Question 1 of 25
The writer wants to add an example that illustrates the rapid growth of renewable energy industries. Which choice best achieves this?
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ACT English
Practice Test 4 for ACT English: real questions and explanations from the Varsity Tutors practice-test pool.
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Question 1 of 25
The writer wants to add an example that illustrates the rapid growth of renewable energy industries. Which choice best achieves this?
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The writer wants to add an example that illustrates the rapid growth of renewable energy industries. Which choice best achieves this?
Explanation: This question asks for an example that illustrates the rapid growth of renewable energy industries. The writer wants to demonstrate growth in this sector through a specific example. Choice D provides concrete evidence of rapid growth by stating that 'solar energy companies have seen a 25% increase in job creation over the past decade,' offering quantifiable proof of industry expansion. Choice B discusses general environmental consciousness but doesn't demonstrate industry growth. Choice C mentions cost decreases, which could indicate growth but isn't as direct. Choice A focuses on wind turbine technology rather than renewable energy industry growth broadly. Specific examples with concrete data are generally better than general statements for effectively illustrating claims about trends or developments.
Where should the following sentence be placed? 'The chef prepared the meal with locally sourced ingredients.' [1] The dinner was a delightful experience. [2] The appetizers were especially tasty. [3] Guests were impressed by the flavors. [4] The dessert was a perfect end to the meal.
Explanation: This question tests logical sentence placement within a paragraph about a dinner experience. The sentence about the chef using locally sourced ingredients provides background information that should come early in the discussion, establishing the foundation for why the meal was delightful. Placing it after sentence [1] creates a logical flow: the dinner was delightful → here's how the chef prepared it (with local ingredients) → specific details about appetizers → guest reactions → dessert conclusion. This placement allows the chef's preparation method to inform the reader before discussing specific courses and reactions. For placement questions, position background information early to provide context for subsequent details and reactions.
In an email to volunteers, the festival coordinator explained why the schedule had changed. A delivery truck arrived late, and the stage crew needed extra time to test the microphones. The message concluded with a clear reason: we delayed the opening act: the sound check took longer than expected.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: This question tests the use of colons to introduce explanations. The sentence structure has an independent clause "we delayed the opening act" followed by an explanation of why. Colons must follow an independent clause and can introduce explanations, elaborations, or lists. Choice A correctly uses a colon because "the sound check took longer than expected" explains the reason for the delay. Choice B (semicolon) would join two independent clauses but doesn't show the explanatory relationship, C creates a comma splice, and D incorrectly capitalizes after a period. When the second part explains or elaborates on the first, use a colon.
Her favorite hobbies are painting, reading and hiking.
Explanation: This question tests comma usage in a series of items. The sentence lists three hobbies: "painting, reading and hiking." In any series of three or more items, commas should separate each item, with the serial comma (Oxford comma) appearing before the coordinating conjunction "and" that introduces the final item. Choice D correctly adds the comma after "reading" to properly separate all items in the series. Choice A omits this necessary comma, potentially creating confusion about whether "reading and hiking" might be considered a combined activity. Choice C incorrectly places the comma after "and," which separates the conjunction from its object "hiking." Choice B adds both commas inappropriately. The serial comma helps maintain clarity and parallel structure in lists of three or more items.
To complete the assignment, students must return back their completed forms by the due date.
Explanation: This question tests your ability to identify redundant directional verbs. The phrase 'return back' is redundant because 'return' already means to go back - the word 'back' is unnecessary. Choice D eliminates this redundancy with the simple, clear 'return.' Choice C changes the meaning slightly, and choice D compounds the redundancy problem. When you encounter directional verbs, check whether additional directional words are actually needed or just redundant.
Despite the rain, we decided to continue our hike.
Explanation: This question tests proper sentence structure with prepositional phrases and infinitive constructions. The sentence begins with 'Despite the rain,' a prepositional phrase that sets up a contrast, followed by the main clause. The underlined portion 'we decided to continue' correctly provides a complete independent clause with subject 'we,' verb 'decided,' and infinitive complement 'to continue our hike.' The other choices create awkward constructions or incorrect verb forms that fail to maintain the logical meaning. When a sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, it must be followed by a properly structured independent clause.
