SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 45

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 afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of the conservatory, illuminating dust motes that drifted lazily above the potted palms. Claudia stood before the pianoforte, her fingers poised (5) above the ivory keys, though she had no intention of playing. Behind her, she could hear the rustle of her aunt’s skirts as the older woman arranged herself on the settee with studied precision.     “You cannot refuse him, you know,” Aunt Beatrice said, her (10) voice carrying the flat certainty of someone accustomed to being obeyed. “Your father has already given his consent.”     Claudia pressed middle C. The note hung in the air, pure and solitary. “Father gave his consent to the idea of my marrying well. (15) He did not consent to my marrying a man I have met precisely twice, whose conversation consists entirely of hunting statistics and the bloodlines of his hounds.”     “Romance is a luxury, child. Security is not.” Her aunt’s fan snapped open. “When I (20) was your age, I understood what duty required.”     And you have been miserable ever since, Claudia thought but did not say. Instead, she turned from the piano and met her aunt’s gaze squarely. “Then perhaps I am not as wise as you were. I find I cannot separate the two (25) so neatly.” The words came out more forcefully than she had intended, and she saw her aunt’s expression harden into something carved and cold.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the historical customs of courtship in aristocratic families
2. reveal a conflict between a young woman and her aunt over an arranged marriage
3. illustrate the superior wisdom of older generations in matters of the heart
4. explain why security is more important than romance in marriage
5. portray the daily routine of a wealthy family in their conservatory

2. As used in line 9, the word “studied” most nearly means

1. educated
2. deliberate
3. academic
4. examined
5. learned

3. Claudia’s action of pressing middle C on the piano (line 13) primarily serves to

1. demonstrate her superior musical training
2. interrupt her aunt before she can continue speaking
3. provide a moment to compose her response
4. signal her agreement with her aunt’s position
5. show her inability to play the instrument properly

4. The passage suggests that Claudia’s father has

1. personally selected her future husband based on hunting prowess
2. refused to give his consent to any marriage proposal
3. approved the general concept of her marrying advantageously
4. met with the prospective husband on exactly two occasions
5. delegated all marriage decisions entirely to Aunt Beatrice

5. Aunt Beatrice’s statement “Romance is a luxury, child. Security is not” (line 19) is best characterized as

1. a sympathetic acknowledgment of Claudia’s feelings
2. a pragmatic assertion reflecting her worldview
3. an ironic comment meant to amuse Claudia
4. a theoretical argument lacking personal experience
5. a modern perspective on contemporary marriage

6. The detail that Claudia’s thought “you have been miserable ever since” (line 22) remains unspoken suggests that Claudia

1. completely agrees with her aunt’s philosophy of marriage
2. lacks the courage to express any opposition whatsoever
3. exercises some restraint despite her disagreement
4. has forgotten what she intended to say to her aunt
5. believes her aunt has been perfectly happy in marriage

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

1. bitterly hostile and confrontational
2. warmly affectionate and sentimental
3. coolly tense and subtly defiant
4. humorously lighthearted and playful
5. completely detached and objective

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article on cognitive psychology.

    For decades, psychologists believed that human memory functioned much like a video recorder, faithfully preserving experiences and allowing us to replay them with reasonable accuracy. This intuitive model has (5) been thoroughly dismantled by research into the reconstructive nature of memory. Each time we recall an event, we do not simply retrieve a stored file; instead, we actively rebuild the memory from fragmented pieces, a process susceptible to distortion, suggestion, and outright fabrication.     The (10) landmark studies of Elizabeth Loftus in the 1970s demonstrated just how malleable memory can be. In one famous experiment, participants watched footage of a traffic accident and were then asked questions about what they had witnessed. When researchers used the verb “smashed” (15) rather than “hit” to describe the collision, participants not only estimated higher speeds but also were more likely to report seeing broken glass in the footage – glass that had never been present. The mere substitution of a single word had altered their memory of the event itself.     This (20) reconstructive process has profound implications for the legal system, where eyewitness testimony has long been regarded as particularly compelling evidence. Yet research consistently shows that confident witnesses are not necessarily accurate witnesses. Memory confidence and memory accuracy, it turns out, (25) are only weakly correlated. A witness may vividly and sincerely recall details that never occurred, particularly when suggestive questioning or post-event information has contaminated the original memory trace. Understanding memory as reconstruction rather than reproduction fundamentally challenges our trust in firsthand accounts.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. Elizabeth Loftus invented the modern study of psychology in the 1970s
2. human memory is a reconstructive process vulnerable to distortion
3. eyewitness testimony should be completely eliminated from legal proceedings
4. video recorders provide more accurate records than human observers
5. confident witnesses always provide the most reliable courtroom testimony

9. According to the passage, the earlier model of memory compared it to

1. a fragmented puzzle requiring assembly
2. a legal proceeding with eyewitness testimony
3. a video recorder preserving experiences
4. a traffic accident with broken glass
5. a contaminated trace of information

