AP Literature Exam Questions
As used in lines 38 and 39, "should" is best interpreted to mean a) could b) ought to c) would d) might e) had to
c) would
In context, "but cannot do thee wrong" (line 16) is best understood to express the speaker's a) certainty that the loved one will forgive any transgressions b) concern that an act of betrayal would be morally wrong c) hope that the temptations of the world will not cause unfaithfulness d) belief that no future love will supplant the former one e) fear that the loved one is beyond caring about their relationship
d) belief that no future love will supplant the former one
The subject of "fear" (line 19) is a) "shepherds" (line 14) b) "flocks" (line 14) c) "thief" (line 17) d) "burgher" (line 18) e) "doors" (line 18)
e) "doors" (line 18)
In line 20, "somber" is best interpreted to mean a) serious b) silent c) calm d) dull e) dark
e) dark
In the second paragraph, the natural aspects of the river are viewed as a) impressions b) signs c) metaphors d) allusions e) speculations
b) signs
In context, "the language of this water" (lines 1-2) is best understood to mean the a) indications of change in the motion of the river b) signals of approaching riverboats c) indicators of the fastest channels in the river d) characteristics of life on the river e) movement of fish and fowl along the current
a) indications of change in the motion of the river
The poem deals with all of the following except the (Remembrance) a) aftermath of a terrible loss b) discipline required to address grief c) power of time to alter grief d) emotions experienced as grief abates e) happiness that follows after grief has passed
e) happiness that follows after grief has passed
The effect of the allusion in lines 11-14 is to a) enhance understanding of a natural phenomenon b) invest a secular object with spiritual qualities c) evoke images of antiquity d) dignify a common occurrence e) introduce an element of sympathetic humor
e) introduce an element of sympathetic humor
The statement "A broad expanse of the river was turned to blood" (lines 10-11) contains an example of a) allegory b) personification c) simile d) onomatopoeia e) metaphor
e) metaphor
Which is the best paraphrase of line 26? a) Trained myself not to miss you b) Taught myself to forgive you c) Freed myself from suffering d) Wished that I could help you e) Prayed that I could be free of you
a) Trained myself not to miss you
In context, "check" (line 25) most nearly means a) mark b) staunch c) influence d) examine e) ascertain
b) staunch
The pronoun "it" (line 29) refers to the speaker's a) "despair" (line 22) b) "passion" (line 25) c) "soul" (line 26) d) "wish" (line 27) e) "tomb" (line 28)
c) "soul" (line 26)
Line 6 contains which of the following? a) Onomatopoeia b) Antithesis c) Alliteration d) A simile e) An oxymoron
c) Alliteration
The poem makes use of which of the following? I. Tercet stanzas II. Run-on lines III. Refrains a) I only b) II only c) I and II only d) I and III only e) I, II, and III
c) I and II only
The final sentence (lines 74-80) differs from the rest of the passage in that it a) uses a more colloquial style b) has a more didactic tone c) makes greater use of metaphoric language d) introduces a new narrator e) offers a summary of previous exposition
c) makes greater use of metaphoric language
The fifth stanza (lines 17-20) make use of all of the following EXCEPT a) metaphor b) repetition c) synecdoche d) consonance e) parallelism
c) synecdoche
Lines 20-21 ("He calls...air") suggests that the frog a) regrets having chosen a life of nonconformity b) inhabits a form inconsistent with his inner qualities c) lings to escape his repetitive existence d) is naturally linked to the scene he inhabits e) has an insidious power to charm
d) is naturally linked to the scene he inhabits
It can be inferred from lines 1-6 that Charles Tansley a) defends his views aggressively b) is a sophisticated man of the world c) is vain about his practical appearance d) is sensitive to the way other people treat him e) is a person of rather shallow intellect
d) is sensitive to the way other people treat him
All of the following are found in the sentence in lines 10-25 (" A broad expanse... the sun") EXCEPT a) similes b) alliteration c) an accumulation of clauses d) regular rhythm e) an abundance of adjectives
d) regular rhythm
The speaker's "burning wish" (line 27) is for a a) visit to the loved one's grave b) glimpse of the loved one's feelings c) second chance at love d) reunion in death e) respite from fear
d) reunion in death
The imagery in the passage suggests all of the following about Satan EXCEPT his a) pride b) stealthiness c) rapaciousness d) stupidity e) unscrupulousness
d) stupidity
The last three stanzas (lines 21-32) are best understood to suggest that remembering the loved one is a) necessary but addictive b) important but dangerous c) unpleasant but unavoidable d) painful but instructive e) tempting but destructive
e) tempting but destructive
In the sentence "Never... circuses" (lines 36-38), which of Charles Tansley's qualities is most apparent? a) A desire for sympathy b) Intellectual snobbery c) Fearless candor d) Genuine empathy e) A capacity for self-deception
