OFFICIAL ACT Form 61C · January 2006

English

70 questions ~9 min recommended

⏱ 00:00

Score

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For some people, traditional American Indian music is associated and connected₁ with high penetrating vocals accompanied by a steady drumbeat. In tribal communities in the southwestern United States, however, one is likely to hear something similar to the polka-influenced dance music of northern Mexico. The music is called "waila." Among the O'odham tribes of Arizona, waila has been popular for more than a century₂. The music is mainly instrumental—the bands generally consist₃ of guitar, bass guitar, saxophones, accordion, and drums. Unlike some traditional tribal music, waila does not serve a religious or spiritual purpose. It is a social music that is performed₄ at weddings, birthday parties, and feasts. The word itself comes₅ from the Spanish word for dance, baile. Cheek to cheek, the dance is performed₆ to the relaxed two-step tempo, and the bands often play long past midnight₇. As the dancers step to the music, they are also stepping₈ in time to a sound that embodies their₉ unique history and suggests the influence of outside cultures on their music. The O'odham in the 1700s first encountered the guitars of Spanish missionaries. In the 1850s the O'odham borrowed from the waltzes and mazurkas₁₂ of people of European descent on their way to California. In the early 1900s the O'odham became acquainted with marching bands and woodwind instruments (which explains the presence of saxophones in waila). Around this time the polka music and button accordion played by German immigrant railroad workers₁₄ left their mark on waila. It should be no surprise that musicians these days are adding touches of rock, country, and reggae to waila. Some listeners fear that an American musical form may soon be lost. But the O'odham are playing waila with as much energy and devotion as ever. A unique blend of traditions, waila will probably continue changing₁₆ for as long as the O'odham use it to express their own sense of harmony and tempo.

1. For some people, traditional American Indian music is associated and connected with high penetrating vocals

A. NO CHANGE

B. connected by some of them

C. linked by association

D. associated

2. The music is mainly

F. NO CHANGE

G. popular, one might say, for

H. really quite popular for

J. popular for the duration of

3. Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable?

A. instrumental; in general, the bands

B. instrumental, the bands generally

C. instrumental. The bands generally

D. instrumental; the bands generally

4. It is a social music that

F. NO CHANGE

G. music in which it is performed

H. music, performing

J. music, performed

5. The word itself comes from the Spanish

A. NO CHANGE

B. word, itself,

C. word, itself

D. word itself,

6. Cheek to cheek, the dance is

F. NO CHANGE

G. Couples dance cheek to cheek to the relaxed two-step tempo,

H. A relaxed two-step tempo, the couples dance cheek to cheek,

J. Cheek to cheek, the two-step tempo relaxes dancing couples,

7. As the dancers step to the music, they

A. NO CHANGE

B. play long, past,

C. play, long past,

D. play, long past

8. they were also stepping in time to a sound that

F. NO CHANGE

G. are also stepping

H. have also stepped

J. will also step

9. embodies their unique history and suggests the influence

A. NO CHANGE

B. they’re

C. it’s

D. its’

10. At this point, the writer is considering adding the following true statement: The agricultural practices of the O’odham are similar to those of the Maya. Should the writer make this addition here?

F. Yes, because the sentence establishes that the O’odham often borrowed ideas from other groups.

G. Yes, because the sentence provides important information about the O’odham people.

H. No, because the sentence is not supported by evidence of a connection between the O’odham and the Maya.

J. No, because the sentence distracts from the paragraph’s focus on waila’s uses and influences.

11. All of the following would be acceptable placements for the underlined portion EXCEPT:

A. where it is now.

B. at the beginning of the sentence (revising the capitalization accordingly).

C. after the word guitars.

D. after the word missionaries (ending the sentence with a period).

12. have borrowed from the waltzes and mazurkas of

F. NO CHANGE

G. have been borrowing

H. were borrowed

J. borrowed

13. Given that all of the choices are true, which one is most relevant to the focus of this paragraph?

A. NO CHANGE

B. (although fiddles were once widely used in waila bands).

C. (even though they’re now often constructed of metal).

D. (which are frequently found in jazz bands also).

14. Around this time the polka music and button accordion

F. NO CHANGE

G. workers

H. workers:

J. workers,

15. Upon reviewing this essay and finding that some information has been left out, the writer composes the following sentence incorporating that information: Those same German influences helped spawn a similar musical form in northern Mexico known as norteño. This sentence would most logically be placed after the last sentence in Paragraph:

