Question

The writer is considering deleting the following from the preceding sentence: marking the placement of the final section between the two freestanding legs of the St. Louis Gateway Arch If the writer were to delete this phrase, the essay would primarily lose: A. a minor detail in the essay's opening paragraph. B. an explanation of the term "topping-out ceremony." C. the writer's opinion about the significance of the topping-out ceremony. D. an indication of the topping-out ceremony's importance to the people of St. Louis.

Short answer

A) a minor detail in the essay's opening paragraph B) an explanation of the term "topping-out ceremony" C) the writer's opinion about the significance of the topping-out ceremony D) an indication of the topping-out ceremony's importance to the people of St. Louis Answer: D) an indication of the topping-out ceremony's importance to the people of St. Louis.

Step-by-step solution

Read the sentence and identify the phrase to be deleted

The given sentence is: "marking the placement of the final section between the two freestanding legs of the St. Louis Gateway Arch." The student should identify this phrase and understand that it is the one that might be deleted.

Determine the purpose of the phrase

The student should understand that the phrase explains the action of "marking the placement of the final section between the two freestanding legs" which occurs during the topping-out ceremony. It provides context to the ceremony's function in relation to the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

Analyze each answer choice

The student should go through each option and determine if the deletion of the phrase would lead to that particular consequence: A. a minor detail in the essay's opening paragraph: While the phrase does provide a specific detail about the ceremony, it is not clear that it is in the opening paragraph. The student might consider this option, but should continue analyzing other choices. B. an explanation of the term "topping-out ceremony": Deleting this phrase does not remove the entire explanation of what the topping-out ceremony is. Therefore, this option is not correct. C. the writer's opinion about the significance of the topping-out ceremony: The phrase does not seem to express the writer's opinion and instead provides information about the ceremony's role. This option is not correct. D. an indication of the topping-out ceremony's importance to the people of St. Louis: The phrase mentions the St. Louis Gateway Arch, suggesting that the ceremony has importance or relevance to the people of St. Louis. Deleting this phrase could potentially remove this context, making this option the most likely correct answer.

Select the correct answer

Based on the analysis of the answer choices, the correct answer is D. If the writer were to delete the phrase, the essay would primarily lose "an indication of the topping-out ceremony's importance to the people of St. Louis."

Key concepts

Essay Structure Analysis

In essay writing, analyzing the structure is crucial for understanding how the author conveys their message. As seen in the ACT Reading Comprehension exercise, a phrase such as 'marking the placement of the final section between the two freestanding legs of the St. Louis Gateway Arch' serves a specific purpose within the essay's structure. It situates important information within the larger context of the essay.

• Introduction: Sets the stage and provides context.
• Body: Builds upon the introduction, offering detailed arguments, descriptions, and explanations.
• Conclusion: Summarizes the key points and underscores the main message.

If the phrase in question appears in the body, it might serve as a supporting detail to a claim made in the introduction. If in the conclusion, it may reinforce the essay's main point. Understanding where a sentence fits helps to evaluate the impact of its potential removal.

Critical Reading Strategies

Critical reading is essential for discerning the deeper meanings and implications in texts. The solution to the exercise demonstrates critical reading by questioning the role of a specific phrase and the effect of its deletion.

Steps for Critical Reading:

• Identify and Understand: Begin by recognizing all parts of the text and their straightforward meanings.
• Analyze: Examine the text's elements, asking how each part contributes to the overall message.
• Interpret: Look beyond what is written and try to understand the implied meanings and nuances.
• Evaluate: Form a judgement about the text's effectiveness, credibility, and value based on your analysis.

By critically reading and evaluating the importance of each phrase, readers can better predict the consequences of its removal and understand the author's intent.

Identifying Supporting Details

Supporting details are the pieces of information that bolster the main ideas in a text. In the exercise, 'marking the placement of the final section between the two freestanding legs of the St. Louis Gateway Arch' acts as a supporting detail by connecting the topping-out ceremony to a landmark important to the people of St. Louis.

Role of Supporting Details:

• They provide evidence for claims made in the text.
• They add depth and credibility to the narrative or argument.
• They help paint a more vivid and complete picture for the reader.

Identifying these details helps readers to understand and remember main points. To identify supporting details, one should ask how each piece of information is connected to the main ideas and what purpose it serves. In doing so, a reader can better interpret the text's meaning.