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English Practice Test 1 Practice Questions & Answers

50 Questions·Free Practice·MCQ with Explanations

ACT English Practice Test

Comprehensive practice for the ACT English section, focusing on punctuation, grammar, and usage.

Topics Included:

  • Conventions of Standard English: Punctuation, grammar, and usage.
  • Production of Writing: Topic development, organization, and cohesion.
  • Knowledge of Language: Word choice, style, and tone.

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Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice is the best alternative for the bolded part?

At first, Brazilian chef Alex Atala opened his restaurant in São Paulo in 1999, people told him he’d never succeed.

  • No Change

  • Years ago,

  • When

  • Delete the underlined portion.

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option C -

When

Explanation:

The original phrasing creates a comma splice or incomplete structure. Substituting 'When' creates a proper dependent clause: 'When Brazilian chef Alex Atala opened his restaurant in São Paulo in 1999, people told him he’d never succeed.'

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

Using traditional Brazilian ingredients, such as, manioc root and even ants—in innovative ways, he has thrilled diners from around the world.

  • No Change

  • ingredients—such as manioc root

  • ingredients such as—manioc root

  • ingredients such as, manioc root,

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option B -

ingredients—such as manioc root

Explanation:

The sentence later uses an em dash ('and even ants—in innovative ways'), so placing an em dash before 'such as' ('ingredients—such as manioc root') properly pairs the punctuation to set off the phrase.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion.

Using traditional Brazilian ingredients, such as manioc root and even ants—in innovative ways, he has thrilled diners from around the world.

The writer wants to emphasize the positive experience diners have had at Atala’s restaurant. Which choice best accomplishes that goal?

  • No Change

  • mystified

  • shocked

  • startled

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option A -

No Change

Explanation:

'Thrilled' is the only option that directly communicates a distinctly positive experience, which matches the writer's stated goal.

Read the following excerpts from consecutive paragraphs and consider the bolded portion.

...he has thrilled diners from around the world.

Still, Atala felt he could do more for his country and its cuisine. In 2012, he founded Instituto Atá to help promote lesser-known ingredients...

Given that all the choices are accurate, which one provides the best transition from the preceding paragraph to this paragraph?

  • No Change

  • Atala is known for sometimes incorporating fragrances into his dishes as well.

  • In fact, Atala’s culinary training took place in classic European restaurants.

  • Atala’s obvious affection for his homeland is said to be infectious.

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option A -

No Change

Explanation:

The original phrase transitions perfectly by acknowledging his existing success ('Still') while shifting the focus to his broader ambitions for his country, directly leading into his founding of Instituto Atá.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

Needing eight years to mature, the tree dies once its large heart is removed.

  • No Change

  • tree dies once their

  • trees die once its

  • tree dies once it’s

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option A -

No Change

Explanation:

The original phrasing 'the tree dies once its' properly matches the singular subject 'the tree' with the singular possessive pronoun 'its'.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice most effectively maintains the essay’s tone?

Careful harvesting ensures that the tree will live to yield more hearts, resulting in environmentally friendly production.

  • No Change

  • pull through and spawn

  • continue to churn out

  • keep doling out

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option A -

No Change

Explanation:

The original phrasing maintains the formal and informational tone of the essay, avoiding the overly colloquial phrasing found in the other options.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice is least redundant in context?

Atala prioritizes his working relationships with Amazonian tribes. Utilizing their historical know-how they have, he aims to bolster tribe members’ livelihoods while exposing a wider audience to Brazilian ingredients.

  • No Change

  • knowledge that tribe members know about local plants,

  • knowledge of local plants in the area,

  • knowledge of local plants,

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option D -

knowledge of local plants,

Explanation:

'knowledge of local plants' provides the necessary information in the most concise way, removing the repetitive 'know-how they have' or redundancy present in the other options.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

For instance, Baniwa women have farmed distinctly flavorful chili peppers for centuries that use indigenous agricultural techniques, to create a seasoning called pimenta jiquitaia.

  • No Change

  • centuries, which use

  • centuries who use

  • centuries, using

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option D -

centuries, using

Explanation:

The participial phrase 'using indigenous agricultural techniques' gracefully attaches to the subject 'Baniwa women,' avoiding the misplaced modifier issues of 'that' or 'which'.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

Partnering with Instituto Atá have enabled these women from a remote rain forest region to scale up production and market their product globally.

  • No Change

  • has enabled

  • are enabling

  • enable

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option B -

has enabled

Explanation:

The subject of the sentence is the singular gerund phrase 'Partnering with Instituto Atá', which requires the singular verb 'has enabled'.

Read the following excerpt and consider the bolded portion. Which choice is clearest and most precise in context?

Expanding awareness of the rich diversity of Brazil’s native ingredients, Atala continues to lead in deciphering the country’s food culture. With his characteristic passion and intensity, the renowned chef seeks to inspire Brazilians to rediscover the connections between culture, nature, and food.

  • No Change

  • transforming

  • dislocating

  • contorting

View Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: Option B -

transforming

Explanation:

'transforming' is the most precise word choice here because the passage discusses Atala innovating and changing the global perception of Brazil's food culture, which makes 'transforming' highly appropriate over deciphering, dislocating, or contorting.

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