A. 1.

B. 2.

C. 3.

D. 4.

16. When I was in the fifth

F. NO CHANGE

G. change

H. dispute

J. difference

17. a person according

A. NO CHANGE

B. person,

C. person;

D. person who,

18. A person who is sixteen years old on his or her birthday in March

F. NO CHANGE

G. Most cultures celebrate birthdays.

H. Birthdays focus attention on a culture’s youth.

J. DELETE the underlined portion.

19. Perhaps the celebration of New Year’s Day in Korean culture is heightened because it is thought of as

A. NO CHANGE

B. raised

C. lifted

D. lighted

20. Upon reviewing this paragraph, the writer considers deleting the preceding sentence. If the writer were to delete the sentence, the paragraph would primarily lose:

F. a comment on the added significance of the Korean New Year celebration.

G. a repetitive reminder of what happens every birthday.

H. a defense of the case for celebrating every birthday.

J. an illustration of the Korean counting system.

21. Otherwise, this difference points

A. NO CHANGE

B. Though,

C. In fact,

D. Then,

22. The practice of advancing a person’s age seems to me to reflect the value

F. NO CHANGE

G. on

H. at

J. DELETE the underlined portion.

23. a society places on life experience and longevity. Their idea

A. NO CHANGE

B. persons’ age

C. persons age

D. person’s age,

24. was demonstrated often when my elderly relatives, who

F. NO CHANGE

G. One’s

H. Its

J. This

25. pride in reminding younger folk of their ‘Korean

A. NO CHANGE

B. by

C. while

D. as if

26. Which choice would most clearly communicate the elderly relatives’ positive attitude toward this practice?

F. NO CHANGE

G. Duplicating an accepted practice,

H. Living with two birthdays themselves,

J. Obligingly,

27. By contrast American society has often been described as one that values the vibrant energy of youth over the wisdom and experience gained with age.

A. NO CHANGE

B. whose

C. this

D. whom

28. If the writer were to delete the phrases “the vibrant energy of” and “the wisdom and experience gained with” from the preceding sentence, the sentence would primarily lose:

F. its personal and reflective tone.

G. an element of humor.

H. details that illustrate the contrast.

J. the preference expressed by the writer.

29. balk, refuse, and hesitate at the idea of adding a year or two to what they regard as their actual age.

A. NO CHANGE

B. balk and hesitate

C. refuse and balk

D. balk

30. Even something as visibly simple or natural as

F. NO CHANGE

G. apparently

H. entirely

J. fully

31. Given that all of the choices are true, which one would best illustrate the term dress code as it is used in this sentence?

A. NO CHANGE

B. clothing that was inappropriate.

C. clothing, including sandals, bell-bottom pants, and “dungarees” (blue jeans).

D. clothing that is permitted in some schools today.

32. while more formal

F. NO CHANGE

G. lazy and bored to tears with

H. blow off

J. lax and indifferent toward

33. Given that all of the choices are true, which one would most effectively introduce the main idea of this paragraph?

A. NO CHANGE

B. The principal said dungarees and blue jeans were the same thing, so Kevin should have known better.

C. If Kevin’s jeans had been dirty and torn, the principal might have been justified in expelling him.

D. These events occurred in a time of social unrest, and emotions were running high.

34. The United States District Court of New Hampshire; agreed to hear Kevin’s case.

F. NO CHANGE

G. Court, of New Hampshire

H. Court of New Hampshire

J. Court of New Hampshire,

35. The court agreed with Kevin that a person’s right to

A. NO CHANGE

B. of wearing

C. to wear

D. wearing

36. The court noted, however that restrictions may be justified

F. NO CHANGE

G. court noted, however,

H. court, noted however,

J. court noted however,

37. which is guided by authority figures.

