Practice Worksheet - 5

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 fishing village of Porto Marin clung to the cliff face like a barnacle, its whitewashed houses stacked one upon another in defiance of gravity and good sense. Elena had lived there all her sixteen years, (5) and she knew every cobblestone alley, every cistern where the rainwater collected, every spot where the wind funneled between buildings with enough force to knock a person sideways. This morning, however, she walked as if seeing it all for the first time. Her father’s boat had not (10) returned with the others at dawn, and the harbor’s unusual stillness magnified every sound: the slap of water against the pilings, the cry of gulls wheeling overhead, the whisper of her own footsteps.     At the harbor master’s office, old Tomás sat in his chair, mending a net with (15) practiced fingers that never paused even as he spoke. “The radio gave warning of squalls to the north,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “Your father knows these waters better than any man alive. He’ll have found shelter in some cove.” The words were (20) meant to comfort, but his tone carried no conviction, and Elena heard in it only the hollow courtesy one offers to the potentially bereaved.

1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. establish the setting and introduce a central conflict
2. describe Elena’s typical morning routine in the village
3. explain why Porto Marin is a dangerous place to live
4. contrast the beauty of the village with its harsh climate
5. criticize the poor planning of the village’s founders

2. As used in line 7, the word “funneled” most nearly means

1. poured
2. channeled
3. escaped
4. circulated
5. distributed

3. The passage suggests that Elena walks “as if seeing it all for the first time” (lines 8-9) because she

1. has recently returned to Porto Marin after a long absence
2. is experiencing familiar surroundings with heightened awareness due to anxiety
3. has never before noticed the architectural details of the village
4. is planning to leave the village and wants to memorize its features
5. feels alienated from the other villagers who ignore her

4. The description of the harbor’s “unusual stillness” (line 11) primarily serves to

1. indicate that the fishing season has ended
2. suggest that a storm is approaching
3. emphasize Elena’s emotional state and the absence of her father’s boat
4. show that the village is slowly being abandoned
5. demonstrate that Elena prefers quiet environments

5. Tomás’s action of mending the net while speaking to Elena (lines 14-15) most likely suggests that he

1. is too busy with his work to give Elena his full attention
2. is deliberately avoiding eye contact because the conversation is difficult
3. considers net-mending more important than Elena’s concerns
4. wants to teach Elena a useful skill while they talk
5. is unaware that Elena is worried about her father

6. The tone of the passage can best be described as

1. hopeful and optimistic
2. tense and apprehensive
3. angry and resentful
4. detached and analytical
5. nostalgic and wistful

7. The phrase “the hollow courtesy one offers to the potentially bereaved” (lines 20-21) implies that Tomás

1. believes Elena’s father will return safely but wants to appear sympathetic
2. is speaking comforting words he does not truly believe
3. has already received confirmation that Elena’s father has died
4. resents having to console Elena when he has work to do
5. thinks Elena is overreacting to a minor delay

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article on the psychology of decision-making.

When faced with an array of options, most people assume that having more choices will lead to better decisions and greater satisfaction. Yet a growing body of research challenges this intuition. Psychologist Barry Schwartz has argued that (5) excessive choice can actually paralyze decision-making and diminish well-being, a phenomenon he terms “the paradox of choice.” In one frequently cited experiment, shoppers at a grocery store were presented with either six or twenty-four varieties of jam available for tasting. While the larger display attracted (10) more initial interest, customers who encountered the smaller selection were nearly ten times more likely to make a purchase. The abundance of options, it seemed, transformed a simple decision into an overwhelming cognitive task.     The mechanisms underlying this effect are complex. When confronted with (15) numerous alternatives, individuals must invest greater mental effort in evaluating each option, comparing features, and anticipating potential regret. This deliberation can lead to decision fatigue, a depletion of mental resources that impairs subsequent choices. Moreover, even after a selection is made, the (20) awareness of forgone alternatives can undermine satisfaction, as people ruminate on whether a different choice might have yielded a better outcome. In societies where consumer abundance is celebrated as a marker of freedom, these findings suggest a troubling irony.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. shoppers prefer grocery stores with limited product selections
2. having too many choices can impair decision-making and reduce satisfaction
3. psychologists disagree about the relationship between choice and happiness
4. Barry Schwartz conducted an important experiment about jam preferences
5. consumer freedom is best measured by the number of available options

9. According to the passage, the grocery store experiment demonstrated that

1. customers preferred the taste of jam from the smaller selection
2. larger displays always increase sales of products
3. shoppers were more likely to purchase jam when fewer varieties were offered
4. twenty-four varieties of jam is the optimal number for display
5. customers ignored displays with only six options

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

1. injure
2. immobilize
3. confuse
4. delay
5. reverse

11. The passage suggests that “decision fatigue” (line 18) results from

1. making too many purchases in a short period of time
2. the mental effort required to evaluate numerous alternatives
3. physical exhaustion from shopping for extended periods
4. disappointment with the quality of products chosen
5. the inability to anticipate future needs accurately

