English Act multiple choice

Every time he *looked* at the crack in the floor at the train station,m he felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness. A. NO CHANGE B. looks C. looking D. had looked

A, is correct because the past tense looked matches the past tense felt, which appears later in the sentence.

Before I *Began* my homework, I played two videogames. A. NO CHANGE B. Had beegan C. Begin D. begun

A, is correct because the past tense of begin is began

Any man *whose* friends won't tell him secrets is not to be trusted. A. NO CHANGE B. who's C. who'se D. who is

A, is correct because the possessive form is needed here.

The band playing bad cover songs outside my window *is* really annoying me. A. NO CHANGE B. are C. is being D. and is

A, is correct because the subject of the sentence is band, which is singular.

Just between *you and I*, this party is terrible. A. NO CHANGE B. you and me C. we D. the three of us

B, is correct because the pronouns are objects of the preposition *between* and so should both be in the objective case. This makes no difference for the second-person pronoun, which is *you* in both cases. However, the first-person pronoun should be *me* instead of *I*. A is incorrect because as the object of the preposition *between*, the first-person pronoun should be *me* instead of *I*. You sometimes hear people say *just between you and I* as though it were correct, but those people are mistaken. C is incorrect because the subjective case *we* does not work as an object of the preposition *between* (although the objective case *us* would be correct). D is incorrect because something cannot be *between* more than two people.

The class spent two " weeks, on Hamlet", the greatest play ever written. A. NO CHANGE B. weeks on Hamlet, the C. weeks on Hamlet; D. weeks on Hamlet, which

B, is correct because the sentence involves an independent clause followed by a descriptive afterthough, with the two separated by a comma.

In the final round, our trivia team had to send one member who "answers " questions alone. A. NO CHANGE B. answered C. had answered D. was answering

B, is correct because the sentence is in the past tense.

You should always be on the lookout for new opportunities, but "one" should also avoid burning bridges if possible. A. No Change B. You C. He or she D. People

B, is correct because the sentence is in the second person you and so should not deviate from this.

When the snow reached two, feet people left *they're* cars parked in the lot. A. NO CHANGE B. their C. there D. there are

B, is correct because the spelling their is used for the third person plural possessive pronoun, which is what we need here.

Some " peoples' " entire lives are lived in one small town. A. No change B. Peoples C. People's D. People are

C, is correct because the people possess their lives, so we need the possessive form.

We liked to hang out at *Jason's dads* house, because there was a pool. A. NO CHANGE B. his dads C. Jasons dad's D. his dad's

D, is correct because Jason possesses his dad and his dad possesses his house. So both terms need to be possessive. D is the only choice where they both are. Whether you use the possessive noun *Jason's* or the possessive pronoun *his* is immaterial. A is incorrect because *dads* should be the possessive *dad's*. B is incorrect because *dads* should be the possessive *dad's* C is incorrect because *Jasons* should be the possessive *Jason's*

There are probably a thousand things I *could of done* to make her stay, but now I'll never know. A. NO CHANGE B. could of did C. could have did D could have done

D, is correct because the phrase is could have done.

All the band members checked one last time that their instruments were in tune with *them*. A. NO CHANGE B. it. C. him. D. the others'.

D, is correct because they checked to make sure that their instruments were in tune with *the other's* (i.e., *the others'* instruments). This is one of those pronoun questions where the answer is not a pronoun at all but, rather, a new noun. However, none of the pronoun options make sense in context. (TIP: *This is a trick the ACT English has been known to use.*) A is incorrect because this would imply that they made sure their instruments were in tune with themselves, which is not what you mean to say here. B is incorrect because there is no identifiable thing to whom *it* could possibly refer. C is incorrect because there is no identifiable person to whom *him* could possibly refer.

At Dan's wedding, we were all singing, dancing, and at one point "pounded" the floor so hard that the wedding party downstairs complained A. No change B. Pounds C. Have pounded D. Even pounding

D, is correct because this is a parallel phrasing question.

