ACT English Practice Test 5

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 V
Building the Plaza de Toros

Thousands of tourists from all over the world gather in Seville, Spain each year, two weeks after Easter Holy Week, to witness the La Real Maestranza. La Real Maestranza is part of the Seville Fair, and the Fair (1) originated back in 1847 when (2) it was originally organized as a livestock fair. Of central importance to the festival are the bullfights that took place (3) in the Plaza de Toros, a circular ring on Baratillo Hill.

Construction on the stunning and beautiful (4) Plaza de Toros first begun in 1749 but had not completed (5) for many years after. The inner facade of the plaza (called the Palco del Príncipe or Prince’s Box) was completed in 1765, and this box consists of two parts; the (6) access gate through which the successful bullfighters exited (7), and the theater box itself, which was reserved for the exclusive use of not only the Spanish King and Queen, but for (8) other members of the Royal Family. [9]

When monarch Carlos III prohibited bullfighting celebrations in 1786, work halted, and (10) only one-third of the plaza had been completed (11)  at the time. The construction of the ring was finally completed in 1881, two thirds (12) were constructed in stone, the rest in wood.

Choosing to redo them in brick,  the stone grandstands were replaced between 1914 and 1915 by architect Anival Gonzalez. (13) All the rows were reconstructed with a smoother slope. Ten to twelve rows of shaded seating were constructed as well as fourteen rows in the sun and three rows of barrier. A row of armchairs was built in the superior part of the shaded area, and they (14) were placed in front of the theater boxes. [15]

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Your answers are highlighted below.
Question 1
(1)

A
NO CHANGE
B
which originated
C
which did originate
D
and the Fair originated
Question 1 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). Since the “Fair” is mentioned before the comma, there is no need to repeat the word after the comma. (B) correctly uses the past tense verb, “originated,” and the modifier “which.”
Question 2
(2)

A
NO CHANGE
B
in which
C
after which
D
as
Question 2 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). “When” can only refer to time. Since a specific year is mentioned just prior to the usage of this word, we can determine that it is being used correctly in this sentence. “After which” does not make sense with the word “originated” that appears in this sentence. “As” means “because” in this context, and also does not make sense in the sentence.
Question 3
(3)

A
NO CHANGE
B
had taken place
C
did take place
D
take place
Question 3 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). Since the paragraph mentions the festival takes place “each year,” we need a verb to reflect that meaning. “Took” is past tense. “Had taken” is past perfect tense, and “did take place” implies an event that occurred in the past but does not continue into the present.
Question 4
(4)

A
NO CHANGE
B
stunning yet beautiful
C
beautiful
D
stunning, however beautiful,
Question 4 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Since “stunning” and “beautiful” are so similar in meaning, this pairing can be considered redundant. Avoid redundancy on the ACT English Test! A simple “beautiful” is sufficient to express the intended meaning. The words “yet” and “however” both imply a contrast, but these words are similar, not contrasting.
Question 5
(5)

A
NO CHANGE
B
was began in 1749 and was not completed
C
had begun in 1749 and had completed
D
began in 1749 but was not completed
Question 5 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). The verb tenses here must agree and both be in past tense. (D) correctly uses the past tense “began” and “completed.” The past perfect “had” would only be used to refer to an event even further back in the past than a simple past tense event. “Was began” is not correct. In (C), the usage of two past perfect verbs creates confusion: which event occurred first? The correct construction should use two simple past tense verbs or one past tense verb and one past perfect verb.
Question 6
(6)

A
NO CHANGE
B
parts: the
C
parts, the
D
parts the
Question 6 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). A colon is used to introduce a definition or explanation. A semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses. Since the clause after the comma is dependent (not a complete sentence), the semicolon is incorrect here.
Question 7
(7)

A
NO CHANGE
B
did exit
C
are exiting
D
will exit
Question 7 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). The past tense verb “exited” is parallel with the other past tense verb “was reserved” that appears later in the sentence. The other verbs are not parallel and are in future or present tense.
Question 8
(8)

A
NO CHANGE
B
not only the Spanish King and Queen, yet for
C
not only the Spanish King and Queen, but also for
D
not the Spanish King and Queen, but also for
Question 8 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The correct idiom is “not only…but also.” It is not correct to have “not only…but” in an ACT English sentence, nor is it correct to have “not…but also.” (C) creates a sentence with the correct idiom.
Question 9
[9]  Which of the sentences below does not belong anywhere in the second paragraph?

