English Language and Composition Exam Syntax and Sentence Structure 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A sentence that withholds the main clause until the very end, building suspense through preceding modifying phrases, is called a:
- Cumulative sentence
- Periodic sentence (Correct answer)
- Simple sentence
- Compound sentence
Correct answer: Periodic sentence
A periodic sentence delays the main clause until the end, creating anticipation and placing maximum emphasis on the final idea.
Question 2: What rhetorical device involves the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences?
- Epistrophe
- Chiasmus
- Anaphora (Correct answer)
- Asyndeton
Correct answer: Anaphora
Anaphora repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, creating rhythm, emphasis, and a sense of momentum.
Question 3: Which type of sentence states the main clause first and then adds modifying details afterward?
- Periodic sentence
- Cumulative (loose) sentence (Correct answer)
- Inverted sentence
- Compound-complex sentence
Correct answer: Cumulative (loose) sentence
A cumulative or loose sentence leads with the main idea and then accumulates modifying phrases, creating a conversational, flowing feel.
Question 4: In the opening phrase 'Running through the rain, she finally reached home,' what type of phrase modifies the subject?
- Absolute phrase
- Appositive phrase
- Participial phrase (Correct answer)
- Prepositional phrase
Correct answer: Participial phrase
"Running through the rain" is a participial phrase—built on the present participle "running"—that modifies the subject "she."
Question 5: Which sentence type contains two or more independent clauses AND at least one dependent clause?
- Simple sentence
- Compound sentence
- Complex sentence
- Compound-complex sentence (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Compound-complex sentence
A compound-complex sentence combines the features of both compound sentences (multiple independent clauses) and complex sentences (at least one dependent clause).
Question 6: What is 'asyndeton'?
- The use of excessive conjunctions between clauses
- The deliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of clauses or items (Correct answer)
- The repetition of a conjunction at the beginning of each clause
- The placement of the main verb at the end of a sentence
Correct answer: The deliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of clauses or items
Asyndeton omits conjunctions between clauses or list items, creating a rapid, emphatic pace—as in Caesar's famous 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'
Question 7: In AP English Language and Composition, an author's choice of syntax primarily functions to:
- Determine the subject matter of the writing
- Establish credibility through factual accuracy
- Shape meaning, tone, and the reader's experience of the text (Correct answer)
- Define the vocabulary level appropriate for the audience
Correct answer: Shape meaning, tone, and the reader's experience of the text
Syntax—the arrangement of words, phrases, and clauses—is a key rhetorical tool that affects pacing, emphasis, and the emotional and intellectual impact on readers.
English Language and Composition Exam Syntax and Sentence Structure 1
A sentence that withholds the main clause until the very end, building suspense through preceding modifying phrases, is called a: