Practice Test 7 - AP English Language and Composition

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

Read the following passage embedded in the prompt, then answer the question. The city keeps calling the new downtown lanes "bike infrastructure," but what we have is paint that disappears exactly where drivers speed up. Two weeks ago, a cyclist was hit at the intersection by the river—an intersection the transportation department already flagged as "high conflict" in its own memo. In response, officials posted a social media reminder telling riders to "be visible," as if reflective gear can substitute for protected design. When a plan treats injury as an individual failure rather than a predictable outcome of traffic patterns, it guarantees more memorial rides and fewer commuters willing to pedal. If the city wants people out of cars, it has to build lanes that don't evaporate at the most dangerous points and then blame the public for not trusting them. The author is responding to which situation or problem?
Read the following student-written argumentative passage (AP English Language style) and answer the question. My school cafeteria is switching from disposable plastic utensils to compostable ones, and some students are already complaining that it's "pointless." But small systems matter because they train habits and reduce waste at scale. The cafeteria serves roughly 1,200 lunches a day. If even half of those meals use a plastic fork and spoon, that's hundreds of pieces of trash daily from one building. The argument that "one fork won't change anything" sounds realistic, but it's a misunderstanding of how environmental impact works. No single raindrop causes a flood. The cafeteria is not claiming it will stop climate change; it is reducing a predictable stream of waste that the school controls. That is a practical starting point. There are also educational benefits. Schools teach more than content; they teach norms. When a school makes sustainability visible—sorting bins, compostable materials, and clear signage—it signals that environmental choices are not just for documentaries or rich people with fancy reusable bottles. They are for everyone. Of course, compostable utensils only help if the school actually composts them. The district should partner with a local composting service, train staff, and communicate clearly so the change isn't just symbolic. So compostable utensils are better, and the cafeteria should do it, and that's all. Which revision to the bolded conclusion would best reinforce the author's purpose?
A state agency is considering a rule requiring restaurants to display calorie counts on menus. Supporters argue that transparent information helps consumers make choices and can encourage restaurants to offer healthier options. Restaurant owners counter that printing new menus is costly and that calorie counts can vary based on portion size. However, the agency's report notes that most menu updates already occur several times a year, and digital menu boards can be updated at minimal cost. In cities with similar rules, surveys found that customers noticed the information even when they didn't change their orders. The agency should adopt the rule to inform diners, posting numbers that are easy to understand. Which revision most improves clarity of the bolded sentence?
A superintendent defends a proposal to start high school one hour later, citing research that adolescents' circadian rhythms shift later and that sleep improves attention and attendance. The writer wants to revise the bolded sentence to improve readability. Students who sleep more, they are less likely to fall asleep in first period, and this is why start times matter. Which change best improves readability?
A superintendent writes to taxpayers in a district facing budget cuts: "You deserve proof before you approve another dollar. So here is what we can show: when we added two reading specialists at the elementary level, third-grade literacy rates rose, and the number of students needing intensive intervention in fifth grade fell. Cutting those positions would look like 'savings' this year and like remediation costs for years afterward. I'm asking you to renew the levy not because schools should be immune from scrutiny, but because you expect public money to be spent where it measurably works. Hold us accountable—then fund what succeeds." The author demonstrates awareness of the audience's values by…
Read the student essay excerpt below, then answer the question. Music has been part of human life for centuries, and different cultures have their own styles. Students today listen to music in many ways, like streaming and social media. At my school, the band program is one of the biggest clubs. In the full essay, the student argues that the school should fund instrument-repair scholarships because participation is dropping among low-income students who cannot afford maintenance. The student cites a band inventory showing 27 instruments currently unplayable and notes that repair costs average $85–$200. Which revision to the bolded introduction would best establish context for the argument?
A student is writing a body paragraph arguing that schools should provide free breakfast to all students. The paragraph's claim is: Universal breakfast reduces stigma and increases participation, which can improve students' readiness to learn. Evidence included: After one middle school switched from "free breakfast for eligible students" to "breakfast for all," participation increased from 38% of students to 71% in two months. The commentary after the evidence is "More students ate breakfast after the change." Which revision of the bolded commentary would best connect the evidence to the claim?
