Below are answer explanations to the 2nd full-length Reading test of the released practice ACT 2025 test. 

The ACT 2025 Reading test questions are explained below. Other answer explanations in this series of articles:

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Answer Explanations to the ACT 2025 Reading Practice Test

Passage I

Question 1, “In the context of Passage A, the event described in the second paragraph (lines 26–45) most nearly serves to:” The answer is A: “provide an anecdote that illustrates the power of the wind in Brooklyn.”

  • The second paragraph narrates a vivid incident in which newspapers are ripped from a stand and carried high up the side of a forty-two-story building. This concrete story directly demonstrates the wind’s force, making the narrator’s earlier abstract descriptions tangible. Choice B is incorrect because the focus is not on the seller’s amusement but on the chaos caused by the wind. Choice C is wrong because the narrator shows fascination, not fear or wariness. Choice D overgeneralizes; the passage never claims the wind makes areas of Brooklyn intolerable, only remarkable.

Question 2, “Which of the following statements best captures how the narrator of Passage A feels about the way his children might perceive the Brooklyn wind?” The answer is G: “He hopes they share his interest in the wind and seek it out themselves.”

  • The narrator explicitly hopes his children will notice and engage with the wind independently, as shown when he remarks that his older son now walks alone, “noticing, I hope, the wind on his own.” This reflects aspiration, not frustration. Choice F is unsupported because the children are not portrayed as annoyed. Choice H introduces criticism that is not present. Choice J contradicts the narrator’s emphasis on wind as something worth noticing, not its absence.

Question 3, “According to the narrator of Passage A, the branches of the London plane tree near the Court-Montague Building are notable for:” The answer is B: “the fact that they don’t have plastic shopping bags clinging to them.”

  • The narrator directly states that the branches are “notable among Brooklyn trees for their lack of plastic shopping bags,” which the wind rips away. This is a detail question answered word-for-word in the passage. Choices A, C, and D introduce characteristics—shape, sound, shade—that are never mentioned.

Question 4, “According to the narrator of Passage B, some manhole covers she encountered as a child were rubbed smooth partly because of:” The answer is F: “the metal-wheeled vehicles of Brooklyn’s past.”

  • The narrator explains that her mother taught her that horse-drawn vehicles with metal wheels wore down the street more aggressively than modern rubber tires. This explanation directly accounts for the smoothing of the metal covers. Choices G, H, and J are plausible-sounding but unsupported by the passage.

Question 5, “It can reasonably be inferred from Passage B that one result of the excursions the narrator took around Brooklyn with her mother was the narrator’s:” The answer is C: “fuller notion of what her city was like during different eras.”

  • The narrator describes a shift in her understanding when she realizes Brooklyn once looked and functioned differently, making history feel real and local. This inference is supported by her reflection that “history had happened here.” Choice A is too strong; no lifelong commitment is stated. Choice B misdirects to other cities. Choice D invents a future parenting decision not mentioned.

Question 6, “Both passages are told from the point of view of narrators who:” The answer is H: “illustrate their relationship with Brooklyn through family experiences.”

  • In Passage A, the narrator’s experiences with the wind are framed through walks with his children. In Passage B, the narrator’s understanding of Brooklyn comes from outings with her parents. Both use family interactions to explore place. Choice F is incorrect because Passage A does not describe the narrator’s own parents. Choices G and J are unsupported.

Question 7, “The tone of both passages can best be described as a combination of:” The answer is D: “wonder and nostalgia.”

  • Both narrators express fascination and affection for everyday elements of Brooklyn, paired with reflection on the past. The language conveys appreciation rather than skepticism or regret. Choices A, B, and C introduce emotional tones—relief, doubt, regret—that are not sustained in either passage.

Question 8, “Which of the following quotations from Passage B is most closely related to the themes in Passage A?” The answer is F: “My parents, as artists, were eager to have their children out discovering beauty in the pedestrian, complexity in the mundane.”

  • Passage A focuses on noticing overlooked natural phenomena—in this case, wind—within the city. This quotation from Passage B mirrors that theme by emphasizing attention to everyday beauty. Choices G and J are too narrow or whimsical, and choice H focuses on political meaning rather than shared perception and attentiveness.

Question 9, “The reference to Cranberry Street in Passage A and the reference to streets paved with Belgian blocks in Passage B both serve to:” The answer is A: “evoke historical details in order to provide a better understanding of Brooklyn.”

