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Test Prep ACT Test Exam
American College Testing: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (Page 26 )

Updated On: 1-Feb-2026
Page 26 of 209
PDF with 1039 Questions

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 Real McCoy

[§1] "It's the real McCoy." You might have heard this expression before, but who ­ or what ­ is a McCoy, real or otherwise? The saying has been used for generations to declare its' <1> the genuine article, the original and best. [A] While its origin is disputed, many people believe the expression was inspired by the inventions of a Canadian American engineer named, <2> Elijah McCoy. McCoy, a railroad worker who, as a teenager, had formally studied mechanical engineering, revolutionized railroad and factory operations, affecting both incredibly <3> with his dozens of patented products.

[§2] While working for the Michigan Central Railroad in the 1870s, then <4> McCoy was assigned to work on the wheel bearings and axles of trains. <5> Trains needed to come to a halt after only a few miles of travel so that the moving parts could be oiled by hand ­ a tedious, time-consuming process. McCoy invented a device that released oil while a train was in motion, substantially reducing the number <6> of maintenance stops had the effect of making <7> travel more efficient. [B] This automatic lubricating device became the first of his fifty- seven patents.

[§3] McCoy applied the principles of this invention to other engineering challenges. Factories in the late 1800s, for example, <8> increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. As with trains, therefore <9> many of the machines' parts had to be oiled manually. McCoy, recognizing <10> the similarities between train wheels and factory machines, designed automated oilers for steam engines. These innovations allowed factories to give machines a certain timelessness, <11> increasing factory productivity and, as a result, profits.
<12>

[§4] McCoy's inventions were an instant success. [C] Not surprisingly, other inventors inundated the market with similar ­ and usually inferior ­ devices. [D] Supposedly, factory owners who wanted a product proven to do it <13> would ask if their purchase was "the real McCoy." McCoy's inventions would continue to benefit industries in the United States well into the twentieth century, as his name became synonymous with quality and authenticity. <14>

<9>:

  1. NO CHANGE
  2. the problem being
  3. in that
  4. DELETE the underlined portion.

Answer(s): D



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 Real McCoy

[§1] "It's the real McCoy." You might have heard this expression before, but who ­ or what ­ is a McCoy, real or otherwise? The saying has been used for generations to declare its' <1> the genuine article, the original and best. [A] While its origin is disputed, many people believe the expression was inspired by the inventions of a Canadian American engineer named, <2> Elijah McCoy. McCoy, a railroad worker who, as a teenager, had formally studied mechanical engineering, revolutionized railroad and factory operations, affecting both incredibly <3> with his dozens of patented products.

[§2] While working for the Michigan Central Railroad in the 1870s, then <4> McCoy was assigned to work on the wheel bearings and axles of trains. <5> Trains needed to come to a halt after only a few miles of travel so that the moving parts could be oiled by hand ­ a tedious, time-consuming process. McCoy invented a device that released oil while a train was in motion, substantially reducing the number <6> of maintenance stops had the effect of making <7> travel more efficient. [B] This automatic lubricating device became the first of his fifty- seven patents.

[§3] McCoy applied the principles of this invention to other engineering challenges. Factories in the late 1800s, for example, <8> increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. As with trains, therefore <9> many of the machines' parts had to be oiled manually. McCoy, recognizing <10> the similarities between train wheels and factory machines, designed automated oilers for steam engines. These innovations allowed factories to give machines a certain timelessness, <11> increasing factory productivity and, as a result, profits.
<12>

[§4] McCoy's inventions were an instant success. [C] Not surprisingly, other inventors inundated the market with similar ­ and usually inferior ­ devices. [D] Supposedly, factory owners who wanted a product proven to do it <13> would ask if their purchase was "the real McCoy." McCoy's inventions would continue to benefit industries in the United States well into the twentieth century, as his name became synonymous with quality and authenticity. <14>

<10>:

  1. NO CHANGE
  2. McCoy would recognize
  3. McCoy, a recognition of
  4. McCoy recognized

Answer(s): 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".

The Real McCoy

[§1] "It's the real McCoy." You might have heard this expression before, but who ­ or what ­ is a McCoy, real or otherwise? The saying has been used for generations to declare its' <1> the genuine article, the original and best. [A] While its origin is disputed, many people believe the expression was inspired by the inventions of a Canadian American engineer named, <2> Elijah McCoy. McCoy, a railroad worker who, as a teenager, had formally studied mechanical engineering, revolutionized railroad and factory operations, affecting both incredibly

<3> with his dozens of patented products.

[§2] While working for the Michigan Central Railroad in the 1870s, then <4> McCoy was assigned to work on the wheel bearings and axles of trains. <5> Trains needed to come to a halt after only a few miles of travel so that the moving parts could be oiled by hand ­ a tedious, time-consuming process. McCoy invented a device that released oil while a train was in motion, substantially reducing the number <6> of maintenance stops had the effect of making <7> travel more efficient. [B] This automatic lubricating device became the first of his fifty- seven patents.

