ACT Success - English Practice #8
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] Imagine this: your day starts not with a typical commute, but with a call from local law enforcement. {They’ve} found human remains in a forest outside of town, and you’re the first expert they need on-site. This is just another day for a forensic anthropologist—a career that merges science, detective work, and empathy for the dead. Forensic anthropologists specialize in human remains, analyzing bones to extract as much information as possible. At the crime scene, your job isn’t glamorous {but its} critical. Carefully, you begin excavating the remains, ensuring nothing is damaged. Bones, after all, are fragile clues. You must decipher whether these remains belong to a man or a woman, their age at death, and how long {they've} been lying there. And you’re not just identifying a body—you're piecing together a life story. That story might even reveal signs of trauma: blunt-force injuries or fractures that suggest a violent death.
[2] Once back in the lab, you clean and scrutinize the bones under a microscope. Is that a healed fracture from years before, or a fatal injury? Can the dental work match a missing person’s records? You often work with a team, like forensic odontologists and pathologists, {whom's} insights help solidify your findings. Testifying in court comes next, where you explain how a few bones can solve a criminal case.
[3] The job doesn’t end with crime scenes. Forensic anthropologists help with natural disasters, plane crashes, and even war crimes. They {has} identified soldiers from past wars and victims of mass graves. In the case of human rights violations, your skills might even serve justice on a global scale, working with international organizations to provide evidence of genocide.
[4] Becoming a forensic anthropologist requires immense dedication. Most in the field have doctoral degrees in biological anthropology, along with years of practical experience. Many, like Dr. Diane France, describe their work as a series of puzzles. Their role brings clarity to what bones can tell us about the dead—and how those clues can bring justice to the living.Question 1
Imagine this: your day starts not with a typical commute, but with a call from local law enforcement. {They’ve} found human remains in a forest outside of town, and you’re the first expert they need on-site.
Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
They have
They’d
They had
Question 2
At the crime scene, your job isn’t glamorous {but its} critical.
Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
but it’s
and it’s
and its
Question 3
You must decipher whether these remains belong to a man or a woman, their age at death, and how long {they've} been lying there.
Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
they have
they'd
they’d
Question 4
You often work with a team, like forensic odontologists and pathologists, {whom's} insights help solidify your findings.
Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
whose
who’s
of whom
Question 5
They {has} identified soldiers from past wars and victims of mass graves.
Which choice best corrects the selection in brackets?NO CHANGE
has been
have
having
Question 6
The writer is considering adding the following sentence to the beginning of paragraph [3]: “Beyond solving individual cases, forensic anthropologists play a vital role in large-scale investigations.” Should the writer make this addition?
Yes, because it helps transition from individual cases to broader applications of forensic anthropology.
Yes, because it provides more information about how forensic anthropologists work.
No, because it introduces unnecessary information about a subject that is not central to the paragraph.
No, because it interrupts the discussion about how forensic anthropologists assist with natural disasters.
Question 7
In paragraph [2], the writer refers to “dental work” when discussing how forensic anthropologists match remains to missing persons. Which of the following sentences would best clarify the importance of dental records?
Keep the sentence as it is.
Add: "Dental records are often used in identifying bodies when other methods are not possible."
Add: "Dental records are common in criminal investigations, especially with missing persons cases."
Add: "Forensic odontologists compare dental records to help law enforcement."
Question 8
Which of the following best describes the function of paragraph [4] in the passage?
It introduces Dr. Diane France as an expert in forensic anthropology.
It outlines the educational and professional requirements for becoming a forensic anthropologist.
It provides specific examples of cases forensic anthropologists typically handle.
It explains how forensic anthropologists use puzzles as a metaphor for their work.
Question 9
The writer is considering rearranging the order of the paragraphs so that paragraph [4] becomes paragraph [1]. Should the writer make this change?
Yes, because it provides a strong introduction by emphasizing the dedication required for the profession.
Yes, because it would establish Dr. Diane France as a key figure early on.
No, because it interrupts the flow of the narrative by shifting the focus to qualifications too early.
No, because the current paragraph structure presents a logical progression from job duties to qualifications.
Question 10
Which choice most effectively combines the following two sentences in paragraph [2]? "Is that a healed fracture from years before, or a fatal injury? Can the dental work match a missing person’s records?"
"Is that a healed fracture from years before, or a fatal injury, and does the dental work match a missing person’s records?"
"Is that a healed fracture from years before or a fatal injury, and could the dental work match a missing person’s records?"
"Is that a healed fracture from years before, a fatal injury, or does the dental work match a missing person’s records?"
"Is that a healed fracture from years before, or a fatal injury, and can the dental work match a missing person’s records?"
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