ACT English Practice 3

One of today’s hottest fads is also one of the world’s oldest practices: the ancient art of yoga. At first, I thought yoga was just another fitness fad, like step aerobics classes or Tae Bo. But after my first class, I understood why yoga has lasted for thousands of years and why so many people are completely into¹ this practice.

• No Change

• hooked on

• devoted to

• practitioners of

Yoga is different from other fitness activi-ties because it is not only physical. In the correct form,² yoga is a practice of unification: an emotional, spiritual, and physical exercise.

• No Change

• Done correctly,

• To do it correctly,

• Omit the underlined portion.

Although it may seem easy to those who³ have never practiced, yoga poses require great concentration, and they are surprisingly affective in stretching and strengthening muscles.

• No Change

• that

• whom

• which

Although it may seem easy to those who have never practiced, yoga poses require great concentration, and they are⁴ surprisingly affective in stretching and strengthening muscles.

• No Change

• concentration and is

• concentration, and are

• concentration and is

Although it may seem easy to those who have never practiced, yoga poses require great concentration, and they are surprisingly affective⁵in stretching and strengthening muscles.

• No Change

• affected

• effected

• effective

A simple sitting pose such as staff pose, for example, requires you to tighten and lengthen stomach, back, and arm muscles as you stretch you’re⁶ legs out in front of you and place your hands by your side.

• No Change

• one's

• your

• these

More difficult poses, such as brave warrior, require you to balance on one leg and hold a pose that strengthens leg, back, and stomach muscles, which is good for you.⁷ While yoga tones and strengthens the body, it also tones and strengthe

• No Change

• which benefits you

• which is good for your health

• Omit the underlined portion, and change the comma to a period.

While yoga tones and strengthens the body, it also tones and strengthens the mind. Many poses can be only held⁸ if you are completely focused on the task, and full benefit of the poses comes only through proper breathing.

• No Change

• are only holding

• can only be held

• can be held only

Concentrated deep breathing during yoga helps you extend more fully into the poses, thereby gaining greater benefit from the stretch. And the steady⁹ circulation of breath through your body both calms and energizes.

• No Change

• stretch, the steady

• stretch. The steady

• stretch, also the steady

Through yoga, I am able to release tensions that lodge in various parts of my body: the tight shoulders, the cramped legs, the belly that is in knots.¹⁰

• No Change

• knotted belly.

• knots within the belly

• aching within the stomach area.