ACT English 1.1 Style
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ACT English: Style Drill 1, Problem 1. Does the underlined portion match the style?
ACT English | Style |
Language | English Language |
Literary Nonfiction | Syntax, Diction, Voice, Tone, Imagery |
Product Type | ACT English |
Rhetorical Skills | Style |
Style | Diction |
Transcript
The trick with the next section is making sure the underlined portion matches the general
style of the rest of the passage.
So the first thing to do is analyze the tone of everything that's not underlined. "The
aquatic city of myth" stands out as being slightly elevated.
Therefore, we'll punch the "penthouse" button and take that tone all the way to the top
floor.
We can eliminate choice (A) because "right there in front" is too casual to fit in with
the buttoned-up style of the rest of the passage.
Next time, maybe it should try wearing a suit.
Choice (B) might seem fancy enough to fit in here.
But the phrase "immediately present before him" is a phony.
Ultimately, it's redundant and convoluted because something that's "immediately present"
is obviously "before him."
It sounds like somebody trying to sound smart, but not quite pulling it off. We can show
choice (B) the door.
Now we're left with choices (C) and (D), which express the same basic idea.
Though either would work, (D) expresses the thought in a clearer and more concise way,
making it the best answer.
This question is now over, thank goodness. We can finally loosen our bow tie.