A. NO CHANGE

B. process, which has undergone changes since the 1970s.

C. process, a process we all know well.

D. process.

38. Furthermore, the board offered no evidence to back up it’s

F. NO CHANGE

G. they’re

H. its

J. ones

39. the educational process, which is guided by authority figures.

A. NO CHANGE

B. where

C. which

D. in which

40. The court remained unconvinced, therefore, that

F. NO CHANGE

G. thus,

H. moreover,

J. however,

41. when wearing jeans would actually impair the learning

A. NO CHANGE

B. by wearing

C. wearing

D. having worn

42. Kevin Bannister’s case was significant in that it

F. NO CHANGE

G. Therefore, Kevin’s case reminds us that you should stand up for your rights, no matter how old you are.

H. The case for personal liberty means the right to speak up must be taken seriously by the courts.

J. All in all, clothing is an important part of our identity.

43. initiated a review, of students’ rights and administrative

A. NO CHANGE

B. review, of students’ rights,

C. review of students’ rights

D. review of students’ rights,

44. in public education.

F. NO CHANGE

G. on

H. with

J. about

45. Question 45 asks about the preceding passage as a whole.

F. NO CHANGE

G. Sentence not provided

H. Sentence not provided

J. Sentence not provided

46. If the writer were to delete the opening sentence of this paragraph (beginning the essay with 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle entertained a variety of fanciful…'), the essay would primarily lose:

A. information that sets up a contrast that follows.

B. an irrelevant but humorous digression.

C. information that explains Doyle’s motivations.

D. an important description of the setting.

47. Many people were excited when they heard about this seemingly true and factual proof of the existence of fairies, but Conan Doyle was more excited than most.

F. NO CHANGE

G. girls’ faces.

H. girls faces.

J. girls face’s.

48. To make sure that he wasn’t being deceived, Conan Doyle had the original photographic plates examined by experts, however, they found no evidence of double exposures.

A. NO CHANGE

B. this seemingly evident but apparent

C. what seemed to be an apparent

D. this apparent

49. He then wrote an enthusiastic article for Strand magazine, being the place in which most of his Sherlock Holmes stories had first appeared, and later wrote a book on the subject titled The Coming of the Fairies.

F. NO CHANGE

G. who

H. which

J. they

50. Houdini, who devoted considerable effort to exposing hoaxes involving spiritualism and was skeptical about the existence of supernatural beings.

A. NO CHANGE

B. in which the magazine where

C. in which

D. being where

51. If the writer were to delete the preceding sentence, the paragraph would primarily lose:

A. details that provide an explanation for the friendship between Conan Doyle and Houdini.

B. information that helps set the stage for what happens next in the essay.

C. a description of the reasons behind Houdini’s skepticism about the supernatural.

D. nothing at all, since this sentence provides irrelevant information.

52. Though the two remained cordial, but their friendship was damaged due to the fact that they had the disagreement.

F. NO CHANGE

G. cordial and

H. cordial that

J. cordial,

53. Somesixty years later, an elderly Frances Griffiths publicly admitted that her and her cousin had staged the photographs as a practical joke.

F. NO CHANGE

G. (Do NOT begin new paragraph) After some

H. (Begin new paragraph) Since some

J. (Begin new paragraph) Some

54. Shortly after her revelation, computer enhancement revealed the hatpins that were used to prop up the cardboard-cutout fairies.

A. NO CHANGE

B. her cousin and herself

C. she and her cousin

D. her cousin and her

55. Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable?

