Practice Exam

Exam Content and Format

The AP English Language and Composition Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long.
There are two sections:
• Section I is 1 hour and consists of 45 multiple-choice questions, accounting
for 45 percent of the final score.

• Section II is 2 hours, 15 minutes and consists of 3 free-response questions

accounting for 55 percent of the final score.

Administering the Practice Exam

This section contains instructions for administering the AP English Language and
Composition Practice Exam. You may wish to use these instructions to create an
exam situation that resembles an actual administration. If so, read the indented,
boldface directions to the students; all other instructions are for administering
the exam and need not be read aloud. Before beginning testing, have all exam
materials ready for distribution. These include test booklets and answer sheets.
(Reminder: Final instructions for every AP Exam are published in the AP Exam
Instructions book.)

SECTION I: Multiple Choice

When you are ready to begin Section I, say:

Section I is the multiple-choice portion of the exam. Mark all of your

responses on your answer sheet, one response per question. If you
need to erase, do so carefully and completely. Your score on the
multiple-choice section will be based solely on the number of questions
answered correctly.

You have 1 hour for this part. Open your Section I booklet and begin.

Note Start Time ________. Note Stop Time ________.

After 50 minutes, say:

There are 10 minutes remaining.

After 10 minutes, say:

Stop working. I will now collect your Section I booklet and

multiple-choice answer sheet.

There is a 10-minute break between Sections I and II.

4 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

 Name:

AP® English Language and Composition

Answer Sheet
for Multiple-Choice Section

No. Answer No. Answer

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2 25
3 26
4 27
5 28
6 29
7 30
8 31
9 32
10 33
11 34
12 35
13 36
14 37
15 38
16 39
17 40
18 41
19 42
20 43
21 44
22 45
23

6 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

AP English Language
®

and Composition Exam

SECTION I: Multiple Choice

DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

Instructions
At a Glance
Section I of this exam contains 45 multiple-choice questions.
Total Time
1 hour Indicate all of your answers to the multiple-choice questions on the answer sheet. No credit
Number of Questions will be given for anything written in this exam booklet, but you may use the booklet for
45 notes or scratch work.
Percent of Total Score
45% Use your time effectively, working as quickly as you can without losing accuracy. Do not
Writing Instrument spend too much time on any one question. Go on to other questions and come back to
Pencil required the ones you have not answered if you have time. It is not expected that everyone will
know the answers to all of the multiple-choice questions.
Your total score on the multiple-choice section is based only on the number of questions
answered correctly. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers or unanswered
questions.

AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 7

 The inclusion of source material in this exam is not intended
as an endorsement by the College Board or ETS of the content,
ideas, or values expressed in the material. The material has been
selected by the English faculty who serve on the AP English
Language and Composition Development Committee. In their
judgment, the material printed here reflects various aspects of
the course of study on which this exam is based and is therefore
appropriate to use to measure the skills and knowledge of this
course.

8 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
SECTION I
Time—1 hour
45 Questions

Directions: This part consists of selections from nonfiction works and questions on their rhetorical situation, claims
and evidence, reasoning and organization, and style. After reading each passage, choose the best answer to each
question and then enter the letter in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.
Note: Pay particular attention to the requirements of questions that contain the words NOT, LEAST, or EXCEPT.

Questions 1 - 12. Read the following passage one anyway. Journal writing helps you to be more
carefully before you choose your answers. observant of your world, and a journal is a good place
to store story ideas for later projects.
(This passage is excerpted from an essay published Revise your writing until it’s as good as you can
by a science fiction writer in the late twentieth make it. All the reading, the writing, and the classes
century.) should help you do this. Check your writing, your
research (never neglect your research), and the
Take classes and go to writers’ workshops. Writing physical appearance of your manuscript. Let nothing
is communication. You need other people to let you substandard slip through. If you notice something that
know whether you’re communicating what you think needs fixing, fix it, no excuses. There will be plenty
you are and whether you’re doing it in ways that are that’s wrong that you won’t catch. Don’t make the
not only accessible and entertaining, but as mistake of ignoring flaws that are obvious to you.
compelling as you can make them. In other words, The moment you find yourself saying, “This doesn’t
you need to know that you’re telling a good story. You matter. It’s good enough.” Stop. Go back. Fix the
want to be the writer who keeps readers up late at flaw. Make a habit of doing your best.
night, not the one who drives them off to watch Submit your work for publication. First research
television. Workshops and classes are rented the markets that interest you. Seek out and study the
readers—rented audiences—for your work. Learn books or magazines of publishers to whom you want
from the comments, questions, and suggestions of to sell. Then submit your work. If the idea of doing
both the teacher and the class. These relative this scares you, fine. Go ahead and be afraid. But
strangers are more likely to tell you the truth about send your work out anyway. If it’s rejected, send it
your work than are your friends and family who may out again, and again. Rejections are painful, but
not want to hurt or offend you. One tiresome truth inevitable. They’re every writer’s rite of passage.
they might tell you, for instance, is that you need to Don’t give up on a piece of work that you can’t sell.
take a grammar class. If they say this, listen. Take the You may be able to sell it later to new publications or
class. Vocabulary and grammar are your primary to new editors of old publications. At worst, you
tools. They’re most effectively used, even most should be able to learn from your rejected work. You
effectively abused, by people who understand them. may even be able to use all or part of it in a new
No computer program, no friend or employee can take work. One way or another, writers can use, or at least
the place of a sound knowledge of your tools. learn from, everything.
Write. Write every day. Write whether you feel Here are some potential impediments for you to
like writing or not. Choose a time of day. Perhaps forget about:
you can get up an hour earlier, stay up an hour later, First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.
give up an hour of recreation, or even give up your Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.
lunch hour. If you can’t think of anything in your Habit will help you finish and polish your stories.
chosen genre, keep a journal. You should be keeping Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 9

 Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it. If you 2. Which of the following statements best
don’t have it, it doesn’t matter. As habit is more represents the thesis of the passage?
dependable than inspiration, continued learning is
more dependable than talent. Never let pride or (A) Effective writing relies on grammar and
laziness prevent you from learning, improving your vocabulary, not fancy technology.
work, changing its direction when necessary. (B) The most compelling stories come from
Persistence is essential to any writer—the persistence observation, not inspiration.
to finish your work, to keep writing in spite of (C) True writers understand that writing is a
rejection, to keep reading, studying, submitting work form of play, not work.
for sale. But stubbornness, the refusal to change
unproductive behavior or to revise unsalable work can (D) The primary purpose of writing is
be lethal to your writing hopes. communication, not self-expression.
Finally, don’t worry about imagination. You have (E) The key to success as a writer is consistent
all the imagination you need, and all the reading, effort, not inherent ability.
journal writing, and learning you will be doing will
stimulate it. Play with your ideas. Have fun with
them. Don’t worry about being silly or outrageous or 3. In the first paragraph, the author supports her
wrong. So much of writing is fun. It’s first letting claim that writers should “go to writers’
your interests and your imagination take you workshops” (sentence 1) by
anywhere at all. Once you’re able to do that, you’ll
have more ideas than you can use. (A) assessing whether workshops can improve
writers’ ability to judge their own works
(B) noting that workshops provide
opportunities to write for diverse media,
1. Which of the following best describes the including television
author’s purpose in the passage? (C) explaining how workshops can help writers
learn unpleasant but valuable lessons
(A) To encourage the audience to derive (D) highlighting the value of workshops for
confidence from their talents writers at different stages in their careers
(B) To reveal the disheartening realities of (E) dispelling the misperception that
pursuing a career in literature workshops may stifle writers’ creativity
(C) To propose a novel method for teaching
composition and rhetoric
(D) To convince aspiring writers of the 4. In the first paragraph, the author uses the phrase
importance of hard work “rented readers” (sentence 6) in order to
(E) To challenge a misconception about the (A) define writers’ workshops in terms of their
value of studying grammar value to aspiring writers
(B) express sympathy for writers who have no
one to read their work for free
(C) contrast the academic goals of classes with
the commercial aims of workshops
(D) acknowledge a reason that her audience
may feel reluctant to take writing classes
(E) highlight the financial sacrifices that
writers must make in order to succeed

