AP Exam Multiple Choice questions 1-45

8. The author's shift in tone between the fourth and fifth paragraphs marks a transition between (A) offering practical advice and advocating broader principles (B) exemplifying simplicity and demonstrating complexity (C) identifying problems and proposing solutions (D) presenting absolute claims and qualifying those claims (E) arguing from personal experience and incorporating the insights of others

A

28. In sentence 7 (reproduced below), the writer is considering adding the parenthetical phrase "(another hazard to humans in cars)" after the word "off." In fact, often street lights are shut off in order to decrease the number of mayflies congregating near them. Should the writer make this addition? (A) Yes, because it emphasizes the importance of the evidence about the hazards of street lights. (B) Yes, because it connects the evidence offered'in the sentence to the paragraph's main claim. (C) No, because it interrupts the fluidity of the sentence. (D) No, because it distracts from the narration of human responses to mayflies. (E) No, because it introduces an opposing argument.

B

34. The writer is considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5. Many people view teenagers as lazy; preferring to spend their summers playing video games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money. Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ? (A) Yes, because the stereotype of the lazy teenager is an important discussion point in the passage. (B) Yes, because it shows the dangerous effects that modern technology has on teens today. (C) Yes, because it allows the writer to demonstrate an understanding of teen culture. (D) No, because it is illogical to include video games and friends in the same argument. (E) No, because it portrays teenagers in a way that could undermine the writer's appeal to teenage readers.

E

33. In sentence 3 (reproduced below), the writer wants to provide statistical information that helps contextualize the argument of the passage for the audience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the state with the highest employment rate for teens is Mississippi at 77 percent, and the lowest is North Dakota at 51 percent. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 most effectively accomplishes this goal? (A) (as it is now) (B) the number of teens working summer jobs has dropped from 60 percent to 30 percent since the 1980s (C) 22 percent of high school females were employed as compared to 19 percent of males (D) the employment rate for teens with some college or an associate degree is 79 percent (E) 11,847,000 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 do not have any kind of job

B

3. In the first paragraph, the author supports her claim that writers should "go to writers' workshops" (sentence 1) by (A) assessing whether workshops can improve writers' ability to judge their own works C). noting that workshops provide opportunities to write for diverse media, including television explaining how workshops can help writers learn unpleasant but valuable lessons (D) highlighting the value of workshops for writers at different stages in their careers (E) dispelling the misperception that workshops may stifle writers' creativity

C

31. Which of the following words should be placed at the beginning of sentence 16 (reproduced below) in order to demonstrate a connection to the previous sentence? Mayflies impact the economies of humans who live near healthy rivers and lakes--both tourists and locals spend money to enjoy activities in and near the water. (A) However (B)Regardless (C) Thus (D) Nonetheless (E) Conversely

C

23. In the fifth sentence of the fourth paragraph ("And in certain . . . true"), the author italicizes the verb "is" primarily to emphasize (A)an area of agreement between himself and another author whose views he has challenged (B) an area of disagreement between himself and another author whose views he generally agrees with (C) the equivalence he sees between two seemingly different claims D) the equivalence he sees between two seemingly different terms (E) the equivalence he sees between two seemingly different processes

A

42. The writer wants to avoid revealing any potential bias in sentence 3 (reproduced below). Many people are excited about these new technologies, and, as civil engineering professor and infrastructure expert Shoshanna Saxe explains, they are intended to improve infrastructure by collecting data and responding automatically. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 would best accomplish this goal? (A) (as it is now) (B) excessively dismissive civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe notes (C) civil engineering professor and startlingly insightful critic Shoshanna Saxe notes (D) civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe scornfully observes (E) civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe cleverly declares

A

43. The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 5 (reproduced below) to elaborate on that sentence's description of the contrast between infrastructure with and without sensors for data collection. Adding sensors for data collection to public services such as water and electricity distribution introduces new vulnerability to urban infrastructure. Which of the following sentences would best accomplish this goal? (A) These vulnerabilities may soon be addressed through a set of "smart" robotics designed to fix and update the software needed to keep sensors functioning smoothly. (B) "Smart" water-detection systems are quite unlike smart electricity systems in that, while they can detect problems, they are not able to self-regulate. (C) Water pipes, roads, and other elements of conventional infrastructure last for decades precisely because they are not "smart": they are structures with relatively simple, easy-to-replace parts. (D) "Smart" infrastructure in a city such as Toronto can be especially challenging because the cold climate conditions differ from those of cities in more temperate climates like Songdo. (E) Sensors using "smart" technologies can now register and distribute over a hundred times more data than sensors could ten years ago.

