SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 47

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 just as Mei pressed her forehead against the cold glass, watching the Shanghai platform recede into a blur of steam and waving hands. Her father’s face, stoic as always, had betrayed nothing when (5) he handed her the single leather suitcase, but his fingers had lingered a moment too long on the handle. Now, speeding west toward Chongqing, she felt the weight of that silence more heavily than any words of farewell.     Across from her sat an elderly woman cradling a bamboo (10) cage containing two finches. The birds fluttered nervously with each sway of the carriage, their tiny hearts surely beating as rapidly as Mei’s own. The woman caught her staring and smiled, revealing gaps where teeth had once been. “First time away from home?” she asked, (15) her voice kind despite its rasp.     Mei nodded, unable to trust her voice. In her coat pocket, folded into a square no larger than her palm, was the letter from the university. The scholarship would cover her tuition, but little else. She had (20) exactly enough money for three months of rent in a boarding house her cousin had mentioned in his last correspondence, and after that—well, she would have to prove herself indispensable.

1. The passage is narrated from which point of view?

1. First person, by Mei herself
2. Second person, addressing the reader directly
3. Third person limited, focusing on Mei’s perspective
4. Third person omniscient, revealing all characters’ thoughts
5. First person, by the elderly woman on the train

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

1. revealed
2. deceived
3. abandoned
4. trusted
5. dishonored

3. The detail that Mei’s father’s “fingers had lingered a moment too long on the handle” (lines 6-7) suggests that he

1. was reluctant to let her leave
2. was checking the quality of her suitcase
3. had forgotten to pack something important
4. was angry about her decision to go to university
5. was trying to steal something from her luggage

4. The comparison between the finches and Mei (lines 11-13) primarily emphasizes

1. their shared experience of confinement
2. Mei’s expertise in ornithology
3. their mutual nervousness and anxiety
4. the elderly woman’s kindness toward animals
5. the physical size of the train carriage

5. According to the passage, Mei’s financial situation can best be described as

1. comfortably secure for the duration of her studies
2. precarious, with limited resources and an uncertain future
3. dependent entirely on her father’s continued support
4. guaranteed by a full scholarship covering all expenses
5. supplemented by a job her cousin has arranged for her

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

1. celebratory and triumphant
2. bitter and resentful
3. apprehensive yet hopeful
4. detached and clinical
5. nostalgic and sentimental

7. The phrase “she would have to prove herself indispensable” (lines 21-22) implies that Mei

1. has already secured employment at the university
2. plans to return home after three months
3. will need to find work or support to continue her education
4. expects her cousin to provide financial assistance
5. intends to abandon her studies and start a business

Passage 2

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

    In 2018, a team of marine archaeologists working off the coast of Oman made a discovery that would fundamentally reshape our understanding of Bronze Age maritime trade. At a depth of nearly sixty meters, they found the remarkably preserved remains of a merchant vessel dating to (5) approximately 1800 BCE, its cargo hold still containing hundreds of copper ingots, each stamped with symbols that matched those found in Mesopotamian records. The ship itself, constructed from Lebanese cedar and fitted with a steering oar of a design previously unknown to scholars, represented a technological sophistication that (10) contradicted long-held assumptions about the capabilities of ancient seafarers.     What made this find particularly significant was not merely the ship’s age or preservation, but rather the diversity of its cargo. Alongside the copper ingots, researchers identified pottery from the Indus Valley, glass beads (15) from Egypt, and tin from what is now Afghanistan—evidence of a trade network spanning thousands of kilometers. This assemblage challenged the prevailing model that characterized Bronze Age commerce as a series of short, regional exchanges rather than true long-distance trade. The presence of perishable goods, detected through residue analysis, further (20) suggested that these voyages were regular and organized, not opportunistic ventures undertaken by isolated merchants. The network, it appears, was both extensive and systematic, operating with a degree of coordination that required sophisticated systems of credit, communication, and trust across vast cultural divides.

8. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the technical methods used in underwater archaeology
2. explain how a shipwreck discovery altered scholarly understanding of ancient trade
3. argue that Bronze Age civilizations were more advanced than modern societies
4. chronicle the complete history of maritime trade in the ancient world
5. criticize earlier archaeologists for making incorrect assumptions

9. According to the passage, the ship was constructed primarily from

1. Omani teak
2. Mesopotamian hardwood
3. Lebanese cedar
4. Egyptian acacia
5. Afghan pine

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

1. supported
2. challenged
3. ignored
4. repeated
5. denied

11. The passage indicates that prior to this discovery, scholars believed Bronze Age trade was characterized by

1. long-distance voyages across multiple regions
2. short, regional exchanges rather than extensive networks
3. exclusive trade relationships between Egypt and Mesopotamia
4. sophisticated systems of credit and communication
5. primarily land-based rather than maritime routes

12. The author mentions “residue analysis” (line 19) in order to

1. demonstrate the chemical composition of copper ingots
2. prove that the ship sank due to a cargo fire
3. provide evidence that perishable goods were transported regularly
4. explain how archaeologists dated the vessel
5. show that ancient merchants understood chemistry

13. The diversity of cargo mentioned in the second paragraph suggests that

1. the ship had been engaged in piracy
2. multiple civilizations participated in an interconnected trade system
3. Oman was the wealthiest nation of the Bronze Age
4. all ancient cultures used the same currency
5. maritime trade was limited to luxury goods

14. The final sentence (lines 20-24) emphasizes that the ancient trade network required

1. military conquest of distant territories
2. a single language spoken across all regions
3. organized systems enabling cooperation across cultures
4. modern navigational technology
5. the approval of religious authorities