PASSAGE V: The River of Grass
¹ In the early twentieth century, the general consensus regarding the Florida Everglades was that it was a useless, disease-ridden swamp. Developers and politicians viewed the millions of acres of wetlands as a problem to be solved. They embarked on massive drainage projects, digging canals and building levees to convert the marsh into dry, arable land for farming and real estate. For decades, the destruction of the Everglades was celebrated as a triumph of human engineering over nature. (41)
² One woman, (42) however, saw the Everglades differently. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a freelance writer and journalist, moved to Miami in 1915. She spent years exploring the vast wetlands, observing the intricate balance of the ecosystem. In 1947, she published a groundbreaking book titled The Everglades: River of Grass.
³ The title itself was revolutionary. By calling it a "river," Douglas completely reframed how the public understood the region. She explained that the Everglades was not a stagnant swamp, but a wide, shallow sheet of water flowing imperceptibly slowly from Lake Okeechobee southward to the Florida Bay. (43) This sheet of water, rarely more than knee-deep, supported a staggering diversity of wildlife. Douglas vividly described the sawgrass marshes, the cypress domes, and the delicate wading birds that relied on the seasonal floods.
⁴ Douglas’s book was a bestseller, (44) and it catalyzed the early environmental movement. She fiercely argued that draining the wetlands was ecological suicide. Without the slow flow of freshwater, the underground aquifers that supplied South Florida’s drinking water would dry up or become contaminated by saltwater intrusion from the ocean. (45) In addition, the dry peat soil of the drained marshes became highly flammable, leading to massive, uncontrollable muck fires.
⁵ Despite the success of her book, the drainage projects continued. (46) Infuriated by the government's inaction, Douglas founded the Friends of the Everglades in 1969, when she was 79 years old. For the next thirty years, she was a relentless advocate for the wetlands. She attended public hearings, organized protests, and famously stated, "The Everglades is a test. If we pass it, we may get to keep the planet."
⁶ Today, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is the largest environmental restoration project in history. Engineers are currently working to undo the damage of the past century by filling in canals and allowing the water to flow naturally once again. (47) While the ecosystem is still threatened by pollution and climate change. (48) It is widely acknowledged that the Everglades would likely have been paved over completely if not for Marjory Stoneman Douglas. (49) Her legacy is a reminder that a single voice, armed with a profound understanding of nature, can change the course of history. (50)
Which of these answer choices makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: The correct answer is B (it is widely acknowledged that the Everglades). This question is directly connected to Q47. When Q47 is correctly answered with choice B — changing the period to a comma and making the dependent clause flow into this sentence — the combined sentence begins with the dependent clause 'While the ecosystem is still threatened...' followed by the main clause. Because the dependent clause precedes the main clause, the main clause must begin with a lowercase letter, not a capital. F (NO CHANGE — 'It') retains the capital 'I,' which would only be correct if this were the beginning of a new sentence — but after accepting Q47's correction, it is now the continuation of a sentence that began with 'While.' G correctly uses lowercase 'it' with no comma after 'Everglades' — the noun 'Everglades' is the subject of the embedded clause 'that the Everglades would likely have been paved over,' and no comma is needed before it. H inserts a comma after 'Everglades,' which incorrectly separates the subject of the embedded clause from its verb. J inserts a comma after 'that,' which disrupts the subordinate clause 'that the Everglades would likely have been paved over' with no grammatical justification. This paired question rewards students who correctly resolved Q47 first — a genuinely sophisticated ACT-style test of sequential reasoning.
During a student council meeting, Maya proposed a recycling campaign that would start in the cafeteria and expand to classrooms. She argued that the plan was realistic because the school already had bins, and volunteers could handle sorting. The principal agreed with her timeline; he asked the custodial staff to track how much waste was diverted each week so the council could report results at the next assembly. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: This question tests the use of semicolons to join independent clauses. The sentence contains two independent clauses: 'The principal agreed with her timeline' and 'he asked the custodial staff to track how much waste was diverted each week so the council could report results at the next assembly.' Both clauses could stand alone as complete sentences. A semicolon correctly connects these related independent clauses. A comma would create a comma splice error, while a colon would be incorrect since the first clause doesn't introduce what follows. A period would break the connection between related ideas unnecessarily.
The proposal suggested a new and innovative approach to solving the problem.
