ACT Warm up ALL CLASSES 9/27/2010

Passage I A Microscope in the Kitchen      I grew up with buckets, shovels, and nets
waiting by the back door; hip-waders hanging in the closet; tide table charts covering the refrigerator	1.  A.NO CHANGE   B.waiting, by the back door, C.waiting by the back door, D.waiting by the back door Correct! The best answer is A. It provides the best punctuation for the underlined portion. The phrase "waiting by the back door" describes the noun nets and is essential because it tells which nets the narrator "grew up with." Therefore, no comma should be placed after nets. The semicolon after the word door is appropriate because semicolons are used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas. The best answer is NOT B because the first comma after waiting is unnecessary. In addition, the appropriate punctuation after door should be a semicolon (not a comma). Semicolons are used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas. The best answer is NOT C because the appropriate punctuation after door should be a semicolon and not a comma. Semicolons are used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas. The best answer is NOT D because the punctuation, in this case a semicolon, is missing after the word door. It is needed to set off the first of this sentence's three items in a series. Incorrect The best answer is NOT B because the first comma after waiting is unnecessary. In addition, the appropriate punctuation after door should be a semicolon (not a comma). Semicolons are used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas. Incorrect The best answer is NOT C because the appropriate punctuation after door should be a semicolon and not a comma. Semicolons are used between items in a series when one or more of these items include commas. Incorrect The best answer is NOT D because the punctuation, in this case a semicolon, is missing after the word door. It is needed to set off the first of this sentence's three items in a series.
door; and a microscope was sitting on the kitchen	2.  F.NO CHANGE G.would sit H.sitting  J.sat Incorrect The best answer is NOT F because the phrase was sitting makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first two items. Incorrect The best answer is NOT G because the phrase would sit makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first two items. Correct! The best answer is H. The verb form sitting is best here because it creates a parallel structure for all three items in the series: "nets waiting," "hip-waders hanging," "a microscope sitting." The best answer is NOT F because the phrase was sitting makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first two items. The best answer is NOT G because the phrase would sit makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first two items. The best answer is NOT J because the verb sat makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first two items. Incorrect The best answer is NOT J because the verb sat makes the third item in the series not parallel with the first two items.
table. Having studied, my mother is a marine biologist.	3.   A.NO CHANGE  B.As my mother’s interest is science, she is C.My mother’s occupation is that of  D.My mother is Incorrect The best answer is NOT A because the phrase "Having studied" at the beginning of the sentence is wordy and unnecessary. It is obvious to the reader that a marine biologist would have studied in the past. Incorrect The best answer is NOT B because the phrase "As my mother's interest is science" adds meaningless words to the sentence. It is obvious to the reader that a marine biologist would have an interest in science. Incorrect The best answer is NOT C because the phrase "occupation is that of" adds unnecessary words to the sentence. It is obvious to the reader that marine biology is the mother's occupation. Correct! The best answer is D. It offers the clearest, most concise wording for this sentence. "My mother is a marine biologist," is a clear statement that avoids unnecessary or confusing words. The best answer is NOT A because the phrase "Having studied" at the beginning of the sentence is wordy and unnecessary. It is obvious to the reader that a marine biologist would have studied in the past. The best answer is NOT B because the phrase "As my mother's interest is science" adds meaningless words to the sentence. It is obvious to the reader that a marine biologist would have an interest in science. The best answer is NOT C because the phrase "occupation is that of" adds unnecessary words to the sentence. It is obvious to the reader that marine biology is the mother's occupation.
Our household might have been described as uncooperative. Our meals weren’t always served in the expected order of breakfast, lunch, and supper.	4.  Which choice would most effectively introduce the rest of this paragraph? F.NO CHANGE G.There seemed to be no explanation for why Mom ran our household the way she did. H.Our household didn’t run according to a typical schedule.J.Mom ran our household in a most spectacular manner. Incorrect The best answer is NOT F. This is a poor introductory sentence because the paragraph provides no evidence that indicates the narrator's household was uncooperative. Incorrect The best answer is NOT G. This is a poor introductory sentence because the paragraph does explain why the mother ran the household in an untypical manner: Everything depended on the tides. Correct! The best answer is H. This is a good introductory sentence because the rest of the paragraph explains how the narrator's household "didn't run according to a typical schedule." The paragraph goes on to say that "meals weren't always served in the expected order" and that the mother operated according to the tides, which were not on a typical household schedule. The best answer is NOT F. This is a poor introductory sentence because the paragraph provides no evidence that indicates the narrator's household was uncooperative. The best answer is NOT G. This is a poor introductory sentence because the paragraph does explain why the mother ran the household in an untypical manner: Everything depended on the tides. The best answer is NOT J. This is a poor introductory sentence because there is no evidence that suggests the narrator's household was run in a "most spectacular manner." The household schedule may have been atypical, but atypical does not indicate spectacular. Incorrect The best answer is NOT J. This is a poor introductory sentence because there is no evidence that suggests the narrator's household was run in a "most spectacular manner." The household schedule may have been atypical, but atypical does not indicate spectacular.
