The September 2023 ACT Form G01 English section tests grammar and rhetoric skills across two full passages, from comma placement and verb tense to redundancy and paragraph focus. This walkthrough explains every question so you can see why each correct answer works and where the wrong choices break down.
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Review the September 2023 ACT Form G01 English Section with Test Advantage. You are in the right place. Test Advantage is here to help you master the English section with our expert analysis and top-notch strategies. Our tutors have gone through this specific form question by question, and we are excited to share our insights with you.
Passage 1, Questions 1-14
1. D - Focus on essential vs. non-essential information. The word "men" is not specific, so "who danced" is a defining clause that tells us exactly who these men are.
2. H - This tests fragments. "Europeans witnessing" is an adjective clause. F uses the wrong pronoun "who" instead of "whom." G is missing a verb ("who witnessing"). J uses the wrong pronoun.
3. A - This question focuses on proper verb tense and usage. The past tense "began" maintains consistency with the surrounding past tense verbs in the passage.
4. G - Proper comma placement is required here. The phrase "by individual tribes" is an adjectival phrase that needs to be set off with commas because it is non-essential information. ACT Pattern: Comma + Preposition is usually incorrect.
5. A - The correct idiom "ensuring success" should be used rather than "for ensuring success." Focus on common idioms and phrases.
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Start 1-day free trial →6. J - This question tests your ability to choose the proper idiomatic phrase. The correct phrase is "take part in" rather than "apart of." F and G use "apart," meaning separated. H uses the wrong preposition.
7. B - The verb tense needs to match the surrounding past tense verbs, so "dance" is correct. Pay attention to maintaining consistent verb tense.
8. F - The adverb phrase "singing and playing the drum in unison" correctly modifies how the group sits around the drum. G, H, and J are all fragments that separate the subject from the verb.
9. C - The pronoun "all" should be used instead of "every" or "each" to indicate action applied to all of the activities.
10. F - The commas around the phrase "which can last for days" set off a modifier that modifies "larger powwows." The other answers create misplaced or dangling modifiers.
11. C - The transitional phrase "In particular" helps to specify an example and advance the paragraph effectively. Focus on phrases that develop the paragraph's main idea.
12. J - The entire underlined phrase is redundant and should be deleted. It does not add any essential information to the sentence. Remove redundant or unnecessary information.
13. B - Redundancy: "proved" and "afford" have the same meaning.
14. H - The infinitive phrase "to dance and sing" provides parallel construction. Pay attention to the "comma, comma, and" list.
15. A - The essay successfully contrasts modern powwows with earlier tribal ceremonies and shows how the tradition has been adapted into modern times. Evaluate if the essay fulfills its intended purpose.
Passage 2, Questions 16-30
16. H - Commas are needed around the phrase "notebooks, and pencils" in a list of three or more items. Use a comma before the "and" in a list of three or more things.
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17. A - The past perfect verb "had discovered" is needed earlier in the sentence to indicate that the discovery happened before the action later in the sentence. Maintain proper sequencing of events.
18. H - The verbs "studying" and "study about" are redundant. Just "studying" or "thinking about" is sufficient. Eliminate redundant or repetitive wording.
19. D - Removing the phrase would cause the sentence to lose a specifying detail about where Wilson makes his observations. Evaluate if details provide essential or non-essential information.
20. G - Follow a regular, everyday tone. The other choices are informal or do not fit the meaning.
21. B - "Are" fits the question.
Here is the breakdown for questions 22-30 with revised explanations:
22. G - The singular possessive "colony's success" is needed to match the singular noun "success." The original plural "colonies" does not match the singular "success." Ensure the possessive noun matches the noun it is modifying.
23. C - The additional detail about food debris distracts from the paragraph's focus on ant specialization and division of labor. The specific type of food is not relevant to answering Wilson's main questions stated earlier. Added details should support the main idea rather than distract from it.
24. G - The information that worker ants sacrifice reproduction to feed larvae and queens strongly supports the main idea of ants' specialized roles benefiting the colony. The other choices are factual but less directly relevant to ants' division of labor and colony welfare. Select the choice that best reinforces the paragraph's main point.
25. B - The verb "devote" should be in simple present tense to match the present tense verbs in the rest of the sentence ("specialize," "are"). Avoid unnecessary shifts in verb tense.
26. H - The paragraph shift would be most effective before sentence 7, "Wilson has found," to separate the questions Wilson is investigating from the findings that follow. A paragraph break here clearly divides the key ideas of the paragraph.
27. D - The verb "describes" does not mean "to say" but is more detailed than the original word "identifies"; hence, it is not appropriate.
28. H - No commas are needed around the phrase "in his view" because it is essential to the meaning of the sentence (it specifies whose view is being stated). Only use commas to set off non-essential information. The other answers set off fragments.
29. A - The phrase "Wilson has discovered" is the most concise and relevant transition to the examples that follow, which come directly from Wilson's observations. The other choices are less specific ("otherwise") or alter the meaning of the sentence ("in contrast," "for the purposes of his study").
30. J - The statement "ants will prevail" most effectively concludes the paragraph by emphasizing Wilson's central finding about the endurance of ant colonies despite challenges. It directly supports the main idea of the paragraph. The other choices are overly broad or fail to reinforce the key point.
To excel on the ACT English section, focus on:
- Proper punctuation, especially commas
- Subject-verb agreement
- Verb tense and idioms
- Eliminating redundant or unnecessary information
- Maintaining paragraph focus and organization
- Concise, context-appropriate word choice
By focusing on these important skills and practicing with real ACT passages, you will be prepared to tackle the English section of the September 2023 ACT Form G01. Test Advantage has the most up-to-date, comprehensive resources and expert guidance to help you get your best score.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming blogs, where we will dive into Passages 3-5 of the English section and give you even more detailed analysis and strategies. With Test Advantage, you will have everything you need to feel confident and ready on test day.
Remember, when it comes to ACT prep, Test Advantage is the way to go. Our proven strategies, expert tutors, and commitment to your success make us the top choice for students aiming for their best scores. Sign up today and take your ACT prep to the next level!
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References and Further Reading
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct answer for question 1 on the September 2023 ACT Form G01 English section?
D. The word 'men' is not specific, so 'who danced' is a defining clause that tells us exactly who these men are.
How do you avoid fragments on the ACT English section?
Ensure every sentence has a main verb. For example, 'Europeans witnessing' is an adjective clause and a fragment; it needs a main verb like 'were witnessing'.
What is the correct idiom for question 5 on ACT Form G01?
The correct idiom is 'ensuring success' rather than 'for ensuring success'.
When should you delete an underlined phrase on the ACT English section?
Delete the phrase if it is redundant or does not add essential information, as in question 12 where the entire underlined phrase was redundant.
What verb tense is needed for question 17 on ACT Form G01?
Past perfect 'had discovered' is needed to indicate the discovery happened before the action later in the sentence.
How do you handle possessive nouns on the ACT English section?
Ensure the possessive noun matches the noun it modifies. For question 22, 'colony's success' is correct because 'success' is singular.
What is the correct transitional phrase for question 11 on ACT Form G01?
'In particular' helps to specify an example and advance the paragraph effectively.
How do you maintain parallel structure in a list on the ACT English section?
Use the same grammatical form for each item. For question 14, 'to dance and sing' provides parallel construction.
What is the correct pronoun for question 9 on ACT Form G01?
The pronoun 'all' should be used instead of 'every' or 'each' to indicate action applied to all of the activities.
How do you set off non-essential information with commas on the ACT English section?
Use commas around non-essential phrases. For question 10, commas around 'which can last for days' set off a modifier that modifies 'larger powwows'.