SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 2

Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions about it. For each question, decide on the basis of the passage which one of the choices best answers the question.

Passage 1

The following passage is adapted from a work of narrative fiction.

The morning I turned thirteen, my father took me down to the boatyard before sunrise. Fog hung thick over the harbor, muffling the clang of rigging against masts, and I could taste salt in the air. He handed me a coil of rope without a word, the kind fishermen use for lobster traps, heavy and (5) rough against my palms. For weeks I had watched him from the shop window, measuring and cutting, his hands moving with a certainty I could not imagine possessing myself.     “You’ll splice this,” he said, and demonstrated once, his thick fingers nimble as they wove the strands together. I tried to mimic (10) the motion, but the rope seemed to have a will of its own, unraveling the moment I thought I had it right. My father said nothing, only waited, his arms crossed, his breath visible in the cold morning air. Around us, other boats creaked in their slips, and somewhere a gull cried out, sharp and insistent.     By the time (15) the sun burned through the fog, my hands were raw and my splice looked nothing like his, but he nodded once, a brief dip of his chin that meant more than any praise. “Again,” he said, and I understood then that this was not a gift but an inheritance, (20) this patient repetition, this slow acquisition of skill that bound me to him and to the harbor and to all the generations of men who had worked these docks before us.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the physical geography of a coastal town
2. depict a moment of initiation and connection between father and child
3. explain the technical process of splicing rope for maritime work
4. criticize the demanding expectations placed on young people
5. celebrate the narrator’s natural talent for working with boats

2. As used in line 6, the word “certainty” most nearly means

1. confidence
2. knowledge
3. rigidity
4. prediction
5. stubbornness

3. The narrator’s description of the rope as having “a will of its own” (line 11) suggests that

1. the rope was defective and unsuitable for splicing
2. the task was more difficult than the narrator anticipated
3. the father deliberately chose rope that was too challenging
4. the narrator lacked any aptitude for manual labor
5. rope splicing requires supernatural skill to master

4. The father’s silence throughout most of the passage primarily conveys

1. disappointment in his child’s lack of natural ability
2. a teaching method that emphasizes observation and practice
3. anger at being forced to work on the narrator’s birthday
4. a cold and distant personality devoid of affection
5. confusion about how to explain the task clearly

5. The narrator indicates that by the end of the passage, the splice was

1. perfect in every technical detail
2. worse than the father had expected it to be
3. still imperfect but deemed acceptable by the father
4. abandoned in favor of a different task
5. identical to the father’s demonstration

6. The phrase “not a gift but an inheritance” (lines 18-19) suggests that the narrator views the experience as

1. an unwanted burden imposed by family tradition
2. a valuable skill passed down through generations
3. a birthday present that failed to bring joy
4. a punishment disguised as a lesson
5. an unexpected financial opportunity

7. The overall tone of the passage can best be described as

1. bitter and resentful
2. reflective and reverent
3. humorous and lighthearted
4. anxious and fearful
5. detached and objective

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about behavioral economics.

The concept of loss aversion, first articulated by psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in 1979, fundamentally challenges the traditional economic assumption that human beings are rational actors who weigh gains and losses with equal consideration. Their research demonstrated that people experience the pain of losing something (5) as approximately twice as intense as the pleasure of gaining something of equivalent value. This asymmetry has profound implications for understanding everything from consumer behavior to political decision-making.     Consider a simple experiment: participants are given forty dollars and then offered a choice. They may either keep twenty dollars with certainty or flip (10) a coin for a chance to keep all forty dollars or lose everything. Most participants choose the certain twenty dollars, even though the expected value of both options is identical. However, when the same scenario is framed differently – participants may either lose twenty dollars with certainty or gamble on losing nothing or losing everything – most suddenly (15) become risk-seekers, preferring the gamble. The outcome possibilities are mathematically identical in both framings, yet the prospect of a certain loss proves psychologically intolerable in a way that a certain gain is not.     Loss aversion helps explain otherwise puzzling phenomena in financial markets. Investors routinely hold losing stocks (20) far longer than winning ones, hoping to avoid realizing a loss, even when rational analysis suggests selling. The mere fact of selling at a loss transforms an abstract decline into a concrete psychological event, a transformation that investors will pay significant opportunity costs to avoid.

8. The main purpose of the passage is to

1. criticize traditional economic theories as completely worthless
2. explain a psychological principle and illustrate its effects
3. argue that all financial decisions are fundamentally irrational
4. describe the professional relationship between two psychologists
5. provide investment advice for stock market participants

9. According to the passage, traditional economic theory assumes that people

1. experience losses as twice as painful as equivalent gains
2. make decisions based on emotional rather than logical factors
3. evaluate gains and losses with equal weight
4. prefer certain outcomes to risky gambles in all situations
5. are incapable of understanding mathematical probability

10. As used in line 6, the word “asymmetry” most nearly means

1. imbalance
2. confusion
3. similarity
4. complexity
5. deception

11. The coin-flip experiment described in the second paragraph demonstrates that

1. most people are naturally skilled at calculating expected value
2. how a choice is presented can alter people’s preferences even when outcomes are equivalent
3. participants always prefer certainty over risk regardless of framing
4. gambling is more appealing when potential gains are larger
5. mathematically identical scenarios always produce identical decisions

12. The passage suggests that investors hold losing stocks longer than winning stocks because

1. losing stocks are more likely to recover their value than winning stocks are to continue rising
2. they lack the mathematical knowledge to analyze their investments rationally
3. selling at a loss makes the psychological pain of that loss more real and concrete
4. financial advisors consistently recommend this investment strategy
5. they enjoy the excitement of taking risks with their money

13. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the two experiments mentioned in the passage?

