AP English Language Practice Exam

How does Brown’s choice to reference her research interviews reflect the rhetorical situation?

• It appeals to the audience’s desire for entertainment by adding personal drama.

• It establishes her credibility and connects her argument to real-life experiences.

• It distracts from her main point by focusing on unrelated details.

• It alienates readers who dislike academic studies.

What is the primary claim Brown makes in this passage, and what evidence supports it?

• Claim: Vulnerability is weakness; Evidence: People avoid it to stay strong.

• Claim: Vulnerability is courage; Evidence: Interviews with wholehearted people.

• Claim: Joy is impossible to achieve; Evidence: Research shows shields block it.

• Claim: Creativity requires isolation; Evidence: Studies of personal experiences.

How does Carson organize her argument to develop her reasoning?

• A. She lists unrelated facts to confuse the reader about pesticides.

• B. She moves from a broad historical context to a specific example of harm.

• C. She repeats the same point about DDT to emphasize its danger.

• She contrasts human and animal perspectives on nature.

How does Carson’s use of the phrase “who has the right to decide” contribute to her argument’s purpose?

• It softens her tone to avoid offending readers.

• It shifts focus away from environmental damage to legal issues.

• It provokes the audience to question human authority and responsibility.

• It introduces humor to lighten the serious topic.

If Woolf were to address a modern audience skeptical of her argument, which strategic choice could she make?

• Add detailed statistics about current female authors’ earnings.

• Include examples of successful women writers who overcame barriers.

• Remove references to men to avoid seeming biased.

• Simplify her language to make it less academic.

To refine her claim about the necessity of money and privacy, Woolf could strengthen her argument by:

• Describing unrelated historical events to provide context.

• Citing specific examples of female writers stifled by lack of resources.

• Repeating her point about men’s advantages for emphasis.

• Adding a fictional story about a struggling writer.

How could Woolf use commentary to illuminate her line of reasoning?

• By listing random quotes from famous authors.

• By explaining how lack of privacy disrupted a specific writer’s work.

• By summarizing her entire argument in every paragraph.

• By criticizing modern writers who disagree with her.

Which word choice could Woolf add to sharpen her argument’s style and advance her point?

• “Maybe” to suggest uncertainty and invite debate.

• “Trifling” to downplay the importance of her demands.

• “Strangled” vividly depicts the fate of genius without support.

• “Nice” to soften her tone and appeal to readers.