http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/answered-question-of-the-day
This is a great question to use as a review of a key principle on the SAT and ACT. There’s a pattern for the number of degrees in geometric figures. There’s 180 degrees in triangles, 360 in quads, 540 in five-sided figures, etc. Each time you add a side, you add 180 degrees. The formula is: # of degrees = 180 (n-2) where n is the number of sides. In this case, 180 for the triangle plus 360 for the quad gives us 540, answer C.
Let’s see what the ACT folks have in store for us today.
The ACT sentence is just fine as it is (answer A) and that makes it harder. You are expecting a mistake; so, often students see one where there isn’t one. Also, I’ve noticed that “No Change” isn’t the correct answer as often as you would think (25%) based on probability. That makes it even harder to pick that answer. However, as you can see, it is the right answer once in a while.
Be sure you review the rules for using commas, semi-colons, and colons while you prepare for the test. They show up frequently on the SAT Writing Test and the ACT English Test.
This question reminds me of something you have to disregard in the ACT Directions for the English Test. They tell you to read the whole passage before you answer any questions. That’s simply bad advice. It isn’t even directions; it is a test-taking tip. I’m not sure why they tell you to do that since it just slows you down and time is a challenge on this section of the test for most students. For example, you don’t have to read anything else in the passage to answer this question. Come on ACT guys, take that bad advice out of the “directions” since it is hurting students’ scores.
If my explanations for the SAT and ACT Question of the Day are helpful, please tell your friends and spread the word.
Hope you are enjoying your holiday.
The Wizard
