Free AP English Language and Composition Synthesis Practice Test — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which method does the author use to draw the reader's attention to the passage's unique subject?

beginning each paragraph with the same subject (Correct answer)
use of parallel structure
identifying herself with her audience
use of passive voice
use of anecdote

Correct answer: beginning each paragraph with the same subject

By beginning each paragraph with the same subject, the author creates a strong sense of focus and repetition, immediately drawing the reader's attention to the central theme or topic. This consistent structural choice emphasizes the subject's importance and ensures that the reader understands what the passage is primarily about from the outset. This technique effectively highlights the unique subject matter.

Question 2: The reader can infer from a close reading of the opening sentence that the author attributes the demise of the "novel of concept" to

reliance on historical data
appeal to philosophy
artificiality (Correct answer)
real life and situations
simplicity

Correct answer: artificiality

If the author attributes the demise of the 'novel of concept' to artificiality, it implies that this type of novel was perceived as being contrived or detached from genuine human experience. The opening sentence likely critiques its lack of authenticity, suggesting it prioritized abstract ideas or intellectual constructs over realistic representation. This artificiality ultimately led to its decline in relevance or popularity.

Question 3: The author's main rhetorical device in creating the opening paragraph is

definition
description
cause and effect (Correct answer)
process
narration

Correct answer: cause and effect

The main rhetorical device of cause and effect involves presenting a situation or phenomenon (the cause) and then explaining its resulting consequences or outcomes (the effect). In an opening paragraph, this structure helps the author establish a logical relationship between events or ideas, setting up an argument or explanation for the rest of the passage. This allows the reader to understand the foundational reasons behind the topic being discussed.

Question 4: Dillard says, "The essayist does what we do with our lives; the essayist thinks about actual things. He can make sense of them analytically or artistically," near the end of the third paragraph. The most likely reason for the author's decision to write two separate sentences rather than creating a single, longer sentence using a listing is that the essayist does what we do with our lives.

both subjects are of equal importance, although separate processes (Correct answer)
to reinforce cause and effect
to highlight the criticism of fictional writing
to create a parallel situation
to contrast the two ideas

Correct answer: both subjects are of equal importance, although separate processes

The author's decision to use two separate sentences, 'The essayist does what we do with our lives; the essayist thinks about actual things,' rather than a single listing, emphasizes that both ideas are of equal importance. Each statement highlights a distinct, yet equally crucial, aspect of the essayist's role: connecting with lived experience and engaging with concrete reality. This separation gives full weight to each concept, preventing one from being perceived as merely a subordinate detail.

Question 5: The term "there" in sentence three of paragraph 3, which begins with "The true world...," relates to

poetry
the fictional world
the real world (Correct answer)
short stories
novels

Correct answer: the real world

In the context of a discussion contrasting different literary forms, particularly when mentioning 'The true world...,' the term 'there' refers to the tangible, verifiable reality. This contrasts with fictional or imagined worlds that might be created in other literary genres. The author uses 'the real world' to emphasize the grounding of the essayist's work in actual experiences, events, and observations.

Question 6: The second paragraph's main rhetorical device that the author employs is

argument
narration
analogy
contrast and comparison (Correct answer)
description

Correct answer: contrast and comparison

The rhetorical device of contrast and comparison involves examining the similarities and differences between two or more subjects, ideas, or literary forms. In the second paragraph, this technique would allow the author to clarify concepts, highlight distinctions, or argue for the superiority of one over another by systematically analyzing their respective characteristics. This helps the reader understand the nuances of the subjects being discussed.

Question 7: The author is best categorized as follows in terms of her viewpoint on her subject:

an artist
an innovator
an advocate (Correct answer)
an adversary
a critic

Correct answer: an advocate

An advocate is someone who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. If the author's viewpoint is best categorized as an advocate, the passage would likely present a strong, persuasive argument in favor of a specific literary form, approach, or idea, actively championing its value and merits. The tone would be supportive and encouraging, aiming to convince the reader of the subject's importance.

Question 8: Which of the following lines from the passage provides an illustration of parallel structure?

In either case he renders the real world coherent and meaningful; even if only bits of it, and even if that coherence and meaning reside only inside small texts. (Correct answer)
… that is the convention and the covenant between the nonfiction writer and his reader.
The elements in any nonfiction should be true not only artistically—the connections must hold at base …
But eschewing it served to limit fiction's materials a little further, and likely contributed to our being left with the short story of scant idea.
The essay may deal in metaphor better than the poem can, in some ways, because prose may expand what the lyric poem must compress.

Correct answer: In either case he renders the real world coherent and meaningful; even if only bits of it, and even if that coherence and meaning reside only inside small texts.

Parallel structure involves using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. In the sentence, 'In either case he renders the real world coherent and meaningful; even if only bits of it, and even if that coherence and meaning reside only inside small texts,' the repetition of 'even if' followed by a clause creates a balanced and rhythmic construction. This emphasizes two similar conditions that qualify the essayist's ability to make sense of the world.

