english success on the act jump start (tac) ene-kaja chippendale, ph.d

English Success on the ACTJump Start (TAC)

Ene-Kaja Chippendale, Ph.D.

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Important information

The English test has 5 passages and 75 questions:

9 min. per passage

Set a goal score (pg. 63 in PinkPink freebie)

21 48/75 correct

25 58/75 correct

31 68/75 correct

Know that 1:5 (20%) of the questions are “NO CHANGE,” meaning that the underlined portion is correct. DON’T OVERCORRECT! There may be 2 to 3 NO CHANGE responses in a row.

Pacing: use your time well!

Cover all 5 passages, skipping the long questions if time is a problem. Be careful to match question numbers with answer numbers so you don’t lose your place.

• When the 5 minute warning is called, look over your answer sheet and make sure EVERY BUBBLE IS FILLED. There is no penalty for incorrect answers!

• At the beginning of the test, set the watch to High Noon

• DO NOT get a watch that makes noise

(no beeps, buzzes, or tones)

• PRACTICE with

the watch at home

(9 minutes per passage)

Get an analog watch!

Big Tip!Big Tip!Only ONE answer can be

correct on the ACT!

Work to eliminate choices to improve your chances

for getting the correct answer

Sure enough, there was Roy, still sound asleep, curled up on the back pew, carved out of sturdy white oak. (ACT 0556A)

12. F. NO CHANGE

G. pew, hewn from locally harvested oak lumber.

H. pew, made from mountain oak

I. pew.

Choices F, G, and H all say the same thing.

They can’t ALL be correct.

Choose the answer that is different.

The most common categories of mistakes on the English test include

  (page 3 - yellow)

1.      Rules of Punctuation

Group I: Punctuation BETWEEN sentences (separates sentences)

        Periods ______ . _______

       Semicolons ______ ; _______

      Colons ______ : _______

: point of emphasis

: list

: direct quotation 

You must come to a FULL STOP at the end of a sentence!

Group II: Punctuation WITHIN each sentence (sets off clauses)

      Commas ______ , ,________

       Dashes _______ – –________

      Parentheses ______ ( ) _______

2. Possessives/Apostrophes

3. Subject-verb agreement

4. Noun-pronoun agreement

5. Correct pronoun usage

6. Change of person or tense (on sentence level)

7. Rhetorical questions

Wordiness questions (less is best)

Omit questions (omit the underlined portion)

Add-on questions (yes/no or kept/deleted) *New*

“Best word choice” questions

“Least Acceptable” questions

Rhetorical Questions (Rhetorical Questions (p. 4 yellowp. 4 yellow))I.I. “Wordiness” questions“Wordiness” questions are those where the author

says the same thing four ways. (Work Book p. 70)

1. Ms. Komiyama moved to her house in 1948, when she had reached the age of eighteen years old.

A. NO CHANGE

B. her age was eighteen years old.

C. she had attained eighteen years in age.

D. she was eighteen years old.

Always pick the Always pick the SHORTEST answer!SHORTEST answer!

2. Two years later, she won the vote and

was elected Campus Queen.

A. NO CHANGE

B. was elected and voted in as

C. won an election in which the

students vote forD. was elected (Not in Workbook)

2. Two years later, she won the vote and

was elected Campus Queen.

A. NO CHANGE

B. was elected and voted in as

C. won an election in which the

students vote for

D. was elected

3. During World War II, the United States and Canadian governments, whose countries border each other, unjustly relocated many people of Japanese descent

A. NO CHANGE

B. governments, who share a national border,

C. governments, geographically linked by a joint

border,D. governments (Workbook, p. 70)

3. During World War II, the United States and Canadian governments, whose countries border each other, unjustly relocated many people of Japanese descent

A. NO CHANGEB. governments, who share a national border,C. governments, geographically linked by a joint border,D. governments

4. Ironically, this renowned writer, whose books are printed on recycled paper, did not do well in school.

A. NO CHANGEB. writer, who is recognized by her orange

and black eyeglasses, C. writer, who likes to write at night, D. writer (Not in Workbook)

4. Ironically, this renowned writer, whose books are printed on recycled paper, did not do well in school.

A. NO CHANGEB. writer, who is recognized by her orange

and black eyeglasses, C. writer, who likes to write at night, D. writer

--Always read the “Omit the underlined portion” option first, omitting the part that is underlined.

