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AP Lang MC Review - Paired

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In the passage as a whole, a major shift in the development of the argument occurs at which of the following points?

a)

"More than five hundred years ago" (line 13)

b)

"Take a straightforward example" (line 20)

c)

"So what’s really going on" (line 40)

d)

"Language often becomes" (line 54)

e)

"Compare the reactions of many Australians" (lines 64-65)

2.

The author presents John Wallis (line 6), Samuel Johnson (lines 7-8), and Jonathan Swift (line 55) as hostile to

a)

faulty studies of word origins

b)

tedious debates about grammar

c)

local misunderstandings of historical events

d)

snobbish rejections of modern vocabulary

e)

unnecessary changes in word usage in their eras

3.

The chief effect of the word “hygienists” (line 16) is to

a)

lend a tone of mocking humor to the discussion

b)

expand the argument to a subject other than language

c)

establish a deferential attitude about the subject

d)

provide an objective approach to the argument

e)

set up a contrast between Roman and modern English standards of usage

4.

What the author refers to as “weeds” (line 34) are

a)

usage changes

b)

obsolete terms

c)

diction errors

d)

clichés

e)

metaphors

5.

The word “chopsticked ” (line 38) is used as an example of

a)

a new usage that is unlikely to persist

b)

a verb form created from a noun

c)

a verb in the past tense used as an adjective

d)

fashionable slang used by international travelers

e)

foreign-language words becoming part of English

6.

Paragraph three (lines 40-53) implies that those who would strictly follow rules of the English language feel

a)

timid whenever they must correct others’ linguistic errors

b)

admiring of others’ linguistic creativity

c)

free to break rules of social etiquette

d)

satisfied that the flexibility of the English language is superior to that of all others

e)

anxious about how their use of language affects others’ perceptions of them

7.

In paragraphs three and four (lines 40-74), the author’s discussion of reaction to changes in language develops by

a)

accumulating evidence of changes in language that occur unintentionally and changes that are intended to manipulate situations

b)

broadening from people’s immediate circle of contacts to their own larger society and then to an international perspective

c)

intensifying as it moves from spelling variations that annoy to word choices that express bias to larger communications that antagonize

d)

contrasting examples of changes that reflect social concord and examples of changes that reflect social discord

e)

drawing a parallel between examples from the world of business and examples from the world of international relations

8.

Examples in paragraph 4 (lines 54-74) provide evidence that

a)

language usage can survive political turmoil

b)

nationalism influences reactions to linguistic changes

c)

generalizations about language usage are usually inaccurate

d)

linguistic changes occur more frequently now than in the past

e)

dominant nations undergo more linguistic changes than less powerful nations

9.

The example of Alfred the Great (lines 75-80) serves to

a)

build on the point made in lines 1-5

b)

underscore the example of Australians’ reaction to American spelling (lines 64-72)

c)

contrast views of past leaders with those of contemporary leaders

d)

document the earliest changes to the English language

e)

point out a parallel with the views of Noah Webster (lines 60-64)

10.

The author indicates that international reactions to Americanized spellings of words can reflect

a)

a desire to return to simpler times

b)

anxiety about pleasing American tourists

c)

contempt for inaccuracies in American usage

d)

resentment of America’s cultural and economic status

e)

confidence that local usage will ultimately prevail

11.

The attitude of the author toward the English language is one of

a)

high regard for the early scholars of English grammar

b)

acceptance of changes in English despite a strong sense of loss

c)

disdain for those condoning the linguistic flexibility of English

d)

interest in the past of and optimism for the future of English

e)

preoccupation with the accuracy of expression of English

12.

The tone in the passage is best described as

a)

dramatic

b)

confidential

c)

impressionistic

d)

thoughtful yet playful

e)

moralistic and rigid

13.

The author employs which of the following in developing the arguments in the passage? I. Rhetorical questions II. References to grammatical terms III. Quotations from famous writers IV. Examples from diverse eras

a)

III only

b)

I and II only

c)

II and IV only

d)

I, III, and IV only

e)

I, II, III, and IV

14.

The author’s relation to the reader is best described as that of

a)

an informed commentator

b)

a sympathetic ally

c)

an angry critic

d)

an amused colleague

e)

an aloof judge

15.

Which of the following best describes the passage as a whole?

a)

An analysis of rival viewpoints among mathematicians

b)

An exploration of the role of computers in solving mathematical theorems

c)

A reflection on certain key features of mathematical proofs

d)

An explanation of required steps for mathematical proofs

e)

A treatise on the necessity of an aesthetic element in mathematics texts

16.

The author includes a reference to Bill Clinton in lines 8-10 primarily to

a)

provide an example of how a syllogism works

b)

provide an example of a logical fallacy

c)

provide a political illustration for a mathematic problem

d)

engage in a sardonic digression

e)

develop an analogy to illustrate the difference between politics and math

17.

For the mathematicians cited in lines 10-21, a proof would lack beauty if it were

a)

useful in everyday life

b)

free of nonessential steps

c)

clearly comprehensible

d)

resistant to challenge

e)

completely predictable

18.

In paragraph one, all of the following pairs illustrate contrasts EXCEPT

a)

“science” and “art” (line 2)

b)

“obvious” and “unexpected” (line 12)

c)

“trivial” and “beautiful” (line 13)

d)

“surprising” (line 14) and “straight from the Book” (line 15)

e)

“odd” and “surprising” (line 18)

19.

. Paragraph two presents which of the following? I. A demonstration of the inherent simplicity of a mathematical problem II. A discussion of the Four Color Map Theorem III. An example of the tenacity of mathematicians

a)

II only

b)

I and II only

c)

I and III only

d)

I, II, and III

20.

In context, the word “contrarians” (line 34) means those who

a)

take an old-fashioned view

b)

deny the complexity of the theory of the four color map

c)

approach a topic from an unorthodox perspective

d)

dislike most mathematical procedures

e)

cooperate with other mathematicians

21.

The phrase “mathematical Mount Everest” (line 53) refers to

a)

“long-sought-after counterexample” (lines 43-44)

b)

“five-color map” (line 50)

c)

“Four Color Map Theorem” (line 54)

d)

“use of high-speed computers” (lines 58-59)

e)

“1,500 fundamental cases” (line 62)

22.

In context, the phrase “fundamental cases” (line 62) means

a)

basic patterns

b)

primary numbers

c)

specific reasons

d)

historical illustrations

e)

unchanging proofs