ACT English Practice Test 4

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 IV
Homemade Gnocchi

Each (1) January, I join most of my cousins whom (2) gather in New Jersey for our annual extended family reunion. During the week, we indulge in a longstanding family tradition: making delicious homemade gnocchi. Instead of spending hours watching television or playing board games, my Italian cousins and I busy ourselves in my aunt’s bright yellow kitchen cooking up large platefuls of our special Italian gnocchi. (3)

There are many different recipes for Italian gnocchi, as it is one of the most popular types of Italian dishes to make at home or order in an Italian restaurant. (4) My cousins make our gnocchi out of (5) baked potatoes, egg, water, flour, and salt. Softer than boiled potatoes and easier to work with, they (6) do not make the dough “wet,” which will ruin good gnocchi dough. Sometimes we making (7) several batches of the gnocchi in one day. This last year, we tried and did eventually succeed (8) in making a pesto version of the family favorite by adding basil and garlic to the flour and potato dough early in the process. It (9) created a fun twist, although I prefer the more traditional dough.

My cousin Cynthia wanted to try out this slightly unusual recipe because Raoul who is her husband (10) thought that the dough we typically use was too bland. Raoul is from Vancouver, so he came a long distance to join us in New Jersey. (11) Unfortunately, Raoul did not realize that garlic is also (12) a major ingredient in pesto! Raoul started sweating, and he tried to drink a glass of cold water to ease the pain. He didn’t feel better until Cynthia gave him a tablespoon of baking soda to swallow since, evidently, water (13) does little to a stomach ache caused by excess garlic consumption. My cousins have always loved to make new types of gnocchi, but after this weekend of cooking together, meanwhile, (14) my cousins and I realized that keeping the whole family stomach-ache free is more important than (15) experimenting with new types of gnocchi. Sometimes, traditional recipes are the best recipes!

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Your answers are highlighted below.
Question 1
(1)

A
NO CHANGE
B
Throughout
C
At
D
Excepting
Question 1 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). The word "each" establishes a correct, logical relationship between this sentence's introductory phrase and the sentence's main clause. Notice the word “annual.” It implies a recurring event.
Question 2
(2)

A
NO CHANGE
B
more of my cousins whom
C
most of my cousins who
D
many of my cousins whom
Question 2 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The word "more" is used to compare two items, but the word "most" is used to compare more than two. Since there are more than two cousins, "most" is correct here. Both "who" and "whom" can be used to introduce a relative clause, but the word "who" is the subject pronoun, whereas the word "whom" is the object pronoun. Here the subject pronoun “who” is required.
Question 3
(3)  Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion is the LEAST acceptable?

A
my Italian cousins and I busy ourselves in my aunt’s bright yellow kitchen cooking up large platefuls of our delicious Italian gnocchi.
B
my extended Italian family roll out the dough and begin to prepare delicious Italian gnocchi from scratch in my aunt’s bright yellow kitchen.
C
my cousins hang out on the back porch while I read a book in my bedroom.
D
my family gathers around the dining room table to enjoy a special family gnocchi dish.
Question 3 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The word "instead" tells us the second half of the sentence must contrast with the first half. We can eliminate all of the answer choices that DO provide a contrast. Only (C) does not provide a contrast and does not relate to the overall theme of the passage.
Question 4
(4)  The writer of this passage is considering deleting the underlined portion of the sentence. If that portion of the sentence was deleted, the sentence would primarily lose which of the following?

A
a tiny detail that describes the setting of this passage.
B
a detail that explains why so many gnocchi recipes exist.
C
a piece of compelling, but irrelevant information.
D
a comparison between two types of Italian gnocchi.
Question 4 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). Consider how a particular part of a sentence functions within the passage. The word "as" provides a clue to the relationship between the different parts of this sentence. In this context "as" means "because," so the underlined details offer an explanation. The underlined portion of the sentence reveals that gnocchi is popular in America, and this fact helps explain why so many recipes exist.
Question 5
(5)  Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion is also acceptable?