--If it’s correct and makes sense, select this option and move on!move on!

“ “Omit the underlined portion”Omit the underlined portion”

Hundreds of escaped slaves who fled from their owners assisted the British during the War of Independence.

A. OMIT the underlined portion

B. after having fled from their owners

C. who, when they fled from their owners,

D. helped out and

(Workbook, p. 72)

Hundreds of escaped slaves who fled from their owners assisted the British during the War of Independence.

A. OMIT the underlined portion

B. after having fled from their owners

C. who, when they fled from their owners,

D. helped out and

II. “Best - Word Choice” questions” ask you to find an answer that matches the

criteria set up in the question. (p. 7)1. Alligators can go through water at astonishing speeds.

The writer wants to emphasize here how quickly alligators move. Which choice would most dramatically achieve this effect?

A. NO CHANGEB. proceedC. streakD. advance

(Workbook, p. 75)

1. Alligators can go through water at astonishing speeds.

The writer wants to emphasize here how quickly alligators move. Which choice would most dramatically achieve this effect?

A. NO CHANGEB. proceedC. streakD. advance

2. We observe thunderstorms over Stampede Pass in the Cascade Range or into Hells Canyon on the Snake River, and when lightning starts a fire, we get ready to jump

Which choice wo(uld most effectively emphasize the vigor and energy that are an essential part of the work of smoke jumping?

A. NO CHANGEB. followC. attendD. Chase (Workbook, p76)

2. We observe thunderstorms over Stampede Pass in the Cascade Range or into Hells Canyon on the Snake River, and when lightning starts a fire, we get ready to jump

Which choice would most effectively emphasize the vigor and energy that are an essential part of the work of smoke jumping?

A. NO CHANGEB. followC. attendD. chase

3. It is clear that popcorn has been given a permanent role in the modern American diet.

Which choice best emphasized the writer’s belief that America’s interest in popcorn will continue into the future.

A. NO CHANGE

B. an early role

C. a genuine position

D. a reasonable purpose (Not in Workbook)

3. It is clear that popcorn has been given a permanent role in the modern American diet.

Which choice best emphasized the writer’s belief that America’s interest in popcorn will continue into the future.

A. NO CHANGE

B. an early role

C. a genuine position

D. a reasonable purpose

4. American military officials had been using cumbersome machines to encode and relay information during battles.

A. NO CHANGE

B. thorny

C. strenuous D. gawky (Workbook, p.

74)

4. American military officials had been using cumbersome machines to encode and relay information during battles.

A. NO CHANGE

B. thorny

C. strenuous

D. gawky

Questions that include the words

TIP!TIP! Questions that include the words

Specific EXAMPLESSpecific EXAMPLESand/or DETAILSand/or DETAILS

“example(s)” or “illustrate(s)” require an answer that givesspecific examples or details

Given than 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.

(Workbook, p. 76)

Which answer paints a picture of clothing?

i

Given than 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.

III. “Add on” YES/NO questionsIII. “Add on” YES/NO questions ask you to decide whether an author should add (or delete) a

line or two of text. For YES/NO questions, always look at the two “NO” answers first. (Workbook, p. 81)

Most (not all) add-on sentences provide irrelevant material.

EXCEPTION!EXCEPTION!

A new “Add-on” question on the ACT uses a different format (Workbook, p. 81)

It asks if the line(s) should be “kept” or “deleted”

If these are the choices, read the KEPT options first; one of them is usually the correct answer

IV. “Least Acceptable” are the trickiest of all, and there will be at lest 5 or 6 on the test. BEWARE! You are now

changing gear and looking for the incorrect answer. Read the answer choices as True/False. The F choice is

always the correct answer.Workbook, p. 83

1. It is pleasant to see vacationers enjoying my hometown so much.

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined

portion would be LEAST acceptable here?A. noticeB. observeC. enjoyD. watch

1.Text: It is pleasant to see vacationers enjoying my hometown so much.

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would be LEAST acceptable here?

(Think of this as a True/False question, where “false” is the correct answer!)

