AP Lang Exam
(Douglass) Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
"[R]eal excellence often comes unheralded and from unexpected quarters." (paragraph 1, sentence 5)
(Learning a 2nd Language) Which of the following versions of sentence 2 (reproduced below) most effectively sets up the main claim of the passage? - But when exactly in a person's life does it become difficult to master the rules that govern a language?
(As it is now)
(Art Communication) The writer wants to develop the main idea of the third paragraph by adding additional information after sentence 11. Which of the following choices would best accomplish this goal?
An anecdote about a group of people who met and became friends at a concert in their neighborhood
(Learning a 2nd Language) The writer wants to change sentence 3 (reproduced below) to provide a more specific preview of the passage's argument. - While previous theories speculated that people can only acquire a new language at a young age, new research supports a different perspective. Which of the following pieces of information is most appropriate for the writer to include in the new version of the sentence?
An overview of the new study's claim that optimal language acquisition can occur up to age 30 and that even older adults should remain hopeful about their language-learning prospects
(Art Communication) In sentence 12, the writer wants to clarify the paragraph's line of reasoning and explain the relevance of the evidence in sentences 13 and 14 to the paragraph's main idea. Which version of sentence 12 (reproduced below) would best accomplish this goal? - Not all artworks are experienced in galleries and performance halls, however.
And just as art can overcome physical divides, it can also overcome linguistic and cultural ones.
(Art Communication) In sentence 4 (reproduced below), the writer wants to integrate the discussion of the piece Passin' on to Others into the passage's line of reasoning about how art can affirm and strengthen community bonds. - Artworks created by artists outside of a particular community often do not appeal to members of that community because of a lack of connection between the artists and their intended audience. Which of the following versions of sentence 4 best accomplishes this goal?
Art can play a unique role in starting conversations and cultivating group pride by representing communities to themselves.
(Goat Relocation) The writer is considering deleting the underlined text in sentence 14 (reproduced below). - Salt in human sweat is a goat magnet; worse still, some thoughtless and irresponsible people feed the goats directly. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text?
Delete it, because it distracts from the writer's purpose of emphasizing human safety concerns by using language that focuses blame on human visitors to the park.
(Tucker) Which of the following best summarizes the author's thesis in the passage?
Expanding populations of jellyfish are causing increasing problems in many parts of the world.
(Art Communication) Throughout the passage the writer wants to make sure to acknowledge sources used as evidence. Which of the following changes should the writer make?
In sentence 1, changing "In 2016," to "In a 2016 essay published by the World Economic Forum,"
(Learning a 2nd Language) In context, which version of sentence 5 (reproduced below) provides the most effective explanation of the "critical period" mentioned in sentence 4 ? - Such a period also exists for the development of eyesight.
It designates the time in one's life during which the capacity to absorb the rules and structure of a language is maximized.
(Goat Relocation) The writer wants to add a sentence at the end of the first paragraph to express the thesis of the passage in more detail. Which of the following choices best accomplishes this goal?
It will ultimately benefit the well-being of the goats, the safety of human visitors, and the park's ecosystem.
(Goat Relocation) In sentence 19 (reproduced below), the writer is considering deleting the underlined phrase. - Resettled in the remote parts of the park, where salt licks are plentiful and hikers are scarce, the goats will likely regain their natural wariness of people. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined phrase?
Keep it, because it draws on evidence from the third paragraph to make a more persuasive case for why the North Cascades are a good place to resettle the goats.
(Art Communication) The writer is considering deleting sentence 7 (reproduced below) from the passage. - Kennedy's transformation and display of sayings such as "higher the hair, closer to heaven" celebrated the daily experiences of salon patrons, reinforcing the self-esteem of stylists and patrons alike and getting everyone talking. Should the writer keep or delete the sentence?
Keep it, because it provides commentary that helps explain how the example of Kennedy's artwork is significant in relation to the passage's overall argument.
(Learning a 2nd Language) The writer wants to add a sentence that introduces the topic of the passage. Which of the following sentences, if added to the beginning of the first paragraph, would most effectively accomplish this goal?
Language experts have long observed that children are better than adults at mastering a second language.
(Artificial Islands) The writer wants to provide relevant support for the claim made in sentences 12 and 13. Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 13, would most effectively accomplish this goal?
Marine biologists contend that the urban sprawl spreading into the oceans inevitably causes havoc for marine organisms and their habitats.
(Goat Relocation) The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 12 to provide needed background information for readers who may not be familiar with mountain goats. Which of the following choices best accomplishes this goal?
Mountain goats find salt irresistible.
(Artificial Islands) The writer is considering adding the following sentence after sentence 6. - These inhabitants should leave their homes because they have been destroyed or otherwise rendered uninhabitable from flooding. Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 6 ?
No, because it makes an ineffective claim that does not require a defense.