C

2. Which of the following statements best represents the thesis of the passage? (A) Effective writing relies on grammar and vocabulary, not fancy technology. (B) The most compelling stories come from observation, not inspiration. (C) True writers understand that writing is a form of play, not work. D) The primary purpose of writing is communication, not self-expression. (E) The key to success as a writer is consistent effort, not inherent ability.

E

14. In the passage, the author makes which of the following assumptions about his audience? (A) They are familiar with mainstream rhetoric about globalization. (B) They are concerned about the loss of cultural diversity. (C) They support taking collective action to address local problems. (D) They benefit from the process of global convergence. (E) They oppose ceding local control to global organizations.

A

15. In the second sentence of the passage ("Ancient history"), the series of short, simple clauses and the word play on "history" convey the author's sense that the claims of flat-world proponents (A) sound a little too superficial to be true (B) are supported by multiple sources of historical evidence (C) are constantly evolving (D) sound exaggerated only to those who are ignorant of historical events (E) seem more modest than the claims made by their opponents

A

4. In the first paragraph, the author uses the phrase "rented readers" (sentence 6) in order to (A) define writers' workshops in terms of their value to aspiring writers (B) express sympathy for writers who have no one to read their work for free (C) contrast the academic goals of classes with the commercial aims of workshops (D) acknowledge a reason that her audience may feel reluctant to take writing classes highlight the financial sacrifices that writers must make in order to succeed

A

24. In the fourth paragraph, the author cites Thomas Friedman primarily to (A) attribute the flawed assumptions of flat-world proponents to Friedman (B) acknowledge that the arguments of flat-world proponents are more complex than he has previously suggested (C) note a difference between the original version of the flat-world argument and popular adaptations of this argument (D) suggest that the implications of globalization are even more dangerous than he has already implied (E) reveal his insights into the circumstances that inspired Friedman to invent the flat-world metaphor

B

25. Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 1, would effectively engage the audience to want to know what prompted the writer's change of heart regarding mayflies? (A)Nuisances can be either permanent or temporary. B) This river, however, offers beautiful scenery to nature lovers. (C) And all bugs seem to be nuisances to humans. (D) I was one of those people. (E) I have lived on this river for three years.

B

7. Based on her discussion of the publication process (paragraph 4, sentences 1-11), the author most likely believes which of the following about her audience? (A) They aim to support themselves fully by selling their writing. (B) They have limited familiarity with publication and need a variety of advice. (C) They probably overestimate the value of inspiration for writers. (D) They already have some experience with submitting work to publishers. (E) They have previously been held back by their perfectionistic tendencies.

B

10. The seventh paragraph as a whole implicitly challenges which of the following ideas? (A) Talent is a valuable asset for aspiring writers. (B) Talent can promote laziness in young writers. (C) Successful writers must be very talented. (D) People should take pride in their talents. (E) Talent is meaningless without persistence.

C

18. Which of the following does the author represent as an effect of "congregating] in places of high environmental risk" (paragraph 3, sentence 8) ? (A) Opportunities that disproportionates benefit affluent communities (B) Frequent conflict among groups with different cultural values (C) Dangers that disproportionately affect certain communities (D) Overcrowding that exacerbates public health problems (E) )Environmental degradation that makes such areas nearly uninhabitable

C

22. At what point in his development of the passage's line of reasoning does the author arrive at his thesis? The first two sentences of the first paragraph ("Numerous books . . . history") (B) The last four sentences of the first paragraph ("Choice . . . is yours") C) The first three sentences of the second paragraph ("But is it? . . . as they go") The first four sentences of the third paragraph ("Not yet . . . even setbacks") (E) The first four sentences of the fourth paragraph ("Of course . . . at issue")

D

37. The writer is considering deleting sentence 9 (reproduced below) from the passage. Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile, must need some extra money because I see numerous signs at the local grocery store advertising personal lawn-mowing and babysitting services. Should the writer keep or delete this sentence? (A) Keep it, because the evidence it provides is likely to appeal to the audience's values in terms of their experience with teenagers seeking part-time employment. (B) Keep it, because it provides anecdotal evidence about teen employment that is expanded on later in the passage. (C) Delete it, because the writer's choice of diction creates an inappropriately informal tone. (D) Delete it, because the anecdote about local teenagers weakens the reasoning of the argument at this point of the passage. (E) Delete it, because the example it provides undermines the credibility of the writer as someone knowledgeable about teen employment.

