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Question 301.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence:
The list of recommended books is posted beside the library entrance.

1. is posted
   2. are posted
   3. have posted
   4. were posting

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

The subject of the sentence is list, which is singular. The phrase “of recommended books” modifies the subject but does not change its grammatical number. Therefore, the singular verb phrase is posted is correct. Choice 2 incorrectly agrees with the nearby plural noun “books.” Choice 3 changes the meaning by making the list appear to perform the action, and Choice 4 changes both tense and structure unnecessarily. ACT English often tests subject-verb agreement by placing a plural noun between the actual subject and the verb. A useful strategy is to remove the modifying phrase temporarily: “The list is posted beside the entrance.” This simplified version makes the required singular agreement clear.

Question 302.

Which sentence is the clearest and most concise revision?
The hikers descended down from the mountain to the valley below after sunset.

1. The hikers descended down from the mountain after sunset to the valley below.
   2. After sunset, the hikers made a downward descent to the valley below.
   3. The hikers descended downward from the mountain into the valley below after sunset.
   4. The hikers descended into the valley after sunset.

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Choice 4 is the most concise because the verb descended already means “moved downward.” Therefore, phrases such as “descended down,” “downward descent,” and “valley below” unnecessarily repeat the same directional idea. Choice 1 retains “descended down,” Choice 2 uses the wordy noun phrase “made a downward descent,” and Choice 3 repeats the concept with “descended downward.” ACT English frequently tests redundancy by including two or more words that communicate the same idea. The strongest sentence keeps all necessary information while removing repetition. “The hikers descended into the valley after sunset” clearly tells the reader what happened, where they went, and when it occurred without unnecessary wording.

Question 303.

Choose the best punctuation for the sentence:
The architect had one primary objective ___ maximize natural light inside the building.

1. objective, maximize
   2. objective; maximize
   3. objective: maximize
   4. objective maximize

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

A colon is appropriate because the words before the blank form a complete independent clause: “The architect had one primary objective.” What follows explains exactly what that objective was. Therefore, Choice 3 is correct. Choice 1 uses only a comma and does not clearly signal the explanatory relationship. Choice 2 uses a semicolon, but “maximize natural light inside the building” is not a complete independent clause in this construction. Choice 4 omits needed punctuation. ACT English often tests colons when one complete clause introduces an explanation, list, example, or clarification. The key rule is that the material before the colon must be able to stand alone as a sentence. This sentence meets that requirement.

Question 304.

Choose the transition that best completes the paragraph:
The school installed water-refill stations in several hallways. Students began carrying reusable bottles more frequently. ___, the number of disposable plastic bottles found in school trash bins declined.

1. Nevertheless
   2. As a result
   3. In contrast
   4. For example

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

The decline in disposable bottles is presented as a consequence of students using reusable bottles more frequently. Therefore, As a result is the best transition because it expresses a cause-and-effect relationship. “Nevertheless” would indicate an unexpected contrast, which does not fit. “In contrast” would introduce an opposing idea, but the final sentence supports the previous trend. “For example” would introduce a specific illustration rather than an outcome. ACT transition questions are easiest when you first identify the relationship in plain language. Here, refill stations encouraged reusable bottles, which reduced disposable bottle waste. That relationship is clearly one of result.

Question 305.

Which sentence best supports the writer’s goal of emphasizing how quickly a new community garden became popular?

1. More than 300 residents registered for garden plots within the first five days.
   2. The garden contains raised beds and gravel paths.
   3. Several volunteers painted signs near the entrance.
   4. The site was once an empty parking lot.

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Choice 1 most directly supports the goal because it combines a large number of participants with a very short time period. More than 300 registrations in only five days is strong evidence that the garden became popular quickly. Choice 2 describes physical features, Choice 3 discusses volunteer work, and Choice 4 gives background information about the site. None of those details directly demonstrates rapid popularity. ACT rhetorical-purpose questions require choosing evidence that most precisely supports the stated goal. When the goal involves speed, growth, popularity, size, or cost, specific numerical information is often the strongest evidence because it allows the reader to measure the change.

Question 306.

