Reading Section
How many passages are on the ACT reading section and how many of those passages are informational texts?
4 total. 3 informational texts.
True or False: reading just the underlined portion of the sentence will be enough to get the question correct on the ACT English section.
False.
Maria wanted to improve her ACT score she decided to study for an extra hour each night.
A. NO CHANGE
B. Maria wanted to improve her ACT score; she decided to study for an extra hour each night.
C. Maria wanted to improve her ACT score, she decided to study for an extra hour each night.
D. Maria wanted to improve her ACT score she decided, to study for an extra hour each night.
B. Maria wanted to improve her ACT score; she decided to study for an extra hour each night.
Maria stood at the edge of the track long after practice had ended. The stadium lights hummed overhead while the rest of the team packed their bags and left in clusters of laughter. Earlier that afternoon she had finished last in the final sprint drill, her legs heavy and her confidence even heavier. For a moment she wondered if joining the team had been a mistake.
But as the field grew quiet, Maria stepped back onto the track. She jogged slowly at first, then faster, repeating the same stretch of lane again and again. Each lap felt slightly easier than the last. No one was watching now—no coach with a stopwatch, no teammates racing beside her—just the steady rhythm of her feet against the ground.
By the time the stadium lights flickered off, Maria was still running. She knew tomorrow’s practice would be difficult, and she might still struggle to keep up. Yet as she finally walked off the track, she realized something had changed. Losing the race earlier had not ended her effort; it had only begun to shape the kind of runner she wanted to become.
What is the main idea of the passage? Remember, in fiction passages, the main idea is often related to the theme/message in the story.
Maria begins to understand that perseverance after failure helps her grow.
Worst case scenario... there is a minute left on whatever section you're working on... What is your best last second guessing strategy (statistically).
Choose the same letter for each unanswered question.
To be successful on the Reading section, you MUST read a little ______________ than normal. Use your ___________ or your ______________ to guide your eyes while reading. You may also use the _____________ method if you are taking the test on a computer.
Faster. Hand. Pencil. Scrolling method.
The ACT likes ____________, _______________, and ______________ sentences, not flowery language.
This means the (shorter/longer) answer is usually correct.
clear, direct, and concise
shorter
During the practice test, Maria answered every question carefully and reviews her mistakes afterward.
A. NO CHANGE
B. During the practice test, Maria answers every question carefully and reviews her mistakes afterward.
C. During the practice test, Maria answered every question carefully and reviewed her mistakes afterward.
D. During the practice test, Maria answered every question carefully and reviews her mistakes afterward.
C. During the practice test, Maria answered every question carefully and reviewed her mistakes afterward.
Maria stood at the edge of the track long after practice had ended. The stadium lights hummed overhead while the rest of the team packed their bags and left in clusters of laughter. Earlier that afternoon she had finished last in the final sprint drill, her legs heavy and her confidence even heavier. For a moment she wondered if joining the team had been a mistake.
But as the field grew quiet, Maria stepped back onto the track. She jogged slowly at first, then faster, repeating the same stretch of lane again and again. Each lap felt slightly easier than the last. No one was watching now—no coach with a stopwatch, no teammates racing beside her—just the steady rhythm of her feet against the ground.
By the time the stadium lights flickered off, Maria was still running. She knew tomorrow’s practice would be difficult, and she might still struggle to keep up. Yet as she finally walked off the track, she realized something had changed. Losing the race earlier had not ended her effort; it had only begun to shape the kind of runner she wanted to become.
Provide a detail from the passage best supports the idea that Maria refuses to give up after struggling at practice?
Maria stepped back onto the track and ran the same stretch of lane again and again.
Get enough ________. Aim for __________ hours so your brain is alert and focused.
sleep. 7-9
Never ___________ while reading. Don't Sweat it if you miss a few _________________.
Regress. Details.
The colon does more than introduce a list. On the ACT, the colon introduces an example or an explanation. It means "__________________________."
"Now let me explain"
During the meeting, the manager encouraged employees to share their ideas and that they listen carefully to their coworkers.
A. NO CHANGE
B. During the meeting, the manager encouraged employees to share their ideas and they should listen carefully to their coworkers.
C. During the meeting, the manager encouraged employees to share their ideas and listening carefully to their coworkers.
D. During the meeting, the manager encouraged employees to share their ideas and to listen carefully to their coworkers.
D. During the meeting, the manager encouraged employees to share their ideas and to listen carefully to their coworkers.
DAILY DOUBLE
Name one way the test makers will try to fool you with answer-choice DISTRACTORS.
