OFFICIAL ACT Form 67C · June 2009

English

75 questions ~9 min recommended

⏱ 00:00

Score

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=== Dragonfly ===
The nature trail is six feet wide and seven miles long. It slithers through the forest like a snake curving, and bending along the banks of the river. The county cleared this path and paved it with packed gravel, so they would have a peaceful place to hike and bike. I ride this trail nearly every day—not on a bike, but on “Luigi.” That’s the nickname I gave my motorized wheelchair. Today, Luigi’s battery is fully charged, I know I can go all the way to the end of the trail and back. But I always carry a cell phone on me just in case. Luigi’s motor moves slowly as we venture along the trail. I can hear the gravel quietly crunching beneath Luigi’s rubber wheels. I hear the songs of cardinals in the trees and the clamor of crickets in the grasses. I hear the murmur of water slipping over time-smoothed rocks. It is September, and some of the trees are starting to blush red and orange at their tips. The wind ruffles my hair and chills my face as I bounce gently, along in my padded chair. Bicyclists streak past in a blur of color and a cloud of dust I don’t understand their hurry. Luigi can go fast, but I like to ride slowly, to see like a hovering dragonfly. I want to see everything that has changed, grown, bloomed, or died since yesterday. Today I notice that a spider has woven a web between some honeysuckle bushes by the bridge. I see that the bank of vibrant yellow black-eyed Susans by the barbed wire fence is starting to dry and fade away. I spend an hour; looking and listening and learning. And now my ride is finished for today. I leave the trail and come out into the open, manicured park at the trails end. There, my older brother helps me out of my chair and into his waiting van. He puts Luigi in the back, and I return to the world of pavement, streetlights, and traffic. But in my mind, I am still gliding through the forest. I am like the water, flowing over ancient stones. Inside, I am still a dragonfly.

=== ... ===
...

=== ... ===
...

1. 1.

A. NO CHANGE

B. snake, curving and bending

C. snake curving and bending,

D. snake, curving, and bending,

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

F. path, paving

G. path and then paved

H. path before paving

J. path paved

3. 3.

A. NO CHANGE

B. knowing they

C. that they

D. people

4. 4.

F. NO CHANGE

G. day; not on a bike

H. day not on a bike

J. day, not on a bike;

5. If the writer were to delete the preceding sentence, the essay would primarily lose:

A. a reason why the narrator is in the forest.

B. a detail important for understanding the essay.

C. a contrast to the lighthearted tone of the essay.

D. nothing at all; this information is irrelevant to the essay.

6. 6.

F. NO CHANGE

G. charged, because of that,

H. charged, this means that

J. charged, so

7. Which choice would most logically and effectively emphasize the positive, friendly attitude the narrator has toward Luigi?

A. NO CHANGE

B. travels safely

C. proceeds carefully

D. purrs softly

8. 8.

F. NO CHANGE

G. You can hear

H. One can even hear

J. While hearing

9. 9.

A. NO CHANGE

B. Due to the fact that it is

C. It turns into the month of

D. Because it has turned into

10. 10.

F. NO CHANGE

G. gentle, along

H. gently along

J. gentle along,

11. Which choice most effectively leads into the new subject of this paragraph?

A. NO CHANGE

B. The sun begins to set

C. Nature always impresses me

D. Days can go by quickly

12. 12.

F. NO CHANGE

G. dust, however,

H. dust.

J. dust,

13. 13.

A. NO CHANGE

B. hour, looking,

C. hour looking;

D. hour looking

14. 14.

F. NO CHANGE

G. trail’s

H. trails’

J. trails’s

15. Suppose the writer’s goal had been to write an essay illustrating the pleasure that people can take in nature. Would this essay accomplish that goal?

A. Yes, because it focuses on a variety of wildflowers that the narrator enjoys.

B. Yes, because it focuses on the narrator’s joy at having access to nature.

C. No, because it describes the world of the city as being more important to the narrator.

D. No, because it focuses primarily on the functioning of the narrator’s motorized wheelchair.

16. 16.

F. NO CHANGE

G. 2 p.m. on October 27, 1904, thousands

H. 2 p.m., on October 27, 1904; thousands,

J. 2 p.m. on October 27, 1904, thousands,

17. 17.

