SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 43

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 as we left the outskirts of Cairo, and I pressed my face against the window, watching the city dissolve into pale desert. My father sat across from me, his leather satchel balanced on his knees, (5) his fingers drumming against the brass buckle. He had not spoken since we boarded, and I knew better than to break his silence when he wore that particular expression-half concentration, half worry.     We were traveling south to Luxor, where my father hoped to purchase (10) a collection of papyrus fragments from a dealer he had known for twenty years. I was fourteen and had accompanied him on these expeditions since I was eight, serving as his assistant and, when necessary, his translator. My Arabic was better than his, a fact that (15) both pleased and embarrassed him.     “Mira,” he said finally, looking up from his satchel, “when we arrive, you must let me negotiate the price. Rashid will expect it. He is a proud man.” I nodded, though I suspected Rashid would address (20) most of his remarks to me anyway, as he always did.

1. The narrator is best described as

1. resentful of her father’s authority
2. an experienced traveler accompanying a family member
3. uncertain about the purpose of the journey
4. eager to return home to Cairo
5. frightened by unfamiliar surroundings

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

1. shatter
2. interrupt
3. fracture
4. violate
5. separate

3. The detail about the narrator’s age when she first accompanied her father (line 12) serves primarily to

1. explain why she is nervous about the journey
2. emphasize her long experience with such trips
3. suggest that her father has been irresponsible
4. indicate that she is too young to travel alone
5. contrast her youth with her father’s advanced age

4. The father’s reaction to his daughter’s superior Arabic skills can best be characterized as

1. unqualified pride
2. complete indifference
3. mixed emotions
4. profound resentment
5. mild amusement

5. It can be inferred from the passage that Rashid

1. speaks only Arabic
2. has known the narrator since she was eight years old
3. lives in Cairo
4. has done business with the father previously
5. prefers to negotiate with the father rather than the daughter

6. The narrator’s response to her father’s instruction in lines 18-19 suggests that she

1. believes her father is underestimating Rashid’s behavior
2. disagrees with her father’s assessment of Rashid’s character
3. intends to disobey her father’s instructions
4. anticipates that the actual interaction will differ from her father’s plan
5. has never met Rashid before

7. The overall tone of the passage is best described as

1. tense and foreboding
2. reflective and observant
3. humorous and lighthearted
4. sorrowful and regretful
5. formal and distant

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about linguistics and language evolution.

    Linguists have long debated whether the approximately seven thousand languages spoken today descended from a single ancestral tongue or emerged independently in different regions. Recent computational research has reignited this debate by (5) tracing certain fundamental words-pronouns, body parts, basic verbs-across language families that were previously thought to be unrelated. Using statistical models borrowed from evolutionary biology, researchers have identified phonetic patterns that appear to persist across (10) tens of thousands of years, far exceeding the time depth that traditional historical linguistics could probe.     One striking finding involves the word for “tongue.” In numerous unrelated language families spanning Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas, this word contains a variant (15) of the “l” sound-a pattern too consistent, some argue, to be coincidental. Skeptics counter that such similarities may reflect anatomical constraints: certain sounds naturally evoke the physical objects they name, a phenomenon known as sound symbolism. (20) The tongue, being central to speech production itself, may simply inspire similar phonetic choices across cultures independently.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. advocate for a single origin of all human languages
2. describe a linguistic debate and recent evidence related to it
3. prove that sound symbolism explains all language similarities
4. criticize traditional methods in historical linguistics
5. trace the evolution of a specific word across multiple languages

9. As used in line 3, the word “reignited” most nearly means

1. set on fire
2. renewed
3. extinguished
4. settled
5. inflamed

10. According to the passage, computational research has traced patterns across

1. all seven thousand languages spoken today
2. language families once considered unconnected
3. only European and Asian languages
4. languages that emerged in the last few centuries
5. dialects within a single language family

11. The passage indicates that statistical models used in the research were

1. invented specifically for linguistic analysis
2. rejected by most linguists
3. adapted from another scientific field
4. limited to analyzing modern languages
5. incapable of detecting phonetic patterns

12. The example of the word for “tongue” is used to

1. prove definitively that all languages share a common origin
2. illustrate a pattern that supports one side of the debate
3. demonstrate that anatomical constraints determine all vocabulary
4. show that the “l” sound is the most common sound in human language
5. argue that sound symbolism is more important than historical descent

13. According to the passage, skeptics believe that similarities in the word for “tongue” may result from

1. borrowing between neighboring cultures
2. the natural relationship between sounds and their referents
3. errors in the computational models
4. deliberate choices by ancient linguists
5. the influence of a single ancestral language

14. The author’s attitude toward the debate described in the passage can best be characterized as

1. strongly opposed to computational methods
2. convinced that all languages share a single origin
3. neutral and explanatory
4. dismissive of traditional linguistics
5. skeptical of sound symbolism

