U5 MC: AP Lit
The metaphor in the first paragraph comparing the narrator's situation to a "high-wire act" emphasizes which of the following? A The danger of the narrator's current predicament B The narrator's complete lack of fear C The narrator's sense that he is being watched D The narrator's physical agility and skill E The challenges the narrator has overcome to reach his current position
A The danger of the narrator's current predicament
Within the context of the entire poem, the use of "I stood" in line 1 and again in line 33 serves which function? A It reinforces the poem's focus on an experience that captivates the speaker. B It marks the poem's division into two contrasting descriptions of a vision. C It signals the poem's shift from personal interpretation to objective observation. D It reiterates the poem's central claim about the sinister nature of nighttime. E It links the poem's main contrast to the speaker's sense of indecision.
A It reinforces the poem's focus on an experience that captivates the speaker.
In addressing his baby son, the speaker alludes to Keats's poem in lines 25-26 ("And interpreters . . . beauty") in order to make which point? A Poets formerly helped readers feel that they understood the world around them. B Poets originally served their communities as instructors in the creation of art objects. C Poets urgently need to rediscover a childhood delight in their physical surroundings. D Poets regrettably have rejected the use of mythology to illustrate human problems. E Poets currently give all their attention to issues affecting social justice.
A Poets formerly helped readers feel that they understood the world around them.
The allusion in "Faint glories of the crown that Phoebus wears" (line 36) emphasizes the A radiance of light exuding through the darkness B fading light of the sun's rays dropping behind the hills C feats of strength demonstrated by a mythical creature D sun's power to enchant the Earth E presence of the sun in the celestial hierarchy
A radiance of light exuding through the darkness
Which choice best describes the use of a literary device in line 4 ? A A metaphor compares the movement of evening darkness with the speaker's secrets. B A metaphor characterizes the night as a graceful, pervasive presence. C A simile links the silence of the landscape to the mystery of the night. D A simile reveals that the glens are deep and forested valleys. E A symbol represents the speaker's frustrated search for insight.
B A metaphor characterizes the night as a graceful, pervasive presence.
The image of the "blurred yellow rectangle of a taxicab" in the final paragraph helps dramatize which aspect of the scene? A The effect of the rainy weather conditions on the visibility in the city B The dizzying height from which the narrator regards the city streets C The temporary blindness suffered by the narrator because of the lights in Times Square D The identical appearance of the many taxicabs in the city E The recklessness of the taxicab driver's driving
B The dizzying height from which the narrator regards the city streets
An interpretation stating that the speaker feels awed when experiencing the hours of night would be most fully supported by the poem's A blunt statements about the changing landscape B references to the magical effects of night C realistic portrait of the natural world D bitter contempt for ordinary daylight E contrast of night with the calm ocean
B references to the magical effects of night
In the context of the first stanza, "Tiny" (line 1) emphasizes the speaker's feeling that his son is a A miniature model of human perfection B small part of a larger world C flawless representation of the world's beauty D insignificant product of human history E diminutive reflection of his ancestors
B small part of a larger world
In context, "lace-work" (line 14) is best understood to refer to the A delicate illusions created by moonlight and shadows B elaborate connections among the flowering plants C intricate patterns of overlapping leaves and branches D overwhelming complexity of the nighttime world E luxurious abundance of trees and undergrowth
C intricate patterns of overlapping leaves and branches
In the fourth sentence of the passage ("I moved . . . step"), the word "premeditated" indicates that the narrator A has been out on the fire escape before B is considering doing something illegal or unethical C is being very cautious as he navigates the fire escape D is counting the steps as he climbs down the fire escape E intended to sneak out of the building onto the fire escape
C is being very cautious as he navigates the fire escape
The allusion to Atlas in line 34 primarily serves to suggest that modern poets A claim to feel unworthy of the public's praise B wish to tell fantastic stories about exotic locations C possess an exaggerated sense of their own importance D express their ideas through old-fashioned imagery E tend to avoid tasks that seem particularly difficult
C possess an exaggerated sense of their own importance
