languid
Definition: (adjective) without energy; slow, sluggish, listless.
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Problem
A palindrome is a positive integer that reads the same forward as it does backwards. If neither the first nor last digit of a palindrome can be zero, how many three-digit palindromes are there?
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ACT: English Question #4 |
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The following paragraphs may or may not be in the most logical order. The numbers following each underlined segment refer to the question about that segment.
Ask people if they have ever heard, of vaudeville, and (1) most of them will have no idea what the word even means. However, around 100 years ago, vaudeville was the most popular form of entertainment in the United States. Between the years 1875 and 1932, it was vaudeville bringing laughter and joy throughout the country to millions of people. (2)
The fact that vaudeville had something for everyone led to its wonderful (3) appeal. The variety of the acts was (4) impressive. Each show featured jugglers, horseback riders, musicians, and puppeteers to entertain the crowd. The audience would laugh at the clowns and comedians, joining the singers in song, and in amazement of the magic tricks and acrobats. (5) Since acts like magic, mime, and dancing required little to no verbal communication or speaking, (6) many of the new immigrants to this country did not need to speak English to join in the fun. In addition, tickets to vaudeville shows were relatively inexpensive. Making (7) it possible for people with limited means to purchase them. Another reason for vaudeville's popularity was the family-oriented nature of the acts. (8) Vulgarity was not allowed, so when parents took their children, we could (9) enjoy the show without worrying about exposing them to improper language or behavior.
(10) The word vaudeville comes from the French phrase voix de ville, or "voices of the town." In France, people would gather in the valleys to amuse each other with song and dance. Gradually, vaudeville spread to America, into the saloons of the Wild West. There, performers delighted the audience with acts like singing and rope spinning. As the acts became more creative and diverse, they attracted a wider audience. When vaudeville reached its peak in the 1920's, there were over 600 theatres showcasing 60,000 acts.
Question:
Choose the choice that forms the most effective sentence. If the original is best, choose "NO CHANGE."
Choices:
Correct Answer: (A)
A. The subject in the sentence is the variety of the acts. Although the last word is acts, which is plural, this word does not represent the complete subject. In this sentence, what is impressive is the variety of the acts, not the acts themselves. Therefore, the sentence needs the singular verb was. The sentence is correct as written.
B. This choice incorrectly places a comma between the subject and the verb in the sentence. Additionally, the verb should be singular, not plural; the subject is the variety of the acts, not the acts themselves. Eliminate.
C. As the sentence is written, the subject is the variety of the acts, not the acts themselves. Since variety is singular, the sentence needs a singular verb. Eliminate.
D. This choice incorrectly places a comma between the verb and the object in the sentence.
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