You'll have to ask someone *else that's* not my job. A. NO CHANGE B. else, that is C. else who's D. else because I'm afraid that's

D, is correct because this is the only choice that results in a complete correct sentence.

Every year on the Feast of San *Gennaro, the* parade goes right by my window. A. NO CHANGE B. Gennaro, and the C. Gennaro; the D. Gennaro. The

A, is correct because the first part of the sentence is dependent and the second clause is independent.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, *she will get her medical degree in London*. A. NO CHANGE B. her medical degree will be obtained in London C. and she will get her medical degree in London D. she got her medical degree in London

A, is correct because the introductory phrase Barrign any unforessen circumstances may look like a modifying phrase.

The evidence that hyenas are more closely related to mongooses than they are to either "dogs or cats" is both surprising and indisputable Choices A. No change B. Dogs or cats are C. Dogs and cats are D. Dogs and cats is

A, No Change because the subject of the sentence is evidence, which is singular, and so the main verb is is.

Both of my best *friends have cars* with vanity license plates. A. NO CHANGE B. friend's have cars C. friends have car's D. friend's have car's

A, is correct because although the cars do belong to the friends and the plates do belong to the cars, neither the noun friends nor the noun cars possesses anything in the sentence.

Although our sports expert was sick and couldn't make *it, there* were hardly any questions about sports, so our team won the trivia competition anyway. A. NO CHANGE B. it, but there C. it; there D. it because there

A, is correct because an introductory dependent clasue is before the comma and the rest of the sentence is two independent clauses linked by a comma and conjunction.

Every one of the popular students came late to the dance, and then *they spent* the rest of the time gossiping in the corner. A. NO CHANGE B. them spent C. he or she spent D. DELETE the underlined portion

A, is correct because even though the singular *one* is technically the subject of the sentence, the pronoun is referring to *the popular students* and so needs to be the plural *they*. B is incorrect because we need the subjective-case *they*, not the objective-case *them*. C is incorrect because the pronoun is referring to the plural *popular students*. So we need the plural *they*, rather than the singular *he or she*. D is incorrect because although omitting the pronoun *they* alone would be acceptable, omitting the verb *spent* alongside it results in an incomplete sentence that makes no sense.

John " himself" served as an aid to the president of the United States A. No Change B. He, himself C. He himself, D. He, himself,

A, is correct because himself is a reflexive pronoun used for emphasis and should not be surrounded by commas.

If it gets *too much louder* in here, I'm going to have to leave. A. NO CHANGE B. to be loudly C. too be loudly D. to loud

A, is correct because the comparative adjective *louder* preceded by the adverb *too*, which means *excessively* (but can elsewhere mean *also*), and the adjective *much* make for a correct sentence. B is incorrect because although *to be loud* would be acceptable, *to be* does not properly precede the adverb *loudly*. C is incorrect because although *too* can properly precede *loudly*, in context the phrase *too loudly* makes no sense. An adjective is needed, not an adverb. D is incorrect because *to* is a preposition, not an adverb meaning "excessively."

Neither Parveen nor Joan *is* married. A. NO CHANGES B. are C. were D. have been

A, is correct because the conjunction or/nor is disjunctive. This means that two nouns connected by it take a singular verb since the idea is that both are being discussed, separately (i.e., neither one of them is married). Even if you didn't know this rule, you should still have noticed that the other three choices are all plural and that there is no indication of the tense. So the singular verb is the odd man out and likely to be correct. B is incorrect because *are* is plural and so does not fit with a neither/ nor construction. C is incorrect because *were* is plural and so does not fit with a neither/nor construction. D is incorrect because *have been* is plural (in third person) and so does not fit with a neither/nor construction.

We saw the mountains rise at the "valleys edge." A. No change B. Valleys' edge C. Valleys edge D. Vallies' edge

A, is correct because the edge belongs to the valleys, so the possessive form is needed

Even though Danielle likes to read love stories, none of her favorite *movies* are romances. A. NO CHANGE B. movie's C. movies' D. movie is

A, is correct because the word *movies* here is plural but not possessive, and so an apostrophe isn't necessary anywhere. (Possession is at work in the phrase *her favorite movies*. However, it is *her* that possesses something, not *movies*. TIP: Watch out for that trick on the test!) B is incorrect because *movie's* is the singular possessive, but what we need is the plural nonpossessive. C is incorrect because *movies'* is the plural possessive, but what we need is the plural nonpossessive. D is incorrect because *movie is* makes no sense in context.

