SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 11

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 to a stop at the station in Lyon, and Clara pressed her forehead against the cold window glass. Outside, a cluster of pigeons scattered across the platform, their wings catching the late afternoon light. She had not been back (5) to this city in twelve years, not since the summer her father sold the pharmacy and moved the family to Paris. That summer remained in her memory as a series of disconnected images: the smell of lavender soap in the back room, the worn marble counter where she had stood on a (10) wooden stool to reach the cash register, the particular quality of silence that filled the shop after the last customer left.     Now, at twenty-six, she had returned alone. The letter from Monsieur Beaumont, her father’s former business partner, had been brief and formal. He wished to discuss a matter (15) concerning the old property. Clara had hesitated for two weeks before writing back, unsure whether she wanted to disturb memories she had carefully preserved in amber. But curiosity, or perhaps something deeper, had won out.     She stepped onto the platform and immediately recognized the particular (20) light of the Rhône valley, softer and more golden than the harsh brilliance of Paris. The station had been renovated; new steel beams supported the roof where wooden ones had rotted away. Yet the chestnut trees beyond the tracks remained exactly as she remembered them, their heavy branches swaying in the September wind.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the architectural changes that have transformed a French city
2. establish a character’s emotional state as she returns to a significant place from her past
3. contrast the superiority of rural life with the harshness of urban existence
4. explain the economic reasons behind a family’s decision to relocate
5. criticize the commercial development that has destroyed historical landmarks

2. As used in line 10, the word “particular” most nearly means

1. fussy
2. specific
3. demanding
4. distinctive
5. partial

3. The description of Clara’s memories as “disconnected images” (line 6) suggests that

1. she has deliberately tried to forget her childhood
2. her recollections are fragmented rather than forming a complete narrative
3. she suffers from a medical condition affecting her memory
4. the pharmacy held no real significance in her early life
5. her father prevented her from fully understanding the past

4. According to the passage, Clara initially delayed responding to Monsieur Beaumont’s letter because she

1. was traveling abroad and did not receive his correspondence
2. felt angry about the way her father had handled the sale of the pharmacy
3. was uncertain whether she wanted to revisit carefully preserved memories
4. did not trust Monsieur Beaumont’s business practices
5. hoped that he would provide more detailed information

5. The phrase “preserved in amber” (line 18) serves to emphasize

1. the valuable nature of the family’s former business
2. Clara’s scientific interest in geology and fossils
3. the unchanging and protected quality of Clara’s memories
4. the outdated business methods used in the old pharmacy
5. the golden color of the light in the Rhône valley

6. The contrast between the renovated station and the unchanged chestnut trees (lines 21-24) primarily suggests

1. the superiority of natural beauty over human construction
2. the coexistence of change and continuity in the landscape of Clara’s past
3. the failure of city planners to preserve historical architecture
4. Clara’s preference for vegetation over buildings
5. the resilience of French forestry practices

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. detached and clinical
3. reflective and nostalgic
4. anxious and fearful
5. celebratory and joyful

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about glaciology and climate science.

    Ice cores extracted from the depths of polar ice sheets function as archives of Earth’s atmospheric history, preserving chemical and physical evidence spanning hundreds of thousands of years. When snow falls in Antarctica or Greenland, it traps tiny bubbles of air. As subsequent (5) snowfall accumulates, the weight compresses lower layers into ice, sealing those ancient air samples in a frozen matrix. Scientists can drill cylindrical cores through ice sheets more than two miles thick, retrieving samples that date back 800,000 years or more.     Analysis of these cores reveals (10) fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations that correlate closely with global temperature variations reconstructed from oxygen isotope ratios in the ice itself. The isotopic composition of water molecules reflects the temperature at which snow originally formed. Lighter isotopes evaporate more readily in warmer (15) conditions, while heavier isotopes become more concentrated in precipitation during colder periods. By measuring these ratios along the length of a core, researchers can construct detailed temperature records.     Beyond temperature and greenhouse gases, ice cores contain other treasures. Volcanic eruptions inject sulfate particles into (20) the atmosphere, which eventually settle onto ice sheets as distinct acidic layers. These signatures allow scientists to date cores precisely and correlate events between different drilling sites. Pollen grains, dust particles, and even traces of ancient biomass burning appear in the ice, offering windows into past ecosystems and human activity.

