AP Reading Drill 1

1. The opening sentence of the passage contains

• an expression of fear

• an appeal to authority

• a humorous simile

• an irreverent attack

• equivocation

Answer explanation

The simile in the first sentence compares the great and ancient parliamentary institutions with the august, but somewhat ancient, bodies of the members of Parliament.

2. The speaker is addressing

• a friend

• a group of his peers

• a king

• a crowd of voters

• his political adversaries

Answer explanation

The speaker is addressing a group of his peers, who are the other members of Parliament.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The most significant transition takes place in

• line 9 ("I have thought it consistent...")

• line 16 ("These were my objects...")

• line 20 ("But as a feeling of honour...")

• line 24 ("But, Sir, I will not...")

• line 28 ("I will not, Sir, undertake...")

Answer explanation

Everything in this line is an introduction to the prime minister's real message; until this point, he has joked, given a general review of his former motivations and actions as the leader of the Conservative party, and explained his reasons for accepting to serve again as prime minister (feeling of honour) in spite of his failing health and aged mind (a burden too great for my physical, and far beyond my intellectual structure).

4. 4. All of the following are part of the same extended metaphor EXCEPT

• "helm" (line 26)

• "vessel" (line 27)

• "fairly" (line 27)

• "course" (line 29)

• "unshackled" (line 38)

Answer explanation

Eliminate A, B, and D so you're left with C and E, which do not fit nearly into the nautical terminology. Choice C is the one to eliminate. All the other terms fit neatly into the nautical terminology.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

5. 5. Which term in the first paragraph serves to prepare the dominant point of the final paragraph?

• "disaffection" (lines 11-12)

• "enjoyment" (line 14)

• "dangers" (line 24)

• "tempestuous" (line 26)

• "unfettered" (line 32)

Answer explanation

The first step is to determine the dominant point of the final paragraph. A big clue is that unfettered and unshackled are synonyms, so the best answer is unfettered.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

6. 6. Based on the passage, the speaker's motivation to serve as prime minister is dictated mostly by

• greed

• political ambition

• sense of humor

• political power

• youthful exuberance

Answer explanation

The prime minister states that honor is his motivation.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

7. The tone of the entire passage

• remains consistently cynical

• shifts according to the speaker's mood

• shifts from light to serious

• becomes more frivolous in the final paragraph

• remains consistently lighthearted

Answer explanation

The prime minister begins with a light tone because he is looking to set up his audience, not because he starts his speech in a good mood.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which of the following best describes the rhetorical function of lines 17 - 20 ("it is a burden too great..... the greatest favor that could be conferred upon me")

• It makes an appeal to emotion.

• It states the overall thesis of the passage.

• It expresses a casual relationship between events in the past and events in the present.

• It provides a specific example for the preceding argument.

• It reinforces the author's claim of responsibility in the following sentence.

Answer explanation

He is burdened, but feels a sense of responsibility.