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10 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(This passage is excerpted from an essay published The moment you find yourself saying, “This doesn’t
by a science fiction writer in the late twentieth matter. It’s good enough.” Stop. Go back. Fix the
century.) flaw. Make a habit of doing your best.
Submit your work for publication. First research
Take classes and go to writers’ workshops. Writing the markets that interest you. Seek out and study the
is communication. You need other people to let you books or magazines of publishers to whom you want
know whether you’re communicating what you think to sell. Then submit your work. If the idea of doing
you are and whether you’re doing it in ways that are this scares you, fine. Go ahead and be afraid. But
not only accessible and entertaining, but as send your work out anyway. If it’s rejected, send it
compelling as you can make them. In other words, out again, and again. Rejections are painful, but
you need to know that you’re telling a good story. You inevitable. They’re every writer’s rite of passage.
want to be the writer who keeps readers up late at Don’t give up on a piece of work that you can’t sell.
night, not the one who drives them off to watch You may be able to sell it later to new publications or
television. Workshops and classes are rented to new editors of old publications. At worst, you
readers—rented audiences—for your work. Learn should be able to learn from your rejected work. You
from the comments, questions, and suggestions of may even be able to use all or part of it in a new
both the teacher and the class. These relative work. One way or another, writers can use, or at least
strangers are more likely to tell you the truth about learn from, everything.
your work than are your friends and family who may Here are some potential impediments for you to
not want to hurt or offend you. One tiresome truth forget about:
they might tell you, for instance, is that you need to First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.
take a grammar class. If they say this, listen. Take the Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.
class. Vocabulary and grammar are your primary Habit will help you finish and polish your stories.
tools. They’re most effectively used, even most Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.
effectively abused, by people who understand them. Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it. If you
No computer program, no friend or employee can take don’t have it, it doesn’t matter. As habit is more
the place of a sound knowledge of your tools. dependable than inspiration, continued learning is
Write. Write every day. Write whether you feel more dependable than talent. Never let pride or
like writing or not. Choose a time of day. Perhaps laziness prevent you from learning, improving your
you can get up an hour earlier, stay up an hour later, work, changing its direction when necessary.
give up an hour of recreation, or even give up your Persistence is essential to any writer—the persistence
lunch hour. If you can’t think of anything in your to finish your work, to keep writing in spite of
chosen genre, keep a journal. You should be keeping rejection, to keep reading, studying, submitting work
one anyway. Journal writing helps you to be more for sale. But stubbornness, the refusal to change
observant of your world, and a journal is a good place unproductive behavior or to revise unsalable work can
to store story ideas for later projects. be lethal to your writing hopes.
Revise your writing until it’s as good as you can Finally, don’t worry about imagination. You have
make it. All the reading, the writing, and the classes all the imagination you need, and all the reading,
should help you do this. Check your writing, your journal writing, and learning you will be doing will
research (never neglect your research), and the stimulate it. Play with your ideas. Have fun with
physical appearance of your manuscript. Let nothing them. Don’t worry about being silly or outrageous or
substandard slip through. If you notice something that wrong. So much of writing is fun. It’s first letting
needs fixing, fix it, no excuses. There will be plenty your interests and your imagination take you
that’s wrong that you won’t catch. Don’t make the anywhere at all. Once you’re able to do that, you’ll
mistake of ignoring flaws that are obvious to you. have more ideas than you can use.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 11

 5. In the fifth sentence of the second paragraph 7. Based on her discussion of the publication
(“Perhaps . . . lunch hour”), the author process (paragraph 4, sentences 1-11), the author
strategically arranges clauses in a way that most likely believes which of the following
about her audience?
(A) signals a gap between the sentence’s literal
meaning and the author’s intended (A) They aim to support themselves fully by
meaning selling their writing.
(B) establishes a hierarchy from the most to (B) They have limited familiarity with
least effective times of day to practice publication and need a variety of advice.
writing (C) They probably overestimate the value of
(C) reflects the author’s model of the inspiration for writers.
sequential stages of a writer’s overall (D) They already have some experience with
development submitting work to publishers.
(D) suggests a distinction between reasonable (E) They have previously been held back by
and unreasonable sacrifices for the sake their perfectionistic tendencies.
of art
(E) underlines the variety of opportunities for
those who are dedicated to improving 8. The author’s shift in tone between the fourth and
their craft fifth paragraphs marks a transition between

(A) offering practical advice and advocating

6. In the last sentence of the second paragraph broader principles
(“Journal writing . . . projects”), the author (B) exemplifying simplicity and demonstrating
connects two independent clauses with the complexity
conjunction “and” primarily to
(C) identifying problems and proposing
solutions
(A) establish a connection between keeping a
journal and writing every day (D) presenting absolute claims and qualifying
those claims
(B) indicate that journaling is just as important
as careful revision for aspiring writers (E) arguing from personal experience and
incorporating the insights of others
(C) explain why keeping a journal usually
helps writers come up with new story
ideas
9. The author’s decision to repeat the word “forget”
(D) emphasize that keeping a journal has in the sixth and seventh paragraphs primarily
multiple benefits for writers serves to
(E) suggest that observing the real world is
more productive than imagining fictional (A) underscore the author’s disapproval of
worlds those who neglect to improve their
writing
(B) indicate the order in which the author
believes certain steps should be taken
(C) suggest a parallel between two distinct
ideas that the author challenges
(D) highlight the extent of distress that comes
from focusing on innate abilities
(E) convey the author’s ambivalence about the
advice she received early in her career