Read the following excerpt from a local paper's column about neighborhood noise and answer the question. Every summer, our block holds a familiar debate: are late-night fireworks "community spirit" or just inconsiderate chaos? I understand the desire to celebrate; I also understand the veterans who flinch at sudden booms and the parents pacing with infants who finally fell asleep at 9:45. The city's hotline logs spike each July, and so do the Nextdoor arguments that treat courtesy like surrender. You can call it tradition. You can call it harmless. You can call it "just one weekend." But names don't muffle sound, and labels don't calm a shaking dog. If we want to live close together, we have to act like it. The author's use of the bolded sentence structure primarily serves to…
Read the following passage and answer the question. Plastic bag bans are often marketed as a quick win for the environment, and they do reduce a visible kind of litter. After my county's ban, the creek behind the grocery store stopped collecting the thin, windblown bags that used to snag in branches. ___ the policy also pushed many shoppers toward thicker "reusable" bags that are forgotten, replaced, and ultimately thrown away. Because those bags require more material to produce, the environmental payoff depends on repeated use, not on good intentions. If lawmakers want real reduction, they should charge for all bags and invest the revenue in durable options and public education. Which transition best fits in the bolded location?
Read the following passage and answer the question. The school board is debating a rule that would require students to lock phones in pouches during class. Supporters point to a pilot at two middle schools: teachers reported 30% fewer interruptions, and hallway conflicts tied to social media dropped. Opponents argue that phones are safety tools and that enforcement will waste instructional time. However, the strongest reason to adopt the rule is not discipline but attention: when a device is within reach, students split their focus even if they never open an app. If the board wants higher reading stamina and more discussion, it should remove the constant invitation to check. Of course, the policy should include exceptions for medical needs and translation apps. The transition in the bolded sentence primarily serves to…
Read the following student-written argumentative passage and answer the question below. A lot of schools talk about "preparing students for the real world," but then they treat phones like they're contraband instead of tools. In my high school, the policy is simple: phones must stay in lockers from first bell to last, and teachers can confiscate them if they even appear on a desk. The result is not a calmer learning environment; it's an environment where students feel policed. When something is banned outright, students don't suddenly stop wanting it—they just get sneakier, and class time gets wasted on enforcement. The biggest problem is that a total ban ignores how phones can support learning when adults set clear expectations. In English, students can quickly look up an unfamiliar allusion rather than sitting confused, and in science, a timer app can help labs run smoothly. Even more important, phones are assistive technology for some students: translation apps, text-to-speech, and organizational reminders can be the difference between participating and falling behind. Schools already differentiate for learning styles, so it's strange to draw a hard line at the device that many students use to access those supports. A second issue is that banning phones doesn't teach self-control; it avoids teaching it. After graduation, nobody will lock away distractions for us. Colleges and employers expect people to manage notifications, focus during meetings, and use technology responsibly. If schools never allow guided practice, students won't develop the habits that matter. A structured phone policy—like "face down during instruction, allowed during independent work"—creates opportunities for teachers to coach attention instead of just punishing lapses. Finally, the ban isn't even consistently fair. Athletes sometimes get exceptions for coordinating rides, and students with strict parents worry about missing messages about family responsibilities. Confiscations also tend to hit the same students repeatedly, which makes the rule feel less like a learning strategy and more like a discipline trap. Schools should end all-day phone bans. Which revision of the bolded thesis best previews the reasoning that follows?
Read the following excerpt and answer the question. A university dean defended a policy limiting the number of different software platforms used across courses. She cited student feedback showing that first-year students used an average of nine different apps in their first semester, and 48% reported missing at least one assignment because they "couldn't find where it was posted." The dean emphasized that the policy would not restrict what professors teach, only how materials are distributed. She compared the current platform situation to "a campus where every class meets in a different building with no map. The lectures might be brilliant, but students spend their energy wandering instead of learning." Which explanation best accounts for the effectiveness of the comparison?
