ACT Preparation / Unit 4 ACT 0315 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Making a Sentence Precise
The idea
A vague sentence is sharpened in three steps. First, replace general nouns with concrete ones the passage supports. Second, replace a weak verb with an exact one. Third, check every replacement against the passage: precision never adds a fact the passage does not give.
In practice
Worked example: the passage reports that a storm downed oak trees along Elm Street on Tuesday night. The sentence reads "The weather did damage to things in the area." Concrete nouns: the storm, the oaks, Elm Street. Exact verb: downed. Result: "The storm downed oaks along Elm Street." Every word comes from the passage, and none is invented.
Where people slip
The most vivid choice is not automatically right. A choice that names a detail the passage never gives is precise and wrong.
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