Comic-Con *International, a celebration of* sci-fi, superheroes, and all things nerdy, has been held in San Diego every summer since 1970. A. NO CHANGE B. International a celebration, of C. International is a celebration of D. International is a celebration, of

A,is correct because the phrase a celebration of sci-fi, superheroes, and all things nerdy is an appositive that gives extra information aout Comic Con Internacion.

There wasn't enough room in the closet for all of *Karen's sister's shoe's*. A. NO CHANGE B. Karens sister's shoe's C. Karen's sister's shoes D. Karens sister's shoes

C, is correct because Karen possesses her sister and her sister possesses the shoes, but the shoes themselves possess nothing and are merely plural. So what need is *Karen's sister's shoes*. A is incorrect because *shoes* is merely plural. So it should not have an apostrophe. B is incorrect because Karen possesses her sister, so there should be an apostrophe in *Karen's*. Additionally, *shoes* is merely plural, so it should not have an apostrophe. D is incorrect because Karen possesses her sister. So there should be an apostrophe in *Karen's*.

Even if you think that the Beatles have better songs than Christina Aguilera does, it is impossible to deny that Christina's singing voice is *bestest*. A. NO CHANGE B. more better C. the better D. more well

C, is correct because although better would clearly be correct, that is not an answer choice.

Although all people have plans for the future, sometimes *are plans are* worth nothing. A. NO CHANGE B. our plans are C. are plans our D. our plans our

B, is correct because *our* is the first-person plural possessive pronoun and *are* is the third-person plural form (among other forms) of the verb *to be*. They may sound similar to our ears when said aloud. However, they are two completely different words and should never be confused in writing. A is incorrect because it uses *are* (the first one) where it should use *our*. C is incorrect because it reverses the proper usages of *are* and *our*. D is incorrect because it uses *our* (the second one) where it should use *are*.

The squirrels in the ceiling * was keeping* us awake last night. A. NO CHANGE B. were keeping C. is keepign D. Keeps

B, is correct because squirrels, the subject of the sentence, is plural.

All of the bills had been sitting on my desk for two weeks, but I only got around *to paying it this* morning. A. NO CHANGE B. to paying them this C. and paid you this D. to paid it in the

B, is correct because the noun *bills* is plural and so must be replaced by the plural pronoun them. A is incorrect because the singular *it* cannot replace the plural *bills*. C is incorrect because *got around and paid* is highly awkward. Additionally, there is no apparent identity for *you*. D is incorrect because *got around to paid* is highly awkward. Additionally, the singular *it* cannot replace the plural *bills*.

The rambunctious puppy left its' toys scattered all over the yard. A. No change B. It's C. It's D. It has

B, is correct because the possessive form its is needed here.

All of the students in the class who didn't pass the final *needs to retake* the entire course. A. NO CHANGE B. Need to retake C. Needed retaking D. needs retaking

B, is correct because the prepositional phrase in the class and the limiting clause who didn't pass the final both come between the subject and the verb.

Much great American literature was *produced, in the 1920s*, a time known as the Jazz Age. A. NO CHANGE B. produced in the 1920s, a C. produced in the 1920s, and a D. produced in the 1920s; a

B, is correct because the sentence presents an independent clause followed by a descriptive afterthought, with the two separated by a comma. A is incorrect because no comma is necessary before the prepositional phrase *in the* 1920s. C is incorrect because the Jazz Age is another form for the 1920s, rather than a different time. So no *and* is necessary. Even if it were a different time, no comma would be necessary before the *and* since *and* does not precede an independent clause. D is incorrect because a semicolon here would not separate two independent clauses (although a colon would be acceptable).

