SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 34

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 boatyard smelled of creosote and paint thinner, and Maggie’s father moved through it like a man who had memorized every plank and piling. She watched him kneel beside the hull of the Caroline, running his palm along the seam (5) where two sheets of mahogany met. He had built this boat the year Maggie was born, and now, fifteen years later, he was preparing to sell it to a lawyer from Portland who would keep it docked at a marina and take it out twice each summer.     “Hand me the sandpaper,” he said without looking up. Maggie passed him the block, watching (10) the way his shoulders tightened as he worked. She knew he had not slept well in weeks. The boatyard had been losing money since the new highway opened, drawing tourists inland toward the mountains instead of along the coast. Her mother had taken a job at the cannery, (15) coming home each night with her hands stained red and her face drawn with exhaustion.     “Will you build another?” Maggie asked.     Her father sat back on his heels and looked at the boat as if seeing it for the first time. “Maybe,” he said finally. “But not like this one.” (20)

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

1. a father teaching his daughter a skilled trade
2. the economic challenges facing a coastal community
3. a moment of loss and uncertainty in a family’s life
4. the process of building and selling wooden boats
5. a daughter’s decision to leave her hometown

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

1. layer
2. joint
3. crack
4. opening
5. edge

3. The detail that the lawyer will take the boat out “twice each summer” (line 8) suggests that

1. the lawyer is too busy to enjoy recreational activities
2. the boat will not be used as frequently as it deserves
3. the father disapproves of people who live in cities
4. the boat requires extensive maintenance between uses
5. the lawyer plans to sell the boat after a short time

4. The passage suggests that the new highway has affected the boatyard by

1. making it easier for customers to reach the facility
2. increasing competition from other boatyards
3. reducing the number of tourists visiting the coast
4. raising the cost of materials needed for construction
5. forcing the family to relocate to another town

5. The description of Maggie’s mother in lines 14-16 primarily serves to

1. explain why Maggie spends time at the boatyard
2. contrast the mother’s work with the father’s craftsmanship
3. illustrate the family’s financial difficulties
4. suggest that the mother resents her husband’s choices
5. show that the mother prefers factory work to boat building

6. The father’s response “Maybe…But not like this one” (lines 19-20) most likely indicates that he

1. plans to experiment with new boat designs
2. feels a unique attachment to the Caroline
3. has lost confidence in his abilities as a builder
4. intends to retire from boat building permanently
5. believes modern boats are superior to traditional ones

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. nostalgic and wistful
3. somber and reflective
4. anxious and fearful
5. hopeful and optimistic

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about animal behavior and cognition.

    For decades, scientists assumed that tool use was the exclusive domain of primates and a handful of bird species. That assumption crumbled in 2009 when researchers observed wild New Caledonian crows not merely using tools but manufacturing them with (5) remarkable sophistication. Yet even this discovery pales beside a more recent revelation: octopuses, invertebrates whose last common ancestor with humans lived over 500 million years ago, exhibit behaviors that suggest genuine problem-solving intelligence.     In laboratory experiments, octopuses have demonstrated the ability to open childproof (10) containers, navigate mazes, and even recognize individual human researchers. More astonishing still are observations from the wild. Marine biologists working off the coast of Indonesia have documented octopuses gathering coconut shell halves from the seafloor, carrying them considerable distances, and assembling them into (15) protective shelters. This behavior requires not only foresight-the octopus must anticipate a future need-but also what researchers call “sequential organization,” the ability to perform multiple steps toward a delayed goal.     The implications extend beyond (20) marine biology into the realm of evolutionary theory. If intelligence can evolve along such radically different neural pathways, it suggests that problem-solving cognition may be less rare in the animal kingdom than previously thought.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that octopuses are more intelligent than primates
2. describe surprising evidence of intelligence in octopuses
3. explain how octopuses evolved their neural systems
4. criticize scientists for underestimating animal cognition
5. compare the tool-using abilities of different species

9. According to the passage, the discovery about New Caledonian crows was significant because the crows

1. were the first birds ever observed using tools
2. created tools rather than simply using found objects
3. demonstrated intelligence equal to that of primates
4. shared a common ancestor with octopuses
5. solved problems more quickly than other bird species

10. As used in line 6, the word “revelation” most nearly means

1. theory
2. discovery
3. announcement
4. miracle
5. surprise

11. The passage indicates that octopuses and humans last shared a common ancestor

1. in the recent evolutionary past
2. after the evolution of primates
3. more than 500 million years ago
4. before the development of neural pathways
5. during the period when tool use first appeared

