AP Lang Unit 2 test

(Gallaudet University) In the fourth paragraph, the author calls Gallaudet University "a symbol of leadership and opportunity" in order to

appeal to his audience's pride in the institution

(Deportation) In the tenth paragraph, the author appeals twice to "our values" in order to

claim that her family's experiences run counter to shared national ideals

(Deported) In the passage, the author presents a narrative of her parents' deportation in order to

illustrate her point that existing immigration policy is broken

(Confirmation Bias) In sentence 13 (reproduced below), the writer wants to include a piece of relevant evidence that will help convince the reader to accept the techniques used by Warren Buffet as credible. Fortunately, there are techniques, like those used by Warren Buffett (born in Omaha, Nebraska, in1930) when he makes his financial decisions that can minimize the risks of confirmation bias. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 13 best accomplishes this goal?

one of the most successful investors in history

(Deported) In the second paragraph, the sentences "Throughout my childhood . . . never helped" primarily serve to appeal to the audience's

respect for the rule of law: these lines show that the author's parents made a genuine effort to legally navigate a burdensome immigration process

(Nemesis) In sentence 7 (reproduced below), the writer wants to provide another piece of relevant evidence to elaborate on the claim made in the previous sentence about how subsequent research seemed to confirm the Nemesis theory. And in 2003, when astronomers discovered a dwarf planet in the outer reaches of the solar system, far from the Sun, they were surprised. Which of the following versions of the underlined text would best accomplish this goal?

they concluded that its huge, elliptical orbit might well be attributable to the gravitational pull of an unseen twin

(DaVinci) Which of the following is most likely the main claim that the writer is planning to make in the new version of the passage?

Da Vinci was a great artist because he had exotropia.

(DaVinci) The writer intends the passage to be read by a general audience. Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 1, would best aid a reader's understanding of the passage?

A new theory maintains that a visual condition called exotropia, in which an eye turns outward, enabled da Vinci to manipulate his own depth perception.

(Nemesis) In sentence 10 (reproduced below), the writer is considering deleting the underlined parenthetical text. And while the Sun may well have had a twin at some point (a 2017 study of the Perseus molecular cloud suggests that most stars like the Sun were formed with companions), most experts now agree that if Nemesis ever existed, it broke free of the solar system early in the Sun's history, long before there was life on Earth, and thus could not have figured in any extinctions. Should the writer keep or delete this text?

Keep it, because it provides direct support for the concession made earlier in the sentence.

(Gallaudet University) Which of the following best characterizes the author's mode of persuasion in the second paragraph?

He asserts his own credibility and authority on an issue.

(Nemesis) The writer understands that the audience for this passage is very familiar with the structure of the solar system. Which of the following revisions should the writer make, adjusting punctuation as needed, to account for the audience's expertise?

In sentence 5, deleting the parenthetical phrase "a theoretical sphere of icy debris at the outer edge of the solar system"

(Confirmation Bias) Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 3 ?

No, because it gives evidence that is not relevant to the passage's overall line of reasoning and therefore does not strengthen the validity of the writer's argument.

(Confirmation Bias) Which of the following sentences in the passage can best be described as the writer's thesis statement?

Sentence 11

(Gallaudet University) Which of the following best describes the organization of the second paragraph?

The author makes an assertion; then he lists strategically selected evidence in support of his assertion.

(Nemesis) Which of the following would best serve as a thesis statement for the passage?

While the theory was initially promising, the existence of Nemesis (a supposed companion star to the Sun) and its effect on extinction events on Earth, is highly doubtful.