Question

Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would NOT be acceptable? (A) earned his living by (B) made his living from (C) made his living on (D) earned his living

Short answer

C - made his living on

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the context

Read the sentence carefully along with the given options to understand the context in which the underlined portion is used.

- Identify acceptable prepositions

Recognize that common phrases include 'earned his living by' and 'made his living from', both of which are grammatically correct.

- Analyze the given options

Examine each option to identify any that are grammatically incorrect or do not fit well in the context.

- Identify option without a preposition

Notice that 'earned his living' (D) does not require a preposition and is a correct usage.

- Check unusual constructions

Recognize that 'made his living on' (C) is an unusual preposition choice in this context, and it is not commonly used.

Key concepts

Contextual Understanding

Contextual understanding is all about grasping the surrounding information to gain meaning. When facing ACT grammar questions, start by reading the entire sentence carefully. Pay attention to any underlined portions and how they fit into the broader context of the paragraph. This helps in identifying which options could be logically and grammatically acceptable. For example, knowing synonyms or related expressions can aid in making sense of different ways to express a similar idea. Aim to comprehend not just the sentence but also any subtle nuances or intentions.

Prepositions

Prepositions are small but mighty words that show the relationship between other words in a sentence. Common prepositions include 'by,' 'from,' 'on,' 'with,' 'at,' and 'in.' In the given exercise, identifying the correct preposition is crucial. Phrases like 'earned his living by' and 'made his living from' are standard and grammatically sound. They demonstrate how prepositions clarify the action's means or source. Learning such prepositional phrases can enhance your grammar skills and make your sentences clearer. Note that unusual prepositions can often signal incorrect answers.

Grammatical Correctness

Grammatical correctness ensures that sentences are properly constructed and convey the intended meaning without ambiguity or errors. For example, 'earned his living by' and 'made his living from' are correct because they follow standard English usage. In contrast, phrases like 'made his living on' sound awkward. When analyzing grammar questions, look for subject-verb agreement, proper prepositions, and consistent tense and voice. This practice will help you identify which constructions are grammatically acceptable and which are not.

Test Strategies

Effective test strategies can improve your performance on ACT grammar questions. Here are a few tactics:

• First, eliminate obviously wrong answers to narrow down your choices.
• Secondly, read each option back into the sentence to see if it maintains the sentence's meaning and flow.
• Third, be mindful of common idiomatic expressions that are frequently used in standard English.
• Fourth, practice makes perfect: regularly practicing with ACT-style questions enhances familiarity and comfort.

Adopting these strategies will make identifying the correct answers easier, boosting your overall test score.