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12 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(This passage is excerpted from an essay published The moment you find yourself saying, “This doesn’t
by a science fiction writer in the late twentieth matter. It’s good enough.” Stop. Go back. Fix the
century.) flaw. Make a habit of doing your best.
Submit your work for publication. First research
Take classes and go to writers’ workshops. Writing the markets that interest you. Seek out and study the
is communication. You need other people to let you books or magazines of publishers to whom you want
know whether you’re communicating what you think to sell. Then submit your work. If the idea of doing
you are and whether you’re doing it in ways that are this scares you, fine. Go ahead and be afraid. But
not only accessible and entertaining, but as send your work out anyway. If it’s rejected, send it
compelling as you can make them. In other words, out again, and again. Rejections are painful, but
you need to know that you’re telling a good story. You inevitable. They’re every writer’s rite of passage.
want to be the writer who keeps readers up late at Don’t give up on a piece of work that you can’t sell.
night, not the one who drives them off to watch You may be able to sell it later to new publications or
television. Workshops and classes are rented to new editors of old publications. At worst, you
readers—rented audiences—for your work. Learn should be able to learn from your rejected work. You
from the comments, questions, and suggestions of may even be able to use all or part of it in a new
both the teacher and the class. These relative work. One way or another, writers can use, or at least
strangers are more likely to tell you the truth about learn from, everything.
your work than are your friends and family who may Here are some potential impediments for you to
not want to hurt or offend you. One tiresome truth forget about:
they might tell you, for instance, is that you need to First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable.
take a grammar class. If they say this, listen. Take the Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.
class. Vocabulary and grammar are your primary Habit will help you finish and polish your stories.
tools. They’re most effectively used, even most Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.
effectively abused, by people who understand them. Forget talent. If you have it, fine. Use it. If you
No computer program, no friend or employee can take don’t have it, it doesn’t matter. As habit is more
the place of a sound knowledge of your tools. dependable than inspiration, continued learning is
Write. Write every day. Write whether you feel more dependable than talent. Never let pride or
like writing or not. Choose a time of day. Perhaps laziness prevent you from learning, improving your
you can get up an hour earlier, stay up an hour later, work, changing its direction when necessary.
give up an hour of recreation, or even give up your Persistence is essential to any writer—the persistence
lunch hour. If you can’t think of anything in your to finish your work, to keep writing in spite of
chosen genre, keep a journal. You should be keeping rejection, to keep reading, studying, submitting work
one anyway. Journal writing helps you to be more for sale. But stubbornness, the refusal to change
observant of your world, and a journal is a good place unproductive behavior or to revise unsalable work can
to store story ideas for later projects. be lethal to your writing hopes.
Revise your writing until it’s as good as you can Finally, don’t worry about imagination. You have
make it. All the reading, the writing, and the classes all the imagination you need, and all the reading,
should help you do this. Check your writing, your journal writing, and learning you will be doing will
research (never neglect your research), and the stimulate it. Play with your ideas. Have fun with
physical appearance of your manuscript. Let nothing them. Don’t worry about being silly or outrageous or
substandard slip through. If you notice something that wrong. So much of writing is fun. It’s first letting
needs fixing, fix it, no excuses. There will be plenty your interests and your imagination take you
that’s wrong that you won’t catch. Don’t make the anywhere at all. Once you’re able to do that, you’ll
mistake of ignoring flaws that are obvious to you. have more ideas than you can use.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 13

 10. The seventh paragraph as a whole implicitly 12. The author’s contrast between “persistence” and
challenges which of the following ideas? “stubbornness” (paragraph 7, sentences 7–8)
advances her argument in which of the following
(A) Talent is a valuable asset for aspiring ways?
writers.
(B) Talent can promote laziness in young (A) It helps explain why habit is more valuable
writers. than persistence.
(C) Successful writers must be very talented. (B) It challenges the stereotype that talented
writers are often stubborn.
(D) People should take pride in their talents.
(C) It concedes that persistence can have
(E) Talent is meaningless without persistence.
negative consequences.
(D) It underscores the need for writers to
11. In the seventh sentence of the seventh paragraph, continually improve their craft.
the author uses a dash primarily to (E) It supports the claim that writers should
disregard talent.
(A) separate a secondary idea from the main
thrust of her argument
(B) distinguish her own claim from a claim she
aims to refute
(C) contrast her definition of a term with the
term’s ordinary meaning
(D) elaborate on a general claim by providing
specific examples
(E) clarify a concept by excluding certain
phenomena from it

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14 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Questions 13 - 24. Read the following passage setbacks. Various constituencies of the comparatively
carefully before you choose your answers. prosperous global core are walling off their affluent
realms from intrusion by poorer globals, hardening a
(The following passage is excerpted from the preface division between core and periphery that exacerbates
of a book published in 2008 by a geography contrasts and stokes conflicts. The near-global
professor.) diffusion of various forms of English as a first or
second language is promoting a cultural convergence,
Numerous books and articles published in recent but the radicalization of religions has the opposite
years argue, explicitly as well as implicitly, that the effect. The distribution of health and well-being
human world today is so mobile, so interconnected, shows troubling signs of inequity and reversal.
and so integrative that it is, in one prominent and Because people continue to congregate in places of
much-repeated assessment, “flat.” Ancient and high environmental risk, especially in the crowded
durable obstacles are no more, interaction is global, periphery, hundreds of millions find themselves in
free trade rules the globe, migration is ubiquitous, 1 continuing jeopardy (as the 2004 tsunami, 4 in the
and the flow of ideas (and money and jobs) is so absence of coordinated warning systems, tragically
pervasive that geography, in the perspective of more confirmed). Inevitably, places of costly historic and
than one observer, “is history.” The notion that place current conflict take their toll as the “international
continues to play a key role in shaping humanity’s community” stands by without effective intervention,
still-variegated mosaic is seen as obsolete, even another form of jeopardy that afflicts the destinies of
offensive and deterministic. Choice, not constraint, is millions. And males and females in the same locales
the mantra 2 of the new flat-world proponents. Join have widely varying experiences, their destinies
the “forces of flattening” and you will enjoy the diverging in sometimes agonizing ways. Even in the
benefits. Don’t, and you will fall off the edge. The world’s cities, where the “rising tide lifts all boats”
option is yours. promise of globalization should be especially evident,
But is it? From the vantage point of a high-floor power creates a high-relief topography of privilege
room in the Shanghai Hyatt, the Mumbai Oberoi, or and privation. Nor is the world’s divisive political
the Dubai Hilton, 3 or from a business-class window stockade 5 likely to be flattened anytime soon. Even
seat on Singapore Airlines, the world seems flat as states try to join in unions and associations, their
indeed. Millions of world-flatteners move every day provinces and regions nurture nationalisms working
from hotel lobby to airport limo to first-class lounge, the other way. The power of place still holds the vast
laptop in hand, uploading, outsourcing, offshoring as majority of us in its thrall.
they travel, adjusting the air conditioning as they go. Of course, the question is not whether the world is
They are changing the world, these modern nomads, flat. Thomas Friedman, who coined the phrase,
and they are, in many ways, improving it—depending concedes that he realizes “that the world is not flat.
of course on one’s definition of progress. But are they Don’t worry, I know . . . I have engaged in literary
invariably agents of access and integration? Are they license in titling [my] book to draw attention . . . .” It
lowering the barriers to participation or raising the is the process of “flattening” on which Friedman
stakes against it? Have their influence and impact wants to focus through his provocative title, “the
overpowered the imperatives of place, so that their single most important trend in the world today,” that is
very mobility symbolizes a confirmed irrelevance of at issue. And in certain respects the global playing
location? field is leveling, but in other ways the reverse appears
Not yet. The Earth, physically as well as culturally, to be true. Notions of a flat world raise expectations
still is very rough terrain, and in crucial ways its of growing access and increasing opportunity that are
regional compartments continue to trap billions in mantras of globalization but are all too often at
circumstances that spell disadvantage. The power of variance with reality. Powerful forces, natural as well
place and the fate of people are linked by many as human, slow the flattening process in a contest that
strands ranging from physical area and natural will determine the future of the planet.
environment to durable culture and local tradition. 1
widespread
This book, therefore, views a world in which progress 2
slogan
toward convergence is countered by stagnation, even 3
luxury hotels
4
In December 2004, a series of immense ocean waves hit the coasts of
several South and Southeast Asian countries, causing catastrophic
destruction in the region.
5
enclosure