Question 9: Which of the following best describes how the short story writer and the essayist differ?

content
fundamental reality (Correct answer)
presentation
reflection
clarity of purpose

Correct answer: fundamental reality

The fundamental difference between a short story writer and an essayist lies in their relationship to truth and reality. While short stories create fictional worlds, essays are typically grounded in 'fundamental reality,' dealing with actual events, ideas, and observations. The essayist's purpose is to explore and interpret the real world, whereas the short story writer has the freedom to invent, making their core subject matter distinct.

Question 10: The passage's tone is best characterized as

clinical and moralistic
impartial and critical
confident and informative (Correct answer)
condescending and formal
candid and colloquial

Correct answer: confident and informative

A 'confident and informative' tone suggests the author is knowledgeable and presents their ideas with assurance and clarity. The passage would likely offer well-reasoned arguments, provide facts or insights, and maintain an authoritative yet accessible voice. This tone aims to educate and persuade the reader through clear, well-supported information, without being overly emotional or biased.

Question 11: The passage's tone is best characterized as

ambivalent and resigned
indignant and argumentative (Correct answer)
flippant and irreverent
pedantic and cynical
reverent and somber

Correct answer: indignant and argumentative

An 'indignant and argumentative' tone indicates that the author is expressing strong displeasure or anger at something perceived as unjust, and is actively trying to persuade the reader of their viewpoint. The passage would likely contain passionate language, rhetorical questions, and direct challenges to opposing ideas. This aims to provoke a strong emotional and intellectual response from the audience, urging them to agree with the author's stance.

Question 12: One of the speaker's main assertions is :

women and African Americans are on the same level (Correct answer)
women are not as intelligent as men
religion is the cause of women's position in the United States
education is the only way to cure the evils of society
the question of Women's Rights is a philosophical issue

Correct answer: women and African Americans are on the same level

In the context of 19th-century women's rights speeches, a common assertion was to draw parallels between the oppression faced by women and that faced by African Americans. Speakers argued that both groups were denied fundamental rights and equality, positioning their struggles as interconnected and equally deserving of liberation. This comparison aimed to highlight the universal nature of human rights and the shared experience of disenfranchisement.

Question 13: What may be inferred by the reader from the middle of the first paragraph's phrase, which starts with "I was disappointed..." and ends with "and the housekeeper"?

Teaching was not considered a worthy profession. (Correct answer)
Lucy Stone is not a religious person.
She is married with children.
The speaker is an adventurer.
Stone values the opinions of others.

Correct answer: Teaching was not considered a worthy profession.

The phrase 'I was disappointed... and the housekeeper' implies a comparison between the speaker's professional status (likely as a teacher) and the status of a housekeeper. If the speaker was disappointed by this comparison, it suggests that teaching, despite being a profession, was not held in high regard or was seen as having a similar low social standing as domestic work during that era. This reflects societal attitudes where intellectual professions for women were often undervalued.

Question 14: The passage's topic is best encapsulated in

paragraph 2, sentence 6 ("This is seen …")
paragraph 2, sentence 1 ("The question …")
paragraph 1, sentence 7 ("In education …") (Correct answer)
paragraph 1, sentence 3 ("When, with my brothers …")
paragraph 3, sentence 9 ("Wendell Phillips says …")

Correct answer: paragraph 1, sentence 7 ("In education …")

To determine the passage's topic, one looks for the sentence that most broadly and accurately introduces or summarizes the main subject. If 'In education...' is the correct answer, this sentence likely sets the stage for a discussion about the inequalities or challenges faced in education, particularly concerning the speaker's specific advocacy (e.g., women's rights or social justice). It would serve as the central thesis or guiding statement for the subsequent arguments.

Question 15: Stone uses all of the following, with the exception of:

an ethical appeal
an ad hominem argument (Correct answer)
facts
an anecdote
direct quotations

Correct answer: an ad hominem argument

An ad hominem argument attacks the character, motive, or other attribute of a person instead of attacking the substance of their argument. Lucy Stone, a prominent suffragist, was known for her logical and ethical appeals, using facts, anecdotes, and direct quotations to support her arguments for women's rights. It is highly unlikely she would resort to personal attacks against her opponents, as this would undermine her credibility and the strength of her cause.

Question 16: How may the following line near the conclusion of the first paragraph be most accurately described in light of the passage? My life's work will be to make every woman's disillusionment grow until she can no longer submit to it.

analytical and pedantic
informal and anecdotal
analytical and pedantic
ironic and paradoxical (Correct answer)
allegorical and ambivalent

Correct answer: ironic and paradoxical

The statement, 'My life's work will be to make every woman's disillusionment grow until she can no longer submit to it,' is both ironic and paradoxical. It's ironic because the speaker intends to increase a negative feeling (disillusionment) to achieve a positive outcome (empowerment). It's paradoxical because it suggests that intensifying a state of unhappiness is the path to liberation, creating a compelling and thought-provoking rhetorical effect.

Free AP English Language and Composition Synthesis Practice Test

Which method does the author use to draw the reader's attention to the passage's unique subject?