ACT Preparation / Unit 17 ACT 1625 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Whose View Is This?
The idea
A perspective question is answered in three steps. First, find the claim in question and read its signal phrase: whose words, or whose belief, does the sentence report? Second, sort the passage's views into the author's and others', noting where the author agrees or disagrees with each. Third, choose the answer that assigns the view to the right person, with the right strength.
In practice
Worked example: an invented passage reads, "City planners promised the stadium would revive downtown. Business owners nearby doubt it. The evidence so far, I would argue, favors the owners: foot traffic rose on game days and fell on every other day." Asked what the author believes, the answer is that the stadium's benefit so far is limited to game days. A choice saying the author believes the stadium revived downtown gives the planners' promise as the author's view.
Where people slip
Signal phrases do the sorting. Promised, doubt and I would argue each mark a different speaker.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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