ACT Reading Exam 2

1. Read the paragraph below and answer the question. Until about 1850, few people living in temperate climates had ever had the opportunity to taste a banana. Only after the invention of the steamship could importers and exporters reliably transport this fruit to North America and Europe. Railways and refrigeration were two other vital components in the development of the banana trade. Today, bananas are a major export in several Central and South American countries as well as the Philippines. Around the world, people in climates that cannot support banana production now have access to plentiful inexpensive bananas. Question: Which sentence provides an effective summary of the text above?

The author of this paragraph really likes bananas and researched them thoroughly.

Shipping and refrigeration technology helped bananas become a major export crop.

This paragraph should include more detail about the development of the banana trade.

Before 1850, most Americans and Europeans had never had the opportunity to taste a banana.

B. A summary must restate the ideas of the original text, not comment on them with judgments or speculation, and without adhering too closely to the wording of the original. This paragraph explains how shipping and refrigeration technology helped bananas become a major export crop. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

B. A summary must restate the ideas of the original text, not comment on them with judgments or speculation, and without adhering too closely to the wording of the original. This paragraph explains how shipping and refrigeration technology helped bananas become a major export crop. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

2. Read the passage below and answer the question. The train was the most amazing thing ever even though it didn't go "choo choo." The toddler pounded on the railing of the bridge and supplied the sound herself. "Choo choo! Choo choooooo!" she shouted as the train cars whizzed along below. In the excitement, she dropped her favorite binky. Later, when she noticed the binky missing, all the joy went out of the world. The wailing could be heard three houses down. The toddler's usual favorite activities were garbage—even waving to Hank the garbage man, which she refused to do, so that Hank went away looking mildly hurt. It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss. Afterward, she played at the park. Question: Which word or phrase does not function as a transition in the passage?

Later

Below

Afterward

In the excitement

B. The word “below” in paragraph one provides information about where the train is situated in relation to the character. It does not transition between ideas. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

B. The word “below” in paragraph one provides information about where the train is situated in relation to the character. It does not transition between ideas. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

3. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: A person could get from the Lodge to Fairyland Point by:

Driving east on the road.

Driving west on the road.

Walking north on the Rim Trail.

Walking south on the Rim Trail.

C. The Rim Trail is the dotted line running generally north-south past the Lodge in the middle. Fairyland Point is in the far north, so a walk north on the trail would get you there. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

Explanation

C. The Rim Trail is the dotted line running generally north-south past the Lodge in the middle. Fairyland Point is in the far north, so a walk north on the trail would get you there. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

4. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: Which feature on the map is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point?

Sunrise Point

Fairyland Point

Visitor’s Center

Inspiration Point

D. Inspiration Point is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point along the Rim Trail. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

Explanation

D. Inspiration Point is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point along the Rim Trail. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

5. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: How could a person travel from the Visitor's Center to Bryce Point without touching Sunset Point?

By keeping to the main road

By walking along the Rim Trail

By taking the route to Fairyland Point

By driving the loop road near the Lodge

A. The main road parallels the Rim Trail but only touches the northernmost and southernmost viewpoints; it does not touch Sunset Point. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

Explanation

A. The main road parallels the Rim Trail but only touches the northernmost and southernmost viewpoints; it does not touch Sunset Point. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

6. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: Which feature on the map is farthest west?

Bryce Point

Sunrise Point

Fairyland Point

Visitor’s Center

D. The compass shows that the left-hand side of the page is west. The Visitor’s Center is the westernmost labeled point on the map. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

Explanation

D. The compass shows that the left-hand side of the page is west. The Visitor’s Center is the westernmost labeled point on the map. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

7. Read the following passage and answer the question. Most people under age 35 spend too much time on social media. Statistics show that over nine out of ten teens go online using a mobile device daily, and seven out of ten use more than one major social media site. This is too much. Teens and young adults must limit their use of social media or face deteriorating relationships in real life. You know how frustrating it feels to try to talk to someone who constantly disengages to check a phone. Interacting online can be fun, but it never provides as much satisfaction as talking with actual human beings. Social media shouldn't be the primary social outlet for young people because people who rely mainly on the Internet for social interaction are unhappy and unfulfilled. Question: What is the primary argument in the passage?

