SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 18

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 just as Maya pressed her palm against the cool window, leaving a faint print that faded almost immediately. Outside, the Himalayan foothills rolled past in waves of green and brown, dotted with villages (5) so small they seemed like toys arranged by a careful hand. She had left Kathmandu at dawn, her father’s voice still echoing in her mind: “You don’t have to prove anything to them.” But that wasn’t true. She had everything to prove.     The scholarship letter lay folded in her (10) jacket pocket, its edges already soft from repeated handling. Boarding school in Darjeeling. Her mother had wept when the news came, though Maya couldn’t tell if the tears were from pride or sorrow. Perhaps both. Her younger brother had merely (15) shrugged, too young to understand what it meant to leave home at fourteen.     Across from her sat an elderly woman with a basket of oranges, who had been watching Maya with unconcealed curiosity since Hetauda. Finally, she spoke: “First time away?” Maya nodded. The woman (20) smiled, revealing gaps where teeth had been, and offered an orange without another word.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the landscape of the Himalayan foothills in detail
2. portray a young girl’s emotional state as she embarks on a significant journey
3. explain the educational opportunities available in Nepal
4. criticize the practice of sending children to boarding school
5. celebrate the kindness of strangers on public transportation

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

1. test
2. demonstrate
3. verify
4. examine
5. confirm

3. Maya’s father’s statement in lines 6-7 suggests that he

1. believes Maya is making a mistake by leaving home
2. wants Maya to focus on her family responsibilities instead of her education
3. understands that Maya feels pressure to succeed but wants to reassure her
4. thinks the boarding school will not accept Maya after all
5. is angry that Maya received the scholarship

4. The detail about the scholarship letter’s “edges already soft from repeated handling” (lines 10-11) primarily suggests that Maya

1. is careless with important documents
2. has read and reread the letter many times
3. received the letter a long time ago
4. keeps the letter in poor conditions
5. plans to show the letter to the woman with oranges

5. The passage indicates that Maya’s mother responded to the scholarship news with

1. unambiguous joy and celebration
2. anger at the disruption to family life
3. complete indifference to Maya’s achievement
4. mixed emotions that included both happiness and sadness
5. confusion about what the scholarship entailed

6. The narrator’s description of the villages as “toys arranged by a careful hand” (lines 5-6) serves primarily to emphasize

1. Maya’s childish perception of the world
2. the artificial nature of rural development in Nepal
3. the distance and smallness of the villages as seen from the train
4. the precision of Himalayan architecture
5. Maya’s desire to play rather than travel

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

1. anxious and foreboding
2. reflective and bittersweet
3. celebratory and triumphant
4. detached and analytical
5. humorous and lighthearted

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about historical architecture and engineering.

    The ancient Roman aqueducts represent one of the most impressive feats of engineering in human history, yet their design principles remain widely misunderstood. Modern observers, gazing at the towering arches of structures like the (5) Pont du Gard in southern France, often assume that these monumental arcades were necessary to carry water across valleys. In fact, the arches served a more pragmatic purpose: they elevated the water channel just enough to maintain the gentle, continuous (10) downward slope essential for gravity-fed flow. The Romans understood that water would not flow uphill, and they lacked the pumping technology to pressurize their systems. Every aqueduct, therefore, had to descend gradually from source to city, dropping (15) only about one foot for every 300 feet of horizontal distance.     This engineering constraint produced remarkable solutions. When confronted with mountains, Roman engineers tunneled through them rather than building over them. The Aqua Claudia, which supplied Rome itself, included (20) more than ten miles of underground tunnel carved through solid rock. Such excavations required precise surveying to ensure that tunnels begun from opposite sides of a mountain would meet in the middle. The Romans accomplished this using only (25) simple tools: the groma for right angles, the chorobates for level sighting, and an intimate understanding of geometry.

8. The main idea of the passage is that Roman aqueducts

1. were less technologically advanced than modern water systems
2. demonstrated sophisticated engineering based on understanding gravity and careful planning
3. supplied water only to the city of Rome
4. were primarily decorative structures rather than functional ones
5. relied on pumping technology that has since been lost

9. According to the passage, the arches of Roman aqueducts were built primarily to

1. create aesthetically impressive monuments
2. allow the water channel to maintain a consistent downward slope
3. support the weight of the water flowing through the channel
4. cross over mountains that blocked the water’s path
5. pressurize the water system for faster flow

10. As used in line 8, the word “pragmatic” most nearly means

1. philosophical
2. beautiful
3. practical
4. idealistic
5. complicated

11. The passage indicates that Roman aqueducts descended at a rate of approximately

1. one foot per mile
2. 300 feet per mile
3. one foot for every 300 feet of horizontal distance
4. ten miles of descent over the course of the aqueduct
5. one degree of angle for every 300 feet

