Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

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Study for the AP English Language and Composition Exam. Prepare with practice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your rhetorical strategies and composition skills to excel in your exam!

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What defines a compound sentence?

A sentence with one independent clause
A sentence comprised of only one subject
A sentence with more than one subject or predicate
A sentence that contains a question

The correct answer is: A sentence with more than one subject or predicate

A compound sentence is defined by the presence of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (such as and, but, or) or a semicolon. This structure allows for the combination of related ideas, giving the reader a more complex understanding of the relationships between different thoughts. While some of the other options touch on aspects of sentence structure, they do not accurately describe a compound sentence. A compound sentence can have multiple subjects or predicates but specifically requires multiple independent clauses to be classified as such. Therefore, the correct answer effectively encapsulates the essence of compound sentences by acknowledging that they consist of more than one independent clause, making it a comprehensive definition.