ACT Success - English Practice #7
In the passages that follow, certain words and phrases appear in brackets { }. In the questions, you will find alternatives for the bracketed part. In most cases, you are to choose the option 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 best, choose “NO CHANGE.”
You will also find questions about a section of the passage, or about the passage as a whole. These questions do not refer to a bracketed portion of the passage. For each question, choose the alternative you consider best. Read each passage through once before you begin to answer the questions that accompany it. For many of the questions, you must read several sentences beyond the question to determine the answer.[1] In the chaos of post-revolutionary Russia, one of the strangest and most unexpected players to shape history was the Czechoslovak Legion. Stranded in Russia after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, these soldiers, mostly prisoners of war, found themselves in a precarious situation. They had one goal: to return home and fight for an independent Czechoslovakia. Yet, instead of a straightforward journey, they became entangled in the Russian Civil War, transforming into key actors on a stage that stretched from {Europe, and Asia.}
[2] The Legion's saga began {innocously}. Initially, around 50,000 Czechoslovak soldiers formed the Legion in Russia. Their passage home through Siberia along the Trans-Siberian Railway was secured with an agreement from the Bolshevik regime. However, tensions between the Legion and the Red Army quickly escalated. A series of violent clashes turned the Legion from a neutral military force into one that controlled vast swaths of territory. By 1918, they held more than 5 million square miles, from the Ural Mountains to the Sea of Japan—a stretch of land so massive that it could have swallowed {Western Europe's whole.}
[3] These soldiers didn’t intend to fight the Bolsheviks, but circumstances thrust them into direct conflict with Lenin's regime. With the Trans-Siberian Railway under their control, they not only held one of Russia’s most vital lifelines but also directly threatened the fledgling Soviet state. Trotsky declared them enemies of the revolution, and Lenin ordered them to be crushed at all costs. The Legion’s advance even spurred Lenin’s decision to execute Tsar Nicholas II and his family, fearing the Legion might {of} rescue them.
[4] Beyond military engagements, the Legion inadvertently shaped Soviet policies. The need to quell their uprising contributed to the founding of concentration camps in Soviet Russia. Trotsky himself acknowledged the Legion's role in the formation of the Red Army, remarking that without them, the Soviets might never have built an army capable of defending the revolution.
[5] The Czechoslovak Legion’s unlikely journey through Siberia remains a forgotten but critical chapter in European history. These soldiers, who merely wanted to return home, found themselves temporarily holding the fate of Russia—and by extension, the 20th century—in their hands.Question 1
They became entangled in the Russian Civil War, transforming into key actors on a stage that stretched from {Europe, and Asia.} Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
Europe to Asia.
Europe to, Asia.
Europe, and also Asia.
Question 2
The Legion's saga began {innocously}. Which of the following is the best replacement for the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
innocuosly
innocuously
innocusly
Question 3
By 1918, they held more than 5 million square miles, from the Ural Mountains to the Sea of Japan—a stretch of land so massive that it could have swallowed {Western Europe's whole.} Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
all of Western Europe whole.
the whole of Western Europe.
Western Europe, wholly.
Question 4
The Legion’s advance even spurred Lenin’s decision to execute Tsar Nicholas II and his family, fearing the Legion might {of} rescue them. Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
would of
have
had of
Question 5
The writer is considering adding the following sentence to the end of paragraph [1]: "During this time, many foreign forces were vying for influence in the chaos of Russia." Should the writer make this addition?
Yes, because it provides important context about the geopolitical situation at the time.
Yes, because it emphasizes the role of external forces in shaping the Russian Civil War.
No, because it distracts from the focus on the Czechoslovak Legion.
No, because it repeats information already mentioned earlier in the paragraph.
Question 6
The writer wants to combine the following two sentences in paragraph [3]: {Trotsky declared them enemies of the revolution. Lenin ordered them to be crushed at all costs.} Which of the following alternatives to the bracketed portion would best accomplish this?Trotsky declared them enemies of the revolution, and Lenin ordered them crushed at all costs.
Declaring them enemies of the revolution, Trotsky’s plan included Lenin’s orders to crush them at all costs.
Declaring them enemies of the revolution, Trotsky and Lenin both wanted them to be crushed at all costs.
Trotsky declared them enemies of the revolution, Lenin, however, ordered them to be crushed at all costs.
Question 7
In paragraph [2], the writer describes the soldiers controlling “vast swaths of territory.” Which of the following would most effectively clarify the extent of their control?
Keep the sentence as it is.
Replace “vast swaths of territory” with “nearly all of Russia’s heartland.”
Replace “vast swaths of territory” with “most of Russia’s urban centers.”
Replace “vast swaths of territory” with “an area larger than most European countries.”
Question 8
Which of the following best describes the function of paragraph [4] in the passage?
It shifts the focus from the Legion's military achievements to its long-term influence on Soviet policies.
It introduces the formation of the Red Army as the primary event in the Russian Civil War.
It describes the logistical challenges the Legion faced in its journey through Siberia.
It contrasts the Legion’s experiences in Russia with their experiences in Europe.
Question 9
The writer is considering rearranging the order of the paragraphs so that paragraph [5] becomes the first paragraph of the passage. Should the writer make this change?
Yes, because paragraph [5] offers a strong introduction by emphasizing the Legion’s significance.
Yes, because it provides necessary context for the rest of the passage.
No, because it interrupts the chronological flow of the Legion's journey.
No, because paragraph [5] functions better as a conclusion.
Question 10
The passage as a whole would most likely be described as:
A historical account of a forgotten group of soldiers and their unintended impact on Russian history.
A detailed exploration of the military strategies employed by the Czechoslovak Legion in the Russian Civil War.
A narrative about the challenges faced by various European armies during the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
A critique of the Soviet Union’s policies and the role of foreign forces in shaping them.
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