My trip to wrestling camp at age 15 marked the first time I'd ever *flew* on a plane. A. NO CHANGE B. flown C. had flown D. would fly

B, is correct because we need the past perfect form had flown.

The book "from" which the movie is based is considered superior by critics but not nearly as well known. A. NO CHANGE B. on C. in D. to

B, is correct because we would say that a movie is based on a book.

Many of *childrens toy's* were damaged when the basement flooded. A. NO CHANGES B. children's toys' C. children's toys D. childrens' toys

C, is correct because *children* is already plural without an "s" and so the apostrophe goes before the "s" when it is possessive. *Toys* here is simply plural, not possessive, and needs no apostrophe. A is incorrect because there is no such word as *childrens* (without and apostrophe). Additionally, *toy's* is the singular possessive, but there is no possession. B is incorrect because *toys'* is the plural possessive, but we do not need the possessive. D is incorrect because there is no such word as *childrens'* (with the apostrophe after the "s").

We *drunk* pink lemonade until the sun went down. A. NO CHANGE B. drink C. drank D. had drunk

C, is correct because as indicated by the past tense verb went in the sentence, the past tense verb drank is needed

If you have any questions, please direct them either to Bryan or to myself. A. NO CHANGE B. I C. Me D. Myself as well

C, is correct because since the speaker has not yet mentioned himself in the sentence, the reflexive *myself* is not necessary. It should simply be *direct them either to Bryan or to me.* A is incorrect because the speaker has not yet mentioned himself in the sentence. So the reflexive *myself* is not necessary. B is incorrect because the pronoun is the object of the preposition *to*. So we need the objective case *me* rather than the subjective case *I*. D is incorrect because the speaker has not yet mentioned himself in the sentence. So the reflexive *myself* is not necessary. Adding *as well* does nothing to change this.

Connie decided to spend the weekend at the beach, rather *then she came* into the city. A. NO CHANGE B. then coming C. than come D. than she would come

C, is correct because the conjunction *than* is used for comparisons and the present tense *come* matches the previous verb *spend*. She would rather *spend* the weekend at the beach *than come* into the city. A is incorrect because although the adverb *then*, used to indicate color, makes sense within the phrase *then she came into the city*, the phrase *then she came into the city* makes no sense in the context of the sentence as a whole. B is incorrect because we need the conjunction *than*, not the adverb *then*. D is incorrect because the phrase *rather than she would come into the city* makes no sense in context.

while watching from the top of the hill, " the sunset was indescribably beautiful" A. NO CHANGE B. the sunset is beautiful beyond description C. we were awed by the sunset's indescribable beauty D. the beauty of the sunset was impossible to describe

C, is correct because the dependent descriptive phrase, while watching from the top of the hill, needs to be followed immediately by the noun that was doing the watching.

Aside from the fact *in which I* can't serve, I am actually pretty good at volleyball. A. NO CHANGE B. of I C. that I D. because I

C, is correct because the fact is the phrase we use to call attention to a particular idea: the fact that I can't serve.

Most people are very surprised " learning" that there was a wild canal population in the southwestern United States from the 1850s through the 1940s. A. NO CHANGE B. From learning C. To learn D. And learned

C, is correct because the infinitive form of learn is needed to fit with surprised.

We spent Kelly's birthday on the Coney Island boardwalk, a place *were* it can really feel as if you've gone back in time. A. NO CHANGE B. we're C. where D. whereas

C, is correct because the relative pronoun *where*, which applies to places, is needed here. A is incorrect because *were* is a verb, the second-person past tense of *to be*. B is incorrect because *we're* is a contraction of *we are* D is incorrect because *whereas* is a conjunction roughly meaning *since* or "but on the other hand."

The theory that our 12th president, Zackary Taylor, "was poisoned " but is disputed by historians A. No change B. And was disputed C. Is disputed D. Disputed

C, is correct because the subject of the sentence is theory and the verb should be is.

*There in they're with their* bear. A. NO CHANGE B. Their in there with they're C. They're in there with their D. They're in their with there

C, is correct because they're is a contraction of they are, while there refers to a physical change.

