SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 41

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, and Mira pressed her forehead against the cold window, watching the platform recede into the fog. Her father’s figure dissolved into gray, his raised hand the last thing visible before even that vanished. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry, not after (5) everything they had already endured together, but the tears came anyway, hot and unwelcome. Beside her, Aunt Claudia rustled a newspaper, seemingly oblivious to Mira’s distress, though the older woman’s jaw was set tight, a muscle twitching beneath her powdered cheek.     “You’ll see him again (10) before the year is out,” Claudia said without looking up. “The situation in the capital can’t possibly last.”     Mira wanted to believe her, but six months ago Aunt Claudia had said the shortages would end by spring, and now it was August and there was still no butter, no coal, (15) no certainty of anything. The train picked up speed, rattling through the industrial quarter where the factories stood dark and silent, their smokestacks naked against the pale sky. Mira thought of her schoolbooks, abandoned in the rush to pack, and wondered whether she would return to the same (20) classroom or whether that life, too, had ended without ceremony.

1. The passage is narrated from the point of view of

1. a young girl leaving her father behind
2. an older woman reflecting on wartime experiences
3. a father watching his daughter depart
4. a neutral observer describing events objectively
5. Aunt Claudia remembering her own childhood

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

1. collapse
2. withdraw
3. rotate
4. improve
5. darken

3. The detail about the muscle twitching beneath Aunt Claudia’s cheek (lines 7–8) suggests that she

1. is genuinely unaware of Mira’s emotional state
2. is concealing her own anxiety about the situation
3. suffers from a medical condition that causes tremors
4. is annoyed by Mira’s display of emotion
5. is reading disturbing news in her newspaper

4. Mira’s reflection on Aunt Claudia’s previous predictions (lines 12–15) reveals her

1. anger at her aunt for lying to her repeatedly
2. hope that conditions will soon return to normal
3. skepticism about reassurances regarding the future
4. detailed knowledge of economic policy
5. desire to return to the capital immediately

5. The description of the factories in lines 16–18 primarily serves to

1. establish the specific historical period of the narrative
2. provide technical details about industrial architecture
3. emphasize the economic disruption affecting the region
4. contrast with the beauty of the natural landscape
5. explain why Mira and her aunt are traveling by train

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

1. bitterly resentful
2. quietly anxious
3. grimly determined
4. cautiously optimistic
5. emotionally detached

7. The final sentence of the passage (lines 18–21) suggests that Mira

1. regrets not bringing her schoolbooks with her
2. is uncertain whether her former life will resume
3. plans to attend a new school in a different city
4. has already forgotten her previous classroom
5. believes that ceremonies are important rituals

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about archaeology and ancient civilization.

    For decades, archaeologists believed that the construction of monumental architecture required a centralized state authority capable of organizing and feeding large labor forces. The discovery of Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey has fundamentally challenged this assumption. Dating to approximately 9500 BCE, (5) the site predates pottery, metallurgy, and even the development of agriculture, yet it features massive stone pillars arranged in circular formations, some weighing up to sixteen tons. The implications are staggering: hunter-gatherers, previously thought to live in small, nomadic bands with egalitarian social structures, somehow (10) coordinated the quarrying, transport, and erection of these megaliths.     The site’s excavator, Klaus Schmidt, proposed a radical interpretation. Rather than agriculture enabling monumental construction, he suggested that the desire to gather for ritual purposes at places like Göbekli Tepe may have motivated the development of agriculture itself. If (15) large groups convened seasonally to build and maintain the sanctuary, they would have needed reliable food sources nearby, creating pressure to cultivate wild grains rather than simply foraging for them. In this view, religious or social impulses, not economic necessity, drove one of humanity’s most significant transitions.     Recent (20) evidence from flotation analysis supports this hypothesis. Researchers have identified seeds from both wild and domesticated grain species in the site’s lowest layers, suggesting that cultivation practices were indeed emerging contemporaneously with the monument’s construction. Whether Schmidt’s interpretation will withstand further scrutiny remains uncertain, but Göbekli Tepe (25) has irrevocably altered our understanding of Neolithic society.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the architectural techniques used at Göbekli Tepe
2. argue that religious motivations are more important than economic ones
3. explain how an archaeological discovery has challenged previous assumptions
4. prove that agriculture developed before monumental architecture
5. criticize earlier archaeologists for misunderstanding ancient societies

9. According to the passage, Göbekli Tepe dates to a period before the development of

1. stone tools
2. pottery
3. ritual gatherings
4. hunter-gatherer societies
5. seasonal migration

10. As used in line 7, the word “staggering” most nearly means

1. unsteady
2. astonishing
3. doubtful
4. gradual
5. predictable

11. Klaus Schmidt’s interpretation suggests that at Göbekli Tepe

1. agriculture developed before people gathered for ritual purposes
2. centralized state authority organized the construction effort
3. economic necessity was the primary motivation for monument building
4. the need for reliable food sources may have encouraged cultivation
5. nomadic bands avoided settling in permanent locations

