ACT Past Papers with Answers

Source question 2. spaces, and the root of the problem. spaces, and the root of the probltm [2] The StreeL wbich curves past ts'enty houses and several apartment buildings and twists around small islands of shrnbbery. looks pleasant enouth Cill-de4-sacs, aftei all, are designed to reduce tr&ffic and thus provide privacy. safety.

Source question 3. winds under tittle amounts and quieL My neigbbors'and I Used to enjoy the qniethcss of our street. AGf-.61F GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. [3] (R,Ipidly, Jkoweyer. the peace in roy neighborhood

Source question 6. too much . J. too mally But our families gréw latger." and our children became older and, now it seems as though two or three Gars arcn't

L NO CHANGE older. aD"d now oldcr and now. Gnough. The gtreet ]# always lined with our parked cars. '[4] If w¢ lived on a tbrougb streeL such extravagance rDigbt be a bit more easily accomIriodated. We might

Source question 8. more easy mDre ea5icr more easy to always try to park as close to.ho]ne as possible, but rf all thc nearby spaces are taken, we could thive around the block until wc found a spaGC. Thcw ￿￿nblIng beavily, wa]king hDme. Ill a cul-de-sac neighborhool howevcr, the

Source question 9. we would wa]k we WCTe walking parking options are few. possible to find not & siiigle place to park a car. .ID ong our elltire streeL it is

At this poin( thc writer is Considering adding thc fol- lowing trne statement: Cul-de-sac is a French term meaning "bottot of the bag." Sbould the. writer make this addition? edg¢ about cul-d¢-sacs. a parking place is likt shopping. ..￿ No. because it would detract from the bumor of the last paragraph of the essay. ject of Paragraph 4. [5] In facL ill my neighborhood this evening, there are sure to be, tire's squealing. horns honkiug, li

Source question 12. other bul oth6r, however, frnstration is now nearly uncontainable. Soon, I, rn afraid, AGf-61F GO ON TO THE NExf PAGE. those of us, who return home latc. will have to spend the evening double-. parked in our cars. We will be served

Source question 13. us who return ho￿￿, late. us wbo return bome late, us who return bome late supper w out cars, and in the flljal analysis we will, read, nap. or listcn to the raclio in ow cars-Ieady in a moment

Source question 14. . then nevcrthele8S to seize a free space or rnovc the Car if the police make one of their increasingly frequent stops in our.once-quiet neighborhood. IS. A. NO CHANGE or moving ' while they move or having to move PASSAGE 11 The Harnxony of Jéan Tpomer's Cane [1 J By his own admisBion. author Jsan Toorner led an unfocused carly ]ifc. [2] Whcn Cane his unconv¢ntional book was published in 1923. 16 some critics felt it reflected the authoi's lack of direction. [3] Those Tcviewsrs werc mystified: what sort of work was.tbis? [4]. Wbil¢ Sach piece explored African Americall life in tjae early twentieth century, the book as a whole scemod to follow no Cle￿ pattern.

Source question 15. Refer to the source image.

Source question 16. 1923, booL J, his unconvclltiollal book was pub￿Shed in 1923, Cane, 17

If tbe writer were to delete the phrase "in the eatly twenticth ccntury" from the prcccding sentence. the sentence would primarily lose: an explanation for why the book seems .to lack pattern. a biographical detail about the author of the book. an indication of when th¢'b(yok was pub]ished. infonnation about the settiDg of the book. [5] Cane combined short stories, poetry. and even

Source question 18. stories (which emerged as a distinct ]iterary forni in the nineteenth ccntury), st￿leS. many having been r￿St published in maga- zines, stories, inclnding One etttitled "Box Seat," a short play. O

For tbe sake of the logic and coherence of this para- graph, Sentence 5 should be placed: where it is now. oth￿ reviewers. as well, enthusiastically praised the booL They recognized strength ill the varied styles and the

Source question 21. Refer to the source image.

