CliffsAP English Language and Composition
Chapter One
Introduction to the
Multiple-Choice Section
The multiple-choice section is normally 60 minutes long and consists of about 55
questions. You should expect four reading passages that represent a variety of
rhetorical modes (for example, narration, argumentation, persuasion, description).
The passages may vary in length from about 300 to about 800 words. Each passage
is followed by 10 to 15 questions based on its content. These questions are not
ordered by level of difficulty. Occasionally, a multiple-choice section of
the exam may have five passages, rather than four, with fewer questions per passage. You
will, however, always have the same approximate number of total questions on every exam.
Remember that you're not expected to be familiar with the passage or its specific content.
Consider this section to be akin to a scavenger hunt; the passage will give you everything
you need, it's just up to you to find it and think about it accurately. Any technical information
crucial to comprehending the passage, as well as unusual or foreign phrases, will be defined for
you.
You will be more comfortable with both the essay and multiple-choice sections if you are
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