ACT
Practice Test 2

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DIRECTIONS: Each passage is followed by several questions. After reading a passage, choose the best answer to each question and fill in the corresponding oval on your answer document. You may refer to the passages as often as necessary.

SOCIAL SCIENCE:
This passage is adapted from the article "Information Stupor-highway" by Cal Jergenson (© 2005 by Cal Jergenson).

Think about a remote control. Something so simple in function is seemingly capable of invisible magic to most of us. Only those with an engineering and electronics background probably have any real idea of why a remote control works. The rest of us
Line 5 just assume it should. And the longer a given technology exists, the more we take it for granted.Consider for a moment a split screen showing modern remote control users versus the first remote control users: the original users would be cautiously aiming the remote directly at
10 the television, reading the names of the buttons to find the right one, and deliberately pressing the button with a force that adds nothing to the effectiveness of the device. The modern users would be reclined on a sofa, pointing the remote any which way, and instinctively feeling for the button they desired, intuiting its
15 size, shape, and position on the remote.Humans are known for being handy with tools, so it is no surprise that we get so comfortable with our technology. However, as we become increasingly comfortable with how to use new technologies, we become less aware of how they work.
20 Most people who use modern technology know nothing of its underlying science. They have spent neither mental nor financial resources on its development. And yet, rather than be humbled by its ingenuity, We consumers often become unfairly demanding of what our technology should do for us.
25 Many of the landmark inventions of the twentieth century followed predictable trajectories: initial versions of each technology (television, video games, computers, portable phones, etc.) succeeded in wowing the general public. Then, these wondrous novelties quickly became commonplace. Soon, the focus of
30 consumer attitudes toward these inventions changed from awed gratitude to discriminating preference.Televisions needed to be bigger and have a higher resolution. Video games needed to be more realistic. Computers needed to be more powerful yet
35 smaller in size. Cellphones needed to be smaller yet capable of performing other tasks such as taking pictures, accessing the Internet, and even playing movies.
For children of the last twenty years born into this modern life, these technological marvels seem like elements of the periodic table: a given ingredient that is simply part of the universe.
40 Younger generations don't even try to conceive of life without modern conveniences. They do not appreciate the unprecedented technology that is in their possession; rather, they complain about the ways in which it fails to live up to ideal expectations. "The videos that my phone can record are too pixelated."
45 "My digital video recorder at home doesn't allow me to program it from my computer at work." "It's taking too long for this interactive map to display on my portable GPS. "My robotic vacuum cleaner never manages to get the crumbs out of the cracks between the tiles."
50 If it sounds as though we're never satisfied, we aren't. Of course, our fussy complaints do actually motivate engineers to continually refine their products. After all, at the root of our toolmaking instinct is the notion that "there must be a better way." Thus, the shortcomings of any current version of technology are
55 pinned on the limitations of its designers, and the expectation is that someone, somewhere is Working on how to make the existing product even better,The most dangerous extension of this mindset is its effect
on our outlook on solving global climate problems. The firmly
60 substantiated problem of global warming threatens to quickly render the planet Earth inhospitable to most humans.
The solution? If you ask most people, you will hear that the solution resides in creating more efficient versions of our current technologies and devising alternative forms of energy
65 than those that burn fossil fuels.Blindly confident that the creativity of human problem solvers can wriggle us out of any dilemma, most people feel guiltless in continuing to live their lives with the assumption that someone else is working on these problems.
70 Unfortunately, having no real scientific perspective on the problems to be solved or the complexity of global weather patterns, most people are unduly optimistic about humanity's ability to think its way out of this problem. In a culture completely spoiled by the idea that technology can achieve whatever
75 goal it is tasked to perform, the idea that a global climate crisis may be beyond the reach of a clever technological solution is unthinkable.Hence, the idea that we, as a culture, may need to reexamine our lifestyles and consumer habits is too alien to take seriously.
80 In contemporary society, the leaders who are most able to communicate the state of the world do not dare suggest to the public the unpopular ideas that "times will be rough," "sacrifices must be made," or "we may have to take some steps backwards."
85 As a result, the human race will continue defiantly with the status quo and, ultimately, blame technology when problems arise. At that point, we'll all be searching for the "rewind" button on the remote control.

1. The passage states that original users of remote controls likely did all of the following EXCEPT:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: C
    Explanation:
    The third paragraph asks the reader to consider a contrast between an original user of a remote and a modern user. Choices (A), (B), and (D) are details provided to describe the original user. Choice (C) is a detail provided to describe the modern user. Hence, choice (C) is correct.

2. In the passage, the author answers all of the following questions EXCEPT:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: G
    Explanation:
    Choice (G) is correct because the author lists several important inventions of the twentieth century but does not identify any of them as the most significant. Choice (F) is incorrect because the author states that most people think the solution is new clean energy technology. Choice (H) is incorrect because the author attributes the root of tool-making to the mindset of There's got to be a better way. Choice (J) is incorrect because the author describes how consumers go from awed gratitude to discriminating preference.