All young people face emotional and social problems.

Teens and young adults should limit their social media use.

People under age 35 have never known life without the Internet.

Disengaging to check a phone can damage real-life social interactions.

B. This passage argues that teens and young adults spend too much time on social media. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

Explanation

B. This passage argues that teens and young adults spend too much time on social media. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

8. Read the following passage and answer the question. Most people under age 35 spend too much time on social media. Statistics show that over nine out of ten teens go online using a mobile device daily, and seven out of ten use more than one major social media site. This is too much. Teens and young adults must limit their use of social media or face deteriorating relationships in real life. You know how frustrating it feels to try to talk to someone who constantly disengages to check a phone. Interacting online can be fun, but it never provides as much satisfaction as talking with actual human beings. Social media shouldn't be the primary social outlet for young people because people who rely mainly on the Internet for social interaction are unhappy and unfulfilled. Question: Which excerpt from the text, if true, is a fact?

Most people under age 35 spend too much time on social media.

Statistics show that over nine out of ten teens go online using a mobile device daily.

Teens and young adults must limit their use of social media or face deteriorating relationships in real life.

Interacting online can be fun, but it never provides as much satisfaction as talking with actual human beings.

B. Factual information is verifiable and not based on personal beliefs or feelings. The statistic about the number of teens who go online daily is a fact. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

Explanation

B. Factual information is verifiable and not based on personal beliefs or feelings. The statistic about the number of teens who go online daily is a fact. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

9. Which of the following sentences uses the MOST informal language?

I must go to school.

I have to go to school.

I need to go to school.

I gotta go to school.

D. I gotta go to school. It is the sentence that uses the most slang. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

Explanation

D. I gotta go to school. It is the sentence that uses the most slang. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

10. In which of the following situations would it be best to use informal language?

A charity event

A football game

A job interview

A dentist's office

B. A football game. A stadium is an informal setting where formal language is not necessary. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

Explanation

B. A football game. A stadium is an informal setting where formal language is not necessary. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

11. Read the paragraph and answer the question. The theater was packed. The audience watched with rapt attention as the characters lost their homes, their jobs, their sense of security, even their most basic beliefs. A few characters managed to save a family member. Most kept small keepsakes in their pockets. But by the end, they had almost nothing left of the world before disaster struck. When the show was over, the audience filed out smiling. After all, there's nothing more fun than the end of the world—as long as it's fictional. Question: Which sentence states the most important effect of the author's decision to save the topic sentence for last?

It avoids offending.

It distracts the reader.

It changes the subject.

It maximizes the impact.

D. The author of this paragraph is making a point about how strange it is that people enjoy watching disasters unfold in fiction. By showing this happen before naming the phenomenon, the author maximizes the emotional impact. See Lesson: Main Ideas Topic Sentences and Supporting Details.

Explanation

D. The author of this paragraph is making a point about how strange it is that people enjoy watching disasters unfold in fiction. By showing this happen before naming the phenomenon, the author maximizes the emotional impact. See Lesson: Main Ideas Topic Sentences and Supporting Details.

12. Read the following passage and answer the question. Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. "Mr. Snuggles?" she called. "Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin." She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. "Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!" When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. "It's not like I have anything better to do than look for you again," she said. Question: Which detail from the text supports the inference that Adelia cares what happens to Mr. Snuggles, even if she is angry at him?

She goes out to look for him.

She keeps her car keys near the door.

She is joking when she calls him “vermin.”

She says she wants to be doing something else.

A. Adelia tries repeatedly to call Mr. Snuggles, and when he does not come, she goes out to look for him. This implies that she does care about him, even if she is angry at him. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

A. Adelia tries repeatedly to call Mr. Snuggles, and when he does not come, she goes out to look for him. This implies that she does care about him, even if she is angry at him. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

13. Read the following passage and answer the question. Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. "Mr. Snuggles?" she called. "Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin." She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. "Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!" When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. "It's not like I have anything better to do than look for you again," she said. Question: Which sentence of dialogue, if added to the passage, would support the conclusion that Mr. Snuggles actually belongs to someone else?

“What ever possessed me to adopt a cat?”

“You shed on my sheets, you pee on my couch, and now this.”

