AP English III Objective Test 29-54

As used in line 63, "issuing" best means a. emerging b. terminating c. emitting d. circulating e. escaping

c. emitting

In the first paragraph of the passage, "Randy roosters and operatic hens" (lines 7-8) contrast most directly with a. "Yardbird" (line 3) b. "animated cartoons" (lines 8-9) c. "pathetic comedy" (line 9) d. "bird-watcher's terminology" (line 12) e. "true songster" (line 12)

e. "true songster" (line 12)

In line 13, "failure" most directly refers to a. a conspicuous defeat b. a personal mistake c. an instance of faulty audience response d. an experience with obstacles e. an inability to ascertain definitively

e. an inability to ascertain definitively

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. "apocalyptically" (lines 1-2)

Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage? a. Understated modesty b. Mock solemnity c. Defensiveness d. Indecisiveness e. Cynicism

b. Mock solemnity

The sentence in lines 54-62 includes all of the following EXCEPT a. parallel structure b. alliteration c. onomatopoeia d. an accumulation of detail e. an oxymoron

e. an oxymoron

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. discussion of differing attitudes toward linguistic change

The passage most directly resembles the speaker's sense of Parker's style in its a. juxtaposition of disparate elements b. lyrical description of religion and art c. blatant mimicry ofother writers' techniques d. relentless insistence on a single theme e. reliance on abbreviated, staccato phrases

a. juxtaposition of disparate elements

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. the writers of the" standard jeremiads of the Sunday supplements" (lines 3-4)

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. It introduces an image that reappears in the last paragraph.

The function of the opening sentence might best be described as a. rebutting an objection b. establishing the status of a situation c. dismissing a fallacious claim d. promoting one theory over another e. qualifying a statement

b. establishing the status of a situation

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. justify the statement in the preceding sentence

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. random and novel ways of directing future language changes

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 terms "hacks" and "bureaucrats" apply also to the writers of the materials mentioned in lines 8-10

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 ofparagraph 2. c. It contradicts the conclusion reached at the end ofparagraph 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. It contradicts the conclusion reached at the end of paragraph 1.

In the context of the passage, the reference to the "canary" (line 43) most likely suggests which of the following? a. Parker's music was much like that of a canary. b. The canary's song is too high-pitched to represent the sound ofa saxophone. c. The canary, like the goldfinch, does not sing with much variety. d. The canary has no religious associations. e. Both the canary and the goldfinch have profound symbolic significance.

c. The canary, like the goldfinch, does not sing with much variety.

The sentence that begins in line 41 (" For our own ... ") marks a shift from a. unqualified assertion to narrative exposition b. affectionate nostalgia to exaggerated pathos c. discursive musing to direct argument d. a contemporary perspective to a historical one e. a skeptical stance to a naïve one

c. discursive musing to direct argument

The stance assumed by the speaker is most similar to which of the following? a. An entrepreneur seeking financial backing for a new product b. A judge reprimanding a lawyer for improper conduct c. A student weighing the decision about which college to attend d. A scholar weighing the merits of various theories e. A teacher instructing a class on how to perform an exercise

d. A scholar weighing the merits of various theories

Which of the following statements most accurately summarizes the effect ofthe sentence in lines 54-62 ? a. The length ofthe sentence suggests the difficulty of artistic creation. b. The numerous abstractions provide a startling contrast to the preceding sentence. c. The irony ofthe sentence highlights the complexity of Parker's music. d. The complexity of the sentence's structure mirrors the complexity of Parker's music. e. The extensive use of prepositions underscores the repetitiveness of Parker's style.

d. The complexity of the sentence's structure mirrors the complexity of Parker's music.

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 ofthe English language c. able to influence the development of the language d. aware ofthe "historical picture" (lines 25-26) e. familiar with theories of" continental drift" (line 31)

d. aware ofthe "historical picture" (lines 25-26)

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. judgments about declining standards are difficult to support

The speaker uses the matter of a nickname as a a. symbol for the comfort Parker's devotees derive from his memory b. method of dispensing with uncomplimentary estimations of Parker c. vehicle for discussing problems in the nomenclature of birds d. pretext for characterizing Parker and his musical technique e. means of interjecting humor to temper the pathos surrounding Parker

d. pretext for characterizing Parker and his musical technique

The primary effect of the discussion in the second and third paragraphs (lines 13-44) is one of a. immediacy because of the specific imagery b. familiarity because of the speaker's strong personal voice c. exaggerated sentimentality because of the loaded diction d. subtle humor because of the contrived nature of the argument e. momentary confusion because of the speaker's contradictory loyalties

d. subtle humor because of the contrived nature of the argument

The speaker suggests that the primary purpose of the passage is to a. analyze the harmonics of jazz b. describe the advantages of a methodology c. probe for an appropriate association d. compare jazz music and birdsong e. explore the influences on Parker's musical style

c. probe for an appropriate association

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. discredit invalid views on the topic

The function ofthe second sentence (lines.4-7) is to a. dispense with a possible explanation b. trace the ornithological derivation of Parker's nickname c. discount the significance of certain evidence d. point out the importance of documenting claims e. emphasize the volume of research done on Parker

a. dispense with a possible explanation