ACT Flashcards With Questions And
Answers
Pick the most concise way of stating something. Shortest is best. - Answer -
Use process of elimination. - Answer - Try to eliminate wrong answers as you look for the right one on
all sections of the ACT. There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so eliminating wrong answers also
increases your probability of guessing correctly.
Do not jump from question to question when completing the English passages. - Answer -
Do not be afraid to pick NO CHANGE as an answer - Answer - it is correct 25% of the time
Work at a good pace on the English test. - Answer - The entire English test is 45 minutes in length.
There are 5 sections, each with 15 questions. As a general guide, spend 9 minutes per passage to finish
on time. Do not leave any blank answers.
The ACT used four methods to separate two complete sentences - Answer - period, comma, semicolon,
colon
A comma is used in four ways on the English test. - Answer - A comma can:
1. separate a dependent clause from a complete sentence
2. surround a nonessential group of words
3. separate two adjectives or separate words in a list
4. connect two sentences before a conjunction
Set off a proper name with a pair of commas - Answer - Set off a proper name with a pair of commas if
the name can be taken out of the sentence without changing the meaning.
,Example:
Our 44th President was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Our 44th President, Barack Obama, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
This example doesn't work:
The songwriter Bob Dylan is considered a lyrical genius.
The songwriter is considered a lyrical genius.
A colon is used in two ways on the English test. - Answer - 1. Use a colon after a complete sentence
that introduces either a list or an explanation.
2. Use a colon between two sentences when the second sentence explains the first.
Use a dash in two ways on the English test. - Answer - 1. Use dashes instead of commas to surround a
group of nonessential words.
2. Dashes are usually used for emphasis.
Check subject-verb and subject-pronoun agreement. - Answer - Long sentences are often filled with
interrupting details in the English passages. Subjects can be far from the verb or pronoun with which
they agree. Ask yourself who or what is doing the action or what word is being replaced with a pronoun
Know the difference between its, it's, and its' - Answer - Its is possessive
it's is a contraction of 'it is'
its' is not a thing
Being is frequently an answer choice but virtually never correct. - Answer - Do mot use being as a
synonym for because or for is
Being is rarely correct on the ACT
Be careful of the way ACT uses the word although. - Answer - The addition of although at the beginning
of a sentence turns it from an independent clause into a dependent one. If a sentence was correct with
,although and then you either delete or change although to something else, you have a created a run-on
sentence
Do not be tricked by "suppose the writer's goal. . . " questions. - Answer -
Reasons to choose DELETE on answer choices. - Answer - Use OMIT/Delete when:
1. The underlined portion is redundant
2. The underlined portion explains something that the reader already knows.
3. The underlined portion gives an unnecessary definition for a common word.
Learn when to add a phrase or sentence. - Answer - Do not add a new phrase or sentence without
reading the previous sentence and the sentence that follows. One of those two sentences often contains
a clue that helps you determine when to add the suggested sentence
Identify the subject of the sentence below
Evidence that humans are slowly evolving into two different species is being ignored by scientists. -
Answer - Subject: Evidence
Transitions made easy - Answer - 1. Moreover
2. Meanwhile
3. Additionally
4. Furthermore
Nouns and pronouns can be the object of a verb or preposition - Answer -
Active voice is preferable to passive voice. - Answer - Passive voice reverse normal syntax by making
the subject of object and the object the subject. It frequently involves adding a proposition. At other
times, passive voice makes the object the subject and omits the subject entirely (for example, "The lamp
got broken" instead of "I broke the lamp").
Although the passive voice is not technically grammatically incorrect, it is considered awkward and
unnecessary.
, You should avoid picking answer choices that involve the passive voice unless something is even more
wrong with all of the other choices.
Answering illustrate/support questions. - Answer - If a question asks which answer best illustrates or
supports, pick the choice that gives the most specific details/examples.
Beware of not/least acceptable questions - Answer -
When to use 'who' or 'whom' on the English test. - Answer - Who is a subject pronoun and does the
action.
EX: Who threw the ball?
Whom is an object pronoun and receives the action.
EX: The ball was thrown to whom?
Similar words- different meanings. - Answer - Review words that are often used and confused
Then - Than
The group studied hard and then took the test. (sequence) The local team scored better than the visiting
team. (compares)
Who's-Whose
Who's coming to dinner? (who is)
Whose book is this? (possessive)
The evidence that hyenas are more closely related to mongooses than they are to either *dogs or cats
is* both surprising and indisputable.