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 15

 13. Which of the following best describes the 15. In the second sentence of the passage (“Ancient
author’s exigence in the passage? . . . history”), the series of short, simple clauses
and the word play on “history” convey the
(A) The need for greater resources to solve author’s sense that the claims of flat-world
problems he finds pressing proponents
(B) The proliferation of global organizations
that he finds menacing (A) sound a little too superficial to be true
(C) The opportunity for facilitating (B) are supported by multiple sources of
communication between disparate groups historical evidence
(D) The uncritical acceptance of an opinion (C) are constantly evolving
that he finds problematic (D) sound exaggerated only to those who are
(E) The rapid pace of a homogenizing process ignorant of historical events
whose effects he finds reductive (E) seem more modest than the claims made
by their opponents

14. In the passage, the author makes which of the

following assumptions about his audience? 16. Which of the following best describes the
relationship between the second paragraph and
(A) They are familiar with mainstream rhetoric the third paragraph?
about globalization.
(B) They are concerned about the loss of (A) Paragraph 3 presents evidence that
cultural diversity. addresses questions raised in paragraph 2.
(C) They support taking collective action to (B) Paragraph 3 challenges the validity of data
address local problems. presented in paragraph 2.
(D) They benefit from the process of global (C) Paragraph 3 presents arguments that
convergence. support a thesis stated in paragraph 2.
(E) They oppose ceding local control to global (D) Paragraph 3 draws conclusions from
organizations. evidence presented in paragraph 2.
(E) Paragraph 3 proposes solutions to conflicts
described in paragraph 2.

17. In the sixth sentence of the third paragraph

(“The near-global diffusion . . . opposite
effect”), the author mentions the diffusion of
English primarily to

(A) challenge an assumption that other

arguments depend on
(B) offer evidence in support of his basic thesis
(C) emphasize how one phenomenon can have
multiple effects
(D) justify his use of one language rather than
another
(E) acknowledge the validity of one element of
an argument he generally opposes

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16 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(The following passage is excerpted from the preface setbacks. Various constituencies of the comparatively
of a book published in 2008 by a geography prosperous global core are walling off their affluent
professor.) realms from intrusion by poorer globals, hardening a
division between core and periphery that exacerbates
Numerous books and articles published in recent contrasts and stokes conflicts. The near-global
years argue, explicitly as well as implicitly, that the diffusion of various forms of English as a first or
human world today is so mobile, so interconnected, second language is promoting a cultural convergence,
and so integrative that it is, in one prominent and but the radicalization of religions has the opposite
much-repeated assessment, “flat.” Ancient and effect. The distribution of health and well-being
durable obstacles are no more, interaction is global, shows troubling signs of inequity and reversal.
free trade rules the globe, migration is ubiquitous, 1 Because people continue to congregate in places of
and the flow of ideas (and money and jobs) is so high environmental risk, especially in the crowded
pervasive that geography, in the perspective of more periphery, hundreds of millions find themselves in
than one observer, “is history.” The notion that place continuing jeopardy (as the 2004 tsunami, 4 in the
continues to play a key role in shaping humanity’s absence of coordinated warning systems, tragically
still-variegated mosaic is seen as obsolete, even confirmed). Inevitably, places of costly historic and
offensive and deterministic. Choice, not constraint, is current conflict take their toll as the “international
the mantra 2 of the new flat-world proponents. Join community” stands by without effective intervention,
the “forces of flattening” and you will enjoy the another form of jeopardy that afflicts the destinies of
benefits. Don’t, and you will fall off the edge. The millions. And males and females in the same locales
option is yours. have widely varying experiences, their destinies
But is it? From the vantage point of a high-floor diverging in sometimes agonizing ways. Even in the
room in the Shanghai Hyatt, the Mumbai Oberoi, or world’s cities, where the “rising tide lifts all boats”
the Dubai Hilton, 3 or from a business-class window promise of globalization should be especially evident,
seat on Singapore Airlines, the world seems flat power creates a high-relief topography of privilege
indeed. Millions of world-flatteners move every day and privation. Nor is the world’s divisive political
from hotel lobby to airport limo to first-class lounge, stockade 5 likely to be flattened anytime soon. Even
laptop in hand, uploading, outsourcing, offshoring as as states try to join in unions and associations, their
they travel, adjusting the air conditioning as they go. provinces and regions nurture nationalisms working
They are changing the world, these modern nomads, the other way. The power of place still holds the vast
and they are, in many ways, improving it—depending majority of us in its thrall.
of course on one’s definition of progress. But are they Of course, the question is not whether the world is
invariably agents of access and integration? Are they flat. Thomas Friedman, who coined the phrase,
lowering the barriers to participation or raising the concedes that he realizes “that the world is not flat.
stakes against it? Have their influence and impact Don’t worry, I know . . . I have engaged in literary
overpowered the imperatives of place, so that their license in titling [my] book to draw attention . . . .” It
very mobility symbolizes a confirmed irrelevance of is the process of “flattening” on which Friedman
location? wants to focus through his provocative title, “the
Not yet. The Earth, physically as well as culturally, single most important trend in the world today,” that is
still is very rough terrain, and in crucial ways its at issue. And in certain respects the global playing
regional compartments continue to trap billions in field is leveling, but in other ways the reverse appears
circumstances that spell disadvantage. The power of to be true. Notions of a flat world raise expectations
place and the fate of people are linked by many of growing access and increasing opportunity that are
strands ranging from physical area and natural mantras of globalization but are all too often at
environment to durable culture and local tradition. variance with reality. Powerful forces, natural as well
This book, therefore, views a world in which progress as human, slow the flattening process in a contest that
toward convergence is countered by stagnation, even will determine the future of the planet.
1
widespread
2
slogan
3
luxury hotels
4
In December 2004, a series of immense ocean waves hit the coasts of
several South and Southeast Asian countries, causing catastrophic
destruction in the region.
5
enclosure

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 17

 18. Which of the following does the author represent 20. The quotation marks around the phrase
as an effect of “congregat[ing] in places of high “international community” (paragraph 3,
environmental risk” (paragraph 3, sentence 8) ? sentence 9) serve primarily to

