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You can use the ACT Reading Question of the Day to get into the habit of thinking about ACT Reading content on a daily basis when studying for the ACT. Varsity Tutors' ACT Reading Questions of the Day are drawn from each topic and question type covered on the Reading section of the ACT.
Question of the Day: ACT Reading
Adapted from On Liberty by J.S. Mill (1859)
The subject of this Essay is not the so-called Liberty of the Will, so unfortunately opposed to the misnamed doctrine of Philosophical Necessity; but Civil, or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. A question seldom stated, and hardly ever discussed, in general terms, but which profoundly influences the practical controversies of the age by its latent presence, and is likely soon to make itself recognised as the vital question of the future. It is so far from being new, that in a certain sense, it has divided mankind, almost from the remotest ages; but in the stage of progress into which the more civilised portions of the species have now entered, it presents itself under new conditions, and requires a different and more fundamental treatment.
The struggle between Liberty and Authority is the most conspicuous feature in the portions of history with which we are earliest familiar, particularly in that of Greece, Rome, and England. But in old times this contest was between subjects, or some classes of subjects, and the government. By liberty, was meant protection against the tyranny of the political rulers. The rulers were conceived (except in some of the popular governments of Greece) as in a necessarily antagonistic position to the people whom they ruled. They consisted of a governing One, or a governing tribe or caste, who derived their authority from inheritance or conquest, who, at all events, did not hold it at the pleasure of the governed, and whose supremacy men did not venture, perhaps did not desire, to contest, whatever precautions might be taken against its oppressive exercise. Their power was regarded as necessary, but also as highly dangerous; as a weapon which they would attempt to use against their subjects, no less than against external enemies. To prevent the weaker members of the community from being preyed upon by innumerable vultures, it was needful that there should be an animal of prey stronger than the rest, commissioned to keep them down. But as the king of the vultures would be no less bent upon preying on the flock than any of the minor harpies, it was indispensable to be in a perpetual attitude of defence against his beak and claws. The aim, therefore, of patriots, was to set limits to the power which the ruler should be suffered to exercise over the community; and this limitation was what they meant by liberty.
How was power thought of in governments in Rome, for instance?
As praiseworthy and correctly tyrannical
As laudatory
As emblematic of people’s feelings toward their children
None of the other answers
As potentially threatening and something to be feared
Studying for different subjects on the ACT can sometimes require different methods. Preparing for the ACT Reading portion, for example, requires different skills than many of the other parts of the test. One way to help prepare you for the reading portion of the ACT is to use Varsity Tutors’ Learning Tools Reading Question of the Day. By using the Question of the Day, you will receive a daily question to help you not only prepare for specific concepts that you will encounter on the ACT, but also prepare you for the method of the reading portion of the test, which to some is quite different from any other part of the test. Whether you need ACT Reading tutoring in New York, ACT Reading tutoring in Chicago, or ACT Reading tutoring in Los Angeles, working one-on-one with an expert may be just the boost your studies need.
The Learning Tools Reading Question of the Day will provide you with a different passage to read each day. Each passage will vary in length as well as difficulty. At the end of the passage, you will be asked a question based on the text that you have just read, as well as given a number of different possible answers. Based on the reading that you have just done, you will select your answer. At this point, you will be told whether or not you were correct, as well as several statistics. The statistics include the time it took for you to read the passage and answer your question, the percentage of those that answered the question correctly, as well as the percentile that you fall into based on the statistics. The statistics will accumulate each day, allowing you to compare yourself to others that are also preparing for the test and give you an idea of how you rank. Varsity Tutors also offers resources like a free ACT prep book to help with your self-paced study, or you may want to consider an ACT Reading tutor.
One of the most important statistics for many is the amount of time it took for you to read the passage and answer the question. Given that the ACT is a timed test, the amount of time it takes for you to answer a question can be a very important aspect. With the help of the Learning Tools Question of the Day, you can keep track of the time of each question on a daily basis, continually working to both read the passages and answer the questions more quickly.
Along with the statistics provided in the Learning Tools Question of the Day, you will also be provided with a full explanation of why the answer you have given is right or wrong, as well as an area where you can read more on the general concept associated with each day’s question. Often times, you will be provided with many other examples of each general concept, which will allow you to spend as much time as you like on concepts that may be more difficult to you than others, better preparing you for the ACT Reading portion. In addition to the ACT Reading Question of the Day and ACT Reading tutoring, you may also want to consider taking some of our ACT Reading practice tests.
The reading portion of the ACT can be challenging for many, since it takes a different skill set to properly answer the questions. Along with reading comprehension, the reading section will require speed, English comprehension, and deductive reasoning. With the help of the Learning Tools ACT Reading Question of the Day, you will get a daily opportunity to improve these skills, as well as learn the reasoning behind the concepts that will be tested by the ACT.
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