Below are answer explanations to the 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, “The point of view from which the passage is told is best described as that of a:” The answer is D. “third person narrator, not present in the action, who relates the thoughts and feelings of primarily one character.”

  • The story is told in the third person, as indicated by the consistent use of “Andrea” and “she,” rather than first-person pronouns like “I” or “me.” The narrator is not an active participant in events but observes and reports Andrea’s internal experiences. For example, “The wonderful thing about the bowl, Andrea thought, was that it was both subtle and noticeable—a paradox of a bowl,” clearly shows the narrator conveying Andrea’s private thoughts and feelings rather than those of multiple characters.

Question 2, “The passage as a whole can best be described as an exploration of the:” The answer is C. “perceived perfection of an object and that object’s effect on people.”

  • The passage largely explores how the bowl, despite its simplicity, strongly affects Andrea and potential buyers. The narrator repeatedly emphasizes its subtle beauty, describing its “real presence” and noting it was “both subtle and noticeable—a paradox.” Further, the bowl’s allure is highlighted by incidents where buyers focus on the bowl instead of the house itself, demonstrating its powerful psychological influence.

Question 3, “The passage most strongly suggests that a useful characteristic of the bowl, in terms of Andrea’s purpose for the object, is the bowl’s:” The answer is A. “universal appeal.”

  • The bowl’s universal appeal is explicitly demonstrated by the narrator describing how diverse buyers respond positively to it: “People who liked country furniture always commented on the bowl, but then it turned out that people who felt comfortable with opulence loved it just as much.” This indicates that the bowl transcends specific tastes and resonates with people of varied aesthetic preferences. This universal quality is precisely what makes it so effective for Andrea’s purposes in real estate staging.

Question 4, “In the highlighted text, Andrea responds to an inquiry about her bowl and explains why her bowl was placed in a client’s home with statements that can best be described as:” The answer is D. “lies.”

  • Andrea deliberately provides false information when asked about the bowl’s origin, as illustrated by her internal acknowledgment that she “pretended that she did not know what the woman was referring to,” clearly an act of deception. She further deepens the lie by stating she would inquire about the bowl’s origin, despite knowing full well it belonged to her. Thus, Andrea intentionally misleads the woman rather than merely offering vague or uncertain explanations.

Question 5, “In the passage, Andrea is characterized as believing that compared to most tricks used by real estate agents to impress potential buyers, her trick of placing the bowl in a home is:” The answer is C. “less familiar to potential buyers.”

  • Andrea contrasts her subtle, unfamiliar technique—the careful placement of her special bowl—with more common, widely recognized strategies such as “a fire in the fireplace” or “jonquils in a pitcher,” implying that her approach is less familiar to buyers. The subtlety of her method is underscored when the narrator says the bowl “was not at all ostentatious,” highlighting that it isn’t an overt trick easily identifiable by buyers. Therefore, Andrea perceives her approach as uniquely subtle compared to typical staging methods.

Question 6, “According to the passage, the random placement of colors in the bowl’s glaze creates a surface that:” The answer is B. “seems to move.”

  • The narrator specifically describes the bowl’s glaze as containing “tiny geometric flashes” and “flecks of silver” that “shimmered, flashing for a split second, and then resumed their shape,” clearly suggesting an illusion of motion. The description, “Something about the colors and their random placement suggested motion,” directly supports this interpretation. This visual quality makes the bowl intriguing and difficult for buyers to ignore, further enhancing its impact as a decorative staging tool.

Question 7, “One main point of the highlighted paragraph is that:” The answer is A. “Andrea’s bowl sometimes attracts more interest than does the house itself.”

  • The highlighted paragraph clearly emphasizes that the bowl drew attention independently of the house itself, as evidenced by the call Andrea received specifically about the bowl’s origin: “That bowl, she said—would it be possible to find out where the owners had bought that beautiful bowl?” This indicates that the bowl had become the focal point for the caller, overshadowing the home itself. Andrea’s deliberate feigned ignorance (“Andrea pretended that she did not know…”) further underscores how prominently the bowl captured people’s interest, often more so than the house.

