ACT English Help: Verb Tense

PASSAGE I: The Invisible Art of Noise

¹ When watching a movie, audiences usually focus on the actors' dialogue or the sweeping musical score. Rarely do they consider the crunch of footsteps in snow, the rustle of a silk dress, or the squeak of a saddle. Most viewers assume these sounds were recorded on set during filming. In reality, however, microphones are designed to pick up dialogue, not background noise. Most of the detailed sounds you hear (1) has been created weeks later in a studio by a specialized craftsperson known as a Foley artist.

² Named after Jack Foley, a sound editor at Universal Studios in the 1920s, the profession requires a unique blend of creativity and athleticism. Foley artists work on specialized stages containing recessed areas called "Foley pits." These pits hold different surfaces—gravel, dirt, hardwood, and more—that mimic real-world textures. To recreate the sound of a character walking, the artist watches the screen and mimics the actor's steps, (2) wearing the shoes that match the character's footwear. If the character is walking on broken glass, the artist steps on scattered ceramic tiles. (3) Having carefully selected the proper materials, the realistic sound is created.

³ The work involves more than just footsteps. Foley artists must be inventive to (4) generate sounds that do not exist in the real world. For a science fiction film, the sound of an alien egg hatching (5) might be created by squishing a honeydew melon. (6) On the other hand, the bone-crunching impact of a fistfight is often simulated by breaking stalks of celery or snapping carrots wrapped in a towel. The goal is realistic audio, even if the source is decidedly artificial.

⁴ Precision is critical. The sound must sync perfectly with the visual action. If a sword is drawn from a sheath one second too late, the illusion is shattered. Foley artists often perform "wild tracks," recording sounds without watching the picture, (7) but for complex scenes, they must perform in real-time, matching their movements to the actor's rhythm.

⁵ Despite their importance, Foley artists often go unrecognized. Their work is successful only when it goes unnoticed. (8) If the audience realizes the sound of a horse's hooves is actually two halves of a coconut shell being banged together, the magic is lost. Like a magician's trick, the art of Foley relies on misdirection.

⁶ Today, digital libraries offer thousands of pre-recorded sound effects. Many directors still prefer the custom touch of a human artist. A canned sound effect is static and repetitive, (9) whereas a Foley performance is organic. It breathes life into the visual image, giving weight and texture to the world on screen. (10) The next time you watch an old horror movie, remember that someone might be standing in a studio, slowly twisting an old rusty hinge.(11)

Which of the following choices makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

By the time the bus finally reached the trailhead this morning, the sky had cleared and the hikers were eager to start. Our guide explained the route and pointed out where the path narrowed near the creek. After the first mile, we stopped for water, and I realized I left my map on the seat of the bus.

Last Saturday, my cousin and I visited the city museum, which was offering free admission for one day only. We started in the ancient pottery exhibit, then moved upstairs to a gallery of modern murals. After two hours, we were tired but happy because we see nearly every room on the main floor before the doors closed at 5 p.m.

Earlier this week, I started reading a mystery novel that my friend recommended. Each night, I read a few chapters before bed, trying not to skip ahead. By last night, I have guessed the identity of the thief, but I kept reading to find out how the detective would prove it.

They had finished the project before the deadline.

Throughout her childhood, Mei kept a journal, and every evening before bed, she writes a single sentence about her day. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

Next month, the committee will review the applications and announces the results of the survey. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

PASSAGE I: The First Ferris Wheel

¹ In 1889, organizers of the upcoming World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago faced a monumental (1) challenge, they wanted to construct an architectural marvel that would rival the Eiffel Tower. The Parisian tower had been the centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair, and Chicago wanted to outdo it. Numerous architects submitted plans, but most were simply unoriginal (2) knockoffs of the Eiffel Tower. It wasn't until a thirty-three-year-old engineer named George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. pitched his (3) idea, that the organizers found their masterpiece. Ferris proposed a massive rotating wheel that would carry passengers high above the city.

² The organizers were initially skeptical. They feared the giant wheel would collapse under its own (4) weight, however, Ferris was a bridge builder who understood structural steel. He spent $25,000 of his own money on safety studies and (5) has secured financial backing from private investors. Impressed by his dedication, the exposition committee finally granted him permission to build.

