AP Spanish Literature Text Explanation Practice
41 Text Explanations written in the AP format. Pick one, read the fragment and the full prompt, and write your response in Spanish.
Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.
41 questions
sorted by unit
Power loss amid cultural conflict and contact
Unit 1: Unit 1 – La época medieval
Identifica al autor y la época de este fragmento. Luego, explica el desarrollo del tema de la pérdida del poder ante el conflicto entre culturas dentro de la obra a la que pertenece.
Paseábase el rey moro
por la ciudad de Granada,
desde la puerta de Elvira
hasta la de Vivarambla
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Cartas le fueron venidas
que Alhama era ganada.
Las cartas echó en el fuego,
y al mensajero matara.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Descabalga de una mula
y en un caballo cabalga,
por el Zacatín arriba
subido se había al Alhambra.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Como en el Alhambra estuvo,
al mismo punto mandaba
que se toquen sus trompetas,
sus añafiles de plata.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Y que las cajas de guerra
apriesa toquen el arma,
porque lo oigan sus moros,
los de la Vega y Granada.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Los moros, que el son oyeron,
que al sangriento Marte llama,
uno a uno y dos a dos
juntado se ha gran batalla.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Allí habló un moro viejo,
de esta manera hablara:
-¿Para qué nos llamas, rey?
¿Para qué es esta llamada?
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
-Habéis de saber, amigos,
una nueva desdichada:
que cristianos de braveza
ya nos han ganado Alhama.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Allí habló un alfaquí,
de barba crecida y cana:
-Bien se te emplea, buen rey,
buen rey, bien se te empleara
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
-Mataste los Bencerrajes,
que eran la flor de Granada;
cogiste los tornadizos
de Córdoba la nombrada.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Por eso mereces, rey,
una pena muy doblada:
que te pierdas tú y el reino,
y aquí se pierda Granada.
-¡Ay de mi Alhama!
Romance de la pérdida de Alhama
Dominio público. Texto: es.wikisource.org (“Romance de la pérdida de Alhama”).
What the Text Explanation asks
The Text Explanation is FRQ 1 on the AP Spanish Literature exam. You identify the author and period of a fragment, then explain in Spanish how a theme develops across the full work it comes from.
- 15 min
- suggested writing time
- 6 points
- across rows A and B
- 7.5%
- of your exam score
Part A: Content
The period and author, and how the theme develops across the full work
3 pts
Part B: Language
How well your Spanish carries the explanation
3 pts
How Text Explanation practice works
Each question follows the exam’s format, from the full prompt to a score on every part.
Read the fragment and prompt
The fragment and the full prompt, in Spanish, laid out the way the exam shows them.
Write on a 15-minute timer
The time to plan for on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
Submit for a score out of 6
Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.
Questions about the Text Explanation
How many responses can I get scored?
You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.
Do I need to know the whole work?
Yes. The prompt asks how the theme develops in the work the fragment comes from, so your answer should reach past the printed lines.
What if I can’t name the author?
Still name the period. A top content score needs the correct period. The prompt asks for the author too, so give your best supported guess.
Is my Spanish scored separately?
Yes. Content is row A and language is row B, each worth 3 points. Imperfect Spanish can still earn full content credit.
Are these real College Board questions?
No. We wrote them in the AP format, with the same identify-and-explain prompt the exam uses.
More AP Spanish Literature practice
Single Text Analysis Essay practice
Single Text Analysis Essays with the full passage and prompt.
Text Comparison Essay practice
Text Comparison Essays with both texts and the full prompt.
AP Spanish Literature FRQs
Every FRQ type for AP Spanish Literature, with practice for each.
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