(Kellogg) Which of the following best captures how the author presents the relationship between public opinion and peace in the third paragraph?
Public opinion is the most effective means of safeguarding peace.
(Brownmiller) In the second paragraph, the author defines femininity as a "challenge" primarily to support which of the following points?
Reconciling the demands of femininity with her ambition presented difficulties.
(Tucker) Throughout the passage, the author advances her main point by employing which of the following methods?
Recounting multiple incidents that demonstrate the threat represented by jellyfish
(Goat Relocation) Which of the following sentences first expresses the main claim of the passage?
Sentence 6
(Kellogg) Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between the first and the second paragraphs?
The first paragraph describes a trend in international relations; the second paragraph expands on how a specific example mentioned in the first paragraph contributes to that trend.
(Bush) Which of the following best describes the author's exigence in the passage?
The question of how to lead a meaningful life "in a transitional period" (paragraph 9, sentence 1)
(Bush) In the second paragraph, the author makes which of the following claims regarding the Class of 1990 ?
They are unlikely to follow conventional paths in life.
(Douglass) Which of the following best describes the function of the first two clauses of the passage's final sentence ("It is natural . . . despised") in the context of the passage as a whole?
They urge a change in attitude that should follow logically from the author's argument.
(Kellogg) Which of the following best describes how the author organizes the reasoning of his argument in the opening lines of the passage ("Warned by the disaster . . . ever adopted by nations") ?
Tracing a sequence of events resulting in a positive outcome
(McGonigal) Which of the following best summarizes the author's thesis?
Video gaming helps develop collaborative problem-solving skills that can be useful in the real world.
(Artificial Islands) In sentence 7 (reproduced below), the writer wants to add the phrase "According to the country's president," to the beginning of the sentence, adjusting capitalization as needed. - New islands will have to be built to ensure a safe future for its citizens, because science indicates that Kiribati will go underwater within the century. Should the writer make this addition?
Yes, because it acknowledges the source of the information conveyed in the sentence.
(McGonigal) Taken as a whole, the reasoning and evidence in the passage primarily defend a claim regarding
a beneficial aspect of video gaming
(Kellogg) At the beginning of the third paragraph, the author refers to "those who believe that peace will not be attained until some super-tribunal is established" primarily to
acknowledge an alternative perspective
(Tucker) In the third sentence of the fourth paragraph, the author mentions the number of swimmers treated by the Spanish Red Cross primarily to
amplify her point about the dangers posed by jellyfish to humans
(McGonigal) In the fourth paragraph, the author includes a quotation by Einstein primarily to
appeal to the authority of a figure whom her audience is likely to respect
(Smartphones & the Brain) The writer wants to add information to the end of sentence 2 (reproduced below) to preview the line of reasoning in the passage. - Unsurprisingly, neuroscientists warn that the constant use of smartphones alters the brain. Which version of the underlined portion of sentence 2 most effectively accomplishes this goal?
brain, with potentially serious physiological and emotional costs
(Kellogg) At the end of the first paragraph, the author's commentary regarding "[e]ach one of these treaties" (sentence 6) primarily serves to
establish a logical relationship between the treaties he lists and a claim he makes earlier in the paragraph
(Tucker) The first paragraph is organized to heighten interest in the subject by
first suggesting political causes of an infrastructure failure, then revealing jellyfish as a surprising agent of this event
(Kellogg) In the second sentence of the final paragraph, the author justifies his determination to "see in the signs of the time hope of humanity for peace" by
gesturing to the unthinkable consequences of holding the opposite opinion
(Brownmiller) In the final paragraph, the author concludes her argument by
highlighting the context in which women may choose to embrace femininity's restrictions
(McGonigal) In the last sentence of the fifth paragraph, the author refers to "wikis and forums" in order to
illustrate a point about the ease of collaboration enabled by the Internet
(Brownmiller) In the first two paragraphs, the author describes experiences from her girlhood and early adulthood primarily to
introduce two different attitudes toward femininity
(Bush) In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with
offering her audience advice for the future
(Douglass) In the second paragraph, the author develops a comparison between life and "a thousand arrows shot from the same point and aimed at the same object" primarily to suggest that
people exhibit remarkable diversity in their development over time
(Douglass) The discussion of the "greatest of poets and philosophers" in the third paragraph suggests that the author believes the audience of the speech will
recognize an implicit reference to Shakespeare and agree about his importance
(Goat Relocation) The writer wants sentence 11 (reproduced below) to serve as evidence that reinforces the argument of the passage. - In the 1980s, a brief attempt to relocate the goats was met with public outcry. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 11 best accomplishes this goal?
resulted in noticeable improvements in the park's environment
(Kellogg) In the second and third sentences of the second paragraph ("It was inspired . . . that awful struggle"), the author represents the Pact of Paris as
the hopeful result of traumatic experiences
(Bush) In the fourth and fifth paragraphs, the author defends her decision to marry George Bush by elaborating on
the need to pursue a sense of personal bliss
(Brownmiller) Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
"Femininity was a challenge thrown down to the female sex, a challenge no proud, self-respecting young woman could afford to ignore" (paragraph 2, sentence 2)
(Art Communication) In sentence 10 (reproduced below), which of the following claims best sets up the development of the writer's line of reasoning in the third paragraph? - Experiencing art doesn't just highlight existing connections; it actively forges new ones.