Explanation: This question tests recognition of redundant adjective combinations. The phrase 'a new and innovative' is redundant because 'innovative' inherently means new or novel. Choice B eliminates this redundancy. Choices C and D maintain or worsen the redundancy problem. When you encounter paired adjectives, check whether one already contains the meaning of the other - innovation is inherently new, making 'new' unnecessary.
The number of participants is increasing each year.
Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement with the specific expression 'the number of.' The phrase 'the number of' is always singular because it refers to a specific quantity as one entity. The prepositional phrase 'of participants' doesn't affect the singular nature of 'the number.' The singular verb 'is' correctly agrees with 'the number.' Choice B 'are' would incorrectly treat the subject as plural, while choices C and D use past tense inappropriately. Remember that 'the number of' is singular, while 'a number of' is plural.
Read the following two-paragraph passage.
The city’s summer concert series takes place in a small park downtown. Families arrive early with folding chairs, and local food trucks line the curb. Volunteers from the arts council set up a table where visitors can pick up schedules and donate to support next year’s performers.
In addition, the series depends on careful planning behind the scenes. Organizers apply for permits, coordinate sound checks, and arrange for accessible seating. When storms threaten, they also decide whether to delay the start time or move the concert indoors.
Which choice provides the most effective transition between the two paragraphs?
Explanation: This question tests the selection of an effective transition to connect paragraphs about visible and behind-the-scenes aspects of a concert series. The first paragraph depicts the public, lively elements, while the second reveals the planning that enables them, creating a layered structure. 'Behind this lively scene,' best bridges this by contrasting the observed events with underlying efforts, enhancing coherence. 'In addition' implies simple addition without the shift to background, and 'However' suggests opposition not present here. When choosing transitions, match the phrase to the ideas' relationship, like revealing support behind a scene.
PASSAGE V: The Yellowstone Effect
¹ For nearly seventy years, the gray wolf was completely absent from Yellowstone National Park. Hunted to local extinction in the 1920s, the predator's removal triggered a cascade of negative ecological consequences. Without wolves to keep them in check, the park's elk population exploded. (41) Elk which had overpopulated the park grazed heavily on young willow and aspen trees. As the trees disappeared, so did the songbirds and beavers that relied on them for habitat. By the late twentieth century, Yellowstone’s ecosystem was severely unbalanced. (49)
² In 1995, wildlife biologists initiated a controversial program to reintroduce the gray wolf to the park. The scientists predicted that the wolves would cull the elk herds, but what happened next surprised even the most optimistic ecologists. The wolves triggered a phenomenon known as a "trophic cascade," where an apex predator's presence creates a ripple effect throughout the entire food web. (42)
³ The wolves began hunting the elk, which significantly reduced the grazing pressure on the valleys and gorges. (43) Growing along the riverbanks, the elk avoided the open areas where they were most vulnerable. Because the elk were constantly on the move, the young willow and aspen saplings finally had a chance to mature.
⁴ As the forests (44) had recovered, the ecosystem began to transform. The renewed tree growth provided ample wood for beavers, whose population rapidly increased. The beavers built dams, creating deep, cold pools of water that provided ideal habitats for fish, otters, and muskrats. Furthermore, the carcasses of elk hunted by wolves provided a reliable food source for scavengers, including ravens, bald eagles, and grizzly bears. (45) As a result of the consequence of this, the entire biodiversity of the park stabilized.
⁵ Perhaps the most astonishing consequence of (46) the wolfs return was the alteration of Yellowstone’s physical geography. Because the stabilizing vegetation prevented soil erosion, the park’s rivers actually changed course, becoming deeper and more fixed in their channels. The intricate web of predator and prey relationships (47) are fascinating, proving that sometimes, introducing a fearsome predator is the only way to heal a broken landscape. (48)
Which answer choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: The correct answer is C. The grammatical subject of the verb is "The intricate web" — a singular noun. "Of predator and prey relationships" is a prepositional phrase modifying "web" but does not change the subject. A singular subject requires a singular verb: "is fascinating." A ("are fascinating") incorrectly treats the plural noun "relationships" as the subject. B ("were fascinating") uses past tense, but the sentence is making a present-tense observation about the nature of these relationships. D ("have been fascinating") uses present perfect, implying the fascination has ended or is connected to a specific past period. Pro tip: Subject-verb agreement questions with long prepositional phrases between subject and verb are among the most common on the ACT. Always locate the true subject by asking "what is the sentence actually about?"
