AP Lang Comp
In lines 39-40, the phrase" current critics" refers most directly to a. the writers of the" standard jeremiads of the Sunday supplements" (lines 3-4) b. the authors of" current plays or novels" (line 7) c. "college deans" (line 10) d. "their hacks and bureaucrats" (line 16) e. "my fellow linguists" (line 23)
A
Part of the speaker's rhetorical strategy in paragraph 1 is to a. discredit invalid views on the topic b. berate the reader for believing misinformation c. alarm the reader about the nature of the controversy d. enumerate the standards according to which appraisals will be made e. convince the reader of the importance of the issue
A
Which of the following is used to mock an attitude toward linguistic change? a. "apocalyptically" (lines 1-2) b. "anecdotal evidence" (lines 4-5) c. "careful selection" (line 15) d. "hacks and bureaucrats" (line 16) e. "understandable" (lines 17-18)
A
A central contrast presented in the passage is that between a. anticipated and actual instances of language change b. random and novel ways of directing future language changes c. philosophical and psychological analyses of language use d. parochial and international approaches to changes in various languages e. immediate and long-term views of language changes
B
The analogy in lines 34-37 accomplishes all of the following EXCEPT: a. It continues the analogy of" continental drift" (line 31). b. It introduces an image that reappears in the last paragraph. c. It implies that grammarians' work is nonessential and ineffective. d. It recalls the jeremiads referred to in the opening of the passage. e. It emphasizes the futility of opposing changes in the language.
B
The italicization of "their" in line 16 suggests that a. writers of past eras labored under much different conditions than writers of" Sunday supplements" (line 4) b. the terms "hacks" and "bureaucrats" apply also to the writers of the materials mentioned in lines 8-10 c. the terms" hacks" and "bureaucrats" are being used facetiously d. the speaker has contempt for sweeping condemnations of writers of earlier eras e. the speaker is repeating valid accusations that have been made by others
B
The speaker cites Silone's comment (lines 58-59) in order to a. undercut the issue presented in the following paragraph b. justify the statement in the preceding sentence c. summarize the attitudes against which the speaker is arguing d. convince the reader that the approach to the issue is a neutral one e. introduce a digression from the major thesis of the passage
B
All of the following statements are true of the first sentence of paragraph 2 (lines 23-25) EXCEPT: a. It alludes to the expertise of the speaker. b. It states the main thesis of paragraph 2. c. It contradicts the conclusion reached at the end of paragraph 1. d. It provides one answer to the question raised at the beginning of the passage. e. It enunciates one approach to the issue with which the passage is concerned.
C
Taken as a whole, the passage is best described as a a. critique of the characteristics of bureaucratic prose b. technical analysis of a point of linguistic theory c. discussion of differing attitudes toward linguistic change d. description that relies primarily on concrete examples e. series of admonitions and predictions
C
In lines 21-22, the speaker refers to a possible comparison between baseball players of different eras to illustrate that a. arguments about the English language have become a popular pastime b. people readily forget the glories of past eras c. pessimistic attitudes about change are usually warranted d. judgments about declining standards are difficult to support e. respect for traditions has declined in many areas
D
In lines 31-32, "this Olympian point of view" refers specifically to the perspective of one who is a. tolerant of the opinions of grammarians b. considered a master of the English language c. able to influence the development of the language d. aware of the "historical picture" (lines 25-26) e. familiar with theories of" continental drift" (line 31)
D