12. The passage indicates that previous archaeological assumptions were based on the belief that

1. hunter-gatherers lacked the social organization for large projects
2. all ancient societies practiced agriculture
3. monumental architecture served primarily economic functions
4. stone pillars were too heavy for ancient peoples to move
5. ritual gatherings occurred only in agricultural societies

13. The author mentions “flotation analysis” (line 20) in order to

1. explain the primary research method used at Göbekli Tepe
2. provide evidence supporting Schmidt’s hypothesis
3. demonstrate that the site contains water sources
4. prove that Schmidt’s interpretation is completely correct
5. show that wild grains were superior to domesticated species

14. The author’s attitude toward Schmidt’s interpretation can best be described as

1. dismissive skepticism
2. enthusiastic endorsement
3. cautious interest
4. complete acceptance
5. hostile opposition

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 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 (15) will fight no more forever.

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

1. request supplies and medical assistance from the military
2. announce his decision to end armed resistance
3. negotiate specific terms for a peace treaty
4. criticize General Howard for his military tactics
5. inspire his warriors to continue fighting

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

1. I have memorized his exact words
2. I remember and value what he said
3. I feel physical pain in my chest
4. I have written down his message
5. I disagree with his position

17. Chief Joseph’s statement that “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4–5) suggests that

1. young warriors have seized control through force
2. the traditional leadership structure has been disrupted
3. Chief Joseph refuses to take responsibility for the war
4. General Howard should negotiate with younger leaders
5. the young men are better military strategists

18. The repetition of the phrase “is dead” in lines 3–5 primarily serves to

1. assign blame for the military defeat
2. request a proper burial ceremony
3. emphasize the devastating losses suffered
4. identify specific individuals by name
5. demonstrate Chief Joseph’s emotional detachment

19. Chief Joseph’s mention of children and blankets throughout the speech appeals primarily to

1. General Howard’s sense of compassion
2. the military value of winter supplies
3. traditional Native American customs
4. the legal rights established by treaty
5. his own warriors’ fighting spirit

20. The tone of the final sentence (lines 14–15) can best be described as

1. defiant and threatening
2. resigned and sorrowful
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. bitter and accusatory
5. indifferent and detached

■ ■ ■   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: (A) – a young girl leaving her father behind
Explanation: This is a Point of View question. The passage consistently presents events through Mira’s perspective, describing her thoughts, feelings, and observations from the train as she leaves her father at the platform (lines 1–3). Choice (B) is incorrect because Mira is currently experiencing these events, not reflecting on them from an older age. Choice (D) is incorrect because the narrator provides access to Mira’s internal emotional state, which would not occur in objective narration.

2. Ans: (B) – withdraw
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, “recede” describes the platform moving away or withdrawing from view as the train departs. Choice (A) is incorrect because “collapse” implies destruction rather than gradual distancing. Choice (E) is incorrect because while the passage mentions fog, “recede” refers to the platform’s physical movement away, not a change in lighting.

3. Ans: (B) – is concealing her own anxiety about the situation
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The physical detail of the twitching muscle (line 8) combined with her tight jaw suggests involuntary tension that contradicts her seemingly calm newspaper reading, indicating suppressed emotion. Choice (A) is incorrect because the physical tension demonstrates she is not genuinely oblivious. Choice (C) is incorrect because the context suggests emotional rather than medical causes for the muscle twitch.

4. Ans: (C) – skepticism about reassurances regarding the future
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Mira’s thought that she “wanted to believe” Claudia followed by the reminder of previous failed predictions (lines 12–15) reveals her doubt about optimistic forecasts. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage suggests doubt rather than anger. Choice (B) is incorrect because it contradicts the skepticism Mira expresses about Claudia’s reassurances.

5. Ans: (C) – emphasize the economic disruption affecting the region
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The image of dark, silent factories with naked smokestacks (lines 16–18) reinforces the broader context of shortages and instability mentioned earlier in the passage. Choice (B) is incorrect because the description focuses on the factories’ inactive state, not their architectural features. Choice (D) is incorrect because no natural landscape is described for contrast.

6. Ans: (B) – quietly anxious
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys worry and uncertainty through details like tears (line 5), the uncertain future (lines 14–15), and abandoned schoolbooks (lines 18–19), but without dramatic emotional outbursts. Choice (A) is incorrect because while there is sadness, there is no expression of bitter resentment toward anyone. Choice (E) is incorrect because the narrator provides intimate access to Mira’s emotions, showing clear emotional engagement.

7. Ans: (B) – is uncertain whether her former life will resume
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Mira’s wondering whether she would return to the same classroom “or whether that life, too, had ended without ceremony” (lines 19–21) directly expresses uncertainty about resuming her previous existence. Choice (A) is incorrect because the focus is on whether she’ll return at all, not regret about the books themselves. Choice (C) is incorrect because she wonders about returning to her old school, not attending a new one.

