ACT Reading Test 55 Questions with Verified Answers
Focus on the four types of reading passages found on the ACT. - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Prose fiction 2.
... [Show More] Social science 3. Humanities 4. Natural science
Use a three-step approach to answer the reading questions on the ACT. - CORRECT ANSWER Step 1. Read the question. Step 2. Read through the four answer choices, looking for obvious incorrect answer (often, there are two). Step 3. Read the remaining two choices, looking for an incorrect word or idea in one of the answers. Eliminate that choice. The remaining answer is correct.
Place a star next to main points as you read the passage. - CORRECT ANSWER
Do not read the questions first, before reading the passage. - CORRECT ANSWER
Read all the answer choices before looking back. - CORRECT ANSWER
Beware of using exact wording from the passages to answer the questions! - CORRECT ANSWER A correct answer may contain an exact word or phrase form the passage. However, ,amy of the questions ask you to match ideas. The answer choices that use exact wording from the passage are often meant to distract you from the true answer!
Look for important phrases in the questions. - CORRECT ANSWER When the question says the author indicates, the passage indicates, or according to the passage, you can find the answer stated in the passage. Questions that begin with the main conflict in the passage is, the author believes that, or one can conclude require you to paraphrase in order to find the correct answer.
Use specific line references carefully. - CORRECT ANSWER Specific line references only point you to the exact lines in the passage. Most likely, you will need information from a few lines before or a few lines after the given line reference for find the correct answer.
Do not ignore conclusions. - CORRECT ANSWER Conclusions often clarify the main idea and help you answer some of the questions.
The key to a good reading score is to read quickly and actively. You must stay focused while reading. Do not let your mind wander because you might miss important information. - CORRECT ANSWER For some students, the following strategy will speed up reading times. Be sute to practice before using it on the day of the real rest. Place the bottom edge of an index card at the top of the passage and move it down the lines, covering what you have just read. On test day, substitute your answer sheet in place of the index card.
Pace yourself to finish the reading test. - CORRECT ANSWER You have 35 minutes to complete the reading section. In that time, you must complete 4 reading passages, each with 10 questions. It is best to use a little less than 9 minutes per passage. You should read each passage in no more than 4 minutes.
Practice your pacing - CORRECT ANSWER practice with the watch you will use on test day; Time each passage; Do not rely on the proctor to inform you of the time. Not practicing can result in moving too slowly on the actual test.
Use the assess and abandon strategy to answer some of the questions - CORRECT ANSWER The reading section always includes several very challenging questions. If you cannot find the answer quickly, abandon that questions and make an educated guess. Finishing the test is important because you are penalized for leaving blank answers.
Fill in the same letter if you cannot finish the test. - CORRECT ANSWER It is best to fill in the blanks with the same letter. Doing this may give you a few more correct answers. For example in the reading section, choose middle letters such as B/G or C/H.
Finding the main idea. - CORRECT ANSWER the main ideas in the prose fiction and humanities passages are usually connected to a character's attitude. The main ideas in the social science and natural science passages are usually stated at the end of the first paragraph. Look at the title to help you find the main idea.
Prose fiction: Use the CAPS strategy. - CORRECT ANSWER Character Attitude Problem Solution C- Look for information regarding the characters A- Then look for attitudes. P-Determine what the problem (issue) S - Find the solution typically in the conclusion.
Use the Caps strategy on the following short passage. - CORRECT ANSWER
Social science: Find the author's purpose. - CORRECT ANSWER Look for the author's thesis or purpose in writing the passage. Then look at topic sentences to find the main idea of each paragraph. The purpose is usually stated at the end of the first paragraph. However, be aware that main ideas may not be directly stated but, instead, inferred or introduced in the following paragraphs.
Find the author's purpose in the following short passage. - CORRECT ANSWER The author's purpose is to examine the work of John Marshall and come to a conclusion regarding this contributions. Always look for the purpose to direct your reading.
Humanities: Look for the type of passage. - CORRECT ANSWER The humanities passage may be a memoir or narrative. It can also be factual like the social science passage. If the passage is a narrative, use the CAPS strategy. If the passage is factual, be aware of the topic sentences and the location of details.
