FREE AP English Language and Composition Synthesis Practice Test

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

beginning each paragraph with the same subject

Answer

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

Accepted Answer

artificiality

Answer

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

Accepted Answer

cause and effect

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

both subjects are of equal importance, although separate processes

Answer

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

Accepted Answer

the real world

Answer

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.

English Language and Composition Exam Practice Test

English Language and Composition Exam Practice Test

FREE AP English Language and Composition Synthesis Practice Test