SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 32

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 light found Hiroshi already awake, watching the fishing boats drift through the harbor mist below his window. He had been twelve years old when his family moved to this coastal town, and now, at seventeen, he felt (5) neither wholly part of the place nor entirely separate from it. The fishermen knew his name but not his story. The shopkeepers greeted him politely but never lingered in conversation the way they did with one another.     His father had taken a position at the university, (10) teaching economics to students who would leave this town the moment they graduated. Hiroshi understood the irony: his father had come here to escape the frantic pace of Tokyo, yet he spent his days preparing young people to return to places just like it. Meanwhile, Hiroshi himself occupied (15) a peculiar middle ground, caught between his parents’ nostalgia for the city and his own growing attachment to the rhythm of the tides, the smell of salt air, and the way the light fell across the water at dawn. He wondered if this was what it meant to belong nowhere completely – or perhaps to belong partially everywhere.

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

1. Hiroshi’s relationship with his father
2. the economic decline of a coastal town
3. Hiroshi’s sense of being between two worlds
4. the daily routines of Japanese fishermen
5. the reasons Hiroshi’s family left Tokyo

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

1. spiritually
2. completely
3. fortunately
4. initially
5. briefly

3. The passage suggests that the fishermen and shopkeepers

1. actively dislike Hiroshi and his family
2. treat Hiroshi with courtesy but not intimacy
3. have asked Hiroshi to leave the town
4. depend on Hiroshi’s father for their livelihood
5. refuse to speak to Hiroshi at all

4. The irony mentioned in line 12 refers to the fact that Hiroshi’s father

1. dislikes teaching economics
2. never graduated from university himself
3. escaped the city but trains students to return to cities
4. wanted to be a fisherman instead of a professor
5. moved to the coast but cannot swim

5. Hiroshi’s observation about his parents’ “nostalgia for the city” (line 16) implies that

1. his parents regret leaving Tokyo
2. his parents plan to move back to Tokyo soon
3. Hiroshi himself feels no connection to Tokyo
4. Hiroshi shares his parents’ longing for urban life
5. his parents refuse to discuss their past

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. reflective and uncertain
3. joyful and celebratory
4. angry and confrontational
5. indifferent and detached

7. Hiroshi’s final question (lines 17-19) suggests that he views his situation as

1. a temporary phase that will soon end
2. a problem with a clear solution
3. something that may define his identity
4. proof that he should return to Tokyo
5. evidence that he dislikes coastal life

Passage 2

The following passage is from an article about psychology and decision-making.

    For decades, researchers assumed that human memory functioned much like a video camera, faithfully recording events and storing them for later retrieval. This model suggested that forgetting resulted from (5) decay or interference – recordings degraded over time or became scrambled by competing information. Recent work in cognitive psychology, however, has revealed a more dynamic picture. Memory, it turns out, is not a passive recording device but an active construction process. Each time we recall an event, we do not simply (10) press “play” on a stored recording; instead, we reconstruct the memory from fragments, filling in gaps with inferences, expectations, and details from other experiences.     This reconstructive nature explains several puzzling phenomena. Eyewitnesses to crimes, for instance, often report vivid details with great confidence, yet their (15) accounts may diverge dramatically from one another or from objective evidence. The mere act of recalling an event alters the memory itself, making it susceptible to distortion. In one famous study, researchers showed participants footage of a car accident and later asked questions about what they had seen. When the question (20) included the verb “smashed,” participants estimated higher speeds and were more likely to report seeing broken glass – even though no glass had broken in the footage. The language used to probe memory had literally reshaped what people remembered.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that eyewitness testimony should be banned from trials
2. explain how modern understanding of memory differs from earlier models
3. describe the various types of memory humans possess
4. prove that all human memories are completely unreliable
5. trace the historical development of cognitive psychology

9. According to the passage, the older model of memory viewed forgetting as resulting from

1. reconstruction and inference
2. language and suggestion
3. decay or interference
4. eyewitness testimony
5. active construction

10. As used in line 9, the word “construction” most nearly means

1. building
2. assembly
3. fabrication
4. interpretation
5. destruction

11. The passage indicates that recalling a memory

1. preserves it in its original form
2. erases it completely from the brain
3. can change the memory itself
4. strengthens its accuracy over time
5. requires special training

12. The study involving the car accident footage (lines 17-23) demonstrates that

1. people cannot remember anything about accidents
2. broken glass is difficult to see in video recordings
3. the wording of questions can influence what people remember
4. participants were intentionally lying to researchers
5. car accidents are too traumatic to study scientifically