12. The author mentions “forgone alternatives” (line 20) in order to

1. explain why people feel satisfied after making difficult decisions
2. illustrate another way that excessive choice can reduce satisfaction
3. argue that regret is an irrational emotional response
4. suggest that consumers should avoid thinking about their decisions
5. demonstrate that most purchasing decisions are ultimately wrong

13. The “troubling irony” mentioned in line 23 refers to the fact that

1. psychologists cannot agree on research methodology
2. grocery stores deliberately confuse customers with too many products
3. abundance, which is valued as freedom, may actually reduce well-being
4. consumers claim to want fewer choices but actually prefer more
5. societies with less consumer choice are generally happier

14. The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to

1. report on research that challenges common assumptions about choice
2. persuade readers to avoid stores with large product selections
3. criticize Barry Schwartz’s experimental methods
4. describe the history of consumer psychology as a field
5. argue that modern society offers too much individual freedom

Passage 3

The following is adapted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana Territory in October 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 (5) who 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 where they are-perhaps (10) 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 I will fight (15) no more forever.

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

1. negotiate better terms of surrender from General Howard
2. announce his decision to end armed resistance
3. criticize the young men who wished to continue fighting
4. request medical supplies for the wounded warriors
5. explain the military strategy that led to defeat

16. The repetition of “is dead” and “are dead” in lines 3-5 primarily serves to

1. emphasize the devastating losses suffered by Chief Joseph’s people
2. blame specific individuals for the failure of the resistance
3. suggest that Chief Joseph feels no emotion about these deaths
4. indicate that the deaths occurred over many years
5. prove that General Howard violated the terms of earlier agreements

17. As used in line 8, the word “run away” most nearly means

1. deserted
2. fled
3. escaped
4. retreated
5. scattered

18. Chief Joseph’s statement “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 11-12) suggests that he

1. believes most of the missing children have already died
2. fears that some of the missing children may have perished
3. knows exactly where the children are located
4. plans to recover the bodies of dead warriors
5. expects General Howard to help search for the children

19. The tone of the speech can best be described as

1. defiant and uncompromising
2. resigned and sorrowful
3. optimistic and hopeful
4. bitter and accusatory
5. detached and unemotional

20. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (lines 14-15) can be interpreted as meaning

1. at noon
2. during the summer months
3. from this moment forward
4. in this specific location
5. when the weather improves

■ ■ ■   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: (A) – establish the setting and introduce a central conflict
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph describes Porto Marin and its physical characteristics (setting) while also revealing that Elena’s father has not returned from fishing (central conflict), as indicated in lines 9-11. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage emphasizes how this morning is different from Elena’s usual experience, not typical. Choice (C) is wrong because while the village’s precarious position is mentioned, the paragraph’s purpose is not to emphasize danger but to establish context for Elena’s anxiety.

2. Ans: (B) – channeled
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, the wind is described as funneling between buildings, meaning it is directed or channeled through narrow spaces with increased force. Choice (A) is incorrect because “poured” suggests liquid flowing downward rather than wind being directed horizontally. Choice (E) is wrong because “distributed” implies spreading out evenly, which contradicts the concentrated force described.

3. Ans: (B) – is experiencing familiar surroundings with heightened awareness due to anxiety
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states Elena has lived in Porto Marin all her life and knows it intimately (lines 4-7), but her father’s absence causes her to perceive familiar things differently. Choice (A) is incorrect because lines 4-5 explicitly state she has lived there all sixteen years. Choice (D) is wrong because nothing in the passage suggests Elena is planning to leave or wants to memorize the village.

4. Ans: (C) – emphasize Elena’s emotional state and the absence of her father’s boat
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The unusual stillness in lines 10-11 is directly connected to the fact that Elena’s father’s boat has not returned with the others, and it magnifies sounds, reflecting her heightened emotional state. Choice (A) is incorrect because the other boats did return at dawn (line 10), indicating the season is active. Choice (B) is wrong because the stillness is in the harbor after the storm warning, not an indication of an approaching storm.

5. Ans: (B) – is deliberately avoiding eye contact because the conversation is difficult
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states Tomás’s fingers “never paused even as he spoke” and that he was “not meeting her eyes” (lines 15-16), suggesting discomfort with the difficult conversation. Choice (A) is incorrect because his practiced, continuous work suggests habit rather than being too busy. Choice (E) is wrong because Tomás directly addresses Elena’s worry by mentioning her father and the squalls (lines 16-18).

6. Ans: (B) – tense and apprehensive
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage creates tension through the missing boat (lines 9-11), Elena’s heightened awareness, and Tomás’s unconvincing reassurances (lines 19-21), establishing an apprehensive mood. Choice (A) is incorrect because Tomás’s words carry “no conviction” (line 20), undermining any sense of hope. Choice (D) is wrong because the descriptive language and focus on Elena’s emotional experience create engagement rather than detachment.

7. Ans: (B) – is speaking comforting words he does not truly believe
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase indicates Tomás is offering conventional comfort to someone who may soon be grieving, and his “tone carried no conviction” (line 20), showing he doesn’t believe his own reassurances. Choice (C) is incorrect because “potentially bereaved” indicates uncertainty, not confirmed death. Choice (E) is wrong because Tomás’s careful choice of words suggests he takes the situation seriously, not that he thinks Elena is overreacting.

