what you need to know to make quick points on the act six skills to improve your english score by 10...

What you need to know to make quick points on the ACT

Six Skills to improve your English score by 10 points.

Mr. Dan McDonell

College Boards Review

Why This Matters

The five strategies in this presentation represent 43 questions on the ACT exam 0861D (Canning Tomatoes) In a typical test administration, students will get 50% of those correct. Had students gotten all of them correct, their scores would have increased 21 raw points or 10 scaled points. This alone would result in an overall composite score increase of 2.5 points.

Strategy 1-Concision

There are between 8-12 concision questions on any exam. ACT believes good writing is tight and direct. Students too often think that adding words makes their writing appear smarter. They need to understand KISS- Keep It Simple. You can spot them by either the progressively shorter or longer answer choices in which words are added or deleted.

KISSKeep It Simple, Stupid

ACT believes that good writing is clear and to the point. A good writer does not use more words when he or she can use fewer. Therefore, shorter is usually better. In fact, whenever the choice is OMIT or DELETE the underlined portion in questions which are obviously dealing with concision, you should be prejudiced towards that answer until you can prove otherwise.

Begin with the shortest answer in concision questions. If you cannot find a reason not to select it, then you should opt for it. A warning though, this only holds for concision questions, and then, not all of the time.

Question 18-Obviously synonymous within a sentence

(CRS III-2-a)

The old British practice of planting yews in cemeteries did nothing in changing or altering that reputation….

F. No ChangeG. to alter that acquiredH. in the way of changing thatJ. to alter that

Tip-Look Throughout the SentenceQuestion 67-

Redundant in Terms of Logic

CRS III-4-a

I wasn’t prepared for the impact.

A. No Change

B. ready for the unexpected impact

C. prepared, regarding the impact, for what happened

D. expecting the impact, which I didn’t see coming


Redundant in Terms of LogicCRS III-4-a

I wasn’t prepared for the impact.

A. No Change

B. ready for the unexpected impact

C. prepared, regarding the impact, for what happened

D. expecting the impact, which I didn’t see coming


Redundant in Terms of LogicCRS III-4-a

Voters elected the candidate that Dr. Herrick supported, choosing that person to be mayor.

A. No Change

B. supported and picked that person to become mayor

C. supported as their choice for mayor

D. supported

Tip-Don’t Add Unnecessary Words

Question 58Vague and Confusing Writing

CRS III-5-b

This undertaking wasn’t their dream but perhaps their dream would lead to it.

F. No Change

G. they would lead to that.

H. would lead it to that.

J. would lead to it.

Remember the Author’s Voice Question 53

Appropriate Word or LanguageCRS III-4-c

He knew that he and Maya would have to apply their energies to the activity of labor for the money needed to sign a lease.

A. No Change

B. employ themselves vigorously to the task at hand

C. work a long time

D. accomplish it

Remember the Author’s Voice Question 53

Appropriate Word or LanguageCRS III-4-c

He knew that he and Maya would have to apply their energies to the activity of labor for the money needed to sign a lease.

A. No ChangeB. employ themselves vigorously to the task at

handC. work a long timeD. accomplish it

Ask-”Would you actually say that?”

Strategy 2-Personal Possessive Pronouns

Know the difference between it’s (= it is, a contraction) its (the possessive pronoun) and its’ (which does not appear in English, but which ACT offers as a choice with maddening regularity in order to confuse students. Think his, her, and its- none of these take apostrophes.This question appears usually three times on the exam.

Question 10-Apostrophe Use/Personal Pronoun

CRS V-5-a

Sometimes the only sound…would be the fan, rotating on its’ squeaky hinge,……

F. No ChangeG. it’s squeakier H. its squeaky J. it’s squeaky

Question 10-Apostrophe Use/Personal Pronoun

CRS V-5-a

Sometimes the only sound…would be the fan, rotating on its’ squeaky hinge,……

F. No Change G. it’s squeakier H. its squeaky J. it’s squeaky

Question 47Apostrophe Use/Personal Pronoun

CRS V-5-a

For my friends Tran and Maya Nguyen, the distance between Vietnam and California is more than it’s measure in miles.

A. No ChangeB. its’C. itsD. his

Strategy 3- Learn the Possessive Forms

Since ACT can have as many as three or four possessive questions on the exam, it helps to understand the possessive form of a noun.

Question 28Apostrophe with Possessive Noun

CRS VI-4-c

To save the trees and still provide for the patient’s needs,….