A. notice

B. observe

C. enjoy

D. watch

ALWAYS CIRCLE KEY WORDS LIKENOT, EXCEPT, LEAST NOT, EXCEPT, LEAST (p. 10)(p. 10)

Look for the Look for the

““odd man outodd man out”

2. She worked for thirty years as a teacher and librarian in the field of education in the Baltimore public schools.

Which of the following words or phrases from the preceding sentence is LEAST necessary and could therefore be deleted?

A. thirtyB. and librarianC. in the field of educationD. Baltimore public schools

2. She worked for thirty years as a teacher and librarian in the field of education in the Baltimore public schools.

Which of the following words or phrases from the preceding sentence is LEAST necessary and could therefore be deleted?

A. thirtyB. and librarianC. in the field of educationD. Baltimore public schools

Grammar Rules

The ACT uses standard English grammar.

The following are some frequently used rules.

““I” vs. “me” I” vs. “me” (p.11)(p.11)

“I” is the subject; “me” is the object.In compound usage, throw out the other person.

Robert and I went fishing last summer.1. During dinner, my father asked about the loss of the

cobblestone road, which Grandpa and him had helped lay and maintain.

A. NO CHANGEB. Grandpa and himselfC. he and GrandpaD. himself and Grandpa (Workbook, p. 35)

1. During dinner, my father asked about the loss of the cobblestone road, which Grandpa and him had helped lay and maintain.

A. NO CHANGEB. Grandpa and himselfC. he and GrandpaD. himself and Grandpa

•Always stands for somethingsomething left out!

•It’s = It is

•They’re = They are

•Don’t = Do not

Read as if the apostrophe is NOT there

THE APOSTROPHETHE APOSTROPHE

“It’s” (it is) vs. “its”(p. 12)

“Its” is a possessive like “his and “her”

“It’s” is a contraction of “it is”

There is NO such usage as ITS’ except as a question to mess with your mind on the ACT!

1. The words of a novel or poem are literally “bound” within there pages.

A. NO CHANGE

B. its

C. one’s

D. these (Workbook, p. 41)

1. The words of a novel or poem are literally “bound” within there pages.

A. NO CHANGE

B. its

C. one’s

D. these

2. The Fleet Corporation named it’s new product Dubble Bubble

A. NO CHANGE

B. named its

C. called they’re

D. called it’s(Workbook, p. 42)

2.The Fleet Corporation named it’s new product Dubble Bubble

A. NO CHANGE

B. named its

C. called they’re

D. called it’s

3. Its impossible to predict which people will dig into their pockets or open their purses.

A. NO CHANGE

B. It’s

C. Its’

D. That’s(Workbook, p. 42)

3. Its impossible to predict which people will dig into their pockets or open their purses.

A. NO CHANGE

B. It’s

C. Its’ !!!!!!!

D. That’s

Prounouns: Big Tip!Prounouns: Big Tip!If you have a choice between using a concrete subject (a noun)and using a pronoun, PICK THE CONCRETE SUBJECT!

Outside Navajo communities, such exposure is rare, which greatly contributed to its success.

F. NO CHANGEG. thatH. thisJ. the Navajo code’s

(Workbook, p. 38)

NOTE: the concrete nounis the “odd man out.” It is the ONLY choice that is NOT a pronoun!

PUNCTUATION!PUNCTUATION!

Group I : periods, colons, Group I : periods, colons,

semicolonssemicolonsWhere does my sentence end?Where does my sentence end? (p. 13)

Periods, colons, semicolons separate sentences (independent clauses).Complete Sentence . Complete Sentence

Complete Sentence ; Complete Sentence

Complete Sentence : Complete Sentence

Complete Sentence : List

Complete Sentence : Point of emphasis

(Workbook, p. 5)

Be Careful!Be Careful!

You cannot use , to separate two

sentences unless you add a coordinating conjunction such as “and, yet, or but.”

(remember the FANBOYS)

I am going to apply to four colleges, and I hope they all accept me.

TIP!TIP!

On the ACT, the MOST COMMON correct answer for a question that asks for punctuation use is the one with NO punctuation!

(If in doubt, LEAVE IT OUT)

For And Nor But Or Yet So

(FANBOYS)The comma ALWAYS comes BEFORE the coordinating conjunction,

NEVER after it!