  • Both references anchor abstract reflections in concrete historical markers, helping readers visualize how the city has changed over time. The purpose is illustrative, not comparative or evaluative. Choices B, C, and D introduce claims about difficulty, preference, or reward that are not supported by the passages.

Passage II

Question 10, “The third paragraph (lines 42–60) marks a shift in the passage from:” The answer is G: “an explanation of the drawbacks of the modern lawn to a description of a more environmentally friendly alternative to it.”

  • In the first two paragraphs, the author explains why lawns are problematic, emphasizing their ecological harm, lack of biodiversity, and excessive resource use. The third paragraph clearly pivots away from criticism and introduces the “Freedom Lawn,” which is presented as a solution. This structural shift—from problem to alternative—is a classic ACT passage move. Choice F is wrong because the passage never truly defends the modern lawn. Choice H mislabels the earlier material as historical rather than evaluative. Choice J exaggerates the author’s purpose; the paragraph proposes an alternative, not a plea to stop mowing entirely.

Question 11, “Based on the passage, who would most fully endorse the claim that lawns are particularly valuable for creating wide-open areas of green space that foster a feeling of community?” The answer is C: “Olmsted.”

  • Frederick Law Olmsted is quoted as praising lawns for giving neighborhoods “a sense of ampleness, greenness, and community,” which directly matches the claim in the question. The author himself ultimately critiques lawns, making B incorrect. The Yale group promotes redesigned lawns, not traditional expansive ones, eliminating A. Pollan is openly critical of suburban lawn culture, so D is incompatible with the claim.

Question 12, “What reason does the passage author give to bolster his claim that ‘domination of suburbia by lawn constrains the diversity of birds that could be supported’?” The answer is H: “Birds don’t carry out any life functions in the modern lawn other than foraging.”

  • Immediately after making the claim, the author explains that while some birds forage on lawns, none reproduce or carry out other life processes there. This directly supports the argument that lawns limit biodiversity. Choice F weakens rather than supports the claim. Choice G is vague and restates opinion without evidence. Choice J is irrelevant to bird diversity.

Question 13, “The passage most strongly suggests that the gradual diversification of plant composition in a Freedom Lawn leads to:” The answer is A: “native, beneficial insects being drawn to the lawn.”

  • The passage explains a clear ecological chain: diversified plants attract insects, which are then eaten by birds and other animals. The insects are the immediate and explicit result of plant diversification. Choice B extends far beyond the text. Choice C invents human-built nest sites. Choice D contradicts the idea of diversification entirely.

Question 14, “The passage author most strongly suggests that American homeowners who grow shaggy lawns likely feel the most immediate pressure from which of the following circumstances?” The answer is J: “The disapproval of their neighbors.”

  • The final paragraph emphasizes social pressure, noting that neighbors often see shaggy lawns as irresponsible or uncivic. This pressure is described as “more immediate” than economic or industrial consequences. Choices F, G, and H reference financial or logistical pressures that the author explicitly contrasts with neighbor judgment.

Question 15, “The main point of the last paragraph (lines 67–78) is that:” The answer is A: “adopting a Freedom Lawn can arguably be a bold political and social act.”

  • The paragraph frames the choice to adopt a Freedom Lawn as resistance—to industry norms and neighborhood expectations. The Pollan quote reinforces this idea by portraying conformity as socially enforced. Choice B is too narrow, focusing only on industry. Choice C misrepresents the tone. Choice D incorrectly suggests the author criticizes Freedom Lawn adopters.

Question 16, “The passage author includes the quotation by Pollan (lines 75–78) mainly to:” The answer is H: “slightly mock the suburban ideals that have led to the proliferation of the modern lawn.”

  • Pollan’s description of the “crew-cut lawn” versus the “shaggy one” uses irony and exaggeration to critique suburban aesthetics. The author uses this quotation to underscore the cultural absurdity surrounding lawn conformity. Choice F misreads the tone as approval. Choice G is moralistic beyond the text. Choice J incorrectly frames the comparison as visual appeal.

Question 17, “What evidence, if accurate, would best support the passage author’s claim that ‘our love of lawn is rooted in our history as a former British colony’?” The answer is B: “For generations in Britain, a trimmed lawn was a popular status symbol, showing that a homeowner could afford to own land that was not farmed.”

  • This option directly connects British cultural values to American lawn traditions, reinforcing the author’s claim about historical roots. Choice A addresses grass origin, not cultural practice. Choice C is trivial and unrelated to colonial influence. Choice D describes timing, not cause.