“Next time Raul goes out of town, I’m going to babysit his plants instead.”

“If you make me late again, I’m going to lose my job. Then how will we eat?”

C. The line about Raul and his plants does not explicitly say Adelia is babysitting Mr. Snuggles, but it suggests that she is caring for the pet for someone else. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

C. The line about Raul and his plants does not explicitly say Adelia is babysitting Mr. Snuggles, but it suggests that she is caring for the pet for someone else. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

14. Read the passage and answer the following question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members' online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a "Bedtime Mode" to create an optimal "tech-free" nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn't you do the same? Question: With which statement would the author of this passage most likely agree?

People who have home WiFi networks use excessive technology and do not value spending quality time with family members.

Parents who do not buy WiFi monitoring devices are unable to have confidence in the security of their household network.

D. Writers of advertisements are tasked with selling a product, therefore, It is difficult to know much about the true feelings. However, it is a fair bet that advertising writers believe people will pay money for products presented the way they describe. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

Explanation

D. Writers of advertisements are tasked with selling a product, therefore, It is difficult to know much about the true feelings. However, it is a fair bet that advertising writers believe people will pay money for products presented the way they describe. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

15. Read the passage below and answer the question. The train was the most amazing thing ever even though it didn't go "choo choo." The toddler pounded on the railing of the bridge and supplied the sound herself. "Choo choo! Choo choooooo!" she shouted as the train cars whizzed along below. In the excitement, she dropped her favorite binky. Later, when she noticed the binky missing, all the joy went out of the world. The wailing could be heard three houses down. The toddler's usual favorite activities were garbage—even waving to Hank the garbage man, which she refused to do, so that Hank went away looking mildly hurt. It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss. Afterward, she played at the park. Question: The transitions "later" and "afterward" link ideas in the passage by showing:

When events happen in time.

How certain ideas contrast.

Examples that illustrate ideas.

Cause-and-effect relationships.

A. “Later” and “afterward” are both time/sequence transitions that show when events happen in relation to one another. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

A. “Later” and “afterward” are both time/sequence transitions that show when events happen in relation to one another. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

16. Which of the following is an example of persuasive writing?

A user manual

A history book

An op-ed article

An autobiography

C. An op-ed article argues a point, so it is a persuasive text. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

Explanation

C. An op-ed article argues a point, so it is a persuasive text. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

17. Read the following passage and answer the question. Most people under age 35 spend too much time on social media. Statistics show that over nine out of ten teens go online using a mobile device daily, and seven out of ten use more than one major social media site. This is too much. Teens and young adults must limit their use of social media or face deteriorating relationships in real life. You know how frustrating it feels to try to talk to someone who constantly disengages to check a phone. Interacting online can be fun, but it never provides as much satisfaction as talking with actual human beings. Social media shouldn't be the primary social outlet for young people because people who rely mainly on the Internet for social interaction are unhappy and unfulfilled. Re-read the following sentence from the passage: Interacting online can be fun, but it never provides as much satisfaction as talking with actual human beings. Question: The reasoning in this sentence is faulty because it makes a(n):

Circular statement.

Overgeneralization.

Bandwagon argument.

False statement of cause and effect.

B. This sentence makes an overgeneralization by claiming that online interactions are never as good as conversations with human beings. It is possible to imagine many exceptions to this statement. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

Explanation

B. This sentence makes an overgeneralization by claiming that online interactions are never as good as conversations with human beings. It is possible to imagine many exceptions to this statement. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

18. Which of the following sentences uses the MOST formal language?

I want to tell you my business plan.

I am writing to explain my business plan.

I'm telling you my business plan.

I'm explaining my business plan.

B. I am writing to explain my business plan. The sentence does not have any contractions and uses the most polite and formal vocabulary. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

Explanation

B. I am writing to explain my business plan. The sentence does not have any contractions and uses the most polite and formal vocabulary. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

19. In which of the following situations would you use formal language?

Buying a car.

Calling your aunt.

Going to a movie.

Hiking with friends.

