An In-Depth Look at the Multiple Choice Questions Preparing for the AP Language and Composition Exam

Stay in Control Don’t let the author get away with anything. Any time you allow a passage to control, confuse, or dominate you, the odds of you getting more than 25% of the questions right become very slim. Critical reading and annotating are as much about maintaining an attitude of dominance as they are about getting in touch with the piece and what it is trying to say.

Answering Multiple Choice Questions First, remember that the test makers design the test to be challenging. You can pass by getting roughly 50% of the questions right. Second, unlike the SAT, there is not vocabulary “hit list.” The test writers select nonfiction prose with a strong argumentative bias. They draw across four centuries and do not adjust the choices because of vocabulary

Answering Multiple Choice Questions Third, bear in mind that the questions are NOT arranged from easiest to hardest. They are generally arranged sequentially, moving from the beginning of the passage to its end. There are often several questions that deal with the passage as a whole, and they are frequently interspersed (mixed together) within the specific line or paragraph questions.

Why Annotate a Passage? The chief reason to annotate is that it keeps your mind from drifting. If you have read the entire passage and remember nothing, or nearly nothing, you have just wasted valuable time. Annotating helps you keep your concentration.

Why Annotate a Passage? The other reason to annotate is that you work through the questions, the notes make it easier for your mind and eyes to come back to the passage and find your way around.

How Should I Annotate? In nonfiction prose, identify any clear statements of the argument or thesis. At any and every point, identify the kind of argument (pathos, logos, ethos) being made. Hi-light vivid language such as metaphors and/or analogies

How Should I Annotate? Mark any shifts in tone or point of view. Identify any parallel syntax Circle words that are outside your vocabulary (context clues still is your friend) Make a note of any false arguments or bold claims

Specific Advice About Certain Types of Questions The test makers like to ask about pronoun antecedents. For example, they will ask, “’It’ refers to which of the following nouns?” They will then give you a list of five nouns from the passage. Your job is to figure out who “it” is.

Specific Advice About Certain Types of Questions The test makers also like to ask about difficult vocabulary, but they especially like to do so with words with which we are familiar in another context. For example: “Our future would be better insured if we carefully husband our natural resources.” In the context of this sentence, “husband” best means A. to use B. to marry C. to conserve D. to waste E. to join

Specific Advice About Certain Types of Questions “Our future would be better insured if we carefully husband our natural resources.” In the context of this sentence, “husband” best means C. to conserve

Specific Advice About Certain Types of Questions Roman numeral questions are arranged somewhat differently as well. The easiest way to handle them is to ignore the A, B, C, choices first. Look only at the Roman numeral answers and decide which one, two, or three are correct. Then look for the answer that corresponds.

Specific Advice About Certain Types of Questions Another question type evaluates your knowledge of figures of speech (especially similes, analogies, and metaphors) For example: “The new CEO entered the boardroom with the flair of a matador.” This analogy makes all of the following inferences EXCEPT A. the new CEO is the center of attention B. the new CEO is in a high risk profession C. the new CEO faces substantial opposition from others D. the new CEO exudes power and strategy E. the new CEO is an effective delegator of responsibility

Specific Advice About Certain Types of Questions “The new CEO entered the boardroom with the flair of a matador.” This analogy makes all of the following inferences EXCEPT E. the new CEO is an effective delegator of responsibility

Footnotes There will be three to five questions about footnotes. The test expects you to be able to recognize and evaluate the information provided in author's footnotes. Most of the questions will not ask you about format but will ask about information.

Footnotes Authors often use footnotes at add information that the casual reader may not need or may wish to just glance over. These footnotes often identify sources, but they can also define terms, add facts, clarify confusion around certain issues, or “set the record straight” if the discussed issue has been controversially argued in other cases.