ACT Prep 4 Rubber Cement GehrungCrucius Rubber Cement

ACT Prep #4 “Rubber Cement” Gehrung/Crucius

Rubber Cement [1] The next time you should see one of those huge cement trucks moving down the road take 1 2 a closer look. [2] You may find that the truck is labeled “rubber cement” as opposed to “concrete. ” [3] When I was in grade school I used rubber cement, the kind with the little brush attached to the underside of the jar’s lid. 3

1. 2. 3. A. NO CHANGE B. might see C. ought to see D. see F. NO CHANGE G. road, take H. road; take J. road. Take D G At this point, the writer would like to extend the discussion of her personal experience with rubber cement. Which of the following sentences (assuming all are true), if added here, would most successfully achieve this effect? A. We decided to have our driveway paved with rubber cement instead of concrete. B. I remember that I found it difficult to keep the glue from dripping all over the place. B C. We also used paste in elementary school. D. Today, glue sticks make it much easier to do craft projects.

Answer 1 D. All that is needed in this position is a simple present tense verb, which is the clearest and most concise of the choices. Options A, B, and C complicate the sentence by adding auxiliary verbs.

Answer 2 G. The main clause of this sentence is take a closer look. It is a command in which the subject you is implied. Introductory material, especially as lengthy as it is here, must be separated from the main clause with a comma.

Answer 3 B. Since the questions asks for the answer that extends the discussion of the writer’s personal experience with rubber cement, option B is the only real possibility. The other choices either discuss other subjects or are not necessarily about the writer’s experiences.

[2] [1] Of course, these huge rubber cement trucks are not making deliveries of glue to the local elementary schools for students to use at their desks. [2] In fact, they may be on their way to a high school’s athletic facilities to pour out a thick layer of rubber cement for a tennis or basketball 4 court. [3] Rubber cement surfaces are also being used on athletic tracks. 4. F. NO CHANGE G. high school H. high schools J. high schools’ F

Answer 4 F. The sentence indicates that the athletic facilities belong to a high school. Therefore, the singular possessive form is correct.

[3] 5 [1] Experts find that the pliability of a rubber cement surface adds to the comfort level of walkers and runners. [2] It provides a bit of bounce preferred to the hardness of concrete. [3] This 6 bounciness also tends to cause lesser injuries to knees and ankles. [4] A rubber cement surface also 7 helps athletes to reduce the dangers of falling and is easier to maintain than traditional cement. 8

5. Which of the following sentences (assuming all are true), if added here, would best introduce the subject of Paragraph 3? A. There are many reasons why rubber cement is winning out over other traditional surfacing materials. B. Use of athletic tracks is increasing. A C. Rubber cement is still useful as an adhesive. D. Rubber cement trucks are often even larger than traditional cement trucks. 6. F. NO CHANGE G. It will H. They J J. Such a surface 7. A. NO CHANGE B. less C. least D D. fewer

Answer 5 A. The new subject of Paragraph 3 is the various uses to which rubber cement can be put. Answer choice A effectively introduces the topic. The other choices are either focused on narrow details or irrelevant information.

Answer 6 J. The logical subject of this sentence is a rubber cement surface, which is singular. Eliminate H, which is plural. Eliminate G because the auxiliary verb will is used with the bare form of a verb, which provides is not. Although the sentence is grammatically correct as written, the pronoun it has an unclear antecedent. The singular noun immediately preceding it is comfort level, not a rubber cement surface, so the full subject must be expressed. Therefore, choice J is a good alternative to repeating the subject word for word.

Answer 7 D. It is correct to use fewer to modify a noun that can be counted, such as injuries. Use less to modify a quantity or noun that cannot be counted.

Answer 8 F. The form of the verb within this phrase depends on its subject. The subject is a rubber cement surface, which is singular. Eliminate choices G and J, which are plural. Choice H can be eliminated because the verb made is unnecessary and distracting.

[4] [1] Many consumers are taking into consideration rubber cement for their patios and 9 10 driveways. [2] Cities also sometimes use it for sidewalks. [3] Another advantage, of rubber cement 11 surfacing is the ease of repairing it. [4] Cracks or etchings can be more easily taken out of rubber 12 cement by using a blowtorch. [5] In spite of its normally excellent performance record, however, rubber cement is not the best choice for surfaces everywhere. [6] Some regions of the country experience weather conditions less suitable for rubber cement surfacing. [7] It is worth the time to 13 enquire locally about rubber cement surfacing before embarking on a major flooring, patio, or 14 driveway installation.

9. A. NO CHANGE B. Taking into consideration are many consumers C. Many consumers consider D. Considering many consumers choose 10. F. NO CHANGE G. there F H. they’re J. those 11. A. NO CHANGE B. advantage of B C. advantage in D. advantage: 12. F. NO CHANGE G. are most easily removed out of C

13. Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would be LEAST acceptable? A. that aren’t suitable for B. not as suitable for C. less suitable with D. that don’t suit C 14. F. NO CHANGE G. with H. to F J. on 15. This question asks about the passage as a whole. In reviewing your notes, the writer discovers that the following information has been left out of the essay: For example, a great deal of sunshine may cause rubber cement surfaces to crack, yellow, and peel. If added to the essay, the sentence would most logically be placed after Sentence: A. 3 in Paragraph 4 B. 6 in Paragraph 4 C. 2 in Paragraph 3 B

Answer 9 C. This sentence should parallel the next, which is in simple present tense (Cities also consider…). C is in simple present tense and is the most concise option. Furthermore, choice B is awkward, and D would create a fragment.

Answer 10 F. This question requires you to differentiate among homonyms. The underlined portion immediately precedes the conjoined nouns patios and driveways, which are possessed by consumers, a plural noun. Therefore, the plural possessive determiner their is appropriate.

Answer 11 B. The prepositional phrase of rubber cement is a complement to the noun advantage, so the two should not be separated by a comma. Eliminate choice A. Eliminate D because the colon awkwardly breaks up the complete sentence. Eliminate C because the preposition in is not idiomatic with advantage.

Answer 12 J. Choices F and G are awkward because they use comparative more and superlative most, respectively, although there is no clear basis for comparison. Remove and take out are synonyms; therefore, answer choice H is redundant and can be eliminated. Choice J expresses the idea clearly and simply.

Answer 13 C. Choices A, B, and D are all grammatically and idiomatically correct. Therefore, choice C is the LEAST acceptable.

Answer 14 F. Idiomatically, one inquires about something, just as one asks about something. The other choices are not idiomatic and can be eliminated.

Answer 15 B. The new sentence gives a specific example of conditions experienced in some parts of the country that may create problems with rubber cement surfaces. It makes the most sense to place this sentence after Sentence 5 in Paragraph 4. Clear writing generally involves placing specific examples immediately after general statements or assertions.