A. Buying a car. It is best to use formal language with the car salesman as he or she is probably not a close acquaintance. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

Explanation

A. Buying a car. It is best to use formal language with the car salesman as he or she is probably not a close acquaintance. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

20. Read the paragraph and answer the question. The theater was packed. The audience watched with rapt attention as the characters lost their homes, their jobs, their sense of security, even their most basic beliefs. A few characters managed to save a family member. Most kept small keepsakes in their pockets. But by the end, they had almost nothing left of the world before disaster struck. When the show was over, the audience filed out smiling. After all, there's nothing more fun than the end of the world—as long as it's fictional. Question: Which sentence best describes the main idea of this paragraph?

There is a new movie disaster movie in the theaters.

People who experience disasters must be very strong.

For some reason, people find disaster movies entertaining.

There is something wrong with people who like disaster movies.

C. The author of the paragraph begins and ends with an emphasis on the audience’s enjoyment of disaster. This suggests that the main point has to do with the odd fact that people love disaster films. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

Explanation

C. The author of the paragraph begins and ends with an emphasis on the audience’s enjoyment of disaster. This suggests that the main point has to do with the odd fact that people love disaster films. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

21. Read the paragraph and answer the question. The theater was packed. The audience watched with rapt attention as the characters lost their homes, their jobs, their sense of security, even their most basic beliefs. A few characters managed to save a family member. Most kept small keepsakes in their pockets. But by the end, they had almost nothing left of the world before disaster struck. When the show was over, the audience filed out smiling. After all, there's nothing more fun than the end of the world—as long as it's fictional. Question: If the author wanted to expand this paragraph into a longer essay claiming that human beings are naturally violent, what supporting detail should appear in further paragraphs?

A review of the latest disaster movie

An argument for censorship to end violence

Examples of bravery and generosity in disaster movies

Examples of violent entertainment throughout history

D. Supporting details should directly support the main idea of a text. Examples of violent forms of entertainment, and the enjoyment people take from them, could support the idea that people are naturally violent. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

Explanation

D. Supporting details should directly support the main idea of a text. Examples of violent forms of entertainment, and the enjoyment people take from them, could support the idea that people are naturally violent. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

22. Read the paragraph and answer the question. The theater was packed. The audience watched with rapt attention as the characters lost their homes, their jobs, their sense of security, even their most basic beliefs. A few characters managed to save a family member. Most kept small keepsakes in their pockets. But by the end, they had almost nothing left of the world before disaster struck. When the show was over, the audience filed out smiling. After all, there's nothing more fun than the end of the world—as long as it's fictional. Question: If the author wanted to expand this paragraph into a longer essay claiming that disaster movies serve a positive function, what supporting detail should appear in further paragraphs?

A review of the latest disaster movie

An argument for censorship to end violence

Examples of bravery and generosity in disaster movies

Examples of violent entertainment throughout history

C. If an author wanted to claim that disaster movies serve society in a positive way, he or she should emphasize the good qualities—like bravery and generosity—in these films. See Lesson: Main Ideas Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

Explanation

C. If an author wanted to claim that disaster movies serve society in a positive way, he or she should emphasize the good qualities—like bravery and generosity—in these films. See Lesson: Main Ideas Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

23. Read the following passage and answer the question. Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. "Mr. Snuggles?" she called. "Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin." She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. "Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!" When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. "It's not like I have anything better to do than look for you again," she said. Question: From the text above, you can infer that Adelia is:

Looking for a pet.

Calling her son home.

A kindhearted person.

Unconcerned for Mr. Snuggles.

A. Adelia is attempting to call a pet, not a child. You can infer this because she calls Mr. Snuggles “vermin” and bangs on a bowl with a spoon to get his attention. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

A. Adelia is attempting to call a pet, not a child. You can infer this because she calls Mr. Snuggles “vermin” and bangs on a bowl with a spoon to get his attention. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

24. Read the passage and answer the following question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members' online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a "Bedtime Mode" to create an optimal "tech-free" nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn't you do the same? Question: The purpose of this passage is to:

Decide.

Inform.

Persuade.

Entertain.