[§3] McCoy applied the principles of this invention to other engineering challenges. Factories in the late 1800s, for example, <8> increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. As with trains, therefore <9> many of the machines' parts had to be oiled manually. McCoy, recognizing <10> the similarities between train wheels and factory machines, designed automated oilers for steam engines. These innovations allowed factories to give machines a certain timelessness, <11> increasing factory productivity and, as a result, profits.
<12>

[§4] McCoy's inventions were an instant success. [C] Not surprisingly, other inventors inundated the market with similar ­ and usually inferior ­ devices. [D] Supposedly, factory owners who wanted a product proven to do it <13> would ask if their purchase was "the real McCoy." McCoy's inventions would continue to benefit industries in the United States well into the twentieth century, as his name became synonymous with quality and authenticity. <14>

Which choice offers the clearest and most precise information about how the operation of factory machines changed as a result of McCoy's innovations? <11>

  1. NO CHANGE
  2. rethink operations,
  3. run machines continuously,
  4. use machines differently,

Answer(s): C



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 Real McCoy

[§1] "It's the real McCoy." You might have heard this expression before, but who ­ or what ­ is a McCoy, real or otherwise? The saying has been used for generations to declare its' <1> the genuine article, the original and best. [A] While its origin is disputed, many people believe the expression was inspired by the inventions of a Canadian American engineer named, <2> Elijah McCoy. McCoy, a railroad worker who, as a teenager, had formally studied mechanical engineering, revolutionized railroad and factory operations, affecting both incredibly <3> with his dozens of patented products.

[§2] While working for the Michigan Central Railroad in the 1870s, then <4> McCoy was assigned to work on the wheel bearings and axles of trains. <5> Trains needed to come to a halt after only a few miles of travel so that the moving parts could be oiled by hand ­ a tedious, time-consuming process. McCoy invented a device that released oil while a train was in motion, substantially reducing the number <6> of maintenance stops had the effect of making <7> travel more efficient. [B] This automatic lubricating device became the first of his fifty-seven patents.

[§3] McCoy applied the principles of this invention to other engineering challenges. Factories in the late 1800s, for example, <8> increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. As with trains, therefore <9> many of the machines' parts had to be oiled manually. McCoy, recognizing <10> the similarities between train wheels and factory machines, designed automated oilers for steam engines. These innovations allowed factories to give machines a certain timelessness, <11> increasing factory productivity and, as a result, profits.
<12>

[§4] McCoy's inventions were an instant success. [C] Not surprisingly, other inventors inundated the market with similar ­ and usually inferior ­ devices. [D] Supposedly, factory owners who wanted a product proven to do it <13> would ask if their purchase was "the real McCoy." McCoy's inventions would continue to benefit industries in the United States well into the twentieth century, as his name became synonymous with quality and authenticity. <14>

The writer is considering deleting the following phrase from the preceding sentence <12> (ending the sentence with a period):

and, as a result, profits.

Should the writer make this deletion?

  1. Yes, because the phrase shifts the focus of the paragraph from the use of McCoy's inventions in factories to factory disputes.
  2. Yes, because the phrase suggests that factory owners were more interested in profits than in which of McCoy's devices would best meet their needs.
  3. No, because the phrase is relevant to the paragraph's discussion of the positive effects that the use of McCoy's inventions had in factories.
  4. No, because the phrase makes clear that the successful use of McCoy's inventions in factories led to higher wages for factory workers.

Answer(s): C



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 Real McCoy

[§1] "It's the real McCoy." You might have heard this expression before, but who ­ or what ­ is a McCoy, real or otherwise? The saying has been used for generations to declare its' <1> the genuine article, the original and best. [A] While its origin is disputed, many people believe the expression was inspired by the inventions of a Canadian American engineer named, <2> Elijah McCoy. McCoy, a railroad worker who, as a teenager, had formally studied mechanical engineering, revolutionized railroad and factory operations, affecting both incredibly <3> with his dozens of patented products.

[§2] While working for the Michigan Central Railroad in the 1870s, then <4> McCoy was assigned to work on the wheel bearings and axles of trains. <5> Trains needed to come to a halt after only a few miles of travel so that the moving parts could be oiled by hand ­ a tedious, time-consuming process. McCoy invented a device that released oil while a train was in motion, substantially reducing the number <6> of maintenance stops had the effect of making <7> travel more efficient. [B] This automatic lubricating device became the first of his fifty- seven patents.

[§3] McCoy applied the principles of this invention to other engineering challenges. Factories in the late 1800s, for example, <8> increasingly relied on steam engines to power factory machines. As with trains, therefore <9> many of the machines' parts had to be oiled manually. McCoy, recognizing <10> the similarities between train wheels and factory machines, designed automated oilers for steam engines. These innovations allowed factories to give machines a certain timelessness, <11> increasing factory productivity and, as a result, profits.
<12>

[§4] McCoy's inventions were an instant success. [C] Not surprisingly, other inventors inundated the market with similar ­ and usually inferior ­ devices. [D] Supposedly, factory owners who wanted a product proven to do it <13> would ask if their purchase was "the real McCoy." McCoy's inventions would continue to benefit industries in the United States well into the twentieth century, as his name became synonymous with quality and authenticity. <14>

<13>:

  1. NO CHANGE
  2. lend itself to superiority
  3. give off the best result
  4. work well

Answer(s): D



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