SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 4

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 train lurched forward, and Amara pressed her forehead against the cold window, watching the outskirts of Nairobi dissolve into a blur of corrugated rooftops and red earth. She had not expected to feel this emptiness, this sense of having left something vital behind. Her scholarship letter lay folded in her coat pocket, the paper already soft (5) from repeated handling. Oxford University. The words still seemed like a trick of light, something that would vanish if she examined them too closely.     Her mother had wept at the station, clutching Amara’s hands and murmuring blessings in Kikuyu, while her father stood silent, his face unreadable. He had sold (10) two of his best cattle to pay for her passage, though the scholarship covered tuition. This fact sat heavy in Amara’s chest, a stone she could neither swallow nor spit out.     In the seat across from her, a British woman was reading a newspaper, her thin fingers turning the pages with practiced efficiency. The woman glanced up once, smiled briefly, then returned (15) to her reading. Amara wondered if she saw only a young African girl, or if she could perceive the weight of expectations Amara carried-the hopes of her village, her parents’ sacrifices, the teachers who had pooled their own money to buy her a proper suitcase. Outside, the landscape opened into grassland, and a (20) herd of zebras scattered at the sound of the train, their stripes merging into a single pattern of flight.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the physical landscape of Kenya as seen from a train
2. convey a character’s conflicted emotions during a significant departure
3. criticize the British education system’s treatment of foreign students
4. celebrate the achievement of receiving a prestigious scholarship
5. contrast urban and rural environments in East Africa

2. As used in line 4, the word “vital” most nearly means

1. alive
2. energetic
3. essential
4. healthy
5. obvious

3. The detail that Amara’s scholarship letter has become “soft from repeated handling” (lines 5-6) suggests that she

1. has been carrying the letter for many years
2. is careless with important documents
3. has frequently touched the letter, perhaps in disbelief or reassurance
4. received the letter in damaged condition
5. plans to show the letter to passengers on the train

4. The passage indicates that Amara’s father’s silence at the station (line 10) most likely reflects

1. his disapproval of her decision to study abroad
2. his inability to speak English fluently
3. deep emotion that he is unwilling or unable to express verbally
4. his preoccupation with the cattle he sold
5. his anger at the cost of her passage to England

5. The author describes the stone in Amara’s chest as something she “could neither swallow nor spit out” (lines 11-12) primarily to emphasize

1. a physical illness she is experiencing during the journey
2. her difficulty swallowing food while traveling
3. the inescapable burden of her awareness of her father’s sacrifice
4. her inability to communicate with her parents
5. the discomfort of train travel in Kenya

6. Amara’s observation of the British woman reading (lines 13-15) serves to

1. illustrate the diversity of passengers on the train
2. highlight Amara’s awareness of how she might be perceived by others
3. demonstrate the woman’s rudeness toward fellow travelers
4. suggest that all British people are indifferent to Africans
5. show that Amara wishes to read a newspaper as well

7. The image of the zebras’ stripes “merging into a single pattern of flight” (lines 20-21) can best be interpreted as a parallel to

1. the British woman’s newspaper pages blurring together
2. the way individual expectations and sacrifices have blended into the collective weight Amara feels
3. Amara’s confusion about her destination
4. the train’s increasing speed as it leaves the city
5. the mixed emotions of Amara’s mother at the station

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about ornithology and urban ecology.

For decades, ecologists operated under the assumption that urbanization represented an unambiguous catastrophe for bird populations. Cities, with their glass towers, reflective surfaces, and relentless noise, seemed designed to repel avian life. Yet recent longitudinal studies in Berlin, Singapore, and Chicago have revealed a more (5) nuanced picture: certain bird species are not merely surviving in urban environments but are actively evolving in response to them.     Consider the common blackbird, Turdus merula. In its traditional European forest habitat, this species produces a melodious song characterized by low-frequency notes that travel well through dense vegetation. Urban blackbirds, however, have (10) been documented singing at significantly higher frequencies-an adaptation that allows their calls to cut through the low-frequency rumble of traffic and machinery. This shift is not merely behavioral; genetic analysis suggests that urban and rural blackbird populations are beginning to diverge, with urban birds showing distinct vocal tract morphology after just thirty generations.     The (15) phenomenon extends beyond acoustics. Studies of urban great tits in the Netherlands have shown that city-dwelling birds exhibit bolder foraging behavior than their rural counterparts, approaching novel food sources with less hesitation. This behavioral shift correlates with measurable differences in stress hormone levels and even brain structure, particularly in regions associated with spatial memory and risk (20) assessment. What emerges is a portrait of evolution operating not across millennia but within human lifetimes, driven by the unprecedented selective pressures of the urban landscape.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. urbanization has destroyed most bird habitats in major cities worldwide
2. some bird species are rapidly evolving specific adaptations to urban environments
3. blackbirds are the only species capable of surviving in cities
4. birds in cities sing more beautifully than birds in forests
5. evolution always occurs slowly over millions of years

9. According to the passage, ecologists once believed that urbanization was

1. beneficial for most bird species
2. a completely negative development for bird populations
3. irrelevant to the study of avian behavior
4. occurring too slowly to affect wildlife
5. limited to cities in Europe and Asia

