Problem 43 - 8 Practice Tests for the ACT 3rd

Question

A. NO CHANGE B. During this time, Marryat earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories, C. His greatest acclaim was earned by him, for his novels and short stories during this time, D. During this time for his novels and short stories, earned him his greatest acclaim,

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Option B

Step 1: Examine Option A

Determine if the sentence 'NO CHANGE' is grammatically correct and clear. The sentence in question is: 'During this time earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories.' It is incomplete as it lacks a subject performing the action.

Step 2: Examine Option B

Read the sentence: 'During this time, Marryat earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories.' It clearly presents the subject (Marryat), the action (earned), and what he earned acclaim for (his novels and short stories). This makes the sentence grammatically correct and clear.

Step 3: Examine Option C

Read the sentence: 'His greatest acclaim was earned by him, for his novels and short stories during this time.' Although grammatically correct, the passive voice usage makes it less direct and clear compared to Option B.

Step 4: Examine Option D

Read the sentence: 'During this time for his novels and short stories, earned him his greatest acclaim.' This option is not grammatically correct as it has a misplaced phrase and lacks a clear subject performing the action.

Step 5: Choose the Best Option

After analyzing each option, Option B is the most grammatically correct and clear. It directly presents the information without ambiguity.

Key Concepts

grammar correction

Grammar correction is crucial for ensuring clarity and accuracy in writing. When correcting grammar, you must consider various elements like proper punctuation, verb tense, and sentence structure. In the given exercise, option A, 'During this time earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories.', was identified as grammatically incorrect because it lacks a subject performing the action. Every complete sentence must have a subject and a predicate. The predicate tells what the subject does. Here, using Marryat as the subject corrects the sentence: 'During this time, Marryat earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories.' This version has a subject (Marryat), a verb (earned), and clear completion of the thought, making it grammatically acceptable.

Common grammar issues to watch out for include:

• Misplaced modifiers
• Run-on sentences
• Sentence fragments
• Incorrect verb tense

Using tools like grammar checkers can assist in spotting these problems, but an understanding of basic grammar rules is also essential.

sentence clarity

Sentence clarity is about making sure your sentences are easy to read and understand. Clear sentences avoid ambiguity and ensure the reader grasps your intended message right away. In the provided example, option B was the clearest: 'During this time, Marryat earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories.' This sentence is clear because:

• It directly identifies Marryat as the performer of the action.
• The action (earned) is clearly linked to what he earned (greatest acclaim).
• The timeframe and the reason for the acclaim are clearly articulated.

In contrast, option C ('His greatest acclaim was earned by him, for his novels and short stories during this time.') uses passive voice, making it less clear and direct. Passive voice can sometimes obscure the action and the actor, making it harder for the reader to follow.

To enhance sentence clarity:

• Use active voice whenever possible.
• Keep subjects and verbs close together.
• Avoid unnecessary words.
• Break down complex ideas into simpler sentences.

Effective sentence clarity aids in communication and ensures your reader understands the content without difficulty.

subject-verb agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that requires subjects and verbs to agree in number. This means a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. For instance, 'Marryat earns acclaim' versus 'Marryat and his peers earn acclaim.' In the given exercise, step-by-step analysis shows that understanding subject-verb agreement helps correct the sentences.

Option A, 'During this time earned his greatest acclaim for his novels and short stories,' fails because it doesn't include a subject. Option B corrects this by adding Marryat as the subject, matching the singular subject with the singular verb 'earned'.

When ensuring subject-verb agreement, consider:

• Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone) are usually singular.
• Collective nouns (e.g., team, group) may be singular or plural based on context.
• Subjects joined by 'and' are plural, but ones joined by 'or' or 'nor' take the verb matching the nearest subject.

Mastery of subject-verb agreement not only makes your writing grammatically correct but also clearer and more professional.