Question 18, “Which of the following lists captures features of a Freedom Lawn as it is described in the passage?” The answer is J: “Bordered by shrubs, unfertilized, shaded by trees.”

  • The passage explicitly lists these features when describing how homeowners can redesign lawns to support wildlife. Choice F incorrectly emphasizes size and nonnative grasses. Choice G contradicts the rejection of pesticides. Choice H includes conditions—unshaded and bordered by short grasses—that conflict with the text.

Passage III

Question 19, “In the context of the passage, the main function of the first paragraph (lines 1–8) is to:” The answer is B: “illustrate the strength and versatility of spider silks by describing how one particular spider uses its silks to create a web.”

  • The opening paragraph narrates a detailed, concrete example of the Madagascan bark spider releasing silk across a river and then reinforcing and modifying it to build a web. This vivid scenario demonstrates both toughness (spanning 25 meters) and versatility (using different silks for different purposes). Choice A is incorrect because the paragraph does not explain internal biological processes. Choice C focuses on obstacles rather than capability. Choice D misreads the paragraph as a comparison to other animals, which does not occur.

Question 20, “According to the passage, how does the bark spider establish tension in its bridgeline?” The answer is J: “It stretches the bridgeline.”

  • The passage explicitly states that after the silk lands on the opposite bank, the spider “stretches the bridgeline to establish tension.” This is a direct-detail question that rewards careful reading. Choice G refers to reinforcement, which occurs after tension is established. Choices F and H are not mentioned anywhere in the description and can be eliminated immediately.

Question 21, “In the context of the passage, the statement in lines 11–12 can best be described as:” The answer is B: “a fact the passage author supports by citing the variety of silks other spiders can produce.”

  • The statement that the bark spider’s versatility is “not unique” is immediately supported by examples of other spiders producing multiple kinds of silk for different functions. This makes the statement factual and evidence-based. Choice A is incorrect because no contradiction is presented. Choice C incorrectly frames the statement as opinion-based reasoning. Choice D fails because the author clearly provides support.

Question 22, “According to the passage, how many different kinds of silk proteins can an individual spider make?” The answer is G: “As many as six.”

  • The passage states that individual spiders can make “as many as six different kinds of silk proteins (and two glue proteins).” This question tests precise recall of a numerical detail. Choices F, H, and J all conflict with the specific number given and should be eliminated based on direct textual evidence.

Question 23, “It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that the author uses the word stretch (line 78) mainly to:” The answer is A: “reinforce an idea in the passage with a humorous play on words.”

  • The word stretch appears in reference to the Spider-Man subway scene and subtly echoes the discussion of silk elasticity throughout the passage. The author signals that the movie scene is exaggerated but not entirely unrealistic, using wordplay that connects literal stretching with figurative exaggeration. Choice B ignores the humor. Choice C overstates skepticism. Choice D misreads the tone as critical rather than playful.

Question 24, “Based on lines 65–67 and the table, which of the following statements is accurate?” The answer is F: “High-tensile steel fiber requires much less energy to break than the bark spider’s silk does.”

  • The table shows that bark spider MA silk has far greater toughness than high-tensile steel fiber. Toughness measures the energy required to break a material, so the data directly supports this statement. Choice G is factually incorrect when comparing values. Choice H contradicts the table’s data. Choice J falsely claims equality where none exists.

Question 25, “Based on the passage and the table, does the information in the table support the passage’s claim about how the bark spider’s silk compares to steel fiber?” The answer is B: “Yes, because the table indicates the toughness of the bark spider’s silk far exceeds the toughness of steel fiber.”

  • The passage claims that the bark spider’s silk is tougher than steel fiber, and the table confirms this with dramatically higher toughness values. This is a synthesis question requiring students to connect textual claims to data. Choice A misrepresents the strength comparison. Choice C inaccurately claims similarity. Choice D directly contradicts the table.

Question 26, “Based on the table, which of the following pairs of materials are most different in terms of elasticity?” The answer is F: “Silver garden spider flag silk and high-tensile steel fiber.”

  • Elasticity measures how much a material can stretch. Silver garden spider flag silk has extremely high elasticity, while steel fiber has extremely low elasticity, creating the largest contrast among the options. Choice G involves two low-elasticity materials. Choice H compares similar values. Choice J involves two materials with similarly limited stretch.

Question 27, “According to the table, compared to the silver garden spider’s flag silk, the domestic silkworm’s silk has:” The answer is C: “greater strength but less toughness.”