Question 8, “In the passage, the admiration the bowl receives is directly compared to the admiration received by:” The answer is A. “a mutt.”

  • The opening lines explicitly make the comparison: “It was as predictably admired as a mutt who has no reason to suspect he might be funny.” The narrator emphasizes that both the bowl and a mutt share a charm that is unassuming yet irresistibly appealing. This analogy sets the tone for understanding the bowl’s subtle yet consistent appeal, emphasizing its understated, relatable charm rather than an obviously glamorous quality.

Question 9, “The passage suggests that one reason prospective home buyers have difficulty sharing their thoughts about the bowl is that they realize:” The answer is A. “they are not visiting the home for the purpose of noticing decorative objects.”

  • The passage indicates buyers hesitate to discuss the bowl openly, suggesting a consciousness of their primary purpose in the home: “Perhaps it was because they were in the house for a serious reason, not to notice some object.” This sentence implies buyers feel somewhat embarrassed or inappropriate mentioning decor, as their stated goal is to assess the house itself. This internal tension explains why their comments about the bowl consistently faltered or stopped short, despite clearly noticing and appreciating the object.

Passage II

Question 10, “The main purpose of the passage is to:” The answer is D. “explain a particular flower variation and how it has been perceived historically.”

  • The passage primarily focuses on the “broken tulip” variation, detailing its beauty, historical significance, and eventual downfall once the virus causing the breaks was discovered. It discusses human fascination, economic implications, and the scientific revelation behind the tulip’s appearance. This comprehensive historical and scientific exploration supports answer D.

Question 11, “The main point of the highlighted paragraph is that:” The answer is B. “compared to seventeenth-century broken tulips, today’s multicolored tulips are less visually appealing.”

  • The highlighted paragraph explicitly contrasts modern “Rembrandt” tulips unfavorably with historical broken tulips, stating that modern tulips look “clumsy by comparison.” The passage praises historical tulips for their intricate patterns and delicate beauty. Thus, choice B accurately captures the essence of this paragraph.

Question 12, “It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that some seventeenth-century tulip growers believed tulip breaks were mainly caused by:” The answer is C. “certain growing techniques.”

  • The passage clearly describes growers’ attempts to induce breaks artificially using paint powders, pigeon droppings, and plaster dust. These methods demonstrate their belief that specific cultivation practices could cause the desired tulip breaks, thus supporting option C.

Question 13, “The information in the highlighted text primarily functions to:” The answer is B. “explain how the color variation in a broken tulip occurs.”

  • This highlighted section provides a clear scientific explanation of how the virus affects the tulip’s pigment, causing the distinct visual patterns. It discusses the interaction of anthocyanin with the underlying petal color, thus directly explaining the mechanism behind the color variation in broken tulips.

Question 14, “The highlighted paragraph differs from the rest of the passage in that it:” The answer is D.
“presents a personal meditation on broken tulips.”

  • Unlike the rest of the passage, which remains objective and historical, this paragraph reveals the author’s personal thoughts, indicated by the reflective phrasing “I can’t help thinking.” It meditatively speculates on why humans found broken tulips especially appealing.

Question 15, “According to the passage, in the seventeenth century, the fact that broken tulip bulbs tended to produce fewer and smaller offsets compared to typical tulip bulbs resulted in:” The answer is C. “an increase in prices for broken tulips.”

  • The passage explicitly states that because broken tulips produced fewer and smaller offsets, this scarcity “drove their prices still higher,” directly supporting choice C.

Question 16, “In the passage, the author compares broken tulips as they are represented in Rembrandt’s paintings to:” The answer is D. “intricately marbleized papers.”