10. As used in line 5, the word “nuanced” most nearly means

1. colorful
2. confusing
3. subtle and complex
4. disturbing
5. optimistic

11. The passage suggests that urban blackbirds sing at higher frequencies primarily because

1. they have larger vocal tracts than rural blackbirds
2. higher frequencies are more melodious to human listeners
3. low-frequency sounds are masked by urban noise
4. forest vegetation blocks high-frequency sounds
5. they are trying to attract a greater number of mates

12. The author mentions “thirty generations” (line 14) in order to

1. prove that evolution requires at least this much time
2. emphasize the relatively rapid pace at which these changes have occurred
3. contrast genetic changes with behavioral changes
4. demonstrate that urban blackbirds live longer than rural ones
5. indicate the age of the oldest urban blackbird population

13. The passage indicates that urban great tits differ from rural great tits in all of the following ways EXCEPT

1. willingness to approach unfamiliar food
2. levels of stress hormones
3. brain structure related to memory
4. the frequency of their songs
5. behavior related to risk-taking

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

1. alarmed and pessimistic
2. informal and entertaining
3. analytical and informative
4. skeptical and dismissive
5. passionate and advocating

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from a speech delivered by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce in Washington, D.C., in 1879.

I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done. Good words do not last long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men. They do not protect my father’s grave. They do not pay for (5) all my horses and cattle. Good words will not give me back my children. Good words will not make good the promise of your War Chief. Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where they can live in peace and take care of themselves.     I am tired of (10) talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. Too many misinterpretations have been made, too many misunderstandings have come up between the white men about the Indians. If the white man wants (15) to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights (20) upon it.

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

1. request financial compensation for lost property
2. declare war against the United States government
3. express the inadequacy of promises without action and call for justice
4. describe the traditional customs of the Nez Perce people
5. thank government officials for their efforts on behalf of his people

16. As used in line 6, the phrase “amount to” most nearly means

1. add up to a sum
2. result in tangible outcomes
3. increase in number
4. climb to a height
5. explain a concept

17. Chief Joseph’s repetition of the phrase “Good words will not” (lines 5-8) serves primarily to

1. demonstrate his limited vocabulary in English
2. create a rhythmic pattern that is pleasing to listeners
3. emphasize the powerlessness of language without corresponding action
4. suggest that he prefers bad words to good ones
5. confuse his audience with contradictory statements

18. In lines 11-13, Chief Joseph suggests that some of the people who have spoken about Indians

1. were not authorized to represent official policy
2. spoke only in the Nez Perce language
3. agreed completely with his own views
4. had never actually met any Native Americans
5. were elected officials from western territories

19. Chief Joseph’s statement that “All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief” (lines 17-18) is used to support his argument that

1. only Native Americans have legitimate spiritual beliefs
2. white men should convert to Nez Perce religious practices
3. all people deserve equal treatment and rights
4. the U.S. government should be replaced with tribal leadership
5. his people are superior to other tribes

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

1. hopeful and celebratory
2. resigned and indifferent
3. bitter and vengeful
4. dignified yet deeply frustrated
5. apologetic and conciliatory

■ ■ ■   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) – convey a character’s conflicted emotions during a significant departure
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Amara’s internal experience as she leaves Kenya for Oxford, describing her emptiness, the weight of expectations, and her awareness of her family’s sacrifices (lines 3-12). Choice (A) is too narrow, as landscape description is secondary to emotional content. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage emphasizes ambivalence and burden rather than celebration.

2. Ans: (C) – essential
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Amara feels she has left something “vital” behind, meaning something fundamentally important or essential to her identity (line 4). Choice (A) is a common meaning of “vital” but does not fit the context of leaving something behind. Choice (B) suggests energy, which does not capture the sense of deep importance conveyed in the passage.

3. Ans: (C) – has frequently touched the letter, perhaps in disbelief or reassurance
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The detail that the paper has become soft from repeated handling (lines 5-6) implies Amara has touched it many times, suggesting she cannot quite believe it is real or needs reassurance. Choice (A) is wrong because nothing indicates the letter is old-she is currently traveling. Choice (B) contradicts the careful handling implied by keeping the letter in her pocket.

4. Ans: (C) – deep emotion that he is unwilling or unable to express verbally
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage presents the father’s silence alongside his significant sacrifice of selling cattle (lines 9-10), suggesting powerful feelings he cannot or will not articulate. Choice (A) contradicts the fact that he sold cattle to support her journey. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage describes the sacrifice as something that “sat heavy” in Amara’s chest, not as a source of the father’s anger.

5. Ans: (C) – the inescapable burden of her awareness of her father’s sacrifice
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question analyzing figurative language. The stone metaphor (lines 11-12) describes the fact of her father’s sacrifice-something she cannot digest or dismiss. Choice (A) is wrong because this is clearly figurative language, not a literal description of illness. Choice (D) is too broad and does not connect specifically to the father’s sacrifice mentioned immediately before.