F. No Change

G. needs’ of the patients,

H. patients’ needs,

J. patients needs,


CRS VI-4-c

The bets terms stated that the loser of the wager,…

F. No Change

G. bets terms’

H. bet’s terms

J. bets’ terms

Tip: An apostrophe in a possessive noun takes the place of the word of. If you are uncertain if you need an apostrophe, place that of phrase back into the sentence and see if it works. (E.G. the terms of the bet- Yes!)


CRS VI-4-c

The bets terms stated that the loser of the wager,…

F. No Change

G. bets terms’

H. bet’s terms

J. bets’ terms

Tip-Watch for Irregular PluralsQuestion 13

Apostrophe with Possessive NounCRS VI-4-c

They were our familys’ protection against the bleak winter.

A. No Change

B. family’s

C. families

D. families’

Strategy 4-The Most Important Skill

Sentence Combining

Know how to combine two sentences into one. Variations on this question can appear as many as 10-12 times on any exam. Often the question is posed as a “Which of the following is NOT an acceptable alternative to the underlined portion.”

Let’s review how we can do this.

Punctuation StrategyHow ACT Combines Two Sentences• Use a period at the end of one and start the other

with a capital letter.• Use a semi-colon between the two• Use a comma with one of the FANBOYS (for, and,

nor, but, or, yet and so)• Make one a dependent and the other an independent

clause. (use: who, which, that)• Use a colon to provide a definition.• Use a dash to provide a dramatic statement• Use a compound verb (one subject doing two or

more things)

The neighborhood was friendly, with lots of foot traffic. She envisioned their restaurant fitting in nicely here.

A. NO CHANGEB. traffic, that sheC. traffic, she D. traffic she

Tip- Sometimes Simplest is Best

Question 59

Sentence Combining

CRS IV-5-a

The neighborhood was friendly, with lots of foot traffic. She envisioned their restaurant fitting in nicely here.

A. NO CHANGE B. traffic, that sheC. traffic, she D. traffic she

Tip- Sometimes Simplest is Best

Question 59

Sentence Combining

CRS IV-5-a

Tip- Sometimes Simplest is BestQuestion 66

Sentence Combining/Fused sentenceCRS IV-2-a

Soon McLean stepped on stage with his sax I wasn’t prepared for the impact.

F. NO CHANGE G. sax.H. sax thatJ. sax, which

Tip- Sometimes Simplest is BestQuestion 66

Sentence Combining/Fused sentenceCRS IV-2-a

Soon McLean stepped on stage with his sax I wasn’t prepared for the impact.

F. NO CHANGE G. sax. H. sax thatJ. sax, which

Again, keep it simple!

Tip- Circle the NOTQuestion 40- Sentence Combining

CRS IV-5-a

• Bidding became brisk. Townspeople felt compassion for the soldiers fighting in the eastern United States.

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

F. brisk, townspeople

G. brisk because townspeople

H. brisk, since townspeople

J. brisk; townspeople


CRS IV-5-a

• Bidding became brisk. Townspeople felt compassion for the soldiers fighting in the eastern United States.


F. brisk, townspeople (no FANBOYS)

G. brisk because townspeople (IC +CC)

H. brisk, since townspeople (IC + CC/ NR)

J. brisk; townspeople (semi-colon)

Tip- Circle the NOTQuestion 60

Sentence CombiningCRS IV-5-a

But she was disappointed when she talked to the real estate agent-- the building wouldn’t be available for six months.

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

F. agent. The G. agent: the H. agent, theJ. agent; the


CRS IV-5-a

But she was disappointed when she talked to the real estate agent-- the building wouldn’t be available for six months.


F. agent. The (two sentences, use a period) G. agent: the (colon- “that is” to give a reason)H. agent, the (NO FANBOYS) (J. agent; the (semi -colon)

Tip- Read Choices CarefullyQuestion 54


• Tran worked as a hospital clerk, and Maya was an assembler in an electronics factory.


F. clerk, whileG. clerk whereH. clerk; J. clerk.

Note: In this example we begin with two sentences joined by a comma and a FANBOYS.



• Tran worked as a hospital clerk, and Maya was an assembler in an electronics factory.


F. clerk, while (IC +CC) G. clerk where H. clerk; (semi-colon)J. clerk. (end with period, drop the and)

Note: In this example we begin with two sentences joined by a comma and a FANBOYS.



The musicians walked offstage. The room filled with applause..


