Mastering ACT Prep English Skills

1. ACT Prep English Skill #1

2. Let’s try this… It was a Monday morning in 2006, and I am Kyle Tucker the politician and intellectual, the defiant liberal embarking on his first day of what would be an illustrious political career. • NO CHANGE • was • were • have been

3. Let’s try this… It was a Monday morning in 2006, and I am Kyle Tucker the politician and intellectual, the defiant liberal embarking on his first day of what would be an illustrious political career. • NO CHANGE • Was (singular –I, and past tense used earlier in the sentence-was) • were • have been

4. Subject-Verb Agreement • When a verb is underlined, trust your ear! When in doubt, identify its subject and make sure singular/plural and tense match the subject

5. Pre-Test

6. Now together • Apartments in this city (is, are) expensive. • A convoy of trucks (is roaring, are roaring) down the dirt road. • This list of names (is used, are used) to check in contestants as they arrive. • A dealer in rare books (was asked, were asked) to look at the collection of novels to ensure the authenticity. • All the employees at the store (is wearing, are wearing) blue shirts and khakis.

7. Now together • Apartments in this city (is, are) expensive. • A convoy of trucks (is roaring, are roaring) down the dirt road. • This list of names (is used, are used) to check in contestants as they arrive. • A dealer in rare books (was asked, were asked) to look at the collection of novels to ensure the authenticity. • All the employees at the store (is wearing, are wearing) blue shirts and khakis.

8. Now try 1-7 on page 19

9. ACT Prep English Skill #2

10. Let’s try this… I, with several other interns, were arriving at the “Bermuda Government Offices.” • NO CHANGE • had been arrived • was arriving • were being arriving

11. Let’s try this… I, with several other interns, were arriving at the “Bermuda Government Offices.” • NO CHANGE • had been arrived • was arriving (I is the subject. “with several other interns” is a prepositional phrase) • were being arriving

12. Subject-Verb Agreement • When a verb is underlined, identify the subject and cross out any prepositional phrases; a prepositional phrase NEVER counts as the subject of the verb.

14. Pre-Test

15. Now together

16. Now try 1-4 (x2) on page 21

17. ACT Prep English Skill #3

18. Let’s try this… I approached the bulletin board that held your summer destiny. Jostling amongst other eager students, my eyes… • NO CHANGE • one’s • my • whose

19. Let’s try this… I approached the bulletin board that held your summer destiny. Jostling amongst other eager students, my eyes… • NO CHANGE • one’s • My (refers back to “I”) • whose

20. Pronoun Clarity & Agreement • When a pronoun is underlined, we must be totally sure what noun it is referring to. If it is unclear in any way, it is incorrect. The underlined pronoun must also match (singular or plural) the noun that it refers to.

22. Pre-Test #10 Whoever created the art, your intention is clear. • NO CHANGE • whose • her • our #44 But given our luck finding fulgurites in deserts and on beaches, she wanted to keep searching… • NO CHANGE • her • my • their

23. Pre-Test #10 Whoever created the art, your intention is clear. • NO CHANGE • whose • her • our #44 But given our luck finding fulgurites in deserts and on beaches, she wanted to keep searching… • NO CHANGE • her • my • their

24. Pre-Test #46 Weather conditions at this facility, which sits atop its namesake…, have earned the location the nickname “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” • NO CHANGE • their • these • it’s

25. Pre-Test #46 Weather conditions at this facility, which sits atop its namesake…, have earned the location the nickname “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” • NO CHANGE • Their (plural) • These (plural) • it’s (it is)

26. Now together • In the mid-1800s, the best way to get a letter from New York to San Francisco was to ship it around South America, which was slow and expensive. • Clipper ships took about three months to make the trip, which was too long. • Even after railroads began to be built, you couldn’t take them across the country. • The didn’t have railroad tracks between Missouri and the Pacific Coast. • This was called the “great American desert,” where they didn’t live.

27. Now together • In the mid-1800s, the best way to get a letter from New York to San Francisco was to ship it around South America, but this method was slow and expensive. • Clipper ships took about three months to make the trip, which was too long. • Even after railroads began to be built, you couldn’t take them across the country. • The didn’t have railroad tracks between Missouri and the Pacific Coast. • This was called the “great American desert,” where they didn’t live.

28. Now together • In the mid-1800s, the best way to get a letter from New York to San Francisco was to ship it around South America, but this method was slow and expensive. • To make the trip, clipper ships took about three months, which was too long. • Even after railroads began to be built, you couldn’t take them across the country. • The didn’t have railroad tracks between Missouri and the Pacific Coast. • This was called the “great American desert,” where they didn’t live.