PASSAGE IV: The Accidental Toy
¹ Many of the world's most popular inventions were created by accident. In 1943, a naval engineer named Richard James (31) is trying to invent a set of tension springs that could keep sensitive ship equipment steady at sea. During a test in his laboratory, he accidentally knocked one of the coiled springs off a shelf. Instead of simply crashing to the floor, the steel spring "stepped" in a series of arcs from a stack of books, to a tabletop, and finally down to the ground, where it neatly coiled itself back up.
² James was mesmerized by the fluid, walking motion of the metal. He immediately realized the spring had potential as a novelty item. (39) After calculating the exact amount of tension required to make the spring walk smoothly, he spent the next year perfecting the formula. His wife, (32) Betty named the toy the "Slinky" after finding the word in a dictionary; she felt the word perfectly described the graceful, sinuous movement of the spring.
³ In 1945, Richard and Betty James manufactured the first batch of four hundred Slinkys. They convinced the manager of Gimbels Department Store (33) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to allow them to set up a display during the Christmas shopping season. (38) Initially, the toys sat unsold for days. However, once Richard set up an inclined board and demonstrated how the metal spring could walk down the ramp on its own, a crowd quickly gathered. Within ninety minutes, all four hundred Slinkys had been sold.
⁴ The Slinky became a massive success, but its simple design presented a unique manufacturing challenge. To keep the cost low, the factory had to cut and coil the steel wire with absolute precision. (34) Because each of the springs needed to have exactly ninety-eight coils. If the tension was even slightly off, the Slinky would not walk.
⁵ Despite these challenges, the James family eventually expanded their production to include plastic versions of the toy. The plastic models could be dyed in bright, vibrant colors, making them even more appealing to young children. (35) Meanwhile, the Slinky remains one of the best-selling toys in American history. Over 300 million units have been sold worldwide. The incredible popularity of this simple coil of wire proves that (36) a toy that is fun and enjoyable to play with doesn't need batteries or microchips to capture the imagination. (37)
Which of the following choices makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: The correct answer is C. The sentence structure is "His wife, Betty, named the toy..." — "Betty" is an appositive renaming "His wife" and must be set off by commas on both sides. The passage already provides the comma after "wife"; the underlined portion must supply the comma after "Betty." C ("Betty, named the toy") correctly places a comma after "Betty," completing the appositive pair. A ("Betty named the toy") omits the necessary closing comma. B ("Betty named, the toy") incorrectly places the comma between the verb "named" and its object "the toy." D ("Betty named the toy,") places a comma after the object, with no logical grammatical function. Pro tip: Appositive phrases rename the noun immediately before them. They must be enclosed by commas on both sides: "His wife[,] Betty[,] named the toy."
In a lab report, three researchers described how they calibrated the microscope before collecting images. Each person kept a notebook, and at the end of the week the team compared entries to confirm the procedure was consistent. The supervisor praised the researchers notes for being detailed and easy to follow. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: This question tests possessive apostrophes with plural nouns. The context mentions 'three researchers' (plural) who own notes, requiring a possessive form. For plural nouns ending in 's,' add only an apostrophe after the 's' to show possession. Choice C correctly uses 'researchers'' to show that multiple researchers possess notes. Choice A lacks the apostrophe entirely, choice B incorrectly makes 'researcher' singular, and choice D uses the nonstandard form 'researchers's.' When you see a split involving plural possessives, identify whether one or multiple people own something, then place the apostrophe correctly.
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 of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would be LEAST acceptable?
Explanation: This is a LEAST acceptable vocabulary question. Choice D (enforced) is LEAST acceptable because "enforced" carries legal or authoritative connotations (enforcing laws, rules by police/courts) that don't fit biological processes. Biological rhythms operate automatically, not through authority or coercion. Choices A (regulated), B (controlled), and C (directed) all work naturally with biological systems. Pro tip: Look for words whose connotations mismatch the context.
PASSAGE I: The Golden Seam
¹ In Western cultures, a shattered ceramic bowl is usually destined for the trash. If an attempt is made to repair it, the goal is often to hide the cracks, rendering the object as close to its original, pristine state (1) as possible as it can be. However, a centuries-old Japanese art form takes the exact opposite approach. Known as kintsugi, which translates to "golden joinery," this technique does not disguise the damage. Instead, it highlights the fractures (2) with a super-expensive lacquer mixed up with gold, silver, or platinum.
