Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

What does "pathos" appeal to in an audience?

1. Logic and facts

2. Fear and prejudices

3. Emotions and values

4. Character and credibility

The correct answer is: Emotions and values

"Pathos" refers to an appeal to the audience's emotions and values. This rhetorical device aims to evoke feelings such as sympathy, anger, joy, or compassion in order to persuade or connect with the audience on a deeper, emotional level. By tapping into the audience's sentiments, a speaker or writer can create a sense of relatability and engagement that encourages the audience to care about the issue being presented. This can involve storytelling, vivid imagery, or emotionally charged language that resonates with the audience's personal experiences or moral beliefs, making them more receptive to the overall message. The other options pertain to different rhetorical appeals; for instance, logic and facts relate to "logos," while character and credibility connect to "ethos." Fear and prejudices could suggest an emotional appeal, but they lack the broader encompassing quality of pathos, which prioritizes a full spectrum of human emotions and values.