SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 19

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 morning after the telegram arrived, Clare found her father in the orchard, pruning the apple trees with a concentration she had not seen in him for months. His hands moved with (5) deliberate precision, selecting each branch as though the choice mattered profoundly. She watched him from the gate, unsure whether to interrupt this small ceremony of normalcy he had constructed for himself.     “They’ve offered me the position,” she said finally. Her voice (10) carried across the rows of trees, flatter than she had intended.     He lowered the shears and turned to face her, his expression unreadable in the early light. “The university in Chicago.” It was not a question.     “Yes.”     For a long moment, he said nothing. A thrush called from somewhere (15) in the branches above them. Clare thought of all the arguments she had prepared during the sleepless night, all the careful explanations of why she needed to leave this place, this town where everyone still saw her as the girl who had played piano at church socials, not the woman who had published three papers on (20) organic chemistry in the past year alone. But her father only nodded slowly, as if confirming something he had known all along.     “Your mother would have been proud,” he said quietly, and resumed his pruning.

1. The passage is narrated from which point of view?

1. First person, from Clare’s perspective
2. Second person, addressing the reader directly
3. Third person limited, focusing on Clare’s thoughts and observations
4. Third person omniscient, revealing all characters’ inner thoughts equally
5. First person, from the father’s perspective

2. As used in line 5, the word “deliberate” most nearly means

1. hesitant
2. intentional
3. slow
4. careless
5. aggressive

3. The description of the father’s pruning in lines 3-6 suggests that he

1. is avoiding an uncomfortable conversation
2. has recently taken up gardening as a hobby
3. is seeking control through a focused physical task
4. has forgotten about the telegram entirely
5. prefers working outdoors to spending time with Clare

4. Clare’s voice is described as “flatter than she had intended” (line 10) primarily to suggest that she

1. is angry with her father for ignoring her
2. is unable to express the emotion she actually feels
3. speaks in a monotone voice habitually
4. is indifferent to her father’s reaction
5. has lost her voice from a recent illness

5. The passage indicates that Clare has prepared arguments (lines 16-17) because she

1. expects her father to forbid her from leaving
2. anticipates needing to justify her decision to leave
3. plans to convince her father to move with her
4. wants to discuss her research on organic chemistry
5. intends to ask her father for financial support

6. The contrast between how the town sees Clare and who she has become (lines 17-21) primarily serves to

1. explain why Clare no longer attends church socials
2. criticize the town for being old-fashioned and narrow-minded
3. illustrate Clare’s motivation for accepting the position in Chicago
4. demonstrate that Clare has always been interested in science
5. suggest that Clare was once a talented piano player

7. The tone of the father’s final statement (line 23) can best be described as

1. bitter and resentful
2. proud but sorrowful
3. enthusiastic and celebratory
4. confused and uncertain
5. indifferent and detached

 

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article on archaeological linguistics.

    The decipherment of Linear B, the script used by the Mycenaean civilization of Bronze Age Greece, stands as one of the most remarkable intellectual achievements of twentieth-century archaeology. For decades after Sir Arthur Evans (5) unearthed tablets inscribed with the mysterious symbols at Knossos in 1900, scholars assumed the script recorded an unknown language unrelated to Greek. The symbols bore no obvious resemblance to any known alphabet, and the cultural context suggested a pre-Greek Minoan origin.     Michael Ventris, a British architect and amateur linguist, (10) approached the problem with fresh eyes in the late 1940s. Unlike classical scholars who were steeped in assumptions about ancient Mediterranean languages, Ventris applied methodical cryptographic techniques borrowed from wartime codebreaking. He created grids comparing symbol frequencies and positions, searching for patterns that might reveal the underlying (15) grammatical structure. His crucial insight came when he hypothesized that certain recurring symbol groups might represent place names mentioned in later Greek texts. When he tested Greek phonetic values against these groups, the symbols suddenly yielded words: “Knossos,” “Amnisos,” and finally, unmistakably, complete Greek (20) sentences describing inventories of goods and livestock.     The decipherment revolutionized understanding of early Greek civilization, pushing the documented use of the Greek language back by some five centuries and revealing that the Mycenaeans, not just later classical Greeks, possessed a sophisticated bureaucratic society.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the archaeological excavation techniques used at Knossos
2. argue that Linear B is superior to other ancient writing systems
3. explain how an ancient script was successfully decoded and its significance
4. compare Mycenaean civilization with classical Greek civilization
5. profile the life and career of Michael Ventris