8. The main idea of the passage is that ice cores

1. provide evidence that volcanic eruptions have increased in recent centuries
2. prove that human activity is the sole cause of climate change
3. serve as comprehensive records of Earth’s atmospheric and climatic history
4. demonstrate that Antarctica is older than Greenland
5. show that temperature has remained constant throughout Earth’s history

9. According to the passage, air bubbles become trapped in ice when

1. volcanic eruptions deposit sulfate particles on snow
2. oxygen isotopes concentrate in precipitation
3. accumulated snowfall compresses lower layers
4. scientists drill cylindrical cores through ice sheets
5. pollen grains settle onto glacial surfaces

1. pattern
2. mold
3. structure
4. chart
5. problem

11. The passage indicates that lighter oxygen isotopes

1. evaporate more readily in warmer conditions
2. become concentrated during colder periods
3. are produced exclusively by volcanic eruptions
4. cannot be detected in ice older than 800,000 years
5. correlate with higher levels of atmospheric dust

12. The author describes volcanic sulfate layers as “distinct acidic layers” (line 21) primarily to

1. warn readers about the dangers of volcanic activity
2. explain how these deposits help scientists date ice cores accurately
3. argue that volcanoes are the main cause of climate fluctuations
4. contrast chemical analysis with physical measurement techniques
5. demonstrate that all ice cores contain identical compositions

13. The passage suggests that the presence of pollen grains in ice cores allows researchers to

1. determine the exact temperature at which ancient snow formed
2. measure carbon dioxide concentrations with greater accuracy
3. gain information about past plant ecosystems
4. predict future volcanic eruptions
5. locate the best sites for drilling new cores

14. The structure of the passage is best described as

1. a chronological narrative of ice core drilling expeditions
2. a comparison of Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet characteristics
3. an explanation of how ice cores form followed by examples of the information they contain
4. an argument against current climate change theories
5. a personal account of the author’s fieldwork in polar regions

Passage 3

The following is adapted from Chief Seattle’s speech delivered in 1854 in response to the U.S. government’s offer to purchase tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest.

    How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? Every part of this earth (5) is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man.     The white (10) man’s dead forget the country of their birth when they go to walk among the stars. Our dead never forget this beautiful earth, for it is the mother of the red man. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the (15) horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows, the body heat of the pony, and man—all belong to the same family.     So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us. The Great (20) Chief sends word he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably to ourselves. He will be our father and we will be his children. So we will consider your offer to buy our land. But it will not be easy. For this land is sacred to us.

15. The primary purpose of the opening question (lines 1-2) is to

1. request specific information about the government’s payment methods
2. express the fundamental incompatibility between two worldviews regarding land ownership
3. demonstrate Chief Seattle’s lack of understanding of economic principles
4. indicate that the tribe is willing to negotiate a higher price
5. suggest that air and water pollution have already damaged the environment

16. As used in line 7, the word “holy” most nearly means

1. religious
2. perforated
3. sacred
4. righteous
5. complete

17. According to the passage, the difference between the white man’s dead and the speaker’s dead is that

1. the white man’s dead are buried in cemeteries while the speaker’s dead are cremated
2. the white man’s dead forget their homeland while the speaker’s dead remember the earth
3. the white man’s dead become stars while the speaker’s dead remain on earth
4. the white man’s dead are honored more elaborately than the speaker’s dead
5. the white man’s dead lived longer lives than the speaker’s dead

18. The speech suggests that Chief Seattle views the relationship between humans and nature as one of

1. human dominion and control over natural resources
2. mutual interconnection and familial belonging
3. scientific observation and objective study
4. economic exploitation for survival
5. aesthetic appreciation from a distance

19. The tone of the passage is best characterized as

1. hostile and combative
2. indifferent and detached
3. reverent and solemn
4. optimistic and enthusiastic
5. sarcastic and mocking

20. Chief Seattle’s statement that “it will not be easy” (lines 22-23) to consider the offer implies that

1. the financial terms of the sale are too complicated to understand
2. selling the land conflicts with his people’s deep spiritual connection to it
3. the tribe lacks the legal authority to complete the transaction
4. he expects violent resistance from younger members of the tribe
5. the journey to Washington to finalize the sale is too long and difficult

■ ■ ■   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) – establish a character’s emotional state as she returns to a significant place from her past
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Clara’s return to Lyon after twelve years and her mixed feelings about revisiting memories of the pharmacy and her childhood (lines 4-18). Choice (A) is too narrow; while architectural changes are mentioned, they are not the primary focus. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage does not make value judgments comparing rural and urban life.

2. Ans: (D) – distinctive
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 10, “particular” describes a unique “quality of silence,” suggesting something distinctive or characteristic. Choice (B), “specific,” is a common synonym but does not capture the sense of uniqueness here. Choice (A), “fussy,” represents a different meaning of “particular” that does not fit this context.

3. Ans: (B) – her recollections are fragmented rather than forming a complete narrative
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “disconnected images” followed by a list of sensory details (lines 6-11) suggests Clara’s memories are fragmentary rather than coherent. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no evidence she deliberately tried to forget. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which shows the pharmacy held great significance for Clara.

4. Ans: (C) – was uncertain whether she wanted to revisit carefully preserved memories
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 15-18 explicitly state that Clara “had hesitated for two weeks,” being “unsure whether she wanted to disturb memories she had carefully preserved in amber.” Choice (A) is not stated anywhere in the passage. Choice (B) introduces feelings of anger that are not mentioned in the text.

5. Ans: (C) – the unchanging and protected quality of Clara’s memories
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The metaphor of amber, which preserves ancient specimens unchanged, emphasizes that Clara has kept her memories intact and undisturbed (line 18). Choice (A) misapplies the phrase to the business itself rather than to memories. Choice (E) is wrong because it confuses the amber metaphor with the literal description of golden light in line 20.

