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A quick taste of the ACT English & Reading bank — every question below is a real, quality-reviewed item. Answer them, then see how you did.
- The implementation of sugary drink taxes in various municipalities has sparked a contentious debate regarding economic equity and public health outcomes. Proponents argue that such fiscal measures effectively curb consumption, leading to measurable reductions in obesity and diabetes rates among low-income populations. However, critics contend that these taxes function as regressive levies, disproportionately burdening households with limited financial resources while failing to address the root causes of poor dietary habits.
Which of the following sentences, if placed at the end of the paragraph, would best provide a concluding statement that synthesizes the two perspectives presented?
- The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a watershed moment in American history, but its impact on the daily lives of African Americans in the rural South was not immediate. While the law outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, enforcement relied heavily on local compliance, which was often met with resistance. In many small towns, businesses closed rather than desegregate, and social ostracization remained a powerful tool of control. Furthermore, the Act did not address de facto segregation in housing or employment, leaving significant economic disparities intact. As a result, while legal barriers were dismantled, the social and economic structures of white supremacy persisted, requiring continued activism and subsequent legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to achieve broader equality.
Which choice best states the main idea of the passage?
- While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally dismantled segregation, historian Elena Rostova argues that its immediate impact on Black economic mobility was negligible. Rostova points to federal housing policies that continued to restrict mortgage access in predominantly Black neighborhoods, effectively locking wealth disparities in place. She contrasts this with the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which she claims was the true catalyst for suburban integration. However, Rostova’s analysis relies heavily on national averages, ignoring localized data from cities like Atlanta and Detroit, where Black homeownership rates actually increased significantly between 1965 and 1967 due to strong local advocacy and non-discrimination ordinances enacted before the federal mandate. Thus, while federal policy was crucial, Rostova underestimates the power of municipal action in the mid-1960s.
Based on the passage, which conclusion is best supported regarding the effectiveness of civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s?
- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, formally ended the Mexican-American War and ceded a vast territory to the United States. [INSERT SENTENCE HERE] This sudden expansion intensified the national debate over the spread of slavery into new lands.
Which of the following choices best completes the paragraph by providing a logical transition between the treaty's territorial results and the subsequent political conflict?
- The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was not merely a protest against segregation but a strategic demonstration of economic solidarity. Organizers, including A. Philip Randolph, insisted on linking civil rights to labor rights, arguing that African Americans could not achieve true freedom without economic security. The march drew over 250,000 people, many of whom were union members or supporters of union causes. This mass mobilization pressured the Kennedy administration to propose stronger civil rights legislation, while simultaneously highlighting the intersection of racial and economic justice. The event underscored the belief that social change required both political action and economic empowerment.
Which choice best states the main idea of the passage?
- The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956 was a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement, demonstrating the power of nonviolent collective action. For over a year, African American residents of Montgomery, Alabama, refused to ride city buses in protest of segregated seating policies. The boycott not only resulted in a Supreme Court ruling declaring bus segregation unconstitutional but also brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence as a leader of the movement.
Which choice best provides a concluding sentence for the paragraph that synthesizes the significance of the boycott described?
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GRE · Analyze an Issue Governments should invest more heavily in public transportation than in new highways.
Whether to prioritize public transportation over new highways is ultimately a question of what kind of future a city wants to build. While highways promise immediate relief from congestion, governments should indeed invest more heavily in public transportation, because it addresses the root causes of urban gridlock rather than temporarily masking them.
The strongest case for transit is that highways tend to create the very demand they aim to satisfy. Planners call this 'induced demand': when a city widens a road, the extra capacity draws more drivers until traffic returns to its former crawl. Los Angeles, despite decades of highway expansion, remains among the most congested cities in the world. A dollar spent on a new lane often buys only a few years of relief, whereas a dollar spent on reliable rail removes cars from the road permanently.
Transit also distributes opportunity more fairly. A household that cannot afford a car is effectively cut off from jobs in a highway-dependent city, and efficient transit reconnects those residents to the economy while lowering emissions per passenger.
None of this means highways are worthless. In sparsely populated regions, and for freight, roads remain essential. The claim is not that highways should be abandoned, but that, at the margin, the next public dollar does more good on rails than under asphalt.
Sample response · scroll to read
AWA score
- Position5/6
Takes a clear, appropriately qualified stance and holds it throughout.
- Development4/6
A strong central idea (induced demand) with a concrete example; the equity and environmental points are asserted more than developed.
- Organization5/6
A logical arc from claim to reasons to concession; transitions guide the reader well.
- Language4/6
Fluent and largely precise, though a few sentences run long and could be tightened.
- Conventions5/6
Solid command of grammar and mechanics, with only minor slips.
Strengths
- Clear, nuanced thesis that avoids overclaiming
- The 'induced demand' argument is well-chosen and genuinely persuasive
- Concedes the strongest counterpoint (rural roads, freight) rather than ignoring it
To improve
- Develop the equity/environment paragraph with a specific example or figure
- Trim wordy sentences to sharpen the prose
- Address a likely objection to transit (cost, ridership risk) head-on
A focused, well-structured response with a persuasive core argument and a fair concession. Deepening the supporting evidence and tightening the language would lift it toward the top of the scale.
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lasting for a very short time; temporary
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