12. The author mentions that octopuses can “recognize individual human researchers” (line 11) primarily to

1. prove that octopuses have better vision than other invertebrates
2. suggest that octopuses form emotional bonds with humans
3. provide an example of their cognitive abilities
4. explain how the laboratory experiments were conducted
5. show that octopuses prefer certain humans over others

13. The behavior involving coconut shells (lines 12-16) is significant primarily because it demonstrates

1. the octopus’s ability to plan for future needs
2. that octopuses can survive in multiple environments
3. the importance of shelter to marine invertebrates
4. how octopuses defend themselves against predators
5. the widespread availability of coconut shells in Indonesia

14. The passage suggests that the study of octopus intelligence has implications for evolutionary theory because it shows that

1. all animals possess some form of problem-solving ability
2. intelligence requires a brain structure similar to that of humans
3. complex cognition can develop in very different types of organisms
4. octopuses evolved more recently than scientists previously believed
5. marine animals are generally more intelligent than land animals

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Seattle’s 1854 speech delivered in response to an offer from the United States government 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? (5) Every part 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.     The white 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. (15) The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the 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.

15. The primary purpose of the opening questions (lines 1-4) is to

1. request information about the government’s offer
2. express the speaker’s confusion about legal procedures
3. challenge the fundamental premise of land ownership
4. compare Native American and European economic systems
5. propose an alternative method of negotiating the sale

16. As used in line 6, the word “sacred” most nearly means

1. religious
2. valuable
3. mysterious
4. revered
5. ancient

17. The passage suggests that the speaker’s people view the natural world as

1. a resource to be carefully managed and conserved
2. an integral part of their spiritual and cultural identity
3. a source of economic wealth to be shared equally
4. a dangerous environment that must be controlled
5. a temporary home before moving to another region

18. The contrast between the white man’s dead and the speaker’s dead (lines 11-14) emphasizes

1. different burial customs practiced by the two cultures
2. the speaker’s belief in an afterlife among the stars
3. the permanent connection the speaker’s people feel to the land
4. the white man’s superior knowledge of astronomy
5. the speaker’s desire to adopt white customs

19. The statement that “We are part of the earth and it is part of us” (lines 14-15) serves primarily to

1. describe the agricultural practices of the speaker’s people
2. explain why the land cannot be sold like property
3. suggest that humans are no different from animals
4. argue for the scientific accuracy of Native beliefs
5. propose a compromise regarding the land sale

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

1. analytical and detached
2. angry and confrontational
3. reverent and imploring
4. humorous and lighthearted
5. resigned and defeated

■ ■ ■   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) – a moment of loss and uncertainty in a family’s life
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on the father preparing to sell a boat he built, the family’s financial struggles, and the uncertain future, all of which center on loss and uncertainty (lines 5-20). Choice (A) is wrong because the father is not teaching Maggie to build boats; he only asks her to hand him sandpaper. Choice (B) is too broad; while economic challenges are mentioned, the passage centers on this particular family’s experience.

2. Ans: (B) – joint
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “seam” refers to where two sheets of mahogany meet, which is a joint or connection point. Choice (C) is wrong because a crack implies damage, whereas the seam is part of the boat’s intentional construction. Choice (D) is wrong because an opening suggests a gap, not the place where two pieces are joined together.

3. Ans: (B) – the boat will not be used as frequently as it deserves
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The detail that the lawyer will only use the boat twice per summer (line 8) suggests infrequent use, implying the boat won’t be appreciated as much as when the father used it regularly. Choice (A) is too broad and not supported by the passage. Choice (E) is wrong because there is no suggestion the lawyer plans to resell the boat.

4. Ans: (C) – reducing the number of tourists visiting the coast
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 12-14 state that the new highway drew “tourists inland toward the mountains instead of along the coast,” reducing coastal tourism. Choice (A) reverses the relationship; the highway drew people away, not toward the coast. Choice (D) is not mentioned in the passage at all.

5. Ans: (C) – illustrate the family’s financial difficulties
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The description of the mother working at the cannery with stained hands and exhausted face (lines 14-16) illustrates the family’s economic hardship. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage does not contrast their types of work but rather shows both parents struggling financially. Choice (D) is wrong because nothing suggests the mother resents her husband.

6. Ans: (B) – feels a unique attachment to the Caroline
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The father’s statement that he might build another boat “But not like this one” (lines 19-20) suggests the Caroline holds special meaning for him, as it was built the year Maggie was born (line 5). Choice (A) is wrong because “not like this one” suggests emotional attachment, not a plan to change designs. Choice (D) is wrong because he says “Maybe,” indicating he might build again.

