Practice Test 5 - AP English Language and Composition

20 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

Read the following student-written argumentative passage (embedded here) and answer the question that follows. My city is deciding whether to install speed cameras in school zones. According to the transportation department, 41% of drivers exceed the speed limit in school zones during morning drop-off, and the police department reports that only a small fraction of those violations result in tickets because officers can't be everywhere at once. Meanwhile, the PTA has documented multiple near-misses at two crosswalks where visibility is poor. If we are serious about child safety, we need consistent enforcement. Speed cameras would deter speeding because they make consequences predictable. Right now, many drivers gamble that they won't see an officer, and they win that gamble most days. Cameras change the calculation. When drivers know they will be fined, they slow down, and the safest accident is the one that never happens. Cameras also reduce biased enforcement. When an officer decides whom to stop, personal judgment can shape outcomes, even unintentionally. A camera records speed, not appearance. If the goal is fairness and safety, automated enforcement is more consistent than sporadic traffic stops. Some residents argue that speed cameras are a "cash grab" and that the city should fix road design instead. That's just a slogan people use when they don't like accountability. The city should install speed cameras in school zones immediately. Question: Which revision would best incorporate an opposing view without weakening the writer's claim? Consider revising the bolded sentence.
Read the following passage embedded in this prompt: To the residents of our coastal county, I know many of you have lived through storms that outsiders quickly forget, and you don't want lectures—you want plans that work. That's why I'm urging the commission to adopt stricter building codes for new construction in flood-prone zones. After last year's hurricane, we spent $12 million in emergency debris removal and temporary housing, yet many rebuilt with the same materials that failed before. Stronger codes—elevated foundations, wind-rated roofs, and flood vents—raise upfront costs, but they reduce insurance claims and keep families in their homes instead of in shelters. This isn't about blaming homeowners; it's about acknowledging what the water is already telling us. If we keep rebuilding to yesterday's standards, we guarantee tomorrow's losses. Preparedness is not panic; it is respect for reality. Which assumption about the audience underlies the author's argument?
Read the following excerpt from an environmental blog about reusable bottles. The author cites a campus audit finding that vending machines sold 6,200 plastic bottles in one month, even though water refill stations were within a two-minute walk of every dorm. The author argues that convenience is often just habit. We don't need a new product; we need a new default. The syntax of the bolded sentence is most effective because it…
A student argues that schools should start classes later because later start times improve teen health and learning. The paragraph includes evidence, but the commentary does not fully explain why the evidence matters. Paragraph excerpt: Teenagers' sleep cycles naturally shift later, making early mornings especially difficult. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later, citing research linking insufficient sleep to attention problems and lower academic performance. This shows that doctors think later start times are better. Which revision of the bolded commentary would best explain the significance of the evidence?
In a 1936 radio address, the speaker talks to listeners still shaken by bank failures and widespread unemployment. The speaker argues that "fear of the poor" has led communities to treat relief recipients as suspects, forcing humiliating investigations and public shaming. While acknowledging the need to prevent fraud, the address contends that mass joblessness is a structural crisis rather than a personal moral failing. The speaker urges support for federal work programs and social insurance, insisting that democratic stability requires protecting citizens from destitution. The author's argument emerges in response to…
Read the following passage and answer the question. After last month's district board meeting, our superintendent celebrated a "balanced budget" and urged families to be proud of our "efficient schools." Yet the same budget document shows that the district eliminated 18 librarian positions, reduced bus routes so that some students now walk over a mile along roads without sidewalks, and capped heating repairs even as several classrooms hovered near 58°F during the cold snap. Teachers have been told to "innovate" with fewer supplies, while the district's public-relations contract increased by 22%. A community cannot claim it values literacy and safety while quietly stripping the staff and infrastructure that make both possible. If the district must cut, it should cut transparently and proportionally—starting with nonessential consulting and branding—rather than pushing costs onto children and calling it efficiency. Families deserve a budget hearing that explains tradeoffs in plain language and invites amendments before votes are final. The exigence prompting the passage is…
