ACT English › Reorganizing Content
How can the writer most effectively combine the following sentences?
Mississippi Blues has its roots in both folk and gospel music. Blues songs often address the concerns of working-class people.
Mississippi Blues songs, which have their roots in both folk and gospel music, often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs, they have their roots in both folk and gospel music, and they often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs having their roots in both folk and gospel music and often addressing the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues has its roots in both folk and gospel music, its songs often address the concerns of working class people.
NO CHANGE
The correct answer correctly places the second sentence as a modifying phrase.
The second incorrect answer uses a main clause as a modifier, thus creating a run-on sentence.
The third incorrect answer is a fragment.
The fourth incorrect answer is a comma splice
How can the writer most effectively combine the following sentences?
Mississippi Blues has its roots in both folk and gospel music. Blues songs often address the concerns of working-class people.
Mississippi Blues songs, which have their roots in both folk and gospel music, often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs, they have their roots in both folk and gospel music, and they often address the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues songs having their roots in both folk and gospel music and often addressing the concerns of working class people.
Mississippi Blues has its roots in both folk and gospel music, its songs often address the concerns of working class people.
NO CHANGE
The correct answer correctly places the second sentence as a modifying phrase.
The second incorrect answer uses a main clause as a modifier, thus creating a run-on sentence.
The third incorrect answer is a fragment.
The fourth incorrect answer is a comma splice
Speech production is a complicated and complex process, that requires the coordination of three different systems: respiration, phonation, and articulation. A deficit in any of these systems will negatively impact the quality of one’s speech.
We all know that respiration, or breathing, is necessary for life, but have you ever thought about it’s usefulness for speech? Try to talk while holding you’re breath and you will see what I mean. Exhalation provides a stream of air that the next two systems shape into what many people like to call speech.
Phonation happens in your larynx, or voice box. A pair of muscles form a shelf-like structure on either side of your larynx, and this pair of muscles is known as your vocal folds. As you exhale during speech, your vocal fold muscles contract and move towards each other. They vibrate as air passes between them, creating a buzzing sound, and this is a process that is known as phonation. The word “phonation” comes from the ancient Greek word for sound.
Finally, the last stage is articulation. At this final stage, you move your tongue, lips, and jaw to affect the way vibrating air leaves your mouth. For example, when you say the “b” sound, you need to squeeze your lips together to stop the airflow before opening your lips again. For the “v” sound, you touch your top teeth against your lower lip and force air through between your teeth and lip.
Assuming all of the following are true, which would be the best concluding sentence for this passage?
By coordinating the three stages of speech, humans can produce over 200 words per minute without even thinking about their respiration, phonation, or articulation.
Of course, not all sounds involve your lips; these are just some examples.
I guess you could say the fourth stage of speaking is listening, because what is the point of talking if no one is listening to you?
Speech is a complicated process and I’m surprised that anyone ever learns to talk.
The correct answer choice remains on topic while providing a new fact (humans can produce over 200 words per minute) that ties the body paragraphs together. The incorrect choice "Of course, not all sounds involve your lips; these are just some examples" does not work as a conclusion, because it leaves the reader expecting more information about sounds that do not require the lips. The remaining two incorrect answers have a less formal tone and add new information that does not tie the three stages of speech together as well as the correct answer does.
Speech production is a complicated and complex process, that requires the coordination of three different systems: respiration, phonation, and articulation. A deficit in any of these systems will negatively impact the quality of one’s speech.
We all know that respiration, or breathing, is necessary for life, but have you ever thought about it’s usefulness for speech? Try to talk while holding you’re breath and you will see what I mean. Exhalation provides a stream of air that the next two systems shape into what many people like to call speech.
Phonation happens in your larynx, or voice box. A pair of muscles form a shelf-like structure on either side of your larynx, and this pair of muscles is known as your vocal folds. As you exhale during speech, your vocal fold muscles contract and move towards each other. They vibrate as air passes between them, creating a buzzing sound, and this is a process that is known as phonation. The word “phonation” comes from the ancient Greek word for sound.
Finally, the last stage is articulation. At this final stage, you move your tongue, lips, and jaw to affect the way vibrating air leaves your mouth. For example, when you say the “b” sound, you need to squeeze your lips together to stop the airflow before opening your lips again. For the “v” sound, you touch your top teeth against your lower lip and force air through between your teeth and lip.
