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Practice Tests - 8 - ACT MCQ


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10 Questions MCQ Test - Practice Tests - 8

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Practice Tests - 8 - Question 1

Adapted from "The Weakness, Unrest, and Defects of Man," from The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal (ed. 1901)

We care nothing for the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if we could make it move faster; or we call back the past, to stop its rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander through the times in which we have no part, unthinking of that which alone is ours; so frivolous are we that we dream of the days which are not and pass by without reflection those which alone exist. For the days of the present generally gives us pain; we conceal it from our sight because it afflicts us, and if it be pleasant, we regret to see it vanish away. We endeavor to sustain the present by the future, and think of arranging things not in our power, for a time at which we have no certainty of arriving.

If we examine our thoughts, we shall find them always occupied with the past or the future. We scarcely think of the present, and if we do so, it is only that we may borrow light from it to direct the future. The present is never our end; the past and the present are our means, the future alone is our end. Thus we never live, but hope to live, and while we always lay ourselves out to be happy, it is inevitable that we can never be so.

Which of the following best translates the author’s usage of “as” bolded in the second sentence?

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 1

The sense of the sentence in question is that we anticipate the future and thus treat it as though it is coming too slowly. Another way that we could translate "as" here would be "as though it were..." In lieu of this longer phrase, "as being" is an adequate translation. The options indicating similarity or similitude are not appropriate in this context.

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 2

Adapted from "The Weakness, Unrest, and Defects of Man," from The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal (ed. 1901)

We care nothing for the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if we could make it move faster; or we call back the past, to stop its rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander through the times in which we have no part, unthinking of that which alone is ours; so frivolous are we that we dream of the days which are not and pass by without reflection those which alone exist. For the days of the present generally gives us pain; we conceal it from our sight because it afflicts us, and if it be pleasant, we regret to see it vanish away. We endeavor to sustain the present by the future, and think of arranging things not in our power, for a time at which we have no certainty of arriving.

If we examine our thoughts, we shall find them always occupied with the past or the future. We scarcely think of the present, and if we do so, it is only that we may borrow light from it to direct the future. The present is never our end; the past and the present are our means, the future alone is our end. Thus we never live, but hope to live, and while we always lay ourselves out to be happy, it is inevitable that we can never be so.

Which of the following is the best form of the bolded selection, “back the past . . .”?

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 2

In this sentence, "to" is being used in the sense of meaning "in order to." Looking at the clause, the comma breaks the flow of the thought and is not helpful given the simplicity of the second half of the predicate: "we call back the past in order to stop its flight." An increase in the number of commas in a sentence is not always the best policy for clarity.

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Practice Tests - 8 - Question 3

Adapted from "The Weakness, Unrest, and Defects of Man," from The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal (ed. 1901)

We care nothing for the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if we could make it move faster; or we call back the past, to stop its rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander through the times in which we have no part, unthinking of that which alone is ours; so frivolous are we that we dream of the days which are not and pass by without reflection those which alone exist. For the days of the present generally gives us pain; we conceal it from our sight because it afflicts us, and if it be pleasant, we regret to see it vanish away. We endeavor to sustain the present by the future, and think of arranging things not in our power, for a time at which we have no certainty of arriving.

If we examine our thoughts, we shall find them always occupied with the past or the future. We scarcely think of the present, and if we do so, it is only that we may borrow light from it to direct the future. The present is never our end; the past and the present are our means, the future alone is our end. Thus we never live, but hope to live, and while we always lay ourselves out to be happy, it is inevitable that we can never be so.

If we accept the rhetorical device that the author uses in the sentence fragment, which following is the best form of the bolded selection, “For the days of the present generally . . .”?

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 3

The error that requires correction in this selection is the agreement between the subject and the verb in the clause. The subject is not "present" but, instead, is "the days." "Of the present" modifies this. Shortening our sentence, we thus get, "For the days . . . gives." The subject and verb do not agree in number. The only option that corrects this is, "For the days of the present generally give us pain."

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 4

Which of the following is the best form of the bolded selection, “if it be pleasant . . .”?

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 4

As written, the sentence is maintaining the appropriate use of the subjunctive mood. This does not occur much in English, but in conditions like, "If I were" and similar forms, we do not use standard, indicative verbs like "is" and "was." None of the options provided contain the older grammatical form, "If it be." However, the option containing "If it were" does maintain an appropriate use of the subjunctive.

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 5

Adapted from "The Weakness, Unrest, and Defects of Man," from The Thoughts of Blaise Pascal (ed. 1901)

We care nothing for the present. We anticipate the future as too slow in coming, as if we could make it move faster; or we call back the past, to stop its rapid flight. So imprudent are we that we wander through the times in which we have no part, unthinking of that which alone is ours; so frivolous are we that we dream of the days which are not and pass by without reflection those which alone exist. For the days of the present generally gives us pain; we conceal it from our sight because it afflicts us, and if it be pleasant, we regret to see it vanish away. We endeavor to sustain the present by the future, and think of arranging things not in our power, for a time at which we have no certainty of arriving.