1. The first experiment disproves the findings of the second
2. Both experiments demonstrate the same principle using different contexts
3. The second experiment corrects methodological flaws in the first
4. The first is a hypothetical scenario while the second describes actual investor behavior
5. They represent contradictory findings that remain unresolved

14. The author’s tone in discussing loss aversion can best be characterized as

1. dismissive and skeptical
2. informative and analytical
3. passionate and persuasive
4. sarcastic and mocking
5. confused and uncertain

Passage 3

The following passage is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in 1877 in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana.

Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who (5) led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are – perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of (10) them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of Chief Joseph’s speech is to

1. announce his decision to end armed resistance
2. praise General Howard for his military strategy
3. request additional supplies for the coming winter
4. inspire his warriors to continue fighting
5. negotiate specific terms of a peace treaty

16. As used in line 2, the phrase “I have it in my heart” most nearly suggests that Chief Joseph

1. has memorized General Howard’s exact words
2. remembers and values what was said to him
3. disagrees strongly with the general’s position
4. feels physical pain when recalling the conversation
5. plans to deceive the general about his intentions

17. Chief Joseph’s repeated references to death throughout the speech serve primarily to

1. threaten revenge against those who killed his people
2. emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
3. demonstrate his superior knowledge of battlefield casualties
4. fulfill a traditional ritual required before surrender
5. express his philosophical views about mortality

18. The detail that “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5) suggests that

1. Chief Joseph believes young people make better decisions than elders
2. traditional leadership structures have been disrupted by the deaths of elder chiefs
3. only young men were allowed to participate in tribal councils
4. Chief Joseph is too young to have authority over his people
5. the tribe operates as a pure democracy with equal votes

19. Chief Joseph’s statement “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 10-11) primarily conveys

1. certainty that all the missing children have perished
2. the grim possibility that his search may end in tragedy
3. hope that the children are safe in the hills
4. anger at those responsible for separating families
5. relief that the fighting has finally ended

20. The final sentence of the speech (“From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever”) can best be described as

1. a poetic expression of an immediate and permanent decision
2. a temporary agreement that Chief Joseph plans to break later
3. a metaphor comparing warfare to the setting sun
4. an ambiguous statement that avoids making a clear commitment
5. a demand for General Howard to cease all military operations

■ ■ ■   STOP   ■ ■ ■

IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED, YOU MAY CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS SECTION ONLY. DO NOT TURN TO ANY OTHER SECTION OF THE TEST.

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – depict a moment of initiation and connection between father and child
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on the narrator’s thirteenth birthday lesson in rope splicing, which represents both a coming-of-age ritual and a moment of connection to the father and maritime tradition (lines 18-20). Choice (A) is too narrow, as the harbor setting is backdrop rather than focus. Choice (C) is incorrect because technical instruction is the vehicle for the larger theme, not the purpose itself.

2. Ans: (A) – confidence
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The father’s hands move with “certainty” that the narrator cannot imagine possessing (line 6), indicating assurance and skill in his movements. Choice (D) is wrong because “prediction” refers to foretelling rather than assured action. Choice (C) is incorrect because “rigidity” suggests inflexibility, while the father’s fingers are described as “nimble” (line 9).

3. Ans: (B) – the task was more difficult than the narrator anticipated
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator’s metaphor that the rope seemed to have “a will of its own, unraveling” (lines 10-11) indicates unexpected difficulty with a task that appeared simpler when the father demonstrated it. Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing suggests the rope itself was defective. Choice (D) is too extreme; the narrator eventually produces an acceptable splice by the end (lines 16-17).

4. Ans: (B) – a teaching method that emphasizes observation and practice
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The father demonstrates once, then waits and finally says “Again” (lines 8-9, 18), showing a pedagogical approach based on repetition and observation rather than verbal explanation. Choice (A) is wrong because the father’s nod of approval (line 17) indicates acceptance, not disappointment. Choice (D) contradicts the passage’s conclusion that this patience represents meaningful connection (lines 18-20).

5. Ans: (C) – still imperfect but deemed acceptable by the father
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The narrator states explicitly that the splice “looked nothing like his” but that the father “nodded once” in approval before saying “Again” (lines 16-18). Choice (E) directly contradicts line 16. Choice (A) is incorrect because the text explicitly states the splice was imperfect compared to the father’s work.