,for ,and ,nor ,but ,or ,yet ,so

I am going to bed early,, and I am eating a good breakfast.

I am going to bed early and,, I am eating a good breakfast.

1. Those artists who look good on camera have a greater chance of success than those who do not, examples are not difficult to find.

A. NO CHANGE

B. not examples,

C. not. Examples,

D. not. Examples

(Workbook, p. 7)

1. Those artists who look good on camera have a greater chance of success than those who do not,| examples are not difficult to find.

A. NO CHANGE

B. not examples,

C. not. Examples,

D. not. Examples

2. Even the parts of a chili vary the seeds and veins of a pepper are hotter than the flesh.

A. NO CHANGE

B. vary;

C. vary, D. vary but

(Workbook, p.10)

2. Even the parts of a chili vary| the seeds and veins of a pepper are hotter than the flesh.

A. NO CHANGE

B. vary;

C. vary,

D. vary but

3. Not all visitors,however, have been so welcome, years ago, an escaped convict made his way to her mountain retreat and threatened her.

A. NO CHANGEB. welcome:C. welcome; sinceD. welcome, although

(Workbook, p. 13)

3. Not all visitors,however, have been so welcome,| years ago, an escaped convict made his way to her mountain retreat and threatened her.

A. NO CHANGEB. welcome:C. welcome; sinceD. welcome, although

COMMAS, DASHES, PARENTHESES (p.14)

Where do I set off supporting clauses in sentences?

On the ACT, you will use commas, dashes, and parentheses.

Jason Wilson, the star athlete from

Roosevelt High, is going to MU on a full athletic scholarship next year.

Jason Wilson – the star athlete from Roosevelt High – is going to MU on a full athletic scholarship next year.

Jason Wilson ( the star athlete from Roosevelt High ) is going to MU on a full athletic scholarship next year.

Commas = pauses

• A comma acts like a Yield sign

• You must s-l-o-w d-o-w-n

for a comma when you read.

1. Although Walter Diemer, now a retired senior vice president of the Fleet Corporation never patented his invention, he had hoped to keep his recipe a secret from other gum manufacturers.

F. NO CHANGEG. president, of the Fleet Corporation,H. president of the Fleet Corporation,J. president, of the Fleet Corporation

(Workbook, p. 19)

1. Although Walter Diemer, now a retired senior vice president of the Fleet Corporation never patented his invention, he had hoped to keep his recipe a secret from other gum manufacturers.

F. NO CHANGE

G. president, of the Fleet Corporation,

H. president of the Fleet Corporation,

J. president, of the Fleet Corporation

2. Fleet Corporation, now only one of countless

bubble gum manufacturers, makes four million pieces of bubble gum a day and sells them in fifty countries.

A. NO CHANGEB. Corporation, now,C. Corporation now,D. Corporation: now,

(Workbook, p. 19 )

2. Fleet Corporation, now only one of countless

bubble gum manufacturers, makes four million pieces of bubble gum a day and sells them in fifty countries.

A. NO CHANGE

B. Corporation, now,

C. Corporation now,

D. Corporation: now,

BIG TIP! If 3 answer choices use punctuation (especially commas) and one

does not, ALWAYS look at the one without any punctuation first.

1. Hikers, typically, find, that the climb takes at least three hours.

A. NO CHANGEB. Hikers typically findC. Hikers typically, find

D. Hikers, typically find

(Workbook, p. 42)

1. Hikers, typically, find, that the climb takes at least three hours.

A. NO CHANGEB. Hikers typically findC. Hikers typically, find

D. Hikers, typically find

2. Then again, you can sometimes get lucky, and a ball you thought was lost, will inexplicably bounce back into place.

A. NO CHANGEB. lost will

C. lost, will,D. lost will,

(Workbook, p. 42)

2. Then again, you can sometimes get lucky, and a ball you thought was lost, will inexplicably bounce back into place.

A. NO CHANGE

B. lost will

C. lost, will,

D. lost will,

• Time to practice!!

Turn to PURPLE FREEBIE test page14

Work Passage I – Questions 1-15

9 minutes

Summary of English RulesSummary of English Rules 

Work through the entire test Try to think of the correct answer before you look at the choices Remember 1:5 questions is NO CHANGE Only ONE answer can be correct on the ACT!