12. The author mentions the Aqua Claudia (lines 18-20) primarily to

1. provide an example of how Romans tunneled through mountains
2. contrast underground construction with above-ground arches
3. argue that it was the most important aqueduct in Rome
4. show that not all Roman engineering projects were successful
5. illustrate the decorative purposes of Roman architecture

13. The passage suggests that Roman engineers needed “precise surveying” (line 21) in order to

1. calculate the volume of water the aqueduct would carry
2. determine the aesthetic proportions of the arches
3. ensure that tunnels excavated from two directions would connect properly
4. measure the strength of the rock they were cutting through
5. identify the water source with the highest elevation

14. The author’s attitude toward Roman engineering can best be described as

1. skeptical and dismissive
2. admiring and respectful
3. confused and uncertain
4. critical and condescending
5. indifferent and detached

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, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are (5) all dead. It is the young men 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 (10) to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows 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 (15) the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. announce Chief Joseph’s decision to surrender and explain his reasons
2. criticize General Howard for his treatment of the Nez Perce people
3. celebrate the victories the Nez Perce achieved in battle
4. request additional supplies of blankets and food
5. inspire the young men to continue fighting

16. As used in line 2, the phrase “I have it in my heart” most nearly means

1. I have memorized it
2. I remember and value it
3. I feel pain from it
4. I disagree with it
5. I have written it down

17. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (lines 4-5) and “It is the young men who say yes or no” (line 5) in order to

1. celebrate the leadership abilities of the younger generation
2. explain the traditional decision-making structure of his people
3. indicate that the loss of experienced leaders has contributed to his decision
4. blame the young men for the current situation
5. suggest that he is too old to continue as chief

18. The detail about “little children freezing to death” (lines 7-8) serves primarily to

1. emphasize the desperate conditions facing Chief Joseph’s people
2. accuse General Howard of deliberate cruelty
3. explain why the Nez Perce retreated to the hills
4. justify previous military actions taken by the Nez Perce
5. request medical assistance from the U.S. Army

19. The statement “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 14-15) suggests that Chief Joseph

1. believes all of his children have been killed
2. plans to search among enemy casualties
3. fears that some of his people may have already died from exposure
4. intends to hold a funeral ceremony
5. knows exactly where his children are located

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

1. defiant and aggressive
2. mournful and resigned
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. angry and accusatory
5. indifferent and unemotional

■ ■ ■   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) – portray a young girl’s emotional state as she embarks on a significant journey
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Maya’s thoughts, feelings, and observations as she travels by train to boarding school, making her emotional state the central concern (lines 1-20). Choice (A) is too narrow because the landscape description is a supporting detail, not the primary purpose. Choice (E) is too narrow because the woman with oranges appears only at the end as a minor element.

2. Ans: (C) – demonstrate
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, Maya thinks “She had everything to prove,” meaning she must demonstrate or show her abilities and worth to others at the boarding school. Choice (A) is incorrect because “test” suggests experimentation rather than showing capability. Choice (D) is incorrect because “examine” implies investigation rather than demonstration of worth.

3. Ans: (C) – understands that Maya feels pressure to succeed but wants to reassure her
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The father’s statement “You don’t have to prove anything to them” (lines 6-7) followed by Maya’s contradiction (“But that wasn’t true”) shows he recognizes her pressure but tries to ease it. Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing indicates he thinks it’s a mistake. Choice (E) is incorrect because there is no evidence of anger.

4. Ans: (B) – has read and reread the letter many times
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The soft edges from “repeated handling” (lines 10-11) indicate Maya has taken the letter out and looked at it many times. Choice (A) is incorrect because soft edges from handling suggest care and attention, not carelessness. Choice (C) distorts the meaning-the softness comes from repeated handling, not necessarily the passage of a long time.

5. Ans: (D) – mixed emotions that included both happiness and sadness
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 11-13 state that Maya’s mother wept and that Maya “couldn’t tell if the tears were from pride or sorrow. Perhaps both.” Choice (A) is incorrect because the tears indicate the emotion was not unambiguous. Choice (B) is incorrect because there is no mention of anger.

6. Ans: (C) – the distance and smallness of the villages as seen from the train
Explanation: This is a Structure question. The simile in lines 5-6 compares the villages to toys, emphasizing how small and distant they appear from Maya’s moving train. Choice (A) is incorrect because the description reflects the visual perspective from distance, not childish perception. Choice (B) distorts the meaning-the passage describes appearance, not actual development.

7. Ans: (B) – reflective and bittersweet
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The passage conveys Maya’s thoughtful consideration of leaving home (lines 6-15) with a mixture of opportunity (scholarship) and loss (leaving family), creating a bittersweet tone. Choice (A) is incorrect because while there is some anxiety, “foreboding” is too dark for the overall tone. Choice (C) is incorrect because the mixed emotions of her mother and Maya’s own reflections prevent a purely celebratory tone.