² The origins of kintsugi are traced back to the late fifteenth century. According to legend, Japanese shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa broke his favorite tea bowl and sent it to China for repairs. When the bowl was returned, it had been stitched back together with ugly metal staples. (3) Displeased with the aesthetic, the shogun challenged his local craftsmen to find a more beautiful solution. The result was kintsugi.
³ The process of kintsugi is meticulous and time-consuming. First, the artisan must gather all the broken pieces and clean them thoroughly. Next, a natural adhesive called urushi—a sap extracted from the Chinese lacquer tree(4) are carefully applied to the edges. Because urushi is highly toxic in its raw state, artisans must wear protective gear(5) during this phase of the process. The pieces are pressed back together, and the bowl is placed in a warm, humid environment to cure. This curing process can take several weeks.(6)
⁴ Once the lacquer has fully hardened, the true artistry begins. The artisan sands the seams flush with the surface of the ceramic. Then, a final layer of urushi is applied to the cracks. Before this layer dries, the artisan gently brushes the powdered gold over the sticky sap.(7) The gold adheres to the lines, transforming the chaotic web of fractures into a luminous, deliberate design.
⁵(8) Consequently, kintsugi is more than just a repair method; it is a profound philosophical statement. It reflects the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which is the embrace of the flawed, the impermanent, and the incomplete.(9) Rather than throwing away a broken item, kintsugi teaches that the break is simply a chapter in the object's history. By illuminating the scars with gold, the artisan celebrates the object's survival. (10) The bowl becomes more beautiful not in spite of its brokenness, but because of it.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: The correct answer is A (NO CHANGE). 'Displeased with the aesthetic' is a correctly formed participial phrase that modifies 'the shogun,' the subject of the main clause. No revision is needed. B ('Displeasing with the aesthetic') misuses the active participle — 'displeasing' would mean the shogun was causing displeasure in others, which reverses the meaning. C incorrectly inserts a comma between the adjective 'Displeased' and its prepositional complement 'with the aesthetic' — this comma interrupts the phrase and has no grammatical justification. D ('Being displeased') adds the clunky and unnecessary 'Being,' a construction the ACT almost always flags as inferior. When a participial phrase correctly modifies the sentence's subject and is free of errors, trust NO CHANGE. Pro tip: for introductory phrases, always ask: does this phrase logically describe the subject of the main clause? Here, the shogun is displeased — D passes that test cleanly.
During a meeting about the school garden, Maya proposed adding native plants to attract pollinators. The group liked the idea, but they worried about the cost of soil and mulch. Because the garden club’s budget is small, and the treasurer asked everyone to bring price estimates. Maya volunteered to call local nurseries and report back next week.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: This question tests the correction of a sentence fragment caused by improper conjunction use. The original sentence starts with a dependent clause 'Because the garden club’s budget is small,' followed by a comma and 'and' connecting to an independent clause, but this structure fails to form a complete sentence as the dependent clause lacks proper attachment to an independent clause without the unnecessary 'and.' Removing the 'and' creates a proper complex sentence with the dependent clause followed by a comma and the independent clause. Choice B correctly revises it to 'Because the garden club’s budget is small, the treasurer asked everyone to bring price estimates,' ensuring grammatical completeness. Choice A retains the fragment, Choice C creates two fragments by splitting into sentences, and Choice D results in a fragment without a main verb. Remember, a dependent clause beginning with a subordinating conjunction like 'because' must be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
PASSAGE II: The Invention of Velcro
¹ In 1941, a Swiss electrical engineer named George de Mestral went for a hunting trip in the Alps with his dog. Upon returning home, he noticed that his clothes and his (11) dog's fur, were covered in hundreds of tiny burrs from the burdock plant. Most people would have simply picked the burrs off and thrown them away. De Mestral, (12) consequently, was curious. He placed one of the burrs under a microscope to discover the secret to its incredible (13) stickiness.
² What he saw fascinated him. The outside of the burr was covered in hundreds of tiny, stiff hooks. These hooks perfectly latched onto the flexible, looped fibers of his clothing and his dog's hair. De Mestral immediately recognized the potential for a new type of fastener, (14) one, that could rival the zipper. He envisioned a two-sided material: one side featuring stiff hooks, and the other side featuring soft loops. When the two strips were pressed together, the hooks would catch the loops, creating a strong but reversible bond.
