SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 27

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 ferry lurched as it pulled away from the dock, and Maya gripped the salt-crusted railing. She had not been back to the island in eleven years, not since the summer her grandfather died. Now the familiar silhouette of pine trees (5) rose against the August sky, and she felt the old tension return to her shoulders. Her mother stood beside her, silent, clutching a canvas bag filled with cleaning supplies. They were going to empty the cottage, to prepare it for sale.     The crossing took twenty minutes. Maya (10) watched the mainland recede, the harbor shrinking to a jumble of white boats and gray rooftops. She remembered how, as a child, she had always stood at the stern during this journey, waving dramatically to no one, pretending she was setting off on (15) some grand voyage. Her grandfather would laugh and call her his little explorer. But there was nothing grand about this trip. The cottage had stood empty too long, her mother said. The property taxes were unbearable. It was time to let it go.     When they (20) docked, Maya smelled the wild roses that grew along the island road, their scent mingling with the briny air.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the natural beauty of an island setting
2. explain why Maya’s family is selling their property
3. portray a character’s emotional return to a significant place
4. contrast Maya’s childhood memories with her present situation
5. criticize the economic pressures facing coastal homeowners

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

1. conflict
2. tightness
3. suspense
4. electricity
5. argument

3. The detail that Maya’s mother carries “a canvas bag filled with cleaning supplies” (lines 7-8) suggests that

1. the cottage has been well maintained over the years
2. Maya’s mother is a professional house cleaner
3. the visit has a practical, task-oriented purpose
4. the family plans to renovate the cottage before selling it
5. Maya’s mother enjoys domestic work

4. Maya’s childhood behavior of “waving dramatically to no one” (line 14) primarily reveals her earlier

1. loneliness and desire for attention
2. confusion about the purpose of the ferry trips
3. imaginative and theatrical nature
4. rudeness toward other passengers
5. fear of ocean travel

5. The passage suggests that Maya has not returned to the island in eleven years primarily because

1. she has been living abroad during that time
2. her mother forbade her from visiting
3. the memories associated with the place are painful
4. ferry service to the island was suspended
5. she prefers mainland life to island life

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

1. nostalgic and melancholy
2. angry and resentful
3. lighthearted and humorous
4. detached and clinical
5. suspenseful and frightening

7. The contrast between Maya’s childhood perception of the ferry journey as “some grand voyage” (lines 14-15) and her statement that “there was nothing grand about this trip” (line 16) emphasizes

1. the deterioration of the ferry service over time
2. the loss of innocence and wonder that accompanies growing up
3. Maya’s current fear of ocean travel
4. the increasing distance between the island and the mainland
5. her mother’s negative influence on her outlook

Passage 2

The following passage is from an article about materials science.

Spider silk has long captivated scientists and engineers seeking to replicate its remarkable properties. Weight for weight, the dragline silk produced by orb-weaving spiders is stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar, yet it remains extraordinarily lightweight and elastic. (5) These seemingly contradictory characteristics – strength and flexibility – make spider silk one of nature’s most impressive biomaterials, and researchers have spent decades attempting to synthesize it in laboratories.     The challenge lies in the silk’s complex molecular structure. Spider silk proteins, called spidroins, (10) are composed of long chains of amino acids arranged in precise patterns. As the spider extrudes liquid silk through its spinnerets, the proteins align and crystallize in specific regions while remaining amorphous in others. This dual structure – crystalline zones that provide strength interspersed with (15) flexible amorphous zones – is what gives the material its unique combination of properties. Replicating this process artificially has proven extraordinarily difficult. Scientists can produce spidroin proteins using genetically modified bacteria or yeast, but transforming these proteins into usable (20) fibers with the same mechanical properties as natural spider silk remains an ongoing challenge. Recent advances using microfluidic spinning techniques show promise, but commercial production remains years away.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. advocate for increased funding for spider silk research
2. explain why spider silk is difficult to synthesize artificially
3. compare the strength of various natural and synthetic materials
4. describe the anatomy and behavior of orb-weaving spiders
5. announce a breakthrough in commercial spider silk production

9. According to the passage, spider silk is superior to steel in terms of

1. its weight-to-strength ratio
2. its resistance to high temperatures
3. its availability for commercial use
4. its ease of production
5. its electrical conductivity

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

1. calmed
2. written
3. made up
4. arranged
5. settled

11. The “dual structure” mentioned in line 13 refers to

1. the spider’s ability to produce two different types of silk
2. the combination of crystalline and amorphous protein regions
3. the presence of both strength and elasticity in the material
4. the use of bacteria and yeast in silk production
5. the difference between natural and synthetic silk