8. Ans: (B) – demonstrated sophisticated engineering based on understanding gravity and careful planning
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage emphasizes Roman engineering achievements, including their understanding of gravity-fed water flow (lines 10-15) and precise surveying techniques (lines 21-25). Choice (E) reverses the passage’s statement-line 11 says Romans “lacked the pumping technology.” Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which emphasizes functional rather than decorative purposes (lines 8-10).

9. Ans: (B) – allow the water channel to maintain a consistent downward slope
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 8-10 state that arches “elevated the water channel just enough to maintain the gentle, continuous downward slope essential for gravity-fed flow.” Choice (A) is incorrect because lines 7-8 explicitly state that the common assumption about monumental purposes is wrong. Choice (D) is incorrect because lines 17-18 state that Romans tunneled through, not over, mountains.

10. Ans: (C) – practical
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, “pragmatic purpose” contrasts with the aesthetic assumptions and refers to the functional engineering purpose of maintaining water flow. Choice (A) is incorrect because “philosophical” suggests abstract thinking rather than practical function. Choice (B) is incorrect because “beautiful” relates to the mistaken assumption the passage is correcting.

11. Ans: (C) – one foot for every 300 feet of horizontal distance
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 14-15 state that aqueducts dropped “only about one foot for every 300 feet of horizontal distance.” Choice (A) is too broad-there are about 5,280 feet in a mile, so the ratio given is much steeper than one foot per mile. Choice (B) reverses the relationship stated in the passage.

12. Ans: (A) – provide an example of how Romans tunneled through mountains
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The Aqua Claudia is introduced in lines 18-20 immediately after the statement that “Roman engineers tunneled through” mountains, serving as a specific example with “more than ten miles of underground tunnel.” Choice (C) is too broad-the passage does not claim it was the “most important.” Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which emphasizes function over decoration.

13. Ans: (C) – ensure that tunnels excavated from two directions would connect properly
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 21-23 explain that precise surveying was needed “to ensure that tunnels begun from opposite sides of a mountain would meet in the middle.” Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not discuss volume calculations. Choice (B) is incorrect because lines 21-23 concern tunnels, not arches, and function, not aesthetics.

14. Ans: (B) – admiring and respectful
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The author describes Roman aqueducts as “one of the most impressive feats of engineering in human history” (lines 1-3) and details their “remarkable solutions” (line 16), showing clear admiration. Choice (A) is incorrect because the author praises rather than doubts Roman achievements. Choice (D) is incorrect because the author shows respect, not criticism.

15. Ans: (A) – announce Chief Joseph’s decision to surrender and explain his reasons
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech announces “I will fight no more forever” (lines 16-17) and explains reasons including dead leaders (lines 3-6), cold and lack of supplies (lines 6-8), and missing children (lines 12-15). Choice (B) is incorrect because Chief Joseph says he knows Howard’s heart (line 1), showing understanding, not criticism. Choice (E) reverses the purpose-he explicitly rejects continued fighting.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and value it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, “I have it in my heart” follows “What he told me before,” suggesting Chief Joseph remembers and holds General Howard’s previous words as important. Choice (A) is too narrow-“in my heart” suggests emotional significance beyond mere memorization. Choice (D) contradicts the context, which shows respect for Howard’s words.

17. Ans: (C) – indicate that the loss of experienced leaders has contributed to his decision
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Chief Joseph lists dead chiefs and old men (lines 3-5), then notes that the young men now decide, and their leader is also dead (line 6)-this leadership vacuum contributes to his decision to surrender. Choice (A) is incorrect because the context is mournful, not celebratory. Choice (D) is incorrect because he does not blame the young men.

18. Ans: (A) – emphasize the desperate conditions facing Chief Joseph’s people
Explanation: This is a Structure question. The detail about freezing children (lines 7-8) is part of a series of hardships-no blankets, cold, scattered people-that explains why Chief Joseph must surrender. Choice (B) is incorrect because the speech does not accuse Howard of cruelty. Choice (E) is incorrect because he does not request medical assistance.

19. Ans: (C) – fears that some of his people may have already died from exposure
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 8-11 describe people in the hills with no blankets or food, “perhaps freezing to death,” and lines 14-15 acknowledge he may find them “among the dead.” Choice (A) is too extreme-“maybe” indicates uncertainty, not certainty that all are dead. Choice (E) contradicts line 10, which states “No one knows where they are.”

20. Ans: (B) – mournful and resigned
Explanation: This is a Tone question. Chief Joseph states “I am tired,” “my heart is sick and sad” (line 16), creating a mournful tone, while his decision to surrender shows resignation to circumstances. Choice (A) is incorrect because “I will fight no more forever” (lines 16-17) indicates the opposite of defiance. Choice (D) is incorrect because while he describes suffering, the tone is sorrowful rather than accusatory.