Weird ACT English Questions

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

From June’s 2015 TIR:

Cynthia Moss has been studying (elephants, since 1972) when she started the now-famous Elephant research program
a. No Change
b. elephants, since 1972,
c. elephants since 1972,
d. elephants’ since 1972

It’s obvious that A and D are wrong. B and C seemed incorrect at first but my instinct went with B? Answer is C. Why? It seems the commas in this sentence is so unnecessary. Why is C the best choice?

Yet, they themselves survive without (apology, with instead,) their simple claims.
a. No Change
b. apology, with , instead
c. apology with instead,
d. apology with instead

I chose D. A and C are wrong. Why is it B?

These ACT English Questions are weird. Y’all concur with me?

2

D is plural possessive, so it is wrong.

This is a favorite question of the ACT- confusing plurals with plural possesive.

Commas on either side of “since 1972” sets off non essential information.

3

I understood the first one but idk about the second one thats weird af

4

1 is C for obvious reasons. No apostrophe after elephants (D is wrong) and no comma is needed after elephants (A and B wrong).

I have no clue on #2. I would need to see the sentence in context.

5

For number 1, you always insert a comma after a year. For example: I was born on November 8, 2015, after my dad and mom married.