F. that had been used

G. the girls used

H. using

J. used

56. Which choice would best tie the conclusion of this essay to its opening sentence?

A. NO CHANGE

B. of the kind a modern-day Sherlock Holmes might use,

C. which the great Houdini himself would have appreciated,

D. a methodology that was still in its infancy,

57. Suppose the writer had decided to write an essay that summarizes how beliefs in the supernatural have influenced the writing of famous authors. Would this essay fulfill the writer’s goal?

F. Yes, because the essay makes the point that Conan Doyle’s belief in fairies clearly influenced his Sherlock Holmes stories.

G. Yes, because the essay indicates that Conan Doyle’s disagreement with Houdini motivated him to write about the supernatural.

H. No, because the essay argues that the author’s belief in fairies and the supernatural did not in any way affect his writing.

J. No, because the essay limits its focus to the particular events surrounding one author’s reaction to evidence of the supernatural.

58. Although her physical contact with the world was limited by caring for her invalid mother and by her own poor health, whose correspondence was extensive: over one thousand letters to upwards of one hundred correspondents.

A. NO CHANGE

B. their

C. Dickinson’s

D. who’s

59. Dickinson was a prolific letter writer. These letters provide insight into her daily life and her poetry.

F. NO CHANGE

G. extensive, and over

H. extensive; over

J. extensive. Over

60. As a young woman she wrote, of pining for a valentine and of visiting the Chinese Museum in Boston.

A. NO CHANGE

B. (Do NOT begin new paragraph) As a young woman, she wrote

C. (Begin new paragraph) As a young woman, she wrote,

D. (Begin new paragraph) As a young woman, she wrote

61. Given that all of the choices are true, which one best develops the paragraph’s focus on the roles that letters played in Emily Dickinson’s life?

A. NO CHANGE

B. Her personal interests also included keen observation of the natural world around her.

C. Though she produced volumes of letters, none were shared publicly until after her death.

D. She enjoyed hearing their news and reflecting with them on political events.

62. Her letters are solemn; speaking of relatives and friends whom had died.

F. NO CHANGE

G. solemn they speak

H. solemn, speaking

J. solemn. Speaking

63. Perhaps the correspondent who came to know Dickinson best through their thirty-six-year exchange of letters was Emily’s friend, sister-in-law, and neighbor, Susan Gilbert Dickinson.

A. NO CHANGE

B. who

C. who they

D. of whom

64. One significant aspect of this relationship was: that Susan was perhaps the only reader of Emily’s poems-in-progress.

F. NO CHANGE

G. was that Susan

H. was, that Susan

J. was that Susan,

65. Letters between the two suggest that Susan might frequently have given feedback on her work, including some of her most famous poems, composed at her home in Amherst, Massachusetts.

A. NO CHANGE

B. her feedback on Emily’s

C. Emily feedback on her

D. her feedback on her

66. At one point, Emily sent a draft of her poem 'Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers' to Susan, who read the poem.

F. NO CHANGE

G. poems, which varied in form, style, and line

H. poems, most without obvious rhyme.

J. poems.

67. Given that all the choices are true, which one would most clearly describe an interaction between Susan and Emily during Emily’s writing process?

A. NO CHANGE

B. liked the poem tremendously.

C. considered and thought about the poem.

D. praised the poem but suggested revisions.

68. Dickinson’s last twenty years of letters—many over 1,500 words in length—reveals the breadth and depth of one’s connection to the world through a wide circle of correspondents.

A. NO CHANGE

B. reveal

C. will of revealed

D. would of revealed

69. Perhaps, this legacy of letters, explains what she meant when she said that her friends were her 'estate.'

F. NO CHANGE

G. people’s

H. her

J. their

70. Perhaps this legacy of letters, explains what she meant when she said that her friends were her 'estate.'

A. NO CHANGE

B. Perhaps this, legacy of letters,

C. Perhaps this legacy of letters,

D. Perhaps this legacy of letters

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