6. Ans: (B) – a valuable skill passed down through generations
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator clarifies that the experience represents “an inheritance” that binds him “to all the generations of men who had worked these docks before us” (lines 18-20), indicating value and continuity. Choice (A) reverses the passage’s tone; the narrator describes this realization with understanding, not resentment. Choice (C) misuses the word “gift” from the passage, which the narrator explicitly contrasts with “inheritance.”

7. Ans: (B) – reflective and reverent
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The narrator looks back on this formative experience with thoughtful consideration and respect for the tradition being passed down (lines 18-20), using elevated language like “inheritance” and “slow acquisition of skill.” Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage contains no bitterness; the narrator embraces the lesson. Choice (C) is wrong because the serious, ceremonial quality of the passage lacks any humor.

8. Ans: (B) – explain a psychological principle and illustrate its effects
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage defines loss aversion (lines 1-7), provides experimental demonstration (lines 8-17), and shows real-world application (lines 18-23). Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage “challenges” (line 2) but does not declare traditional economics “completely worthless.” Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage analyzes investor behavior but offers no advice.

9. Ans: (C) – evaluate gains and losses with equal weight
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that traditional economics assumes “human beings are rational actors who weigh gains and losses with equal consideration” (lines 2-4). Choice (A) reverses the relationship; this describes loss aversion itself, not traditional theory. Choice (D) is too broad and not stated; the passage discusses specific framing effects, not all situations.

10. Ans: (A) – imbalance
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The “asymmetry” refers to the unequal psychological weight of losses versus gains – losses hurt twice as much (lines 4-6). Choice (C) is the opposite of asymmetry. Choice (B) is incorrect because asymmetry describes a measurable difference, not a state of confusion.

11. Ans: (B) – how a choice is presented can alter people’s preferences even when outcomes are equivalent
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The experiment shows that identical mathematical scenarios produce opposite risk preferences depending on gain versus loss framing (lines 8-17), with the passage explicitly noting “outcome possibilities are mathematically identical in both framings” (line 16). Choice (C) contradicts the findings; people prefer certainty in the gain frame but risk in the loss frame. Choice (E) is directly contradicted by the experimental results.

12. Ans: (C) – selling at a loss makes the psychological pain of that loss more real and concrete
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that “selling at a loss transforms an abstract decline into a concrete psychological event” (lines 21-22), which investors avoid. Choice (A) is a common real-world rationalization but is not stated or suggested in the passage. Choice (D) is not mentioned and contradicts the passage’s implication that this behavior is irrational.

13. Ans: (D) – The first is a hypothetical scenario while the second describes actual investor behavior
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The coin-flip scenario is a controlled experiment (lines 8-17), while the stock-holding example describes observed real-world behavior in financial markets (lines 18-23). Choice (B) is partially correct but too vague; choice (D) captures the specific structural relationship between experimental and applied contexts. Choice (A) is incorrect because both support the same principle of loss aversion.

14. Ans: (B) – informative and analytical
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The author presents research findings, explains mechanisms, and analyzes implications in a clear, neutral academic style throughout. Choice (C) is too strong; the passage explains rather than advocates. Choice (A) is incorrect because the author treats the research respectfully and presents it as valid.

15. Ans: (A) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph explicitly states “I am tired of fighting” (line 2) and concludes “I will fight no more forever” (lines 12-13), making surrender the speech’s clear purpose. Choice (D) is the opposite of the speech’s message. Choice (E) is incorrect because the speech announces surrender but does not negotiate specific terms.

16. Ans: (B) – remembers and values what was said to him
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase “I have it in my heart” (line 2) follows “I know his heart” and “What he told me before,” suggesting emotional retention and respect for General Howard’s words. Choice (E) contradicts the respectful tone established by “I know his heart.” Choice (C) is wrong because the context suggests acceptance rather than disagreement.

17. Ans: (B) – emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph lists multiple dead chiefs by name (lines 3-5), mentions frozen children (line 6), and references people possibly “freezing to death” and children “among the dead” (lines 7-11), cumulatively demonstrating catastrophic casualties. Choice (A) is incorrect because the speech’s purpose is surrender, not threat. Choice (D) invents a cultural practice not mentioned in the passage.

18. Ans: (B) – traditional leadership structures have been disrupted by the deaths of elder chiefs
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph states “The old men are all dead” (line 4) immediately before noting that now “It is the young men who say yes or no,” indicating a leadership vacuum. Choice (C) distorts the passage; it describes a situation created by death, not traditional practice. Choice (E) is too broad and not supported by the text.

19. Ans: (B) – the grim possibility that his search may end in tragedy
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The word “Maybe” (line 10) indicates uncertainty, while the phrase acknowledges the possibility of finding his children dead, conveying fear without certainty. Choice (A) is too extreme; “maybe” indicates possibility, not certainty. Choice (C) is incorrect because hoping they are safe would not involve looking for them “among the dead.”

20. Ans: (A) – a poetic expression of an immediate and permanent decision
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” grounds the decision in the present moment, while “forever” indicates permanence (lines 12-13), expressed in elevated, memorable language. Choice (D) contradicts the clarity of “I will fight no more forever.” Choice (B) is historically inaccurate and unsupported by the speech’s tone of exhausted finality.