(A) Opportunities that disproportionately (A) indicate that the author is quoting an
benefit affluent communities established source rather than making a
(B) Frequent conflict among groups with subjective claim
different cultural values (B) signal a skeptical tone that reflects the
(C) Dangers that disproportionately affect author’s doubts about the existence of
certain communities such a community
(D) Overcrowding that exacerbates public (C) underline how specifically the term
health problems “international community” is being
defined
(E) Environmental degradation that makes
such areas nearly uninhabitable (D) emphasize the need for global cooperation
when effective intervention is required
(E) protect the author from allegations that he
19. In the eighth sentence of the third paragraph, the is claiming credit for a phrase coined by
author mentions “the absence of coordinated others
warning systems” to amplify his point about the

(A) convergence of a type of living experience 21. In the final sentence of the third paragraph (“The
(B) prohibitive costs of global intervention power of place . . . thrall”), which of the
programs following best describes the effect of removing
the words “the vast majority of”?
(C) depopulation of locations at high
environmental risk
(A) The author’s claim would become logically
(D) opposition expressed toward regional inconsistent.
nationalism
(B) The author’s claim would be obscured by
(E) the hazards of inhabiting certain the introduction of ambiguity.
geographical areas
(C) The author’s claim would lose its popular
appeal.
(D) The author’s claim would be narrowed by
its limitation to a smaller group.
(E) The author’s claim would be broadened by
the removal of a qualification.

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18 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(The following passage is excerpted from the preface setbacks. Various constituencies of the comparatively
of a book published in 2008 by a geography prosperous global core are walling off their affluent
professor.) realms from intrusion by poorer globals, hardening a
division between core and periphery that exacerbates
Numerous books and articles published in recent contrasts and stokes conflicts. The near-global
years argue, explicitly as well as implicitly, that the diffusion of various forms of English as a first or
human world today is so mobile, so interconnected, second language is promoting a cultural convergence,
and so integrative that it is, in one prominent and but the radicalization of religions has the opposite
much-repeated assessment, “flat.” Ancient and effect. The distribution of health and well-being
durable obstacles are no more, interaction is global, shows troubling signs of inequity and reversal.
free trade rules the globe, migration is ubiquitous, 1 Because people continue to congregate in places of
and the flow of ideas (and money and jobs) is so high environmental risk, especially in the crowded
pervasive that geography, in the perspective of more periphery, hundreds of millions find themselves in
than one observer, “is history.” The notion that place continuing jeopardy (as the 2004 tsunami, 4 in the
continues to play a key role in shaping humanity’s absence of coordinated warning systems, tragically
still-variegated mosaic is seen as obsolete, even confirmed). Inevitably, places of costly historic and
offensive and deterministic. Choice, not constraint, is current conflict take their toll as the “international
the mantra 2 of the new flat-world proponents. Join community” stands by without effective intervention,
the “forces of flattening” and you will enjoy the another form of jeopardy that afflicts the destinies of
benefits. Don’t, and you will fall off the edge. The millions. And males and females in the same locales
option is yours. have widely varying experiences, their destinies
But is it? From the vantage point of a high-floor diverging in sometimes agonizing ways. Even in the
room in the Shanghai Hyatt, the Mumbai Oberoi, or world’s cities, where the “rising tide lifts all boats”
the Dubai Hilton, 3 or from a business-class window promise of globalization should be especially evident,
seat on Singapore Airlines, the world seems flat power creates a high-relief topography of privilege
indeed. Millions of world-flatteners move every day and privation. Nor is the world’s divisive political
from hotel lobby to airport limo to first-class lounge, stockade 5 likely to be flattened anytime soon. Even
laptop in hand, uploading, outsourcing, offshoring as as states try to join in unions and associations, their
they travel, adjusting the air conditioning as they go. provinces and regions nurture nationalisms working
They are changing the world, these modern nomads, the other way. The power of place still holds the vast
and they are, in many ways, improving it—depending majority of us in its thrall.
of course on one’s definition of progress. But are they Of course, the question is not whether the world is
invariably agents of access and integration? Are they flat. Thomas Friedman, who coined the phrase,
lowering the barriers to participation or raising the concedes that he realizes “that the world is not flat.
stakes against it? Have their influence and impact Don’t worry, I know . . . I have engaged in literary
overpowered the imperatives of place, so that their license in titling [my] book to draw attention . . . .” It
very mobility symbolizes a confirmed irrelevance of is the process of “flattening” on which Friedman
location? wants to focus through his provocative title, “the
Not yet. The Earth, physically as well as culturally, single most important trend in the world today,” that is
still is very rough terrain, and in crucial ways its at issue. And in certain respects the global playing
regional compartments continue to trap billions in field is leveling, but in other ways the reverse appears
circumstances that spell disadvantage. The power of to be true. Notions of a flat world raise expectations
place and the fate of people are linked by many of growing access and increasing opportunity that are
strands ranging from physical area and natural mantras of globalization but are all too often at
environment to durable culture and local tradition. variance with reality. Powerful forces, natural as well
This book, therefore, views a world in which progress as human, slow the flattening process in a contest that
toward convergence is countered by stagnation, even will determine the future of the planet.
1
widespread
2
slogan
3
luxury hotels
4
In December 2004, a series of immense ocean waves hit the coasts of
several South and Southeast Asian countries, causing catastrophic
destruction in the region.
5
enclosure

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 19

 22. At what point in his development of the 24. In the fourth paragraph, the author cites Thomas
passage’s line of reasoning does the author Friedman primarily to
arrive at his thesis?
(A) attribute the flawed assumptions of
(A) The first two sentences of the first flat-world proponents to Friedman
paragraph (“Numerous books . . . (B) acknowledge that the arguments of
history”) flat-world proponents are more complex
(B) The last four sentences of the first than he has previously suggested
paragraph (“Choice . . . is yours”) (C) note a difference between the original
(C) The first three sentences of the second version of the flat-world argument and
paragraph (“But is it? . . . as they go”) popular adaptations of this argument
(D) The first four sentences of the third (D) suggest that the implications of
paragraph (“Not yet . . . even setbacks”) globalization are even more dangerous
(E) The first four sentences of the fourth than he has already implied
paragraph (“Of course . . . at issue”) (E) reveal his insights into the circumstances
that inspired Friedman to invent the
flat-world metaphor
23. In the fifth sentence of the fourth paragraph
(“And in certain . . . true”), the author italicizes
the verb “is” primarily to emphasize

(A) an area of agreement between himself and

another author whose views he has
challenged
(B) an area of disagreement between himself
and another author whose views he
generally agrees with
(C) the equivalence he sees between two
seemingly different claims
(D) the equivalence he sees between two
seemingly different terms
(E) the equivalence he sees between two
seemingly different processes

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20 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Questions 25 - 32. Read the following passage 25. Which of the following sentences, if added after
carefully before you choose your answers. sentence 1, would effectively engage the
audience to want to know what prompted the
(The passage below is a draft.) writer’s change of heart regarding mayflies?

