Table of Contents
About the Authors ix
Exciting ACT Updates! xi
Introduction 1
About the ACT 1
Structure of the ACT 1
How to Use This Book 3
General Test-Taking Information and Strategies 4
What to Do on Test Day 11
What's Next? 12
Part I The ACT English Test 13
Chapter 1 Format and Scoring 15
Anatomy of an ACT English Question 16
The ACT English Test Score 16
What's Next? 17
Chapter 2 ACT English Diagnostic Test 19
Chapter 3 Grammar Review 39
Punctuation Rules 39
Grammar Rules 44
What's Next? 56
Chapter 4 Strategies and Techniques 57
Skim the Passage 57
Review the Underlined Portion 58
Predict an Answer 58
Trust What You Know 59
Use the Process of Elimination 59
Take Delete Seriously 60
Fear Change (Sometimes!) 60
Go with the Flow 60
Practice, Practice, Practice 61
What's Next? 61
Chapter 5 Applying Strategies, Building Skills 63
Grammatical Voice 63
Modifying Clauses 65
Verb Tense 67
Subject/Verb Agreement 68
Adjectives and Adverbs 70
Pronouns 71
Idiom 73
Redundancy 74
Punctuation 76
Answers and Explanations 80
What's Next? 86
Chapter 6 ACT English Practice Test 1 87
Chapter 7 ACT English Practice Test 2 109
Part II The ACT Reading Test 131
Chapter 8 Format and Scoring 133
Anatomy of an ACT Reading Question 133
The ACT Reading Test Score 134
What's Next? 134
Chapter 9 ACT Reading Diagnostic Test 135
Chapter 10 Speed Reading 151
Some Benefits of Speed Reading 151
Expectations of Speed Reading 151
Determining Your Baseline Reading Speed 151
Increasing Your Baseline Reading Speed 153
Techniques for Improving Your Reading Speed 153
Strategies to Increase Speed-Reading Comprehension 155
Some Potential Problems with Speed Reading 155
Speed-Reading Drills 156
Practice, Practice, Practice! 157
What's Next? 158
Chapter 11 Strategies and Techniques 159
"Sacrificing" a Reading Passage 159
ACT Reading Test General Strategies 160
ACT Reading Test Question Types 164
What's Next? 165
Chapter 12 Applying Strategies, Building Skills 167
Identify Topic, Scope, and Purpose-Main Idea 167
Locate and Interpret Significant Details 170
Understand Sequences of Events and Comprehend Cause-Effect Relationships 171
Determine the Meaning of Words, Phrases, and Statements in Context 173
Draw Generalizations 174
Analyze the Author's or Narrator's Voice and Method 175
Make Comparisons and Contrasts 177
Answers and Explanations 179
What's Next? 183
Chapter 13 ACT Reading Practice Test 1 185
Chapter 14 ACT Reading Practice Test 2 201
Chapter 15 ACT Reading Practice Test 3 219
Chapter 16 ACT Reading Practice Test 4 235
Part III The ACT Writing Test 251
Chapter 17 Format and Scoring 253
The ACT Writing Test Format 253
The ACT Writing Test Essay Prompt 254
The ACT Writing Test Score 254
What's Next? 257
Chapter 18 ACT Writing Diagnostic Test 259
Chapter 19 Strategies and Techniques 271
The ACT Essay Prompt 271
What Makes a Good Essay 272
Common Mistakes to Avoid 275
Steps to Writing Well 277
Revising and Editing 279
What's Next? 280
Chapter 20 Applying Strategies, Building Skills 281
Writing a Good Essay 281
Answers and Explanations 296
What's Next? 302
Chapter 21 ACT Writing Practice Tests-Set 1 303
Chapter 22 ACT Writing Practice Tests-Set 2 325
Part IV Appendices 347
Appendix A ACT Vocabulary List 349
Appendix B Quick Review Sheet 375
Appendix C Additional Resources 377