Read the following passage and answer the question. High schools often celebrate "perfect attendance" with certificates, raffles, or public recognition. The intention is to encourage commitment, but the message lands differently for students managing chronic illness, unstable housing, or caregiving responsibilities. Rewarding perfect attendance treats absence as a moral failure rather than a logistical or medical reality. A student who comes to school sick to protect a record does not demonstrate responsibility; they demonstrate fear of falling behind socially or academically. Schools can value consistency without romanticizing never missing a day: they can celebrate improvement, provide make-up support, and communicate that health is not a weakness. In a community, the goal is not to produce flawless records but to build conditions where students can learn even when life interrupts. Incentives should reflect that broader purpose. The author directly asserts that…
Read the student-written argumentative passage and answer the question. The city should stop pretending that leaf blowers are harmless "yard tools" and finally restrict gas-powered blowers during early morning hours. People deserve to sleep without being subjected to a 7 a.m. noise assault that sounds like a jet engine trapped in a trash can. And it's not only annoying—it's pollution. Gas blowers emit a mix of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, and some models have emissions comparable to driving a car for dozens of miles. If we're serious about air quality, we can't ignore the small engines just because they're small. Opponents always say, "But landscapers need them." Sure. And factories "need" smokestacks. Needing something doesn't mean you get to impose it on everyone else at any hour. The city could set a reasonable window—say, no gas blowers before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m.—and encourage electric alternatives by offering rebates. Also, let's be honest: blowers are often used to move leaves from one property to another, which is basically littering with extra steps. Rakes exist. Mulching exists. If your business model collapses without a two-stroke engine, that's not the neighborhood's problem. We already regulate construction noise. We already regulate idling vehicles. A blower ordinance is consistent with those rules and would improve quality of life immediately. Given the author's goal of persuading a mixed audience at a city council hearing (residents and landscaping business owners), which aspect is least effective for that audience?
A columnist defends library funding against proposed cuts, noting that the library's computer lab is often full, that job-seekers use résumé workshops, and that families rely on free programs. She concedes that e-books and search engines have changed reading habits but argues that the library's role has broadened. She writes, "A library is a lighthouse, not a warehouse: its value isn't in piling up boxes, but in guiding people through rough water." The comparison to a lighthouse, not a warehouse helps the author…
Read the following excerpt from a personal finance column (6 sentences). The writer argues that "buy now, pay later" plans should be regulated like credit. The app on my phone offers to split a $120 purchase into four "easy payments," as if arithmetic could erase risk. The company insists it is not a lender because it does not charge interest on time. But fees appear the moment a payment is late, and late is common when budgets are tight. Because the plans are marketed to young shoppers, the debt feels temporary. That feeling is precisely the product: a sense that consequences belong to a future self. Regulators should treat these plans as credit, because that is how they function. Which change best clarifies meaning in the bolded sentence?
Through their word choice and tone, the writer establishes a persona of a(n)
Read the following passage and answer the question. In debates about "privacy," people often picture secrecy: a closed door, a hidden message, a life no one can see. But privacy is not the same as secrecy. Privacy is control over personal information—who collects it, how it is used, and whether you can say no. This definition explains why a person can share photos with friends and still object to a company selling those photos' metadata. It also explains why "I have nothing to hide" misses the point. Even harmless details, when aggregated, can shape insurance rates, job offers, or the ads that follow someone across the internet. Critics respond that data collection is the price of convenience; after all, personalized maps and recommendations make life easier. That is true, and refusing all data sharing would be unrealistic. But convenience without control is not a bargain; it is surrender. If we want a digital world that respects privacy, we should demand clear consent, limited retention, and meaningful opt-outs—tools that restore control rather than pretending secrecy is possible. The author advances the argument primarily by…
Read the student essay below and answer the question that follows. My state is considering making the civics test required for high school graduation. Supporters say students need "basic knowledge" about government, and that sounds reasonable, but the plan misunderstands what civics actually is. The state should not require a standalone civics test to graduate. First, a single test encourages memorization instead of participation. Students will cram facts about amendments and branches, then forget them. Civics should be practiced: attending a meeting, writing a public comment, evaluating sources, and discussing real policies. A multiple-choice test can't measure whether someone can do those things. Second, the test would likely increase inequity. Schools with more resources can offer dedicated prep, while underfunded schools might not. Students with test anxiety or language barriers would be punished even if they understand civic ideas in other ways. Graduation requirements should not become another filter that reflects funding differences. Third, the state could support civics more effectively by investing in project-based coursework and teacher training. If lawmakers truly care about civic knowledge, they should fund the time and materials for students to engage with their communities, not add another exam and call it a solution. Which revision of the bolded thesis best previews the reasoning that follows?
A historian argues that removing controversial monuments without public discussion can deepen polarization. She supports relocating some statues to museums and adding contextual plaques, but she warns against pretending history can be "deleted." She writes, "Memory is a palimpsest, not a blank page: each generation writes over the last, but traces remain." She claims communities should confront those traces openly to make better choices. By comparing memory to a palimpsest, not a blank page, the author…

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