D

17. In the sixth sentence of the third paragraph ("The near-global diffusion . . . opposite effect"), the author mentions the diffusion of English primarily to (A) challenge an assumption that other arguments depend on (B) offer evidence in support of his basic thesis (C) emphasize how one phenomenon can have multiple effects (D) justify his use of one language rather than another (E) acknowledge the validity of one element of an argument he generally opposes

E

29. Which of the following sentences should be deleted from the second paragraph because it does not provide evidence that supports the main claim of the paragraph? (A)Sentence 5 (B) Sentence 6 (C) Sentence 7 (D) Sentence 8 (E) Sentence 9

E

5. In the fifth sentence of the second paragraph ("Perhaps . . . lunch hour"), the author strategically arranges clauses in a way that (A) signals a gap between the sentence's literal meaning and the author's intended meaning (B) establishes a hierarchy from the most to least effective times of day to practice writing (C) reflects the author's model of the sequential stages of a writer's overall development (D) suggests a distinction between reasonable and unreasonable sacrifices for the sake of art (E) underlines the variety of opportunities for those who are dedicated to improving their craft

E

16. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the second paragraph and the third paragraph? (A) Paragraph 3 presents evidence that addresses questions raised in paragraph 2. (B)Paragraph 3 challenges the validity of data presented in paragraph 2. (C) Paragraph 3 presents arguments that support a thesis stated in paragraph 2. (D). Paragraph 3 draws conclusions from evidence presented in paragraph 2. (E) Paragraph 3 proposes solutions to conflicts described in paragraph 2.

A

30. The writer wants sentence 10 (reproduced below) to convey the reluctant appreciation of mayflies she describes in the third paragraph. Despite these nuisances, I have come to value these somewhat unsightly creatures. Which version of the underlined portion of sentence 10 most effectively accomplishes this goal? (A) (as it is now) (B) I can now respect these foul creatures (C) I find myself entranced by these graceful beings (D) I remain perplexed by these strange and horrid bugs (E) I wholeheartedly love these useful insects

A

32. Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 16, would provide the best concluding sentence for the passage? (A) Robust economies are important to humans, and they enhance lifestyles across the board; therefore, humans should respect the lives of mayflies. (B) Yes, mayflies definitely impact the quality of fresh water, so humans should desire to keep these pesky insects around. (C) Since there are both good and bad consequences from living with mayflies, individuals should make their own decisions about whether or not the bad outweighs the good. (D) Clearly there are both negative and positive aspects to coexisting with mayflies, but the long-lasting positives outweigh the temporary negatives. (E) It is easy to see, then, that tourists might have a different perspective than locals do about the life cycle of mayflies and its many effects on humans.

A

36. The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below). Teens with access to part-time jobs often select what they perceive as better alternatives (e.B. community service, volunteer work, unpaid internships, and academics) that have nonfinancial benefits. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? (A) Keep it, because it exemplifies what these potentially better alternatives might be. (B) Keep it, because it is necessary to understand the values of part-time work. (C) Keep it, because it is necessary for the sentence to be a complete thought. (D) Delete it, because it distracts from the message the writer is communicating. (E) Delete it, because it repeats information that was introduced earlier in the passage.

A

38. The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 12 to qualify the claim made by the Center for Work Ethic Development that part-time jobs result in teens developing beneficial soft skills. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this goal? (A)However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through part-time jobs, not all work environments are conducive for this development. (B) Yet part-time jobs often provide more than enough financial incentives for teens to justify the time spent working. (C) Even as part-time jobs are being filled more often by retirees, incentives such as health insurance are not included as part of the compensation package. (D) On the other hand, hard skills are the most important for employees, especially within the highly competitive STEM disciplines. (E) However, an emphasis on soft skills may result in teens needing less education in order to land highly competitive jobs.

