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ACT PREP

ACT PREP. English : Practice Test. Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills Usage/Mechanics: punctuation (13%), grammar/usage (16%), sentence structure (24%) Strategy (16%), organization (15%), style (16%) 75 Questions 60 Minutes 5 Prose passages. English.

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ACT PREP

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  1. ACT PREP

  2. English : Practice Test • Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills • Usage/Mechanics: punctuation (13%), grammar/usage (16%), sentence structure (24%) • Strategy (16%), organization (15%), style (16%) • 75 Questions • 60 Minutes • 5 Prose passages

  3. English • Avoid Redundancy; be concise • If it can be said with one single word, two words should not be used and applied. • Example: After they had built and constructed the doghouse…” or “It was her first initial appearance…” • See question #1,#4, #5, #8 (pg. 14,15)

  4. English • Look for Sentence Fragments/Run sentences • A sentence fragment will never be the right choice! • Clues: • 1. Whenever you see a period in the underlined part, or • 2. a period in the choices • 3. Check the preceding and following sentences • 4. If you can’t use a period…you can’t use a semi-colon *See grammar review packet * #6, #15

  5. English • Review comma and semi-colon usage • Non-essential (commas) or essential (no commas) • Non-essential: Paul McCartney, perhaps the most musically proficient, played bass guitar. • Essential: The album recorded just before the band’s breakup was Abbey Road. *Remove the phrase/clause to determine if it is necessary for understanding the sentence. *#9

  6. English • Semi-colon • Semi-colon acts much like a period • The clause on either side of a semi-colon must be able to stand alone…so separate to test. • DO NOT use conjunctions (and, but, or…) with a semi-colon • Semi-colons can be used with conjunctive adverbs (however, indeed, instead, consequently, otherwise, subsequently, etc.) • “The cat ate a bowlful of tuna; then, to the squirrels’ delight, the fat feline fell asleep in the chair.”

  7. English • Trick: When you can’t decide between two ro three choices, choose the shorter option. • *Use this tip only when you have to guess! • Look for: “What is the best way to say what is meant?” type questions • #10, #13

  8. English • Consider context (meaning): DO NOT choose an answer that changes the meaning of a sentence. • “sparks shoot from the chimney into the night sky” (15). • WRONG: “sparks shoot at the chimney in the night sky” (15). • #2, #11, #12

  9. English • Watch for the misplaced modifier • “Having died down, she bricks up the firebox…” (16). • Ask: Who has died down? She did? • Correct: “Once the blaze dies down, she bricks up…”(16). • Ask: Who has died down? Oh, the blaze… • #14, pg. 16 • Grammar Bytes: http://www.chompchomp.com/handouts.htm

  10. English • If you have to guess, use your ear… • Verb agreement/tense (#25,#38) • “He seen the handwriting on the wall” is WRONG • Pronoun agreement (eliminate the 2nd person) • “Her and her mom went to the mall” is WRONG • “Her went to the mall” is WRONG

  11. Final trick… • For all underlined items, RE-READ the sentence after you plug in your choices.

  12. Reading • Comprehension • Directly stated (according to…) • Implied meaning (main idea, author’s tone/voice, etc.) • 40 Questions • 35 Minutes • 4 Selections: • Social Studies Prose Fiction • Natural Sciences Humanities

  13. Reading • Book Questions: The answer is directly stated • According to the… • In the passage… 1. Eliminate obvious wrong answers 2. If time allows, go back and match up the correct answer if you are unsure. 3. If time does not allow, make your best guess after eliminating answers.

  14. Reading • Head Questions: Inferences • Main idea (Think umbrella…all details should fit under it) • Author’s purpose • Author’s feelings or attitude toward • Author’s tone • Vocabulary (Read the sentence again! Replace with the word you feel is correct.)

  15. Reading • Review terms: • Figurative language: metaphor, simile, personification • Structure: narrative, sketch, dialogue • main idea, topic sentence, supporting detail, author’s tone, purpose, etc.

  16. Reading • Underline: • First appearance of every Proper noun and label on the side • Highlight sequence words, such as “initial attempt” or “in earlier periods” • Make notes in the margins: 2-3 words that capture the main point • Note Reversal words: on the other hand, however, although, despite, etc.

  17. Reading • Strategy: True or False? • Think of each answer as a T/F question. Three of the 4 are False! • Examples of Specific Words (usually indicate false): all, always, every, must, no, never, none • Examples of Vague words (more likely to appear in true statements): some, often, may, seem, most, usually, many

  18. Reading • Save time! Use your own knowledge! • Who was the President of the United State in 1986? • A. Kennedy B. Johnson • C. Regan D. Clinton

  19. Reading • According to the passage, the Civil Rights movement in America was LEAST active during which of the following 10-year periods? • A. 1860’s B. 1920’s • C. 1940’s D. 1960’s • *The ACT will not use factually incorrect articles!

  20. Reading • Running out of time? • Look for questions that provide line or paragraph references. You will be able to answer them quickly without having to skim the entire article. • Avoid traps! Study the wrong answers to see how they try to trick you!

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