3. The descriptions offered by the author in the second paragraph (lines 7-15) are used to illustrate the concept that:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: A
    Explanation:
    The point that an example is used to illustrate is often found right before the example. In this case, the end of the first paragraph states that the longer a given technology exists, the more we take it for granted. The comparison between different users of remote controls is designed to illustrate this idea. Choice (A) best summarizes this concept and so is correct. Choice (B) is incorrect because the author never stresses a need to read instructions. Choice (C) is incorrect because modern users are described as using remote controls with ease and comfort. Choice (D) is incorrect because, while likely true, there is no support in the passage for the idea that remote controls have become far more effective than they were.

4. The principal tone of the passage can best be described as:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: G
    Explanation:
    The passage focuses on the technology around us that often goes unappreciated, ultimately warning us that our unrealistic faith in technology may lead us into global climate trouble. Words and phrases like spoiled, unduly optimistic, and unfairly demanding indicate the author's attitude that most modern humans are somewhat in the wrong. Choice (G) is the safest match for this tone, which makes it the correct answer. Choice (F) is incorrect, because although the passage does look backward in time at certain spots, it is primarily focused on how the present is rather than a wish to return to the past. Choice (H) is incorrect because the author seems to be calling attention to the dangerous extension of our mindset, rather than sympathizing with it. Choice (J) is incorrect because the majority of the passage does not indicate the author's fear. The various references to shock and awe for new technology indicate amazement but not fright

5. As it is used in line 79, the word alien most nearly means:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: C
    Explanation:
    The context for this sentence explains that, because we are spoiled by technology, we typically believe it can fix any problem. The notion that we might need to fix ourselves is unthinkable. Choice (C) is the correct answer because it best expresses that the suggestion that we need to change our own habits would be unlike our normal assumptions about technology. Choice (A) is incorrect because extraterrestrial literally means "not from earth," and the context does not suggest the idea is that exotic. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage indicates this idea is seldom heard within our culture, so the notion that it is a repetitive idea is not supported. Choice (D) is incorrect because, although we do not take the idea in question seriously, it is because we are not accustomed to hearing the idea, not because the idea itself is funny.

6. The author uses the statement “these technological marvels seem like elements of the periodic table” (lines 38-39) most nearly to mean that:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: G
    Explanation:
    The point of this paragraph is that children born into a society that already possesses impressive technology do not tend to appreciate how impressive it is that this technology is human-made. They accept it as a given, much as one accepts the elements of the periodic table as the given substances found in the universe. Choice (G) is correct because it best expresses this idea. Choice (F) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest that children are literally learning about technology side-by-side as they learn about the periodic table. Choice (H) is incorrect because the reference to the universe does not provide any support for such an extreme claim as most technology comes from space exploration. Choice (J) is incorrect because it confuses the point of this paragraph, which is that children tend not to be impressed by the technology around them.

7. The phrase the status quo (line 85) most likely refers to:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: D
    Explanation:
    The penultimate paragraph discusses how people in our culture assume that technology will solve our problems and do not want to hear about needing to change or reassess our lifestyles. Because leaders are too afraid to tell the public otherwise, the final paragraph says that we will continue as we have been. Hence, choice (D) is correct. Choice (A) is incorrect because it misses the correct meaning of the phrase, and scope and complexity were discussed in relation to assessing the global climate problem, not technology. Choice (B) is incorrect because this describes specifically what the passage explains we will not be doing. Making sacrifices would mean changing the status quo. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage is saying that if we ever find ourselves in a disastrous situation as a result of maintaining our current lifestyles and habits, then we would blame technology. This would be a result of following the status quo but not the

8. One form of consumer behavior the author describes is a discriminating preference for:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: H
    Explanation:
    Discriminating preference is used at the end of the seventh paragraph to foreshadow the ever-evolving demands of consumers for new technology. The eighth paragraph lists some of them. The passage states that computers needed to become more powerful. This makes choice (H) correct. Choice (F) is incorrect because the fifth paragraph contradicts that idea. Choice (G) is incorrect because the passage repeatedly suggests that most users of technology are happily oblivious to how it works. Choice (J) is incorrect because the second to last paragraph portrays this idea as something the public does not want to hear.

9. Among the following quotations from the passage, the one that best summarizes what the author sees as a potential danger is:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: D
    Explanation:
    The first half of the passage discusses the modern mindset toward technology. Then it says that the most dangerous extension of this mindset is how it relates to our ability to solve global climate problems. The second half of the passage explains why our attitude toward technology may worsen the situation. Choice (D) is correct because it precisely identifies the reason the author finds our overconfidence in technology to be potentially dangerous. Choice (A) is incorrect because this phrase refers to the flaws we consumers find with existing technology that we hope will be fixed. This is not directly relevant to the global warming problem with which the author associates the most danger. Choices (B) and (C) are incorrect because they refer to things that indirectly relate to the author's central concern. However, the author does not consider devising new forms of energy or the complexity of global weather to be dangerous in and of themselves.

10. The last paragraph differs from the first paragraph in that in the last paragraph the author:

  • Solution

    Correct Answer: F
    Explanation:
    The passage ends with a severe prediction that humanity may ruin its habitat, all the while blaming technology for failing to rescue it. This makes choice (F) correct. Choice (G) is incorrect because the last paragraph does not contain any refutation of a theory. Choice (H) is incorrect because the last paragraph does not include an expert opinion. Choice (J) is incorrect because both paragraphs use "we."

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