Test Prep ACT Test Exam
American College Testing: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (Page 14 )

DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".

Mystery Paper Sculptor

[§1] Between March and November of 2011, an anonymous donor left intricately <1> crafted paper sculptures at various cultural institutions in Edinburgh, Scotland. Delighted, each sculpture was left secretly and was later discovered by staff. <2> The delicate sculptures ­ streetscapes, plants, and animals ­ were carved exclusively from the pages and bindings of books. The tiny details in the pieces are awe-inspiring.

[§2] The first sculpture discovered ­ at the Scottish Poetry Library ­ was a tiny tree formed from a book of verse. Library staff dubbed <3> it the "poetree." The tree sits atop a book. Beneath the tree are the halves of a golden paper egg, each half filled with words clipped from the poem "A Trace of Wings" by Edwin Morgan. At Edinburgh's Filmhouse Cinema, a three-dimensional sculpted scene <4> shows patrons sitting in a movie theater as horse leaps <5> out of the screen. At the Scottish Storytelling Centre, a dragon crafted from the pages <6> of a mystery novel was found nesting in a window. At the National Museum of Scotland, a paper tail was spotted emerging from the spine of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's book The Lost World. Inside, a dinosaur charges through shredded pages of the open book. More creations appeared at more than a few additional places where literature and artifacts are related to <7> books and writing. Therefore, <8> a total of ten sculptures were bestowed on special institutions, whose staff are thrilled by their luck.

[§3] The creator of these sculptures are <9> not known because no one has claimed responsibility. So far, that is. The last gift came with a note in which the mystery artist reveals her gender. Whatever: whoever <10> created the art, your <11> intention is clear. Each gift came with a note expressing special gratitude <12> for "libraries, books, words, ideas." <13>

[§4] Ironically, the creator of these exquisite sculptures who destroyed books <14> ­ cutting them up with <15> refashioning them into elaborate works of art ­ as "a tiny gesture in support of the special places." The mystery artist celebrated the magic of those places and, at the same time, made some magic.

<9>:

DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".

The Spine

[§1] Good spine health is important for every person. The human spine support the weight of the head, protects the body's organs, and receives <1> the gravitational pull that helps with posture. Comprised of 33 bones, each called vertebra, the spine is divided into five regions: cervical, <2> thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. Vertebrae are named according to the region where they are located along the spine and in numerical order. Discs serve as cushions between each vertebra. Nerves run along the spine, carrying signals between the spine and the rest of the body.

[§2] There are many reasons why people experience problems with their spine. Some people like us are born <3> with defects such as spina bifida, which stunts infant <4> brain and spine development. Trauma to the spine can also create problems, in addition <5> when the damage is irreversible. Paralysis happened <6> when the spine is injured beyond repair, and may result in loss of function in the arms or legs. Another reason for damage is the body's natural deterioration. As a person ages, the spine wears out. The discs that separate each vertebra lose moisture, and nerves that run alongside the spine can become more narrow, which <7> decreases the spines <8> ability to absorb pressure, especially when walking, jogging, or jumping.

[§3] Prevention is the best way to maintain a healthy back. There are varieties of ways that people keep themselves pain free and functioning at optimum levels. Sleeping on your back with a pillow under the knees supports its <9> natural curve during the night. When sitting at a desk, keeping ears, shoulders, and hips in line while resting the back firmly against the chair helps with posture. Standing straight with relaxed shoulders, hips, and knees will eliminate undue pressure on the spine. Walking with your head held high, chin tucked, and toes pointed forward will prevent slouching. Plus, you will look fantastically confident. <10>

[§4] Diet and sunshine are also important for back health, well-balanced <11> foods build lean muscles that support the spine. Lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and plenty <12> of water to keep the body hydrated are best choices for a daily regimen. While Vitamin D is found in many foods such as salmon and green leaf lettuce. The <13> sunshine is a body's best source. At least ten minutes of day <14> sunlight will strengthen bones and provide energy to the body's systems, encouraging the body to stand straighter. <15>

<11>:

DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".

Lightning in the Sand

[§1] As my friend Anna and I walked the sand dunes of southeastern New Mexico, she told me that she hoped we'd find a fulgurite, one as translucent white as the southeastern New Mexico sands around us. <1> A fulgurite ­ whose name stems from the Latin word fulgur, which means "thunderbolt" ­ is a hollow silica glass tube formed when lightning strikes sand. A fulgurite is created in one explosive second by fusion and pressure as sand heated by a lightning blast melts, <2> and becomes glass. Commonly called "petrified lightning," a fulgurite places <3> the shape of a miniature lightning bolt into the earth, often branching deep into the ground.

