1987 AP Exam

1. E
2. E
3. C
4. E
5. D
6. A
7. E
8. B
9. A
10. E
11. D
12. B
13. D
14. C
15. A
16. C
17. C
18. D
19. E
20. B
21. D
22. B
23. B
24. B
25. D
26. E
27. D
28. A
29. D
30. B
31. A
32. E
33-46. Not listed
47. B
48. A
49. E
50. D
51. B
52. E
53. E
54. B
55. D
56. B
57. A
58. D
59. C
60. B
61. E
 
Question 1
 
     George Eliot's poem serves to juxtapose "Old Leisure" with the contemporary concept of leisure in the 1860s.  Eliot expresses a fond nostalgic feeling for the leisure of the past, while also acknowledging that progress has been made and the transformation of the idea of leisure from old to new was a necessary part of progress.  She uses a multitude of rhetorical devices to convey her feelings on leisure.
     The first line of the poem begins with "leisure is gone," giving the reader the feeling that the poem will be in defense of old leisure and against contemporary leisure.  However, she later goes on to support some aspects of contemporary leisure and explains that they fit the times.  This poem is a mediation on change in tradition over time, rather than an argument in support of old or modern leisure.  "Fine old Leisure!  Do not be severe upon him, and judge him by our modern standard…"  While old leisure was different, Eliot explains, it was not of lesser value to modern leisure; it was a reflection of the times.
     Eliot makes use of various literary techniques to convey her message.  The most immediately obvious use of figurative language is the personification of "Old Leisure," who is described as a gentleman.  "Old Leisure was quite a different personage: he read only one newspaper, innocent of leaders…"  Here Eliot addresses history's limited view in comparison with the ever-increasing knowledge of the world that new leisure brings with it.  Eliot says Old Leisure only read one newspaper; he had a limited worldview and did not see multiple perspectives.  Worldwide concerns were generally not as important as domestic affairs.  It would be irresponsible to view Old Leisure negatively because of the less educated view of the time period, argues Eliot.  "He had an easy, jolly conscience," Eliot says in regard to morality and religion.  Because of the deep religiousness of the era, people viewed taking religion lightly as a terrible thing.  This is why Eliot focuses on excusing old leisure in the public eye in this regard.
   Old Leisure is, Eliot argues, is blissfully ignorant, while new leisure judges it as primitive or stupid.  Eliot appreciates both the old and the new in different ways, and focuses mostly on comparing the changes over the time period with regard to leisure.
 
 
Question 2
 
     George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" is a massive exploration of changing political and social concepts in the world.  In Orwell's vision of the future, people are completely subjugated and controlled by the government.  He noted shifts in the political system that were heading towards a more restricted and tightly controlled society.  Orwell wants to tell people that increasing authority and giving more power to those at the top will not result in a more protected society but a more controlled one.  Throughout the novel, Orwell paints a picture of this future society and urges readers to give it more consideration.
     Orwell knew that progressive technology would be used by governments to secure their countries and control their people.  He viewed the trend in politics and came to the conclusion that an authoritarian society like the one in "Nineteen Eighty-Four" is inevitably in our future.  Orwell brings these ideas to the attention of the reader, and uses persuasive techniques to try to affect the reader's views.  For example, throughout the novel, symbolism is very important in that it gives a physical form to revolution.  Symbols in turn make the reader feel empathetic towards Winston and Julia.
    Orwell influences the reader to side with the people rather than the state, in part due to the humanization of Winston and Julia.  Winston is a regular person, which allows the reader to better connect with him.  It makes the torture he endures that much more horrific and meaningful. 

Notes:

The first question I had troubler with was number 8.  None of the answers really seemed like they were right.  I thought the parable served as an analogy to what Janie felt, but that was not an option.  I went with B on an educated guess.

 

Fairly confident number 10 is E, as it directly ties into the theme of the story.  Each bit of love was taken from Janie just as it was from the angel in the parable.

 

There seems to be a ray of hope in Janie's loneliness at the end of the story; so 12 is probably B.

 

Number 13 makes me question my answer to number 12, but I'm going with "forced glee."

 

For number 15, A is the correct answer because it is the only concrete thing (Janie's veil) and listed.

 

Number 16 is another difficult one, as none of the answers appeared to me to be spot on, though 17 was a very easy follow up.

 

I'm unsure of what the phrase "wear the Bays" means in number 19, but my best guess is that it's related to ridicule.

 

I think 22 is B; the speaker is not trying to insult his peers.

 

Number 30 could be B, didactic usefulness. 

 

Number 31 confused me because I thought the speaker argued at least two of these points instead of one.

 

I went with "Iambic tetrameter" for number 32, but to be honest I have no clue what that is, or what any of the other choices were.  It reminded me of Iambic pentameter so I just decided to go with it.

 

*Two pages that contained questions 33-46 are missing from the document; skipping those.*

 

Not sure whether 49 is C or E, but going with E.  Unsure whether or not the sea was used symbolically.

 

I dislike questions like 51 because, though I think the answer is B, a maiden, C, a lover, would still be accurate.

 

Number 53 is E; the speaker describes the music as being present, not remote.

 

For number 56- speaker's thoughts are the wind, mind is the Lute.