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AP English Language — Unit 4: 30 practice questions

30 original AP English Language questions on Unit 4, each with an explanation and its source. Topics: Comparison by shared criterion, Definition through criteria and example, Description serving an argument, Definition through boundary cases, Bus shelter, Library hours, Water alerts, Museum labels, Student passes, Tree canopy, Night market, Flood maps, Repair class, Clinic calls, Shelter trial, Tree shade. Two free samples are below. Try 5 more free, no sign-up.

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Two Unit 4 questions with explanations

Open a question, choose an answer in your head, then open the explanation.

Q1 Comparison by shared criterion

Two neighborhood notice systems are judged by how quickly residents can confirm a meeting time. A printed bulletin is easy to see in the lobby but becomes outdated when a meeting moves. A text alert reaches subscribers quickly, though it misses residents without mobile service. The writer recommends using both: the shared criterion is timely, dependable access, not technological novelty.

How does the comparison help the writer advance the argument?

  1. The writer compares the total number of words in each notice and treats that as proof of reliability.
  2. The writer compares both systems using a common criterion and uses their different strengths to justify a combined approach.
  3. The writer describes two unrelated devices without identifying a basis for comparison.
  4. The writer narrates the history of public meetings in the neighborhood.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. The passage compares the alternatives using a criterion relevant to the writer’s purpose. The comparison matters because it reveals a trade-off, shared function, or limit that a superficial contrast would miss.

Sources: College Board, AP English Language and Composition Course and Exam Description · College Board AP Central, AP English Language and Composition

Q2 Comparison by shared criterion

A city evaluates two cooling-center plans by the number of hours residents can actually use them. Plan A opens one large building for twelve hours but requires a long bus trip for many residents. Plan B opens three smaller sites for eight hours near local routes. The writer argues that total open hours alone are a poor measure of access; location must be compared as well.

How does the comparison help the writer advance the argument?

  1. The writer compares building sizes as if size alone measured usability.
  2. The writer defines a cooling center and gives no contrast between plans.
  3. The comparison uses access as a shared category and exposes why a single numerical measure is insufficient.
  4. The writer presents a chronological narrative of city planning.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C. The passage compares the alternatives using a criterion relevant to the writer’s purpose. The comparison matters because it reveals a trade-off, shared function, or limit that a superficial contrast would miss.

Sources: College Board, AP English Language and Composition Course and Exam Description · College Board AP Central, AP English Language and Composition

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