The Ultimate ACT Drill: Section-
Specific Questions with
Answers & Rationales
ACT English Practice Questions (25 Questions)
1. Question
The hikers, who were exhausted from the long trek, finally reached the summit, where they
enjoyed the breathtaking view.
A. NO CHANGE
B. trek finally reached
C. trek, finally reached
D. trek; finally reached
Answer: A
,Rationale: The original sentence is grammatically correct. The phrase "who were exhausted
from the long trek" is a non-restrictive clause, properly set off by commas. The main clause "The
hikers finally reached the summit" is clear and correctly punctuated. No additional punctuation
is needed.
2. Question
The professor’s lecture on ancient philosophy was both instructive and it was entertaining.
A. NO CHANGE
B. both instructive and entertaining.
C. both instructive, and also entertaining.
D. instructive and also entertaining.
Answer: B
Rationale: This question tests parallelism. The sentence should use two parallel adjectives to
describe the lecture. "Instructive" and "entertaining" are parallel. The construction "both X and
Y" requires X and Y to be in the same grammatical form.
3. Question
Despite the rain, the outdoor concert went on as scheduled, and the band played it's most
popular songs.
A. NO CHANGE
B. its most popular songs.
C. their most popular songs.
D. it’s most popular songs.
Answer: B
,Rationale: The sentence requires a possessive pronoun to refer to the band. "Its" is the
possessive form. "It's" is a contraction for "it is." "Their" is plural and doesn't agree with the
singular noun "band."
4. Question
After finishing the marathon, John was so exhausted that he could hardly move.
A. NO CHANGE
B. so exhausted that he could hardly move.
C. so exhausted, that he could hardly move.
D. so exhausted, that he could hardly, move.
Answer: B
Rationale: This is a test of correct comma usage. The clause "that he could hardly move" is
essential to the sentence and should not be separated by a comma. The original is correct.
5. Question
The artist, whom many consider a genius, has created a series of sculptures that challenge
traditional notions of beauty.
A. NO CHANGE
B. who many consider a genius,
C. which many consider a genius,
D. that many consider a genius,
Answer: A
Rationale: "Whom" is the correct pronoun because it is the object of the verb "consider" in the
non-restrictive clause. The clause "whom many consider a genius" is correctly set off by
commas.
, 6. Question
Walking through the museum, the paintings seemed to come alive.
A. NO CHANGE
B. As I walked through the museum, the paintings seemed to come alive.
C. Walking through the museum, it seemed the paintings came alive.
D. The paintings seemed to come alive, walking through the museum.
Answer: B
Rationale: The original contains a dangling modifier. The introductory phrase "Walking through
the museum" suggests the subject is the one doing the walking, but the subject is "paintings."
Option B corrects this by introducing a clear subject ("I") for the action of walking.
7. Question
She wanted to travel to Paris, Rome, and to visit Barcelona.
A. NO CHANGE
B. travel to Paris, Rome, and Barcelona.
C. travel to Paris, Rome, and visiting Barcelona.
D. travel to Paris, Rome, and Barcelona to visit.
Answer: B
Rationale: This tests parallel structure in a list. The list should consist of three nouns: "Paris,
Rome, and Barcelona." The original incorrectly mixes infinitives and nouns.
8. Question
The committee will decide the fate of the proposal tomorrow, they have been debating it for
weeks.
A. NO CHANGE
Specific Questions with
Answers & Rationales
ACT English Practice Questions (25 Questions)
1. Question
The hikers, who were exhausted from the long trek, finally reached the summit, where they
enjoyed the breathtaking view.
A. NO CHANGE
B. trek finally reached
C. trek, finally reached
D. trek; finally reached
Answer: A
,Rationale: The original sentence is grammatically correct. The phrase "who were exhausted
from the long trek" is a non-restrictive clause, properly set off by commas. The main clause "The
hikers finally reached the summit" is clear and correctly punctuated. No additional punctuation
is needed.
2. Question
The professor’s lecture on ancient philosophy was both instructive and it was entertaining.
A. NO CHANGE
B. both instructive and entertaining.
C. both instructive, and also entertaining.
D. instructive and also entertaining.
Answer: B
Rationale: This question tests parallelism. The sentence should use two parallel adjectives to
describe the lecture. "Instructive" and "entertaining" are parallel. The construction "both X and
Y" requires X and Y to be in the same grammatical form.
3. Question
Despite the rain, the outdoor concert went on as scheduled, and the band played it's most
popular songs.
A. NO CHANGE
B. its most popular songs.
C. their most popular songs.
D. it’s most popular songs.
Answer: B
,Rationale: The sentence requires a possessive pronoun to refer to the band. "Its" is the
possessive form. "It's" is a contraction for "it is." "Their" is plural and doesn't agree with the
singular noun "band."
4. Question
After finishing the marathon, John was so exhausted that he could hardly move.
A. NO CHANGE
B. so exhausted that he could hardly move.
C. so exhausted, that he could hardly move.
D. so exhausted, that he could hardly, move.
Answer: B
Rationale: This is a test of correct comma usage. The clause "that he could hardly move" is
essential to the sentence and should not be separated by a comma. The original is correct.
5. Question
The artist, whom many consider a genius, has created a series of sculptures that challenge
traditional notions of beauty.
A. NO CHANGE
B. who many consider a genius,
C. which many consider a genius,
D. that many consider a genius,
Answer: A
Rationale: "Whom" is the correct pronoun because it is the object of the verb "consider" in the
non-restrictive clause. The clause "whom many consider a genius" is correctly set off by
commas.
, 6. Question
Walking through the museum, the paintings seemed to come alive.
A. NO CHANGE
B. As I walked through the museum, the paintings seemed to come alive.
C. Walking through the museum, it seemed the paintings came alive.
D. The paintings seemed to come alive, walking through the museum.
Answer: B
Rationale: The original contains a dangling modifier. The introductory phrase "Walking through
the museum" suggests the subject is the one doing the walking, but the subject is "paintings."
Option B corrects this by introducing a clear subject ("I") for the action of walking.
7. Question
She wanted to travel to Paris, Rome, and to visit Barcelona.
A. NO CHANGE
B. travel to Paris, Rome, and Barcelona.
C. travel to Paris, Rome, and visiting Barcelona.
D. travel to Paris, Rome, and Barcelona to visit.
Answer: B
Rationale: This tests parallel structure in a list. The list should consist of three nouns: "Paris,
Rome, and Barcelona." The original incorrectly mixes infinitives and nouns.
8. Question
The committee will decide the fate of the proposal tomorrow, they have been debating it for
weeks.
A. NO CHANGE
