AP Language Unit 8 MCQ Practice--Reading

The overall tone of the essay can best be described as:

• Enthusiastic

• Sardonic

• Melancholic

• Reverent

• Objective

The phrase "pinnacle of human achievement" in the opening paragraph is an example of:

• Understatement

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

• Alliteration

The author's attitude towards standardized testing is primarily:

• Supportive

• Neutral

• Ambivalent

• Critical

• Optimistic

The reference to "mysteriously sticky floors" serves to:

• Highlight the cleanliness of schools

• Emphasize the poor maintenance of facilities

• Create a nostalgic atmosphere

• Provide a scientific observation

• Compliment janitorial staff

The essay's discussion of the curriculum suggests that the author believes it is:

• Highly relevant and practical

• Challenging but necessary

• Outdated and impractical

• Perfectly balanced

• Constantly evolving

The author's description of the cafeteria food as "culinary experiences that defy both description and digestion" is an example of:

• Alliteration

• Oxymoron

• Euphemism

• Paradox

• Irony

The statement "nothing says 'academic excellence' quite like a 50-yard line and a concession stand" is an example of:

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Sarcasm

• Allusion

• Personification

The author's primary purpose in writing this essay is to:

• Celebrate American education

• Criticize the education system through satire

• Provide advice for incoming freshmen

• Compare American schools to those in other countries

• Argue for increased educational funding

The essay's conclusion can be characterized as:

• A call to action

• A summary of key points

• An ironic reinforcement of the satirical tone

• A shift to a more serious perspective

• An apology for the critical viewpoint

The phrase "grand experiment in educational mediocrity" suggests that the author views American education as:

• A successful scientific endeavor

• A work in progress with potential for improvement

• A failed attempt at excellence

• An intentionally flawed system

• A model for other countries to follow