If 5x-9=51, what is the value of x?

1. 8
   2. 10
   3. 11
   4. 12

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Start with 5x-9=51. Add 9 to both sides to get 5x=60. Then divide both sides by 5, giving x=12. Therefore, Choice 4 is correct. You can verify by substitution: 5(12)-9=60-9=51. Choice 1 gives 31, Choice 2 gives 41, and Choice 3 gives 46. ACT Math linear equations usually require only basic inverse operations, but careful arithmetic is essential. A reliable method is to undo addition or subtraction first and then multiplication or division. If the numbers are simple, checking the result by substitution helps catch errors quickly.

Question 307.

A backpack originally costs $120 and is discounted by 35%. What is the sale price?

1. $42
   2. $72
   3. $78
   4. $84

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

A 35% discount means the buyer pays 65% of the original price. Calculate 1200.65=78. Therefore, the sale price is $78, Choice 3. Another method is to find the amount of the discount first: 1200.35=42, then subtract 120-42=78. Choice 1 is the discount itself, not the final price. Choices 2 and 4 represent different discount percentages. ACT percentage questions often include the amount saved as a distractor, so always determine whether the question asks for the change or the final value. Using the remaining percentage can often be the fastest approach.

Question 308.

A rectangular room has an area of 252 square feet and a width of 14 feet. What is its length?

1. 16 feet
   2. 18 feet
   3. 20 feet
   4. 22 feet

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

The area of a rectangle is A=LW. Substitute the known values: 252=L14. Divide both sides by 14 to get L=18. Therefore, Choice 2 is correct. You can verify the answer by multiplying 1814=252. Choice 1 would give an area of 224, Choice 3 would give 280, and Choice 4 would give 308. ACT geometry often combines a familiar formula with simple algebra. Write the formula first, substitute the known values, and solve for the missing dimension. Remember that area is expressed in square units, while length and width are measured in linear units.

Question 309.

The average of 6 numbers is 34. Five of the numbers are 25, 30, 33, 37, and 41. What is the sixth number?

1. 38
   2. 35
   3. 36
   4. 40

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

If the mean of six numbers is 34, their total sum must be 346=204. Add the five known numbers: 25+30+33+37+41=166. Subtract this from the required total: 204-166=38. Therefore, the sixth number is 38, Choice 1. ACT average problems are often easiest when you first convert the average into a total. Then subtract the values already provided. A common mistake is to assume the missing number must equal the average, but individual values may be above or below the mean.

Question 310.

A line passes through the points (3,5) and (7,21). What is the slope of the line?

1. 2
   2. 3
   3. 5
   4. 4

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Use the slope formula m=y2–y1x2–x1. Substitute the points: m=21-57-3=164=4. Therefore, Choice 4 is correct. A common error is subtracting the coordinates in inconsistent orders. You may subtract either point from the other, but the order in the numerator and denominator must match. ACT coordinate geometry questions frequently test slope because it represents vertical change divided by horizontal change. Since both x and y increase from the first point to the second, the slope should be positive, which also provides a quick reasonableness check.

Question 311.

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage:
Jordan had always considered maps useful mainly for finding roads and addresses. During a geography course, however, his class studied maps showing rainfall, population density, migration, and vegetation. Jordan became interested in how maps could reveal patterns that were difficult to notice in a table of numbers. For his final project, he created a map comparing neighborhood temperatures with tree cover and discovered that the hottest areas often had fewer trees.

Which statement best describes Jordan’s change in perspective?

1. He realizes that maps can be tools for analyzing patterns as well as finding locations.
   2. He decides that numerical data are never useful.
   3. He concludes that all neighborhoods have identical temperatures.
   4. He loses interest in geography after completing the project.

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Jordan initially thinks of maps primarily as navigation tools. His geography course expands that view by showing him maps that represent many kinds of data. He then uses a map himself to examine the relationship between temperature and tree cover. Choice 1 accurately captures this development. Choice 2 is too extreme because the passage does not say numerical data are useless; maps simply help make patterns easier to see. Choice 3 contradicts his discovery of temperature differences, and Choice 4 is unsupported because his interest clearly increases. ACT Reading character-development questions often focus on how a new experience broadens or changes an initial assumption.