a) A desire for sympathy
In line 17, "later light" most likely refers to a a) new love b) rekindled hope c) flash of awareness d) second thought e) spiritual awakening
a) new love
Compared with the style of lines 38-47, the style of lines 63-80 is best described as a) more learned and scholarly b) more lyrical and expansive c) more simple and relaxed d) less reflective and philosophical e) less complex and intricate
b) more lyrical and expansive
In the fourth stanza (lines 13-16), the speaker's explanation is best described as one of a) sarcasm and self-mockery b) rationalization and apology c) exaggeration and deception d) equivocation and defensiveness e) moralizing and invective
b) rationalization and apology
Lines 1-4 ("A wet...cart") incorporate all of the following EXCEPT a) unconventional verbs b) regular meter c) visual imagery d) tactile imagery e) metaphor
b) regular meter
In which of the following lines does an epic simile begin? a) line 1 b) line 4 c) line 10 d) line 12 e) line 20
d) line 12
In the poem, the speaker is most concerned with representing the a) irrepressible vitality of nature b) failure of human beings to respect the environment c) search for forgiveness and redemption d) lack of understanding between humans and animals e) pervasiveness and loneliness and decay
e) pervasiveness and loneliness and decay
In line 18, the "rich burgher" is analogous to a) a wolf b) Satan c) God d) a traveler e) a hireling
c) God
In line 5, "perplexed" is best interpreted to mean a) widened b) complicated c) questioned d) endangered e) discovered
b) complicated
The last four lines (24-27) suggest that the frog a) chooses to ignore the momentous obligations placed on him b) lacks the power to affect the course of human events c) is the cause of the suffering that surrounds him d) has become attuned to the rhythm of the natural world e) rejects the former dissipation of his life
b) lacks the power to affect the course of human events
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the first paragraph and the second? a) The first paragraph is mainly concerned with aesthetic issues, and the second with pragmatic ones. b) The diction is sophisticated in the first paragraph and simple in the second. c) The point of view in the first paragraph is mainly subjective; in the second, it is mostly objective. d) The romantic tone of the first paragraph becomes rather arrogant in the second. e) A question is posed in the first paragraph is answered in the second.
a) The first paragraph is mainly concerned with aesthetic issues, and the second with pragmatic ones.
Charles Tansley interprets Mrs. Ramsay's refusal to allow him to carry her "little bag" (line 6) as evidence of her a) independent, capable nature, which he admires b) suspicious, wary character, which he deplores c) gregarious personality, which he envies d) desire to remain aloof from him, which he regrets e) conventional manners, which he deplores
a) independent, capable nature, which he admires
In the poem, the frog is mainly depicted as a) isolated and unattractive b) regal and dignified c) fearsome and dangerous d) lovable because of his appearance e) alienated but deserving of his lot
a) isolated and unattractive
Which best describes the speaker's implication in lines 11-12? a) only someone remarkably devoted can retain the memory of an absent loved one over time b) Only people who embrace a higher faith can successfully live with their grief c) pain strengthens the soul so that the sufferer can move forward d) The bereaved must choose to forget the past in order to bear their losses e) people who dwell on the past are usually unable to move beyond their personal losses
a) only someone remarkably devoted can retain the memory of an absent loved one over time
Satan's action is best described as a) trespass b) usurpation c) betrayal d) dream e) consecration
a) trespass
The sentence "She did too" (line 8) conveys which of the following? a) Mrs. Ramsay's point of view b) Charles Tansley's perception of Mrs. Ramsay's character c) A reply of Mrs. Ramsay to Charles Tansley d) A comment Charles Tansley makes to Mrs. Ramsay e) The narrator's criticism of Charles Tansley's naivete
b) Charles Tansley's perception of Mrs. Ramsay's character
For which of the following reasons are the words "dissertation...fellowship...readership...lectureship" (lines 51-52) attractive to Charles Tansley? a) He thinks the terms will be universally understood. b) He associates the terms with advancement in his career. c) They are terms that have a fresh, new sound to him. d) Mrs. Ramsay often employs such terms. e) Mrs. Ramsay has made a point of encouraging his academic aspirations.
b) He associates the terms with advancement in his career.
Which of the following is true of Mrs. Ramsay's attitude toward Charles Tansley throughout the passage? a) It changes from bemused tolerance to passionate longing. b) It vacillates between liking and disliking. c) It becomes increasingly mocking. d) It changes suddenly from contempt to pity. e) It alternates between admiration and indifference.
b) It vacillates between liking and disliking.