Source question 22. recurs again and "again recurs in many places recurs throughout the book Tootller uses sugar cane. a tsll plant. grown in warm climates, as a symbol not ODly of refrcsbing nourishri￿llt but al30, in its cloying sweetness, of sjllothering excess. For example. in one Poe￿ the image of the cajie rnstling in thc wind is desGTibed as a 8ofL sweet 30ng.. In a later story, howeveI. the c￿￿e'S

Which choice would be most appropriate in the CODtext of this sentence? symbol SOUDd ' overpowering scent "drenches- the workers wbo cut the can¢ stalks. forcing them to ijthale its syrnpy thicknèss

Vrfhich of the following al¢rDatives to the ullderlined portion would NOT be acceptable? who are cuttiiig and cut cutiing with cvery brea Sugar cane cOn￿S to Trpresent contradictions and . arnbivalencc as Toorner wcaves.the image into situations . 25. A. ND CHANGE with representing up to represent aDd setthg& that are both Durturing and disturbing. []

Source question 25. Refer to the source image.

At this poinL the writer is considering adding the fol- lowing true statement; Much of the world's refirted table sugar cornes. from sugar cane. Should the writer add this sentence here? s explain why To0￿er'S ijnage of sugar cane mig t scem both nurturing and.dis- turbing.. ination abt)ut the uses of sugar cane. No, because it doesn't develop the point being made about Toomcr's use of the sugar canc imagc. refined table sugar. Love strnggles against racism, detennin'ation strive&

Source question 27. . B. that struggles stniggling to overcome p,overty. beauty battles corrnption, AGT4IF GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. and solitary cbaracters want to flljd friends. Even whcn the book's setting sbifts from tILe temperate

Nvhich choice best expregses this idea in a style that is coDsistellt with the preceding statements ID this seii- tence? isolatson can turll into friendship. South, to the colder Nortty" cane reroains a pervasive and powerful iwage. Today Cane is taught in many classrooms and is highly Tegarded by literary scholars. For. many readcrs, Toomer has created a"memorabl¢ central In￿ge tbat connects his conAicting accounts of joy and pain.

.L NO CHANG

Given that all of the following statemcnts are true. which one, if added bere, would most effectively con- clude and summarize this essay? deceptively simple title, Cane. African American artistic flourisbillg blown as tbe Harlem Renaissance. Later in bis ]ife, T00m￿ beCa￿e interested in mys- tical pbilosopby and wrote a book on the subject. from poety and fictsOJI. PASSAGE111 Jade: The Stone of Cbina [1] From the beginning of recordcd Cbinesc history until the Gnd of tlic Ch, ing dynasty. jade held a significant place in Chin& China had all abundant supply of jadc. which contribllted to the',stonc's infiuence in the culture. The Chinese also regarded the physical characteristics of jade with fascination. Jade is hard; making it difficult to ciiip or 31 flake. but once polishe(L its surface is smooth and si]ky to

. Given that all of the choices are thie, which one would provide the most detailed and specific Inforn￿￿On at this point in the essay. color-interesting shades and hues a8 well- color, which made a contribution to this beautiful stOTAe, color, frorn pure whitc to shades of green and brown. the touch. Variati6ns ID color-and they were frequent- ACT41F. GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. added further inteIest to the fouus fashioned by Chinese artisans.

If the writer were to delete the phr&8e "to the forins fasbioned by Chinese artisans" from the preceding sen- tence, the essay would primarily lose: a detail that helps link Paragraphs l and 2. support for a point.made p￿viOUsly. & d¢tail that.helps make a comparison. an unnecessary detail that repeats a point made previously. [2] From the Sung dynasty to tha Ming ayTh￿ty. j ade carvings assumed practical.. 3& F. NO CHANGE created asserted assigne.d forms-as axes, cbisels. and other tools as well.

Source question 34. Refer to the source image.