³ The construction of the Ferris wheel was an unprecedented engineering feat. The wheel's axle, (6) which weighed 71 tons, was the largest piece of forged steel ever manufactured at the time. Two 140-foot steel towers supported the axle. Extending from the axle were 36 spokes, holding the massive outer rim in place. Instead of simple open-air benches, the wheel featured 36 fully enclosed wooden cars, each capable of holding 60 (8) people, as a result, a single ride could accommodate over 2,000 passengers. (7)

⁴ When the wheel officially opened to the public in June 1893, it was an instant sensation. For fifty cents, riders were lifted 264 feet into the air, offering breathtaking, panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the sprawling fairgrounds. At night, the wheel was illuminated by 3,000 incandescent light (9) bulbs, creating a brilliant, glowing halo visible from miles away.

⁵ Today, the Ferris wheel is a ubiquitous feature of amusement parks worldwide. While modern versions may be taller or feature high-tech observation cabins, they all owe their existence to Ferris's visionary design. (10)

Which of these choices makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

Turn Right at the Big Pine

¹ My father believed that road maps were for people who lacked a sense of adventure. He preferred to navigate by instinct, landmark, and the occasional contradictory tip from a gas station attendant. Consequently, [19] our annual family trips to the Cedar Creek campground were rarely straight lines; they were sprawling, improvisational loops through the backroads of Oregon.

² I was ten years old, sitting in the backseat of our station wagon, squeezed between a cooler full of soda and my sleeping brother. The air outside was thick with the scent of pine and dust. We had been driving for six hours, [20] but according to Dad, we were "just around the river bend." He pointed to a massive, gnarled tree standing sentinel at a fork in the road. "That's the Big Pine," he declared with the confidence of a ship captain spotting land. "We turn right here."

³ We turned right. The pavement immediately gave way to gravel, and the road narrowed until the blackberry bushes were scraping the sides of the car. My mother, who had been quietly reading a novel, looked up. "Honey," she said, her voice dropping an octave, "I don't think this is the way to the campsite." Dad waved a hand dismissively. He insisted that this was a shortcut he had discovered years ago. [21]

⁴ Ten minutes later, the road ended abruptly at a rusted gate marked "Private Property." A cow stared at us blankly from the other side. Silence filled the car. The cow chewed its cud, looking entirely unimpressed by our arrival. [22] Without a word, Dad shifted the car into reverse. As we backed down the dusty trail, he caught my eye in the rearview mirror and winked. "Well," he said, "now we know what's down that road." For him, the wrong turn wasn't a mistake; it was just another part of the story. [23]

⁵ [1] We eventually found the campsite, arriving just as the sun was setting behind the mountains. [2] I realized then that the destination mattered less to him than the wandering it took to get there. [3] Years later, when I drive [25] my own kids on vacation, I keep a GPS on the dashboard. [4] But sometimes, when I see a strange road winding off into the trees I feel [24] a familiar tug to turn the wheel.

Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

PASSAGE III: The Architecture of Sleep

¹ Sleep is often viewed as a passive state, a time when the body shuts down to conserve energy. In reality, however, sleep is a highly active and complex biological process. While we rest, our brains are engaging in a neurological workout that is essential for physical health and mental clarity. This nightly maintenance is (23) governed by two opposing forces: the sleep drive, which builds up the longer we are awake, and the circadian rhythm, an internal "clock" that regulates our sleep-wake cycle based on light and darkness.

² Once asleep, the brain cycles through four distinct stages. The first three stages are known collectively as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During the deepest part of NREM, (24) heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops, and the body repairs tissues. (25) Conversely, the fourth stage is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In this phase, brain activity spikes to levels similar to wakefulness. This is the stage where dreaming occurs and (26) memories were consolidated from short-term to long-term storage.

³ One of the most critical functions of sleep is "taking out the trash." For years, scientists wondered how the brain, (27) unlike other organs, cleared out metabolic waste products. In 2013, researchers discovered the "glymphatic system," a macroscopic waste clearance system formed by glial cells. During deep sleep, these cells shrink, increasing the space between neurons by up to 60 percent. This allows cerebrospinal fluid (28) to flow rapid through the brain tissue, flushing out toxic proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. (32)

⁴ (29) Neglecting this biological need has serious consequences. Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function, weakens the immune system, and increases the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease. (30) Experts recommend adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Despite these risks, modern society often treats sleep as a luxury rather than a necessity. Artificial lighting and digital screens (31) disrupts the production of melatonin, the hormone that signals to the body that it is time to rest.

⁵ We cannot cheat our biology. Caffeine and sheer willpower can only mask the symptoms of fatigue for so long. Eventually, the "sleep debt" must be repaid. By prioritizing sleep, we are not being lazy; we are investing in our long-term health. The architecture of sleep is built on a foundation of millions of years of evolution, and (33) it remains the most effective medicine we have. (34)

Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?