Practice Worksheet - 1

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 ferry from Kowloon lurched as it met the chop of the harbor, and Mai steadied herself against the railing, watching the gray water fold and unfold beneath her. She had made this crossing a hundred times since her family moved to Hong Kong (5) three years ago, but today the distance between the two shores felt immeasurable. In her school bag lay the letter from the conservatory in London, the envelope already softened from her constant handling of it during the past week.     Her father had not (10) spoken to her since she showed it to him on Monday. He sat at breakfast with his newspaper raised like a wall, and her mother moved through the apartment with the tight-lipped silence that Mai had learned to read as disappointment. They had sacrificed so much, her mother (15) reminded her, to give her opportunities here. Her older brother had forgone university to work in their uncle’s shipping office. And now Mai wanted to abandon them for three years, to study music in a city where she knew no one, where (20) winter came early and the language, though familiar from school, would surround her like cold water.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the physical geography of Hong Kong harbor
2. reveal a character’s internal conflict about an important decision
3. explain why the narrator’s family moved to Hong Kong
4. criticize parents who prevent their children from pursuing dreams
5. contrast life in Hong Kong with life in London

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

1. vast
2. unknowable
3. tiny
4. quantifiable
5. visible

3. The detail that the envelope has been “softened from her constant handling” (lines 7-8) suggests that Mai

1. has already decided to reject the conservatory’s offer
2. is careless with important documents
3. has been obsessively thinking about the letter
4. received the letter many months ago
5. plans to show the letter to her brother

4. The passage indicates that Mai’s father responds to the news of her acceptance by

1. expressing pride in her accomplishment
2. helping her prepare for the move to London
3. refusing to communicate with her
4. encouraging her to defer her enrollment
5. consulting with her uncle about the decision

5. The phrase “raised like a wall” (line 11) emphasizes the father’s

1. interest in current events
2. emotional withdrawal from Mai
3. anger at the conservatory
4. habit of reading at breakfast
5. desire to protect his daughter

6. According to the passage, Mai’s brother

1. encouraged her to apply to the conservatory
2. also studied music as a young person
3. gave up attending university to work
4. recently moved to London for business
5. owns a shipping company in Hong Kong

7. The comparison of language to “cold water” (line 20) conveys Mai’s sense that English in London would be

1. refreshing and invigorating
2. unfamiliar and overwhelming
3. impossible for her to learn
4. similar to Cantonese in structure
5. useful for her musical studies

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about archaeology and ancient trade.

    For decades, archaeologists believed that cacao cultivation and chocolate consumption originated exclusively in Mesoamerica, where the Maya and later the Aztec developed elaborate rituals around the bitter beverage made from ground cacao beans. (5) But recent chemical analyses of pottery fragments from the upper Amazon basin have pushed the origin of cacao use back by some fifteen hundred years and relocated it nearly a thousand miles south of the areas previously considered the cradle of chocolate culture.     The discovery (10) emerged from an unlikely source: residue trapped in the porous clay of vessels excavated from the Santa Ana-La Florida site in southeast Ecuador. Using a technique called liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, researchers identified theobromine, a chemical compound found almost exclusively in the cacao (15) plant, in pottery dating to approximately 3300 BCE. This finding not only predates Mesoamerican cacao use but also suggests a completely independent tradition of cultivation and preparation.     What makes the discovery particularly intriguing is the apparent direction of ancient trade. Rather than cacao (20) moving from Mesoamerica southward, as scholars had long assumed, it now appears that Amazonian groups may have introduced the plant northward, perhaps through networks of exchange that connected distant communities across challenging terrain. The implications extend beyond chocolate itself, suggesting that our understanding of pre-Columbian (25) trade routes and cultural diffusion may require substantial revision.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. chocolate has been consumed for thousands of years in many cultures
2. new evidence has changed scientific understanding of where cacao use began
3. Mesoamerican civilizations were less advanced than previously believed
4. liquid chromatography is the most effective archaeological technique
5. the Maya and Aztec traded extensively with South American groups

9. According to the passage, archaeologists previously believed that cacao use originated in

1. the upper Amazon basin
2. southeast Ecuador
3. Mesoamerica
4. multiple locations simultaneously
5. an unknown region of South America

10. As used in line 7, the word “cradle” most nearly means

1. resting place
2. birthplace
3. container
4. destination
5. boundary

11. The passage indicates that theobromine is significant because it

1. is highly toxic to humans in large quantities
2. was used in Maya religious ceremonies
3. occurs almost only in the cacao plant
4. can be detected only with modern technology
5. proves that pottery was used for cooking

