ACT English Practice Test 2

Directions: In the following passage, certain words and phrases are underlined and numbered. The questions will provide alternatives for the underlined portion. You should choose the alternative that best expresses the idea in standard written English and is worded most consistently with the tone of the passage. If you believe the original version is best, then choose “NO CHANGE.” There will also be questions about sections of the passage or about the passage as a whole. Read the entire passage before answering any of the questions. For some questions you may need to read beyond the underlined section in order to determine the correct answer.

Passage II
The Speed of Sound

The term “supersonic” refers to anything that travels faster than the speed of sound. When the last of the supersonic Concorde passenger planes made its final trip across the Atlantic in November of 2003, an interesting (1) chapter in history was finally closed. The fleet of supersonic Concorde SSTs, or “Supersonic Transports,” which were jointly operated by Air France and British Airways, has been making the Intercontinental trip across the Atlantic for almost thirty years. These amazing machines cruised at Mach 2 which is (2) more than twice the speed of sound. They flew to a height (3) almost twice that of standard passenger airplanes. The Concorde routinely made the trip from New York to London in less than three hours and was much more expensive than normal transatlantic flights. Though the majority of the passengers who traveled on the Concorde were celebrities or the extremely wealthy, it also attracted ordinary people who simply wanted to know how it felt to travel faster than the speed of sound. Some of these, (4) would save money for years just to gain that knowledge.

What is the speed of sound? Many people are surprised to learn that there is no fixed answer to this question. The speed that (5) sound travels through a given medium depends on a number of factors. So that we may better begin to understand (6) the speed of sound, we must first understand what a “sound” really is.

The standard dictionary definition of sound is “a vibration or disturbance transmitted, like waves through water, through a material medium such as a gas.” Our ears are able to pick up those sound waves and convert (7) them into what we hear. This means that the speed at which sound travels through gas directly depends on what gas it is traveling through, and the temperature and pressure of the gas. (8) When discussing aircraft breaking the speed of sound, that gas medium, of course, is air. As air temperature and pressure decrease with altitude (9), so does the speed of sound. An airplane flying at the speed of sound at sea level is traveling roughly at 761 mph; however (10) when that same plane climbs to 20,000 feet, the speed of sound is only about 707 mph. This is why the Concorde’s cruising altitude was so much higher than that of a regular passenger aircraft; planes can reach supersonic speeds more easily at higher altitudes. (11)

In the years since the Concorde has been (12) decommissioned, only fighter pilots and astronauts have been able to experience the sensation of breaking “the sound barrier.” But that is all about to change very soon. (13) Newer and faster supersonic passenger planes are being developed that will be technologically superior to the Concorde and much cheaper to operate. That means we can expect that in the very near future, (14) supersonic passenger travel will be available not only to the rich and famous, but also be for (15) the masses, so they, too, can experience life at speeds faster than the speed of sound.

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Question 1
(1)

A
NO CHANGE
B
November, of 2003 an interesting
C
November of 2003 an interesting
D
November of 2003; an interesting
Question 1 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). Remember that commas are used to separate independent and dependent clauses. This sentence is correct as written. (B) places the comma incorrectly since “of 2003” is part of the introductory clause. (C) removes a comma that is necessary, while (D) incorrectly uses a semicolon between a dependent and independent clause.
Question 2
(2)

A
NO CHANGE
B
Mach 2, which
C
Mach 2,
D
a speed of Mach 2, which is
Question 2 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Most of the words in this phrase aren’t necessary, so omitting them is fine. It also includes the necessary comma. (A) omits the necessary comma. (B) adds the comma, but leaves out the verb. (D) is unnecessarily wordy – in context it’s clear that Mach 2 is a speed.
Question 3
(3)

A
NO CHANGE
B
at an altitude
C
toward an altitude
D
very high
Question 3 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). “Height” means “the distance from the top to the bottom of something”; “altitude” means “height above sea level.” Since “altitude” is correct in context, we can eliminate (A). “At an altitude “ is the correct idiom – (D) creates a grammatically incorrect sentence.
Question 4
(4)

A
NO CHANGE
B
Some
C
Some,
D
Among these were those who
Question 4 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). When an underlined segment contains more than one error, make sure your answer choice addresses all of them. The underlined segment contains a punctuation error. The subject and predicate of a sentence should not be separated by a single comma, so you can eliminate (A) and (C). Of the remaining choices, (D) is unnecessarily wordy.
Question 5
(5)

A
NO CHANGE
B
to which
C
at which
D
where
Question 5 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Sound doesn’t travel “a” speed, it travels “at” a speed. Only choice (C) makes this correction. We can only use the word “where” (in (D)) to indicate a location or direction. Idiomatically, only (C) is correct.
Question 6
(6)

A
NO CHANGE
B
In order that we may understand
C
To understand
D
For understanding
Question 6 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Phrases like “in order to” are often unnecessary. Here, (C) is concise, without changing the meaning of the sentence. (B) is still unnecessarily wordy. “For understanding” in (D) is a proper idiom, but it is not correct in this context.
Question 7
(7)  Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would be the LEAST acceptable?