8. Ans: (C) – explain how an archaeological discovery has challenged previous assumptions
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage opens by stating that Göbekli Tepe “has fundamentally challenged” previous beliefs (lines 2–3) and concludes that it “has irrevocably altered our understanding” (lines 24–25). Choice (A) is incorrect because architectural techniques are mentioned only briefly to establish the site’s significance, not as the main focus. Choice (D) is incorrect because it reverses the relationship; the passage suggests monument building may have preceded or coincided with agriculture.

9. Ans: (B) – pottery
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that the site “predates pottery, metallurgy, and even the development of agriculture” (lines 4–5). Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage indicates ritual gatherings likely occurred at the site itself. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage identifies the builders as hunter-gatherers, indicating such societies already existed.

10. Ans: (B) – astonishing
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “staggering” describes the profound implications of hunter-gatherers building monuments, conveying that the discovery is astonishing or remarkable. Choice (A) is incorrect because while “staggering” can mean unsteady in other contexts, here it describes the implications, not physical movement. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage treats the implications as significant, not doubtful.

11. Ans: (D) – the need for reliable food sources may have encouraged cultivation
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Schmidt’s hypothesis states that seasonal gatherings at the site “would have needed reliable food sources nearby, creating pressure to cultivate wild grains” (lines 15–17). Choice (A) is incorrect because it reverses Schmidt’s interpretation, which suggests ritual gathering preceded agriculture. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage emphasizes that the site challenges the assumption that centralized authority was necessary.

12. Ans: (A) – hunter-gatherers lacked the social organization for large projects
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that archaeologists believed monumental construction “required a centralized state authority” (lines 2–3) and that hunter-gatherers were thought to live in “small, nomadic bands with egalitarian social structures” (lines 8–9), implying they lacked organization for large projects. Choice (B) is incorrect because previous assumptions concerned what was necessary for monument building, not whether all societies practiced agriculture. Choice (D) is incorrect because the issue was social organization, not technical capability with weight.

13. Ans: (B) – provide evidence supporting Schmidt’s hypothesis
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The flotation analysis revealing both wild and domesticated grain seeds (lines 20–23) supports Schmidt’s idea that cultivation emerged alongside monument construction. Choice (A) is incorrect because flotation analysis is mentioned only briefly as one piece of evidence, not explained as the primary research method. Choice (D) is incorrect because the author states that whether Schmidt’s interpretation will withstand scrutiny “remains uncertain” (line 24).

14. Ans: (C) – cautious interest
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The author presents Schmidt’s interpretation as “radical” (line 12), notes supporting evidence (lines 20–23), but concludes that whether it “will withstand further scrutiny remains uncertain” (lines 23–24), indicating measured interest without full commitment. Choice (B) is incorrect because the acknowledgment of uncertainty prevents enthusiastic endorsement. Choice (A) is incorrect because the author treats the interpretation seriously and notes supporting evidence rather than dismissing it.

15. Ans: (B) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph’s statement “I am tired of fighting” (line 3) and his concluding declaration “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14–15) constitute an announcement of surrender. Choice (A) is incorrect because while he mentions the need for blankets and describes suffering, requesting supplies is not the speech’s primary purpose. Choice (E) is incorrect because the speech explicitly renounces further fighting rather than inspiring continued resistance.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and value what he said
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, having something “in my heart” conveys that Chief Joseph remembers and holds General Howard’s previous words in esteem. Choice (A) is incorrect because the phrase suggests emotional retention rather than literal memorization. Choice (E) is incorrect because keeping words in one’s heart typically indicates respect or agreement, not disagreement.

17. Ans: (B) – the traditional leadership structure has been disrupted
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph’s statement follows his list of dead chiefs (lines 3–4) and indicates that with “the old men” dead (line 4), decision-making power has shifted to younger men, suggesting disruption of normal leadership. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage suggests the shift occurred due to deaths, not a seizure of control. Choice (C) is incorrect because Chief Joseph is explaining circumstances, not avoiding responsibility.

18. Ans: (C) – emphasize the devastating losses suffered
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The threefold repetition of “is dead” (lines 3–5) hammers home the extent of casualties among the leadership, reinforcing the hopelessness of continued resistance. Choice (B) is incorrect because the purpose is rhetorical emphasis, not a burial request. Choice (E) is incorrect because the repetition conveys deep emotion rather than detachment.

19. Ans: (A) – General Howard’s sense of compassion
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. References to freezing children (line 7) and people with no blankets or food (lines 7–9) create sympathy and appeal to humanitarian feelings in the speech’s audience. Choice (B) is incorrect because Chief Joseph describes suffering to evoke compassion, not to discuss military logistics. Choice (E) is incorrect because the speech announces surrender, not an attempt to motivate warriors.

20. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The final statement “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14–15) follows Chief Joseph’s declaration that his “heart is sick and sad” (line 14), conveying sorrowful acceptance of defeat. Choice (A) is incorrect because the statement announces the end of resistance rather than defiance. Choice (D) is incorrect because while there is sadness, the tone is one of weary acceptance rather than bitter accusation.