12. The author describes the pottery residue as coming from “an unlikely source” (line 10) primarily to

1. suggest that the researchers were not looking for cacao evidence
2. emphasize that valuable discoveries can come from unexpected materials
3. argue that pottery analysis is not a reliable archaeological method
4. indicate that the pottery was poorly preserved
5. criticize earlier archaeologists for overlooking the site

13. Based on the passage, the new findings suggest that in ancient times, cacao most likely moved

1. from Mesoamerica to South America
2. from the Amazon region toward Mesoamerica
3. simultaneously in multiple directions
4. from Europe to the Americas
5. only within the Amazon basin

14. The author’s tone in the passage can best be described as

1. skeptical and dismissive
2. enthusiastic and informal
3. neutral and informative
4. alarmed and urgent
5. humorous and lighthearted

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in 1877.

    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, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who (5) say yes or no. He who 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 (10) where they are-perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of 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 (15) I will fight no more forever.

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

1. declare his intention to continue fighting in the future
2. request medical supplies for wounded soldiers
3. announce his surrender and explain his reasons
4. celebrate a military victory over General Howard
5. negotiate the terms of a peace treaty

16. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (line 4) in order to

1. explain why younger men now make decisions
2. criticize the older generation for starting the war
3. suggest that General Howard is too old to lead
4. praise the bravery of elderly warriors
5. indicate that disease has killed his people

17. As used in line 13, the word “sick” most nearly means

1. ill
2. disgusted
3. weak
4. weary
5. infected

18. The detail about children “freezing to death” (lines 6-7) serves primarily to

1. request winter clothing from General Howard
2. emphasize the dire conditions facing his people
3. blame the U.S. Army for the cold weather
4. explain why the chiefs were killed in battle
5. describe the location where the speech was given

19. Chief Joseph’s statement “I know his heart” (line 1) suggests that he

1. distrusts General Howard’s intentions
2. has a medical understanding of anatomy
3. believes he understands General Howard’s character
4. plans to attack General Howard personally
5. expects General Howard to reject the surrender

20. The overall tone of the speech can best be described as

1. angry and defiant
2. mournful and resigned
3. optimistic and hopeful
4. confused and uncertain
5. proud and triumphant

■ ■ ■   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) – reveal a character’s internal conflict about an important decision
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on Mai’s struggle between accepting the conservatory offer and remaining loyal to her family, as shown by her obsessive handling of the letter (lines 7-8) and her parents’ silent disapproval (lines 10-15). Choice (A) is wrong because the harbor description is merely setting, not the primary purpose. Choice (C) is wrong because the family’s move is mentioned only as background detail, not explained in depth.

2. Ans: (A) – vast
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, Mai feels the distance is “immeasurable,” meaning it feels enormous or vast due to her emotional turmoil, not literally impossible to measure. Choice (D) is wrong because “quantifiable” means the opposite of immeasurable. Choice (C) is wrong because “tiny” contradicts the sense that the distance feels overwhelming to Mai.

3. Ans: (C) – has been obsessively thinking about the letter
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The softened envelope from “constant handling” (lines 7-8) indicates Mai has been repeatedly touching and thinking about the letter throughout the week. Choice (A) is wrong because obsessive handling suggests preoccupation, not rejection. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage states she received it “during the past week” (line 8), not months ago.

4. Ans: (C) – refusing to communicate with her
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 9-11 explicitly state that Mai’s father “had not spoken to her since she showed it to him” and sat “with his newspaper raised like a wall.” Choice (A) is wrong because the father shows disapproval, not pride. Choice (B) is wrong because there is no mention of him helping with preparation.

5. Ans: (B) – emotional withdrawal from Mai
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The metaphor of the newspaper “raised like a wall” (line 11) emphasizes the father creating a barrier between himself and Mai, reflecting his emotional distance. Choice (A) is wrong because the emphasis is on the wall-like barrier, not on his interest in news. Choice (D) is wrong because the wall suggests rejection, not protection.

6. Ans: (C) – gave up attending university to work
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 14-16 state that “Her older brother had forgone university to work in their uncle’s shipping office.” Choice (E) is wrong because the brother works in the uncle’s office, not his own company. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no mention of the brother encouraging Mai’s application.

7. Ans: (B) – unfamiliar and overwhelming
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The simile comparing language to “cold water” (line 20) that would “surround her” suggests an uncomfortable, enveloping sensation despite her school familiarity with English. Choice (A) is wrong because cold water surrounding someone suggests discomfort, not invigoration. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage indicates she knows English from school (line 19), so it’s not impossible to learn.

