APEL MC Practice questions

[2] Which of the following best describes the function of the sentence "Things are no better in the work world" (32-33)

(A) It extends the author's argument about education in another area

[4] The first paragraph (lines 1-11) functions as

(A) a reasoned introduction to an argument

[1] The author's relation to the reader is best described as that of

(A) an informed commentator

[3] The sense of the last paragraph depends mainly on which of the following?

(A) analogy

[3] In context, the phrase "fundamental cases" (line 62) means

(A) basic patterns

[2] Which of the following versions of the sentence in lines 4-6, reproduced below, is clearest? "Yet unlike other nations, American schools are financed at the local rather than the federal level"

(B) Add "schools in" after "unlike"

[3] On the whole, the tone of the author is best described as

(B) Objective

[4] The passage can best be classified as which of the following?

(B) a reasoned appeal

[1] The word "chopsticked" (38) is used as an example of

(B) a verb from created from a noun

[1] In paragraphs three and four (40-74), the author's discussion of reaction to changes in language develops by

(B) broadening from people's immediate circle of contacts to their own larger society and then to an international perspective

[4] The passage as a whole is best described as a

(B) criticism of the limited goals of women's education

[3] The author's presentation makes use of all of the following EXCEPT

(B) dictionary definition

[1] Examples in paragraph 4 (54-74) provide evidence that

(B) nationalism influences reactions to linguistic changes

[4] In line 24, the "sunbeams" and "oblique" because they are

(B) overly familiar and growing weaker

[3] The phrase "mathematical Mount Everest" (line 53) refers to

(C) "Four Color Map Theorem" (line 54)

[1] In the passage as a whole, a major shift in the development of the arguments occurs at which of the following points?

(C) "So what's really going on" (line 40)

[3] Which of the following best describes the passage as a whole?

(C) A reflection on certain key feature

[2] Which of the following best describes the relationship between the first and second sentences of the passage?

(C) The first sentence makes a statement; the second introduces and potential difficulty

[4] The author appears to believe most firmly that

(C) all passions, but especially love, must be subject to reason

[3] In context, the words "contrarians" (line 34) means those who

(C) approach a topic from an unorthodox perspective

[4] Throughout the passage, the author's argument is meant chiefly to

(C) change perceptions of how women should relate to men

[2] In context, the tone of lines 8-12 ("And voters...kids") can best be described as

(C) critical

[2] The purpose of endnote 2 (45) is to

(C) document the sources of claims made about loans, scholarships, and educational funding

[4] The author's reflections on married love are best described as

(C) serious and cautionary

III. An example of the tenacity of mathematicians

(D) II and III only

[2] The information in the sentence below would fit most logically after the sentence that ends on which of the following lines? "In Australia all school funding is centralized so that the government can ensure accountability and fair deployment of resources"

(D) Line 29

[3] At the end of paragraph three, the author includes a quotation from Erdos (lines 69-73) primarily to show that Erdos

(D) dislikes some aspects of the proof

[2] The italics in the 2nd paragraph (16-26) serve all of the following purposes EXCEPT to

(D) exaggerate the author's determination to bring about change

[4] Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "prejudice" as it used in line 40?

(D) fixed convictions

[4] In line 55, "a being" is best taken to mean a woman's

(D) husband

[3] In context, paragraphs two and three (lines 22-73) primarily serve to

(D) illustrate the shortcoming of a mathematical proof without beauty

[1] The attitude of the author toward the English language is one of

(D) interest in the past of and optimism for the future of English

[4] In line 14, the phrase "the more important years of life" is best taken to mean the years when

(D) maturity has been reached

[1] The author indicates that international reactions to Americanized spellings of words can reflect

(D) resentment of America's cultural and economic status

[4] In line 9, "sceptre" is used as a

(D) symbol of authority

[1] The tone in the passage is best described as

(D) thoughtful yet playful

[2] The author offers specific data to support which of the following assertions

(E) "Things are no better in the work world." (32-33)

[3] In paragraph one, all of the following pairs illustrate contrasts EXPECT

(E) "odd" and "surprising" (line 18)

[1] The author employs which of the following in developing the arguments in the passage I. Rhetorical questions II. References to grammatical terms III. Quotations from famous writers IV. Examples from diverse eras

(E) I, II, III, IV

[2] Which of the following statements about the information in endnote 1 is correct?

(E) In 1991 Crown published Savage Inequalities, written by Jonathan Kozol

[2] Which of the following information does endnote 2 provide?

(E) The article "U.S. Gets 'Average' Grade in Math and Science Studies' was written by Peter Appleborne and published in the New York Times

[1] The author presents John Wallis (6), Samuel Johnson (7-8), and Johnathan Swift (55) as hostile to

(E) Unnecessary changes in word usage in their eras

[4] In lines 20-21, the author reveals her intention to

(A) appeal to the intelligence of those who support Rousseau's theories

[1] The example of Alfred the Great (75-80) serves to

(A) build on the point made in lines 1-5

[2] The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) call attention to a serious problem

[1] To chief effect of the word "hygienists" (16) is to

(A) lend a tone of mocking humor to the discussion

[4] In context, the author's regard for "the great art of pleasing" (line 47) is best described as

(A) minimal

[3] The author includes a reference to Bill Clinton in lines 8-10 primarily to

(A) provide an example of how a syllogism works

[1] What the author refers to as "weeds" (34) are

(A) usage changes

[4] The author's approach to reasoning with "the supporters of this opinion" (line 20) is to pose questions that she

(E) answers from her own point of view

[1] Paragraph three (40-53) implies that those who would strictly follow rules of the English language feel

(E) anxious about how their use of language affects others' perceptions of them

[3] For the mathematicians cited in lines 10-21, a proof would lack beauty if it were

(E) completely predictable

[4] Lines 39-47 ("I now speak...discontent") serve to

(E) develop the metaphor of the "spring of bitterness" (line 36)

[3] Paragraphs two and three are developed primarily by

(E) narration and analysis