AP-Style Multiple-Choice Quiz (David Foster Wallace, “This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life”)

AP-Style Multiple Choice Quiz

David Foster Wallace, “This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life”

After reading the selection from “This is Water,” choose the best answer to each question. Click the submit button when finished. The following questions refer to paragraphs 1–5.

Question The story in paragraph 1, beginning “There are these two young fish swimming along,” is an example of

1. The story in paragraph 1, beginning “There are these two young fish swimming along,” is an example of

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The primary way the speaker establishes his authority is by

2. The primary way the speaker establishes his authority is by

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The phrase “banal platitude” (para. 2) can best be defined as a(n)

3. The phrase “banal platitude” (para. 2) can best be defined as a(n)

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question Why does the speaker claim to be “wrong and deluded” in the third paragraph?

4. Why does the speaker claim to be “wrong and deluded” in the third paragraph?

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The speaker reinforces the term “automatically” in the third paragraph with the later use of

5. The speaker reinforces the term “automatically” in the third paragraph with the later use of

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question In the sentences that begin “Probably the most dangerous thing about college education” and “Paying attention to what’s going on” (para. 5), the speaker uses which of the following literary techniques for emphasis?

6. In the sentences that begin “Probably the most dangerous thing about college education” and “Paying attention to what’s going on” (para. 5), the speaker uses which of the following literary techniques for emphasis?

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The speaker suggests that the audience can do which of the following by “[l]earning how to think” (middle of para. 5)?

7. The speaker suggests that the audience can do which of the following by “[l]earning how to think” (middle of para. 5)?

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The phrase “you will be totally hosed” (middle of para. 5) is an example of

8. The phrase “you will be totally hosed” (middle of para. 5) is an example of

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The speaker uses the example of suicide in the fifth paragraph to show

9. The speaker uses the example of suicide in the fifth paragraph to show

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Question The overall tone of the selection can best be described as

10. The overall tone of the selection can best be described as

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.