8. Ans: (B) – new evidence has changed scientific understanding of where cacao use began
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage explains how recent findings have shifted the known origin of cacao use from Mesoamerica to the Amazon basin, fifteen hundred years earlier (lines 4-8). Choice (A) is wrong because it is too broad and doesn’t capture the specific focus on changed understanding of origins. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage does not state that Maya and Aztec traded with South American groups.

9. Ans: (C) – Mesoamerica
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 1-3 explicitly state that “archaeologists believed that cacao cultivation and chocolate consumption originated exclusively in Mesoamerica.” Choice (A) is wrong because the upper Amazon basin is where new evidence was found, not where archaeologists previously thought cacao originated. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage says they believed in exclusive Mesoamerican origins.

10. Ans: (B) – birthplace
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “cradle” refers to the origin point of chocolate culture, and “birthplace” captures this meaning. Choice (C) is wrong because while a cradle is literally a container for babies, that meaning doesn’t fit the context of cultural origins. Choice (D) is wrong because “destination” implies an ending point, whereas cradle implies a beginning.

11. Ans: (C) – occurs almost only in the cacao plant
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 13-15 state that theobromine is “a chemical compound found almost exclusively in the cacao plant,” making it a reliable marker for cacao presence. Choice (D) is wrong because while modern technology was used to detect it, that’s not why theobromine itself is significant. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage doesn’t mention Maya ceremonies in connection with theobromine.

12. Ans: (B) – emphasize that valuable discoveries can come from unexpected materials
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Calling residue trapped in pottery an “unlikely source” (line 10) highlights how seemingly mundane material yielded important findings. Choice (C) is wrong because the author presents pottery analysis as successful, not unreliable. Choice (A) is wrong because the passage doesn’t suggest researchers weren’t looking for cacao; rather, the source material itself was unexpected.

13. Ans: (B) – from the Amazon region toward Mesoamerica
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 18-22 indicate that “Amazonian groups may have introduced the plant northward” rather than cacao moving southward from Mesoamerica as previously assumed. Choice (A) is wrong because it reverses the direction suggested by the new evidence. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage discusses only movement within the Americas, not from Europe.

14. Ans: (C) – neutral and informative
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The passage presents scientific findings in an objective, educational manner without strong emotion or bias. Choice (A) is wrong because the author presents the findings as credible, not with skepticism. Choice (B) is wrong because while the author finds the discovery “intriguing” (line 17), the overall tone remains professional rather than enthusiastic.

15. Ans: (C) – announce his surrender and explain his reasons
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph declares “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15) and explains this decision by describing dead chiefs, freezing children, and his exhaustion. Choice (A) is wrong because it directly contradicts his statement that he will fight no more. Choice (D) is wrong because this is a surrender speech, not a victory celebration.

16. Ans: (A) – explain why younger men now make decisions
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph states the old men are dead (line 4) immediately before saying “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5), showing the leadership transition. Choice (B) is wrong because he doesn’t criticize the older generation. Choice (E) is wrong because he mentions chiefs being killed in fighting (line 3), not disease.

17. Ans: (D) – weary
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 13, “sick and sad” follows “I am tired,” suggesting “sick” means emotionally weary or exhausted rather than physically ill. Choice (A) is wrong because the context emphasizes emotional exhaustion, not physical illness. Choice (B) is wrong because “disgusted” implies revulsion, which doesn’t fit the sorrowful tone.

18. Ans: (B) – emphasize the dire conditions facing his people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The image of freezing children (lines 6-7) illustrates the desperate situation that compels his surrender, supporting his statement “I am tired of fighting” (line 2). Choice (C) is wrong because he doesn’t blame anyone for the weather itself. Choice (A) is wrong because while conditions are dire, he doesn’t explicitly request clothing.

19. Ans: (C) – believes he understands General Howard’s character
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Saying “I know his heart” (line 1) is an idiomatic expression meaning Chief Joseph believes he understands Howard’s true nature or intentions. Choice (A) is wrong because knowing someone’s heart, combined with “What he told me before, I have it in my heart” (lines 1-2), suggests trust rather than distrust. Choice (D) is wrong because this is a peaceful surrender, not a threat of personal attack.

20. Ans: (B) – mournful and resigned
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The speech expresses sorrow over dead chiefs and children (lines 3-7) and resignation in the final surrender statement (lines 14-15), with phrases like “my heart is sick and sad” (line 13). Choice (A) is wrong because Chief Joseph explicitly surrenders rather than continuing defiance. Choice (C) is wrong because the speech emphasizes loss and defeat, not optimism.