F. offstage, and the G. offstage; theH. offstage. Then the J. offstage as if the

Note: Again, look at how we begin with two full sentences underlined.



The musicians walked offstage. The room filled with applause..


F. offstage, and the (comma with a FANBOYS)G. offstage; the (semi-colon) H. offstage. Then the (new sentence, showing cause and

effect)J. offstage as if the (no condition )

Note: Again, look at how we begin with two full sentences underlined.

Tip-The Hidden FANBOYSQuestion 29Fused Sentence

CRS IV-5-a

To save the trees and still provide for the patients’ needs, scientists began to produce taxol synthetically in the laboratory from the tree’s leaves. This process is more costly than harvesting the bark, growing the foliage in a nursery provides a renewable resource.

A. No ChangeB. ThisC. As this processD. Although this process

Tip-The Hidden FANBOYSQuestion 29Fused Sentence

CRS IV-5-a

To save the trees and still provide for the patients’ needs, scientists began to produce taxol synthetically in the laboratory from the tree’s leaves. This process is more costly than harvesting the bark, growing the foliage in a nursery provides a renewable resource.

A. No Change B. ThisC. As this processD. Although this process

Strategy 5Keep your focus on the question

When reading the rhetoric questions which ask you to consider making changes to what is written to create a certain effect, underline the key phrase you are to address so as to not lose focus on what the question asks.

Tip- Follow the DirectionsQuestion 5

Relevancy of Sentence DetailsCRS I-3-b

• If the writer were to delete the phrase”while a large pot of water heated up on the stove” from the preceding sentence….the paragraph would lose a phrase that

A. describes the duties specific to the narrator’s role in canning tomatoes

B. Indicates where the canning takes place and why water is needed in the process

C. Establishes a logical transition to the information in the remainder of the paragraph

D. Establishes that part of the canning process involved putting the tomatoes in water.

We washed the tomatoes in the kitchen while a large pot of water heated up on the stove.

Step 1: remove the phrase

We washed the tomatoes in the kitchen while a large pot of water heated up on the stove.

Strategy 6Apply the 100% Rule

ACT wants you to select the correct answer from among choices that might be correct. To do this, ask yourself if the choice you have selected is 100% correct in what it says. No portion of your choice should fail to meet this requirement.

Tip- Follow the DirectionsQuestion 5

Relevancy of Sentence DetailsCRS I-3-b

• If the writer were to delete the phrase”while a large pot of water heated up on the stove” from the preceding sentence….the paragraph would lose a phrase that

A. describes the duties specific to the narrator’s role in canning tomatoes

B. Indicates where the canning takes place and why water is needed in the process

C. Establishes a logical transition to the information in the remainder of the paragraph

D. Establishes that part of the canning process involved putting the tomatoes in water.

Tip- Mark the Key PhraseQuestion 8-SupportAdd sentence for support

CRS I-4-c

It was impossible to keep a straight face as seeds squirted through the air and stuck the walls around us.

Given all the choices are true, which one helps the reader best visualize the specifics of the scene?

F. No change G. air while we watched with amusement.H. air, creating a sight to beholdJ. air on those hot summer days.

Tip- Mark the Key PhraseQuestion 8-SupportAdd sentence for support

CRS I-4-c

It was impossible to keep a straight face as seeds squirted through the air and stuck the walls around us.

Given all the choices are true, which one helps the reader best visualize the specifics of the scene?

F. No change G. air while we watched with amusement. H. air, creating a sight to beholdJ. air on those hot summer days.

Tip-Study Essay FormsQuestion 9-Support/Intent

CRS I-5-a

”Sometimes we sang along with the radio, frequently substituting the word tomato for a prominent word in the song. “

The writer is considering deleting the proceeding sentence. Should the writer make this change?

A. Yes, because the sentence disrupts the paragraph’s attention to the visual aspects of the narrator’s memory of canning tomatoes.

B. Yes, because the sentence inappropriately shifts the focus of the paragraph to the narrator’s enthusiasm for singing.

C. No, because the sentence is consistent with the paragraph’s focus on the aspects of canning tomatoes that are memorable to the narrator.

D. No, because the sentence sets up a logical contrast with the narrator’s reserved behavior as described in the sentence before it.

Tip-Study Essay FormsQuestion 9-Support/Intent

CRS I-5-a”Sometimes we sang along with the radio, frequently substituting the word tomato for a prominent word in the song. “

The writer is considering deleting the proceeding sentence. Should the writer make this change?