Assuming all of the following are true, which would be the best concluding sentence for this passage?
By coordinating the three stages of speech, humans can produce over 200 words per minute without even thinking about their respiration, phonation, or articulation.
Of course, not all sounds involve your lips; these are just some examples.
I guess you could say the fourth stage of speaking is listening, because what is the point of talking if no one is listening to you?
Speech is a complicated process and I’m surprised that anyone ever learns to talk.
The correct answer choice remains on topic while providing a new fact (humans can produce over 200 words per minute) that ties the body paragraphs together. The incorrect choice "Of course, not all sounds involve your lips; these are just some examples" does not work as a conclusion, because it leaves the reader expecting more information about sounds that do not require the lips. The remaining two incorrect answers have a less formal tone and add new information that does not tie the three stages of speech together as well as the correct answer does.
Adapted from “The Fisherman and His Wife" in German Fairy Tales and Popular Stories by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. Taylor, ed. 1864)
The next morning, when Dame Ilsabill had awoke, it was broad daylight, and she jogged her husband, the fisherman, with her elbow, and said, "Get up husband and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the land."
"Wife, wife," said the man, “why should we wish to be king? I will not be king."
"Then I will," said she.
"But, wife," said the fisherman, "how can you be king? The fish cannot make you a king."
“Husband," said she, "say no more about it; instead, go and try! I will be king." So the man went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king. This time, the sea looked a dark gray color, and was overspread with curling waves and ridges of foam as he cried out, “O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill will have her own will, and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"Well, what would she have now," said the fish?
"Alas!" said the poor man, 'my wife wants to be king."
"Go home," said the fish, “for she is king already."
Then, the fisherman had went home. As he came close to the palace he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound of drums and trumpets. When he went in, he saw his wife sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds, with a golden crown upon her head. On each side of she stood six fair maidens, each a head taller than the other.
After which sentence would you start a new paragraph in the underlined paragraph?
"Husband," said she, "say no more about it; instead, go and try! I will be king."
So the man went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king.
It would be best not to split this paragraph into two paragraphs.
There are two thoughts here. The first is the wife's remark to her husband. The second is his action of going away and speaking to the sea. The latter thought begins immediately after the wife's words. Therefore, you should start the new paragraph there.
Adapted from “The Fisherman and His Wife" in German Fairy Tales and Popular Stories by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. Taylor, ed. 1864)
The next morning, when Dame Ilsabill had awoke, it was broad daylight, and she jogged her husband, the fisherman, with her elbow, and said, "Get up husband and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the land."
"Wife, wife," said the man, “why should we wish to be king? I will not be king."
"Then I will," said she.
"But, wife," said the fisherman, "how can you be king? The fish cannot make you a king."
“Husband," said she, "say no more about it; instead, go and try! I will be king." So the man went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king. This time, the sea looked a dark gray color, and was overspread with curling waves and ridges of foam as he cried out, “O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill will have her own will, and hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!"
"Well, what would she have now," said the fish?
"Alas!" said the poor man, 'my wife wants to be king."
"Go home," said the fish, “for she is king already."
Then, the fisherman had went home. As he came close to the palace he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound of drums and trumpets. When he went in, he saw his wife sitting on a high throne of gold and diamonds, with a golden crown upon her head. On each side of she stood six fair maidens, each a head taller than the other.
After which sentence would you start a new paragraph in the underlined paragraph?
"Husband," said she, "say no more about it; instead, go and try! I will be king."
So the man went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to be king.
It would be best not to split this paragraph into two paragraphs.
There are two thoughts here. The first is the wife's remark to her husband. The second is his action of going away and speaking to the sea. The latter thought begins immediately after the wife's words. Therefore, you should start the new paragraph there.