C. This is an advertisement. Although it includes some information its primary purpose is to convince you to buy something. This makes it a persuasive text. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

Explanation

C. This is an advertisement. Although it includes some information its primary purpose is to convince you to buy something. This makes it a persuasive text. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

25. Read the paragraph below and answer the question. Until about 1850, few people living in temperate climates had ever had the opportunity to taste a banana. Only after the invention of the steamship could importers and exporters reliably transport this fruit to North America and Europe. Railways and refrigeration were two other vital components in the development of the banana trade. Today, bananas are a major export in several Central and South American countries as well as the Philippines. Around the world, people in climates that cannot support banana production now have access to plentiful inexpensive bananas. Read the following summary of the paragraph above. According to John K. Miller, the invention of shipping and refrigeration technology helped bananas become a major export crop. The banana trade is an important source of income for many countries around the world, and consumers can buy bananas easily even in places where bananas do not grow. Question: What makes this summary effective?

It makes a judgment on the original text without being unfair

It restates the ideas of the original text in completely new words.

It rearranges the ideas of the original text into a different sequence.

It highlights ideas from the original text that were not stated explicitly.

B. These sentences, like all effective summaries, restate the ideas of the original text in different words. Although a summary can sometimes state an implicit idea from the original text, this one does not need to do so. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

B. These sentences, like all effective summaries, restate the ideas of the original text in different words. Although a summary can sometimes state an implicit idea from the original text, this one does not need to do so. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

26. Read the paragraph below and answer the question. Until about 1850, few people living in temperate climates had ever had the opportunity to taste a banana. Only after the invention of the steamship could importers and exporters reliably transport this fruit to North America and Europe. Railways and refrigeration were two other vital components in the development of the banana trade. Today, bananas are a major export in several Central and South American countries as well as the Philippines. Around the world, people in climates that cannot support banana production now have access to plentiful inexpensive bananas. Read the following sentence. Nobody would eat bananas today if modern shipping and refrigeration technology had never been invented.

It concerns supporting details and not main ideas.

It adheres too closely to the original author’s language.

It fails to make a clear judgment about the original text.

It does not accurately state an idea from the original text.

D. It would be inaccurate to say that nobody would eat bananas if modern shipping and refrigeration technology had never been invented. This is not in the original text, and logically speaking, bananas would still be eaten in the tropics regardless of changes in technology. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

D. It would be inaccurate to say that nobody would eat bananas if modern shipping and refrigeration technology had never been invented. This is not in the original text, and logically speaking, bananas would still be eaten in the tropics regardless of changes in technology. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

27. Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn't have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend's mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family's phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends' parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids' phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don't all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don't prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids' phone habits cost too much money. Question: What category of writing is this?

Narrative

Technical

Expository

Persuasive

C. This passage is an explanation of phone habits in two eras. Although it uses a few time words, it does not describe narrative scenes. It is an expository piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

Explanation

C. This passage is an explanation of phone habits in two eras. Although it uses a few time words, it does not describe narrative scenes. It is an expository piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

28. Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn't have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend's mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family's phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends' parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids' phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don't all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don't prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids' phone habits cost too much money. Question: What is the genre of the passage?

Essay

Criticism

Biography

Autobiography

A. This piece describes parts of both the author’s life and another person’s life, but it is not an autobiography or biography because it is not telling a story of either one. Rather, it is an essay—short description of a subject from the author’s point of view. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

Explanation

A. This piece describes parts of both the author’s life and another person’s life, but it is not an autobiography or biography because it is not telling a story of either one. Rather, it is an essay—short description of a subject from the author’s point of view. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

29. Read the following passage and answer the question. Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. "Mr. Snuggles?" she called. "Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin." She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. "Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!" When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. "It's not like I have anything better to do than look for you again," she said. Question: Which detail does not provide evidence to back up the conclusion that Adelia is feeling frustrated?

She calls Mr. Snuggles “you little vermin.”

She has not yet gotten dressed for the day.

She complains about having to search for Mr. Snuggles.

She sighs when Mr. Snuggles does not immediately appear.

B. Adelia’s bathrobe is not evidence that she is frustrated at Mr. Snuggles. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

B. Adelia’s bathrobe is not evidence that she is frustrated at Mr. Snuggles. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions.

30. Read the passage and answer the following question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members' online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a "Bedtime Mode" to create an optimal "tech-free" nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn't you do the same? Question: Which detail from the passage, if true, is factual?

Wizard WiFi transforms the user into a tech-savvy genius.

