AP Lang Unit 3

A.P. Language
Unit 3 Review

Reading Multiple Choice

"Ditch the GPS. It's Ruining Your Brain"

Read the following passage carefully. The writer, M.R. O'Connor is a journalist who writes about science, technology, and ethics and is the author of Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World.

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Multiple Choice

In the opening paragraph, the writer begins with a hypothetical scenario in order to

• emphasize the common, shared experience of using a GPS

• explain the importance of the research that will follow

• suggest that we all use technology in the same way

• underscore the power of technology in all aspects of life

• highlight the challenges with modern-day technology

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best characterizes the writer's position on the use of GPS-equipped devices?

• Because the GPS is so powerful, it has made exploration and navigation easier.

• Because the GPS is so powerful, people continue to use the data because they are able to know their location, not get lost, and know where others are at all times.

• Because the GPS has the power to dictate directions, the brain's behavior changes and is likely to have lasting consequences on cognitive function.

• Although the brain's hippocampus is "highly susceptible to experience," the brain is still able to recognize common routes even when using a GPS device.

• Because the GPS invites people to rely on turn-by-turn directions, the brain area responsible for navigation is not used and becomes dormant.

Multiple Choice

The writer's inclusion of a study published in Nature Communications in 2017 (paragraph 3) serves primarily to

• question the motives of others' research on the topic of technology's effect on brain function

• introduce the effects of technology on the hippocampus by using a real-world example

• affirm the validity of the writer's thesis

• support the writer's claim by situating his position in a larger context

• spotlight the growing interest in the long-term effects of technology on the brain

Multiple Choice

Toward the end of the passage, Bohbot uses "if . . . then" construction in order to

• provide two possible explanations for the deterioration of the hippocampus

• offer two alternative methods for avoiding GPS use

• assert that brain health is promoted when the hippocampus is stimulated

• imply that Alzheimer's disease is a result of daily use of a GPS navigation system

• suggest that getting lost will help restore gray matter in the hippocampus

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the writer's exigence in the passage?

• Consumers are not interested in investing in tech tools.

• The trend of using technology to make life easier is growing.

• Limited resources are available for the elderly who wish to live independently.

• Increasing evidence shows that people may experience long-term effects resulting from their reliance on technology.

• The disparity between the younger and older generations' use of technology is widening.

Multiple Choice

In the context of the passage, which of the following words or phrases refers to the same idea as the word "hippocampus?"

• gray matter

• labyrinthine

• internal map

• neurogenesis

• topophilia

Multiple Choice

According to the writer and the sources she cites, the two possible benefits of getting lost and navigating one's way without using digital satellite technology are most likely to be

• a personal connection with one's environment and cognitive function

• learning to think independently while developing a sense of autonomy

• reducing gray matter in the brain and providing physical exercise

• fostering a sense of imagination and improving creating problem-solving skills

• slowing down the aging process and memory loss while developing intellect

Rhetorical Analysis Prompt

"Ditch the GPS. It's Ruining Your Brain"

In June of 2019, journalist M.R. O'Connor wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post. O'Connor usually writes about science, technology, and ethics. In this article, "Ditch the GPS. It's Ruining Your Brain," she reflects on the immediate and lasting effects of relying on a GPS device for navigating.

Read the passage carefully and write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices O'Connor makes to convey her message about the negative effects of GPS.

Open Ended

Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer's rhetorical choices.

Open Ended

Select one example of evidence from the text to support your thesis and explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

Argument Prompt

The Role of Technology

The influx of technology has influenced much of our culture, from medical advancements to transportation to how we monitor finances to how we vote and find ourselves as members of a global community. How we choose and how we use technology is, perhaps, a reflection of our values.

Consider which tech tools play the biggest role inyour life. Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which the tech tools we use show our individual and cultural values.

Open Ended

Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.

Open Ended

Provide one example of specific evidence to support your thesis and explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.