(1) Many people living near the Mississippi River (A) Nuisances can be either permanent or
see mayflies as a nuisance. (2) The mayflies’ sudden temporary.
entrance to life in the air, their languid flying and (B) This river, however, offers beautiful
resting on objects at their convenience, and their scenery to nature lovers.
deaths seemed a bother to humans.
(C) And all bugs seem to be nuisances to
(3) Adult mayflies’ short lifespans are at the heart
humans.
of the problem. (4) Throughout a couple of weeks
each summer, the nymphs (juvenile mayflies), which (D) I was one of those people.
have developed underwater for the past few months, (E) I have lived on this river for three years.
hatch into millions of mature mayflies with
nonfunctioning mouths. (5) These adult mayflies
mate, lay eggs on and near the water, and then die
within a day or two, sometimes in piles multiple feet
high that create treacherous driving conditions for 26. The writer is considering deleting the underlined
humans. (6) These perishing insects impact portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below).
nondriving humans as well by collecting on air Throughout a couple of weeks each summer,
conditioner compressors and the like, often preventing the nymphs (juvenile mayflies), which have
them from functioning. (7) In fact, often street lights developed underwater for the past few months,
are shut off in order to decrease the number of hatch into millions of mature mayflies with
mayflies congregating near them. (8) And, believe it non-functioning mouths.
or not, the wings and skin of mayflies cause an
allergic reaction on the skin of some folk. (9) The Should the writer keep or delete the underlined
bodies of these mayflies are long and thin and support text?
large wings.
(10) Despite these nuisances, I have come to value (A) Keep it, because it provides more
these somewhat unsightly creatures. (11) For description of the mayflies’ physical
example, because they need clean water to survive, characteristics.
their presence indicates to humans the health of a (B) Keep it, because it explains a term that may
body of fresh water. (12) In fact, they have been used be unfamiliar to some readers.
to assess the quality of water in fresh water areas. (C) Keep it, because it assists in developing the
(13) In addition, the nymphs, with their functioning writer’s thesis.
mouths, contribute to the cleanliness of the water by
eating algae and decaying vegetation. (14) Therefore, (D) Delete it, because it does not enhance the
they are important indicators of the health of a discussion of adult mayflies.
human’s environment. (15) Moreover, clean bodies of (E) Delete it, because it reflects the writer’s
fresh water attract human recreational activity. bias against mayflies.
(16) Mayflies impact the economies of humans who
live near healthy rivers and lakes—both tourists and
locals spend money to enjoy activities in and near the
water.

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 21

 27. After sentence 6, the writer wants to provide 29. Which of the following sentences should be
additional evidence to support the claim that deleted from the second paragraph because it
mayflies are a nuisance to humans. Which of the does not provide evidence that supports the main
following sentences would best achieve this claim of the paragraph?
purpose?
(A) Sentence 5
(A) However, it is sad to think about all of (B) Sentence 6
these mayflies dying, and that impacts
(C) Sentence 7
how humans feel about these insects.
(D) Sentence 8
(B) Also, it is important to remember that
air-conditioning, while beneficial, is also (E) Sentence 9
costly.
(C) Furthermore, mayflies regularly disrupt
30. The writer wants sentence 10 (reproduced
activities held on or near the river,
below) to convey the reluctant appreciation of
causing humans to constantly swat at
mayflies she describes in the third paragraph.
their bodies to rid themselves of the
expiring insects. Despite these nuisances, I have come to value
(D) Consequently, many drivers have a strong these somewhat unsightly creatures.
abhorrence to mayfly season and the
hazards that accompany it. Which version of the underlined portion of
sentence 10 most effectively accomplishes this
(E) As is common knowledge, street lights are
goal?
necessities that provide safety to both
driving and nondriving humans. (A) (as it is now)
(B) I can now respect these foul creatures
28. In sentence 7 (reproduced below), the writer is (C) I find myself entranced by these graceful
considering adding the parenthetical phrase beings
“(another hazard to humans in cars)” after the (D) I remain perplexed by these strange and
word “off.” horrid bugs
(E) I wholeheartedly love these useful insects
In fact, often street lights are shut off in order
to decrease the number of mayflies
congregating near them.
31. Which of the following words should be placed
Should the writer make this addition? at the beginning of sentence 16 (reproduced
below) in order to demonstrate a connection to
(A) Yes, because it emphasizes the importance the previous sentence?
of the evidence about the hazards of street
lights. Mayflies impact the economies of humans who
live near healthy rivers and lakes—both
(B) Yes, because it connects the evidence
tourists and locals spend money to enjoy
offered in the sentence to the paragraph’s
activities in and near the water.
main claim.
(C) No, because it interrupts the fluidity of the (A) However,
sentence. (B) Regardless,
(D) No, because it distracts from the narration (C) Thus,
of human responses to mayflies.
(D) Nonetheless,
(E) No, because it introduces an opposing
argument. (E) Conversely,

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22 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(The passage below is a draft.) 32. Which of the following sentences, if added after
sentence 16, would provide the best concluding
(1) Many people living near the Mississippi River sentence for the passage?
see mayflies as a nuisance. (2) The mayflies’ sudden
entrance to life in the air, their languid flying and (A) Robust economies are important to
resting on objects at their convenience, and their humans, and they enhance lifestyles
deaths seemed a bother to humans. across the board; therefore, humans
(3) Adult mayflies’ short lifespans are at the heart should respect the lives of mayflies.
of the problem. (4) Throughout a couple of weeks (B) Yes, mayflies definitely impact the quality
each summer, the nymphs (juvenile mayflies), which of fresh water, so humans should desire to
have developed underwater for the past few months, keep these pesky insects around.
hatch into millions of mature mayflies with
(C) Since there are both good and bad
nonfunctioning mouths. (5) These adult mayflies
consequences from living with mayflies,
mate, lay eggs on and near the water, and then die
individuals should make their own
within a day or two, sometimes in piles multiple feet
decisions about whether or not the bad
high that create treacherous driving conditions for
outweighs the good.
humans. (6) These perishing insects impact
nondriving humans as well by collecting on air (D) Clearly there are both negative and positive
conditioner compressors and the like, often preventing aspects to coexisting with mayflies, but
them from functioning. (7) In fact, often street lights the long-lasting positives outweigh the
are shut off in order to decrease the number of temporary negatives.
mayflies congregating near them. (8) And, believe it (E) It is easy to see, then, that tourists might
or not, the wings and skin of mayflies cause an have a different perspective than locals do
allergic reaction on the skin of some folk. (9) The about the life cycle of mayflies and its
bodies of these mayflies are long and thin and support many effects on humans.
large wings.
(10) Despite these nuisances, I have come to value
these somewhat unsightly creatures. (11) For
example, because they need clean water to survive,
their presence indicates to humans the health of a
body of fresh water. (12) In fact, they have been used
to assess the quality of water in fresh water areas.
(13) In addition, the nymphs, with their functioning
mouths, contribute to the cleanliness of the water by
eating algae and decaying vegetation. (14) Therefore,
they are important indicators of the health of a
human’s environment. (15) Moreover, clean bodies of
fresh water attract human recreational activity.
(16) Mayflies impact the economies of humans who
live near healthy rivers and lakes—both tourists and
locals spend money to enjoy activities in and near the
water.

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 23

 NO TEST MATERIAL ON THIS PAGE

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24 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Questions 33 - 40. Read the following passage 33. In sentence 3 (reproduced below), the writer
carefully before you choose your answers. wants to provide statistical information that
helps contextualize the argument of the passage
(The passage below is a draft.) for the audience.