29. Now together • In the mid-1800s, the best way to get a letter from New York to San Francisco was to ship it around South America, but this method was slow and expensive. • To make the trip, clipper ships took about three months, which was too long. • Even after railroads began to be built, they did not go across the country. • The didn’t have railroad tracks between Missouri and the Pacific Coast. • This was called the “great American desert,” where they didn’t live.

30. Now together • In the mid-1800s, the best way to get a letter from New York to San Francisco was to ship it around South America, but this method was slow and expensive. • To make the trip, clipper ships took about three months, which was too long. • Even after railroads began to be built, they did not go across the country. • There were no railroad tracks between Missouri and the Pacific Coast. • This was called the “great American desert,” where they didn’t live.

31. Now together • In the mid-1800s, the best way to get a letter from New York to San Francisco was to ship it around South America, but this method was slow and expensive. • To make the trip, clipper ships took about three months, which was too long. • Even after railroads began to be built, they did not go across the country. • There were no railroad tracks between Missouri and the Pacific Coast. • This was called the “great American desert,” where few Americans lived.

32. Now try 1-6 on page 23

33. ACT Prep English Skill #4

34. Let’s try this… “No, No, No!” I thought. Nevertheless, I got angry – blood rushed to my head and my knees went weak. • NO CHANGE • but • still • OMIT the underlined portion

35. Let’s try this… “No, No, No!” I thought. Nevertheless, I got angry – blood rushed to my head and my knees went weak. • NO CHANGE • but • still • OMIT the underlined portion (there isn’t a comparison, cause-and-effect, or contrast being made)

36. Correct Transition Word • When a transition word (such as “although,” “since,” “but,” “therefore,” or “however”) is underlined, see if it works with the flow of the paragraph.

37. Correct Transition Word • Side Note: • “Although,” “Therefore,” and “However” almost always start the beginning of a sentence (so after a period or semi-colon) and have a comma afterwards

39. Pre-Test #8 More creations appeared at several libraries and museums devoted to books and writing. Therefore, a total of 10 sculptures were bestowed on special institutions, whose staff were thrilled by their luck. • No Change • Eventually, • Of Course, • However, #52 The observatory has also advanced scientists’ understanding of clouds, ice physics, and the atmosphere. • No Change • In addition, the • Additionally, the • Also, the

40. Pre-Test #8 More creations appeared at several libraries and museums devoted to books and writing. Therefore, a total of 10 sculptures were bestowed on special institutions, whose staff were thrilled by their luck. • No Change • Eventually, (shows time) • Of Course, • However, #52 The observatory has also advanced scientists’ understanding of clouds, ice physics, and the atmosphere. • No Change (sentence has the word “also” in it, so adding b, c, or d would add redundancy) • In addition, the • Additionally, the • Also, the

41. Pre-Test #55 To change personnel in winter, though, crews ascend the mountain in a vehicle that grips the snow. • No Change • winter, of course, • winter, however, • winter, #68 Factories in the late 1800s, for example, increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. • No Change • subsequently, • regardless, • however,

42. Pre-Test #55 To change personnel in winter, though, crews ascend the mountain in a vehicle that grips the snow. • No Change • winter, of course, • winter, however, • winter, (omit though. B & C are wrong bc there isn’t any comparison or contrast) #68 Factories in the late 1800s, for example, increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. • No Change (literally shows an example after the phrase) • subsequently, • regardless, • however,

43. Now together

44. Now try 1-6 on page 25

45. ACT Prep English Skill #5

46. Let’s try this… Not me, the budding politician, an assistant to the assistant to the assistant? • NO CHANGE • me the budding politician an • me the budding politician an, • me the budding politician; an

47. Let’s try this… Not me, the budding politician, an assistant to the assistant to the assistant? • NO CHANGE • me the budding politician an • me the budding politician an, • me the budding politician; an

48. Relaxing Commas When a comma is underline on the ACT, ask yourself, “Should there be a pause here?” Read it with and without a pause and see which works. Commas (and pauses) are use to set off a side note.

49. Relaxing Commas • Use commas to set off a side note. • Don’t use a comma if a phrase is essential to the sentence because then it isn’t a side note.

50. Pre-Test #16 It all began as Pollack is likely to point out, with a single cork. • No Change • began, as Pollack is likely to point out, • began, as Pollack is likely to point out • began as Pollack is likely to point out #18 Pollack eventually received cork donations from a cork-importing company based in Portugal. • No Change • donations, from a cork-importing company, • donations, from a cork-importing company, • donations, from a cork-importing company,