The passage primarily suggests that a) although the speaker loves the river, he must leave it in order to challenge himself b) as the speaker becomes obsessed with the river, he increasingly fears and mistrusts it c) as the speaker becomes more familiar with the river, his attitude toward it becomes more practical d) when the speaker reflects on the past, he finds himself growing nostalgic e) because the speaker is eager to improve his navigational skills, he is willing to abandon other pleasures
c) as the speaker becomes more familiar with the river, his attitude toward it becomes more practical
In line 15, "hurdled cotes" refers to a) blocked paths b) natural obstacles c) fenced enclosures d) wool garments e) steep hills
c) fenced enclosures
Which of the following lines contains a play on words? a) line 3 b) line 6 c) line 10 d) line 14 e) line 20
c) line 10
The second stanza (lines 5-8) primarily serve to (Remembrance) a) dramatize the power of thoughts to sustain romantic feelings in the speaker b) indicate how loneliness causes the speaker to dwell on the past c) ponder the current connection between the speaker and the loved one d) communicate the speaker's ongoing devotion to a treasured childhood memory e) compare the loved one to a bird that has departed for northern latitudes
c) ponder the current connection between the speaker and the loved one
By learning the language of the river, the speaker gains a) command of a riverboat, but loses the innocence of youth b) pride in his profession, but loses a broader interest in the world c) technical knowledge, but loses an appreciation of the river's beauty d) awareness of the river's dangers, but loses a sense of confidence e) assurance of his abilities, but loses respect for the river's might
c) technical knowledge, but loses an appreciation of the river's beauty
According to the passage, why does Satan not enter the garden by the gate? a) The gate is protected by God b) The gate is hidden by overgrown shrubbery c) He is too large to fit through the gate d) He is contemptuous of proper procedures e) He fears an encounter with other creatures
d) He is contemptuous of proper procedures
Which of the following best describes the way the passage is narrated? a) The reader's perspective is limited to Mrs. Ramsay's point of view. b) The reader views the scene the way that Charles Tansley does. c) The narrator comments directly on the moral significance of events. d) The narrator shifts the point of view from one character to the other. e) The narrator maintains an ironic distance from both characters.
d) The narrator shifts the point of view from one character to the other.
Which of the following best describes a central paradox of the poem? a) the speaker, attempting to grow closer to a lost love, becomes even more distant from the loved one. b) the speaker, in the act of remembering a childhood love, comes to an increasing awareness of mortality. c) The speaker, in the act of mourning, is able to experience a newfound joy. d) The speaker, worrying over forgetting a deceased lover, reveals the extent of that loved one's continuing memory. e) The speaker, mourning the death of a loved one, begins to recognize the extent of an attraction to a present acquaintance.
d) The speaker, worrying over forgetting a deceased lover, reveals the extent of that loved one's continuing memory.
The passage suggests that Charles Tansley would like Mrs. Ramsay "to see him, gowned and hooded, walking in a procession" (lines 11-12) because a) he would like her to understand the conflict within him b) only when so dressed could he reveal his true feelings to her c) he believes that, in such a costume, he would appear to be more conventional d) he believes she would be favorably impressed with his status e) he fears that the clothes he is wearing betray his humble origins
d) he believes she would be favorably impressed with his status
The concept of "divinest anguish" (line 31) is most like that of a) "dear life" (line 19) b) "golden dreams" (line 21) c) "useless passion" (line 25) d) "burning wish" (line 27) e) "rapturous pain" (line 30)
e) "rapturous pain" (line 30)
Which of the following has an effect on Mrs. Ramsay similar to that of the circus advertisement in the first paragraph? a) "a shop" (line 41) b) "the cheapest tobacco; shag" (line 46) c) "dissertation...fellowship...readership...lectureship" (lines 51-52) d) "Ibsen" (line 61) e) "the whole bay" (line 72)
e) "the whole bay" (line 72)
The use of the dash in line 14 indicates that a) Mrs. Ramsay has become infatuated with Charles Tansley b) there has been a sudden shift in attitude on the part of the narrator c) the narrative point of view has shifted from that of Charles Tansley to that of Mrs. Ramsay d) Charles Tansley is aware that Mrs. Ramsay has become critical of him e) Charles Tansley realizes that Mrs. Ramsay is no longer paying complete attention to him
e) Charles Tansley realizes that Mrs. Ramsay is no longer paying complete attention to him
Charles Tansley's sense of the words "fellowship" and "professorship" (lines 12-13) stands in ironic contrast to a) his attitude toward Mrs. Ramsay b) his view of himself as an academic c) his inability to "return hospitality (line 43) d) Mrs. Ramsay's own intellectual accomplishments e) Mrs. Ramsay's reference to "ugly academic jargon" (line 52)
e) Mrs. Ramsay's reference to "ugly academic jargon" (line 52)
Which of the following lines most probably contains a commentary on the poet's own era? a) line 2 b) line 7 c) line 9 d) line 10 e) line 22
e) line 22
In lines 59-62, Mrs. Ramsay's conjectures about going to the circus and going to a play by Ibsen serve to indicate her a) view of the decline in popular taste b) love of modern theater c) inability to criticize Charles Tansley d) impatience with Charles Tansley's tolerance of avant-garde art e) recognition of Charles Tansley's need to be seen as a cultured person
e) recognition of Charles Tansley's need to be seen as a cultured person