ACT English: Sentence Structure (Drill 2)

Question 1. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

• A) No Change (Because the expedition had reached the summit, they encountered a sudden storm)
• B) Since the expedition had reached the summit, they encountered a sudden storm
• C) After the expedition had reached the summit, they encountered a sudden storm ✓
• D) The expedition had reached the summit, and they encountered a sudden storm

Explanation: Choice C is correct. The relationship between the two clauses is temporal — first they reached the summit, then the storm hit. "Because" (Choice A) implies a causal relationship: the storm happened as a result of reaching the summit, which is illogical. Choice B uses "since," which can imply causation in the same way. Choice C uses "after," which correctly signals the time sequence. Choice D uses a coordinating conjunction, which creates a grammatically acceptable sentence but conveys a weaker, less precise relationship between the two events — the subordinating conjunction "after" better captures the sequence.

Question 2. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

• A) No Change (Although the new transit line cost twice as much as originally projected, it reduced downtown traffic congestion by nearly forty percent) ✓
• B) Because the new transit line cost twice as much as originally projected, it reduced downtown traffic congestion by nearly forty percent, as the sentence presents it
• C) The new transit line cost twice as much as originally projected, it reduced downtown traffic congestion by nearly forty percent
• D) Since the new transit line cost twice as much as originally projected, it reduced downtown traffic congestion by nearly forty percent

Explanation: Choice A (No Change) is correct. The sentence expresses a contrast: despite the high cost, the transit line delivered strong results. "Although" is precisely the right subordinating conjunction for this concessive relationship. Choice B uses "because," which would make the cost the cause of the traffic reduction — an illogical claim. Choice C removes the subordinating conjunction entirely, creating a comma splice — two independent clauses joined only by a comma. Choice D uses "since," which most commonly implies causation or time passage, neither of which fits the contrast being expressed here.

Question 3. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

• A) No Change (providing scholarships for medical students, and the support of families affected by illness.)
• B) provide scholarships for medical students, and support families affected by illness. ✓
• C) to provide scholarships for medical students, and supporting families affected by illness.
• D) providing scholarships for medical students, and to support families affected by illness.

Explanation: Choice B is correct. The sentence lists three things as objects of "to fund...to provide...and to support" — the infinitive "to" applies to all three through ellipsis once it has been established. The first element "to fund" sets the pattern: a bare infinitive (verb in base form). Choice B correctly gives all three elements the same form: "fund," "provide," and "support." Choice A mixes a gerund ("providing") with a noun phrase ("the support"), neither of which matches the infinitive already established. Choice C pairs an infinitive ("to provide") with a gerund ("supporting"), breaking the parallel. Choice D mixes a gerund ("providing") with an infinitive ("to support"), also non-parallel.

Question 4. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

• A) No Change (only awards funding to projects that demonstrate measurable community impact.)
• B) awards only funding to projects that demonstrate measurable community impact.
• C) awards funding only to projects that demonstrate measurable community impact. ✓
• D) awards funding to projects that only demonstrate measurable community impact.

Explanation: Choice C is correct. The word "only" is a limiting modifier — it should be placed immediately before the word or phrase it limits. The intended meaning is that the committee restricts its funding to a specific type of project. Choice C places "only" directly before "to projects," making it clear that projects with measurable community impact are the exclusive recipients. Choice A places "only" before "awards," implying the committee does nothing but award funding, which distorts the meaning. Choice B places "only" before "funding," suggesting the committee awards nothing except funding (not, say, recognition), which changes the focus. Choice D places "only" before "demonstrate," implying projects do nothing but demonstrate impact, again distorting the meaning.

Question 5. Which choice makes the sentence most grammatically acceptable?

• A) No Change (while the treaty was signed in 1848, its provisions were not fully enforced until the following decade.) ✓
• B) although the treaty was signed in 1848, but its provisions were not fully enforced until the following decade, as the sentence is written.
• C) the treaty was signed in 1848, however, its provisions were not fully enforced until the following decade.
• D) while the treaty was signed in 1848; its provisions were not fully enforced until the following decade.

Explanation: Choice A (No Change) is correct. The original correctly uses "while" to introduce a subordinate clause expressing a temporal/concessive contrast, followed by a comma and the main clause. This is a standard and correct construction. Choice B uses "although" and then adds the coordinating conjunction "but" — you cannot use both a subordinating conjunction ("although") and a coordinating conjunction ("but") to connect the same two clauses; this is called a double conjunction error. Choice C removes the subordinating conjunction entirely and replaces it with "however" without a preceding semicolon, creating a comma splice. Choice D uses a semicolon after the subordinate clause "while the treaty was signed in 1848," but a semicolon cannot separate a dependent clause from the main clause it modifies.