7. Ans: (C) – somber and reflective
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage’s focus on selling a cherished boat, financial hardship, and an uncertain future (lines 1-20) creates a somber, thoughtful mood. Choice (A) is wrong because while the situation is sad, there is no bitterness or resentment expressed. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage emphasizes loss and uncertainty rather than hope.

8. Ans: (B) – describe surprising evidence of intelligence in octopuses
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on recent discoveries about octopus intelligence, including their problem-solving abilities and tool use (lines 6-18). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage never claims octopuses are more intelligent than primates. Choice (C) is too narrow; evolution is mentioned but not explained in detail.

9. Ans: (B) – created tools rather than simply using found objects
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 3-5 specify that the crows were “not merely using tools but manufacturing them,” meaning they created tools. Choice (A) is wrong because the passage states that some bird species were already known to use tools (line 2). Choice (C) is not stated in the passage.

10. Ans: (B) – discovery
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “revelation” refers to the finding about octopus intelligence, making “discovery” the best match. Choice (D) is wrong because “miracle” implies something supernatural, whereas the passage discusses scientific observation. Choice (A) is wrong because a theory is unproven, while the passage describes observed behaviors.

11. Ans: (C) – more than 500 million years ago
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 7-8 state explicitly that the last common ancestor of octopuses and humans “lived over 500 million years ago.” Choice (A) reverses the meaning; 500 million years is not recent in evolutionary terms. Choice (B) contradicts the passage since primates evolved much more recently than 500 million years ago.

12. Ans: (C) – provide an example of their cognitive abilities
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The ability to recognize individual humans (line 11) is listed among laboratory experiments demonstrating octopus intelligence (lines 9-12). Choice (B) is wrong because recognizing individuals does not necessarily imply emotional bonding. Choice (D) is wrong because the detail illustrates intelligence, not experimental methodology.

13. Ans: (A) – the octopus’s ability to plan for future needs
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 15-16 state that the coconut shell behavior “requires…foresight-the octopus must anticipate a future need.” Choice (C) is too broad; the passage focuses on the cognitive implications, not general shelter importance. Choice (E) uses a detail from the passage (Indonesia) but misses the point about intelligence.

14. Ans: (C) – complex cognition can develop in very different types of organisms
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Lines 19-22 state that intelligence evolved along “radically different neural pathways,” suggesting cognition can arise in diverse organisms. Choice (A) is too broad; the passage does not claim all animals have problem-solving ability. Choice (B) reverses the point; the passage argues intelligence does not require human-like brain structure.

15. Ans: (C) – challenge the fundamental premise of land ownership
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The rhetorical questions in lines 1-4 question whether the sky and land can be owned or sold, challenging the concept of land ownership itself. Choice (A) is wrong because these are rhetorical questions meant to make a point, not genuine requests for information. Choice (B) is wrong because the speaker is not confused but rather expressing a fundamental philosophical disagreement.

16. Ans: (D) – revered
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “sacred” describes how the speaker’s people view the earth, and “revered” (deeply respected) captures this meaning. Choice (A) is too narrow; while “sacred” can mean religious, “revered” better captures the deep respect described. Choice (C) is wrong because “mysterious” does not convey the spiritual importance indicated by “sacred.”

17. Ans: (B) – an integral part of their spiritual and cultural identity
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes nature as “sacred” (line 6), carrying the “memories of the red man” (lines 9-10), and states “We are part of the earth” (line 14), showing nature is central to their identity. Choice (A) is wrong because the passage emphasizes spiritual connection, not resource management. Choice (C) is not supported; economic wealth is not discussed.

18. Ans: (C) – the permanent connection the speaker’s people feel to the land
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The contrast shows that while the white man’s dead “forget the country of their birth,” the speaker’s dead “never forget this beautiful earth” (lines 11-13), emphasizing an enduring bond with the land. Choice (A) is wrong because burial customs are not mentioned. Choice (D) reverses the point; the passage does not praise white knowledge but contrasts cultural values.

19. Ans: (B) – explain why the land cannot be sold like property
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The statement that people and earth are inseparable (lines 14-15) supports the opening argument that land cannot be bought or sold (lines 1-4). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage discusses spiritual beliefs, not agricultural techniques. Choice (C) distorts the meaning; the passage emphasizes kinship with nature, not that humans are identical to animals.

20. Ans: (C) – reverent and imploring
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage expresses deep reverence for nature (lines 5-18) while implicitly asking the audience to understand the speaker’s perspective on land ownership (lines 1-4). Choice (B) is wrong because while the speaker disagrees with the land sale, the tone is not angry or confrontational but rather respectful and pleading. Choice (E) is wrong because the speaker is making an argument, not expressing resignation.