13. The author mentions that eyewitnesses often report details “with great confidence” (line 15) primarily to

1. praise the accuracy of eyewitness accounts
2. emphasize that confidence does not guarantee accuracy
3. suggest that confident witnesses are always wrong
4. argue that courts should trust confident witnesses
5. explain why memory functions like a video camera

14. Which of the following best describes the organizational structure of the passage?

1. A problem is identified and multiple solutions are proposed
2. A chronological narrative traces the development of a field
3. An old model is contrasted with a newer understanding and evidence is provided
4. A controversial claim is presented and then thoroughly refuted
5. Two opposing theories are described and declared equally valid

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in 1877 in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana.

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 all dead. It is the young men who (5) 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 freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my (10) 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 no more forever.

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

1. announce his decision to surrender
2. request supplies for a continued military campaign
3. challenge General Howard to single combat
4. celebrate a victory over the U.S. Army
5. recruit more warriors to join his cause

16. Chief Joseph’s statement that “I know his heart” (line 1) suggests that

1. he distrusts General Howard completely
2. he believes General Howard has been dishonest
3. he understands General Howard’s intentions or character
4. he plans to attack General Howard by surprise
5. he has never met General Howard before

17. As used in line 5, the phrase “say yes or no” most nearly means

1. speak different languages
2. make decisions
3. vote in elections
4. answer questions
5. agree with everyone

18. Chief Joseph mentions the deaths of Looking Glass and Too-hul-hul-sote in order to

1. celebrate their military achievements
2. indicate the loss of leadership among his people
3. prove that they were poor strategists
4. request that General Howard honor them with monuments
5. suggest that they died of natural causes

19. The tone of the speech is best described as

1. defiant and aggressive
2. mournful and resigned
3. optimistic and cheerful
4. sarcastic and mocking
5. confused and uncertain

20. Chief Joseph’s final statement, “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 12-13), is effective primarily because it

1. uses a precise time reference to mark a definitive end
2. demonstrates his knowledge of astronomy
3. proves he plans to fight again tomorrow
4. shows he does not understand military strategy
5. indicates he will negotiate only at night

■ ■ ■   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) – Hiroshi’s sense of being between two worlds
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Hiroshi’s feelings of being “neither wholly part of the place nor entirely separate from it” (lines 4-6) and occupying “a peculiar middle ground” (lines 14-15) between his parents’ urban nostalgia and his own coastal attachments. Choice (A) is too narrow, as the father is mentioned primarily to illustrate broader themes of displacement. Choice (B) is not supported by the passage, which never discusses economic decline.

2. Ans: (B) – completely
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 5, “wholly” is paired with “entirely” in the next phrase to emphasize that Hiroshi feels neither fully part of nor fully separate from the town, making “completely” the correct synonym. Choice (A) “spiritually” introduces a religious dimension not present in the context. Choice (D) “initially” refers to time rather than degree of completeness.

3. Ans: (B) – treat Hiroshi with courtesy but not intimacy
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that fishermen “knew his name but not his story” and shopkeepers “greeted him politely but never lingered in conversation” (lines 6-8), indicating polite but distant treatment. Choice (A) reverses the relationship described; the townspeople are not hostile. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which explicitly says shopkeepers greet him.

4. Ans: (C) – escaped the city but trains students to return to cities
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage explains that Hiroshi’s father “had come here to escape the frantic pace of Tokyo, yet he spent his days preparing young people to return to places just like it” (lines 11-13), creating the ironic situation. Choice (A) is not stated or implied anywhere. Choice (D) invents a detail about wanting to be a fisherman that has no basis in the passage.

5. Ans: (A) – his parents regret leaving Tokyo
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Nostalgia implies a longing for something past, suggesting his parents miss the city they left (line 16). Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which contrasts Hiroshi’s “growing attachment” (line 15) to coastal life with his parents’ urban nostalgia. Choice (B) is not supported; nostalgia does not necessarily mean planning to return.

6. Ans: (B) – reflective and uncertain
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage is meditative, with Hiroshi contemplating his identity and ending with a wondering question about belonging (lines 17-19), creating a reflective, uncertain tone. Choice (A) is too negative; Hiroshi shows no bitterness. Choice (C) is contradicted by the overall mood of ambivalence and questioning.