Passage 3

The following is adapted 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, (5) Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men 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 (10) 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 children, and (15) 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 (20) no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of the speech is to

1. declare victory over General Howard’s forces
2. announce the speaker’s decision to end hostilities
3. request additional supplies for the coming winter
4. celebrate the bravery of fallen warriors
5. negotiate specific terms of a peace treaty

16. As used in line 7, the word “led” most nearly means

1. guided
2. misled
3. preceded
4. conducted
5. escorted

17. The repetition of “dead” in lines 3-7 serves primarily to

1. celebrate the sacrifice of the warriors
2. emphasize the devastating losses suffered by the speaker’s people
3. criticize the younger generation for poor leadership
4. suggest that death is a natural part of warfare
5. express anger toward General Howard

18. The speaker’s statement “I know his heart” (lines 1-2) suggests that

1. the speaker distrusts General Howard completely
2. General Howard has been dishonest in previous negotiations
3. the speaker understands General Howard’s intentions or character
4. General Howard and the speaker are close personal friends
5. the speaker plans to continue fighting despite his words

19. It can be inferred from the passage that some of the speaker’s people

1. have surrendered separately to General Howard
2. have fled and their whereabouts are unknown
3. have joined forces with another tribe
4. refuse to accept the speaker’s authority
5. have adequate supplies of food and blankets

20. The tone of the final sentence (lines 18-20) is best described as

1. triumphant and celebratory
2. bitter and vengeful
3. solemn and resolute
4. uncertain and hesitant
5. sarcastic and mocking

■ ■ ■   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: (B) – an experienced traveler accompanying a family member
Explanation: This is a Detail/Inference question. The passage states that the narrator “had accompanied him on these expeditions since I was eight” (lines 11-12) and that she serves as his assistant and translator, clearly establishing her as an experienced traveler with her father. Choice (A) is wrong because the narrator shows respect for her father’s wishes and knowledge rather than resentment. Choice (C) is wrong because the narrator clearly knows they are traveling to purchase papyrus fragments (lines 9-11).

2. Ans: (B) – interrupt
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, the narrator states she “knew better than to break his silence,” meaning she would not interrupt or disturb his quiet state. Choice (A) is wrong because “shatter” is too physical and violent for the context of silence. Choice (D) is wrong because while “violate” can apply to breaking rules, it is too formal and harsh for this context of simply speaking during someone’s silence.

3. Ans: (B) – emphasize her long experience with such trips
Explanation: This is a Structure/Purpose question. The detail that she began traveling with her father at age eight, and is now fourteen, establishes six years of experience on these expeditions (lines 11-12). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage gives no indication that the narrator is nervous; she appears confident and observant. Choice (C) is wrong because nothing suggests irresponsibility; the narrator has successfully served as assistant and translator for years.

4. Ans: (C) – mixed emotions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 13-15 explicitly state that her superior Arabic skills “both pleased and embarrassed him,” indicating mixed or conflicting emotions. Choice (A) is wrong because “unqualified pride” contradicts the fact that he is also embarrassed. Choice (D) is wrong because “profound resentment” is too strong and negative; he feels pleased as well as embarrassed.

5. Ans: (D) – has done business with the father previously
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that Rashid is “a dealer he had known for twenty years” (lines 10-11), clearly indicating a long business relationship. Choice (A) is wrong because while Rashid may speak Arabic, the passage does not state he speaks “only” Arabic. Choice (E) is wrong because the narrator suspects Rashid “would address most of his remarks to me anyway” (lines 19-20), suggesting he prefers dealing with the daughter.

6. Ans: (D) – anticipates that the actual interaction will differ from her father’s plan
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator nods in agreement but then thinks “I suspected Rashid would address most of his remarks to me anyway, as he always did” (lines 18-20), showing she expects reality to differ from her father’s instruction. Choice (A) is wrong because the narrator is not questioning the father’s characterization of Rashid as proud, but rather predicting how Rashid will behave. Choice (C) is wrong because she is not planning to disobey; she simply expects Rashid will naturally direct conversation to her regardless of her father’s wishes.

7. Ans: (B) – reflective and observant
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The narrator calmly observes details like her father’s expression (lines 4-6), reflects on her experience (lines 11-12), and notes interpersonal dynamics (lines 13-15, 18-20). Choice (A) is wrong because while the father shows some worry, the overall tone is calm and measured rather than tense. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage has no humorous or lighthearted elements; it is serious and thoughtful.

