AP English Language and Composition

Which of the following best describes the function of the second sentence in the first paragraph?

A. It qualifies and expands the opening sentence.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the first paragraph and the second paragraph?

A. The second paragraph uses the claims made at the end of the first paragraph to examine an individual.

In the context of sentence 7, the words "one is retired" are best described as

A. a detail that makes a critical situation even more precarious

In the final two paragraphs of the passage ("The environmental . . . diversity"), the author integrates Ray Hilborn's arguments primarily to critique the practice of

A. adopting farming methods to restore wild fish populations

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the first and second paragraphs?

B. The second paragraph describes the effects of an issue raised in the first paragraph.

It can be inferred from the passage that the author assumes the reader is

B. a generalist who needs an explanation of specialized concepts

In the context of his treatment of mass extinctions earlier in the passage, the author's remarks toward the middle of the fourth paragraph ("Rather . . . homegrown") offer a perspective that is

C.

The passage as a whole is best characterized as

C. A critical evaluation

In Paragraph 2 ("He had neither ... in him"), the author suggests that Bentham

C. Cannot understand strong human feelings

The area of experience of which Bentham is said to be most ignorant is the

C. Emotional

The author mentions "glass-blowing and harpsichord manufacture" (third sentence) to suggest that taxonomy is

C. a profession practiced by relatively few people

One purpose of the first paragraph is to

C. distinguish between two types of imagination

The author uses the word "obscure" in the first sentence of paragraph 3 to mean

C. not well known

In the sentence "Their efforts . . . rescue" (paragraph 10), the author integrates a line of reasoning adopted by "industry supporters" into his own argument primarily to

C. present a view of aquaculture that he seeks to dispute

The references in Paragraph 1 ("It is ... history") serve to

C. provide illustrative examples

One important purpose of the passage is to

C. suggest that ecological conservation is a beneficial enterprise

"This power" (first paragraph) refers to

D. "Imagination"

The third paragraph serves which of the following functions?

D. It speculates about a potential improvement.

The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

D. call attention to the decline of a significant field of study

The series of phrases in the fifth sentence ("Marvelously varied . . . acre of land") primarily conveys the

D. characteristics of springtails and oribatid mites

The author cites a Chinese saying (last sentence of paragraph 2) to emphasize the

D. importance of taxonomy as a field of study

The author indicates that a writer's ability to work with metaphor and imagery is less important than

D. the power to empathize with others

In the context of Paragraph 2, "Self-consciousness" means

E. Introspection

Which of the following best explains the author's decision to place the sentence, "A more qualitative way . . . Armageddon," at the end of the first paragraph?

E. It allows the author to justify the description before introducing it.

Which of the following is true of the position presented in the fourth and fifth sentences of the final paragraph ("The second . . . progress") ?

E. It suggests that an assumption held by many people may be incorrect.

In the passage, the author's overall attitude toward Bentham can best be described as

E. Wssentially negative

In the final paragraph, the clause set off by dashes ("and especially . . . rose") relates to the rest of the sentence by

E. highlighting a subset of the cases referenced by the rest of the sentence

The author italicizes the term "recent" (paragraph 2, sentence 2) primarily to emphasize that the End-Cretaceous mass extinction

E. is not as exceptional as its reputation might suggest

In the fourth paragraph, the author discusses diseases in wild salmon primarily to

E. present evidence that calls into question the benefits of large-scale aquaculture

The author's discussion of Bentham's ability to use imagery (first paragraph) is best described as one of

E. qualified appreciation

In the passage, italics are used to highlight

E. the major points of the author's argument

In the context of the second paragraph, the author describes dinosaurs as "the most charismatic characters in the fossil record" primarily to Responses

A. explain why only one of several mass extinctions has received coverage in the popular media

The passage is most likely excerpted from

A. an educational article promoting awareness of a critical scientific issue

The author most likely includes the clause "He saw accordingly in man little but what the vulgarest eye can see" (Paragraph 2) in order to

A. convey the limitation of Bentham's perception

The author's attitude toward Bentham's abilities as a writer might be best described as

A. dismissive because of the narrowness of Bentham's experience and understanding

The primary rhetorical strategy in the passage is the

A. exemplification of key concepts and ideas

In the third paragraph, the author discusses the role of asteroid strikes in mass extinctions primarily to

B. challenge a generalization made by certain astronomers

The author's tone is best described as

B. concerned yet hopeful

The author characterizes Bentham primarily as an individual who

B. lacks poetic insight