Which reading strategy should you use for each of the following humanities passes? - CORRECT ANSWER
Natural science: Focus on the location of details. - CORRECT ANSWER The natural science passage is factual and filled with details. However, you do not need to learn every detail because doing so takes too much time. Look for the main idea. Mark the location of details so you can find them easily when you need them. If time is short, answer the questions with specific line references first.
What is the reading test designed to measure? - CORRECT ANSWER Reading Comprehension
How many questions? - CORRECT ANSWER 40
How many passages? - CORRECT ANSWER 4
How many questions per passage? - CORRECT ANSWER 10
How long to complete entire reading test? - CORRECT ANSWER 35 minutes
How long should you spend reading and answering questions for each passage? - CORRECT ANSWER 8
Two subscores - CORRECT ANSWER Art/Literature ; Social Studies/Science
Referring - CORRECT ANSWER Answers question in passage
Referring Example - CORRECT ANSWER "The passage says..."
Reasoning - CORRECT ANSWER Figure out ; process of elimination
Reasoing Example - CORRECT ANSWER "The main idea..."
Running out of time answer what questions first ? - CORRECT ANSWER Referring - easier to find
Four Passages in Order - CORRECT ANSWER Pose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science
Comes from novel or short stories - CORRECT ANSWER Proes fiction
Comes from memoirs or personal essays - CORRECT ANSWER Humanities
Describes a science topic and explanation of topic's signifigance - CORRECT ANSWER Natural Science
Pays attention to specific laws, rules, theories, and technical language - CORRECT ANSWER Natural Science
Pays attention to author and author point of view - CORRECT ANSWER Humanities
Pays attention to plot, characters, mood and tone - CORRECT ANSWER Prose Fiction
Pays attention to names, dates, concepts, and sequences of events - CORRECT ANSWER Social Science
Only passage that does not include factual info - CORRECT ANSWER Prose Fiction
Paired passages are..? - CORRECT ANSWER Two mini passages presented together
Which two types for paired passages..? - CORRECT ANSWER Humanities and Prose fiction
Fran would most likely agree with which of the following statements about her relationship with Linda Rose?
A. Their lives are still connected despite long separations of time and distance.
B. They have built up too much resentment toward each other to have a good relationship now.
C. Fran's drams of a perfect daughter will interfere with any real relationship she might have with Linda Rose.
D. The two of them have enough in common that it won't be difficult for them to get close.
The best answer is _ because Fran describes Linda Rose as "a homing pigeon" (lines 2-3) and "a sort of human boomerang" (lines 4-5) who'd "make a U-turn" (line 4) back to Gran despite a twenty-five-year wait. Though Gran had "long since stopped expecting" word from Linda Rose, she was still "not surprised" when she got it (lines 5-6). Fran experienced "the shock of being found after waiting so long" (lines 33-34), which again suggests she' - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "A."
Fran's mother can most accurately be characterized as:
F. arrogant and cruel.
G. strong-willed and caring.
H. friendly but withdrawn.
J. loving but embittered.
The best answer is _because... Fran's mother. She has "dragon-lady nails" (lines 23-24) in defiance of her chemotherapy. She "snorted" (line 61) a response to Fran's comment about her being a great-grandmother. She also firmly tells Fran not to put off contacting Linda Rose, who's "been waiting for twenty-five years" (line 87) for a meeting. But Fran's mother also cares deeply about Fran and tries to reassure her by saying, "You're [Linda Rose] flesh-and-blood mother and that's enough. That's all it'll take" (lines 98-99). - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "G."
Which of the following statements does NOT describe one of Fran's reactions to the news that she is a grandmother?
A. She wishes she had had time to prepare for the news.
B. She looks forward to inviting Linda Rose and her son, Blake, over for a visit.
C. She feels suddenly older now that the label of grandmother applies to her.
D. She protests that this change in her life is unfair.
The best answer is _... When Fran's mother asks if Fran is going to invite Linda Rose and the baby, Fran replies, "I haven't thought that far" (line 85). The remainder of the passage suggests that Fran is nervous about such a visit. The other three answer choices are supported by the passage. - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "B."