A. NO CHANGE

B. feat, over

C. feat:

D. feat

18. The writer is concerned about the level of detail in the preceding sentence and is considering deleting the phrase “the first section of” from it. If the writer were to make this deletion, the paragraph would primarily lose information that:

F. reveals how expansive the New York City Subway would become.

G. clarifies that only part of the subway system had been completed by October 27, 1904.

H. makes clear that by October 27, 1904, construction of the second section of the subway was already underway.

J. provides evidence that New York City residents at this celebration believed the entire subway system was complete.

19. 19.

A. NO CHANGE

B. in the completion of its route.

C. in twenty-six minutes.

D. DELETE the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

20. Which choice would most effectively conclude the sentence by indicating clearly how the subway system could address the problem described in the first part of the sentence?

F. NO CHANGE

G. traveling more effectively.

H. trying something new.

J. using a system.

21. 21.

A. NO CHANGE

B. it

C. those

D. DELETE the underlined portion.

22. 22.

F. NO CHANGE

G. engineer—William Barclay Parsons

H. engineer William Barclay Parsons,

J. engineer William Barclay Parsons

23. 23.

A. NO CHANGE

B. innovate engineer

C. innovative engineering

D. innovate engineering

24. 24.

F. NO CHANGE

G. into the ground deeply under where the roads had

H. a trench far down below since it was necessary to

J. DELETE the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

25. 25.

A. NO CHANGE

B. created, with

C. created with

D. created with:

26. 26.

F. NO CHANGE

G. of whom

H. of who

J. DELETE the underlined portion.

27. 27.

A. NO CHANGE

B. therefore.

C. for instance.

D. that is.

28. The writer wishes to add a sentence that describes the magnitude and expansiveness of the New York City Subway system today. Given that all the following statements are true, which one, if added here, would most clearly and effectively accomplish the writer’s goal?

F. Even today, for many New Yorkers that newspaper’s account is right!

G. Today, riding a portion of the New York City Subway’s 656 miles of mainline track is a daily routine for more than 4 million people.

H. Today, the New York City Transit Authority continuously maintains two separate fleets of subway cars.

J. Now, a typical New York City Subway waiting platform ranges from 400 to 700 feet.

29. 29.

A. A.

B. B.

C. C.

D. D.

30. The writer wants to suggest that the art of the fresco had been in decline previous to Rivera. Which choice best accomplishes that goal?

F. NO CHANGE

G. engaged in

H. influenced

J. revived

31. 31.

A. NO CHANGE

B. that catered

C. while catering

D. and catered

32. 32.

F. NO CHANGE

G. Rivera should wield more political power for his

H. Rivera for his controversy attracted belief that the

J. Rivera attracted controversy for his belief that the

33. 33.

A. NO CHANGE

B. that he was interested in

C. that he focused on

D. DELETE the underlined portion.

34. 34.

F. NO CHANGE

G. then

H. as

J. if

35. 35.

A. NO CHANGE

B. Many

C. Each

D. Any one

36. 36.

F. NO CHANGE

G. history; the

H. history, the

J. history—the

37. 37.

A. NO CHANGE

B. if it were

C. was

D. if it was

38. 38.

F. NO CHANGE

G. various, prestigious,

H. various, and prestigious

J. various and prestigious,

39. If the underlined phrase were deleted, the sentence would primarily lose a detail that:

A. repeats information found elsewhere in the sentence.

B. is necessary for the sentence to be grammatically complete.

C. provides new and relevant information to the sentence.

D. is ambiguous and unnecessary to the sentence.

40. 40.

F. NO CHANGE

G. since

H. thus

J. and

41. 41.

A. NO CHANGE

B. depict

C. depicting some

D. had depicted

42. Should the writer make this addition there?

A. Yes, because it offers relevant examples that help to specify a broad term.

B. Yes, because it helps explain how the panels were physically constructed.

C. No, because it provides a sampling of industries rather than a full listing.

D. No, because it digresses from the main point of the sentence.

43. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. that,

C. while,

D. that was,

44. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. Despite this,

H. Regardless,

J. DELETE the underlined portion.

45. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. close, yet even

C. close; even

D. close. Even

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

F. cityscapes, while I

G. cityscapes; I

H. cityscapes. I, on the other hand,

J. cityscapes I

47. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. important though

C. importantly, though,

D. important, though

48. Which choice would best express the narrator’s positive reaction to speaking with Joan and the narrator’s fondness for her friend?

