SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 6

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 had been climbing for hours, winding through the narrow valleys of the Pyrenees, when Isabelle first noticed the elderly man across the compartment. He sat with his hands folded over a worn leather satchel, his eyes fixed on the passing landscape (5) of pine forests and distant peaks. She had been trying to read, but the rhythm of the rails kept pulling her attention to the window, where Spain seemed to be slipping away with each turn of the wheels.     “You are leaving Barcelona?” the man asked suddenly, his (10) French accented but precise.     Isabelle nodded, surprised. “My father thinks it’s too dangerous now. We’re going to my aunt in Toulouse.”     The man smiled faintly. “Sensible. Though Toulouse may not remain safe for long either.” He opened the satchel and withdrew (15) a small book, its cover unmarked. “I taught mathematics at the university for thirty years. Now I carry what remains of my library—three books and a notebook of theorems I never published.”     “Why didn’t you publish them?” Isabelle asked.     “Fear of being wrong,” he said simply. (20) “A mathematician’s vanity is a curious thing. We spend our lives seeking certainty, yet we cannot bear the thought of error made public.”

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the scenic beauty of a mountain railway journey
2. capture a moment of connection between strangers during a time of upheaval
3. explain the political situation in 1930s Spain
4. contrast the personalities of a young girl and an old man
5. illustrate the difficulties faced by university professors during wartime

2. The detail that the train “had been climbing for hours” (line 1) primarily serves to

1. establish the physical setting and suggest a journey of some significance
2. explain why Isabelle is too tired to concentrate on her reading
3. indicate that the train is traveling at an unusually slow speed
4. foreshadow a mechanical problem that will delay their arrival
5. demonstrate the superior engineering of mountain railways

3. As used in line 9, the word “precise” most nearly means

1. punctual
2. careful
3. accurate
4. stern
5. brief

4. The man’s comment that “Toulouse may not remain safe for long either” (line 14) suggests that he

1. has specific knowledge of military plans involving Toulouse
2. believes danger is spreading beyond Spain’s borders
3. disapproves of Isabelle’s father’s decision to leave Barcelona
4. thinks Isabelle should have traveled alone
5. intends to warn Isabelle’s aunt about impending threats

5. The fact that the man carries only “three books and a notebook” (lines 17-18) implies that he

1. never owned many books to begin with
2. has been forced to abandon most of his possessions
3. prefers to travel light when crossing international borders
4. gave his other books to his university students
5. values practical items more than intellectual ones

6. The man’s explanation for not publishing his theorems (lines 19-21) reveals that he

1. lacks confidence in his mathematical abilities
2. recognizes a contradiction between his profession’s ideals and his personal fears
3. believes his work was too advanced for his contemporaries
4. was prohibited from publishing by university administrators
5. prefers to keep his discoveries secret from competitors

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

1. anxious and foreboding
2. nostalgic and sentimental
3. quietly reflective with an undercurrent of loss
4. celebratory and optimistic
5. detached and analytical

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from a journal article on evolutionary biology.

    The monarch butterfly’s annual migration from Canada to Mexico represents one of nature’s most remarkable feats of navigation, made all the more astonishing by the fact that no single butterfly completes the entire round trip. The journey spans (5) four to five generations, meaning that the butterflies arriving in Mexican mountain forests have never been there before, nor have their parents or grandparents. Yet they find their way to the same clusters of oyamel fir trees, sometimes to the very branches their great-great-grandparents occupied the previous winter.     For (10) decades, scientists assumed that monarchs navigated primarily using the sun as a compass, adjusting their flight path throughout the day to compensate for the sun’s movement across the sky. Research has confirmed this mechanism, revealing specialized cells in the butterfly’s antennae that function (15) as both light sensors and timekeepers. But solar navigation alone cannot account for the precision of their arrival. Recent studies suggest that monarchs may also use the earth’s magnetic field as a navigational cue, though the exact mechanism remains poorly understood.     What troubles researchers most is (20) not how the butterflies navigate, but how they know where to go. The genetic basis for this inherited map remains one of evolutionary biology’s enduring mysteries.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. monarch butterflies travel farther than any other insect species
2. the monarch migration is scientifically remarkable because butterflies navigate to a place they have never been
3. scientists have fully explained how monarchs use the sun and magnetic fields to navigate
4. monarchs are threatened by the loss of oyamel fir forests in Mexico
5. four to five generations of butterflies are needed to complete the migration cycle

