ACT English Practice TIMED Practice Test (Passage 1)

(1) player’s number’s

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. players’ numbers

• C. player’s numbers’

• D. players number’s

Answer explanation

Multiple fans would have more than one favorite player, so players should be plural. The word numbers, then, would be plural too. Now, let’s go back to players. Not only is the noun plural, it is also possessive because the passage is discussing THEIR numbers. An ending of –s’ indicates plural possessive. There is no need for an apostrophe on numbers because the numbers do not own anything—it’s simply a

plural noun

(2) its

• F. NO CHANGE

• G. his or her

• H. their

• J. that

Answer explanation

The antecedent is fans, which is plural, and in this sentence, also possessive, making

their the best fit.

(3) and a multi-millionaire

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. who happens to be extremely rich

• C. is overpaid and

• D. , a multi-millionaire,

Answer explanation

The head coach IS a multi-millionaire; we’re not talking about two separate people

here. Therefore, take out the conjunction and. While Choices B and C also express

this idea, they are not punctuated correctly and are overly wordy.

(4) for the rights to

(The underlined portion can be replaced with all of the

following EXCEPT:)

• F. in order to

• G. to

• H. for the ability to

• J. for the privilege of

Answer explanation

In order to use for the privilege of, the following word would have to be broadcasting, but the passage uses broadcast, which means choice J does not fit.

(5) Yet

(Which option would NOT be an appropriate replacement

for the underlined portion?

• A. However,

• B. Conversely,

• C. Ultimately,

• D. On the other hand,

Answer explanation

The word yet expresses a contrast, similar to however (choice A), conversely (choice

B), and on the other hand (choice D). Choice C changes the meaning of the sentence.

(6) In accordance with

(Which of the following options is LEAST acceptable?)

• F. Because of

• G. Due to

• H. As a result of

• J. As there are

Answer explanation

Choices F, G, and H show a cause and effect relationship, which emphasizes the

reason that student athletes are exempt from compensation as stated in the second half of the sentence. Choice J does not emphasize this cause and effect relationship.

(7) dumb.

(Which of the following word choices would be most

acceptable, considering the style and tone of the passage?)

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. unfair

• C. disrespectful

• D. tolerable

Answer explanation

The word dumb is too casual to use in this argumentative yet academic article. Choice

C, disrespectful, suggests that the schools and NCAA do not respect the players, but

the paragraph is really about athletes getting their fair share. Choice D, tolerable, is

opposite in meaning from what the paragraph is trying to suggest.

(8) everyone generates

• F. NO CHANGE

• G. college athletes make

• H. the NCAA generate

• J. it makes

Answer explanation

The pronoun everyone is a bit ambiguous in this case. Money is generated for the

university by the college athletes; choice G makes this clearer.

(9) to those of

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. to that of

• C. to

• D. OMIT the underlined portion

Answer explanation

The phrase is referring back to the life of an athlete, which is singular, making that a

better fit than those.

(10) intense workouts, morning-to-night practices, and then having to study playbooks.

• F. NO CHANGE

• G. intense workouts, morning-to-night practices, and

  playbooks to study.

• H. intensely working out, practicing nightly, and

  studying playbooks.

• J. intense morning-to-night practices and playbooks.

Answer explanation

Choice H maintains parallel structure by listing three similarly-structured verbs:

working, practicing, and studying.