Answers
Pick the most concise way of stating something. Shortest is best. - Answer -
Use process of elimination. - Answer - Try to eliminate wrong answers as you look for the right one on
all sections of the ACT. There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so eliminating wrong answers also
increases your probability of guessing correctly.
Do not jump from question to question when completing the English passages. - Answer -
Do not be afraid to pick NO CHANGE as an answer - Answer - it is correct 25% of the time
Work at a good pace on the English test. - Answer - The entire English test is 45 minutes in length.
There are 5 sections, each with 15 questions. As a general guide, spend 9 minutes per passage to finish
on time. Do not leave any blank answers.
The ACT used four methods to separate two complete sentences - Answer - period, comma, semicolon,
colon
A comma is used in four ways on the English test. - Answer - A comma can:
1. separate a dependent clause from a complete sentence
2. surround a nonessential group of words
3. separate two adjectives or separate words in a list
4. connect two sentences before a conjunction
Set off a proper name with a pair of commas - Answer - Set off a proper name with a pair of commas if
the name can be taken out of the sentence without changing the meaning.
,Example:
Our 44th President was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Our 44th President, Barack Obama, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
This example doesn't work:
The songwriter Bob Dylan is considered a lyrical genius.
The songwriter is considered a lyrical genius.
A colon is used in two ways on the English test. - Answer - 1. Use a colon after a complete sentence
that introduces either a list or an explanation.
2. Use a colon between two sentences when the second sentence explains the first.
Use a dash in two ways on the English test. - Answer - 1. Use dashes instead of commas to surround a
group of nonessential words.
2. Dashes are usually used for emphasis.
Check subject-verb and subject-pronoun agreement. - Answer - Long sentences are often filled with
interrupting details in the English passages. Subjects can be far from the verb or pronoun with which
they agree. Ask yourself who or what is doing the action or what word is being replaced with a pronoun
Know the difference between its, it's, and its' - Answer - Its is possessive
it's is a contraction of 'it is'
its' is not a thing
Being is frequently an answer choice but virtually never correct. - Answer - Do mot use being as a
synonym for because or for is
Being is rarely correct on the ACT
Be careful of the way ACT uses the word although. - Answer - The addition of although at the beginning
of a sentence turns it from an independent clause into a dependent one. If a sentence was correct with
,although and then you either delete or change although to something else, you have a created a run-on
sentence
Do not be tricked by "suppose the writer's goal. . . " questions. - Answer -
Reasons to choose DELETE on answer choices. - Answer - Use OMIT/Delete when:
1. The underlined portion is redundant
2. The underlined portion explains something that the reader already knows.
3. The underlined portion gives an unnecessary definition for a common word.
Learn when to add a phrase or sentence. - Answer - Do not add a new phrase or sentence without
reading the previous sentence and the sentence that follows. One of those two sentences often contains
a clue that helps you determine when to add the suggested sentence
Identify the subject of the sentence below
Evidence that humans are slowly evolving into two different species is being ignored by scientists. -
Answer - Subject: Evidence
Transitions made easy - Answer - 1. Moreover
2. Meanwhile
3. Additionally
4. Furthermore
Nouns and pronouns can be the object of a verb or preposition - Answer -
Active voice is preferable to passive voice. - Answer - Passive voice reverse normal syntax by making
the subject of object and the object the subject. It frequently involves adding a proposition. At other
times, passive voice makes the object the subject and omits the subject entirely (for example, "The lamp
got broken" instead of "I broke the lamp").
Although the passive voice is not technically grammatically incorrect, it is considered awkward and
unnecessary.
, You should avoid picking answer choices that involve the passive voice unless something is even more
wrong with all of the other choices.
Answering illustrate/support questions. - Answer - If a question asks which answer best illustrates or
supports, pick the choice that gives the most specific details/examples.
Beware of not/least acceptable questions - Answer -
When to use 'who' or 'whom' on the English test. - Answer - Who is a subject pronoun and does the
action.
EX: Who threw the ball?
Whom is an object pronoun and receives the action.
EX: The ball was thrown to whom?
Similar words- different meanings. - Answer - Review words that are often used and confused
Then - Than
The group studied hard and then took the test. (sequence) The local team scored better than the visiting
team. (compares)
Who's-Whose
Who's coming to dinner? (who is)
Whose book is this? (possessive)
The evidence that hyenas are more closely related to mongooses than they are to either *dogs or cats
is* both surprising and indisputable.