(1) To work or not to work, that is the question. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
(2) Or, at least it’s a question many teens consider Statistics (USBLS), the state with the highest
during their summer break. (3) According to the U.S. employment rate for teens is Mississippi at 77
Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the state with the percent, and the lowest is North Dakota at 51
highest employment rate for teens is Mississippi at percent.
77 percent, and the lowest is North Dakota at
Which of the following versions of the
51 percent.
underlined portion of sentence 3 most effectively
(4) Why are teens not working as much? (5) That
accomplishes this goal?
depends. (6) Middle- and upper-class teens are
choosing not to work, while lower-income teens have
(A) (as it is now)
less access to jobs. (7) Teens with access to part-time
jobs often select what they perceive as better (B) the number of teens working summer jobs
alternatives (e.g., community service, volunteer work, has dropped from 60 percent to 30
unpaid internships, and academics) that have percent since the 1980s
nonfinancial benefits. (8) In fact, the USBLS reports (C) 22 percent of high school females were
the number of teens in summer school rose from employed as compared to 19 percent of
10 percent to 45 percent from 1985 to 2018. males
(9) Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile, must (D) the employment rate for teens with some
need some extra money because I see numerous signs college or an associate degree is 79
at the local grocery store advertising personal percent
lawn-mowing and babysitting services. (E) 11,847,000 teens between the ages of 16
(10) Some lament the decrease in teen and 19 do not have any kind of job
employment. (11) According to the Center for Work
Ethic Development, part-time jobs teach the soft skills
that future employers value: “Although it might seem
unrelated, scooping ice cream or working retail can
make you a better doctor, accountant, teacher or
benefit any other career path you might choose.”
(12) These soft skills include social and emotional
intelligence, work ethic, responsibility, and a positive
attitude. (13) Depending on what teens do instead,
these traits can be developed in other ways.
(14) To work or not to work isn’t the most
important question. (15) The focus should be on what
teenagers do to develop soft skills—the people skills,
the work ethic, the communication skills—that will
help them regardless of the path they will take in life.
(16) Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get
back into the workforce so they can develop the work
ethic they need to be successful.

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 25

 34. The writer is considering adding the following 36. The writer is considering deleting the underlined
sentence after sentence 5. portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below).
Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring Teens with access to part-time jobs often select
to spend their summers playing video games what they perceive as better alternatives (e.g.,
and hanging out with friends instead of community service, volunteer work, unpaid
working hard to make money. internships, and academics) that have
nonfinancial benefits.
Should the writer add this sentence after
sentence 5 ? Should the writer keep or delete the underlined
text?
(A) Yes, because the stereotype of the lazy
teenager is an important discussion point (A) Keep it, because it exemplifies what these
in the passage. potentially better alternatives might be.
(B) Yes, because it shows the dangerous effects (B) Keep it, because it is necessary to
that modern technology has on teens understand the values of part-time work.
today. (C) Keep it, because it is necessary for the
(C) Yes, because it allows the writer to sentence to be a complete thought.
demonstrate an understanding of teen (D) Delete it, because it distracts from the
culture. message the writer is communicating.
(D) No, because it is illogical to include video (E) Delete it, because it repeats information
games and friends in the same argument. that was introduced earlier in the passage.
(E) No, because it portrays teenagers in a way
that could undermine the writer’s appeal
to teenage readers.

35. The writer wants to add information to the

beginning of sentence 6 (reproduced below),
adjusting the capitalization as needed, to help
establish the credibility of the source of the
information in the sentence.

Middle- and upper-class teens are choosing

not to work, while lower-income teens have
less access to jobs.

Which of the following choices most effectively

accomplishes this goal?

(A) According to Professor Paul Harrington,

(B) According to Paul Harrington, an expert,
(C) According to Paul Harrington, a Drexel
University professor of labor markets,
(D) According to a Drexel University
professor,
(E) According to a university professor who is
an expert on labor markets,

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26 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(The passage below is a draft.) 37. The writer is considering deleting sentence 9
(reproduced below) from the passage.
(1) To work or not to work, that is the question.
(2) Or, at least it’s a question many teens consider Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile,
during their summer break. (3) According to the U.S. must need some extra money because I see
Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the state with the numerous signs at the local grocery store
highest employment rate for teens is Mississippi at advertising personal lawn-mowing and
77 percent, and the lowest is North Dakota at babysitting services.
51 percent.
Should the writer keep or delete this sentence?
(4) Why are teens not working as much? (5) That
depends. (6) Middle- and upper-class teens are (A) Keep it, because the evidence it provides is
choosing not to work, while lower-income teens have likely to appeal to the audience’s values
less access to jobs. (7) Teens with access to part-time in terms of their experience with
jobs often select what they perceive as better teenagers seeking part-time employment.
alternatives (e.g., community service, volunteer work,
unpaid internships, and academics) that have (B) Keep it, because it provides anecdotal
nonfinancial benefits. (8) In fact, the USBLS reports evidence about teen employment that is
the number of teens in summer school rose from expanded on later in the passage.
10 percent to 45 percent from 1985 to 2018. (C) Delete it, because the writer’s choice of
(9) Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile, must diction creates an inappropriately
need some extra money because I see numerous signs informal tone.
at the local grocery store advertising personal (D) Delete it, because the anecdote about local
lawn-mowing and babysitting services. teenagers weakens the reasoning of the
(10) Some lament the decrease in teen argument at this point of the passage.
employment. (11) According to the Center for Work (E) Delete it, because the example it provides
Ethic Development, part-time jobs teach the soft skills undermines the credibility of the writer as
that future employers value: “Although it might seem someone knowledgeable about teen
unrelated, scooping ice cream or working retail can employment.
make you a better doctor, accountant, teacher or
benefit any other career path you might choose.”
(12) These soft skills include social and emotional
intelligence, work ethic, responsibility, and a positive
attitude. (13) Depending on what teens do instead,
these traits can be developed in other ways.
(14) To work or not to work isn’t the most
important question. (15) The focus should be on what
teenagers do to develop soft skills—the people skills,
the work ethic, the communication skills—that will
help them regardless of the path they will take in life.
(16) Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get
back into the workforce so they can develop the work
ethic they need to be successful.

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 27

 38. The writer wants to add a sentence after 40. The writer is considering deleting sentence 16
sentence 12 to qualify the claim made by the (reproduced below) from the passage.
Center for Work Ethic Development that
part-time jobs result in teens developing Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get
beneficial soft skills. Which of the following back into the workforce so they can develop the
sentences best accomplishes this goal? work ethic they need to be successful.
Should the writer keep or delete sentence 16 ?
(A) However, while it is true that these traits
can be acquired through part-time jobs, (A) Keep it, because the discussion of work
not all work environments are conducive ethic is the most important point in this
for this development. passage, and it is best to end the passage
(B) Yet part-time jobs often provide more than with the most important point.
enough financial incentives for teens to (B) Keep it, because it links work ethic to
justify the time spent working. success in a way that provides a strong
(C) Even as part-time jobs are being filled final sentence.
more often by retirees, incentives such as (C) Keep it, because teens would benefit by the
health insurance are not included as part advice to get a part-time job in order to
of the compensation package. start developing the work ethic they will
(D) On the other hand, hard skills are the most need.
important for employees, especially (D) Delete it, because its conclusion does not
within the highly competitive STEM logically follow from the line of
disciplines. reasoning in the passage.
(E) However, an emphasis on soft skills may (E) Delete it, because it provides direct advice
result in teens needing less education in to teens who may not care about the
order to land highly competitive jobs. writer’s opinion.

