ACT 2026 Practice Test – 100 Questions, Answers and
Detailed Explanations
Section 1: English — Questions 1–25
Passage 1: The Community Garden
When the first community garden opened in the neighborhood, few residents expected it
to become so popular. The empty lot, which had remained unused for years, (1) were
transformed into a productive garden by volunteers. Today, dozens of families grow
vegetables there.
1. Which choice is the best correction for the underlined portion?
A. NO CHANGE
B. was transformed
C. have been transformed
D. are transformed
Answer: B
Explanation: The subject is singular: “the empty lot.” Therefore, the singular verb was is
required.
2. The garden provides vegetables for residents, it also gives children an
opportunity to learn about agriculture.
,Which choice best combines the ideas?
A. residents, it also gives
B. residents; also, it gives
C. residents and also gives
D. residents, giving also
Answer: C
Explanation: “The garden provides…and also gives…” creates a grammatically correct
compound predicate.
3. Volunteers meet every Saturday morning to carefully inspect the plants for
insects and disease.
Which choice most effectively places the adverb?
A. NO CHANGE
B. inspect carefully
C. carefully to inspect
D. inspect the carefully plants
Answer: B
Explanation: “Inspect carefully” is the clearest and most natural construction.
, 4. The garden has attracted many volunteers. In fact, membership has doubled
since the project began.
The underlined transition is used to:
A. introduce a contradiction
B. provide additional evidence
C. introduce a cause
D. signal a conclusion
Answer: B
Explanation: “In fact” emphasizes supporting information.
5. The organizers wanted the garden to be accessible to everyone however, they
also needed to protect the plants.
Which punctuation is correct?
A. everyone however,
B. everyone, however
C. everyone; however,
D. everyone however
, Answer: C
Explanation: Two independent clauses are joined by “however,” so a semicolon before it
and a comma after it are appropriate.
Passage 2: Solar Energy
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. As technology improves, panels are
becoming more efficient and less expensive. (6) This development has encouraged
many homeowners to consider installing them.
6. The sentence primarily serves to:
A. introduce an unrelated topic
B. explain a consequence of improved solar technology
C. provide historical information
D. contradict the previous sentence
Answer: B
Explanation: Lower costs and improved efficiency make solar panels more attractive to
homeowners.
Detailed Explanations
Section 1: English — Questions 1–25
Passage 1: The Community Garden
When the first community garden opened in the neighborhood, few residents expected it
to become so popular. The empty lot, which had remained unused for years, (1) were
transformed into a productive garden by volunteers. Today, dozens of families grow
vegetables there.
1. Which choice is the best correction for the underlined portion?
A. NO CHANGE
B. was transformed
C. have been transformed
D. are transformed
Answer: B
Explanation: The subject is singular: “the empty lot.” Therefore, the singular verb was is
required.
2. The garden provides vegetables for residents, it also gives children an
opportunity to learn about agriculture.
,Which choice best combines the ideas?
A. residents, it also gives
B. residents; also, it gives
C. residents and also gives
D. residents, giving also
Answer: C
Explanation: “The garden provides…and also gives…” creates a grammatically correct
compound predicate.
3. Volunteers meet every Saturday morning to carefully inspect the plants for
insects and disease.
Which choice most effectively places the adverb?
A. NO CHANGE
B. inspect carefully
C. carefully to inspect
D. inspect the carefully plants
Answer: B
Explanation: “Inspect carefully” is the clearest and most natural construction.
, 4. The garden has attracted many volunteers. In fact, membership has doubled
since the project began.
The underlined transition is used to:
A. introduce a contradiction
B. provide additional evidence
C. introduce a cause
D. signal a conclusion
Answer: B
Explanation: “In fact” emphasizes supporting information.
5. The organizers wanted the garden to be accessible to everyone however, they
also needed to protect the plants.
Which punctuation is correct?
A. everyone however,
B. everyone, however
C. everyone; however,
D. everyone however
, Answer: C
Explanation: Two independent clauses are joined by “however,” so a semicolon before it
and a comma after it are appropriate.
Passage 2: Solar Energy
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. As technology improves, panels are
becoming more efficient and less expensive. (6) This development has encouraged
many homeowners to consider installing them.
6. The sentence primarily serves to:
A. introduce an unrelated topic
B. explain a consequence of improved solar technology
C. provide historical information
D. contradict the previous sentence
Answer: B
Explanation: Lower costs and improved efficiency make solar panels more attractive to
homeowners.
