Free ACT English: Rhetorical Strategy Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student wants to add a sentence to a paragraph about climate change that provides a specific, concrete example. Which addition best achieves this goal?
- Arctic sea ice extent declined by approximately 13% per decade between 1979 and 2020, according to NASA satellite data. (Correct answer)
- Climate change is a very serious problem that affects many people around the world.
- Scientists have known about climate change for a long time and study it carefully.
- The environment is something that everyone should care about and protect.
Correct answer: Arctic sea ice extent declined by approximately 13% per decade between 1979 and 2020, according to NASA satellite data.
Rhetorical strategy questions test whether students can identify the best addition to meet a specific writing goal. The goal is a 'specific, concrete example' — this requires a specific, verifiable detail, not a vague generalization or personal opinion.
Question 2: The writer wants to conclude the essay with a call to action. Which ending sentence best accomplishes this?
- By contacting your local representatives and reducing personal carbon emissions, each of us can contribute to meaningful climate policy change. (Correct answer)
- Climate change is a problem that will take a long time to solve.
- Scientists are already working on solutions to environmental challenges.
- It is clear from the evidence presented that climate change is a real phenomenon.
Correct answer: By contacting your local representatives and reducing personal carbon emissions, each of us can contribute to meaningful climate policy change.
A call to action urges the reader to do something specific. It should be direct, actionable, and connected to the essay's main argument. Vague statements like 'we should all try' are weak calls to action compared to specific, motivating directives.
Question 3: The passage currently reads: 'Many students struggle with time management.' The writer wants to add a sentence that acknowledges a counterargument. Which sentence best does this?
- Admittedly, some students demonstrate exceptional organizational skills without any formal training. (Correct answer)
- However, time management is very important for academic success.
- Students who struggle with time management often fail their classes.
- All students need to learn how to manage their time more effectively.
Correct answer: Admittedly, some students demonstrate exceptional organizational skills without any formal training.
Acknowledging a counterargument means presenting the opposing view fairly before responding to it. This strengthens the writer's credibility by showing awareness of complexity. The sentence should present a genuine opposing perspective, not dismiss it.
Question 4: A writer asks: should this sentence be deleted? 'The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.' The paragraph is about modern Parisian architecture. What is the best reasoning for the decision?
- Yes, because it is a historical fact unrelated to the paragraph's focus on modern architecture. (Correct answer)
- No, because it provides useful historical background about Paris.
- Yes, because the date is incorrect and should be removed.
- No, because all facts about Paris are relevant to any essay about Paris.
Correct answer: Yes, because it is a historical fact unrelated to the paragraph's focus on modern architecture.
In ACT English, relevance questions require evaluating whether a detail supports the paragraph's main idea. Since the paragraph focuses on modern architecture and the Eiffel Tower's construction date is historical context unrelated to modern architecture specifically, the sentence should be deleted as it distracts from the paragraph's focus.
Question 5: The writer wants to use a tone that is formal and authoritative for an essay about scientific research. Which sentence best matches this tone?
- Numerous peer-reviewed studies confirm a significant correlation between sleep deprivation and reduced cognitive performance. (Correct answer)
- Lots of studies show that not sleeping enough makes your brain work worse.
- We all know that when you don't sleep, you can't think straight, right?
- Sleep is super important and scientists have done tons of research proving this.
Correct answer: Numerous peer-reviewed studies confirm a significant correlation between sleep deprivation and reduced cognitive performance.
Formal, authoritative tone is characterized by objective, precise language, avoiding colloquialisms, contractions, and personal anecdotes. Academic writing uses third-person perspective, technical vocabulary where appropriate, and complex but clear sentence structures.
Question 6: Which sentence, if added to the beginning of the paragraph, would best serve as a topic sentence for a paragraph discussing the economic benefits of renewable energy?
- The transition to renewable energy presents substantial economic opportunities, including job creation and long-term energy cost reductions. (Correct answer)
- Renewable energy is better for the environment than fossil fuels.
- Many countries around the world are investing in solar and wind power.
- Scientists have studied renewable energy for many decades.
Correct answer: The transition to renewable energy presents substantial economic opportunities, including job creation and long-term energy cost reductions.
A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a paragraph. For a paragraph about economic benefits of renewable energy, the topic sentence should explicitly state that renewable energy provides economic benefits, giving the reader a clear expectation of what follows.
Free ACT English: Rhetorical Strategy Questions and Answers
A student wants to add a sentence to a paragraph about climate change that provides a specific, concrete example.
Which addition best achieves this goal?