AP Spanish La Respuesta al Correo Electrónico 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the AP Spanish email response task, you receive an email from a Spanish-speaking pen pal asking about your school's extracurricular activities. Which tone is most appropriate?
- Formal, using usted and complete sentences
- Informal, using tú and conversational language (Correct answer)
- Neutral, avoiding both formal and informal registers
- Academic, using passive voice throughout
Correct answer: Informal, using tú and conversational language
Since the email is from a peer pen pal, an informal register using 'tú' is appropriate and expected.
Question 2: You receive an email from the director of a Spanish cultural organization inviting you to participate in an event. Which salutation is most appropriate for your reply?
- Hola, amigo,
- Estimado/a director/a: (Correct answer)
- Querido señor:
- Hey, director,
Correct answer: Estimado/a director/a:
'Estimado/a director/a:' is the correct formal salutation when addressing a professional by their title.
Question 3: When responding to a formal email on the AP exam, where should you reference the original email's content?
- Only in the closing paragraph
- Only in the subject line
- In the body of the response to show you understood the message (Correct answer)
- It is not necessary to reference the original email
Correct answer: In the body of the response to show you understood the message
AP graders look for evidence that you read and understood the original email, so reference its key points in your body paragraphs.
Question 4: An email from a Hispanic organization asks you to describe a challenge you have overcome. Which of the following best develops this topic in formal Spanish?
- Superé muchos problemas.
- He enfrentado desafíos, pero gracias a mi perseverancia, logré superar mis dificultades académicas. (Correct answer)
- Tuve problemas pero ya no.
- Los desafíos son difíciles para mí.
Correct answer: He enfrentado desafíos, pero gracias a mi perseverancia, logré superar mis dificultades académicas.
The second option provides specific detail, uses the present perfect and preterite correctly, and elaborates meaningfully on the topic.
Question 5: Which closing phrase is most appropriate when ending a formal email response to a Spanish-speaking university official?
- ¡Chao!
- Con cariño,
- Atentamente, (Correct answer)
- Tu amigo,
Correct answer: Atentamente,
'Atentamente,' is a standard formal closing equivalent to 'Sincerely,' used in professional correspondence.
Question 6: The email you receive on the AP exam is written in formal Spanish. You notice the sender uses 'usted.' How should you address the sender in your reply?
- Use 'tú' to seem friendly
- Mirror the formal register by also using 'usted' (Correct answer)
- Avoid all second-person pronouns entirely
- Switch between 'tú' and 'usted' throughout
Correct answer: Mirror the formal register by also using 'usted'
You should match the register of the original email; if the sender uses 'usted,' your reply should also use 'usted' to maintain appropriate formality.
Question 7: In the AP Spanish email task, what is the primary purpose of the introductory paragraph?
- To copy the original email word for word
- To acknowledge the email received and state the purpose of your reply (Correct answer)
- To list all the topics you will cover using bullet points
- To apologize for any errors you might make
Correct answer: To acknowledge the email received and state the purpose of your reply
The opening paragraph should acknowledge the original message and clearly introduce why you are writing your response.
AP Spanish La Respuesta al Correo Electrónico 2
In the AP Spanish email response task, you receive an email from a Spanish-speaking pen pal asking about your school's extracurricular activities.
Which tone is most appropriate?