A
change
B
alter
C
translate
D
transform
Question 7 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). Since this asks for the LEAST acceptable answer, three of the choices will be correct in the sentence. “Change them into,” “translate them into,” and “transform them into” are all appropriate usage, but “alter them into” is not. (B) is the answer here since it is NOT correct.
Question 8
(8)

A
NO CHANGE
B
depends directly on the type, temperature, and pressure of the gas it is traveling through.
C
directly depends on what gas it is, and also on the temperature and pressure of that gas.
D
depends directly on the type, temperature, and pressure of the gas.
Question 8 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). Choices that repeat words are redundant and incorrect on the ACT. This sentence tells us that the speed at which sound travels through gas depends on three things: what kind of gas it is, the temperature, and the pressure; “it is traveling through” is redundant. (D) is the choice that is the most concise without sacrificing meaning. (B) and (C) do not correct the error.
Question 9
(9)

A
NO CHANGE
B
with height
C
with a drop in altitude
D
at higher altitudes
Question 9 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). The original choice is correct since it uses the correct idiom. The phrase “air temperature and pressure decrease with altitude” means that as altitude increases, air temperature and pressure decrease. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because replacing “altitude” with “height” changes the meaning of the sentence. Altitude refers to the height above sea level whereas height refers to the distance measured from top to bottom. (C) contradicts the facts in the passage; higher, not lower, altitudes have this effect. Choice (D) is incorrect because temperature and pressure do not change much at any given altitude.
Question 10
(10)

A
NO CHANGE
B
however,
C
and so,
D
even so
Question 10 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). Beware of answer choices that make unnecessary changes to the sentence. The information provided in the two clauses contrasts, so “however” is correct, but it requires a comma to separate it from the rest of the clause. (C) creates an inappropriate cause-and-effect relationship between the clauses. (D) does not address the punctuation error.
Question 11
(11)  Given that all are true, which of the following provides the most logical conclusion for this sentence?

A
NO CHANGE
B
they’re much faster.
C
they use much more fuel than regular aircraft.
D
they’re rarely visible because they fly above the cloud cover.
Question 11 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). The first half of the sentence previews a reason that the Concorde cruises at a higher altitude than regular planes. The sentence should conclude by explaining why planes would fly higher and tie it back to the mention of altitude in the prior sentence. The original version of the sentence is the most logical. (B) doesn’t offer a reason – it simply reiterates information, while (C) is out of scope. (D) is a result of the plane’s higher altitude, not its cause.
Question 12
(12)

A
NO CHANGE
B
came to be
C
was
D
had been
Question 12 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The use of “since” creates a specific marking point in the past and requires a verb that does the same. Here, we need a simple past verb with “since.” (A) uses a tense that indicates an action that is ongoing, but the decommissioning of the Concorde has been completed. (B) is unnecessarily wordy. The past perfect tense in (D) is only correct when used to indicate one past action competed prior to another stated past action, which is not the case here.
Question 13
(13)

A
NO CHANGE
B
Soon, however, that is about to change.
C
Soon, however, that will change.
D
That is about to change soon.
Question 13 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Sentences beginning with coordinating conjunctions (words like “for,” “and,” “nor,” “yet,” etc.) will not be correct on the ACT. This sentence incorrectly begins with “But”; additionally, “about to” and “very soon” are redundant. Only (C) makes the necessary changes. (B) and (D) do not correct the redundancy error.
Question 14
(14)

A
NO CHANGE
B
So then, in the near future
C
We can expect, then, that in the near future
D
Soon,
Question 14 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). On the ACT English Test, the shortest answer is often, but not always, correct. (D) replaces the long introductory clause with a single word without losing any of the sentence’s meaning. (B) and (C) are still unnecessarily wordy.
Question 15
(15)

A
NO CHANGE
B
but also be available to
C
but also to
D
but for
Question 15 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Constructions like “not only…but also” require parallel structure. Here, the items combined by “not only…but also” are “to the rich and famous” and “be for the masses.” (C) corrects the error, while (B) and (D) do not address it. (D) omits the “also” so leaves the idiom incomplete.
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