AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION 2020 PRACTICE EXAM 3 MCQ – ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) –
COMPLETE MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best describes the function of the first sentence ("A
country . . . a problem") ?: A. It makes a claim that the passage goes on to defend.
2. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the opening sentence, the author assumes which of the following about his
audience?: A. They are familiar with the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
3. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the second sentence of the first paragraph ("No man . . . physically"), which
of the following best describes the author's perspective on John Donne's
position?: C. He rebuts it by ottering a counterexample.
4. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
The third sentence of the first paragraph ("The continent . . . alone") advances
the author's purpose by presenting characteristics and features that: B. help
define the idea presented in the previous sentence
5. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the second sentence of the second paragraph ("In his first . . . indepen-
dence"), the author includes the material set off by dashes primarily to: E. identify
the specific occasion on which George Washington delivered his first Farewell Address
6. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second and third
paragraphs to the first paragraph?: C. The second and third paragraphs develop a line of reasoning
to support the first paragraph's claim about self-reliance in America.
7. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the third
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, AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION 2020 PRACTICE EXAM 3 MCQ – ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) –
COMPLETE MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
paragraph and the first two paragraphs?: E. The third paragraph broadens a concept introduced
and described in the first two paragraphs.
8. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
The author introduces "another view" (paragraph 5, sentence 1) primarily to
develop a contrast between Americans': E. resistance toward government-controlled wealth
redistribution versus their openness to participate in voluntary wealth redistribution
9. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best compares how the author of the passage and
Robert Putnam view the claim that Americans "'bowl alone' more often"
(paragraph 5, sentence 6) ?: B. They both acknowledge the validity of the claim, but the author views
this development with less despair than does Putnam.
10. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the sixth sentence of the fifth paragraph ("We may . . . do so"), the author
places quotation marks around the phrase "bowl alone" primarily to: C. attribute
the phrase to another author
11. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the last two sentences of the fifth paragraph, the author presents Walt
Whitman as a figure who: A. embodies the complex relationship between individualistic and communal
thinking in American culture
12. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the final sentence ("But what . . . stand"), the author indicates the relation-
ship between the "two age-old American concepts" by employing: D. coordination
to suggest a balance between the two concepts
13. The following passage is excerpted from an essay published in 2016.
Which of the following best describes the author's exigence in the passage?: E.
A spate of high-profile athletic achievements that she finds inspiring
2/9
COMPLETE MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best describes the function of the first sentence ("A
country . . . a problem") ?: A. It makes a claim that the passage goes on to defend.
2. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the opening sentence, the author assumes which of the following about his
audience?: A. They are familiar with the phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
3. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the second sentence of the first paragraph ("No man . . . physically"), which
of the following best describes the author's perspective on John Donne's
position?: C. He rebuts it by ottering a counterexample.
4. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
The third sentence of the first paragraph ("The continent . . . alone") advances
the author's purpose by presenting characteristics and features that: B. help
define the idea presented in the previous sentence
5. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the second sentence of the second paragraph ("In his first . . . indepen-
dence"), the author includes the material set off by dashes primarily to: E. identify
the specific occasion on which George Washington delivered his first Farewell Address
6. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best describes the relationship of the second and third
paragraphs to the first paragraph?: C. The second and third paragraphs develop a line of reasoning
to support the first paragraph's claim about self-reliance in America.
7. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the third
1/9
, AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION 2020 PRACTICE EXAM 3 MCQ – ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) –
COMPLETE MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
paragraph and the first two paragraphs?: E. The third paragraph broadens a concept introduced
and described in the first two paragraphs.
8. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
The author introduces "another view" (paragraph 5, sentence 1) primarily to
develop a contrast between Americans': E. resistance toward government-controlled wealth
redistribution versus their openness to participate in voluntary wealth redistribution
9. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
Which of the following best compares how the author of the passage and
Robert Putnam view the claim that Americans "'bowl alone' more often"
(paragraph 5, sentence 6) ?: B. They both acknowledge the validity of the claim, but the author views
this development with less despair than does Putnam.
10. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the sixth sentence of the fifth paragraph ("We may . . . do so"), the author
places quotation marks around the phrase "bowl alone" primarily to: C. attribute
the phrase to another author
11. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the last two sentences of the fifth paragraph, the author presents Walt
Whitman as a figure who: A. embodies the complex relationship between individualistic and communal
thinking in American culture
12. The following passage is an excerpt from a book published by a political
journalist in 2008.
In the final sentence ("But what . . . stand"), the author indicates the relation-
ship between the "two age-old American concepts" by employing: D. coordination
to suggest a balance between the two concepts
13. The following passage is excerpted from an essay published in 2016.
Which of the following best describes the author's exigence in the passage?: E.
A spate of high-profile athletic achievements that she finds inspiring
2/9