Everything was subservient to the disposal of the tides. When the tide was low, Mom could be found down on the mudflats. When the tide was high, she would be standing on the inlet bridge with her plankton net.	5. A.NO CHANGE  B.was defenseless in the face of  C.depended on D.trusted in Incorrect The best answer is NOT A because the meaning of the statement "Everything was subservient to the disposal of the tides" is not clear. In particular, the use of the phrase "the disposal of the tides" makes no sense in the context of the sentence. Incorrect The best answer is NOT B because the statement "Everything was defenseless in the face of the tides" is convoluted and wordy. In addition, the meaning is unclear. Correct! The best answer is C. It offers the clearest, most concise wording for this sentence. "Everything depended on the tides," is a precise, clear statement that avoids unnecessary or confusing words. The best answer is NOT A because the meaning of the statement "Everything was subservient to the disposal of the tides" is not clear. In particular, the use of the phrase "the disposal of the tides" makes no sense in the context of the sentence. The best answer is NOT B because the statement "Everything was defenseless in the face of the tides" is convoluted and wordy. In addition, the meaning is unclear. The best answer is NOT D because it creates an unclear statement: "Everything trusted in the tides." The word Everything refers back to the household schedule. It makes no sense to say that the household schedule has the ability to trust. Incorrect The best answer is NOT D because it creates an unclear statement: "Everything trusted in the tides." The word Everything refers back to the household schedule. It makes no sense to say that the household schedule has the ability to trust.
I have great respect for my mother. I learned early that the moon affected the tides. Mom was always waiting for a full moon, when low tide would be much lower than usual and high tide much	6. Which choice most effectively signals the shift from the preceding paragraph to this paragraph? F.NO CHANGE  G.Our lives were likewise affected by the phases of the moon.   H.A relationship exists between the moon and the tides.        J.The moon is a mysterious orb afloat in the sky. Incorrect The best answer is NOT F because this new paragraph is about the relationship between the moon and the tides. The rest of the paragraph does not further develop the point that the narrator had respect for her mother, as this choice suggests. Correct! The best answer is G. This is the best introductory sentence because the rest of this new paragraph explains how "the phases of the moon" affected a "complete cycle of tides." The other choices do not logically lead into this explanation of what causes high and low tides. The best answer is NOT F because this new paragraph is about the relationship between the moon and the tides. The rest of the paragraph does not further develop the point that the narrator had respect for her mother, as this choice suggests. The best answer is NOT H. Although this choice does mention the relationship between the moon and the tides (the main topic of the new paragraph), it is a poor transition from the preceding paragraph, which concludes with a description of the mother on the bridge at high tide. The best answer is NOT J because a description of the moon as "a mysterious orb" is an inadequate introduction to this new paragraph, which explains how "the moon affected the tides." Incorrect The best answer is NOT H. Although this choice does mention the relationship between the moon and the tides (the main topic of the new paragraph), it is a poor transition from the preceding paragraph, which concludes with a description of the mother on the bridge at high tide. Incorrect The best answer is NOT J because a description of the moon as "a mysterious orb" is an inadequate introduction to this new paragraph, which explains how "the moon affected the tides."
higher. The moon being closer to the earth when full,	7. A.NO CHANGE  B.Since the moon is C.The moon is  D.The moon, Incorrect The best answer is NOT A. The coordinating conjunction so indicates that there should be two independent clauses in this sentence, but the first part of the sentence ("The moon being closer to the earth when full") is not an independent clause; it has no predicate. Incorrect The best answer is NOT B. The coordinating conjunction so indicates that there should be two independent clauses in this sentence, but the first part of the sentence ("Since the moon is closer to the earth when full") is not an independent clause; it has no predicate. Correct! The best answer is C. This choice creates a structurally sound compound sentence with two complete independent clauses connected by the coordinating conjunction so. The best answer is NOT A. The coordinating conjunction so indicates that there should be two independent clauses in this sentence, but the first part of the sentence ("The moon being closer to the earth when full") is not an independent clause; it has no predicate. The best answer is NOT B. The coordinating conjunction so indicates that there should be two independent clauses in this sentence, but the first part of the sentence ("Since the moon is closer to the earth when full") is not an independent clause; it has no predicate. The best answer is NOT D. The coordinating conjunction so indicates that there should be two independent clauses in this sentence, but the first part of the sentence ("The moon, closer to the earth when full") is not an independent clause; it has no predicate. Incorrect The best answer is NOT D. The coordinating conjunction so indicates that there should be two independent clauses in this sentence, but the first part of the sentence ("The moon, closer to the earth when full") is not an independent clause; it has no predicate.