Read the following passage embedded in this question: A principal argues that starting high school later improves academic performance by aligning schedules with adolescent biology. Teens experience a natural shift in circadian rhythm, she explains, making it harder for them to fall asleep early; when schools begin at 7:20 a.m., many students accumulate sleep debt all week. That sleep loss has predictable effects: attention drops in first period, impulse control weakens, and minor conflicts escalate because students are exhausted. When the district piloted an 8:45 start time, the principal reports, tardiness fell and average first-period grades rose, while after-school activities still ran because practices simply moved slightly later. Some parents worry about childcare, but she argues that the cost of the early schedule is already being paid—in lower learning and higher stress. If the goal is better instruction, she concludes, the simplest lever is time. The passage relies most heavily on…
A neighborhood association is pressuring the city to enforce existing noise ordinances more consistently. The association claims that late-night construction and amplified music have increased since new restaurants opened on the main street. Restaurant owners respond that the area was rezoned for mixed use and that occasional noise is part of a lively district. The association counters that predictability matters: residents can tolerate events when they are scheduled, but not random disruptions at 2 a.m. The association asked the city to ticket businesses that violate the ordinance regularly, not the ones that comply. Which revision most improves clarity of the bolded sentence?
A personal essay about recovering from loss should end with which line?
Read the following excerpt from a librarian's essay about book challenges (embedded below). "When a parent objects to a novel, the easiest response is to treat the objection as a tantrum and move on. But that response is lazy. Most challengers are not trying to burn libraries down; they are trying to protect a child, sometimes clumsily. If we want to defend access to books, we have to argue with their reasons, not just their volume." The author's precise choice of clumsily most strongly suggests the tone is…
In a review of school discipline policies, an education advocate claims that "restorative practices work best when they are treated as infrastructure, not as an add-on." The advocate describes two middle schools in the same district. School A trained all staff, scheduled a daily advisory period, and tracked follow-up meetings; School B offered a one-time workshop and left implementation to individual teachers. Over a semester, suspensions at School A fell 37% and chronic absenteeism fell 12%, while School B's suspensions fell 5% and absenteeism was unchanged. The advocate notes that both schools serve similar demographics and received the same district funding. The evidence supports the author's claim by indicating that the school with scheduled advisory time and systemwide tracking saw far larger drops in suspensions and absenteeism than the school that relied on individual teachers because…
Read the following passage embedded in this question: A nutrition columnist argues that front-of-package warning labels can reduce sugar consumption more effectively than voluntary "healthy choice" badges. When a label clearly states "high in added sugar," shoppers make faster decisions and are less likely to rationalize a purchase with vague marketing claims. That split-second clarity matters, she says, because most grocery choices are made on autopilot; forcing a moment of attention interrupts the habit loop. Over time, as more shoppers avoid heavily sweetened products, manufacturers reformulate to escape the warning—reducing sugar across entire product lines, even for people who never read nutrition panels. The columnist admits labels are not a cure-all, but contends that education campaigns alone move slowly because they require constant effort from individuals. A warning label changes the environment, and when the environment changes, behavior follows. The author primarily develops the argument through…
Read the student essay excerpt below (about 350 words), then answer the question. Many schools have started using "participation points" as part of students' grades. The idea is that speaking in class shows engagement. But participation points often measure confidence and comfort, not learning. Some students think best in writing. They may listen closely, take detailed notes, and ask questions after class. Others come from cultures or families where interrupting adults is discouraged. When teachers reward the loudest voices, they are not necessarily rewarding the most prepared students. Participation grading can also punish students with anxiety or speech disorders. A grade should reflect what a student knows, not how easily they perform in front of peers. Schools already claim to value inclusion; this is a simple place to prove it. Teachers might respond that discussion is important and students need to practice. That's true. But practice does not require a high-stakes penalty. Teachers can provide multiple ways to participate: small-group discussion, written responses, online forums, or rotating roles. These options still build communication skills while respecting different strengths. Conclusion: Therefore, participation points are unfair, and teachers should stop using them. Also, school should start later because teenagers need more sleep. Why is the conclusion as written ineffective?