39. The writer wants to add an adjective before the

word “traits” in sentence 13 (reproduced below)
in order to improve the clarity of the claim.
Depending on what teens do instead, these
traits can be developed in other ways.

Which adjective would best modify that word

“traits” to reinforce the passage’s perspective on
soft skills?

(A) generous
(B) interesting
(C) obvious
(D) routine
(E) desirable

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28 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Questions 41 - 45. Read the following passage 41. The writer wants to add language to the end of
carefully before you choose your answers. sentence 1 (reproduced below), adjusting the
punctuation as needed, to help clarify the central
(The passage below is a draft.) concept of the essay.

(1) From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South
Korea, cities around the world are promoting Korea, cities around the world are promoting
themselves as “smart cities.” (2) Smart-city initiatives themselves as “smart cities.”
cover a remarkable range of public infrastructure,
Which of the following choices would best
including waste receptacles that signal when they
accomplish this goal?
need to be emptied, systems that broadcast locations
of available communal bicycles, and electricity grids
(A) because these two cities desire to be global
that distribute energy in response to usage patterns.
technology leaders, especially in
(3) Many people are excited about these new
engineering and data collection
technologies, and, as civil engineering professor and
infrastructure expert Shoshanna Saxe explains, they (B) meaning that these cities attract the
are intended to improve infrastructure by collecting smartest companies so they can, in turn,
data and responding automatically. (4) As Saxe and provide high-paying jobs to local
other urbanists have argued, however, that premise residents and attract the best and the
should be questioned. brightest from around the world
(5) Adding sensors for data collection to public (C) cities prepared to move into global markets
services such as water and electricity distribution and economies that transcend the typical
introduces new vulnerability to urban infrastructure. geographic limitations of older, more
(6) Saxe and other experienced city planners worry traditional cities
that networked digital infrastructure would be more (D) communities that use the latest digital
akin to a smartphone or computer. (7) Although smart technology, particularly computer
infrastructure promises more efficient delivery of systems that respond to input from
services and may deliver on that promise in the networks of sensors, to deliver city
beginning, it is susceptible to failure in ways that services efficiently and improve urban life
conventional infrastructure is not. (E) even though “smart” has little to do with
their intelligence and much more to do
with the ways in which the cities will
respond to the growing physical needs of
their populations

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 29

 42. The writer wants to avoid revealing any potential 43. The writer wants to add a sentence after
bias in sentence 3 (reproduced below). sentence 5 (reproduced below) to elaborate on
that sentence’s description of the contrast
Many people are excited about these new between infrastructure with and without sensors
technologies, and, as civil engineering for data collection.
professor and infrastructure expert Shoshanna
Saxe explains, they are intended to improve Adding sensors for data collection to public
infrastructure by collecting data and services such as water and electricity
responding automatically. distribution introduces new vulnerability to
urban infrastructure.
Which of the following versions of the
underlined portion of sentence 3 would best Which of the following sentences would best
accomplish this goal? accomplish this goal?

(A) (as it is now) (A) These vulnerabilities may soon be

(B) excessively dismissive civil engineering addressed through a set of “smart”
professor Shoshanna Saxe notes robotics designed to fix and update the
software needed to keep sensors
(C) civil engineering professor and startlingly
functioning smoothly.
insightful critic Shoshanna Saxe notes
(B) “Smart” water-detection systems are quite
(D) civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe
unlike smart electricity systems in that,
scornfully observes
while they can detect problems, they are
(E) civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe not able to self-regulate.
cleverly declares
(C) Water pipes, roads, and other elements of
conventional infrastructure last for
decades precisely because they are not
“smart”: they are structures with
relatively simple, easy-to-replace parts.
(D) “Smart” infrastructure in a city such as
Toronto can be especially challenging
because the cold climate conditions differ
from those of cities in more temperate
climates like Songdo.
(E) Sensors using “smart” technologies can
now register and distribute over a hundred
times more data than sensors could ten
years ago.

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30 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The passage is reprinted for your use in answering the remaining questions.

(The passage below is a draft.) 44. The writer is considering adding the clause
“devices that work optimally only for a few
(1) From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South years before bugs in their programming
Korea, cities around the world are promoting introduce glitches and errors” to the end of
themselves as “smart cities.” (2) Smart-city initiatives sentence 6 (reproduced below), adjusting the
cover a remarkable range of public infrastructure, punctuation as needed.
including waste receptacles that signal when they
need to be emptied, systems that broadcast locations Saxe and other experienced city planners
of available communal bicycles, and electricity grids worry that networked digital infrastructure
that distribute energy in response to usage patterns. would be more akin to a smartphone or
(3) Many people are excited about these new computer.
technologies, and, as civil engineering professor and
Should the writer add this clause to the end of
infrastructure expert Shoshanna Saxe explains, they
sentence 6 ?
are intended to improve infrastructure by collecting
data and responding automatically. (4) As Saxe and (A) Yes, because it demonstrates that Saxe and
other urbanists have argued, however, that premise other city planners are experts on the
should be questioned. subject of smart cities who are familiar
(5) Adding sensors for data collection to public with the latest technology.
services such as water and electricity distribution
introduces new vulnerability to urban infrastructure. (B) Yes, because the additional information
(6) Saxe and other experienced city planners worry clarifies a comparison to a more familiar
that networked digital infrastructure would be more technology that also breaks or becomes
akin to a smartphone or computer. (7) Although smart obsolete relatively quickly.
infrastructure promises more efficient delivery of (C) No, because it makes Saxe seem like a
services and may deliver on that promise in the biased observer by portraying her as
beginning, it is susceptible to failure in ways that being opposed to technological
conventional infrastructure is not. innovations of any kind.
(D) No, because the statement in sentence 6 is
so clear that it does not need any
qualification.
(E) No, because the word “bugs” is ambiguous
and could confuse readers who are
unfamiliar with technological jargon.

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AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 31

 45. The writer wants to add evidence to exemplify
the main argument of the second paragraph.
Which of the following pieces of evidence
would best accomplish this goal?

(A) A narrative about a city in which smart city

technology designed to determine the best
routes for garbage collection required
costly repairs after three years
(B) A quotation from a city council member
expressing concern about the cost of
implementing a smart city program
(C) The results of a survey showing that many
people are worried that smart city
technologies will infringe on their right to
privacy
(D) Statistics comparing the growth of cities
that have invested in smart city
technologies to that of cities that have not
made such investments
(E) A list of important infrastructure projects
that Shoshanna Saxe has been involved
with

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32 AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam

 END OF SECTION I

IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED, YOU MAY

CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION.

DO NOT GO ON TO SECTION II UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

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MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING:

• PLACED YOUR AP ID LABEL ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET

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PLACED IT ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET

AP English Language and Composition Practice Exam 33