While playing kickball in the living room, "the lamp got knocked over and smashed". A. NO CHANGE B. the lamp was knocked over and smashed. C. we knocked over the lamp and it smashed D. nobody knew the lamp would be knocked over and smashed

C, is correct because this is a dangling- modifier question. Since the sentence begins with the dependent descriptive word phrase while playing kickball in the living room, the noun or nouns that describe who were playing kickball need to come immediately after that comma

I've taught *hundreds of students many of them brilliant-but one stands out-above* the rest. A. NO CHANGE B. hundreds of students - many of them brilliant, but one stands out above C. hundreds of students - many of them brilliant - but one stands out above D. hundreds of students - many 0f them - brilliant but one stands out above

C, is correct because this is the only choice where the independent clause makes sense around the lift out and where th elift out is punctuated correctly.

At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Canada won more gold medals than did any other "countrys." A. No change B. Country's C. Countries D. Countries'

C, is correct because we are talking about many countries, and so we need the plural.

Nobody could have predicted that our star player *had* quit halfway through the season. A. NO CHANGE B. to have C. would D. DELETE the underlined portion

C, is correct becuase, technically, this is a verb mood agreement question.

Lauren was very close to her grandmother, from *which* she had inherited her beautiful red hair. A. NO CHANGE B. where C. who D. whom

D, is correct because Lauren's grandmother is a person

Every single one of the cars in my parents' driveway *were* red. A. NO CHANGE B. are C. being D. is

D, is correct because although there are multiple cars, the subject of the sentence is *one*, which is singular. The trick here is that there are two prepositional phrases (*of the cars* and *in my parents' driveway*) between the subject of the sentence and the main verb. A is incorrect because *were* is plural and does not agree with the singular *one*. B is incorrect because *are* is plural and does not agree with the singular *one*. C is incorrect because *being* cannot work as the main verb here and does not form a complete sentence. *TIP: Remember, "being" is almost always a trick!*

Every time something this weird happens, we suspect it *had been* one of Danny's pranks. A. NO CHANGE B. have been C. were D. must be

D, is correct because as the introductory clause ( everytime... happens) indicates, the idea of an ongoing condition.

Everyone stopped hanging out with Albert, *too apparent* for no reason. A. NO CHANGE B. it is apparent C. being apparent D. apparently

D, is correct because the adverb *apparently* properly introduces the dependent afterthought. A is incorrect because *too apparent* makes no sense in context. B is incorrect because *it is apparent* makes no sense in context. Even if it did, the result would still be a comma error. C is incorrect because *being apparent* makes no sense in context. TIP: *Answer choices that use *being* are seldom correct on the ACT English*.

As the first of my friends to own a home, "I have always admired Mark". A. NO CHANGE B. and I have always admired Mark. C. is Mark, whom I have always admired. D. Mark is someone I have always admired.

D, is correct because the dependent descriptive phrase as the first of my friends to own a home is referring to Mark. So the noun Mark must come immediately after the comma.

Then I told them the *spot, where unless it was raining I* would meet them. A. NO CHANGE B. spot where unless it was raining, I C. spot, where unless it was raining, I D. spot where - unless it was raining - I

D, is correct because the main independent clause is then I told them to spot where I would meet them, and the speaker interrupts herself to say unless it was raining.

If any college student wants to make sure of joining a rock band at school, "you" would be wise to learn bass or drums because singers and guitarists are a dime a dozen. A. NO CHANGE B. one C. they D. he or she

D, is correct because the main subject of the sentence, college student, is third- person singular. So the sentence needs the third- person singular pronouns he or she

In a hurry to catch her train, " Jennifer's purse was left in her car" A. No Change B. her purse was left in Jennifer's car. C. and Jennifer left her purse in the car D. Jennifer spaced out and left her purse in the car

D, is correct because the noun being modified by in a hurry to catch her train, which is Jennifer, needs to follow immediately after the comma.

I *wear red socks they are* the best kind. A. NO CHANGE B. wear red socks are C. wear; red socks, they are D. wear red socks. They are

D, is correct because this option results in two separate, complete correct sentences.