The passage emphasizes a parallel between the narrator's unexpected experience of finding himself outside the building and his A feeling that he has never really belonged in New York City B desire to escape his hectic day-to-day life and find true solitude C sense of temporarily existing outside everyday time and space D reaction to the otherworldly beauty of the music at the concert E frustration at being unable to understand the forces controlling his fate
C sense of temporarily existing outside everyday time and space
In lines 1-3 ("I stood . . . world"), personification primarily has the effect of A revealing a troubling aspect of an everyday concept B illustrating a whimsical fantasy through human interactions C transforming a natural process into a series of intentional actions D representing a real woman as a traditional figure from mythology E depicting a scientific event in terms of psychological perceptions
C transforming a natural process into a series of intentional actions
Which line contains an example of personification? A Line 10 ("Cool . . . the Day") B Line 15 ("Grew . . . shining") C Line 23 ("Upon . . . crags") D Line 29 ("The billows . . . sleep") E Line 34 ("The mystic . . . Night")
D Line 29 ("The billows . . . sleep")
The two three-line stanzas in lines 1-3 and in lines 42-44 have the effect of framing the poem as A an impatient and scornful set of instructions B a brief and powerful confession C a terse and reproachful accusation D a concise and counterintuitive message E a short and sincere wish
D a concise and counterintuitive message
In lines 37-39 ("And soon . . . Love"), personification portrays the Earth as A gently greeting a fearful nocturnal creature B modestly concealing great inner beauty C slowly expressing a cherished dream D gradually exhibiting a sense of pleasure E cautiously approaching an unexpected visitor
D gradually exhibiting a sense of pleasure
In line 29, "old" refers to a language that is A descended from a language used in ancient times B characterized by a wise and balanced prose style C valuable as a result of its heritage of famous texts D inadequate to express modern thoughts E incomprehensible to modern people
D inadequate to express modern thoughts
In the second sentence of the final paragraph, the image of the "human race itself" being "extinguished" most clearly serves to associate humanity with A the recent rain B the narrator's imagined death C the speeding ambulance D long-dead stars E Manhattan's electric lights
D long-dead stars
Which lines most fully support an interpretation that the speaker feels the nonpoets of the modern world have a misguided perspective? A Lines 11-12 ("And make . . . door") B Lines 14-15 ("To grow . . . go-getter") C Line 24 ("No longer . . . dreams") D Line 33 ("A wordy . . . problems") E Lines 38-39 ("Grow up . . . wants")
E Lines 38-39 ("Grow up . . . wants")
Toward the middle of the second paragraph, the comparison between the stars and "a distant cloud of fireflies" (sentence 6) is best described as A a homely simile that expresses the narrator's yearning for a more rural setting B a reductive image that reveals the extent to which the narrator's moral values have been corrupted by the city C part of an elaborate analogy that the narrator develops to explain the scientific properties of starlight D a hyperbolic expression that hints at the stars' destructive potential E a lively metaphor that emphasizes the narrator's initial delight at being able to see stars in the city
E a lively metaphor that emphasizes the narrator's initial delight at being able to see stars in the city
The juxtaposition of adjectives in lines 9-15 ("and in . . . shining") cumulatively creates a sensory impression of A roughened skin brushing against soft flowers B musky scents with sweeter odors C shadow dispersed by lightning D chill in the presence of warmth E darkness with an interval of light
E darkness with an interval of light
In referring to Times Square as a "neon inferno" in the final paragraph, the narrator emphasizes both the brightness of Times Square's lights and A the sense that its lights are spreading throughout the city B the heat that is emitted from its buildings and neon signs C the wickedness of the people inhabiting its crowded streets D the severity of the injuries suffered by the people inside the ambulance E the garish appearance it has compared to the sky above it
E the garish appearance it has compared to the sky above it
Overall, the passage can best be interpreted as an account of a A terrifying ordeal B daring rescue C personal triumph D spiritual crisis E transcendent experience
E transcendent experience
In context, the description of modern poets as "unfortunate fellows / And . . . Atlas" (lines 27-34) suggests that the speaker believes their predicament is A lamentable because it is inevitable B heroic because it is ongoing C fruitful because it is creative D ambiguous because it is indistinct E trivial because it is self-created
E trivial because it is self-created
