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Eliminating Redundancy

106 questions

Question 101Question →

Art conservators restoring ancient Renaissance frescoes often apply subtle glazes, a preventative precaution that is intended for the purpose of protecting the delicate artwork from environmental damage. Which choice best eliminates redundancy in the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: a precaution intended to protect

Answer

The correct choice is 'a precaution intended to protect' because it conveys the full meaning concisely without repeating ideas or introducing grammatical errors.
The phrase 'a precaution intended to protect' directly expresses the necessary relationship without repeating the concept of prevention or relying on wordy prepositional phrases.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify repetitive terms or unnecessarily wordy phrases in the underlined text.
The expression 'preventative precaution' is redundant because the definition of 'precaution' already implies a preventative measure. Additionally, 'intended for the purpose of' adds unnecessary filler.
Standard English writing conventions require removing words that restate an idea already conveyed by another word in the sentence.
2
Select the option that conveys the intended meaning in the fewest words while maintaining proper grammar.
The phrase 'a precaution intended to protect' streamlines the sentence without altering its meaning or syntax.
The correct answer on the ACT English section must be concise, grammatically correct, and clear.

Key Concept

Eliminating Redundancy
Question 102Question →

Marine biologists tracking harbor porpoises in the Baltic Sea use specialized hydrophones to capture high-frequency clicks. These acoustic signals, which are audible sounds that can be heard, allow the animals to navigate murky waters and locate prey with remarkable precision.

Which of the following choices produces the most concise sentence that avoids redundancy?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: These acoustic signals

Answer

The correct option is 'These acoustic signals' because it conveys the necessary information concisely without repeating synonyms.
The choice 'These acoustic signals' is correct because 'acoustic' already means relating to sound. Adding 'which are audible sounds that can be heard' repeats the concept of sound three separate times. Removing the redundant clause leaves a grammatically complete sentence with maximum clarity and brevity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify redundant words or phrases in the original sentence.
The original underlined phrase contains 'acoustic signals', 'audible sounds', and 'that can be heard'. All three expressions describe sound that is heard.
ACT English rewards conciseness and penalizes repetitive or tautological phrasing.
2
Test each option to find the shortest version that preserves grammatical correctness and full meaning.
'These acoustic signals' serves as a clear subject for the verb 'allow' without any extra unnecessary words.
Eliminating the parenthetical synonym descriptive clause yields a clean, direct sentence.

Key Concept

Eliminating Redundancy
Question 103Question →

The archivist carefully examined the ancient manuscript, scanning the pages with a close look to search for any signs of water damage.

Which choice most effectively eliminates redundancy in the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: scanning the pages for water damage

Answer

scanning the pages for water damage
The correct choice is the most concise option that eliminates redundant synonyms while maintaining proper sentence structure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the redundant elements in the original underlined portion of the sentence.
The words 'scanning,' 'close look,' and 'search for' all express the same basic concept of detailed inspection.
Redundancy occurs when synonyms or phrases with identical meanings are repeated unnecessarily.
2
Evaluate the choices to find the option that is most concise while remaining grammatically correct.
The option containing 'scanning the pages for water damage' removes the repetitive phrases and maintains a grammatically correct participial modifier.
The correct answer must eliminate redundant phrasing without introducing new grammatical errors, such as comma splices or fragments.

Key Concept

Eliminating Redundancy
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 104Question →

For decades, the geological origins of the massive sarsen stones at Stonehenge remained a mystery to archaeologists. However, a recent chemical analysis has finally revealed the source where the stones originally came from. Which choice is the best replacement for the underlined portion?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: the stones' origin

Answer

the stones' origin
The option containing 'the stones' origin' is correct because it communicates the intended meaning of geographic origin in the most concise manner possible, eliminating the repetitive terms present in the original sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the underlined portion for redundant phrasing.
The phrase 'the source where the stones originally came from' contains redundant elements, as 'source', 'where', 'originally', and 'came from' all express the same concept.
ACT English requires the elimination of repetitive words or phrases that do not add new meaning.
2
Evaluate the remaining options for conciseness and grammatical correctness.
The option containing 'the stones' origin' is grammatically correct and eliminates all redundancy. The other options either retain redundancy or introduce errors such as sentence fragments and comma splices.
The correct answer must be the most concise option that is also grammatically correct.

Key Concept

Eliminating Redundancy
Estimated Time:45s
Question 105Question →

In 1964, the research submersible *Alvin* was commissioned, allowing scientists to explore the deep ocean floor. Previously before this time, marine biologists relied on indirect measurements; they had no way to observe the abyss directly.

Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Previously, marine biologists relied on indirect measurements;

Answer

Previously, marine biologists relied on indirect measurements;
The correct answer removes the redundant phrase 'before this time' because 'Previously' already communicates that this happened in the past. It also correctly retains the semicolon to separate the two independent clauses.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the redundant elements in the original underlined portion.
The words 'Previously' and 'before this time' are redundant because they both express the exact same temporal relationship.
ACT style guides require eliminating unnecessary words that repeat the same meaning.
2
Evaluate the remaining options for grammatical correctness and correct clause separation.
The option using a comma instead of a semicolon creates a comma splice. The option starting with 'Because' creates a dependent clause fragment before the semicolon. Only the option containing 'Previously,' followed by a semicolon is grammatically correct and concise.
The correct choice must eliminate redundancy without introducing errors in punctuation or sentence structure.

Key Concept

Eliminating redundancy involves removing words or phrases that repeat information already expressed in the sentence, while ensuring the sentence structure remains grammatically sound.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 106Question →

Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies embark on a perilous journey from North America to the forests of central Mexico. This annual migration occurs on a yearly basis, it is essential for their survival during the cold winter months.

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion is the most appropriate?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: This migration

Answer

This migration
The correct option is the most concise and direct phrasing. Because the first sentence already establishes that the migration happens 'Every autumn,' repeating this time frame with words like 'annual' or 'yearly' is redundant. Removing these redundant terms and the pronoun that follows creates a grammatically sound, complete sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the redundant element in the underlined portion.
The word 'annual' and the phrase 'on a yearly basis' are redundant because they mean the same thing. Furthermore, the first sentence already states that the event happens 'Every autumn', making any repetition of its yearly frequency unnecessary.
ACT English questions prioritize conciseness and clarity, requiring the elimination of repetitive words or ideas.
2
Evaluate the remaining options for grammatical correctness and conciseness.
Removing the redundant elements and the pronoun 'it' allows the subject 'This migration' to connect directly to the verb 'is', creating a complete and grammatically correct sentence: 'This migration is essential for their survival...'
Eliminating redundant words must not introduce grammatical errors such as fragments or comma splices.

Key Concept

Eliminating Redundancy
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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