ap lang unit 4 progress check

Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author’s thesis in the passage?

A

“[I]t is easy to dogmatize, but it is not so easy to define, explain and demonstrate.” (paragraph 1, sentence 2)

B

“The natural laws for the government, well-being and progress of mankind, seem to be equal and are equal.” (paragraph 1, sentence 3)

C

“We cannot have fruit without flowers, but we often have flowers without fruit.” (paragraph 1, sentence 4)

D

“[R]eal excellence often comes unheralded and from unexpected quarters.” (paragraph 1, sentence 5)

In the second paragraph, the author develops a comparison between life and “a thousand arrows shot from the same point and aimed at the same object” primarily to suggest that

A

people exhibit remarkable diversity in their development over time

B

seemingly different objects can have surprisingly similar characteristics

C

talented people often fail to recognize valuable opportunities

D

most great men have emerged from humble origins

The discussion of the “greatest of poets and philosophers” in the third paragraph suggests that the author believes the audience of the speech will

A

recognize an implicit reference to Shakespeare and agree about his importance

B

respect the ideas of a philosopher but question the thinking of a poet

C

consider Shakespeare to be among those who had “greatness thrust upon them” (paragraph 3)

D

object to the notion that “Some are born great” (paragraph 3)

In the context of the passage as a whole, the author’s comparison between the qualities of people and of metals (paragraphs 5-6) primarily serves to

A

explain why some people are seen as great starting from birth

B

limit the author’s earlier remarks about greatness to a certain subset of people

C

challenge the audience’s likely belief that the world is inherently fair

D

reinforce the author’s overarching claim about ordinary people’s capacity for success

Which of the following best describes the function of the first two clauses of the passage’s final sentence (“It is natural . . . despised”) in the context of the passage as a whole?

A

They suggest that there are certain limitations to the author’s argument about greatness.

B

They imply that accepting the author’s argument will help his audience achieve greatness.

C

They restate the author’s argument in order to provide a fitting conclusion to the passage.

D

They urge a change in attitude that should follow logically from the author’s argument.

Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author’s thesis in the passage?

A

“[L]essons in the art of being feminine lay all around me” (paragraph 1, sentence 1)

B

“I loved being a little girl, or rather I loved being a fairy princess, for that was who I thought I was” (paragraph 1, sentence 2)

C

“Femininity was a challenge thrown down to the female sex, a challenge no proud, self-respecting young woman could afford to ignore” (paragraph 2, sentence 2)

D

“‘Isn’t it remarkable how she manages to retain her femininity?’ had terrifying implications” (paragraph 3, sentence 1)

In the first two paragraphs, the author describes experiences from her girlhood and early adulthood primarily to

A

show that attitudes toward femininity can change over time

B

argue that the strictures of femininity are less severe for young girls

C

foreground the comforting aspects of adhering to feminine ideals

D

introduce two different attitudes toward femininity

In the second paragraph, the author defines femininity as a “challenge” primarily to support which of the following points?

A

Behaving according to the demands of femininity was her primary ambition as an adolescent.

B

Reconciling the demands of femininity with her ambition presented difficulties.

C

Ignoring the demands of femininity was easier for her than fulfilling them.

D

Understanding the demands of femininity was harder for her than for her peers.

In the final paragraph, the author concludes her argument by

A

proposing that femininity be reimagined as an artistic pursuit rather than a set of rules

B

acknowledging that not everyone enjoys the privilege of acting feminine

C

highlighting the context in which women may choose to embrace femininity’s restrictions

D

lamenting the way that femininity encourages rivalries among women

The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 1 to provide factual support for the introductory claim and focus the audience on the argument of the passage. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this purpose?

A

Researchers at Columbia University argue that “[w]e are becoming symbiotic with our computer tools, growing into interconnected systems that remember less by knowing information than by knowing where the information can be found.”

B

According to a recent Gallup Poll, only 21 percent of Americans say they “rarely” or “never” feel mental or emotional strain in their day-to-day lives.

C

A recent study found that 86 percent of Americans are stressed out from constantly checking their smartphones.

D

Neuroscientist Susan Greenfield cautions that social media can become a platform for constructing an artificial identity to impress an audience of barely known “friends.”

The writer wants to add information to the end of sentence 2 (reproduced below) to preview the line of reasoning in the passage.

Unsurprisingly, neuroscientists warn that the constant use of smartphones alters the brain.

