Free AP English Language and Composition Rhetorical Analysis Practice Test Question and Answer — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What one of the following statements best supports the speaker's claim that death "has no parallel" (line 3)?

Lays a regular siege (line 5)
Leaps suddenly (line 3)
Changes . . . are . . .terrible and melancholy (lines 1-2)
Outdoes all other accidents (line 3) (Correct answer)
Changes . . . are . . . sharp (line 1)

Correct answer: Outdoes all other accidents (line 3)

The claim that death 'has no parallel' means it is incomparable or unmatched in its significance. The statement 'Outdoes all other accidents' directly supports this by asserting that death surpasses all other misfortunes or events in its impact and uniqueness, thus having no equal.

Question 2: The phrase "There are... at night" (line 8) serves primarily as a rhetorical device to show

Discuss the connotation of words to be used later in the passage.
Illustrate a generalization made in the previous sentence. (Correct answer)
Contradict an assertion made in the first sentence of the paragraph.
Prove the validity of the passage's opening sentence.
Provide a brief digression from the main idea of the passage.

Correct answer: Illustrate a generalization made in the previous sentence.

In rhetoric, a common technique is to follow a general statement with specific examples to make it more tangible. The phrase 'There are... at night' likely provides vivid imagery or particular instances that illustrate and elaborate upon a broader point or generalization made in the preceding sentence, making the abstract idea more concrete for the reader.

Question 3: Except for one, all of the following are found in the two statements on lines 4–7.

Metaphor.
Personification.
Dramatic irony. (Correct answer)
Unifying repetition.
Simile.

Correct answer: Dramatic irony.

Dramatic irony occurs when the audience possesses knowledge that a character in a narrative does not, creating a discrepancy between what is said and what is truly understood. This literary device is typically found in plays or stories. While metaphor, personification, repetition, and simile are common rhetorical figures in descriptive text, dramatic irony is less likely to be present in just two descriptive statements unless there's a clear narrative context.

Question 4: The speaker's main objective in the opening paragraph is to

Ridicule the social customs associated with dying.
Propose a hypothesis about humankind's fear of death.
Discuss the gravity and after-effects of death. (Correct answer)
Convince readers that death is a topic that must be discussed openly
Comfort readers who have recently lost friends or loved ones.

Correct answer: Discuss the gravity and after-effects of death.

The opening paragraph of a text typically establishes the central theme and tone. If the speaker describes death as having 'no parallel' and causing 'terrible and melancholy' changes, their main objective is to emphasize the profound seriousness, weight, and lasting consequences of death, thus discussing its gravity and after-effects.

Question 5: "It" refers to in line 5

Earth (line 3).
A Thug (line 4).
The thing (line 2). (Correct answer)
Man's experience (lines 2-3).
No parallel (line 3).

Correct answer: The thing (line 2).

Pronoun reference requires identifying the noun or concept the pronoun replaces in the preceding text. If 'it' in line 5 refers to 'the thing' in line 2, it indicates a continuation of the discussion about a specific, previously introduced concept or entity. This maintains coherence and clarity in the passage's argument.

Question 6: In line 11, the speaker refers to "a full chapter of sights and customs striking to the mind"

Inevitable thoughts about one's own death.
Physical reminders of death. (Correct answer)
Lost friends.
Hired undertakers.
Mourners.

Correct answer: Physical reminders of death.

The phrase 'a full chapter of sights and customs striking to the mind' suggests observable phenomena and established practices related to death. This most likely refers to the tangible and ritualistic aspects associated with death, such as funeral rites, mourning traditions, or memorials, which serve as physical and cultural reminders rather than abstract thoughts or specific individuals.

Question 7: ALL of the following are found in lines 17–18, EXCEPT

A paradoxical idea.
An extended analogy. (Correct answer)
A complex sentence.
Parallel syntax
A subordinate clause.

Correct answer: An extended analogy.

An extended analogy is a detailed and lengthy comparison between two dissimilar things, often spanning several sentences or paragraphs. While lines 17-18 might contain a brief comparison, it is highly improbable for an 'extended' analogy to be fully developed within just two lines. Other rhetorical devices like paradox, complex sentences, parallel syntax, and subordinate clauses can easily fit within such a short passage.

Question 8: "Serenades and suppers and much gallantry among the myrtles" in lines 22–23 most obviously refers to

Mortal conditions (line 21).
Conduct under healthy circumstances (line 18).
Gardens in . . . England (lines 21-22). (Correct answer)
Solemnity (line 21).
Fearful whisperings (line 17).

Correct answer: Gardens in . . . England (lines 21-22).

Myrtles are evergreen shrubs commonly found in gardens and associated with pleasant, often romantic, outdoor settings. The mention of 'serenades and suppers and much gallantry' evokes images of social gatherings and courtship activities typically enjoyed in such environments. Therefore, the phrase most directly refers to activities taking place in or related to gardens.

Question 9: In lines 22–25 ("There are serenades... in the dust"), which rhetorical tactic is most prominently used?

