AP Language Practice Test 2

What is the main rhetorical purpose of the quotation in line 19?

• To highlight the rebel commander’s humiliating defeat.

• To imply the rebel commander will not negotiate peace sincerely.

• To reinforce Kennedy’s counterargument to Castro’s claim that his opponents are mercenaries.

• To emotionally connect with a Cuban-American audience.

• To agree with Castro’s view that his enemies are merely hired fighters.

Answer explanation

The quotation “I will never leave this country” (line 19) follows Kennedy’s mention of Castro calling the rebels “mercenaries” (line 15). Kennedy uses it to argue that such loyalty refutes the mercenary label, as mercenaries typically fight for pay, not principle, directly supporting his rebuttal of Castro’s claim.

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All of the following contribute to the urgent tone of Kennedy’s speech EXCEPT

• “owe a common obligation to the people: an obligation to present the facts, to present them with candor, and to present them in perspective” (lines 2–4)

• “forces of Communism are not to be underestimated” (line 29)

• “its use of mass terror and arrests” (lines 30–31)

• “menace of external Communist intervention and domination” (line 35)

• “Iron Curtain tanks and planes less than 90 miles from our shores” (lines 36–37)

Answer explanation

“owe a common obligation to the people: an obligation to present the facts, to present them with candor, and to present them in perspective” (lines 2–4) calmly outlines a shared duty to present facts, lacking the immediate, pressing tone of the others.

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Which of the following backs Kennedy’s claim that Castro has taken advantage of the “legitimate discontent of yearning peoples”? (line 48)

• Noting that Castro is “picking off vulnerable areas one by one” (line 45)

• Mentioning that Castro possesses “nuclear armaments” (line 43)

• Referencing Castro’s earlier “promise of a revolution of hope” (line 51)

• Citing “the rising din of Communist voices in Asia” (lines 52–53)

• Describing Castro’s rule as a “reign of terror” (line 51)

Answer explanation

Kennedy’s phrase “legitimate discontent of yearning peoples” (line 48) suggests Castro exploited genuine desires for change. The “promise of a revolution of hope” (line 51) directly ties to this, implying Castro initially appealed to those desires before betraying them, supporting Kennedy’s assertion.

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Which of the following appeals is not evident in this speech?

• Appeal to reason

• Appeal to tradition

• Appeal to fear

• Appeal to caution

• Appeal to shared values

Answer explanation

The speech uses reason (e.g., listing lessons, lines 29–40), fear (e.g., “Iron Curtain tanks,” line 36), caution (e.g., “cannot postpone any longer,” line 39), and shared values (e.g., freedom, line 40). There’s no clear appeal to tradition, such as invoking historical precedents or customs.

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How does Kennedy depict dictators in general?

• As terrorists

• As revolutionaries

• As visionaries

• As teachers

• As mercenaries

Answer explanation

Kennedy describes dictators using “mass terror and arrests” (lines 30–31) and creating a “reign of terror” (line 51), aligning with the characteristics of terrorists. None of the other options consistently fit his portrayal of dictators throughout the speech.

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Which of the following best captures Kennedy’s main goal in this speech?

• Enlist the press as a government partner.

• Emphasize that the press shares an equal responsibility to combat Communism.

• Encourage the press to alert the public to Castro’s danger.

• Ensure the press fully understands Castro’s threat.

• Inform Cuban citizens that Castro endangers their self-determination.

Answer explanation

Kennedy opens his speech by emphasizing a shared duty with newspaper editors to deliver facts to the public (lines 1–4) and concludes with pressing alerts about the threat posed by Communism (lines 52–55). His chief objective is to encourage the press to warn the public about the danger Castro represents, which matches the idea of urging the press to inform rather than merely collaborating with them, assigning them equal responsibility, instructing them, or speaking directly to Cuban citizens.

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If you could ask a coach questions to help you perform better, what would you ask?

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