9. According to the passage, the most astonishing aspect of monarch migration is that

1. the butterflies can fly thousands of miles without stopping
2. no individual butterfly has previously made the journey it completes
3. monarchs use their antennae rather than their eyes for navigation
4. the butterflies can survive in both tropical and arctic climates
5. millions of butterflies arrive at exactly the same time

10. As used in line 13, the word “mechanism” most nearly means

1. machine
2. routine
3. process
4. device
5. structure

11. The passage indicates that specialized cells in monarch antennae serve a dual function as

1. light sensors and timekeepers
2. magnetic detectors and thermometers
3. altitude measurers and speedometers
4. compasses and barometers
5. visual receptors and olfactory sensors

12. The author’s statement that solar navigation “cannot account for the precision of their arrival” (lines 16-17) suggests that

1. monarchs do not actually use the sun for navigation
2. the sun’s position varies too much to be useful for navigation
3. additional navigational tools must be involved beyond sun-based orientation
4. monarchs arrive at different locations each year
5. magnetic field navigation has been proven more important than solar navigation

13. The author’s purpose in the final paragraph (lines 19-22) is to

1. summarize the main arguments presented in the previous paragraphs
2. introduce a broader unresolved question that navigation studies cannot yet answer
3. criticize researchers for focusing on the wrong scientific problems
4. propose a new theory about genetic inheritance in butterflies
5. conclude that monarch navigation will never be fully understood

14. The passage is best described as

1. a detailed technical explanation of cellular biology
2. an argument advocating for monarch butterfly conservation
3. an exploration of both solved and unsolved aspects of a natural phenomenon
4. a chronological history of scientific research on insect migration
5. a comparison of different species’ navigational abilities

Passage 3

The following is adapted from Rachel Carson’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Reorganization and International Organizations, June 4, 1963.

    I am not asking that chemical pesticides be abandoned entirely, but rather that we develop a mature, discriminating approach to their use, recognizing that we are dealing with chemical substances capable of altering the very fabric of life. (5) We urgently need a program to find alternative methods of control wherever possible, and to use chemical pesticides only as a last resort and with full recognition of their hazards.     The contamination of our environment with these poisons is cumulative and largely irreversible. The (10) chemicals sprayed on croplands or forests or gardens lie long in the soil, entering into living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death. Or they pass mysteriously by underground streams until they emerge and combine into new forms that (15) kill vegetation, sicken cattle, and work unknown harm on those who drink from once-pure wells. As Albert Schweitzer has said, “Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation.”     The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without (20) destroying itself and without losing the right to be called civilized.

15. Carson’s primary purpose in this testimony is to

1. call for the complete elimination of all pesticide use in the United States
2. advocate for more careful and limited use of chemical pesticides along with research into alternatives
3. explain the scientific mechanisms by which pesticides harm the environment
4. criticize farmers and foresters for irresponsible chemical application
5. propose specific legislation to regulate the pesticide industry

16. As used in line 3, the word “discriminating” most nearly means

1. prejudiced
2. selective
3. critical
4. sophisticated
5. exclusive

17. According to Carson, pesticide contamination is particularly dangerous because it is (lines 8-9)

1. cumulative and largely irreversible
2. expensive and difficult to detect
3. controlled by foreign corporations
4. banned in other countries but not in the United States
5. unknown to most farmers and gardeners

18. Carson’s description of chemicals passing “from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death” (lines 11-12) suggests that