F. NO CHANGE

G. she said that she would rearrange her schedule so that we could meet.

H. she told me that she immediately recognized my voice.

J. her quick words and the sound of her laugh surprised me.

49. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. who

C. whose

D. which

50. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. we

H. they

J. he

51. Which of the following sequences of sentences makes Paragraph 3 most logical?

A. NO CHANGE

B. 1, 3, 2

C. 2, 1, 3

D. 3, 2, 1

52. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. located in the downtown area of the city.

H. so the battery would continue to work properly despite the cold weather.

J. DELETE the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

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

A. was glowing

B. glowed

C. shined

D. shoned

54. If the writer were to delete the preceding sentence, the essay would primarily lose:

F. an indication of the narrator’s response to the weather conditions in Fairbanks.

G. a detailed analysis of why the narrator had to plug the car engine into an electrical outlet.

H. descriptive details that help set the scene of the narrator’s meeting with Joan.

J. unnecessary details that repeat information given earlier in the paragraph.

55. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. fell upon

C. dropped by

D. returned with

56. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. in the field atop the rabbit hutch behind Joan’s house

H. atop the rabbit hutch in the field behind Joan’s house

J. behind Joan’s house in the field atop the rabbit hutch

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

A. engrossed in

B. acquired by

C. immersed in

D. engaged in

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

F. with

G. regarding

H. along

J. about

59. Given that all the choices are true, which one would best conclude this essay by effectively summarizing its main idea?

A. NO CHANGE

B. Sadly, I realized that although we might be able to meet once a year, Joan and I would probably never again live in the same city.

C. Even though we had followed different interests, I was glad to know that both Joan and I had been able to devote time to our creative work.

D. As a result of the time we spent together when we were very young, I’ll always remember Joan.

60. Upon reviewing the essay and finding that some information has been left out, the writer composes the following sentence incorporating that information: Yet, despite such strong ties, we moved far apart as adults and lost touch. This sentence would most logically be placed:

F. after Sentence 2 in Paragraph 1.

G. at the end of Paragraph 2.

H. at the end of Paragraph 4.

J. after the first sentence in Paragraph 6.

61. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. stories, which they connected to

C. stories, to which they related to

D. stories because of

62. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. sets, gradually,

H. sets, and gradually

J. setting gradually

63. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. pattern, or constellation

C. pattern or constellation,

D. pattern or constellation:

64. Given that all the choices are true, which one ends this paragraph with the clearest allusion to Orion, as the constellation is described later in the essay?

F. NO CHANGE

G. that is interesting but hard to see without a telescope.

H. who plays a dramatic role in a myth that has been told and retold for centuries.

J. that is also represented in the night sky once the Sun has set and the stars emerge.

65. Given that all the choices are true, which one offers visual information about the stars as they appear in modern times?

A. NO CHANGE

B. have different names in different cultures

C. formed long before any of us were born

D. together roughly form a straight line

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

F. observers

G. overseers

H. night-sky watchers

J. stargazers

67. Given that all the choices are true, which one provides a detail that has the most direct connection to the information that follows in this sentence?

A. NO CHANGE

B. distant

C. populated

D. historic

68. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. You’ll be amazed to learn that in

H. Consider, if you will, the notion that in

J. In

69. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. In Japan’s imagination, this

C. In Japan, this

D. This

70. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. have

H. could of

J. has been

71. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. mythology of the Tswana people, of South Africa

C. mythology, of the Tswana people, of South Africa

D. mythology of the Tswana people of South Africa,

72. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. so when

H. this means

J. that

73. ...

A. NO CHANGE

B. they’re

C. there

D. but there

74. ...

F. NO CHANGE

G. world, and their

H. world, with

J. world,

75. The writer wants to divide the preceding paragraph into two to create a concluding paragraph that is free of direct references to a specific culture’s view of the three stars. The best place to begin the new paragraph would be at the beginning of Sentence:

A. 4.

B. 5.

C. 6.

D. 7.

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