A. Yes, because the sentence disrupts the paragraph’s attention to the visual aspects of the narrator’s memory of canning tomatoes.

B. Yes, because the sentence inappropriately shifts the focus of the paragraph to the narrator’s enthusiasm for singing.

C. No, because the sentence is consistent with the paragraph’s focus on the aspects of canning tomatoes that are memorable to the narrator.

D. No, because the sentence sets up a logical contrast with the narrator’s reserved behavior as described in the sentence before it.

Tip- The Vocabulary IssueQuestion 15-Strategy

CRS-1-5-a

“Now I live a long way from my family and their farm in North Carolina. In the winter, I savor the fresh supply of the half dozen or so jars of tomatoes Mom sends me every year. On special occasions, I reach for one, twist off the top, and let the smell of summer drift back to me from my childhood.”

If the writer were to delete this final paragraph, the essay would primarily lose:

A. Images that reveal that the narrator’s memories of canning tomatoes are fading over time..

B. A sense that the narrator is planning to move back to North Carolina as soon as possible

C. Information that indicates that distance contributes to the narrator’s nostalgia about canning tomatoes

D. Information about the narrator’s adult life that is irrelevant to the essay’s focus on canning tomatoes.

Tip- The Vocabulary IssueQuestion 15-Strategy

CRS-1-5-a

“Now I live a long way from my family and their farm in North Carolina. In the winter, I savor the fresh supply of the half dozen or so jars of tomatoes Mom sends me every year. On special occasions, I reach for one, twist off the top, and let the smell of summer drift back to me from my childhood.”

If the writer were to delete this final paragraph, the essay would primarily lose:

A. Images that reveal that the narrator’s memories of canning tomatoes are fading over time..

B. A sense that the narrator is planning to move back to North Carolina as

soon as possible

C. Information that indicates that distance contributes to the narrator’s nostalgia about canning tomatoes

D. Information about the narrator’s adult life that is irrelevant to the essay’s

focus on canning tomatoes.

Question 62- SupportCRS I-5-a

“The Vanguard is a New York City nightclub located underground in a room crowded with tables.”

The writer is considering deleting the preceding sentence. Should the writer make this deletion?

F. Yes, because the sentence detracts from the essay’s focus on music

G. Yes, because the sentence sets up the expectation that the essay will be about New York City nightclubs.

H. No, because the sentence is informative and contributes to the essay’s description of the narrator’s experience.

J. No, because the sentence suggest that the narrator was unable to enjoy listening to jazz in a club where the seating was

uncomfortable.

Question 64-Appropriate Phrase/WordCRS III-4-c

“The backup band of a pianist, a bass player, and the talented Billy Higgins started with a piece Stacia and I immediately recognized-”Seven Minds.”

Given that all of the choices are true, which one most clearly adds new information about the mixture of sounds in the music being played the night the narrator visited the Village Vanguard?

F. NO CHANGE

G. famous drummer

H. musician

J. jazz artist

Question 64-Appropriate Phrase/WordCRS III-4-c

“The backup band of a pianist, a bass player, and the talented Billy Higgins started with a piece Stacia and I immediately recognized-”Seven Minds.”

Given that all of the choices are true, which one most clearly adds new information about the mixture of sounds in the music being played the night the narrator visited the Village Vanguard?

F. NO CHANGEG. famous drummer H. musician J. jazz artist

Tip: Look at how the correct answer follows from the rest of the sentence. There is a series of musicians-specific ones here.

Question 68- Sentence for PurposeCRS I-5-b

“Into every corner of the room, he blew wild, sweet, almost disjointed notes that seemed to leave many listeners amazed.”

At this point the writer would like to provide an image to help give a sense of the sound of the music being played by McLean. Which choice best accomplishes the writer’s purpose?

F. NO CHANGE

G. that words cannot hardly describe

H. before we knew what was happening to us as lucky member of the audience that night

J. that seemed snatched from a dozen different places at once.

Question 71- Sentence for PurposeCRS I-5-b

“Then one of the musicians would take the lead, pulling strange patterns from his instrument, the equivalent in sound of someone dancing under a blinking strobe light.”

The writer would like to describe the sound of the music in visual terms to help the reader imagine the jazz played that night. Which choice best accomplishes the writer’s purpose?

A. NO CHANGE

B. the highlight of the evening for some audience members.

C. the sound making me see why so many people like jazz.

D. the notes having a visible effect.

For More Information Contact:

Dan McDonell

College Boards Review

773-718-1907

[email protected]

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