A
The bullring is the oldest bullring constructed entirely of stone, because most others were constructed with a combination of stone and brick.
B
The stands were constructed in two levels of seating of 5 raised rows per level and 136 Tuscan sandstone columns.
C
Seville’s fair is officially known as the April Fair, but in fact, it hasn’t always been celebrated entirely in April and once, it even had to be celebrated in May.
D
The Royal Box has a sloping roof covered in Arabic tiles.
Question 9 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). This paragraph focuses on the construction of the Plaza de Toros and the Spanish Royal Family. Note how three of the sentences provide additional information on the Plaza de Toros, while one sentence introduces unnecessary information about the Seville Festival.
Question 10
(10)

A
NO CHANGE
B
nevertheless
C
because
D
even though
Question 10 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). The word “and” implies two similar ideas, but the ideas in these two clauses contrast. The phrase “even though” is the best transition phrase for this sentence. The other options create illogical meanings. Only (D) creates a clear contrasting meaning.
Question 11
(11)

A
NO CHANGE
B
were completed
C
will complete
D
are completed
Question 11 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). The past perfect “had been completed” correctly refers to an event that occurred even before another past tense event, so it is correctly used in this sentence. The other tenses are incorrect.
Question 12
(12)

A
NO CHANGE
B
1881; two thirds
C
1881, two thirds,
D
1881—two thirds
Question 12 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). Two independent clauses cannot be separated by a comma. This is called a run-on sentence, or a comma splice. (B) corrects the issue by replacing the comma with a semicolon. Simply moving the position of the comma is not enough to correct the run-on, nor is replacing the comma with a dash.
Question 13
(13)

A
NO CHANGE
B
Choosing to redo them in brick, between 1914 and 1915 architect Anival Gonzalez replaced the stone grandstands.
C
Choosing to redo them in brick, architect Anival Gonzalez replaced the stone grandstands between 1914 and 1915.
D
Choosing, between 1914 and 1915, to redo them in brick, architect Anival Gonzalez replaced the stone grandstands.
Question 13 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). On the ACT English Test, many sentences will begin with a modifying phrase and a comma. The subject after the comma must be the person or thing doing the action of the modifying phrase. Here it is the architect, Anival Gonzalez, who is “choosing to redo them in brick,” so she must come immediately after the comma. (D) incorrectly implies the architect took the years 1914-1915 to decide to replace the grandstands, rather than carry out the actual work.
Question 14
(14)

A
NO CHANGE
B
those
C
these chairs
D
it
Question 14 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The pronoun “they” has no clear antecedent in the sentence. For example, is it the armchairs or the builders who were placed in front of theater boxes? Choice (D) cannot be correct because the sentence would then read: “and it were placed in front of the theater boxes.”
Question 15
[15]  Which of the following sentences best completes the passage?

A
Today spectators from around the world enjoy watching this traditional Spanish sport in this world-class ring.
B
Between 1729 and 1733 Felipe V stayed in Seville and received support from the Corporation in spite of being French and the first Bourbon king of Spain.
C
More than 12,500 spectators can watch the fight between the torero and the bull in this ring.
D
During the Seville Festival, men and women dress up in their finery, ideally the traditional "traje corto" (short jacket, tight trousers and boots) for men and the "faralaes" or "trajes de flamenca" (flamenco style dress) for women.
Question 15 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). This sentence nicely brings the passage back to its original theme: the popular, tourist-filled festival. The other choices provide additional historical or tourist information that do not provide a satisfactory conclusion.
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