L NO CHANGE as ornamental fornls. such as Gauings and ￿ndallts. Jad¢ also inspired them to create objects diat were both useful and decorative. Many cups and CODtsiners were

Source question 36. was also inspirational in creating ' H. also inspiied to cr¢ate the embellished with birds, peach blossoms. and other adorDJncnts inspired by.nature..An ¢ntir¢ Cup, for . example. was fashioned in.the shape of a lotus leaf. [3] Decorations could be v&ry complex. A brusb holder from the Ch'ing dynasty had caryings that covered svery inch o! thcir surface;

Source question 37. it's. the elaborate details included representations of clouds,

Given that all of the choices are true, which one would . provide the most effective transition to the séntence that follows? of artistic va]ue. artisans used nietal tools to makc these very intri- CP4ts carvings. trees, mountains, and peo told thc story of scholarly recluses who. in ancient times,. retreated to mountain eaves to escape the walling factions Je. This sceoe depicted ID jade witb their books that threatened their way of life. 39

The'.best. placement for the underlined portion would wh¢re it is now. period). A￿r.61F . GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. [4] [1 ] In addition to its acstbetic importance. there was with jade a spiritual value sternmillg from its early associatiolls with traditional Taoist bohsfs.

.F. NO CHANGE value: whicb was spiritual. sten]m¢d spiritual value stemmed

Source question 41. creatin& [2] This belief inspired Taoist physicians having cieatcd 41 a digestibl¢ fonn of jade powder. that he hoped would

Source question 42. it hoped they hoped 42 increase human longevity, [3] By these traditional beliefs in the extraordinary Pcfvwers of jad¢ invested the stone with a significance far beyond its usefulness as a tool 01 ag a medium for artistic expression.

Flhich choice would most effectively enable'this sen- tence to conclude the essay by StsDun￿IZlllg one of its Iliaill points? its f&8cinatiIig variations in coloL . as & functional, useful objecL its depictions of ancient time8.

Upou reviewing Paragraph 4 and finding that somc infornation has been left out. the writer composes the following sentence incorporating that inforni&tson: The stone was.thought to have tbe power to protect the butnan body frOuL decay. This senteDce would most logically be placed: before Sontcnce l. PASSAGE IV The Woods Until I was nine. my family lived in an old house surrounded by what we called "the woods," a terni that only begins to describe tbe pl&ce wb¢re my sisters and I played More thall a bunch of trees. the woods. each distinguisbed as domains in a set by what wc. found or di'd there.

Source question 47. Refer to the source image.

Source question 48. .on top in addition it had a Another, made from an old blankel smelled like Dur &ttic

Source question 50. most sturdieEt more stUEdier Sturdiest of ' featuted a laddei up the tr[ll￿ to a "second floor." In winter, thcre was endless supply of the best building material ot alL snDW. Meanwhile, we set out for the field beyond the 51 orchard. There an]ong the wildllowers lay a door, its

Source question 51. . Once in a wbile, . At the satDC time. presence a rnystery: we didn't cat¢ to solve. To us it

Source question 52. mystery, we mystery we . becamc a stage. on which we tap-danced or a raft on which w¢ crossed the bigh seas ill search of treasure.

L NO CHANGB stage: on wbich we tap-dance stage: on which we tap-dancc(L stage on which we tap-danced Occasionally, we would hide trcaBurc of our own-a few coins or pieces of candy having an air of secrecy and a pair

Source question 54. candy su￿ulldCd by calldy. With candy with of broken binoculars, sve took turns watching for invaders

The best placement of the underlined portion would the horizon. where it is now. "B. after the word binoculars (b.ut before the con]ma). period). Aryf-61F GQ ON TO THE NErf PAGE. Part of the woods was a swamp.. Over the years, it. swallowed an as50rtment of shoes. boots. and sandals. It was a grim place OL the day we found a baby bird lying

￿lhICh of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable? came across came upon found upon . dead ill the tall reeds. We buried the creature, placing wiidfiowers. berries. and a few shiny stones from the brook into its tiny graye.

