Atc practise test english 1 potx

He told reporters he would quit politics after he lost the election.. After he lost the election, he told reporters he would quit politics.. After he lost the election, he would quit pol

Practice 3

Choose the best answer to each question below.

1 While waiting for the bus, the bench I sat on was wet.

a NO CHANGE

b While waiting for the bus, I sat on the bench that was wet.

c While waiting for the bus, I sat on a wet bench.

d While I sat on a wet bench, I waited for the bus.

2 He told reporters he would quit politics after he lost the election.

f NO CHANGE

g After he lost the election, he told reporters he would quit politics.

h After he lost the election, he would quit politics, he told reporters.

j After he quit politics, he told reporters he’d lost the election.

3 Sleeping soundly, I tiptoed through the baby’s room.

a NO CHANGE

b I was sleeping soundly as I tiptoed through the baby’s room.

c I tiptoed through the baby’s room sleeping soundly.

d While the baby slept soundly, I tiptoed through the room.

4 Please be sure to throw out your trash, place your silverware in the bin, and your tray should go on the

counter.

f NO CHANGE

g Please be sure to throw out your trash, your silverware should go in the bin, and put your tray on

the counter.

h Please be sure to throw out your trash and silverware in the bin and tray on the counter.

j Please be sure to throw out your trash, place your silverware in the bin, and put your tray on the

counter.

5 I am an experienced babysitter, housecleaner, and cook.

a NO CHANGE

b I am experienced at babysitting, cleaning houses, and a cook.

c I am an experienced babysitter, making houses clean, and cooking.

d I am an experienced babysitter, housecleaner, and a good cook.

1 c is the best choice The subject I is right next to the modifier while waiting for the bus, and wet bench is

the most concise phrase.

2 g is the best choice It most logically and clearly conveys the intended meaning.

3 d is the best choice The subject baby needs to be inserted next to the verb form of sleep to make it

clear who was sleeping soundly.

4 j is the best choice Here the sentence maintains parallel structure (verb + object + prepositional

phrase).

5 a is the best choice The sentence maintains parallel structure (noun, noun, noun).

Prepositional Idioms

Another aspect of usage covered on the ACT is prepositional idioms: the specific word or preposition

com-binations that we use in the English language, such as take care of and according to Below is a list of some of

the most common prepositional idioms Review the list carefully to be sure you are using prepositional idioms correctly.

apologize for (something) apologize to (someone) approve of

glance at (something) glance through (something, grateful for (something)

e.g., a book) grateful to (someone) in accordance with in conflict

in the habit of in the near future incapable of

on top of opposite of prior to

suspicious of take care of thank (someone) for (something)

Practice 4

Answer the questions below.

1 I am having difficulty concentrating in this assignment.

a NO CHANGE

b concentrating with

c concentrating on

d concentrating through

2 I am very satisfied about how things turned out.

f NO CHANGE

g satisfied with

h satisfied by

j satisfied of

3 When I glanced at my gas gauge, I realized it was on “empty.”

a NO CHANGE

b glanced on

c glanced in

d glanced through

4 She has great knowledge about the eighteenth century.

f NO CHANGE

g knowledge in

h knowledge with

j knowledge of

5 I plan to remodel this room at the very near future.

a NO CHANGE

b in the very near future

c on the very near future

d within the very near future

Answers

1 c.

2 g.

3 a.

4 j.

5 b.

Punctuation

Punctuation marks are the symbols we use to separate sentences, express emotions, and show relationships

between objects and ideas Correct punctuation is essential for clarity; punctuation marks make our mean-ing clear and add drama and style to our sentences Poor punctuation, on the other hand, can lead to a great deal of confusion for your readers and can send a message other than what you intended For example, take

a look at the following two versions of the same sentence:

Don’t call me, stupid!

Don’t call me stupid!

Both use the same words but have two very different meanings because of punctuation In the first sen-tence, the comma tells us that the speaker is calling the listener “stupid.” In the second sensen-tence, the speaker

is angry because the listener has called him “stupid.”

Punctuation helps to create meaning, and it also has another important function: it enables writers to express a variety of tones and emotions For example, take a look at these two versions of the same sentence:

Wait—I’m coming with you!

Wait, I’m coming with you.

The first sentence clearly expresses more urgency and excitement thanks to the dash and exclamation point The second sentence, with its comma and period, does not express emotion; the sentence is neutral.

P UNCTUATION G UIDELINES

There are many rules for punctuation, and the better you know them, the more correctly and effectively you

can punctuate your sentences The table below lists the main punctuation marks and guidelines for when to

use them:

IF YOUR

PURPOSE

End a sentence period [.] This sentence ends in a period.

Connect complete semicolon [;] A semi-colon can connect two sentences;

sentences (two it is an excellent way to show that two

clauses).

comma [,] and a conjunction I want pizza, but he wants steak.

[and, or, nor, for, so, but, yet]

dash [—] (less common, I told you he’d be here—here he is!

but more dramatic) Connect items comma [,] but if one or more items The table was overturned, the mattress

in a list in that list already has a comma, was torn apart, and the dresser drawers

use a semicolon [;] were strewn all over the floor.

The castaways included a professor, who was the group’s leader; an actress; and a housewife.

Introduce a list of colon [:] We need three things: money, money, and

Colons have three functions: introducing long lists, introducing quotations, and introducing explanations.

Introduce an colon [:] There’s only one thing to do: go to the

explanation (what police and tell them everything.

follows “explains”

or “answers”

what precedes).

IF YOUR

PURPOSE

Introduce a colon [:] or comma [,] He said, “This simply won’t do.”

quotation (words

directly spoken).

The American writer Kate Chopin said this

of French short story master Guy de Maupassant: “In a direct, simple way, he told us what he saw.”

Indicate a quotation marks [“ ”] “To be or not to be?” is one of the most

Indicate a question mark [?] Why are so many people fascinated by

Connect two words hyphen [-] brother-in-law, well-known author

that work together

as one object or

modifier.

Separate a word dash [—] I never lie—never.

or phrase

for emphasis.

Separate a word commas [,] The group, led by Max, made its way

relevant but not

essential information.

That restaurant, I heard, is going out of business.

Separate a word parentheses [( )] There is an exception to every rule

relevant but

secon-dary information.

Show possession apostrophe [’] That’s Jane’s car.

or contraction.