9. According to the passage, scholars initially believed Linear B represented a non-Greek language because

1. Michael Ventris had not yet applied cryptographic techniques to it
2. the symbols looked unfamiliar and the cultural setting seemed pre-Greek
3. Sir Arthur Evans had proven it was related to Minoan culture
4. the tablets described inventories rather than literature
5. no place names could be identified in the inscriptions

10. As used in line 10, the phrase “fresh eyes” most nearly means

1. youthful enthusiasm
2. improved vision
3. a new perspective
4. recent training
5. careful observation

11. The passage suggests that Ventris’s background as an architect rather than a classical scholar was

1. a disadvantage that he had to overcome through study
2. irrelevant to his success in deciphering the script
3. advantageous because it freed him from certain assumptions
4. the reason he created grids comparing symbol frequencies
5. why he initially believed Linear B was not Greek

12. According to the passage, Ventris’s “crucial insight” (line 16) involved

1. recognizing that the script was used for bureaucratic record-keeping
2. applying wartime codebreaking methods to an ancient language
3. theorizing that certain symbols might represent known place names
4. creating grids to analyze symbol frequencies and positions
5. discovering tablets at Knossos that had been overlooked by Evans

13. The passage indicates that the decipherment of Linear B was significant because it

1. proved that Michael Ventris was a more skilled archaeologist than Sir Arthur Evans
2. revealed earlier use of Greek and showed Mycenaean administrative complexity
3. demonstrated that all ancient scripts could be decoded using cryptography
4. confirmed that Minoan civilization was unrelated to Greek culture
5. led to the discovery of previously unknown Bronze Age sites

14. The organizational structure of the passage can best be described as

1. a chronological narrative of archaeological discoveries in Greece
2. a comparison of different approaches to deciphering ancient languages
3. presentation of a problem, description of its solution, and explanation of its importance
4. an argument for the value of amateur scholars in academic fields
5. a detailed technical explanation of cryptographic methods

 

Passage 3

The following passage is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana Territory 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, 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. request supplies of blankets and food for his people
4. criticize the military tactics used by the U.S. Army
5. inspire the young men to continue fighting

16. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (line 4) primarily to

1. explain why the young men now make decisions
2. blame General Howard for the deaths of tribal elders
3. suggest that traditional leadership structures have collapsed
4. indicate that only children remain in his group
5. show that the fighting has lasted many decades

17. As used in line 13, the word “chiefs” most nearly refers to

1. General Howard and other military commanders
2. the remaining leaders of Chief Joseph’s people
3. all Native American tribal leaders in Montana
4. the young men who are still able to fight
5. the council of elders mentioned earlier in the speech

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

1. defiant and angry
2. mournful and resigned
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. bitter and sarcastic
5. neutral and businesslike

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

1. believes most of his children have already been killed
2. fears the worst possible outcome for those who fled
3. knows exactly where the missing children are located
4. plans to bury the dead before surrendering
5. expects General Howard to help him search for survivors

20. The final sentence (lines 13-15) is particularly powerful because it

1. uses vivid imagery to mark a definitive end to conflict
2. directly contradicts everything Chief Joseph said earlier
3. proves that Chief Joseph has been planning to surrender all along
4. suggests that the fighting will resume the following day
5. criticizes the young men for their decision to continue fighting

■ ■ ■   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: (C) – Third person limited, focusing on Clare’s thoughts and observations
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage is narrated in third person (using “she” and “Clare”) but focuses exclusively on Clare’s observations and internal thoughts, such as her prepared arguments in lines 16-21. (A) is incorrect because the passage uses third-person pronouns, not first-person “I.” (D) is incorrect because we do not have equal access to the father’s inner thoughts; his expression is described as “unreadable” (line 12).