Adapted from The Autobiography of John Adams (ed. 1856)
Not long after this, the three greatest measures of all were carried. Three committees were appointed, one for preparing a declaration of independence, another for reporting a plan of a treaty to be proposed to France, and a third to digest a system of articles of confederation to be proposed to the States. I was appointed on the committee of independence and on that for preparing the form of a treaty with France. On the committee of confederation Mr. Samuel Adams was appointed. The committee of independence were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year a member of Congress, but had attended his duty in the house a very small part of the time, and, when there, had never spoken in public. During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. It will naturally be inquired how it happened that he was appointed on a committee of such importance. There were more reasons than one. Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen; he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia, in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses, which had given him the character of a fine writer. Another reason was, that Mr. Richard Henry Lee was not beloved by the most of his colleagues from Virginia, and Mr. Jefferson was set up to rival and supplant him. This could be done only by the pen, for Mr. Jefferson could stand no competition with him or any one else in elocution and public debate.
If you wanted to split this paragraph into two separate paragraphs, which sentence would be the best beginning for the second paragraph?
"Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year . . ."
"The committee of independence were . . ."
"Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen . . ."
"During the whole time that I . . ."
"On the committee of confederation Mr. Samuel Adams . . . "
Although the choice is a bit subjective, the best option among those provided is the sentence that marks the shift to focus on Jefferson himself. The first paragraph would thus describe the set of committees that were established. The second would discuss Jefferson's character and his selection. The most tempting wrong answer is likely, "Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen." That is not acceptable because it is part of a set of reasons being provided. It would be better to keep these together with their explanatory introduction.
Adapted from The Autobiography of John Adams (ed. 1856)
Not long after this, the three greatest measures of all were carried. Three committees were appointed, one for preparing a declaration of independence, another for reporting a plan of a treaty to be proposed to France, and a third to digest a system of articles of confederation to be proposed to the States. I was appointed on the committee of independence and on that for preparing the form of a treaty with France. On the committee of confederation Mr. Samuel Adams was appointed. The committee of independence were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year a member of Congress, but had attended his duty in the house a very small part of the time, and, when there, had never spoken in public. During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together. It will naturally be inquired how it happened that he was appointed on a committee of such importance. There were more reasons than one. Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen; he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia, in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses, which had given him the character of a fine writer. Another reason was, that Mr. Richard Henry Lee was not beloved by the most of his colleagues from Virginia, and Mr. Jefferson was set up to rival and supplant him. This could be done only by the pen, for Mr. Jefferson could stand no competition with him or any one else in elocution and public debate.
If you wanted to split this paragraph into two separate paragraphs, which sentence would be the best beginning for the second paragraph?
"Mr. Jefferson had been now about a year . . ."
"The committee of independence were . . ."
"Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen . . ."
"During the whole time that I . . ."
"On the committee of confederation Mr. Samuel Adams . . . "
Although the choice is a bit subjective, the best option among those provided is the sentence that marks the shift to focus on Jefferson himself. The first paragraph would thus describe the set of committees that were established. The second would discuss Jefferson's character and his selection. The most tempting wrong answer is likely, "Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen." That is not acceptable because it is part of a set of reasons being provided. It would be better to keep these together with their explanatory introduction.
Passage adapted from Robinson Crusoe (1719) by Daniel Defoe
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull. He got a good estate by merchandise, and leaving off his trade, lived afterwards at York, from whence he had married my mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but, by the usual corruption of words in England, we are now called - nay we call ourselves and write our name - Crusoe; and so my companions always called me.
I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than my father or mother knew what became of me.
Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school generally go, and designed me for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that propensity of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which was to befall me.
Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the passage. If the bolded and underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York. Of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.
NO CHANGE
"I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country. My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull," is the best answer because it contains no fragments. Both "I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country," and "My father was a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull," are complete sentences on their own.
Each of the other answer choices contains a fragment.
\[1\] Today, passengers can travel through the 31-mile tunnel in just 20 minutes. \[2\] However, cars cannot drive through the tunnel. \[3\] While some people choose to ride on passenger trains, it is also possible to travel via car. \[4\] Instead, cars must be driven onto special trains. \[5\] Passengers then remain in their cars during the journey, and upon reaching the station, they simply drive their cars off the train.
In order to make this paragraph as logical as possible, where should Sentence 2 be placed?
After Sentence 3
Where it is now
After Sentence 4
After Sentence 5
Before Sentence 1
"However" suggests a contrast. The logical contrast in this paragraph is the contrast between the statement that it is possible to take a car through the tunnel and the statement that the car cannot simply be driven through the tunnel.