When is it a CONCISION question?

It is usually a CONCISION question when all the answers mean the same thing but are different lengths.

CONCISION QUESTIONGeneral Rule #1

If you can, replace the underlined portion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

2) The old British practice of planting yews in cemeteries did nothing in changing or altering that reputation….

F. No ChangeG. to alter that acquiredH. in the way of changing thatJ. to alter that

CONCISION QUESTIONGeneral Rule #1

If you can, replace the underlined portion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

2) The old British practice of planting yews in cemeteries did nothing in changing or altering that reputation….

F. No ChangeG. to alter that acquiredH. in the way of changing thatJ. to alter that

CONCISION QUESTIONGeneral Rule #2

If you can, OMIT/DELETE (get rid of) something that you don’t need.

1)This tiny country is home to a large number of sites with great historical, artistic, and which have religious significance.

A. NO CHANGE

B. having

C. as well as

D. OMIT the underlined portion

CONCISION QUESTIONGeneral Rule #2

If you can, OMIT/DELETE (get rid of) something that you don’t need.

1)This tiny country is home to a large number of sites with great historical, artistic, and which have religious significance.

A. NO CHANGE

B. having

C. as well as

D. OMIT the underlined portion

SENTENCE COMBININGGeneral Rule #1

Comma separates incomplete phrases

Each day I would try to find time for a half-hour walk. Fitting it into my schedule whenever I could.

A. NO CHANGEB. walk, Which fitC. walk; with fittingD. walk, fitting

SENTENCE COMBININGGeneral Rule #1

Comma separates incomplete phrases

Each day I would try to find time for a half-hour walk. Fitting it into my schedule whenever I could.

A. NO CHANGEB. walk, Which fitC. walk; with fittingD. walk, fitting

SENTENCE COMBININGGeneral Rule #2

Period or Semi-colon separates complete phrases

Clara wanted to know if the bees in her house were dangerous, I assured her that they were docile honeybees.

A. NO CHANGEB. dangerous, my comments were intended to assure C. dangerous, I did my best to assureD. dangerous. I assured

SENTENCE COMBININGGeneral Rule #2

Period or Semi-colon separates complete phrases

Clara wanted to know if the bees in her house were dangerous, I assured her that they were docile honeybees.

A. NO CHANGEB. dangerous, my comments were intended to assure C. dangerous, I did my best to assureD. dangerous. I assured

APOSTROPHE ’ Sometimes shows possession

The school’s hallways are crowded.

The boy’s frisbee is lost.

This class’s students are the best.

*When it is a singular noun, the ’ goes before the s

APOSTROPHE ’ Sometimes shows possession

The nuns' robes are clean.

The Simpsons' house is pink.

CP schools' halls are crowded.

*When it is a plural noun, the ’ goes after the s

APOSTROPHE ’ Sometimes shows contraction

It’s (it is) really sunny today.

It’s (it is) nice outside.

Don’t (do not) fall asleep during the ACT!

It’s VS. Its

It’s ALWAYS= It is (contraction)

It’s (it is) really sunny today.

Its ALWAYS= Its (possession)

The dog lies on its belly.

Its’

DOESN’T EXIST

1

Having studied, my mother is a marine biologist.

A. No Change

B. As my mother’s interest in science, she is

C. My mother’s occupation is that of

D. My mother is

1

Concision-If you can, replace the underlined portion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

Having studied, my mother is a marine biologist.

A. No Change

B. As my mother’s interest in science, she is

C. My mother’s occupation is that of

D. My mother is

2

Everything was subservient to the disposal of the tides.

A. No Change

B. was defenseless in the face of

C. depended on

D. trusted in

2

Concision-If you can, replace the underlinedportion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

Everything was subservient to the disposal of the tides.

A. No Change

B. was defenseless in the face of

C. depended on

D. trusted in

3

At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen.

A. No ChangeB. away. Then weC. away. WeD. away;

3

Sent. Comb.- Phrase before “we” is incomplete so use a comma

At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen.

A. No ChangeB. away. Then weC. away. WeD. away;

4

At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen.

F. No ChangeG. hideouts where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins concealed and hid themselves.H. places where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins were stashed away.J. hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish and sea urchins.

4Concision-If you can, replace the underlinedportion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

At the very low tides of the full moon, when almost all the water was sucked away, we found the hideaways where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins hid in order not to be seen.

F. No ChangeG. hideouts where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins concealed and hid themselves.H. places where crabs, snails, starfish, and sea urchins were stashed away.J. hiding places of crabs, snails, starfish and sea urchins.

5

I had no qualms, of course, about enjoying the results of his labor: the potatoes, squash, cucumbers, and cauliflower that he coaxed out of the earth.

A. No ChangeB. More important, I had no qualmsC. It stands to reason, then, that I certainly would have no qualmsD. I had no qualms, as a consequence of it,

5

Concision-If you can, replace the underlinedportion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

I had no qualms, of course, about enjoying the results of his labor: the potatoes, squash, cucumbers, and cauliflower that he coaxed out of the earth.

A. No ChangeB. More important, I had no qualmsC. It stands to reason, then, that I certainly would have no qualmsD. I had no qualms, as a consequence of it,

6

Whether its bright and jaunty or haunting and melancholic, the music of the Andes highlands has a mellow sound unique in the musical world.

A. No ChangeB. they’reC. it’sD. its’

6

ApostropheIt’s ALWAYS= It is (contraction)

Whether its bright and jaunty or haunting and melancholic, the music of the Andes highlands has a mellow sound unique in the musical world.

A. No ChangeB. they’reC. it’sD. its’

7

Due to the limited number of notes that can be played on an antara, early musicians’ most likely worked in groups, coordinating the timing and pitch of their instruments to extend the range of sounds produced.

A. No ChangeB. antara, early musiciansC. antara early musicians’D. antara early musician’s

7

Apostrophe-"Musicians" doesn't need to show possession or contraction.

Due to the limited number of notes that can be played on an antara, early musicians’ most likely worked in groups, coordinating the timing and pitch of their instruments to extend the range of sounds produced.

A. No ChangeB. antara, early musiciansC. antara early musicians’D. antara early musician’s

8

This tiny country- about one-sixth of a square mile in all-is also home to a disproportionately large number of sites with great historical, artistic, and which have religious significance.

A. No ChangeB. havingC. as well asD. OMIT the underlined portion

8

Concision-If you can, OMIT something that you don’t need.

This tiny country- about one-sixth of a square mile in all-is also home to a disproportionately large number of sites with great historical, artistic, and which have religious significance.

A. No ChangeB. havingC. as well asD. OMIT the underlined portion

9

Built upon second-century foundations. St. Peter’s features a dome designed by the artist and architect Michelangelo.

A. No ChangeB. foundations,C. foundations:D. foundations;

9

Sent. Comb.-Phrase before "St. Peter’s" is incomplete so use a comma

Built upon second-century foundations. St. Peter’s features a dome designed by the artist and architect Michelangelo.

A. No ChangeB. foundations,C. foundations:D. foundations;

10

Smith is the official poet of both the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland; she has served as poet-in-residence at several universities.

A. Maryland. SheB. Maryland, and sheC. Maryland andD. Maryland, she

10Concision-If you can, replace the underlined portion with a shorter portion that means the same thing.

Smith is the official poet of both the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland; she has served as poet-in-residence at several universities.

A. Maryland. SheB. Maryland, and sheC. Maryland andD. Maryland, she