A

20. The quotation marks around the phrase «international community" (paragraph 3, sentence 9) serve primarily to (A) indicate that the author is quoting an established source rather than making a subjective claim (B) signal a skeptical tone that reflects the author's doubts about the existence of such a community (C) underline how specifically the term "international community" is being defined (D) emphasize the need for global cooperation when effective intervention is required (E) protect the author from allegations that he is claiming credit for a phrase coined by others

B

26. The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below). Throughout a couple of weeks each summer, the nymphs (juvenile mayflies), which have developed underwater for the past few months, hatch into millions of mature mayflies with non-functioning mouths. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? (A) Keep it, because it provides more description of the mayflies' physical characteristics. (B) Keep it, because it explains a term that may be unfamiliar to some readers. (C) Keep it, because it assists in developing the writer's thesis. (D) Delete it, because it does not enhance the discussion of adult mayflies. (E) Delete it, because it reflects the writer's bias against mayflies.

B

44. The writer is considering adding the clause "devices that work optimally only for a few years before bugs in their programming introduce glitches and errors" to the end of sentence 6 (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed. Saxe and other experienced city planners worry that networked digital infrastructure would be more akin to a smartphone or computer. Should the writer add this clause to the end of sentence 6 ? (A) Yes, because it demonstrates that Saxe and other city planners are experts on the subject of smart cities who are familiar with the latest technology. (B) Yes, because the additional information clarifies a comparison to a more familiar technology that also breaks or becomes obsolete relatively quickly. (C) No, because it makes Saxe seem like a biased observer by portraying her as being opposed to technological innovations of any kind. (D) No, because the statement in sentence 6 is so clear that it does not need any qualification. (E) No, because the word "bugs" is ambiguous and could confuse readers who are unfamiliar with technological jargon.

B

27. After sentence 6, the writer wants to provide aciditional evidence to support the claim that mayflies are a nuisance to humans. Which of the Following sentences would best achieve this purpose? (A) However, it is sad to think about all of these mayflies dying, and that impacts how humans feel about these insects. (B) Also, it is important to remember that air-conditioning, while beneficial, is also costly. (C) Furthermore, mayflies regularly disrupt activities held on or near the river, causing humans to constantly swat at their bodies to rid themselves of the expiring insects. (D) Consequently, many drivers have a strong abhorrence to mayfly season and the hazards that accompany it. (E) As is common knowledge, street lights are necessities that provide safety to both driving and nondriving humans.

C

35. The writer wants to add information to the beginning of sentence 6 (reproduced below), adjusting the capitalization as needed, to help establish the credibility of the source of the information in the sentence. Middle- and upper-class teens are choosing not to work, while lower-income teens have less access to jobs. Which of the following choices most effectively accomplishes this goal? (A) According to Professor Paul Harrington, (B) According to Paul Harrington, an expert, (C) According to Paul Harrington, a Drexel University professor of labor markets. (D) According to a Drexel University professor, (E) According to a university professor who is an expert on labor markets,

C

9. The author's decision to repeat the word "forget" in the sixth and seventh paragraphs primarily serves to underscore the author's disapproval of those who neglect to improve their writing "B) indicate the order in which the author believes certain steps should be taken (C) suggest a parallel between two distinct ideas that the author challenges [D) highlight the extent of distress that comes from focusing on innate abilities E) convey the author's ambivalence about the advice she received early in her career

C

1. Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in the passage? A) To encourage the audience to derive confidence from their talents (B) To reveal the disheartening realities of pursuing a career in literature (C) To propose a novel method for teaching composition and rhetoric D) To convince aspiring writers of the importance of hard work (E) To challenge a misconception about the value of studying grammar

D

11. In the seventh sentence of the seventh paragraph, the author uses a dash primarily to (A) separate a secondary idea from the main thrust of her argument (B) distinguish her own claim from a claim she aims to refute (C) contrast her definition of a term with the term's ordinary meaning (D) elaborate on a general claim by providing specific examples (E) clarify a concept by excluding certain phenomena from it

D

12. The author's contrast between "persistence" and "stubbornness" (paragraph 7, sentences 7-8) advances her argument in which of the following ways? (A) It helps explain why habit is more valuable than persistence. (B) It challenges the stereotype that talented writers are often stubborn. (C) It concedes that persistence can have negative consequences. D) It underscores the need for writers to continually improve their craft. (E) It supports the claim that writers should disregard talent.