2. Ans: (B) – intentional
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The word “deliberate” in line 5 describes the father’s careful, purposeful precision in selecting branches, indicating intentional action. (C) is incorrect because although deliberate actions may be slow, the emphasis is on purposefulness, not speed. (A) is incorrect because “hesitant” suggests uncertainty, while the passage emphasizes the father’s focused control.

3. Ans: (C) – is seeking control through a focused physical task
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes the father pruning “with a concentration she had not seen in him for months” (lines 3-4) and selecting branches “as though the choice mattered profoundly” (line 6), suggesting he is using this physical task to regain a sense of control. (A) is incorrect because the passage describes his focus on the task itself, not avoidance. (D) is incorrect because the father’s response in line 12 shows he knows about the telegram and the university position.

4. Ans: (B) – is unable to express the emotion she actually feels
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “flatter than she had intended” (line 10) indicates a gap between Clare’s intention and her actual expression, suggesting difficulty conveying her true feelings. (D) is incorrect because the phrase “than she had intended” shows she did not want her voice to sound flat, indicating she is not indifferent. (C) is incorrect because the passage indicates this flatness was unintended, not habitual.

5. Ans: (B) – anticipates needing to justify her decision to leave
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 16-18 explain that Clare prepared “all the careful explanations of why she needed to leave this place,” showing she expected to justify her decision. (A) is too extreme; there is no indication she expects to be forbidden, only that she prepared justifications. (C) is incorrect because the passage gives no suggestion that Clare wants her father to move with her to Chicago.

6. Ans: (C) – illustrate Clare’s motivation for accepting the position in Chicago
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The contrast between the town’s perception of Clare as “the girl who had played piano at church socials” and her identity as a published chemist (lines 17-21) explains why she feels the need to leave. (E) is incorrect because while it may be true she played piano, this misses the point of the contrast, which is about being seen only as she was in the past. (D) is incorrect because the passage does not discuss Clare’s past interests in science.

7. Ans: (B) – proud but sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The father’s statement “Your mother would have been proud” (line 23) expresses pride in Clare’s achievement, but the quiet delivery and invocation of the deceased mother conveys underlying sorrow. (A) is incorrect because there is no indication of bitterness or resentment in his gentle acknowledgment. (C) is incorrect because his quiet tone and immediate return to pruning are not enthusiastic or celebratory.

8. Ans: (C) – explain how an ancient script was successfully decoded and its significance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes the mystery of Linear B (lines 1-8), Ventris’s successful decipherment method (lines 9-20), and the importance of this achievement (lines 21-24). (E) is incorrect because while Ventris is discussed, the passage focuses on the decipherment process and its significance, not on profiling his life and career. (A) is incorrect because the passage mentions Evans’s excavation only briefly in line 4 and focuses instead on decipherment.

9. Ans: (B) – the symbols looked unfamiliar and the cultural setting seemed pre-Greek
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 6-8 state that “the symbols bore no obvious resemblance to any known alphabet, and the cultural context suggested a pre-Greek Minoan origin.” (C) is incorrect because Evans discovered the tablets but the passage does not say he proved the language was Minoan. (D) is incorrect because the tablets’ content was unknown until after decipherment.

10. Ans: (C) – a new perspective
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase “fresh eyes” in line 10 introduces the idea that Ventris, unlike classical scholars, was “not steeped in assumptions” (lines 11-12), indicating a new perspective. (A) is incorrect because the emphasis is on perspective, not enthusiasm. (B) is incorrect because this is a literal interpretation of “eyes” that misses the figurative meaning.