8. Ans: (B) – describe a linguistic debate and recent evidence related to it
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage opens with the debate about language origins (lines 1-3), presents recent computational research (lines 3-10), offers an example (lines 12-15), and includes skeptics’ counterarguments (lines 15-20). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage presents both sides of the debate without advocating for either position. Choice (C) is wrong because sound symbolism is presented as one possible explanation offered by skeptics, not as a proven fact.

9. Ans: (B) – renewed
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 3, “reignited” describes how recent research has sparked the debate again, meaning renewed or revived it. Choice (A) is wrong because while “reignited” literally means to set on fire again, here it is used figuratively to mean renewed interest. Choice (D) is wrong because “settled” is the opposite of what reignited means; the debate has been reopened, not resolved.

10. Ans: (B) – language families once considered unconnected
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 4-7 state that researchers traced patterns “across language families that were previously thought to be unrelated.” Choice (A) is wrong because the passage mentions seven thousand languages exist (line 1) but does not claim the research traced all of them. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage specifically mentions patterns “spanning Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas” (lines 13-14), not only European and Asian languages.

11. Ans: (C) – adapted from another scientific field
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 7-8 state that researchers used “statistical models borrowed from evolutionary biology,” clearly indicating adaptation from another field. Choice (A) is wrong because the models were borrowed, not invented for linguistics. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage presents no evidence that most linguists rejected these models.

12. Ans: (B) – illustrate a pattern that supports one side of the debate
Explanation: This is a Structure/Purpose question. The example of “tongue” containing the “l” sound across unrelated languages (lines 12-15) is described as “too consistent…to be coincidental,” supporting the theory of shared origin. Choice (A) is wrong because the passage presents this as evidence for one side but also includes skeptics’ counterarguments, not definitive proof. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage never claims the “l” sound is the most common sound; it only discusses this particular word.

13. Ans: (B) – the natural relationship between sounds and their referents
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 16-18 explain that skeptics attribute similarities to “sound symbolism,” where “certain sounds naturally evoke the physical objects they name.” Choice (A) is wrong because borrowing between cultures is not mentioned as the skeptics’ explanation. Choice (E) is wrong because this is the opposite of the skeptics’ position; they argue against a single ancestral language.

14. Ans: (C) – neutral and explanatory
Explanation: This is a Tone/Author’s Purpose question. The author presents both the computational researchers’ findings and the skeptics’ counterarguments without taking a side (lines 12-20). Choice (B) is wrong because the author presents the single-origin theory as one possibility supported by some evidence but does not express conviction. Choice (D) is wrong because the author mentions traditional linguistics’ limitations (lines 9-10) neutrally, not dismissively.

15. Ans: (B) – announce the speaker’s decision to end hostilities
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The speech culminates in the declaration “I will fight no more forever” (lines 18-20), and explains the reasons for this decision throughout. Choice (A) is wrong because the speech describes defeat and surrender, not victory. Choice (D) is wrong because while fallen warriors are mentioned, the primary purpose is to announce surrender, not to celebrate bravery.

16. Ans: (A) – guided
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “He who led on the young men is dead” refers to someone who guided or commanded the young warriors in battle. Choice (B) is wrong because “misled” would imply deception or leading astray, which contradicts the respectful tone toward fallen leaders. Choice (E) is wrong because “escorted” suggests merely accompanying rather than actively leading or commanding.

17. Ans: (B) – emphasize the devastating losses suffered by the speaker’s people
Explanation: This is a Structure/Purpose question. The repetition of “dead” five times in lines 3-7 creates a cumulative effect that underscores the magnitude of loss. Choice (A) is wrong because the tone is sorrowful rather than celebratory; the speaker is lamenting losses, not celebrating sacrifice. Choice (D) is wrong because the repetition suggests these deaths are tragic and significant, not merely natural or expected.

18. Ans: (C) – the speaker understands General Howard’s intentions or character
Explanation: This is an Inference question. “I know his heart” (line 1) is an expression meaning the speaker understands the general’s inner nature or intentions, suggesting respect or familiarity. Choice (A) is wrong because knowing someone’s heart suggests understanding, not distrust. Choice (B) is wrong because the speaker says “What he told me before, I have it in my heart” (lines 1-2), suggesting he values and remembers the general’s words.

19. Ans: (B) – have fled and their whereabouts are unknown
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 10-12 state “My people, some of them, have run away to the hills…No one knows where they are.” Choice (A) is wrong because the passage states they “have run away to the hills” (line 10), not that they surrendered to the general. Choice (E) is wrong because lines 10-11 specifically state they “have no blankets, no food.”

20. Ans: (C) – solemn and resolute
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The final declaration “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 18-20) is delivered with grave seriousness and firm determination after listing reasons for surrender. Choice (A) is wrong because the speech describes defeat and exhaustion, not triumph. Choice (B) is wrong because while the speaker has suffered greatly, the tone is sad and weary rather than bitter or vengeful toward the enemy.