1. pesticides kill organisms immediately upon contact
2. toxic substances move through ecosystems and accumulate in food chains
3. underground streams are the primary source of pesticide contamination
4. most poisoning occurs during the initial application of chemicals
5. animals are more vulnerable to pesticides than plants

19. Carson includes the quotation from Albert Schweitzer (lines 16-17) in order to

1. provide scientific evidence for her claims about pesticide harm
2. demonstrate that European thinkers agree with American environmental policies
3. invoke moral authority and emphasize humanity’s inability to foresee the consequences of its creations
4. prove that pesticides were not used in Schweitzer’s lifetime
5. suggest that only philosophers, not scientists, can solve environmental problems

20. The tone of the final sentence (lines 19-21) is best described as

1. celebratory and triumphant
2. neutral and objective
3. urgent and morally challenging
4. resigned and defeated
5. sarcastic and bitter

■ ■ ■   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) – capture a moment of connection between strangers during a time of upheaval
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage focuses on the brief but meaningful exchange between Isabelle and the elderly mathematician as they flee danger, with their conversation revealing both personal vulnerability and historical context (lines 1-21). Choice (A) is too narrow, as scenic description is minimal and not the primary focus. Choice (E) is too specific, as the passage explores broader themes of displacement and regret rather than focusing solely on professorial difficulties.

2. Ans: (A) – establish the physical setting and suggest a journey of some significance
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The opening detail establishes both the mountainous terrain and implies that this is an important, lengthy journey, setting the stage for the conversation that follows (line 1). Choice (D) is incorrect because nothing in the passage foreshadows mechanical problems. Choice (B) is wrong because Isabelle’s distraction is attributed to the rhythm of the rails and the view, not fatigue.

3. Ans: (C) – accurate
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 9, “precise” describes the man’s French as exact and correct despite his accent, making “accurate” the best synonym. Choice (A) “punctual” relates to timeliness, not language quality. Choice (D) “stern” describes tone or demeanor, not the correctness of spoken language.

4. Ans: (B) – believes danger is spreading beyond Spain’s borders
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The man’s comment that even Toulouse “may not remain safe for long” (line 14) implies he sees the danger expanding geographically from Spain into France. Choice (C) is incorrect; he calls the father’s decision “sensible,” showing approval, not disapproval. Choice (A) is too specific; the passage gives no evidence he has particular military intelligence.

5. Ans: (B) – has been forced to abandon most of his possessions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. A professor who taught for thirty years and describes this as “what remains” of his library (lines 15-17) clearly had to leave most of his books behind. Choice (A) contradicts the passage; he had a library worth mentioning. Choice (E) reverses the passage’s emphasis, as he carries books specifically because he values them intellectually.

6. Ans: (B) – recognizes a contradiction between his profession’s ideals and his personal fears
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The man notes that mathematicians “spend our lives seeking certainty” yet “cannot bear the thought of error made public” (lines 20-21), acknowledging this ironic contradiction. Choice (A) is too broad; his fear is specifically about public error, not general ability. Choice (D) is not supported; nothing suggests administrative prohibition.

7. Ans: (C) – quietly reflective with an undercurrent of loss
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage presents a contemplative conversation between refugees, with the mathematician’s regrets and their displacement creating a sense of loss without dramatic emotion (lines 1-21). Choice (A) is too extreme; while danger is present, the tone remains measured. Choice (D) is incorrect; there is no celebration or optimism in the scene.

8. Ans: (B) – the monarch migration is scientifically remarkable because butterflies navigate to a place they have never been
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage emphasizes throughout that the remarkable aspect is that butterflies find specific locations “they have never been there before” (lines 5-8). Choice (C) contradicts the passage; the final paragraph (lines 19-22) explicitly states the genetic basis “remains one of evolutionary biology’s enduring mysteries.” Choice (E) is a detail mentioned but not the main idea.