D

13. Which of the following best describes the authpr's exigence in the passage? (A) The need for greater resources to solve problems he finds pressing (B) The proliferation of global organizations that he finds menacing (C) The opportunity for facilitating communication between disparate groups (D) The uncritical acceptance of an opinion that he finds problematic (E) The rapid pace of a homogenizing process whose effects he finds reductive

D

40. The writer is considering deleting sentence 16 (reproduced below) from the passage. Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get back into the workforce so they can develop the work ethic they need to be successful. Should the writer keep or delete sentence 16? (A) Keep it, because the discussion of work ethie is the most important point in this passage, and it is best to end the passage with the most important point. (B) Keep it, because it links work ethic to success in a way that provides a strong final sentence. (C) Keep it, because teens would benefit by the advice to get a part-time job in order to start developing the work ethic they will need. (D) Delete it, because its conclusion does not logically follow from the line of reasoning in the passage. (E) Delete it, because it provides direct advice to teens who may not care about the writer's opinion.

D

41. The writer wants to add language to the end of sentence I (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed, to help clarify the central concept of the essay. From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South Korea, cities around the world are promoting themselves as "smart cities. Which of the following choices would best accomplish this goal? (A) because these two cities desire to be global technology leaders, especially in engineering and data collection (B) meaning that these cities attract the smartest companies so they can, in turn, provide high-paying jobs to local residents and attract the best and the brightest from around the world (C) cities prepared to move into global markets and economies that transcend the typical geographic limitations of older, more traditional cities (D) communities that use the latest digital technology, particularly computer systems that respond to input from networks of sensors, to deliver city services efficiently and improve urban life (E) even though "smart" has little to do with their intelligence and much more to do with the ways in which the cities will respond to the growing physical needs of their populations

D

45. The writer wants to add evidence to exemplify the main argument of the second paragraph. Which of the following pieces of evidence would best accomplish this goal? (A) A narrative about a city in which smart city technology designed to determine the best routes for garbage collection required costly repairs after three years (B) A quotation from a city council member expressing concern about the cost of implementing a smart city program (C) The results of a survey showing that many people are worried that smart city technologies will infringe on their right to privacy (D) Statistics comparing the growth of cities that have invested in smart city technologies to that of cities that have not made such investments (E) A list of important infrastructure projects that Shoshanna Saxe has been involved with

D

6. In the last sentence of the second paragraph ("Journal writing . . . projects"), the author connects two independent clauses with the conjunction "and" primarily to (A) establish a connection between keeping a journal and writing every day (B) indicate that journaling is just as important as careful revision for aspiring writers (C) explain why keeping a journal usually helps writers come up with new story ideas (D) emphasize that keeping a journal has multiple benefits for writers (E) suggest that observing the real world is more productive than imagining fictional worlds

D

39. The writer wants to add an adjective before the word "traits" in sentence 13 (reproduced below) in order to improve the clarity of the claim Depending on what teens do instead, these traits can be developed in other ways. Which adjective would best modify that word "raits" to reinforce the passage's perspective on soft skills? (A) generous (B) interesting (C) obvious (D) routine (E) desirable

E

19. In the eighth sentence of the third paragraph, the author mentions "the absence of coordinated warning systems" to amplify his point about the (A) convergence of a type of living experience (B) prohibitive costs of global intervention programs (C) depopulation of locations at high environmental risk (D) opposition expressed toward regional nationalism (E) the hazards of inhabiting certain geographical areas

E

21. In the final sentence of the third paragraph ("The power of place . . . thrall"), which of the following best describes the effect of removing the words "the vast majority of"? (A) The author's claim would become logically inconsistent. (B) The author's claim would be obscured by the introduction of ambiguity. (C) The author's claim would lose its popular appeal. (D)The author's claim would be narrowed by its limitation to a smaller group. (E) The author's claim would be broadened by the removal of a qualification.

E