(eliminate choices; choose what’s left!)

Fill in ALL the answers

Set your watch to

High Noon to pace yourself!

Reading Success on the ACT

Pacing: use your time wellThe Reading test has 4 passages and 40 questions

(35 minutes). The passages appear in the same order

on all tests.Prose Fiction Social SciencesHumanities

Natural Science

Set a goal score

21 25/40 correct

25 30/40 correct

31 34/40 correct

Goal score

21 25/40 correct

Read 2 passages, guess on 2

25 30/40 correct

Read 3 passages, guess on 1

31 34/40 correct

Read 4 passages, leave most difficult

till last

How to set a goal score(p. 63 in purple Freebie)

On the omitted passage(s), answer all 10 questions using the same letter.

Always answer every question!

Reading Strategies

1. Work with the passage with the shortest questions first. Always work to YOUR strengths.

Wear an analog watch!

• Set the watch to

“High Noon”

It is easier to see the time passing with

an analog watch.

2. Skim the questions first, circling key words. (Do NOT read the 4 answer choices.)

Practice till you can complete the preview in 45 – 60 seconds.

RememberRemember

– Draw a reference line by the paragraph line numbers addressed in the question

– Write the number of the question by the reference line.

4.

          CROSS OFF incorrect answer CROSS OFF incorrect answer choices as you eliminate them. choices as you eliminate them. You don’t want to waste time You don’t want to waste time

re-reading them.re-reading them.

BE VERY CAREFUL OF answer choices that use EXACT WORDING from the passage. They are usually incorrect because the question presents the information differently from the text. Most correct answers are paraphrases of the text. In other words, they say the same thing using different words.

Circle the correct answers in your test booklet and transfer them to the answer sheet in groups of 10 (passage by passage).

    At the 5-minute warning, quickly

complete as many direct sentence reference

questions as you can and GUESS ON THE REST.

Fill in every blank.

    SpecificSpecific literal, details (what the text says).

    GeneralGeneral main idea or inferential

questions (what the text means)

Recognize the types of questions on the test

Literal Level Questions (what the text says)

Text: To retrace this story in an age when a network of satellites can nail down a ship’s position

within a few feet in just a moment–is to see the globe anew.

 30.    The passage indicates that instruments for

determining longitude now include: F.     modified pendulum clocks G. satellites H. a network of ships J. barometers

Inferential Questions (what the text means).

On context cue questions, be careful of the most obvious answer.

1. (From a text about preserving the ecological balance in national parks) As it is used in line 65, the word “complement” most nearly means:

H. flattering remark

I. equal cost

J. selection

K. safe number

Paraphrasing is where the text and question use different words that mean the same thing.

Text: We plan-makers are accustomed to things turning out not-quite-as-good-as-we-had-in-mind. Our world view includes the “diminished excellence” component. Diminished excellence is a condition of the world and therefore never an occasion for sorrow, whereas flawed competence comes out of character and therefore is frequently the reason for the bowed head, the furrowed brow.

 In the last paragraph, a comparison is made between “diminished excellence” and “flawed competence.” From the narrator’s point of view, the conditions are different because the one is:

A.    a source of sorrow while the other is a source of pride.

B.     based in the family while the other is based in the self.

C. inherent in the environment while the other is inherent in the individual.

D. a sign that the individual can improve the world while the other is a sign that the individual can’t.

Summary of Reading Rules

Preview test QUICKLYQUICKLY

 Leave longest/hardest passage til last

Omit one passage if your goal score is 25-26

Omit two passages if your goal score is 21.

READREAD questions first

Circle key words

Mark line references in margins

Cross off incorrect answers

Read text, skimming whenever possibleRead text, skimming whenever possible

Wear an analog watchWear an analog watch and set it to and set it to

HIGH NOONHIGH NOON

Mark ALL answers on the answer sheet. Mark ALL answers on the answer sheet. DO NOT leave any blank.DO NOT leave any blank.

Circle answers in the test booklet and Circle answers in the test booklet and transfer to answer sheet in groups of 10.transfer to answer sheet in groups of 10. 

GOOD LUCK!GOOD LUCK!