10. As used in line 4, the word “dismantled” most nearly means

1. constructed
2. decorated
3. refuted
4. filmed
5. preserved

11. In the Loftus experiment described in the passage, participants who heard the word “smashed” were more likely to

1. refuse to answer questions about the footage
2. estimate lower speeds than other participants
3. report seeing broken glass that did not exist
4. recall the experiment accurately years later
5. describe the collision as a minor incident

12. The author’s purpose in discussing the legal system (lines 20-27) is to

1. argue that all criminal trials are fundamentally unfair
2. illustrate a practical consequence of memory’s reconstructive nature
3. prove that eyewitness testimony is always deliberately false
4. explain how lawyers manipulate witnesses through suggestion
5. demonstrate that confidence always indicates accuracy

13. The passage indicates that memory confidence and memory accuracy are

1. perfectly correlated in all circumstances
2. completely unrelated to one another
3. only weakly correlated with each other
4. impossible to measure in experimental settings
5. identical concepts with the same meaning

14. The author’s tone in the passage can best be described as

1. angry and accusatory toward psychologists
2. informative and concerned about implications
3. dismissive and contemptuous of research
4. celebratory and entertaining throughout
5. confused and uncertain about the evidence

Passage 3

The following passage is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in 1877.

    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, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old (5) 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 freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no (10) food. No one knows where they are – perhaps 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 (15) sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

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

1. announce his decision to surrender and end the fighting
2. celebrate a military victory over General Howard’s forces
3. request additional blankets and food for the coming winter
4. criticize the young men for their role in the conflict
5. declare his intention to continue fighting indefinitely

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

1. I have forgotten it completely
2. I remember and value it
3. I reject it with anger
4. I question its truth
5. I have written it down

17. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (lines 5-6) in order to

1. celebrate the leadership of the younger generation
2. explain the loss of experienced leadership among his people
3. blame General Howard for targeting elderly leaders
4. suggest that old age is the primary cause of death
5. indicate that only young men are capable of fighting

18. The speech suggests that Chief Joseph’s immediate concern is

1. negotiating better terms of surrender with General Howard
2. planning a new military strategy for the spring
3. locating his scattered people, especially the children
4. documenting the names of all the chiefs who have died
5. acquiring warmer territory for his people to inhabit

19. The tone of the speech can best be described as

1. defiant and threatening
2. exhausted and mournful
3. optimistic and cheerful
4. angry and vengeful
5. indifferent and detached

20. The final sentence (lines 14-16) is structured to emphasize

1. the exact time of day when the speech was delivered
2. the finality and permanence of his decision
3. his uncertainty about future military plans
4. the geographical location of the sun
5. his desire to fight again in the future

■ ■ ■   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) – reveal a conflict between a young woman and her aunt over an arranged marriage
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on the disagreement between Claudia and Aunt Beatrice regarding Claudia’s potential marriage to a man she barely knows (lines 13-17, 19-25). Choice (A) is too broad, as the passage focuses on a specific conflict rather than general historical customs. Choice (D) states Aunt Beatrice’s position but misrepresents it as the passage’s purpose rather than one character’s viewpoint.

2. Ans: (B) – deliberate
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase “studied precision” (line 9) describes Aunt Beatrice arranging herself with careful, calculated intentionality, making “deliberate” the best match. Choices (A), (C), and (E) all relate to the more common meaning of “studied” as “educated” or “learned,” but this meaning does not fit the context of physical positioning. Choice (D) means “looked at closely,” which reverses the sense of the word as used here.

3. Ans: (C) – provide a moment to compose her response
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Claudia presses the key immediately after her aunt’s declaration (line 13), then delivers a thoughtful, measured reply, suggesting the action gives her time to formulate her words. Choice (A) is incorrect because no information suggests she is demonstrating skill. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, as her subsequent words clearly disagree with her aunt’s position.

4. Ans: (C) – approved the general concept of her marrying advantageously
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Claudia explicitly states that her “Father gave his consent to the idea of my marrying well” (lines 13-14), indicating general approval of an advantageous marriage rather than a specific person. Choice (A) distorts details from the passage; the hunting references describe the suitor, not the father’s selection criteria. Choice (D) confuses who met whom twice – Claudia met the suitor twice, not her father.

5. Ans: (B) – a pragmatic assertion reflecting her worldview
Explanation: This is a Structure question. Aunt Beatrice’s statement (line 19) presents a practical, utilitarian view of marriage that she clearly believes and expects Claudia to accept. Choice (A) is incorrect because the statement shows no sympathy for Claudia’s feelings. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, as Aunt Beatrice explicitly references her own experience (lines 19-20).

6. Ans: (C) – exercises some restraint despite her disagreement
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage explicitly states Claudia “thought but did not say” (line 22) this critical observation, demonstrating self-control even while opposing her aunt. Choice (B) is too extreme, as Claudia does voice her opposition, just not this particular thought. Choice (E) directly contradicts the content of the unspoken thought itself.