The main point of the first paragraph is that:
F. Fran believed Linda Rose would someday try to contact her.
G. Linda Rose acted like a wild bird when she was young.
H. Fran finds the arrival of a letter from Linda rose surprising.
J. Linda Rose's handwriting reminds Fran of her own handwriting.
The best answer is _... Fran calls Linda Rose "a homing pigeon" (lines 2-3) and "a sort of human boomerang" (lines 4-5) who she knew "sooner or later... would make U-turn" back to her (line 4. The paragraph closes with Fran's suspicion based on the familiarity of the handwriting, that the letter in the mailbox is from Linda Rose. Fran claims that while she had "long stopped expecting" such a letter, she"was not surprised" when she got it (lines 5-6). - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "F."
The main point of the last paragraph is that Fran's mother believes:
A. Linda Rose has few illusions about Fran.
B. Linda Rose might cause trouble or ask money.
C. Fran shouldn't worry about disappointing Linda Rose.
D. Fran shouldn't write to Linda Rose until Fran is emotionally prepared
The best answer is _... Fran's mother brings up the idea of Linda Rose having a "big fantasy" (lines 94-95) that Fran is Grace Kelly or Margaret Mead and says "no one" (line 97) could live up to that. She goes on to say, though, that as Linda Rose's "flesh-and-blood mother," Fran has "all it'll take" to have a good relationship with Linda Rose (lines 98-99). - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "C."
According to the passage, when Fran looks at her mother, Fran feels:
F. surprised by how weak and old her mother looks.
G. embarrassed by the gaudy colors of nail polish her mother uses.
H. pity that so many people stare at her mother in public.
J. accustomed to her mother's frailness and unusual fingernails.
The best answer is _ because Fran says that while her mother "had lost some weight and most of her hair to chemotherapy" (lines 21-22), Fran "was used to how she looked now" (lines 19-20). - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "J."
Which of the following statements most accurately expresses Fran's feelings when she hands her mother the letter from Linda Rose?
A. Fran is disappointed about getting such a short letter after so many years of no news from Linda Rose.
B. Fran welcomes the good news about the birth of her grandson, Blake.
C. Fran is offended by the letter's cold, businesslike tone
D. Fran knows how hard it must have been for Linda Rose to write the letter.
The best answer is _ because in thinking about the letter she receives from Linda Rose, Fran notes, "I could see the ghosts of all the long letters she must have written and crumpled into the wastebasket" (lines 56-58), suggesting Fran sympathizes with Linda Rose. - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "D."
It can be logically be inferred from the passage that the reason it has been a long time since Fran and Linda Rose have seen each other is because:
F. Linda Rose left home to get married.
G. arguments between Fran and Linda Rose drove Linda Rose away.
H. Linda Rose chose to live with her father.
J. as a child Linda Rose was adopted by another family.
The best answer is _... Fran says her mother had " wanted to keep" Linda Rose (line 1), which implies that Fran didn't. More directly, Fran notes upon receiving the letter and photograph from Linda Rose that a person doesn't usually "get a snapshot in the mail one day from a baby girl you gave up twenty-four years ago saying, 'Congratulation, you're a grandma!'" (lines 69-71). - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "J."
A reasonable conclusion Fran and her mother draw about Linda Rose from her letter and picture is that Linda Rose:
A. lives near the coast of Texas with her husband.
B. enjoys and collects fine paintings.
C. bears a strong resemblance to Fran
D. cares little about how she or her house looks.
The best answer is _ because after looking at the picture Linda Rose sends, Fran's mother say to Fran, "She looks just like you. Only her nose is more aristocratic" (lines 75-76). - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "C."
According to the passage, the reason why Fran's mother warns Fran not to put off contacting Linda Rose is that Fran's mother:
F. wants before she dies to see her new great-grandson.
G. Knows Fran tends to delay making hard decisions.
H. knows how long Linda Rose has been waiting to see Fran
J. suspects Linda Rose is in some sort of trouble.
The best answer is _ because after telling Fran not to put off contacting Linda Rose and inviting her and the baby for a visit, Fran's mother says Linda Rose has "been waiting twenty-five years" (line 87) - CORRECT ANSWER I choose "H." [Show Less]