³ Turning this vision into a reality, (15) though, proved to be a daunting task. De Mestral traveled to Lyon, France, a center of textile manufacturing, to seek help. Most weavers laughed at his idea, but one artisan agreed to create a prototype. Initially, they tried using cotton, but the cotton loops wore out too quickly. De Mestral then turned to a recently invented synthetic material (16) called: nylon. Nylon was durable and, when treated with heat, could be permanently molded into rigid hooks.
⁴ It took De Mestral ten years to perfect the manufacturing process. He had to invent a special loom that could cut the nylon loops at just the right angle to create the hooks. Finally, in 1955, he patented his invention. He named it Velcro, a portmanteau of the French words velours (velvet) and crochet (hook). (17)
⁵ At first, the fashion industry rejected Velcro, considering it ugly and cheap-looking. (18) The zipper was much more popular. The invention's true breakthrough came in the 1960s when NASA began using it. Astronauts found Velcro incredibly useful for securing tools, equipment, and even food pouches in zero gravity. (19) Due to the fact tht NASA endorsed it, the apparel industry took notice. Skiers began wearing jackets with Velcro closures, and soon, it was being used on children's shoes, blood pressure cuffs, and backpacks. Today, this brilliant example of biomimicry—(20) the design of materials modeled on biological entities—is a staple of modern life.
Which choice best maintains the tone of the passage while providing the most precise description?
Explanation: The correct answer is D. "Adhesiveness" is the precise scientific and technical term for the property of sticking or bonding, perfectly matching the objective, analytical tone of a passage that uses words like "electrical engineer," "synthetic material," and "biomimicry." "Stickiness" is colloquial and imprecise — it belongs in everyday conversation, not scientific writing. "Grippy nature" is informal and vague, lacking technical precision. "Capability of attachment" is circumlocutory — it uses three words to describe what one technical word handles precisely, and the phrasing is awkward and overly bureaucratic. Pro tip: Diction questions in scientific or academic passages always favor the most precise technical term. When one option is a recognized scientific word and the others are everyday synonyms, the technical term is almost always correct.
During a history project, three classmates built a model of an early printing press. Their teacher complimented the students' attention to detail on the model's gears, noting that the parts fit together smoothly.
Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: This question tests the possessive form of a plural noun. The context clearly states that three classmates built the model, so we need the plural possessive to show that the attention to detail belongs to multiple students. The correct form for a plural noun ending in 's' is to add only an apostrophe: students'. Choice A correctly uses 'students'' to indicate possession by multiple students. Choice B incorrectly uses the singular possessive 'student's,' which would mean only one student showed attention to detail. Choice C omits the apostrophe entirely, making 'students' merely plural without showing possession. Choice D uses the nonstandard form 'students's,' which is never correct. Note that 'model's' is also correctly used to show that the gears belong to the model.
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 provides the most logical transition?
Explanation: This is a transitions question. Choice D (Finally) is correct—signals the last item in a sequence. The paragraph lists four sleep stages (three NREM, then REM), and "Finally, the fourth stage" appropriately introduces the last one. Choice A (Conversely) emphasizes contrast, which works but doesn't signal sequence as clearly. Choice B (Therefore) suggests causation. Choice C (For example) suggests illustration. Pro tip: For numbered sequences, "Finally" or "Lastly" work well for the final item.
The team voted for themselves to win the best sportsmanship award. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: This question tests proper usage of reflexive pronouns and singular/plural agreement. The subject 'team' is collective and singular, so the reflexive pronoun should be singular to match. The plural 'themselves' doesn't agree with the singular 'team.' Choice B 'itself' provides the correct singular reflexive pronoun that agrees with 'team.' Choices C and D offer specific gender reflexives that don't match a team as a group entity. When collective nouns like 'team' act as single units, use singular pronouns and reflexives. The reflexive is appropriate here because the team voted for their own benefit.
The plan was to proceed forward with the renovation.
Explanation: This question demonstrates directional redundancy with verbs of movement or progress. 'To proceed forward' is redundant because 'proceed' inherently means to move forward or continue in a forward direction. Choice C 'to proceed' eliminates the unnecessary directional word while maintaining complete meaning. Choices B and D maintain various forms of redundancy. Verbs that already contain directional meaning don't need additional directional modifiers to express their complete sense.
