The artist's paintings were completely unique and one of a kind, unlike anything the critics had seen before.
A. NO CHANGE B. completely unique C. unique D. one of a kind and truly unique in nature
Answer: C. "Unique" already means "one of a kind," so "completely unique and one of a kind" is redundant. "Completely" is also unnecessary — something is either unique or it isn't. Choice C is the most concise. Choice D makes the redundancy even worse.
In light of the fact that the budget had been reduced, the committee decided to postpone the project.
A. NO CHANGE B. Because C. Due to the fact that D. Seeing as how it was the case that
Answer: B. "In light of the fact that" is a wordy way of saying "Because." The ACT consistently rewards concise phrasing. Choice C ("Due to the fact that") is equally wordy. Choice D is absurdly verbose.
Common wordy phrases the ACT tests:
| Wordy | Concise |
|---|---|
| in light of the fact that | because |
| at this point in time | now |
| in the event that | if |
| for the purpose of | to |
| in spite of the fact that | although |
| has the ability to | can |
[1] The building's architect, Maria Torres, drew inspiration from both Art Deco and Brutalist traditions. [2] Torres grew up in Buenos Aires, where she attended public school and later studied at a local university. [3] Her design combines geometric ornamentation with raw concrete facades. [4] The result is a structure that feels simultaneously elegant and imposing.
Question: The writer is considering deleting Sentence 2. Should the sentence be kept or deleted?
A. Kept, because it provides relevant biographical context about the architect's design influences. B. Kept, because it establishes Torres's credentials as a trained architect. C. Deleted, because it interrupts the paragraph's focus on the building's architectural style. D. Deleted, because the information contradicts details presented elsewhere in the passage.
Answer: C. Sentence 2 is about Torres's childhood and schooling — it doesn't connect to the paragraph's focus on the building's design. Sentences 1, 3, and 4 form a coherent thread about the building's style. Sentence 2 interrupts that flow. Choice A is wrong because Buenos Aires schooling isn't directly relevant to Art Deco/Brutalist influence. Choice B is wrong because attending university doesn't establish architectural credentials. Choice D is wrong because nothing contradicts the passage.
The city council approved the new park plan unanimously. _______, several residents raised concerns about increased traffic at the next community meeting.
A. Therefore, B. For example, C. Nevertheless, D. Similarly,
Answer: C. The council approved the plan (positive), but residents raised concerns (negative). This is a contrast, so "Nevertheless" (meaning "despite that") is correct. "Therefore" (cause-effect) would mean the approval caused the concerns — possible but the sentence framing suggests the concerns persisted despite approval. "For example" makes no sense. "Similarly" implies the same direction, not a contrast.
The research team's findings were totally awesome and blew everyone's mind, suggesting that the prevailing model of cellular division required significant revision.
A. NO CHANGE B. groundbreaking C. really, really impressive and quite surprising to most people D. not bad at all
Answer: B. The passage uses formal, academic language ("prevailing model," "cellular division," "significant revision"). "Totally awesome and blew everyone's mind" is informal and clashes with the tone. "Groundbreaking" conveys the same meaning in a register that matches the rest of the sentence. Choice C is wordy and still somewhat informal. Choice D is understated to the point of being inaccurate.