(as it is now)
(Goat Relocation) The writer wants to begin the passage by emphasizing the exciting and strange nature of the events discussed in the first paragraph. - In September 2018, an amazing spectacle took place in the skies above Olympic National Park: blindfolded, sedated mountain goats hovered in the air, suspended in harnesses from a helicopter. Which of the following versions of the underlined text best accomplishes this goal?
(as it is now)
(Smartphones & the Brain) The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 1 to provide factual support for the introductory claim and focus the audience on the argument of the passage. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this purpose?
A recent study found that 86 percent of Americans are stressed out from constantly checking their smartphones.
(Art Communication) The writer wants to conclude the passage by supporting the specific claim made in sentence 15 with a quotation from Eliasson. Which of the following sentences, if placed after sentence 15, best accomplishes this goal?
As Eliasson puts it, this transformative experience "takes us beyond an us-and-them mentality to a broader idea of what constitutes we."
(Art Communication) The writer wants to develop the discussion of Jane Chu's performance experiences in sentences 13 and 14. Which of the following, if added after sentence 14, would best accomplish this goal?
Contrasting descriptions of how Chu felt when she played music and how she felt when she interacted with people in nonmusical contexts
(Smartphones & the Brain) The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed. - Our brains are aroused each time our phones buzz because of the unpredictability of what pops up on the screen: since any alert might signal something extraordinary, dopamine is released each time even though most alerts don't amount to much. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text?
Keep it, because it adds information that helps clarify the contrasting relationship identified in sentence 6 between anticipation and reward.
(Learning a 2nd Language) The writer is considering deleting sentence 15 (reproduced below). - Letting go of a desire for complete mastery of a language's grammar can enable an adult learner to strive for basic competence in communication—an outcome best achieved, the researchers note, via educational programs that immerse students in the experience of a second language rather than ones that focus on rote learning. Should the writer keep or delete sentence 15 ?
Keep it, because it draws on information discussed throughout the passage to suggest that the audience take a different, more practical approach to language learning.
(Smartphones & the Brain) The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below), adjusting the capitalization as needed. - Most people can't resist immediately checking their phones each time they buzz, chirp, or chime, and scientists believe that compulsion is caused by a brain chemical called dopamine. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text?
Keep it, because it provides sensory details that help the writer illustrate the concept being discussed in the paragraph.
(Goat Relocation) The writer wants to conclude the passage by reiterating the main claim. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this goal?
The Olympics, the North Cascades, the mountain goats, and human park visitors all stand to benefit from the goat relocation program.
(McGonigal) In the first sentence of the passage, the author refers to "antisocial gamers" primarily to
acknowledge a belief that is likely to be held by some of her audience
(Bush) In the opening sentences of the passage ("Now I know . . . color of my hair!"), the author refers to Alice Walker primarily to
acknowledge the potentially embarrassing circumstances under which she is delivering her speech
(Goat Relocation) The writer wants to clarify the point made in the first part of sentence 8 (reproduced below). - First, goats are not indigenous to the region; the area began to be advertised as a vacation destination in the early twentieth century. Which of the following versions of the underlined text best accomplishes this goal?
hunters introduced goats to the Olympics in the 1920s
(Bush) In the second-to-last paragraph, the anecdote about the complaining husband serves primarily to
illustrate the author's claim regarding the value of devoting oneself to one's children
(Kellogg) In the fifth sentence of the first paragraph ("There is the League of Nations . . . reduction of armament"), the author comments on the age and effectiveness of the League of Nations primarily to explain
its relevance to his argument regarding advances in peace preservation efforts
(Kellogg) In the third sentence of the first paragraph, the author mentions that war "has, through the centuries, been recognized by international law as a sovereign right" primarily to
register a potential objection to a position he supports
(Douglass) In the context of the passage as a whole, the author's comparison between the qualities of people and of metals (paragraphs 5-6) primarily serves to
reinforce the author's overarching claim about ordinary people's capacity for success
(Art Communication) Which version of the underlined portion of sentence 9 (reproduced below) develops the main idea of the paragraph by explaining an effect of the art piece Passin' on to Others ? - Words that previously had passed unremarked now joined other aphorisms and sayings that Kennedy has printed on posters.
spurred consideration and discussion, exchanges that many stylists chose to continue by hanging prints from the show in their salons