6. Ans: (B) – highlight Amara’s awareness of how she might be perceived by others
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. After describing the woman’s brief acknowledgment, Amara wonders whether the woman sees “only a young African girl” or can perceive the weight she carries (lines 15-17), revealing her self-consciousness. Choice (C) is wrong because the woman’s smile suggests politeness, not rudeness. Choice (D) overgeneralizes from a single person to all British people.

7. Ans: (B) – the way individual expectations and sacrifices have blended into the collective weight Amara feels
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question about symbolic parallels. Just as the zebras’ individual stripes merge into “a single pattern” (lines 20-21), the various expectations and sacrifices mentioned earlier merge into one collective burden. Choice (C) is wrong because Amara shows no confusion about Oxford as her destination. Choice (A) makes a superficial connection about blurring but misses the thematic parallel to collective weight.

8. Ans: (B) – some bird species are rapidly evolving specific adaptations to urban environments
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage argues that certain birds are “actively evolving” in response to cities (lines 5-6) and provides examples of vocal and behavioral adaptations. Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s claim that some species are “not merely surviving” but thriving (lines 5-6). Choice (E) is directly contradicted by the statement about evolution operating “within human lifetimes” (line 21).

9. Ans: (B) – a completely negative development for bird populations
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that ecologists assumed urbanization was “an unambiguous catastrophe” for birds (lines 2-3). Choice (A) reverses the stated assumption. Choice (D) is not mentioned and confuses rate of urbanization with its effects on birds.

10. Ans: (C) – subtle and complex
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage contrasts the previous assumption of “unambiguous catastrophe” with a “more nuanced picture” (lines 4-5), indicating a subtle, complex reality with both positive and negative elements. Choice (B) is wrong because “nuanced” suggests refined complexity, not confusion. Choice (E) imposes a tone not supported by the neutral, analytical presentation.

11. Ans: (C) – low-frequency sounds are masked by urban noise
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that higher frequencies allow calls to “cut through the low-frequency rumble of traffic and machinery” (lines 10-11). Choice (D) reverses the relationship-forests favor low frequencies, which “travel well through dense vegetation” (line 9). Choice (A) confuses cause and effect-different vocal tract morphology is a result, not the reason for the frequency change.

12. Ans: (B) – emphasize the relatively rapid pace at which these changes have occurred
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Thirty generations sounds significant but represents a short evolutionary timeframe, supporting the point about rapid evolution (line 14). Choice (A) is wrong because the author’s point is that evolution can happen much faster than this. Choice (D) is not mentioned and confuses generations with individual lifespan.

13. Ans: (D) – the frequency of their songs
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question requiring careful reading. The passage discusses song frequency only for blackbirds (lines 9-11), not great tits. Great tits are described as showing bolder foraging (lines 16-17), different stress hormones (line 19), and different brain structure (lines 19-20). Choice (A) is mentioned in lines 16-17. Choice (C) is mentioned in lines 19-20.

14. Ans: (C) – analytical and informative
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage presents scientific findings in objective, explanatory language with specific examples and measured analysis. Choice (A) is wrong because the tone remains neutral rather than alarmed-the passage notes positive adaptations. Choice (E) is wrong because the author maintains scholarly distance rather than advocating for a particular position.

15. Ans: (C) – express the inadequacy of promises without action and call for justice
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph repeatedly emphasizes that “good words” accomplish nothing without action (lines 1-8) and calls for equal treatment (lines 16-20). Choice (A) is too narrow-he mentions property but within a broader argument about justice. Choice (B) is wrong because he explicitly states that peace is possible if white men treat all alike (lines 14-15).

16. Ans: (B) – result in tangible outcomes
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph states that words do not last “unless they amount to something” (line 6), meaning unless they produce concrete results or actions. Choice (A) uses the literal mathematical meaning that does not fit the context. Choice (E) is wrong because the concern is not explanation but implementation.

17. Ans: (C) – emphasize the powerlessness of language without corresponding action
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The anaphoric repetition of “Good words will not” (lines 5-8) hammers home the central point that promises mean nothing without action. Choice (A) is wrong because rhetorical repetition is a sophisticated technique, not evidence of limited vocabulary. Choice (B) is too superficial-while rhythm exists, the primary purpose is persuasive emphasis.

18. Ans: (A) – were not authorized to represent official policy
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph refers to “men who had no right to talk” (lines 11-12), suggesting they lacked authority. Choice (C) contradicts the context about broken promises and misunderstandings. Choice (D) is not supported by the text and makes an assumption beyond what is stated.

19. Ans: (C) – all people deserve equal treatment and rights
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Chief Joseph uses shared creation by the Great Spirit (lines 17-18) to support the conclusion that all are brothers deserving equal rights on the earth (lines 18-20). Choice (A) reverses his inclusive message about shared spirituality. Choice (D) goes far beyond what the text argues-he calls for equal treatment, not governmental overthrow.

20. Ans: (D) – dignified yet deeply frustrated
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph maintains formal, measured rhetoric while expressing weariness (“I am tired of talk,” lines 9-10) and pain (“It makes my heart sick,” line 10). Choice (C) is wrong because he does not express desire for revenge but rather for peace and equal treatment (lines 14-20). Choice (B) is wrong because his call to action shows he has not resigned himself to the situation.