7. Ans: (C) – coolly tense and subtly defiant
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The passage describes a restrained but clear conflict, with Claudia maintaining composure while resisting her aunt’s demands (lines 13-17, 23-25), and the aunt’s expression hardening “into something carved and cold” (lines 25-26). Choice (A) overstates the level of hostility, as both characters remain relatively controlled. Choice (B) contradicts the conflict at the heart of the passage.

8. Ans: (B) – human memory is a reconstructive process vulnerable to distortion
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage systematically explains how memory reconstruction makes recollection susceptible to error (lines 4-9, 13-18, 23-27). Choice (C) is too extreme; the passage raises concerns about eyewitness testimony but does not advocate complete elimination. Choice (E) directly contradicts lines 23-25, which state that confident witnesses are not necessarily accurate.

9. Ans: (C) – a video recorder preserving experiences
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage explicitly states that psychologists “believed that human memory functioned much like a video recorder, faithfully preserving experiences” (lines 1-4). Choice (A) describes the newer model of memory, not the earlier one. Choice (B) uses words from the passage but does not answer the question asked.

10. Ans: (C) – refuted
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes how research has “thoroughly dismantled” (lines 4-5) the old model, meaning it has been disproven or taken apart intellectually, making “refuted” the closest synonym. Choice (A) means the opposite of what is intended in context. Choices (D) and (E) relate to other topics in the passage but do not match the meaning of “dismantled” in line 4.

11. Ans: (C) – report seeing broken glass that did not exist
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage states that participants who heard “smashed” “were more likely to report seeing broken glass in the footage – glass that had never been present” (lines 16-18). Choice (B) reverses what the passage says; those who heard “smashed” estimated higher speeds, not lower (line 15). Choice (E) contradicts the effect of the word “smashed,” which intensified rather than minimized their perception.

12. Ans: (B) – illustrate a practical consequence of memory’s reconstructive nature
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author introduces the legal system to show real-world implications of memory research (lines 20-27), demonstrating how the reconstructive nature of memory affects courtroom reliability. Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage questions eyewitness testimony but does not claim all trials are unfair. Choice (E) contradicts lines 23-25, which state confidence and accuracy are only weakly correlated.

13. Ans: (C) – only weakly correlated with each other
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage explicitly states that “Memory confidence and memory accuracy, it turns out, are only weakly correlated” (lines 23-25). Choice (A) contradicts this statement by suggesting perfect correlation. Choice (E) treats the two concepts as identical, which contradicts the passage’s distinction between them.

14. Ans: (B) – informative and concerned about implications
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The author presents research findings objectively while highlighting serious consequences for the legal system (lines 20-27), combining information with concern. Choice (A) is incorrect; the author shows no anger toward psychologists, who are presented as the source of valuable insights. Choice (C) contradicts the author’s respectful presentation of research findings throughout.

15. Ans: (A) – announce his decision to surrender and end the fighting
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph explicitly states “I am tired of fighting” (line 3) and concludes with “I will fight no more forever” (lines 15-16), making surrender the clear purpose. Choice (E) directly contradicts the final declaration. Choice (D) misreads the passage; Chief Joseph is not criticizing the young men but explaining the leadership situation after the deaths of elders.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and value it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph refers to what General Howard told him and says “I have it in my heart” (line 2), suggesting he remembers and treasures those words, making (B) correct. Choice (A) means the opposite of keeping something in one’s heart. Choice (C) contradicts the respectful tone of “I know his heart” (line 1).

17. Ans: (B) – explain the loss of experienced leadership among his people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph lists the dead chiefs and old men (lines 3-6) to explain why “It is the young men who say yes or no” (line 6), indicating a leadership vacuum. Choice (A) contradicts the mournful tone and context of loss throughout the speech. Choice (D) misrepresents the cause; the context suggests death in conflict, not old age.

18. Ans: (C) – locating his scattered people, especially the children
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph states “I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find” (lines 11-12) and mentions children freezing to death (lines 6-10), making this his immediate priority. Choice (A) is not supported; he announces surrender but does not discuss negotiating terms. Choice (B) contradicts his declaration to “fight no more forever” (lines 15-16).

19. Ans: (B) – exhausted and mournful
Explanation: This is a Tone question. Chief Joseph repeatedly expresses weariness (“I am tired,” line 3; “I am tired; my heart is sick and sad,” lines 14-15) and grief over deaths and suffering (lines 3-13). Choice (A) contradicts the surrender and the statement of being tired of fighting. Choice (C) is completely inconsistent with the catalogue of deaths and suffering.

20. Ans: (B) – the finality and permanence of his decision
Explanation: This is a Structure question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 15-16) uses a concrete time marker combined with “forever” to emphasize the absolute, permanent nature of the surrender. Choice (A) is too narrow; while the sun’s position marks time, the emphasis is on permanence, not the specific hour. Choice (E) directly contradicts the word “forever” and the entire context of surrender.