Question 312.

Based on the passage in Question 311, why does the author mention Jordan’s final project comparing temperature and tree cover?

1. To show that he disliked working with geographic data
   2. To prove that maps can replace all scientific measurements
   3. To suggest that every hot area has no trees
   4. To provide a specific example of Jordan using maps to investigate a pattern

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

Jordan’s final project provides concrete evidence of his changed understanding of maps. Instead of merely using a map for directions, he uses one to compare two variables and identify a geographic pattern. Choice 4 therefore best explains the purpose of the detail. Choice 1 contradicts his growing interest. Choice 2 makes an unsupported absolute claim because maps still depend on underlying measurements and data. Choice 3 exaggerates the finding; the passage says the hottest areas often had fewer trees, not that every hot area had none. ACT Reading questions about a specific detail often ask how that detail supports a larger character development or central idea.

Question 313.

Read the passage and answer the question.

Passage:
Some schools are installing small solar arrays above parking areas. The panels generate electricity while also providing shade for parked cars. In sunny regions, these systems may contribute a meaningful portion of a school’s daytime electricity needs. However, installation cost, available space, and local sunlight conditions affect whether such projects are practical.

What is the main idea of the passage?

1. Solar parking structures should replace every school parking lot.
   2. Solar panels make electricity from the grid unnecessary in all schools.
   3. Solar parking arrays can provide energy and shade, but their practicality depends on local conditions.
   4. Schools should eliminate parking to reduce electricity use.

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

The passage presents two main benefits of solar parking arrays: they generate electricity and provide shade. It also explains that their usefulness depends on cost, available space, and sunlight. Choice 3 accurately summarizes both the advantages and the limitations. Choice 1 is too absolute because not every school site will be suitable. Choice 2 exaggerates the amount of electricity the panels can provide. Choice 4 is unrelated to the author’s argument. ACT main-idea questions often include choices that turn a qualified idea into a universal recommendation. The best answer should reflect the passage’s overall balance rather than exaggerating one benefit.

Question 314.

In the passage from Question 313, why does the author mention “local sunlight conditions”?

1. To prove that solar panels work only in deserts
   2. To identify a factor that can affect how much electricity the system produces
   3. To show that shade prevents panels from generating energy
   4. To argue that schools should close during cloudy weather

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

Solar panels depend on sunlight to generate electricity, so local sunlight conditions influence how much energy a system can produce. The author includes this detail to show that solar parking arrays may be more practical in some locations than others. Choice 2 accurately explains the purpose. Choice 1 is too extreme because solar panels can function outside deserts. Choice 3 confuses the shade provided beneath the panels with sunlight falling on the panels themselves. Choice 4 is unrelated. ACT Reading often tests why authors include limitations or practical factors. These details help qualify a claim and prevent the reader from assuming that a technology will perform identically everywhere.

Question 315.

Which inference is best supported by the passage in Question 313?

1. Schools should evaluate local conditions before deciding whether to install solar parking arrays.
   2. Solar arrays always supply all of a school’s electricity.
   3. Every school has enough parking space for a solar project.
   4. Solar panels do not work unless temperatures are extremely high.

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

The passage states that installation cost, available space, and sunlight conditions affect whether solar parking projects are practical. Therefore, it is reasonable to infer that schools should evaluate those local factors before making an investment. Choice 1 is well supported. Choice 2 exaggerates the panels’ contribution, which the passage describes only as a possible portion of daytime electricity needs. Choice 3 assumes all schools have enough space, which is contradicted by the mention of space as a constraint. Choice 4 confuses sunlight with temperature. ACT inference questions reward conclusions that follow logically from the text without going beyond the evidence.

Question 316.

A student investigates how the concentration of a salt solution affects electrical conductivity. Four solutions contain 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% salt. All other conditions remain constant. What is the independent variable?