so its gravitational pull is stronger. I knew that it took about eight hours for the tides to change from high to low, sixteen hours for a complete cycle of	8.  F.NO CHANGE  G.one’s  H.it’s  J.its’ Correct! The best answer is F. The possessive pronoun its is appropriate here because it refers back to the moon: "[the moon's] gravitational pull." The best answer is NOT G because the possessive one's, which is used to refer to persons, does not agree with the antecedent moon. The best answer is NOT H because it's is a contraction meaning it is, and not a possessive pronoun. The best answer is NOT J because the apostrophe in its' makes this word an improper possessive pronoun form. Incorrect The best answer is NOT G because the possessive one's, which is used to refer to persons, does not agree with the antecedent moon. Incorrect The best answer is NOT H because it's is a contraction meaning it is, and not a possessive pronoun. Incorrect The best answer is NOT J because the apostrophe in its' makes this word an improper possessive pronoun form.
tides. 9 I didn’t have to wait to learn these things in school. In our house they were everyday knowledge.	9.  If the writer were to delete the phrase “sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides” from the preceding sentence (ending the sentence with a period), the essay would primarily lose a detail that: A.shows how the narrator’s interests are different from the mother’s interests. B.contradicts a point made earlier in the paragraph. C.helps establish the setting for the essay. D.displays the narrator’s knowledge of tides. Incorrect The best answer is NOT A because the phrase "sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides" provides scientific information; it does not in any way contrast the narrator's interests and her mother's interests. Incorrect The best answer is NOT B because the phrase "sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides" gives specific information that is presented as fact. This scientific information is supported, not contradicted, in the essay. Incorrect The best answer is NOT C because factual information about "a complete cycle of tides" has nothing to do with the setting of the essay. In addition, at this point in the essay, the setting has long been established. Correct! The best answer is D because the detailed information about how long it takes to complete a cycle of tides clearly shows that the narrator has specific knowledge of tides. The best answer is NOT A because the phrase "sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides" provides scientific information; it does not in any way contrast the narrator's interests and her mother's interests. The best answer is NOT B because the phrase "sixteen hours for a complete cycle of tides" gives specific information that is presented as fact. This scientific information is supported, not contradicted, in the essay. The best answer is NOT C because factual information about "a complete cycle of tides" has nothing to do with the setting of the essay. In addition, at this point in the essay, the setting has long been established.
[1] Often, my brother and I, joined our mother on her adventures into tidal lands. [2] At the very low tides of the full moon, when	10. F.NO CHANGE G.brother, and I, H.brother, and I J.brother and I Incorrect The best answer is NOT F because it inserts an unnecessary and confusing comma between the subject and verb. Incorrect The best answer is NOT G because it inserts two unnecessary and confusing commas. The first comma illogically separates the two parts of the compound subject; the second comma inserts an unnecessary and confusing comma between the subject and verb. Incorrect The best answer is NOT H because it inserts a comma that illogically separates the two parts of this sentence's compound subject. Correct! The best answer is J because no punctuation is needed to separate the subject of the sentence (my brother and I) from the verb (joined). The best answer is NOT F because it inserts an unnecessary and confusing comma between the subject and verb. The best answer is NOT G because it inserts two unnecessary and confusing commas. The first comma illogically separates the two parts of the compound subject; the second comma inserts an unnecessary and confusing comma between the subject and verb. The best answer is NOT H because it inserts a comma that illogically separates the two parts of this sentence's compound subject.
almost all the water was sucked away, we found the	11. A.NO CHANGE B.away. Then we C.away. We D.away; we Correct! The best answer is A because it is the only choice that results in a complete sentence. The best answer is NOT B because "At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was away" is a sentence fragment. The best answer is NOT C because "At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was away" is a sentence fragment. The best answer is NOT D because "At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was away" is a sentence fragment and not an independent clause, as the semicolon after the word away suggests. Incorrect The best answer is NOT B because "At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was away" is a sentence fragment. Incorrect The best answer is NOT C because "At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was away" is a sentence fragment. Incorrect The best answer is NOT D because "At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was away" is a sentence fragment and not an independent clause, as the semicolon after the word away suggests.
hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen. [3] Sometimes we would dig with shovels in the mud, where yellow and	12. F.NO CHANGE G.hideouts where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins concealed and hid themselves. H.places where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins were stashed away. J.hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins. Incorrect The best answer is NOT F because it is wordy and redundant. The word "hideaways" indicates that something is hidden, and yet the sentence goes on to repeat the same idea with the phrase "hid in order not to be seen." Incorrect The best answer is NOT G because it is wordy and redundant. The word "concealed" means the same as "hid," which creates a redundancy. Incorrect The best answer is NOT H because the phrase "were stashed away" is not in keeping with the style and tone of this essay. In addition, the phrase is imprecise, so the meaning is unclear. Correct! The best answer is J. It offers the clearest and most concise wording for the underlined portion and avoids redundancy. The best answer is NOT F because it is wordy and redundant. The word "hideaways" indicates that something is hidden, and yet the sentence goes on to repeat the same idea with the phrase "hid in order not to be seen." The best answer is NOT G because it is wordy and redundant. The word "concealed" means the same as "hid," which creates a redundancy. The best answer is NOT H because the phrase "were stashed away" is not in keeping with the style and tone of this essay. In addition, the phrase is imprecise, so the meaning is unclear.
white worms lived in their leathery tunnels. 13      For plankton tows, we would stand on the bridge while Mom lowered a cone-shaped net that	13.Which of the following sequences of sentences makes this paragraph most logical? A.NO CHANGE B.2, 1, 3 C.2, 3, 1 D.3, 1, 2 Correct! The best answer is A because it is the only choice that places Sentence 1 as the introduction to the paragraph. There is no other logical placement for Sentence 1 because it provides information that the narrator and the brother are joining the mother on their "adventures into tidal lands." If either Sentence 2 or Sentence 3 introduced the paragraph, the reader would be confused. The best answer is NOT B because it is illogical to place Sentence 2 before Sentence 1. Sentence 1 introduces the setting for the paragraph and places the narrator's family there. If Sentence 2 introduced the paragraph, the reader would not understand who "we" referred to. The best answer is NOT C because it is illogical to place Sentence 2 before Sentence 1. Sentence 1 introduces the setting for the paragraph and places the narrator's family there. If Sentence 2 introduced the paragraph, the reader would not understand who "we" referred to. The best answer is NOT D because the information in Sentence 3 ("we would dig with shovels in the mud") logically follows the information in Sentence 2 about finding the "hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins." Incorrect The best answer is NOT B because it is illogical to place Sentence 2 before Sentence 1. Sentence 1 introduces the setting for the paragraph and places the narrator's family there. If Sentence 2 introduced the paragraph, the reader would not understand who "we" referred to. Incorrect The best answer is NOT C because it is illogical to place Sentence 2 before Sentence 1. Sentence 1 introduces the setting for the paragraph and places the narrator's family there. If Sentence 2 introduced the paragraph, the reader would not understand who "we" referred to. Incorrect The best answer is NOT D because the information in Sentence 3 ("we would dig with shovels in the mud") logically follows the information in Sentence 2 about finding the "hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins."
is often used by marine biologists. Then we would patiently wait. After a while, she would pull up the net, and we would go home. Later, we would see her sitting at the kitchen table, peering	14.Given that all of the choices are true, which one provides information that is relevant and that makes the rest of this paragraph understandable? F.NO CHANGE G.had a specimen bottle attached to its smaller end. H.was woven from cotton and nylon material. J.was shaped like a geometric figure. Incorrect The best answer is NOT F because the fact that the net "is often used by marine biologists" is not as relevant as knowing at this point in the paragraph that the mother needs "a specimen bottle" to collect "the thousands of tiny swimming organisms." Correct! The best answer is G because the information about the attached "specimen bottle" is critical to understanding the last sentence of the essay, which describes the mother "peering at a drop of water from the bottle." The best answer is NOT F because the fact that the net "is often used by marine biologists" is not as relevant as knowing at this point in the paragraph that the mother needs "a specimen bottle" to collect "the thousands of tiny swimming organisms." The best answer is NOT H because the material that the net was made from ("cotton and nylon") is irrelevant to the rest of the essay. What is relevant is knowing at this point in the paragraph that the mother needs "a specimen bottle" to collect "the thousands of tiny swimming organisms." The best answer is NOT J because the shape of the net ("like a geometric figure") is irrelevant to the rest of the essay. What is relevant is knowing at this point in the paragraph that the mother needs "a specimen bottle" to collect "the thousands of tiny swimming organisms." Incorrect The best answer is NOT H because the material that the net was made from ("cotton and nylon") is irrelevant to the rest of the essay. What is relevant is knowing at this point in the paragraph that the mother needs "a specimen bottle" to collect "the thousands of tiny swimming organisms." Incorrect The best answer is NOT J because the shape of the net ("like a geometric figure") is irrelevant to the rest of the essay. What is relevant is knowing at this point in the paragraph that the mother needs "a specimen bottle" to collect "the thousands of tiny swimming organisms."
at a drop of water through the lenses of her microscope from the bottle—watching the thousands of tiny swimming organisms.	15.The best placement for the underlined portion would be: A.where it is now. B.after the word lenses. C.after the word microscope. D.after the word bottle (but before the dash).