AP Lang/Comp 1984 Practice Test

1. What does Big Brother primarily symbolize?

A. A real dictator who directly controls Oceania
B. The military strength of the Party
C. Constant surveillance and absolute Party authority
D. A propaganda figure used only during wartime

C

2. Which slogan best represents doublethink?

A. Freedom is Peace
B. Ignorance is Strength
C. Truth is Reality
D. Power is Justice

B

3. Why does the Party allow the proles relative freedom?

A. They are too dangerous
B. They provide most labor
C. They are incapable of rebellion
D. They secretly support the Party

C

4. What is Winston’s job at the Ministry of Truth?

A. Making propaganda films
B. Monitoring telescreens
C. Rewriting historical records
D. Interrogating criminals

C

5. What does the glass paperweight symbolize?

A. Loyalty to the Party
B. Connection to the past
C. Julia’s rebellion
D. War

B

6. Why will Syme be vaporized?

A. He criticizes the Party
B. He rejects Newspeak
C. He understands the Party too well
D. He supports Goldstein

C

7. Who turns Parsons in?

A. His wife
B. His son
C. His daughter
D. O’Brien

C

8. How does Parsons feel about it?

A. Betrayed
B. Confused
C. Ashamed
D. Proud

D

9. What is the real purpose of Newspeak?

A. Efficient language
B. Better literacy
C. Eliminate rebellious thought
D. Unite superstates

C

10. Why does Winston distrust Julia at first?

A. She follows him
B. She works for Thought Police
C. She is a Party leader
D. She wears the Anti-*ex League sash

D

11. What is facecrime?

A. Violence
B. Incorrect grammar
C. Disloyal facial expression
D. Writing forbidden words

C

12. Why is Winston shocked by Julia’s past?

A. She believes in the Party
B. She has had many affairs
C. She wants to lead the Brotherhood
D. She hates the proles

B

13. What does the Ministry of Love do?

A. Marriage
B. Torture and reeducation
C. Education
D. Propaganda

B

14. What does Goldstein’s book reveal?

A. The Party will fall
B. War is fake
C. Power exists for its own sake
D. Big Brother is real

C

15. Why does Winston trust O’Brien?

A. He gives Winston food
B. He criticizes the Party
C. He understands doublethink
D. He is a prole

C

16. What is discovered in the rented room?

A. A bomb
B. A listening device
C. A hidden telescreen
D. A secret tunnel

C

17. What is in Room 101?

A. Propaganda
B. Goldstein’s book
C. Prisoner’s worst fear
D. Party records

C

18. Winston’s greatest fear is:

A. Death
B. Loneliness
C. Public shame
D. Rats

D

19. What does Winston beg for in Room 101?

A. Forgiveness
B. Death
C. Julia to suffer instead
D. Mercy

C

20. How does Winston feel at the end?

A. Angry
B. Hopeful
C. Empty but free
D. Love for Big Brother

D

21. What is crimethink?

A. Violence
B. Independent thought
C. Writing Oldspeak
D. Talking to proles

B

22. What does the Ministry of Peace do?

A. Negotiate treaties
B. Promote unity
C. Wage war
D. Teach children

C

23. Why does the Party rewrite history?

A. Correct mistakes
B. Hide losses
C. Control truth and reality
D. Educate citizens

C

24. Who is Thought Police?

A. Syme
B. Parsons
C. Mr. Charrington
D. Ampleforth

C

25. Why is Katharine a “walking gramophone”?

A. She talks nonstop
B. She repeats Party slogans
C. She sings propaganda
D. She teaches Newspeak

B

26. Why does Winston believe the proles are humanity’s hope?

A. They are armed
B. They retain human emotion
C. They understand politics
D. They control food

B

27. What happens to vaporized people?

A. Imprisoned
B. Exiled
C. Erased from existence
D. Reeducated

C

28. What is the purpose of the Two Minutes Hate?

A. Education
B. Critical thinking
C. Emotional release and control
D. Celebration

C

29. Why does Winston keep a diary?

A. For history
B. To impress Julia
C. To tell the truth
D. To plan revolt

C

30. Central theme of 1984?

A. Romantic love
B. Individualism vs conformity
C. Economic inequality
D. Technology

B

How does the Party use children to maintain control over society?

The Party indoctrinates children to spy on adults, including their own parents. This destroys family loyalty and creates constant fear, ensuring no one feels safe even at home.

What does Parsons’ reaction to being reported by his daughter reveal about Party influence?

Parsons’ pride shows how deeply the Party has destroyed natural human bonds. Instead of feeling betrayed, he values Party loyalty over his relationship with his child.

Why does Winston feel hatred toward Katharine, and what does this reveal about the Party?

Winston feels hatred and resentment toward Katharine because she represents complete obedience to the Party. His violent thoughts show how repression of intimacy turns natural emotion into anger.

How does Newspeak prevent rebellion?

Newspeak prevents people from even forming rebellious ideas by removing the language needed to express them. If you cannot think a thought, you cannot act on it.

What is the symbolic significance of the glass paperweight breaking?

When the paperweight shatters, it symbolizes the destruction of Winston’s connection to the past. Like the paperweight, his rebellion was fragile and easily crushed.

Explain how doublethink helps the Party control reality.

Doublethink allows citizens to accept contradictions without question. This lets the Party change facts freely while maintaining control over reality.

Why does Winston believe the proles are the key to overthrowing the Party—and why is he wrong?

Winston assumes the proles will eventually rebel, but they lack political awareness and organization. Their ignorance makes them harmless to the Party.

Compare Winston’s and Julia’s forms of rebellion.

Winston rebels intellectually by seeking truth, while Julia rebels physically through pleasure and rule

How does fear function as a tool of control in 1984?

Fear prevents rebellion by keeping people isolated and obedient. The threat of torture, vaporization, and betrayal ensures compliance.

Why is memory dangerous to the Party?

Memory threatens the Party because it can reveal lies. By destroying memory, the Party eliminates proof of alternative realities.

Why does the Party value power over happiness?

The Party seeks power, not happiness. Happy people might question authority, but suffering keeps citizens dependent and controllable.

What does O’Brien represent in the novel?

O’Brien pretends to rebel but ultimately represents the Party’s true power. He demonstrates how the Party manipulates trust to destroy resistance.

Why is love considered dangerous by the Party?

Love creates loyalty outside the Party, which threatens its control. Emotional bonds weaken total obedience.

What is the significance of Winston betraying Julia?

When Winston betrays Julia, he proves the Party can destroy personal loyalty. This is the final defeat of his humanity.

What does the ending of 1984 suggest about resistance?

The ending shows that totalitarianism can completely control the human mind. Winston’s love for Big Brother proves resistance can be erased.

Why are the Ministry names ironic, and how does this support a theme of the novel?

The Ministry names are ironic because each does the opposite of its title. This reflects the Party’s use of deception and doublethink.

Why does the Party consider thought more dangerous than action?

Thought is more dangerous than action because ideas can spread. The Party stops rebellion by eliminating independent thinking.

What warning is Orwell making through 1984?

Orwell warns that governments can use propaganda, surveillance, and fear to control citizens. The novel exaggerates these tactics to show their dangers.

Explain the meaning of the quote: “If there is hope, it lies in the proles.”

The quote means the proles are the only group not fully controlled by the Party. However, they never realize their potential power.

How is truth defined in 1984?

In 1984, truth is controlled by those in power. By rewriting history and forcing doublethink, the Party makes truth whatever it declares, showing that power defines reality rather than facts.