Overdone sentimentality
Alliteration
Deductive reasoning
Antithesis
Fantasy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Fantasy

If lines 22-25 describe 'serenades and suppers and much gallantry among the myrtles' and contrast it with something 'in the dust,' the speaker is likely creating an idealized or romanticized scene. This imaginative depiction, often contrasting with a harsh reality, is best characterized as fantasy, highlighting a romanticized or unrealistic portrayal of social life.

Question 10: The purpose of lines 22–25 ("There are serenades... in the dust") could be best summarized as

Citing two examples of natural perils.
Contrasting man's weaknesses and nature's power.
Presenting a problem and offering an immediate solution.
Developing in more detail the main ideas of the previous sentence. (Correct answer)
Balancing an overstatement and an understatement.

Correct answer: Developing in more detail the main ideas of the previous sentence.

A common rhetorical strategy is to elaborate on a previously introduced idea. If the preceding sentence presented a general concept or theme, then lines 22-25 would serve to expand upon it by providing specific examples, vivid imagery, or detailed descriptions. This helps to develop the main idea more thoroughly and make it more understandable for the reader.

Question 11: Which of the following best sums up the development of paragraph 2 (lines 17–33)?

With a series of paradoxical statements about human behavior (Correct answer)
With a narrative about events in a South American city
With an abstract statement followd by a concrete explanation
With an elaborate metaphor
With factual information from which the main idea of the passage can be inferred

Correct answer: With a series of paradoxical statements about human behavior

Developing a paragraph with a series of paradoxical statements involves presenting observations that seem contradictory yet reveal a deeper truth about human behavior. This rhetorical approach highlights the complexities, ironies, or inherent contradictions in how people act or perceive situations, which can be particularly effective when discussing profound topics like death.

Question 12: With umbrellas is a phrase the speaker employs in context to imply that

Umbrellas often symbolize old age.
The people are prepared for a bit of rain but not for real disaster. (Correct answer)
It is customary for British people to carry umbrellas.
Umbrellas provide a false sense of security.
Keeping up an appearance of respectability is important to married couples.

Correct answer: The people are prepared for a bit of rain but not for real disaster.

Umbrellas offer protection from minor inconveniences like rain but are ineffective against significant dangers or disasters. By mentioning people 'with umbrellas' in a context of potential peril, the speaker implies a superficial or inadequate level of preparedness for serious threats, suggesting a false sense of security or a failure to grasp the true magnitude of danger.

Question 13: Which of the following is the speaker's motivation for connecting "hermits" (line 32) and "born-devils" (line 33)? I. Neither puts value on their present existence II. They lead unconventional lives III. Both are oblivious to mortal dangers

III only
I only
I, II, and III (Correct answer)
II and III only
I and II only

Correct answer: I, II, and III

The speaker connects 'hermits' and 'born-devils' to highlight their shared detachment from conventional life and its associated fears. Hermits often renounce worldly values and lead unconventional, isolated lives, while 'born-devils' implies a reckless nature oblivious to mortal dangers. Thus, all three reasons—disregard for present existence, unconventional lives, and obliviousness to danger—serve as motivations for this comparison.

Question 14: In line 42, the pronoun "them" designates

Organs (line 39). (Correct answer)
A million other worlds (lines 36-37).
South American citizens (lines 34-35).
Petards (line 40).
Every breath and "every meal" (line 41).

Correct answer: Organs (line 39).

The pronoun 'them' in line 42 refers directly back to the plural noun 'Organs' mentioned in line 39. Pronouns typically refer to the most recent plausible antecedent, and in this context, the sentence structure indicates that 'them' is the object being discussed in relation to the 'Organs' previously introduced.

Question 15: The speaker describes the dangers awaiting us using all of the following rhetorical elements in the passage's last paragraph (lines 34–48). EXCEPT

An analogy.
A rhetorical question.
An anecdote. (Correct answer)
A metaphor.
Repetition for emphasis.

Correct answer: An anecdote.

An anecdote is a short, personal story used to illustrate a point. While the passage's last paragraph (lines 34-48) likely employs rhetorical elements such as analogy, rhetorical questions, metaphors, and repetition to describe dangers, it does not include a specific personal narrative or brief story from the speaker's own experience. Therefore, an anecdote is the rhetorical element *not* used.

Question 16: The passage's speaker's main concern is

The thin dividing line between life and death.
The impermanence of life.
The thrill of living dangerously.
Humanity's inability to cope with the constant threat of death. (Correct answer)
Fear of violent death.

Correct answer: Humanity's inability to cope with the constant threat of death.

The speaker's primary concern revolves around humanity's struggle to acknowledge and effectively deal with the pervasive and constant threat of death. The passage likely explores how individuals or society fail to adequately process or respond to this fundamental aspect of existence. This concern encompasses the other options as contributing factors or consequences, but the core issue is the coping mechanism (or lack thereof).

Free AP English Language and Composition Rhetorical Analysis Practice Test Question and Answer

What one of the following statements best supports the speaker's claim that death "has no parallel" (line 3)?