7. Ans: (C) – something that may define his identity
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Hiroshi wonders if his in-between state means “to belong nowhere completely – or perhaps to belong partially everywhere” (lines 17-19), suggesting he sees this as potentially identity-defining. Choice (A) contradicts the permanence implied by the phrase “what it meant,” suggesting an ongoing condition. Choice (E) is contradicted by his “growing attachment” (line 15) to coastal elements.

8. Ans: (B) – explain how modern understanding of memory differs from earlier models
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage contrasts the older “video camera” model (lines 1-6) with the newer understanding of memory as “an active construction process” (lines 8-9) and provides supporting evidence. Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage discusses eyewitness reliability but makes no policy recommendations. Choice (D) overstates the case; the passage says memory can be distorted, not that all memories are completely unreliable.

9. Ans: (C) – decay or interference
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 4-6 explicitly state that the old model “suggested that forgetting resulted from decay or interference.” Choice (A) describes the newer model of memory, not the older one being asked about. Choice (E) also describes the modern view, not the earlier model.

10. Ans: (B) – assembly
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes memory as reconstructing from fragments and “filling in gaps” (line 11), making “assembly” the best match for putting pieces together. Choice (C) “fabrication” carries a connotation of falsehood too strong for this context. Choice (E) “destruction” is the opposite of what construction means here.

11. Ans: (C) – can change the memory itself
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states, “The mere act of recalling an event alters the memory itself” (lines 16-17). Choice (A) contradicts this statement directly. Choice (B) is too extreme and unsupported; alteration does not mean complete erasure.

12. Ans: (C) – the wording of questions can influence what people remember
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The study showed that using the word “smashed” led participants to estimate higher speeds and falsely remember broken glass (lines 18-23), demonstrating the influence of question wording. Choice (D) contradicts the passage’s explanation; distortion resulted from the reconstructive nature of memory, not intentional lying. Choice (A) is too broad; people remembered the accident, just with distortions.

13. Ans: (B) – emphasize that confidence does not guarantee accuracy
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author notes that eyewitnesses report details “with great confidence, yet their accounts may diverge dramatically” (lines 15-16), using the contrast to show confidence and accuracy are separate. Choice (A) is contradicted by the word “yet,” which introduces evidence of inaccuracy. Choice (D) reverses the author’s implication about trusting confident testimony.

14. Ans: (C) – An old model is contrasted with a newer understanding and evidence is provided
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage begins with the old “video camera” model (lines 1-6), presents the new reconstructive model (lines 6-12), and supports it with the car accident study (lines 17-23). Choice (A) incorrectly suggests solutions are proposed; the passage explains a phenomenon. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage clearly favors the newer model over the older one.

15. Ans: (A) – announce his decision to surrender
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech culminates in “I will fight no more forever” (line 13), and the entire speech explains why Chief Joseph is ending the conflict. Choice (B) contradicts the statement “I am tired of fighting” (line 2). Choice (D) is completely contradicted by the descriptions of death, cold, and fleeing people.

16. Ans: (C) – he understands General Howard’s intentions or character
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “I know his heart” followed by “What he told me before, I have it in my heart” (lines 1-2) suggests mutual understanding of intentions. Choice (A) contradicts the tone of understanding implied by knowing someone’s heart. Choice (B) reverses the sense of the statement, which suggests trust or understanding rather than dishonesty.

17. Ans: (B) – make decisions
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph explains that with the old chiefs dead, “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5), meaning the young men now make decisions about whether to fight. Choice (D) is too literal and narrow; while technically answering questions, the context is about decision-making authority. Choice (C) introduces a democratic process not implied by the context.

18. Ans: (B) – indicate the loss of leadership among his people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. By naming specific dead chiefs and saying “The old men are all dead” (lines 3-4), Chief Joseph explains why authority has shifted to younger men and why he is surrendering. Choice (A) contradicts the mournful context of their deaths. Choice (C) insults the chiefs, which is inconsistent with the respectful tone.

19. Ans: (B) – mournful and resigned
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speech repeatedly mentions death, cold, lost children, and exhaustion, concluding with “my heart is sick and sad” (line 12), establishing a mournful, resigned tone. Choice (A) contradicts the statement “I am tired of fighting” (line 2). Choice (C) is completely inconsistent with the grief and surrender throughout.

20. Ans: (A) – uses a precise time reference to mark a definitive end
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. By anchoring his vow to the present moment (“where the sun now stands”) and extending it forever, Chief Joseph creates a solemn, permanent declaration (lines 12-13). Choice (C) contradicts the phrase “no more forever,” which indicates permanent cessation. Choice (D) is unsupported and insulting; the speech demonstrates thoughtful leadership, not strategic ignorance.