Wizard WiFi is the best technology-management system on the market.

Wizard WiFi products contain functions that set and track individual user’s technology usage.

Wizard WiFi users will improve the way their family spends their technology-free quality time.

C. Much of the information in this advertisement is not verifiable, but the fact that the Wizard WiFi contains functions to set and track family usage is verifiable. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

Explanation

C. Much of the information in this advertisement is not verifiable, but the fact that the Wizard WiFi contains functions to set and track family usage is verifiable. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

31. Read the paragraph below and answer the question. Until about 1850, few people living in temperate climates had ever had the opportunity to taste a banana. Only after the invention of the steamship could importers and exporters reliably transport this fruit to North America and Europe. Railways and refrigeration were two other vital components in the development of the banana trade. Today, bananas are a major export in several Central and South American countries as well as the Philippines. Around the world, people in climates that cannot support banana production now have access to plentiful inexpensive bananas. Question: Which summary sentence fails to be objective?

The author of this paragraph really likes bananas and researched them thoroughly.

This paragraph should include more detail about the development of the banana trade.

Before 1850, most Americans and Europeans had never had the opportunity to taste a banana.

The technological developments of the Industrial Revolution helped create a global banana trade.

B. The technological developments of the Industrial Revolution helped create a global banana trade. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

B. The technological developments of the Industrial Revolution helped create a global banana trade. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

32. Read the paragraph below and answer the question. Until about 1850, few people living in temperate climates had ever had the opportunity to taste a banana. Only after the invention of the steamship could importers and exporters reliably transport this fruit to North America and Europe. Railways and refrigeration were two other vital components in the development of the banana trade. Today, bananas are a major export in several Central and South American countries as well as the Philippines. Around the world, people in climates that cannot support banana production now have access to plentiful inexpensive bananas. Question: Which summary sentence retains language too close to the original text?

The author of this paragraph really likes bananas and researched them thoroughly.

This paragraph should include more detail about the development of the banana trade.

Before 1850, most Americans and Europeans had never had the opportunity to taste a banana.

The technological developments of the Industrial Revolution helped create a global banana trade.

C. The structure and word choice of this sentence are so close to the original that it qualifies as plagiarism. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

C. The structure and word choice of this sentence are so close to the original that it qualifies as plagiarism. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

33. Read the following passage and answer the question. Most people under age 35 spend too much time on social media. Statistics show that over nine out of ten teens go online using a mobile device daily, and seven out of ten use more than one major social media site. This is too much. Teens and young adults must limit their use of social media or face deteriorating relationships in real life. You know how frustrating it feels to try to talk to someone who constantly disengages to check a phone. Interacting online can be fun, but it never provides as much satisfaction as talking with actual human beings. Social media shouldn't be the primary social outlet for young people because people who rely mainly on the Internet for social interaction are unhappy and unfulfilled. Question: Re-read the following sentence from the passage: Teens and young adults must limit their use of social media or face deteriorating relationships in real life. What type of faulty reasoning does this sentence display?

Either/or fallacy

Circular reasoning

Bandwagon argument

False statement of cause and effect

A. This statement takes a complex issue and presents it as if only two possible options are in play. This is an either/or fallacy. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

Explanation

A. This statement takes a complex issue and presents it as if only two possible options are in play. This is an either/or fallacy. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

34. Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn't have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend's mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family's phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends' parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids' phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don't all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don't prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids' phone habits cost too much money. Question: The structure of the passage is:

Description.

Cause/effect.

Problem-solution.

Compare/contrast.

D. The passage describes phone use in two eras, highlighting similarities and differences. This makes it a compare/contrast piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

Explanation

D. The passage describes phone use in two eras, highlighting similarities and differences. This makes it a compare/contrast piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

35. Read the sentences below. However you look at the problem, it's a thorny one. It's also going to be a pleasure to solve. Which word functions as a transition?

