence that follows. One of those two sentences often contains a clue that helps you determine when to add the suggested sentence.

Identify the subject of the following sentence: Evidence that humans are slowly evolving into two different species is being ignored by scientists. - CORRECT ANSWER The subject is "evidence." Remember that although the subject of a sentence always needs to be either a noun or a pronoun, a noun does not always have to be a physical being or object. Concept words like love, justice, and rhythm are nouns, too. You must be qable to identify the subject of a sentence because you need to know which word must agree with the verb. Transitions made easy:

1. Moreover
2. Meanwhile
3. Additionally
4. Furthermore - CORRECT ANSWER Transition words/phrases tend to mean either "sticking with the same subject" or "changing to a different subject." Nouns and pornouns can be the object of a verb or a propsition. - CORRECT ANSWER You must know this concept because some pronouns can change case depending on whether or not they are the object of something. For example, the subjective case I changes to the objective case me in the sentences "He hit me". Active voice is preferable to passive voice. - CORRECT ANSWER Passive voice reverse normal syntax by making the subject of object and the objec the subject. It frequently involves adding a proposition. At other times, passive voice makes the objec the subject and omits the subject entirely (for example, "The lamp got broken" instead of "I broke the lamp"). Although the passive voice is not technically grammatically incorrect, it is considered awkward and unnecessary. You should avoid picking answer choices that involve the passive voice unless something is even more wrong with all of the other choices. Answering "illustrate/support" questions. - CORRECT ANSWER If a quesiton asks which answer best "illustrates" or "supports", pick the choice that gives the most specific details/examples.

Be aware of "not/least" acceptable questions. - CORRECT ANSWER Most English ACT questions ask you to find the correct answer. "Not/Least" acceptable questions ask you to find the INCORRECT answer. Underline the not/least to remind yourself to choose the incorrect answer. When to use "who" or "whom" on the English test. - CORRECT ANSWER Who is a subject pronoun and does the action. EX: Who threw the ball? Whom is an object pronoun and receives the action. EX: The ball was thrown to whom? Similar words--different meanings. - CORRECT ANSWER Review words that are often used and confused. Then - Than The group studied hard and then took the test. (sequence) The local team scored better than the visiting team. (compares) Who's - Whose Who's coming to dinner? (who is) Whose book is this? (possessive)