8. Ans: (B) – having too many choices can impair decision-making and reduce satisfaction
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage introduces the paradox of choice in lines 4-6 and uses the jam experiment and subsequent explanation to demonstrate how excessive options can paralyze decisions and diminish well-being. Choice (D) is too narrow because the passage uses Schwartz’s work as support for a broader point about choice. Choice (E) reverses the passage’s argument, which questions rather than affirms this assumption.

9. Ans: (C) – shoppers were more likely to purchase jam when fewer varieties were offered
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 10-12 explicitly state that customers who encountered the smaller selection (six varieties) were nearly ten times more likely to make a purchase. Choice (A) is incorrect because the experiment measured purchase behavior, not taste preference. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, which shows the larger display actually reduced purchases despite attracting more initial interest (lines 9-10).

10. Ans: (B) – immobilize
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 5, “paralyze decision-making” refers to the inability to make decisions when faced with too many choices, meaning to immobilize or prevent action. Choice (C) is incorrect because while excessive choice may confuse, the specific meaning here emphasizes the inability to act, not merely confusion. Choice (D) is wrong because “delay” suggests temporary postponement, whereas “paralyze” suggests a more complete inability to proceed.

11. Ans: (B) – the mental effort required to evaluate numerous alternatives
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 15-18 explain that when confronted with numerous alternatives, individuals must invest greater mental effort in evaluation, and this deliberation can lead to decision fatigue, a depletion of mental resources. Choice (A) is incorrect because decision fatigue refers to evaluating options, not the act of purchasing. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage discusses mental, not physical, exhaustion.

12. Ans: (B) – illustrate another way that excessive choice can reduce satisfaction
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. After discussing how choice paralyzes decision-making (lines 4-13) and causes decision fatigue (lines 14-18), the author introduces forgone alternatives (lines 19-21) as an additional mechanism by which excessive choice undermines satisfaction. Choice (A) reverses the passage’s point, as forgone alternatives reduce rather than increase satisfaction. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage discusses satisfaction with decisions, not whether decisions are objectively right or wrong.

13. Ans: (C) – abundance, which is valued as freedom, may actually reduce well-being
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 21-23 state that in societies where consumer abundance is celebrated as freedom, the research findings suggest a troubling irony-meaning that what is valued as positive may actually have negative effects. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage presents this as an unintended consequence, not a deliberate strategy by stores. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which does not discuss what consumers claim to want versus what they prefer.

14. Ans: (A) – report on research that challenges common assumptions about choice
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage begins by noting that most people assume more choices lead to better decisions (lines 1-3), then presents research that challenges this intuition (lines 3-6 and throughout). Choice (B) is incorrect because the author reports research rather than persuading readers to change shopping behavior. Choice (E) is too broad, as the passage focuses specifically on consumer choice, not freedom in general.

15. Ans: (B) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph explicitly states “I am tired of fighting” (line 3) and concludes with “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15), making clear his purpose is to announce surrender. Choice (A) is incorrect because he is announcing a decision already made, not negotiating terms. Choice (C) is wrong because while he mentions young men (lines 4-5), he does not criticize them but rather notes the death of their leader.

16. Ans: (A) – emphasize the devastating losses suffered by Chief Joseph’s people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The repetition of death in lines 3-5 (Looking Glass, Ta Hool Hool Shute, the old men, the leader of the young men) emphasizes the scale of loss that motivates the surrender. Choice (B) is incorrect because Chief Joseph lists the dead with respect, not blame. Choice (C) is wrong because the repetition, combined with “my heart is sick and sad” (line 14), conveys deep emotion.

17. Ans: (E) – scattered
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, “run away to the hills” describes people dispersing into the landscape during conflict, meaning scattered. Choice (A) is incorrect because “deserted” implies abandoning a duty or cause, whereas these people fled to survive. Choice (C) is wrong because “escaped” suggests successfully getting away to safety, but Chief Joseph fears they are “freezing to death” (lines 9-10), indicating they are not safe.

18. Ans: (B) – fears that some of the missing children may have perished
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The word “maybe” (line 11) indicates possibility rather than certainty, showing Chief Joseph fears but does not know that some children have died. Choice (A) is too extreme because “maybe” suggests uncertainty, not belief that most are dead. Choice (C) contradicts lines 9-10, where he states “No one knows where they are.”

19. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph’s statements “I am tired of fighting” (line 3), “I am tired; my heart is sick and sad” (line 14), and his acceptance that he will “fight no more forever” (lines 14-15) convey resignation and sorrow. Choice (A) is incorrect because he is surrendering rather than continuing to resist defiantly. Choice (D) is wrong because phrases like “sick and sad” express sorrow, not bitterness or accusation.

20. Ans: (C) – from this moment forward
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (line 14) uses the sun’s current position as a marker for the present moment, meaning from now on. Choice (A) is too literal and narrow, as the phrase marks a decisive moment rather than a specific time of day. Choice (D) is incorrect because the phrase refers to time, not location.