Read the following excerpt from a civic-affairs editorial and answer the question. The proposal to ban books arrives wrapped in the language of "protection," as if citizens were delicate cargo and ideas were corrosive chemicals. Supporters speak of "community standards," a phrase elastic enough to snap over any title that makes an adult uncomfortable. At the meeting, speakers read cherry-picked lines with theatrical shock, then demand removal as though literature were a public-health emergency. The policy's defenders insist no one is "censoring" anything; they are merely "curating," as if the library were an influencer's feed. The argument is less about children than about power—the power to decide what counts as acceptable thought. The word "elastic" helps establish a tone of…
Read the following passage embedded in this question: A public librarian argues that eliminating late fees increases returns rather than encouraging irresponsibility. When her branch removed fines for children's materials, the number of overdue items initially rose for two months, but then dropped below its previous average as families began checking out more books without fear of accumulating debt. The library also saw fewer accounts blocked, which meant more patrons could place holds; that, in turn, reduced the "lost in the backseat" problem because reminders arrived by text and parents had an active reason to return items quickly. She explains that late fees function like a regressive tax: families with less flexible schedules are punished most, so they avoid borrowing altogether. Without fines, she concludes, the library becomes a habit instead of a risk, and habits—unlike penalties—bring books back. The passage relies most heavily on…
Read the excerpt below, then answer the question. A science teacher argues against banning lab activities after a minor accident. "Yes, a beaker broke. No one was hurt. The proposed policy would replace experiments with videos for the rest of the year. If we remove risk by removing reality, we will graduate students who have seen science but never done it. Safety matters; so does substance." The sentence structure in lines If we remove risk by removing reality, we will graduate students who have seen science but never done it. contributes to the argument by…
Read the student essay excerpt below, then answer the question. In my town, the school board is considering replacing most printed textbooks with district-issued tablets. Supporters say tablets will "modernize learning" and save money. But the board's own budget memo admits the district would spend $420,000 up front on devices and repairs, while printed textbook replacement typically costs about $110,000 per year. Even if the numbers break even after a few years, the real issue is what students lose when everything becomes a screen. Studies from child development researchers have repeatedly linked heavy screen exposure to reduced attention spans, and anyone who has watched a class of teenagers knows that a device is not just a "learning tool"—it is also a portal to distractions. If the district truly wants better learning, it should invest in smaller class sizes and updated libraries rather than betting on fragile technology. Some people argue that tablets are lighter and more convenient than backpacks full of books, but that is just a minor comfort compared to the academic cost. The board should vote no on the tablet plan and keep printed textbooks as the default classroom resource. Which addition would most effectively acknowledge a counterargument while maintaining the author's position? Insert after the bolded sentence.
Read the embedded passage, then answer the question. The cafeteria's move to "all reusable" containers sounded like an easy win: less trash, cleaner conscience. But after a month, students complained about long lines at the return station, sticky lids in backpacks, and the awkwardness of being scolded for forgetting a container at home. Sustainability, it turns out, is not just a goal; it is a system that must be designed for ordinary forgetfulness. If the school wants reusables to reduce waste rather than increase resentment, it should redesign the return process for speed, create a low-friction backup option for forgotten containers, and publish transparent data on whether the program is actually reducing landfill output. Good intentions are not enough; the program must be convenient, forgiving, and accountable. The thesis prepares the reader for the argument's structure by…
Read the following excerpt from a student editorial about cafeteria food waste. The author notes that trash audits found unopened milk cartons were the most common item discarded, and that moving lunch earlier increased waste. The author argues that schedule decisions affect consumption. We changed the clock, and the clock changed the appetite. The author's use of the bolded sentence structure primarily serves to…
In a commentary about nutrition labels, the author argues that front-of-package warnings help shoppers compare products quickly. The author cites a study where participants identified high-sodium foods more accurately when warnings were present. The draft sentence reads: "Front-of-package labels are useful, for shoppers who are in a hurry." Which change best improves readability?

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