[§2] Anna told me that I had possibly seen a small fragment of a fulgurite before, without realizing I had, on a beach. She explained though that even experts <4> are rarely able to locate a fully intact fulgurite. The thin, brittle glass tubes break easily. <5> Occasionally, after strong, sustained winds have shifted desert sands, while <6> an unbroken, previously buried fulgurite will be revealed, showing as a tube protruding from the ground. <7> I scanned the area, hopeful that I'd see a tube newly uncovered. <8> Anna made clear that we'd be lucky to come upon a small piece of fulgurite, just a few inches long.

[§3] Anna had shown me fulgurites she had found on other trips. Their colors ranged from black to brown to green, corresponding to the color of the sand in which she had discovered them. I wasn't surprised that I'd never recognized fulgurites on any beach: no one had ever told me what to look for <9> Their interiors, though, are smooth, clear glass stained <10> with tiny bubbles trapped formed by air and moisture <11> during the rapid cooling of the melted sand after the
lightning strike.

[§4] We continued exploring the dunes. Anna laughed and said we needed only to stop at the local gift shop to unearth <12> our treasure. <13> But given our <14> luck finding fulgurites in deserts and on beaches, <15> she wanted to keep searching to find our own piece of bright, white lightning in the sand.

If the writer deleted the preceding sentence <13>, the essay would primarily lose a:

DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".

Lightning in the Sand

[§1] As my friend Anna and I walked the sand dunes of southeastern New Mexico, she told me that she hoped we'd find a fulgurite, one as translucent white as the southeastern New Mexico sands around us. <1> A fulgurite ­ whose name stems from the Latin word fulgur, which means "thunderbolt" ­ is a hollow silica glass tube formed when lightning strikes sand. A fulgurite is created in one explosive second by fusion and pressure as sand heated by a lightning blast melts, <2> and becomes glass. Commonly called "petrified lightning," a fulgurite places <3> the shape of a miniature lightning bolt into the earth, often branching deep into the ground.

[§2] Anna told me that I had possibly seen a small fragment of a fulgurite before, without realizing I had, on a beach. She explained though that even experts <4> are rarely able to locate a fully intact fulgurite. The thin, brittle glass tubes break easily. <5> Occasionally, after strong, sustained winds have shifted desert sands, while <6> an unbroken, previously buried fulgurite will be revealed, showing as a tube protruding from the ground. <7> I scanned the area, hopeful that I'd see a tube newly uncovered. <8> Anna made clear that we'd be lucky to come upon a small piece of fulgurite, just a few inches long.

[§3] Anna had shown me fulgurites she had found on other trips. Their colors ranged from black to brown to green, corresponding to the color of the sand in which she had discovered them. I wasn't surprised that I'd never recognized fulgurites on any beach: no one had ever told me what to look for <9> Their interiors, though, are smooth, clear glass stained <10> with tiny bubbles trapped formed by air and moisture <11> during the rapid cooling of the melted sand after the
lightning strike.

[§4] We continued exploring the dunes. Anna laughed and said we needed only to stop at the local gift shop to unearth <12> our treasure. <13> But given our <14> luck finding fulgurites in deserts and on beaches, <15> she wanted to keep searching to find our own piece of bright, white lightning in the sand.

<14>:

DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".

Lightning in the Sand

[§1] As my friend Anna and I walked the sand dunes of southeastern New Mexico, she told me that she hoped we'd find a fulgurite, one as translucent white as the southeastern New Mexico sands around us. <1> A fulgurite ­ whose name stems from the Latin word fulgur, which means "thunderbolt" ­ is a hollow silica glass tube formed when lightning strikes sand. A fulgurite is created in one explosive second by fusion and pressure as sand heated by a lightning blast melts, <2> and becomes glass. Commonly called "petrified lightning," a fulgurite places <3> the shape of a miniature lightning bolt into the earth, often branching deep into the ground.

[§2] Anna told me that I had possibly seen a small fragment of a fulgurite before, without realizing I had, on a beach. She explained though that even experts <4> are rarely able to locate a fully intact fulgurite. The thin, brittle glass tubes break easily. <5> Occasionally, after strong, sustained winds have shifted desert sands, while <6> an unbroken, previously buried fulgurite will be revealed, showing as a tube protruding from the ground. <7> I scanned the area, hopeful that I'd see a tube newly uncovered. <8> Anna made clear that we'd be lucky to come upon a small piece of fulgurite, just a few inches long.

[§3] Anna had shown me fulgurites she had found on other trips. Their colors ranged from black to brown to green, corresponding to the color of the sand in which she had discovered them. I wasn't surprised that I'd never recognized fulgurites on any beach: no one had ever told me what to look for <9> Their interiors, though, are smooth, clear glass stained <10> with tiny bubbles trapped formed by air and moisture <11> during the rapid cooling of the melted sand after the lightning strike.

[§4] We continued exploring the dunes. Anna laughed and said we needed only to stop at the local gift shop to unearth <12> our treasure. <13> But given our <14> luck finding fulgurites in deserts and on beaches, <15> she wanted to keep searching to find our own piece of bright, white lightning in the sand.

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion <15> would provide the essay with new information?