Crack the Code
A question asks: “Which statement best expresses the central idea of the passage as a whole?” What must you identify? What reading skill is being tested?
Main idea
A writer adds the phrase “For example” before a specific illustration of a general claim. What organizational job does this transition perform?
Introduces an example or illustration.
It signals that the next detail demonstrates the preceding general idea.
Correct the punctuation: “Although the speech was brief it inspired thousands.”
Although the speech was brief, it inspired thousands.
A comma follows an introductory dependent clause.
Complete sentence or Fragment?
“Because several committee members were absent.”
Because makes the clause dependent; it cannot stand alone.
Correct the apostrophe to show that one student owns the notebook: “The students notebook was missing.”
Answer: The student's notebook was missing.
A singular possessive noun normally takes apostrophe + s.
A question asks, “Which conclusion is most strongly supported by the passage?” What reading skill is being tested?
Inference.
The answer must be supported by textual evidence, even if it is not stated directly.
Complete the transition: “The original schedule required volunteers to attend every Saturday. ______, the revised schedule allows them to choose any two days each month.”
However.
The revised schedule contrasts with the original schedule.
Add the necessary commas: “The volunteers collected blankets canned food and bottled water.”
The volunteers collected blankets, canned food, and bottled water.
Commas separate items in a series.
Identify the missing element in this fragment: “After the long public meeting.”
An independent clause (a complete subject-verb thought).
The phrase gives time or context but does not form a complete sentence.
Correct the apostrophe to show that several teachers share the lounge: “The teachers lounge was renovated.”
The teachers' lounge was renovated.
A regular plural noun ending in s takes an apostrophe after the s.
A question asks, “Which detail from the passage best supports the author's claim?” What should you look for?
The specific piece of textual evidence that most directly proves the claim.
An answer can be true but still fail to support the particular claim.
A paragraph argues that extended library hours help working residents. One sentence describes the library's brick exterior. What should the writer do with that sentence, and why?
Delete it because the building's appearance does not support the paragraph's focus on extended hours.
The ACT tests whether information is relevant to the writer's purpose.
Correct the punctuation without changing any words: “The debate lasted two hours but the audience remained attentive.”
The debate lasted two hours, but the audience remained attentive.
A comma before the coordinating conjunction but (FANBOYS) joins two independent clauses.
Identify the sentence-boundary error: “The speech was brief, it changed several minds.”
Comma splice
Two independent clauses are joined by only a comma.
dentify the sentence-boundary error: “The speech was brief, it changed several minds.”
Comma splice.
Two independent clauses are joined by only a comma.
Read: “The author begins by describing a factory accident, then presents statistics about workplace injuries.” What is the author's likely purpose for opening with the accident?
To capture readers' attention and make the problem concrete before presenting broader evidence.
The anecdote illustrates the human impact; the statistics establish the scope of the problem.
A paragraph reads: (1) “The town launched a bicycle-sharing program.” (2) “Residents could borrow bicycles at six stations.” (3) “The program reduced short car trips downtown.” Where should the sentence “Each station was located near a bus stop or shopping area” be placed?
After sentence 2 and before sentence 3.
Add the necessary commas: “Dr. Alvarez who directs the program presented the results.” Assume the name already identifies the person, and the job description is extra information.
Dr. Alvarez, who directs the program, presented the results.
A nonessential phrase or clause is set off with two commas.
Correct this sentence by adding a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) and any necessary punctuation: “The reporter interviewed witnesses the photographer took pictures.”
The reporter interviewed witnesses, and the photographer took pictures.
Two independent clauses can be joined by a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
Correct this sentence by adding a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) and any necessary punctuation: “The reporter interviewed witnesses the photographer took pictures.”
The reporter interviewed witnesses, and the photographer took pictures.
Two independent clauses can be joined by a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
Read: “The council praised the proposal's ambition but noted that it lacked a funding plan. Nevertheless, members voted to advance it for further discussion.” What is the strongest supported inference about the council's decision?
The council was willing to discuss the proposal further despite its unresolved funding problem.
Advancing for discussion is not the same as approving the proposal or solving its weaknesses.
A paragraph explains that a city replaced sprinklers in public parks and installed low-flow fixtures in city buildings. It reports that water consumption in city buildings fell by 18%. Write a concluding sentence that accurately summarizes the evidence without exaggerating it.
“These changes demonstrate how targeted conservation measures can help reduce water use in city facilities.”
The conclusion must not claim that all residents reduced water use, that shortages ended, or that one action alone caused the reduction. Accept equivalent accurate conclusions.
Correct all comma errors: “After the hearing ended the mayor who had opposed the proposal announced her decision.” Assume the mayor has already been identified, so the description is extra information.
After the hearing ended, the mayor, who had opposed the proposal, announced her decision.
Students must apply the introductory-clause rule and the nonessential-information rule in the same sentence.
Combine these without changing the meaning or creating a fragment: “The students examined several sources. Including newspaper articles and interviews with witnesses.”
he students examined several sources, including newspaper articles and interviews with witnesses.
The 'including' phrase modifies 'sources' and should be attached to the complete sentence.
Combine these without changing the meaning or creating a fragment: “The students examined several sources. Including newspaper articles and interviews with witnesses.”
The students examined several sources, including newspaper articles and interviews with witnesses.
The 'including' phrase modifies 'sources' and should be attached to the complete sentence.
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