Which version of the underlined portion of sentence 2 most effectively accomplishes this goal?

A

brain, the complexities of which have long fascinated psychologists and psychoanalysts

B

brain, potentially undermining people’s ability to focus on serious school- and work-related tasks

C

brain, with potentially serious physiological and emotional costs

D

brain, which may have a profound impact on the still-maturing brains of young adults

The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below), adjusting the capitalization as needed.

Most people can’t resist immediately checking their phones each time they buzz, chirp, or chime, and scientists believe that compulsion is caused by a brain chemical called dopamine.

Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text?

A

Keep it, because it provides examples that help explain the scientific terminology used in the following sentence.

B

Keep it, because it provides sensory details that help the writer illustrate the concept being discussed in the paragraph.

C

Delete it, because it interrupts the logical flow of the sentence with details that are only tangentially relevant.

D

Delete it, because it does not provide an effective transition from the first part of the sentence to the rest of the paragraph.

The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed.

Our brains are aroused each time our phones buzz because of the unpredictability of what pops up on the screen: since any alert might signal something extraordinary, dopamine is released each time even though most alerts don’t amount to much.

Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text?

A

Keep it, because it adds information that helps clarify the contrasting relationship identified in sentence 6 between anticipation and reward.

B

Keep it, because it provides evidence suggesting that smartphones cause social impairments in individuals who use them.

C

Delete it, because it does not follow logically from sentence 7’s main point about how unpredictability affects arousal.

D

Delete it, because it unnecessarily repeats information about dopamine that was provided earlier in the paragraph.

The writer wants to add a sentence that introduces the topic of the passage. Which of the following sentences, if added to the beginning of the first paragraph, would most effectively accomplish this goal?

A

Language experts have long observed that children are better than adults at mastering a second language.

B

Scholars and journalists continue to debate whether studying a foreign language in college has any intrinsic value.

C

The development of young children’s brains is influenced both by children’s experience with their caregivers and by genetic factors.

D

Being able to express one’s thoughts in grammatically correct and reasonably eloquent sentences during job interviews can significantly impact one’s employment prospects.

Which of the following versions of sentence 2 (reproduced below) most effectively sets up the main claim of the passage?

But when exactly in a person’s life does it become difficult to master the rules that govern a language?

Responses

A

(As it is now)

B

Which languages are said to be most difficult for adult native-English speakers to learn?

C

How did competency in grammar come to be such an important marker of language fluency?

D

But how has the rise of text messaging and tweeting contributed to an increase in obvious grammatical errors?

The writer wants to change sentence 3 (reproduced below) to provide a more specific preview of the passage’s argument.

While previous theories speculated that people can only acquire a new language at a young age, new research supports a different perspective.

Which of the following pieces of information is most appropriate for the writer to include in the new version of the sentence?

Responses

A

Information about previous theories holding that people can only acquire a new language when young

B

An overview of the new study’s claim that optimal language acquisition can occur up to age 30 and that even older adults should remain hopeful about their language-learning prospects

C

Explicit details regarding the different age ranges during which language learners can expect to achieve fluency, mastery, and basic competence in a new language

D

The names and affiliations of the individuals who produced the new research

In context, which version of sentence 5 (reproduced below) provides the most effective explanation of the “critical period” mentioned in sentence 4 ?

Such a period also exists for the development of eyesight.

Responses

A

(As it is now)

B

There are several helpful models of what this important period actually looks like for language acquisition.

C

It was first developed by early educators such as Dr. Maria Montessori, though she referred to it as a “sensitive period.”

D

It designates the time in one’s life during which the capacity to absorb the rules and structure of a language is maximized.

The writer is considering deleting sentence 15 (reproduced below).

Letting go of a desire for complete mastery of a language’s grammar can enable an adult learner to strive for basic competence in communication—an outcome best achieved, the researchers note, via educational programs that immerse students in the experience of a second language rather than ones that focus on rote learning.

Should the writer keep or delete sentence 15 ?

Responses

A

Keep it, because it reiterates the passage’s main claim in order to emphasize the argument the writer is making.

B

Keep it, because it draws on information discussed throughout the passage to suggest that the audience take a different, more practical approach to language learning.

C

Delete it, because it does not follow logically from the information about realistic goals for language learning provided in sentence 14.

D

Delete it, because the change in attitude it proposes is not consistent with the researchers’ findings presented in the second paragraph.