9. Ans: (B) – no individual butterfly has previously made the journey it completes
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 3-6 explicitly state this is “made all the more astonishing by the fact that no single butterfly completes the entire round trip” and that arriving butterflies “have never been there before.” Choice (A) is not stated in the passage. Choice (E), while possibly true, is not mentioned as the most astonishing aspect.

10. Ans: (C) – process
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 13, “mechanism” refers to the way or method by which solar navigation works, making “process” the best fit. Choice (A) “machine” is too literal for this biological context. Choice (D) “device” suggests a physical tool rather than a biological process.

11. Ans: (A) – light sensors and timekeepers
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 14-15 explicitly state that specialized cells “function as both light sensors and timekeepers.” Choice (B) uses words from the passage (magnetic) but distorts their meaning; magnetic fields are mentioned separately, not as a function of antennal cells. Choice (E) is not supported by any information in the passage.

12. Ans: (C) – additional navigational tools must be involved beyond sun-based orientation
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The statement in lines 16-17 is immediately followed by the suggestion that monarchs “may also use the earth’s magnetic field,” implying multiple navigation methods are needed. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which confirms solar navigation occurs. Choice (E) is too strong; magnetic navigation is suggested but not proven more important.

13. Ans: (B) – introduce a broader unresolved question that navigation studies cannot yet answer
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The final paragraph (lines 19-22) shifts from “how” butterflies navigate to the deeper mystery of “how they know where to go,” presenting an unsolved problem. Choice (A) is incorrect; the paragraph introduces new content rather than summarizing. Choice (E) is too extreme; the author says it “remains” a mystery, not that it will never be solved.

14. Ans: (C) – an exploration of both solved and unsolved aspects of a natural phenomenon
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage explains what scientists have discovered about solar navigation (lines 11-15) while acknowledging remaining mysteries about magnetic fields and genetic inheritance (lines 16-22). Choice (A) is too narrow; the passage is accessible and not highly technical. Choice (B) is incorrect; conservation is never mentioned.

15. Ans: (B) – advocate for more careful and limited use of chemical pesticides along with research into alternatives
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Carson states in lines 1-6 that she is “not asking that chemical pesticides be abandoned entirely” but wants “a mature, discriminating approach” and “alternative methods of control.” Choice (A) contradicts her explicit statement. Choice (E) is too specific; she does not propose particular legislation.

16. Ans: (B) – selective
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 3, “discriminating” describes an approach that carefully distinguishes when pesticides should and should not be used, making “selective” the best synonym. Choice (A) “prejudiced” is a different meaning of discriminate, relating to bias. Choice (E) “exclusive” suggests restriction rather than careful judgment.

17. Ans: (A) – cumulative and largely irreversible
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 8-9 state exactly this: “The contamination of our environment with these poisons is cumulative and largely irreversible.” Choice (C) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Choice (D) is not stated in this testimony.

18. Ans: (B) – toxic substances move through ecosystems and accumulate in food chains
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “passing from one to another in a chain” (lines 11-12) describes bioaccumulation through food webs. Choice (A) contradicts “chain,” which implies progression over time, not immediate death. Choice (D) is too narrow and contradicts the passage’s emphasis on long-term persistence (line 10).

19. Ans: (C) – invoke moral authority and emphasize humanity’s inability to foresee the consequences of its creations
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Schweitzer was a renowned humanitarian, and his quote about “devils of his own creation” (lines 16-17) reinforces Carson’s point about unforeseen harm. Choice (A) is incorrect; the quotation is philosophical, not scientific evidence. Choice (B) distorts the purpose; Schweitzer’s nationality is irrelevant to Carson’s argument.

20. Ans: (C) – urgent and morally challenging
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The final rhetorical question about whether civilization can “wage relentless war on life” and retain “the right to be called civilized” (lines 19-21) creates moral urgency. Choice (B) is incorrect; the language is clearly evaluative, not neutral. Choice (D) is wrong; the challenging question implies a call to action, not resignation.