  • The passage explicitly compares broken tulips, as depicted in Rembrandt’s paintings, to paper: “fine and intricate as marbleized papers.” The author uses this simile to convey the complex and delicate beauty of the patterns on these tulips. Unlike options A, B, and C, this simile emphasizes precision, intricacy, and artistic craftsmanship, clearly supported by the text’s description of “extravagant swirls of color somehow managing to seem both bold and delicate at once.”

Question 17, “The passage author most likely mentions that peach trees were a staple of seventeenth-century gardens to:” The answer is C. “explain how peach potato aphids spread the tulip virus.”

  • The passage mentions peach trees specifically because “peach potato aphid,” identified as Myzus persicae, was found to spread the tulip virus. The text explains clearly that scientists discovered in the 1920s that the tulip virus “was being spread from tulip to tulip by Myzus persicae, the peach potato aphid,” and adds context by noting, “Peach trees were a common feature of seventeenth-century gardens.” Thus, mentioning peach trees serves directly to clarify how the virus transmission occurred historically.

Question 18, “As it is used in the passage, the highlighted word ‘abandon’ most nearly means:” The answer is A. “uninhibitedness”.

  • In context, the author uses “abandon” metaphorically to mean a sense of freedom or lack of restraint, suggesting that “the virus was supplying something the tulip needed, just the touch of abandon the flower’s chilly formality called for.” This sentence suggests the flower needed a bit of wildness or spontaneity to balance its formal appearance. The meaning clearly aligns with “uninhibitedness,” as it captures the idea of letting go of strict formality, rather than relinquishing something tangible or retreating from a situation.

Passage III

Question 19, “According to Passage A, one reason elements of hip-hop culture such as b-boying are rarely represented in mass media is that these art forms:” The answer is B. “are not bought and sold as products.”

  • The passage clearly states that art forms like b-boying were not widely represented in mass media primarily because they were experiences that were “lived rather than bought and sold.” This directly aligns with option B.

Question 20, “As it is used in the passage, the highlighted word sensibilities most nearly means:” The answer is C. “perspectives.”

  • In context, “sensibilities” refers to the hip-hop culture’s ways of thinking, values, and aesthetic judgments—not emotions or sensitivities. It’s about a cultural perspective that blends both hip-hop and mainstream music industry elements.

Question 21, “Based on Passage A, which statement best captures the relationship between Tin Pan Alley pop music and rap music?” The answer is D. “D. Tin Pan Alley pop has influenced many rap artists.”

  • Passage A suggests rap music incorporates elements derived from mainstream culture and mentions explicitly Tin Pan Alley pop music. It doesn’t say rap artists completely reject it; rather, it highlights the influence of mainstream (including Tin Pan Alley) on rap.

Question 22, “Which of the following details does the author of Passage B highlight as one that caused “Rapper’s Delight” to stand out as different compared to other songs he knew?” The answer is C. “The length of the song.”

  • The author explicitly mentions the exceptional length (“almost fifteen minutes”) of “Rapper’s Delight” as a distinctive characteristic that made the song stand out from others he knew.

Question 23, “In the context of Passage B, the main point of the highlighted paragraph is that the author was:” The answer is A. “struck by the combination of new and established musical elements in the music he was hearing.”

  • The author notes hearing something completely different (new rhyming words and style) layered onto the familiar instrumental background of the disco song “Good Times.” He was clearly struck by this blend of familiar and unfamiliar.

Question 24, “Based on Passage B, it can reasonably be inferred that the author views his first exposure to rap music as:” The answer is C. “a transformative experience.”

  • The author describes hearing “Rapper’s Delight” as a moment that “changed my life (and pop culture) forever,” clearly indicating it was a transformative, life-altering event.

Question 25, “Compared to Passage A, Passage B focuses more on:” The answer is D. “the author’s personal experience.”

  • Passage B differs notably by narrating a deeply personal experience with hip-hop music, whereas Passage A discusses broader cultural and historical aspects without personal anecdote.