Eat a good ___________. Choose something with protein and complex carbs (like eggs, oatmeal, or yogurt) for steady energy.
Arrive _________. Plan to get to the test center at least _________ minutes before check-in starts.
breakfast.
Early. 30.
Name two parts of the prereading strategy.
1. Read the first sentence of each passage and decide which one you want to read last/first.
2. Mark the line references.
3. Quickly read the questions before reading the passage.
The ACT _____________ expressions like "due to the fact that" and "in order to."
Replace "due to the fact that" with _____________.
Replace "in order to" with _____________.
Hates
Replace "due to the fact that" with 'because.'
Replace "in order to" with 'to.'
DAILY DOUBLE
1. Use (who/whom) if it refers to the subject of the sentence.
2. Use (who/whom) if it refers to the object of the sentence.
3. The student (who/whom) the coach chose for the team worked hard every day.
Maria stood at the edge of the track long after practice had ended. The stadium lights hummed overhead while the rest of the team packed their bags and left in clusters of laughter. Earlier that afternoon she had finished last in the final sprint drill, her legs heavy and her confidence even heavier. For a moment she wondered if joining the team had been a mistake.
But as the field grew quiet, Maria stepped back onto the track. She jogged slowly at first, then faster, repeating the same stretch of lane again and again. Each lap felt slightly easier than the last. No one was watching now—no coach with a stopwatch, no teammates racing beside her—just the steady rhythm of her feet against the ground.
By the time the stadium lights flickered off, Maria was still running. She knew tomorrow’s practice would be difficult, and she might still struggle to keep up. Yet as she finally walked off the track, she realized something had changed. Losing the race earlier had not ended her effort; it had only begun to shape the kind of runner she wanted to become.
What is the overall tone of the passage?
Reflective and hopeful
Read the ____________! (Especially on the Reading Test — they save you time and confusion.)
Use the process of _____________ (must be spelled correctly for full points). Cross out wrong answers to increase your odds.
blurbs.
elimination.
It should take you ___________ minutes to read a single passage on the Reading Section of the ACT.
It should take you ___________ minutes to answer the questions per section on the Reading Section of the ACT.
4. 6.
On the ACT, students must choose transitions that match the relationship between _________, such as:
contrast (however)
cause/effect (therefore)
addition (furthermore)
example (for instance)
ideas
The students' enthusiasm for their project, and the teachers' dedication to guiding them was evident throughout the week.
A. NO CHANGE
B. The students’ enthusiasm for their project, and the teachers' dedication to guiding them was evident throughout the week.
C. The students's enthusiasm for their project, and the teacher's dedication to guiding them was evident throughout the week.
D. The students’ enthusiasm for their project and the teachers’ dedication to guiding them was evident throughout the week.
D. The students’ enthusiasm for their project and the teachers’ dedication to guiding them was evident throughout the week.
Maria stood at the edge of the track long after practice had ended. The stadium lights hummed overhead while the rest of the team packed their bags and left in clusters of laughter. Earlier that afternoon she had finished last in the final sprint drill, her legs heavy and her confidence even heavier. For a moment she wondered if joining the team had been a mistake.
But as the field grew quiet, Maria stepped back onto the track. She jogged slowly at first, then faster, repeating the same stretch of lane again and again. Each lap felt slightly easier than the last. No one was watching now—no coach with a stopwatch, no teammates racing beside her—just the steady rhythm of her feet against the ground.
By the time the stadium lights flickered off, Maria was still running. She knew tomorrow’s practice would be difficult, and she might still struggle to keep up. Yet as she finally walked off the track, she realized something had changed. Losing the race earlier had not ended her effort; it had only begun to shape the kind of runner she wanted to become.
Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A. After finishing last in a practice drill, Maria stays late and continues running, realizing that persistence will help her become the runner she hopes to be.
B. Maria’s teammates leave practice early, so she decides to spend extra time running laps around the stadium by herself.
C. A runner struggles during practice but eventually learns that stadium lights often turn off late at night.
D. Maria dislikes losing races and decides that practicing alone will guarantee she wins the next competition.
Correct Answer: A
Choice A captures the beginning (Maria struggles), middle (she keeps practicing), and ending (she realizes persistence matters), making it the best overall summary.
Why the other answers are incorrect:
B includes only a partial detail and misses Maria’s realization about perseverance.
C is mostly irrelevant and trivial.
D overstates the conclusion and introduces an idea (guaranteed winning) not stated in the passage.
Mr. Walls is always telling you to move at an ____________ speed. This means moving quickly but not rushing. Effective time ____________ is just as essential to success on the ACT as understanding the material.
ACT.
Management.