12. The passage suggests that scientists can currently

1. produce spider silk commercially at competitive prices
2. create spidroin proteins but struggle to form them into effective fibers
3. synthesize silk that is stronger than natural spider silk
4. perfectly replicate the molecular structure of spider silk
5. genetically modify spiders to produce more silk

13. The author describes spider silk’s characteristics as “seemingly contradictory” (line 5) because

1. spider silk is both natural and synthetic
2. materials that are strong are not usually also flexible
3. spider silk is weaker than both steel and Kevlar
4. orb-weaving spiders produce multiple types of silk
5. scientists disagree about spider silk’s properties

14. The passage indicates that “microfluidic spinning techniques” (line 21)

1. have completely solved the problem of artificial silk production
2. are used by spiders to create natural silk
3. represent a recent promising development in silk synthesis
4. are less effective than earlier methods
5. have been in commercial use for several years

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Seattle’s 1854 speech responding to the U.S. government’s offer to buy tribal lands.

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 (5) of this earth 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 (10) of the red man.     We know that the white man does not understand our ways. One portion of land is the same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs. The earth is not his brother, but his (15) enemy, and when he has conquered it, he moves on. He leaves his father’s graves behind, and he does not care. His father’s grave and his children’s birthright are forgotten. He treats his mother, the earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be (20) bought, plundered, sold like sheep or bright beads.

15. The primary rhetorical purpose of Chief Seattle’s opening question (lines 1-2) is to

1. request information about the government’s purchasing procedures
2. challenge the fundamental premise of the land sale offer
3. express confusion about legal terminology
4. compare the value of land to the value of sky
5. negotiate a higher price for the tribal lands

16. As used in line 4, the word “strange” most nearly means

1. unusual
2. foreign
3. incomprehensible
4. suspicious
5. frightening

17. In lines 5-9, Chief Seattle uses detailed natural imagery primarily to

1. demonstrate his knowledge of the local ecosystem
2. convey the spiritual connection his people have with the land
3. describe the economic resources the land contains
4. prove that his people discovered the land first
5. persuade the government to preserve the forests

18. According to the passage, the white man views land as

1. a sacred trust to be preserved for future generations
2. a resource to be exploited and then abandoned
3. something that cannot be owned by individuals
4. more valuable than sky or water
5. a brother to be treated with respect

19. The statement that the white man “leaves his father’s graves behind” (lines 16-17) suggests that he

1. practices a different burial ritual than Native Americans
2. lacks reverence for ancestry and continuity with the past
3. prefers cremation to traditional burial
4. moves frequently for employment opportunities
5. believes in an afterlife in heaven rather than on earth

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

1. resigned and apologetic
2. mournful and accusatory
3. optimistic and hopeful
4. detached and objective
5. lighthearted and ironic

■ ■ ■   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) – portray a character’s emotional return to a significant place
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Maya’s journey back to the island after eleven years and her mixed emotions about this return (lines 1-6). While answer (A) mentions the island setting, description of natural beauty is not the primary focus. Answer (B) is too narrow, as the sale is only part of the larger emotional story.

2. Ans: (B) – tightness
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “tension” refers to the physical tightness Maya feels in her shoulders as a response to emotional stress. Answer (A) “conflict” describes a different meaning of tension not supported by the physical context. Answer (C) “suspense” relates to narrative tension rather than the bodily sensation described here.

3. Ans: (C) – the visit has a practical, task-oriented purpose
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The cleaning supplies (lines 7-8) indicate that the trip is focused on preparing the cottage for sale, a practical task. Answer (A) contradicts the passage, which suggests the cottage has “stood empty too long” (line 17). Answer (B) is not supported anywhere in the text.

4. Ans: (C) – imaginative and theatrical nature
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Maya’s dramatic waving and pretending to be on “some grand voyage” (lines 14-15) reveals her childhood imagination and flair for drama. Answer (A) is too negative and not supported by the passage. Answer (D) misinterprets the behavior as rudeness when it was simply imaginative play.

5. Ans: (C) – the memories associated with the place are painful
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states Maya has not returned since her grandfather died eleven years ago (lines 3-4), and she feels “tension” as the island appears (lines 5-6), suggesting emotional difficulty. Answer (A) is not stated or implied in the passage. Answer (B) is contradicted by her mother bringing her on this trip.