1. Electrical conductivity
   2. Volume of solution
   3. Temperature
   4. Salt concentration

Correct Answer: 4

Explanation:

The independent variable is the factor deliberately changed by the experimenter. Here, the student varies salt concentration among the four solutions, so Choice 4 is correct. Electrical conductivity is the dependent variable because it is the measured response. Volume and temperature should be controlled so that differences in conductivity can be attributed more confidently to salt concentration. ACT Science often tests experimental-design terminology. Remember the basic pattern: the independent variable is manipulated, the dependent variable is measured, and controlled variables are kept as similar as possible across trials.

Question 317.

Why should each solution in Question 316 be tested at the same temperature?

1. To make salt concentration identical
   2. To guarantee the same conductivity reading
   3. To prevent temperature differences from affecting conductivity
   4. To create another independent variable

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

Temperature can affect electrical conductivity, so it should remain constant if the experiment is intended to test only the effect of salt concentration. If one solution were much warmer than another, any difference in conductivity could result partly from temperature rather than concentration. Choice 3 correctly identifies the reason for controlling this variable. Choice 1 is incorrect because salt concentration is intentionally varied. Choice 2 is also incorrect because different concentrations are expected to produce different conductivity readings. Choice 4 would weaken the experiment by introducing another changing factor. ACT Science frequently asks why specific conditions are controlled: the purpose is to reduce confounding variables.

Question 318.

The conductivity experiment produced the following readings:
0% salt: 2 units
2% salt: 11 units
4% salt: 20 units
6% salt: 29 units
Which conclusion is best supported?

1. Conductivity decreased as salt concentration increased.
   2. Conductivity increased as salt concentration increased.
   3. The 0% solution had the highest conductivity.
   4. Salt concentration had no relationship with conductivity.

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

The conductivity values rise consistently as salt concentration increases: 2 units at 0%, 11 at 2%, 20 at 4%, and 29 at 6%. Therefore, Choice 2 accurately describes the data. Choice 1 reverses the observed relationship. Choice 3 is incorrect because the 0% solution has the lowest reading. Choice 4 ignores the strong pattern across all four measurements. ACT Science data questions often ask students to identify whether two variables have a positive or negative relationship. Here, both variables increase together, so the relationship is positive over the tested range. The best answer describes the observed data directly without making claims beyond the conditions studied.

Question 319.

Scientist A argues that a decline in a wetland plant is mainly caused by reduced rainfall. Scientist B argues that increased soil salinity is the primary cause. Which evidence would most directly support Scientist A?

1. Plant abundance declines most where rainfall decreases sharply while soil salinity remains stable.
   2. Soil salinity increases at several wetland sites.
   3. The plant produces seeds during spring.
   4. Some wetlands contain more insects than others.

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Scientist A identifies reduced rainfall as the main cause of the plant decline. Choice 1 directly supports this explanation because plant abundance falls where rainfall decreases while soil salinity remains relatively unchanged. This strengthens the rainfall hypothesis and reduces increased salinity as the competing explanation. Choice 2 would instead support Scientist B. Choices 3 and 4 provide background information but do not directly test either proposed cause. ACT conflicting-viewpoints questions are easiest when you identify the specific factor emphasized by each scientist and then choose evidence that changes one factor while keeping the competing variable relatively stable.

Question 320.

A researcher tests whether a new mineral supplement improves plant growth. Group A receives the supplement and 15 hours of light each day. Group B receives no supplement and 9 hours of light each day. Group A grows taller. Why is the conclusion that the supplement caused the additional growth not fully justified?

1. Plant height cannot be measured accurately.
   2. The groups differed in both supplement treatment and light exposure.
   3. Mineral supplements never affect plant growth.
   4. Nine hours of light always produces taller plants than fifteen hours.

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

The experiment changes two important variables at the same time. Group A receives the mineral supplement and also receives six more hours of light per day than Group B. Because light exposure can strongly affect plant growth, the researcher cannot determine whether the greater height resulted from the supplement, additional light, or a combination of the two. This is a confounding-variable problem. A stronger experiment would keep daily light exposure the same for both groups and vary only the mineral supplement. Choice 1 is false because plant height can be measured. Choices 3 and 4 make unsupported absolute claims. ACT Science frequently tests whether an experimental design adequately isolates the independent variable before a causal conclusion is made.