6. Ans: (B) – the coexistence of change and continuity in the landscape of Clara’s past
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The passage notes the station “had been renovated” with new steel beams while the chestnut trees “remained exactly as she remembered them” (lines 21-24), illustrating both transformation and persistence. Choice (A) is too broad and makes a value judgment not supported by the text. Choice (C) distorts the passage by suggesting failure where the text simply observes change.

7. Ans: (C) – reflective and nostalgic
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage’s contemplative descriptions of Clara’s memories and her careful observation of familiar places (lines 4-11, 19-24) create a reflective, nostalgic atmosphere. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no bitterness or resentment expressed. Choice (D) is incorrect; while Clara shows some hesitation, the overall tone is not anxious or fearful.

8. Ans: (C) – serve as comprehensive records of Earth’s atmospheric and climatic history
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes ice cores as “archives of Earth’s atmospheric history” (lines 1-2) and details multiple types of information they preserve. Choice (A) is too narrow, addressing only one detail mentioned in lines 19-22. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage makes no claim about human activity being the “sole cause” of climate change.

9. Ans: (C) – accumulated snowfall compresses lower layers
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 4-6 state that “subsequent snowfall accumulates” and “the weight compresses lower layers into ice, sealing those ancient air samples.” Choice (A) confuses volcanic deposits with the trapping mechanism. Choice (D) reverses cause and effect; drilling extracts bubbles but does not create them.

10. Ans: (C) – structure
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 5, “frozen matrix” refers to the ice structure that contains the air bubbles. Choice (A), “pattern,” is too abstract for the physical containment described. Choice (E), “problem,” represents a completely different meaning of “matrix” from mathematics.

11. Ans: (A) – evaporate more readily in warmer conditions
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 13-15 explicitly state that “Lighter isotopes evaporate more readily in warmer conditions.” Choice (B) reverses the relationship; the passage says heavier isotopes become concentrated in colder periods. Choice (C) is wrong because isotopes are not produced by volcanic eruptions.

12. Ans: (B) – explain how these deposits help scientists date ice cores accurately
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Lines 21-22 state that volcanic sulfate signatures “allow scientists to date cores precisely.” Choice (C) distorts the passage; volcanoes are not identified as the main cause of climate fluctuations. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage does not claim all cores are identical.

13. Ans: (C) – gain information about past plant ecosystems
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 22-24 mention that “Pollen grains” and other materials “offer windows into past ecosystems.” Choice (A) confuses pollen with oxygen isotopes, which are used for temperature reconstruction (lines 11-16). Choice (D) is wrong because volcanic predictions are not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

14. Ans: (C) – an explanation of how ice cores form followed by examples of the information they contain
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph explains ice core formation (lines 1-8), the second discusses temperature and gas data (lines 9-17), and the third presents additional types of information (lines 18-24). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage contains no narrative of drilling expeditions. Choice (D) misrepresents the passage, which presents scientific information rather than arguing against climate theories.

15. Ans: (B) – express the fundamental incompatibility between two worldviews regarding land ownership
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The rhetorical questions in lines 1-4 highlight the conceptual gap between Indigenous and Western views of land, with Chief Seattle calling the idea of buying land “strange.” Choice (A) is too literal; these are rhetorical questions, not requests for information. Choice (D) contradicts the passage by suggesting willingness to negotiate price rather than questioning the entire premise.

16. Ans: (C) – sacred
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “holy” describes how each part of the earth is regarded in “the memory and experience of my people,” and line 4 uses “sacred” in a parallel construction. Choice (A), “religious,” is related but more institutional than the spiritual sense conveyed here. Choice (B), “perforated,” represents a completely different word (“holey”).

17. Ans: (B) – the white man’s dead forget their homeland while the speaker’s dead remember the earth
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 9-12 state that “The white man’s dead forget the country of their birth” while “Our dead never forget this beautiful earth.” Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (C) misreads the metaphor; “walk among the stars” describes the white man’s dead, not a literal transformation.

18. Ans: (B) – mutual interconnection and familial belonging
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 12-17 describe flowers as “sisters,” animals as “brothers,” and state “We are part of the earth and it is part of us,” emphasizing family-like interconnection. Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s emphasis on belonging rather than dominion. Choice (D) is wrong because economic exploitation is not mentioned as the relationship.

19. Ans: (C) – reverent and solemn
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speech’s descriptions of sacred elements (lines 4-8) and the serious contemplation of the land sale (lines 19-23) create a reverent, solemn tone. Choice (A) is wrong because the speech, while serious, is not hostile or combative. Choice (E) misreads the tone entirely; there is no sarcasm present.

20. Ans: (B) – selling the land conflicts with his people’s deep spiritual connection to it
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The difficulty follows from the statement “this land is sacred to us” (line 23) and the earlier description of every element as holy (lines 4-8). Choice (A) focuses on financial complexity not mentioned in the passage. Choice (E) is wrong because it misinterprets “not easy” as referring to physical travel rather than spiritual conflict.