6. Ans: (A) – nostalgic and melancholy
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys wistful memories of childhood (lines 11-15) combined with sadness about the grandfather’s death and the cottage sale (lines 3-4, 16-18). Answer (B) is too harsh; there is sadness but no anger. Answer (C) is incorrect as there is no humor in the passage.

7. Ans: (B) – the loss of innocence and wonder that accompanies growing up
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The contrast between Maya’s childhood perception of adventure (lines 14-15) and her adult awareness of the trip’s sad purpose (line 16) illustrates how maturity has changed her perspective. Answer (A) focuses on ferry service, which is irrelevant to the comparison. Answer (D) makes a literal interpretation that misses the figurative point.

8. Ans: (B) – explain why spider silk is difficult to synthesize artificially
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes spider silk’s remarkable properties (lines 1-6) and then explains the molecular complexity that makes artificial synthesis challenging (lines 7-22). Answer (E) is contradicted by the statement that “commercial production remains years away” (line 22). Answer (A) is not mentioned in the passage.

9. Ans: (A) – its weight-to-strength ratio
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “weight for weight, the dragline silk produced by orb-weaving spiders is stronger than steel” (lines 2-3). Answer (B) is not discussed in the passage. Answer (C) contradicts the passage, which indicates spider silk is not readily available commercially (lines 20-22).

10. Ans: (C) – made up
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 10, “composed” means “made up of” or “consisting of” when referring to the protein structure. Answer (A) “calmed” is a different meaning of composed not applicable here. Answer (B) “written” relates to composing text, not molecular structure.

11. Ans: (B) – the combination of crystalline and amorphous protein regions
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 13-15 explicitly define the dual structure as “crystalline zones that provide strength interspersed with flexible amorphous zones.” Answer (C) describes properties rather than structure. Answer (A) is not mentioned in the passage.

12. Ans: (B) – create spidroin proteins but struggle to form them into effective fibers
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 17-20 state that scientists can produce spidroin proteins using bacteria or yeast, but “transforming these proteins into usable fibers with the same mechanical properties as natural spider silk remains an ongoing challenge.” Answer (A) contradicts line 22. Answer (D) overstates what scientists have achieved.

13. Ans: (B) – materials that are strong are not usually also flexible
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The passage explains that spider silk combines strength and flexibility (line 5), characteristics that typically do not coexist in materials. Answer (C) contradicts lines 2-3, which state spider silk is stronger than steel. Answer (E) is not suggested anywhere in the passage.

14. Ans: (C) – represent a recent promising development in silk synthesis
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 20-21 describe microfluidic spinning as a recent advance that “show[s] promise.” Answer (A) is too extreme; the passage says commercial production “remains years away” (line 22). Answer (B) incorrectly attributes these techniques to spiders rather than scientists.

15. Ans: (B) – challenge the fundamental premise of the land sale offer
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The rhetorical question in lines 1-2 challenges whether land can be bought or sold at all, questioning the very basis of the offer. Answer (E) misinterprets the passage as a negotiation when it is actually a philosophical objection. Answer (A) takes the question too literally.

16. Ans: (C) – incomprehensible
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 4, “strange” means the idea is fundamentally alien or incomprehensible to Chief Seattle’s worldview. Answer (A) “unusual” is too weak for the profound cultural difference described. Answer (D) “suspicious” implies distrust rather than conceptual incompatibility.

17. Ans: (B) – convey the spiritual connection his people have with the land
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The detailed imagery of pine needles, shores, and mist (lines 5-7) illustrates how “every part of this earth is sacred” (lines 4-5) to his people. Answer (C) misses the spiritual emphasis in favor of economics. Answer (D) is not suggested in these lines.

18. Ans: (B) – a resource to be exploited and then abandoned
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 11-16 describe the white man as taking what he needs, conquering the land, then moving on. Answer (A) reverses the passage’s description. Answer (E) contradicts lines 14-15, which state “the earth is not his brother, but his enemy.”

19. Ans: (B) – lacks reverence for ancestry and continuity with the past
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The image of abandoning father’s graves (lines 16-17) and the statement that “his father’s grave and his children’s birthright are forgotten” (line 17) suggest disregard for ancestral connection. Answer (A) focuses on burial methods, which is not the point. Answer (D) is too literal and practical.

20. Ans: (B) – mournful and accusatory
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage expresses sadness about the loss of sacred land while also criticizing the white man’s treatment of the earth (lines 14-20). Answer (A) is partially correct (mournful) but “apologetic” is wrong; Chief Seattle is not apologizing. Answer (C) contradicts the passage’s sorrowful, critical tone.