Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

The choice highlighting "The pen is mightier than the sword" exemplifies metonymy due to its use of one term to represent something closely associated with it. In this phrase, "pen" symbolizes written words or communication, while "sword" represents military force or violence. This substitution showcases the concept of metonymy, where an attribute or commonly associated element is used to refer to a larger idea—in this case, the power of writing versus that of physical force. The other options do not illustrate metonymy as clearly. For instance, "The classroom was buzzing with voices" uses auditory imagery but focuses on an action rather than employing a representative substitution. Similarly, "Time flies like an arrow" conveys a simile comparing the swift passage of time to the speed of an arrow, and "She has a heart of stone" uses a metaphor to describe emotional coldness, rather than substituting one concept for another related concept.