If we examine our thoughts, we shall find them always occupied with the past or the future. We scarcely think of the present, and if we do so, it is only that we may borrow light from it to direct the future. The present is never our end; the past and the present are our means, the future alone is our end. Thus we never live, but hope to live, and while we always lay ourselves out to be happy, it is inevitable that we can never be so.

What is the best form of the bolded selection, "The present is never our end . . ."?

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 5

The key to this question is to note the relationship between the second and third independent clauses. As the selection is written, we cannot maintain the mere comma between "means" and "the future." This links two independent clauses inappropriately. The author wishes to keep those two ideas together, however. The means (past and present) are contrasted with the end (the present). It would thus be best to separate the first independent clause entirely. Do this by replacing the semicolon with a period. Then, keep the two other clauses in closer relation with each other, using a semicolon instead of the inappropriate comma.

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 6

Which of the following would be a better form of the bolded selection, "Thus we never live, but hope to live, and while we always lay ourselves out"?

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 6

To understand this answer, it is best to consider the incorrect answer: "Thus we never live but hope to live. And while we always lay ourselves out . . ." Note, first, that we can start a subordinate introductory clause with "and," so there is no problem with the way that all of these options separate out the second half of the original sentence. (As it stands, it is too rambling and long.)

Now, considering the given incorrect answer, the critical thing to notice how confusingly it relates the "never living" and the "hoping to live." The author clearly wants to draw attention to these two states of affairs: (1) We are never actually living. (2) Instead, we are only hoping to live (in the future).

Therefore, the best option is the one that makes this contrast obvious by using the adverb, "instead."

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 7

Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

The night grew so cold that all the campers were shivering although a raging fire.

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 7

The use of "although" in the last part of the sentence is confusing and awkward. A different preposition can more clearly indicate the fact the campers "were shivering" while a fire was "raging," which should warm them. The best answer choice to do this is "despite a raging fire."

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 8

The bayou was quiet, except for the sounds of insects, water and the occasional alligator. Jim was cleaning his blade, which he had recently used to dispatch one of the undead. His partner Bill and him had come out to the bayou for their nightly patrol and they had found a nest of the undead by an old abandoned dock.

"Hey, Bill!," he shouted gleefully, mindless of whether the noise would attract more undead. "Where'd you go, man?"

A noise to his left had startled him. He turned quick and saw the man who had been closest to him than a brother for the past six months walking slowly toward him.

"Whew," he said: "there you are." He went back to cleaning his blade. "I thought one of those things had got 'cha."

Standing in the dark, the light of the moon did not reach his partners face. The sudden silence caused Jim to look up again. "What's the matter with you, Bill?"

It was only when the thing that was once Bill stepped into the light and Jim saw the fresh bite on it's newly dead face that he realized what the matter was.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 8

In punctuation, a serial comma (also called the Oxford comma) is placed immediately before the coordinating conjunction (such as "and") in a series of three or more terms.

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 9

The bayou was quiet, except for the sounds of insects, water and the occasional alligator. Jim was cleaning his blade, which he had recently used to dispatch one of the undead. His partner Bill and him had come out to the bayou for their nightly patrol and they had found a nest of the undead by an old abandoned dock.

"Hey, Bill!," he shouted gleefully, mindless of whether the noise would attract more undead. "Where'd you go, man?"

A noise to his left had startled him. He turned quick and saw the man who had been closest to him than a brother for the past six months walking slowly toward him.

"Whew," he said: "there you are." He went back to cleaning his blade. "I thought one of those things had got 'cha."

Standing in the dark, the light of the moon did not reach his partners face. The sudden silence caused Jim to look up again. "What's the matter with you, Bill?"

It was only when the thing that was once Bill stepped into the light and Jim saw the fresh bite on it's newly dead face that he realized what the matter was.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 9

"Which he had recently used" introduces extra information that can be taken out of the sentence without altering its meaning. So, it is a non-restrictive clause, and it needs to be preceded by a comma.

Practice Tests - 8 - Question 10

The bayou was quiet, except for the sounds of insects, water and the occasional alligator. Jim was cleaning his blade, which he had recently used to dispatch one of the undead. His partner Bill and him had come out to the bayou for their nightly patrol and they had found a nest of the undead by an old abandoned dock.

"Hey, Bill!," he shouted gleefully, mindless of whether the noise would attract more undead. "Where'd you go, man?"

A noise to his left had startled him. He turned quick and saw the man who had been closest to him than a brother for the past six months walking slowly toward him.

"Whew," he said: "there you are." He went back to cleaning his blade. "I thought one of those things had got 'cha."

Standing in the dark, the light of the moon did not reach his partners face. The sudden silence caused Jim to look up again. "What's the matter with you, Bill?"

It was only when the thing that was once Bill stepped into the light and Jim saw the fresh bite on it's newly dead face that he realized what the matter was.

Choose the answer that best corrects the bolded portion of the passage. If the bolded portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

Detailed Solution for Practice Tests - 8 - Question 10

Both "Bill" and the pronoun replacing Jim are being used as subjects in this sentence, which would make the correct pronoun "he." All of the other choices use "him," which is an objective pronoun.

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