ACT
Practice Test 18

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SOCIAL SCIENCE: This passage is adapted from The American Republic: Constitution, Tendencies, and Destiny by O.A. Brownson © 1866.

The ancients summed up the whole of human wisdom in the maxim “Know Thyself,” and certainly there is for an individual no more important and no more difficult knowledge, than knowledge of himself.

Line 5 Nations are only individuals on a larger scale. They have a life, an individuality, a reason, a conscience, and instincts of their own, and have the same general laws of development and growth, and, perhaps, of decay, as the individual man. Equally important, and no less

10 difficult than for the individual, is it for a nation to know itself, understand its own existence, powers and faculties, rights and duties, constitution, instincts, tendencies, and destiny. A nation has a spiritual as well as a material existence, a moral as well as a physical

15 existence, and is subjected to internal as well as external conditions of health and virtue, greatness and grandeur, which it must in some measure understand and observe, or become lethargic and infirm, stunted in its growth, and end in premature decay and death.

20 Among nations, no one has more need of full knowledge of itself than the United States, and no one has, to this point, had less. It has hardly had a distinct consciousness of its own national existence, and has lived the naive life of the child, with no severe trial,

25 till the recent civil war, to throw it back on itself and compel it to reflect on its own constitution, its own separate existence, individuality, tendencies, and end. The defection of the slaveholding States, and the fearful struggle that has followed for national unity and

30 integrity, have brought the United States at once to a distinct recognition of itself, and forced it to pass from thoughtless, careless, heedless, reckless adolescence to grave and reflecting manhood. The nation has been suddenly compelled to study itself, and from now

35 on must act from reflection, understanding, science, and statesmanship, not from instinct, impulse, passion, or caprice, knowing well what it does, and why it does it. The change which four years of civil war have wrought in the nation is great, and is sure to give it the

40 seriousness, the gravity, and the dignity it has so far lacked. Though the nation has been brought to a consciousness of its own existence, it has not, even yet, attained a full and clear understanding of its own

45 national constitution. Its vision is still obscured by the floating mists of its earlier morning, and its judgment rendered indistinct and indecisive by the wild theories and fancies of its childhood. The national mind has been quickened, the national heart has been opened,

50 the national disposition prepared, but there remains the important work of dissipating the mists that still linger, of brushing away these wild theories and fancies, and of enabling it to form a clear and intelligent judgment of itself, and a true and just appreciation of

55 its own constitution tendencies. As the individual states have vindicated their national unity and integrity, and are preparing to make a new start in history, nothing is more important than that they should make that new start with a clear and

60 definite view of their national constitution, and with a distinct understanding of their political mission in the future of the world. The citizen who can help his countrymen to do this will render them an important service and deserve well of his country, though he may

65 have been unable to serve in her armies and defend her on the battle-field. The work now to be done by American statesmen is even more difficult and more delicate than that which has been accomplished by our brave armies. As yet the people are hardly better pre-

70 pared for the political work to be done than they were at the outbreak of the civil war for the military work they have so nobly achieved. But, with time, patience, and good-will, the difficulties may be overcome, the errors of the past corrected, and the government placed

75 on the right track for the future.

The author’s tone toward the subject of the passage can best be characterized as:

  • Solution

    The best answer is A. The author uses strong language throughout the piece; for example, saying there is “no more important” and “no more difficult” knowledge than that of the self, and that a consequence of a nation not understanding its own being will result in “decay and death.” Since impassioned means “with strong feeling,” answer choice A is best.

The main idea of the passage can best be summarized by which of the following statements?

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. The passage states that it is important for a nation “to know itself, understand its own existence, its own powers and faculties, rights and duties, constitution, instincts, tendencies, and destiny.” Later in the passage the author states that by gaining an “appreciation of its own constitution tendencies,” the nation will be able to “understand its own idea, and the means of its actualization in space and time.” This best supports answer choice H.

As used in line 24 of the passage, naive most nearly means:

  • Solution

    The best answer is B. The author is comparing America to a child, lacking the experience and knowledge that could be gained from “severe trial.” Because of this, answer choice C may appear to be correct, but once placed into context—America has lived the difficult life of a child—it no longer makes sense. Naive means “lacking experience, wisdom, or judgment,” so the best synonym for naive in this context is inexperienced.

According to the passage, what caused the United States to “pass from thoughtless, careless, heedless, reckless adolescence to grave and reflecting manhood (lines 31– 33)”?

  • Solution

    The best answer is J. The passage contains the statement, “The defection of the slaveholding States, and the fearful struggle that has followed for unity and integrity, have ... forced it to pass from ... adolescence to ... manhood.” Because this is referring to the Civil War, or the secession of the Southern states and the ensuing conflict, answer choice J is best.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the main point of the first paragraph?

  • Solution

    The best answer is A. The first paragraph states that, in response to the introduction of the maxim of “know thyself,” “there is for an individual no more as there is no more difficult knowledge, than the knowledge of himself.” The paragraph goes on to say that a nation is just like an individual in that respect, and that failure to understand its existence will lead to its ultimate undoing. This best supports answer choice A.

According to the author, a citizen who helps his countrymen to develop “a distinct understanding of their political mission in the future of the world” (lines 61–62) should be:

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. The author contends that “the citizen who can ... do this will render them an important service and deserve well of his country.” Since revered means “praised,” this is the best answer choice

According to the last paragraph, what does the author believe will happen if the United States is able to fully understand its own constitution and political duty on a global scale?

  • Solution

    The best answer is B. The author states that “with time, patience, and good-will, the difficulties may be overcome, the errors of the past corrected, and the Government placed on the right track for the future.” This indicates that though there have been troubles and errors, the nation will eventually reconcile its past mistakes and have a better and brighter future, answer choice B.

As it is used in line 56, the word vindicated, in this context, most nearly means:

  • Solution

    The best answer is F. The passage claims that the United States is “preparing to take a new start in history” with its “national unity and integrity” intact after the challenge of the Civil War. Since vindicated means, in this context, “defended or proved worthy of,” “justified” is the best answer.

A recurring metaphor the author uses in the piece compares the United States to:

  • Solution

    The best answer is D. The author asserts that the United States has “lived the naive life of a child,” but the Civil War has “forced it to pass from ... adolescence to ... reflecting manhood.” The passage later states that the country will gain “the manliness it has heretofore lacked.” This best supports answer choice D.

According to the passage, what does the author assert will happen to the United States if the nation does not become more aware of itself and its role in the global community?

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. It is indicated in the passage that a nation has many aspects of itself to “understand and observe,” and if it does not, it will “become lethargic and infirm ... and end in premature decay and death.” Since lethargic means “lacking energy” and infirm means “weak or debilitated,” the best answer choice is H. Answer choice J may appear to be correct if you did not read the question carefully and realize that the question is asking what will happen if the nation does NOT become more aware of itself and its role in the global community.

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