AP Spanish Spanish: Writing Skills & Composition 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student is writing an AP essay and wants to say 'despite the fact that many disagree.' Which option is correct?
- A pesar de que muchos están en desacuerdo (Correct answer)
- Aunque que muchos están en desacuerdo
- A pesar que muchos están en desacuerdo
- Por más de que muchos están en desacuerdo
Correct answer: A pesar de que muchos están en desacuerdo
'A pesar de que' is the correct concessive phrase meaning 'despite the fact that'; 'aunque que' and 'a pesar que' are ungrammatical.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect subjunctive ('haya + participio')?
- No creo que él ha terminado.
- No creo que él haya terminado. (Correct answer)
- No creo que él hubiera terminado.
- No creo que él habría terminado.
Correct answer: No creo que él haya terminado.
After 'no creo que' (a verb of doubt in the present), the present perfect subjunctive 'haya terminado' is required to indicate a recently completed action.
Question 3: In the AP Spanish Argumentative Essay, what is the penalty for not integrating the audio source?
- No penalty; the audio is optional
- The essay cannot score above a 3 out of 5 (Correct answer)
- One point is deducted automatically
- The essay receives a zero
Correct answer: The essay cannot score above a 3 out of 5
AP rubrics cap essays that fail to meaningfully integrate the audio source at a score of 3, as synthesis of all three sources is required for higher scores.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'nominalización' as used in advanced Spanish writing?
- Converting adjectives into adverbs
- Converting verbs or adjectives into nouns to create a more formal tone (Correct answer)
- Replacing proper nouns with pronouns
- Using noun clauses after subjunctive triggers
Correct answer: Converting verbs or adjectives into nouns to create a more formal tone
Nominalización involves transforming verbs or adjectives into nouns (e.g., 'crecer' → 'el crecimiento'), a hallmark of sophisticated academic Spanish.
Question 5: A student writes: 'Es importante que todos los ciudadanos votan.' What correction is needed?
- Change 'votan' to 'voten' (present subjunctive) (Correct answer)
- Change 'Es importante' to 'Fue importante'
- Add 'no' before 'votan'
- Change 'todos' to 'todo'
Correct answer: Change 'votan' to 'voten' (present subjunctive)
'Es importante que' is an impersonal expression requiring the subjunctive; 'votan' (indicative) must become 'voten' (present subjunctive).
Question 6: Which writing strategy is most effective when developing a thesis statement for an AP Spanish essay?
- State only a fact without taking a position
- Present a debatable claim that the essay will support with evidence (Correct answer)
- Ask a rhetorical question as the thesis
- Summarize all three sources in one sentence
Correct answer: Present a debatable claim that the essay will support with evidence
A strong thesis presents a specific, arguable position that guides the essay's argument and can be supported with evidence from the sources.
Question 7: Which option correctly uses 'por' versus 'para' in a formal essay sentence?
- Lo hizo para ganar dinero y para su familia.
- Lo hizo por ganar dinero y para su familia.
- Lo hizo por ganar dinero y por su familia.
- Lo hizo para ganar dinero y por su familia. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Lo hizo para ganar dinero y por su familia.
'Para' expresses purpose with an infinitive ('para ganar dinero') while 'por' expresses motivation on behalf of a person or thing ('por su familia').
AP Spanish Spanish: Writing Skills & Composition 5
A student is writing an AP essay and wants to say 'despite the fact that many disagree.' Which option is correct?