11. Ans: (C) – advantageous because it freed him from certain assumptions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 10-12 contrast Ventris’s background with that of “classical scholars who were steeped in assumptions,” suggesting his different background was beneficial. (A) reverses the passage’s implication that his outsider status was helpful, not a disadvantage. (B) is incorrect because the passage explicitly contrasts his background with that of classical scholars to explain his success.

12. Ans: (C) – theorizing that certain symbols might represent known place names
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 16-18 state that “His crucial insight came when he hypothesized that certain recurring symbol groups might represent place names mentioned in later Greek texts.” (B) is incorrect because applying cryptographic techniques is mentioned earlier (lines 11-13) as part of his general approach, not as the crucial insight. (D) is incorrect for the same reason; creating grids was part of his method, not the breakthrough insight.

13. Ans: (B) – revealed earlier use of Greek and showed Mycenaean administrative complexity
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 21-24 state the decipherment “revolutionized understanding” by “pushing the documented use of the Greek language back by some five centuries and revealing that the Mycenaeans...possessed a sophisticated bureaucratic society.” (C) is too broad; the passage makes no claim about all ancient scripts. (D) contradicts the passage, which revealed that Mycenaeans used Greek, connecting them to later Greek civilization.

14. Ans: (C) – presentation of a problem, description of its solution, and explanation of its importance
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage presents the mystery of Linear B (lines 1-8), explains how Ventris solved it (lines 9-20), and describes why the solution mattered (lines 21-24). (A) is incorrect because the passage is not a chronological narrative of discoveries but rather focuses on one specific decipherment. (B) is incorrect because only Ventris’s approach is described in detail, not multiple approaches.

15. Ans: (B) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech builds to the final declaration “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15), with the preceding lines explaining the conditions leading to this decision. (A) is incorrect because Chief Joseph is announcing surrender, not negotiating terms. (E) directly contradicts the speech’s purpose, as Chief Joseph is declaring an end to fighting, not inspiring continued resistance.

16. Ans: (C) – suggest that traditional leadership structures have collapsed
Explanation: This is an Inference question. By listing the deaths of specific leaders and stating “the old men are all dead” (line 4), followed by “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5), Chief Joseph indicates the breakdown of normal governance. (A) is too narrow; while this is mentioned, the larger implication is about collapsed leadership structures. (D) is factually incorrect; the speech mentions young men as well as children.

17. Ans: (B) – the remaining leaders of Chief Joseph’s people
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 13, “Hear me, my chiefs!” is Chief Joseph addressing his own people’s leaders who are present to witness his surrender. (A) is incorrect because Chief Joseph would not refer to U.S. military commanders as “my chiefs.” (E) is incorrect because the old men/elders are already described as dead in line 4.

18. Ans: (B) – mournful and resigned
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Phrases like “I am tired” (line 13), “my heart is sick and sad” (line 13), and the catalogue of deaths and suffering throughout create a tone of grief and acceptance of defeat. (A) is incorrect because there is no defiance or anger; the speech expresses exhaustion and sorrow. (C) is incorrect because the speech expresses sadness and defeat, not hope or optimism.

19. Ans: (B) – fears the worst possible outcome for those who fled
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The word “maybe” (line 11) shows uncertainty, and mentioning finding children among the dead expresses fear without certainty. (A) is too extreme; “maybe” indicates possibility, not belief. (C) contradicts lines 9-10, which state “No one knows where they are.”

20. Ans: (A) – uses vivid imagery to mark a definitive end to conflict
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (lines 13-14) creates a concrete image of the present moment, making “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15) particularly final and memorable. (B) is incorrect because the final sentence is consistent with the rest of the speech’s message of exhaustion and surrender. (D) reverses the meaning; “forever” indicates no resumption of fighting.