Source question 57. it's whose 'Woere have you beeL??Y the growll-up.s would ask us as we stumbled in the back door after one of our gritty excursions. Our answer-the woods-wagn't a Lie, but it

Which of the followitlg alternatives to the underlined . portion would NOT be acceptable? outings. expeditions. ncver scemed likc the ¢omplctc truth cither. 59

If the writer were to delete the phrase "_the woods-" from the preceding sentellce. the patagraph would pri- rnarily lose: an indication that the grown.ups knew where the cbildren spent their play time. B, the final indication that the cbildren pridc them- sEI.ves on being se￿CtIve about their whereabouts. a detail that maintains the coberence of the para- graph and concludes the essay with a clear rBfet- ence to its subject. all unnecessary. reference to what is a]ready stated elsewhere in the paragraph. Question 60. asks about the preceding passage. as a whole.

Suppose the writer had intended to wrltc an essay. revealing personal knowledge of a particular place. Would this essay accomplish the writer's goa17 knew a great debl about the woods as a result of playing there as a child. continues to visit and learn about the woods, a Big- nificallt part of a happy childbood. No. because the knowledge that the narrator gained cannot accurately be described as scientific infotllLation about the woodB. may no longer be accurate, as time has passed since the narrator was a child. Aryf41F 10 GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE. PASSAGE V Not Just Pocket ChAngè My interest in coin collecting began when I was a child digging in my backyard. ID a tu]ip bed underneath the kitchcn window, I expected to find a dinosaur tooth or maybe a tunnel to a magical underworlL Uneartbed, I didn't expect to r￿d several old CDillS. A few corroded peJmies. their coppery surfaces pitted

Source question 62. wGr I uoticed a rrickel ill the dirt too and wiped it off.on my jealls. larger and beavier than any nickel I'd held before, it felt strange in my palnL As I read. the

Source question 64. away, like a curtain coming dowtL on the pasL away, ]ike a screen between now then. away, like a rnist boy￿l￿g over the prcsent.

Source question 67. cbange, there was another . change then another change, anotber makes a coin particularly valuable. Collecting coins brings other time periods illto foclls. For instance, the change in the metal composition of U.S. coills, minted during World War Q points out the

Source question 68. coin&, minted during WoTld War II coins minted d￿Illg World War II, coins minted during World War II adjustroents roadc as part of the war tsff0￿ Information. storie8, a sense of other settingB and other .

If thé writer were to delete tbe preceding sentence. the essay would primarily lose: itLformation that.ties this paragrapb in with th¢ Inain point of the PreCed￿1g paragraph. an examplE that supports point the writcr is making in this paragraph about the historical sig- nificance of coins. a reference to the sources that the writer relies o to verify the value of coins. unnecessarily repetitive. ]ives-these all accumulate to the appeal ofjcoins for 71

Source question 70. accumu]ate for add to collectors like me. Nevertbeless, I elljoy attacbing stories Yi to the coins I own and to the coins I don°L I wond￿. for

Given that all of thc choices are true, which one wollld hclp.cknify the logic.of tbis sentence by D￿killg the clearest referenc.e back to the scen¢ described in the opening paragraph? driver's pockct? In a box lined with velvet? Wherever coin worth collecting . ￿ ti￿1p bed Dickcl valuable coin those are, they will always clink around with all the

The Wri￿ is coDsidcring concluding the essay witFi the following sentence: In conclusion. & bobby is a meaningful part of everyone's life, including mine. sh.ould the writer make.this addition here? remark that CODnects the ￿lter'S and the reader's experiences. l¢¢ttng is 04¢ of many liobbies that the writer enjoys. coin collecting but stops sbort of suggesting that it has much meaning ill the writGr's life. .J. No.. because. the existing final sentence is effective while this one is OV￿lY general and only loosely CODnected to the sttbject of coill collecting. Question 75 asks about the preceding passage as a whole.