AP Literature Practice Quiz 1
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- 1.Passage from a nineteenth-century essay.
- 2.Which of the following best describes the rhetorical function of the second sentence in the passage?
- A.
It makes an appeal to authority .
- B.
It restates the thesis of the passage .
- C.
It expresses the causal relationship between morality and writing style .
- D.
It provides a specific example for the preceding generalization
- E.
It presents a misconception that the author will correct .
- 3.Which of the following phrases does the author use to illustrate the notion of an unnatural and pretentious writing style?
- A.
“unconnected, slipshod allusions’’ (line 4)
- B.
“throw words together’’ (lines 5)
- C.
“gabble on at a venture’’ (line 15)
- D.
“get upon stilts’’ (line 20)
- E.
“pitch upon the very word’’ (line 22)
- 4.In lines 6–22 of the passage, the author uses an extended analogy between
- A.
Language and morality
- B.
Preaching and acting
- C.
Writing and speaking
- D.
Vulgar English and incorrect pronunciation
- E.
Ordinary life and the theater
- 5.In line 10, “common speech’’ refers to
- A.
Metaphorical language
- B.
Current slang
- C.
Unaffected expression
- D.
Regional dialect
- E.
Impolite speech
- 6.Which of the following words is grammatically and thematically parallel to “tone’’ (line 21)?
- A.
“solemnity’’ (line 13)
- B.
“pulpit’’ (line 13)
- C.
“stage-declamation’’ (line 13)
- D.
“liberty’’ (line 14)
- E.
“venture’’ (line 15)
- 7.In context, the expression “to pitch upon’’ (line 22) is best interpreted as having which of the following meanings?
- A.
To suggest in a casual way
- B.
To set a value on
- C.
To put aside as if by throwing
- D.
To utter glibly and insincerely
- E.
To succeed in finding
- 8.The ability discussed in lines 35–38 is referred to elsewhere as which of the following?
- A.
“theatrical cadence’’ (line 20)
- B.
“foreign circumlocutions’’ (line 29)
- C.
“fine tact’’ (line 32)
- D.
“professional allusions’’ (line 35)
- E.
“universal force’’ (line 36)
- 9.The author’s obser vation in the sentence beginning “It is clear’’ (lines 31–32) is best described as an example of which of the following?
- A.
Mocking tone
- B.
Linguistic paradox
- C.
Popularity of the familiar style
- D.
The author’s defense of Johnson’s style
- E.
The author’s advice to the reader
- 10.In line 33, “those’’ refers to which of the following? I . “words’’ (line 29) II . “circumlocutions’’ (line 29) III . “associations’’ (line 29)
- A.
I only
- B.
II only
- C.
I and III only
- D.
II and III only
- E.
I, II, and III
- 11.The author’s tone in the passage as a whole is best described as
- A.
Harsh and strident
- B.
Informal and analytical
- C.
Contemplative and conciliatory
- D.
Superficial and capricious
- E.
Enthusiastic and optimistic
- 12.The speaker in the passage can best be described as a person who
- A.
Is committed to developing his skills as a writer
- B.
Is actually more interested in being a musician than in being a writer
- C.
Is motivated very dif ferently from the jazz musicians that he describes
- D.
Has talent as both a musician and a writer
- E.
Aspires to greatness but knows that he will never achieve it
- 13.That the speaker “sympathized with’’ the drunk’s “obsession’’ (lines 16–17) is ironic chiefly because the drunk
- A.
Agitated the speaker purposely and distracted him from his writing
- B.
Was not “poetic" (line 3) and had no basis for his obsession
- C.
Actually disturbed the speaker less than did the singer
- D.
Had little “sensitivity" (line 5) and was undeserving of sympathy
- E.
Was a major source of the noise from which the speaker wished to escape
- 14.It can be inferred that the speaker and the drunk were “fellow victims’’ (line 22) in that
- A.
Both had lost control of their passions
- B.
Neither received support from friends or relatives
- C.
Each had in a dif ferent way proven to be a failure
- D.
Neither was any longer able to feel guilt or responsibility
- E.
Both were tormented by distracting disturbances
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