Practice Multiple Choice 2014 AP Exam Section Pre-20th Century “Such is the emptiness…”

HINT: Hopefully you narrowed it down to D and E because you were able to identify which words made A, B, and C wrong…

Answer is Esee the next sentence that talks about how once something is gained, it’s often forgotten or disliked; the here and now of achievement isn’t fulfilling

Hint: Think about the cause/effect noted in the passage Hint: Think about the cause/effect noted in the passage. Also, consider what the author reveals about his view of when marriage is most enjoyed.

C is the answer b/c the passage indicates that having/achieving something still doesn’t provide fulfillment.

HINT: Like in the last question, think about what the author is saying about when marriage is most enjoyed.

A is correct b/c the statement is saying that a start of a marriage is originally enjoyable, but then it loses appeal quickly so that joy is only found again when the marriage is over.

HINT: Think about what KINDS of prospects would make the “heart dance HINT: Think about what KINDS of prospects would make the “heart dance.” Also, look to next sentence and the clue with the “pleasure of projecting…”

E is correct; “visionary schemes” make people feel “content” PS- “elysian” means blissful/delightful; it is an allusion to the mythological Elysian Fields which is an enjoyable spot for the dead and so has taken on a more common meaning of any paradise.

HINT: What is true of many who generate ideas? HINT: What is true of OTHERS, who try to act?

MANY generate ideas that they know they won’t see through OTHERS, not so inventive, try to act in that they gather data/research, but then they wait too long to do anything meaningful with it

HINT: Author notes that life is tough and can be disappointing, so sometimes what CAN bring some element of satisfaction?

Life is tough and can be disappointing, so sometimes it’s satisfying to revel in a mere idea/thought

HINT: First, this is the kind of question you skip when you are short on time…look at how many other parts of the essay you have to revisit to answer this question! As you do revisit other sections, think about the many vs. others exploration.

33-36 19-23

HINT: Look to cause/effect.

HINT: Think about syntax!

SUBJECT-VERB construction: a challenge/issue followed by what it does/produces

HINT: Think about what the passage indicates about WHY people act (what motivates what they do).

B is correct b/c the passage makes it clear that humans often act for the wrong reasons—many times out of obligation

TOUGH QUESTION! Make sure that, in picking the answer, you know what the words mean in each choice. Can you narrow down to 2 and guess—what words in choices automatically make the entire choice wrong?

TOUGH QUESTION! Not A: strident means harsh, grating, which the speaker is not Not B: no shift Not C: it isn’t speculative Not D: Speaker doesn’t present as cautious Yes E: speaker is straightforward

HINT: Recall question 48 about the “many” vs. “others”

Recall question 48 about the “many” who formulate plans but never enact them vs. the “others” who aren’t necessarily creative thinkers but at least take some steps to follow through on an idea