  • The table shows domestic silkworm silk has higher strength than flag silk but lower toughness. This requires careful comparison across two different columns rather than focusing on a single metric. Choice A misstates elasticity. Choice B incorrectly claims greater toughness. Choice D reverses the strength comparison.

Passage IV

Question 28, “It can reasonably be inferred that the passage author viewed the Sundance executives’ claim in lines 34–35 as:” The answer is J: “an assurance that, while well-meaning, felt hollow.”

  • When the executives say they “really do want Native American participation,” the author immediately expresses skepticism, noting an instinctive sense that little progress would be made without structural change. This reaction implies that the statement sounded positive but lacked substance. Choice F is wrong because the author does not see the meeting as productive. Choice G overstates optimism the author clearly does not share. Choice H contradicts the author’s implication that Native films were not yet favored.

Question 29, “The passage author indicates that in order to become more active participants in the Sundance Festival, Native filmmakers were most in need of:” The answer is B: “a decision-making voice within the Sundance Institute.”

  • The author explicitly argues that Native filmmakers must be “at the table helping to make decisions,” emphasizing institutional power rather than funding or exposure. This is the central solution she proposes. Choice A misrepresents the discussion, which moves away from funding alone. Choice C is secondary and insufficient in the author’s view. Choice D is not supported; international screening is not presented as the core obstacle.

Question 30, “Which of the following statements best summarizes the excerpt from Hearne in lines 58–74?” The answer is H: “Smoke Signals is one film in a long line of Native films but was revolutionary in its presentation of Native Americans and advancement of Native filmmaking.”

  • Hearne emphasizes that while Smoke Signals was not the first Native film, it marked a major turning point in visibility, representation, and industry recognition. This answer captures both the historical continuity and the film’s significance. Choice F narrows the focus too much. Choice G reduces the argument to marketing. Choice J ignores the excerpt’s emphasis on progress and impact.

Question 31, “Based on the passage, the passage author would most likely agree that Hearne’s review of Smoke Signals:” The answer is D: “is both thorough and insightful.”

  • The author praises Hearne’s “extensive review,” “close readings,” and careful articulation of cultural and production elements. This language clearly signals respect and approval. Choice A is wrong because the review came years after release. Choice B contradicts the author’s positive framing. Choice C directly opposes the author’s endorsement.

Question 32, “According to the passage, in their 1997 meeting with Native filmmakers, Sundance executives were primarily interested in making Native films:” The answer is F: “competitive with other films promoted by the Sundance Institute.”

  • The executives focused on improving Native-made films so they could meet existing aesthetic and professional standards used by Sundance audiences and critics. This emphasis on competitiveness is explicit. Choice G exaggerates artistic ambition. Choice H invents branding motives. Choice J introduces distribution concerns not emphasized in the passage.

Question 33, “The passage author describes the conversation between Native filmmakers and Sundance executives as ‘wavering’ (line 22) primarily to make clear that, up to that point, the meeting had:” The answer is D: “meandered in topic and somewhat lacked focus.”

  • The conversation shifts between funding, training, and distribution without settling on meaningful action. The word “wavering” highlights this lack of direction. Choice A introduces logistical issues not mentioned. Choice B incorrectly attributes deliberation to filmmakers rather than executives. Choice C mischaracterizes reluctance as the main issue.

Question 34, “As it is used in line 28, the phrase held by most nearly means:” The answer is F: “wielded by.”

  • In context, the phrase refers to the “power held by the Sundance Festival,” meaning power exercised or controlled by the institution. “Wielded by” captures this sense of active authority. Choice G implies proximity rather than control. Choice H misreads the phrase as belief. Choice J suggests support rather than possession of power.

Question 35, “It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that the Sundance Institute’s decision to hire someone like Rae was the result of a suggestion from:” The answer is C: “the passage author.”

  • The author recounts directly proposing that the Institute hire a Native American staff member to influence decisions internally. The subsequent hiring of Heather Rae aligns clearly with that recommendation. Choices A and B involve figures mentioned later but not connected to the suggestion. Choice D contradicts the narrative emphasis on the author’s intervention.

Question 36, “In the context of the passage, the main purpose of the last paragraph (lines 89–91) is to:” The answer is G: “note the success within Native American filmmaking since the release of Smoke Signals.”

  • The final paragraph broadens the focus beyond one film to emphasize measurable growth and progress in Native filmmaking internationally. This functions as a forward-looking conclusion. Choice F is too narrow and retrospective. Choice H shifts attention away from Native filmmaking specifically. Choice J incorrectly centers the Sundance Festival rather than the broader movement.

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