However

One

Also

Going

C. The transition is the word that links the two ideas: also. The word however here is not a transition word indicating contrast; it’s an adverb meaning “in whichever way.” See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

C. The transition is the word that links the two ideas: also. The word however here is not a transition word indicating contrast; it’s an adverb meaning “in whichever way.” See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

36. Which of the following sources should be treated with skepticism even though it is primary?

An original work of art that has been celebrated and imitated

The research notes of a technician studying infectious diseases

An opinion article by a person who witnessed a famine firsthand

A 1910 article on how to treat measles by an experienced doctor

D. A 1910 article on medicine is highly outdated. Even if the writer is an experienced doctor, the advice presented would likely not be worth following.

Explanation

D. A 1910 article on medicine is highly outdated. Even if the writer is an experienced doctor, the advice presented would likely not be worth following.

37. Read the passage and answer the following question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members' online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a "Bedtime Mode" to create an optimal "tech-free" nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn't you do the same? Question: The author of the passage includes details about Wizard WiFi's ease of use in order to appeal to the reader's:

Trust.

Reason.

Feelings.

Knowledge.

C. The advertisement highlights several aspects of Wizard WiFi’s functionality, such as ease of use, that suggest the potential customer will feel good using the products. These details appeal to the emotions. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

Explanation

C. The advertisement highlights several aspects of Wizard WiFi’s functionality, such as ease of use, that suggest the potential customer will feel good using the products. These details appeal to the emotions. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

38. Read the passage and answer the following question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members' online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a "Bedtime Mode" to create an optimal "tech-free" nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn't you do the same? Question: The author most likely includes the detail about famous high-tech executive CEO in order to make readers:

Understand that Wizard WiFi is factually the best on the market.

Take a weak position when they attempt to argue against the point.

Trust that Information Technology professionals have really studied Wizard WiFi and proven it worthy.

Feel an association between Wizard WiFi products and a person they admire.

D. Celebrity endorsements in advertisements appeal to the emotions by associating a product for sale with a person who is widely admired. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

Explanation

D. Celebrity endorsements in advertisements appeal to the emotions by associating a product for sale with a person who is widely admired. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

39. Read the passage below and answer the question. The train was the most amazing thing ever even though it didn't go "choo choo." The toddler pounded on the railing of the bridge and supplied the sound herself. "Choo choo! Choo choooooo!" she shouted as the train cars whizzed along below. In the excitement, she dropped her favorite binky. Later, when she noticed the binky missing, all the joy went out of the world. The wailing could be heard three houses down. The toddler's usual favorite activities were garbage—even waving to Hank the garbage man, which she refused to do, so that Hank went away looking mildly hurt. It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss. Afterward, she played at the park. Reread the following sentence: It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss. Question: Which adjective could describe an effective reader's mood when reading this line in the context of the passage?

Amused

Worried

Horrified

Jubilant

A. Effective readers would likely know that this toddler’s fear is nothing to worry about. Amusement would be a more likely reaction. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

A. Effective readers would likely know that this toddler’s fear is nothing to worry about. Amusement would be a more likely reaction. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

40. Read the paragraph and answer the question. The theater was packed. The audience watched with rapt attention as the characters lost their homes, their jobs, their sense of security, even their most basic beliefs. A few characters managed to save a family member. Most kept small keepsakes in their pockets. But by the end, they had almost nothing left of the world before disaster struck. When the show was over, the audience filed out smiling. After all, there's nothing more fun than the end of the world—as long as it's fictional. Question: Which term best describes the role of the final sentence in this paragraph?

Implied idea

Topic sentence

Supporting detail

Introductory sentence

B. The final sentence sums up the main idea. This makes it the topic sentence. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

Explanation

B. The final sentence sums up the main idea. This makes it the topic sentence. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

ACT Reading Exam 2

2.

What first name or nickname would you like us to use?

3. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: A person could get from the Lodge to Fairyland Point by:

4. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: Which feature on the map is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point?

5. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: How could a person travel from the Visitor's Center to Bryce Point without touching Sunset Point?

6. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: Which feature on the map is farthest west?

9. Which of the following sentences uses the MOST informal language?

10. In which of the following situations would it be best to use informal language?

16. Which of the following is an example of persuasive writing?

18. Which of the following sentences uses the MOST formal language?

19. In which of the following situations would you use formal language?

35. Read the sentences below. However you look at the problem, it's a thorny one. It's also going to be a pleasure to solve. Which word functions as a transition?

36. Which of the following sources should be treated with skepticism even though it is primary?