ACT English Practice Test 50

PASSAGE I

Hair-raising Problems

Why is it that we are so completely obsessive Q1 with the hair on our heads? Millions of dollars are spent each year on cutting hair, lengthening hair, bleaching hair, straightening hair, curling hair, highlighting hair, and even growing hair; whatever you can do to hair, someone is willing to pay the moneyQ2 to do it. Natural redheads long for to be Q3 brunettes and dishwater blondes dream of shiny golden tresses. Both men and women cringe at the sight of each gray hair, so Q4 teenagers enjoy weekly experiments with magenta dyes, spikes, and tangerine streaks. All of these thoughts cross my mind as I examine the result of Q5 my most recent hair adventure. As a mature woman watching the gray hairs mixing in rapidly Q6 with my natural brunette tones, I decided over a year ago, to Q7 approach my stylist with the idea of highlights. Having seen many of my peers go this route, I figured that highlighting was for to be Q8 the answer to my reluctance to look my age.

[1] The monthly highlighting went well: excepting Q9 for those times when my hair turned out a little too subdued, making me look partially gray instead of brunette. [2] I suffered through it remarkably well, saying to myself, “She’ll get it right the next time.” [3] For the most part Q10 , I’ve enjoyed my year of highlights, so much so that I bravely approached Donna, my stylist, two months ago and proclaimed that I was done with wimpy highlighting and ready to go blonde. [4] The result was not quite what I expected, but I resolved to live with it! Q11 [5] Donna was surprised at my suggestion, but quickly began sharing my unbridled enthusiasm as she gathers Q12 the appropriate chemicals and concoctions that would soon transform me.
Three months later, I find myself seesawing between tears and Q13 laughter as I attempt to cover up a patch of nearly bald scalp on the top of my head. For someone who has long been fanatical about the appearance of her hair, this absence of hair has proven to be quite a challenge to my ego and self- confidence. I’ve always enjoyed styling my hair, and suddenly, I have nothing to style.
Each time I begin to experience a new pang of disgust and despair over this new hair anomaly, I once again ask myself why we are so obsessed with the hair on our heads. The answer always comes to me in a flash, in a simple two-word phrase: pure vanity. Soon after this realization, I cease my crying. Q14Q15