Question 26, “Which of the following elements of Passage B is not included in Passage A?” The answer is A. “A story involving a particular rap song.”

  • Passage A lacks any specific anecdotal narrative about a particular song. Passage B distinctly includes a detailed personal story about discovering the song “Rapper’s Delight.”

Question 27, “The authors of both passages would most likely agree with the idea that early rap music:” The answer is B. “represented a significant development in American popular culture.”

  • Both authors agree on hip-hop’s broad cultural significance and transformative impact, explicitly acknowledging rap as a culturally significant development in American popular culture.

Passage IV

Question 28, “In the context of the passage, how does the analysis of crocodilian immune system molecules relate to the living fossil theory of crocodilian evolution?” The answer is “D. The analysis does not support the living fossil theory.”

  • While early analysis of immune system molecules suggested similarity across species (which seemed to support the living fossil theory), the full genetic evidence—especially DNA from modern and mummified crocodiles—showed significant divergence. This disproves the idea that crocodilians have remained unchanged and ultimately removes them from the “living fossil” category.

Question 29, “Which of the following statements best summarizes Oak’s analysis of Nile crocodiles’ DNA as it is presented in the highlighted paragraph?” The answer is D. “It suggested that the DNA came from two species, which did not support the living fossil theory of crocodiles.”

  • The highlighted paragraph emphasizes that Oaks’s DNA samples from Nile crocodiles showed differences significant enough to imply two distinct species rather than a single unchanged lineage. This finding contradicts the “living fossil” concept, which assumes little to no speciation over time.

Question 30, “The main purpose of the highlighted paragraph is to:” The answer is A. “describe the DNA analysis that confirmed Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus suchus were two distinct species.”

  • The highlighted paragraph details the DNA analyses that confirmed significant genetic differences between two crocodilian populations, providing strong evidence of two separate species, Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus suchus. This distinction undermines the concept that these crocodiles are living fossils, unchanged for millions of years.

Question 31, “According to the passage, molecular analysis revealed that immune system molecules from living crocodilian species were similar in:” The answer is A. “structure and behavior.”

  • The passage explicitly states that molecular analysis revealed immune system molecules conserved across crocodilian species were similar specifically in “structure and behavior.”

Question 32, “In the context of the passage, the highlighted statement mainly serves to:” The answer is B. “establish the tameness of the crocodiles in the desert oasis.”

  • The highlighted text describes the crocodiles’ tameness, emphasizing that the crocodiles were so docile that humans could swim alongside them without concern, which distinguishes them behaviorally from typical wild crocodiles.

Question 33, “According to the passage, after Klemens sent a tissue sample of a perished crocodile to Hekkala, Hekkala then:” The answer is C. “sequenced the crocodile’s genome.”

  • The passage explicitly states that after receiving the tissue sample, Hekkala “sequenced its genome,” clearly indicating this action as the next step after receiving the tissue sample.

Question 34, “In the context of the passage, the detail that Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus suchus have different numbers of chromosomes provides support for the claim that the two species:” The answer is D. “were not mixing their DNA.”

  • The fact that the two crocodile species had different chromosome numbers strongly suggests reproductive isolation—meaning they were not interbreeding or mixing their DNA. This directly supports the claim that the two populations are separate species.

Question 35, “According to the passage. Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus suchus diverged between:” The answer is B. “3 and 6 million years ago.”

  • The passage explicitly states the two crocodile species diverged between “3 and 6 million years ago,” providing a clear and direct answer.

Question 36, “Based on the passage, the phrase “redraw the map” (highlighted text) is most likely meant to be read:” The answer is C. “figuratively; scientists amended the narrative of the natural history of crocodiles.”

  • The phrase “redraw the map” is used figuratively here. It doesn’t literally mean a geographical map is redrawn, but rather that scientists have revised or amended their understanding or “narrative” regarding crocodile evolution.

Additional ACT practice test answer explanations