By tomorrow morning, he will have finished the report.
Explanation: This question tests the distinction between future perfect and other future constructions. The phrase 'By tomorrow morning' establishes a future deadline when the action will be completed. Future perfect 'will have finished' correctly expresses an action that will be completed before that specific future time. The other options are inappropriate: 'finished' is past tense, 'finishes' is present tense, and 'finish' is present/base form. Use future perfect (will have + past participle) for actions that will be completed by a specific future deadline or time point.
PASSAGE V: The Yellowstone Effect
¹ For nearly seventy years, the gray wolf was completely absent from Yellowstone National Park. Hunted to local extinction in the 1920s, the predator's removal triggered a cascade of negative ecological consequences. Without wolves to keep them in check, the park's elk population exploded. (41) Elk which had overpopulated the park grazed heavily on young willow and aspen trees. As the trees disappeared, so did the songbirds and beavers that relied on them for habitat. By the late twentieth century, Yellowstone’s ecosystem was severely unbalanced. (49)
² In 1995, wildlife biologists initiated a controversial program to reintroduce the gray wolf to the park. The scientists predicted that the wolves would cull the elk herds, but what happened next surprised even the most optimistic ecologists. The wolves triggered a phenomenon known as a "trophic cascade," where an apex predator's presence creates a ripple effect throughout the entire food web. (42)
³ The wolves began hunting the elk, which significantly reduced the grazing pressure on the valleys and gorges. (43) Growing along the riverbanks, the elk avoided the open areas where they were most vulnerable. Because the elk were constantly on the move, the young willow and aspen saplings finally had a chance to mature.
⁴ As the forests (44) had recovered, the ecosystem began to transform. The renewed tree growth provided ample wood for beavers, whose population rapidly increased. The beavers built dams, creating deep, cold pools of water that provided ideal habitats for fish, otters, and muskrats. Furthermore, the carcasses of elk hunted by wolves provided a reliable food source for scavengers, including ravens, bald eagles, and grizzly bears. (45) As a result of the consequence of this, the entire biodiversity of the park stabilized.
⁵ Perhaps the most astonishing consequence of (46) the wolfs return was the alteration of Yellowstone’s physical geography. Because the stabilizing vegetation prevented soil erosion, the park’s rivers actually changed course, becoming deeper and more fixed in their channels. The intricate web of predator and prey relationships (47) are fascinating, proving that sometimes, introducing a fearsome predator is the only way to heal a broken landscape. (48)
Which of the following choices makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?
Explanation: The correct answer is D. The original sentence has a dangling modifier: "Growing along the riverbanks" is a participial phrase that must immediately precede the noun performing the growing action — but elk don't grow along riverbanks; the vegetation does. D resolves the modifier issue by restructuring the sentence entirely, eliminating the participial phrase and correctly stating that the elk avoided open areas such as riverbeds where they were exposed to predators. B creates a sentence fragment — "The elk avoiding" without a main verb. C creates a new absurdity: "the elk grew along the riverbanks" implies the elk were growing (like plants) along the riverbanks. Pro tip: Dangling modifiers occur when the participial phrase's implied subject doesn't match the sentence's actual subject. The fix often requires restructuring the sentence rather than just reordering words.
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. If the audience realizes (8) 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)
The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion (and ending the sentence with a period). Should the writer do this?
Explanation: This is a deletion strategy question testing whether specific content should be kept or removed. Choice C is correct because the coconut shell example provides a specific, memorable illustration of the "misdirection" concept mentioned in the very next sentence. The detail is engaging and helps readers visualize how Foley artistry creates convincing illusions. It strengthens the paragraph by providing concrete evidence of the "magic" that gets lost when audiences recognize the techniques. Choice A misunderstands the passage purpose—the entire essay explains Foley techniques, not protects them as secrets. Choice B is incorrect because the example directly supports the paragraph's point about work going unnoticed to maintain the illusion. Choice D is factually wrong—the passage doesn't explain WHY coconut shells sound like hooves, just that they're used this way. Pro tip: Delete details only if they're truly irrelevant, redundant, or disruptive. Specific examples that support the main idea should usually stay.