A
from
B
among
C
through
D
in
Question 5 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). It is possible to make something "from" the ingredients listed. The word "from" establishes a relationship that is grammatically correct and logical within the context of this sentence.
Question 6
(6)

A
NO CHANGE
B
the family recipes
C
baked potatoes
D
the ingredients
Question 6 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The pronoun "they" does not have a clear antecedent, so it would be better to use a specific noun instead of a pronoun in this instance. The sentence's introductory clause gives you a few hints about what the correct noun might be—it must be something that can be "softer than boiled potatoes and easier to work with."
Question 7
(7)

A
NO CHANGE
B
we, who make
C
we made
D
we make
Question 7 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). The verb "make" corrects the sentence fragment, and it is consistent with the narrator's use of present tense verbs so far in the passage.
Question 8
(8)

A
NO CHANGE
B
eventually succeeded
C
eventually had success
D
did eventually have success
Question 8 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). The verb “did succeed” is awkward in this context, and is unnecessarily split by the adverb “eventually.” (B) simplifies the verb tense and is more idiomatic. “we tried and eventually succeeded in making …” maintains the past tense and is more idiomatic than “we tried and did eventually succeed in making”. The original version unnecessarily switches tenses from past to present tense.
Question 9
(9)

A
NO CHANGE
B
That ingredient
C
Those ingredients
D
The ones
Question 9 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). Since two ingredients were added, we cannot use the singular pronoun “it” to refer to two items. “That” is also singular. The correct plural pronoun is “those.” “The ones” is unclear—what “ones” does the author mean?
Question 10
(10)

A
NO CHANGE
B
Raoul, who is her husband,
C
Raoul who’s her husband,
D
Raoul, who’s her husband
Question 10 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (B). The phrase, “who is my cousin,” is non-essential information and should be set aside with commas. We need a comma before AND after this appositive phrase.
Question 11
(11)  Assuming that all of the following alternatives to the underlined sentence are true, which one best introduces the narrator’s description of Raoul’s experience with the garlic in the pesto gnocchi?

A
NO CHANGE
B
Raoul has a tendency to complain, so we were not surprised by what happened next.
C
My other cousin Freddie also brought his wife and two kids with him to New Jersey.
D
Raoul loves our family’s Italian food, but unfortunately he has a very sensitive stomach.
Question 11 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). This sentence introduces the idea that is developed in the remainder of the paragraph. It tells us why Raoul would eat the pesto gnocchi, and why the garlic would upset his stomach.
Question 12
(12)

A
NO CHANGE
B
in addition
C
additionally
D
OMIT the underlined portion.
Question 12 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (D). The word “also” is irrelevant to the meaning of this sentence. If it were omitted, the sentence would be more concise and clear. If a word is not necessary to the sentence, it is best to omit it on the ACT English Test.
Question 13
(13)

A
NO CHANGE
B
eat as evidently, water
C
eat, because, as is evident water
D
eat though evidently, water
Question 13 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). As written, the sentence makes logical sense. The word “since” is used correctly to provide a set-up for the explanation as to why Raoul was not given water. Using the word “as” would be awkward here since it is used later in the sentence. The commas in (B), (C), and (D) are all awkwardly placed.
Question 14
(14)

A
NO CHANGE
B
furthermore
C
however
D
additionally
Question 14 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (C). The word "however" suggests a difference between the ideas in the first and second sentences. This relationship is logical and grammatically correct in context. The other choices introduce a transition word that indicates a continuation of ideas.
Question 15
(15)

A
NO CHANGE
B
then
C
rather than
D
rather then
Question 15 Explanation: 
The correct answer is (A). Than is a conjunction used in comparisons: Jill is smarter than Bill. Adding the word “rather” is unnecessarily wordy and does not clarify the meaning of the sentence. Remember, the ACT English Test values economy of language and concision!
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