Passage 3

The following passage 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, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men (5) 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 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 will (15) fight no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. declare victory over General Howard’s forces
2. announce Chief Joseph’s decision to end the conflict
3. request additional supplies and reinforcements
4. celebrate the courage of fallen warriors
5. propose a new treaty with the United States government

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

1. I have memorized it perfectly
2. I remember and value what was said
3. I disagree with his statements
4. I have written it down carefully
5. I am suffering from chest pain

17. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (line 4) in order to

1. celebrate the natural life cycle
2. explain why younger warriors now make decisions
3. blame the elders for poor military strategy
4. request a proper burial ceremony
5. prove that his people lived to an advanced age

18. According to the speech, Chief Joseph’s immediate concern is

1. negotiating favorable treaty terms
2. finding and protecting his scattered people, especially the children
3. avenging the deaths of Looking Glass and other chiefs
4. securing warmer territory for the coming winter
5. establishing his authority over the young warriors

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

1. defiant and threatening
2. resigned and sorrowful
3. optimistic and cheerful
4. angry and vengeful
5. indifferent and detached

20. The final sentence, “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15), is particularly powerful because it

1. uses astronomical observations to predict the future
2. combines concrete imagery with absolute finality
3. contradicts everything Chief Joseph said earlier
4. demonstrates his knowledge of military tactics
5. proves that the battle took place at sunrise

■ ■ ■   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) – Third person limited, focusing on Mei’s perspective
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage is narrated in third person (using “she” and “her”) but reveals only Mei’s thoughts and perceptions, such as “she felt the weight of that silence” (line 7) and her inability to trust her voice (line 16). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage uses third-person pronouns, not first-person “I.” Choice (D) is incorrect because we do not have access to the father’s or the elderly woman’s inner thoughts.

2. Ans: (A) – revealed
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In context, Mei’s father’s face “betrayed nothing,” meaning it revealed or showed nothing about his emotions (lines 4-5). Choice (B) is incorrect because “deceived” is a common meaning of “betray” but does not fit the context of a face showing or not showing emotion. Choice (E) is incorrect because “dishonored” relates to a different meaning of “betray” that does not apply here.

3. Ans: (A) – was reluctant to let her leave
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The detail that the father’s fingers lingered “a moment too long” (lines 6-7) suggests emotional difficulty in letting go, indicating reluctance to see Mei depart. Choice (B) is incorrect because there is no suggestion he was inspecting the suitcase quality. Choice (E) is incorrect because nothing in the passage suggests theft or dishonesty.

4. Ans: (C) – their mutual nervousness and anxiety
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage states the birds “fluttered nervously” and notes “their tiny hearts surely beating as rapidly as Mei’s own” (lines 11-13), explicitly drawing a parallel between their shared anxiety. Choice (A) is incorrect because while the birds are caged, Mei is not confined; she is traveling by choice to university. Choice (B) is incorrect because Mei shows no expertise in bird biology.

5. Ans: (B) – precarious, with limited resources and an uncertain future
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that the scholarship covers tuition “but little else” and that Mei has “exactly enough money for three months of rent” with an uncertain situation “after that” (lines 18-21). Choice (A) is incorrect because her situation is explicitly not secure beyond three months. Choice (D) is incorrect because the scholarship does not cover all expenses, only tuition.

6. Ans: (C) – apprehensive yet hopeful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys anxiety through details like the father’s silence, Mei’s racing heart, and financial uncertainty, but also hope through her university scholarship and determination to “prove herself indispensable” (lines 21-22). Choice (A) is incorrect because there is clear anxiety and uncertainty rather than celebration. Choice (B) is incorrect because Mei shows no bitterness or resentment toward her situation.

7. Ans: (C) – will need to find work or support to continue her education
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Given that Mei has money for only three months (line 20), the statement that she must “prove herself indispensable” (lines 21-22) implies she will need to secure employment or other support. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage gives no indication she has already found a job. Choice (B) is incorrect because her determination to prove herself suggests she plans to stay, not return home.

8. Ans: (B) – explain how a shipwreck discovery altered scholarly understanding of ancient trade
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on the 2018 shipwreck discovery and explains how it “fundamentally reshape[d] our understanding of Bronze Age maritime trade” (lines 2-3) and “challenged the prevailing model” (line 16). Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage makes no comparison to modern societies. Choice (D) is too broad; the passage focuses on one specific discovery, not the complete history of maritime trade.

9. Ans: (C) – Lebanese cedar
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states the ship was “constructed from Lebanese cedar” (line 8). Choice (A) is incorrect because while the ship was found off Oman’s coast, it was not made from Omani wood. Choice (B) is incorrect because Mesopotamian records are mentioned only in connection with the symbols on copper ingots (line 6), not the ship’s construction.

10. Ans: (B) – challenged
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In context, the ship’s design “contradicted long-held assumptions” (lines 9-10), meaning it challenged or opposed those assumptions by presenting conflicting evidence. Choice (A) is incorrect because “supported” is the opposite of the intended meaning. Choice (D) is incorrect because “repeated” does not convey opposition or conflict with previous ideas.

11. Ans: (B) – short, regional exchanges rather than extensive networks
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that the cargo diversity “challenged the prevailing model that characterized Bronze Age commerce as a series of short, regional exchanges rather than true long-distance trade” (lines 16-18). Choice (A) is incorrect because this describes what the discovery revealed, not what scholars previously believed. Choice (D) is incorrect because sophisticated systems are what the discovery suggested, contradicting earlier views.

12. Ans: (C) – provide evidence that perishable goods were transported regularly
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage states that “perishable goods, detected through residue analysis,” suggested that voyages “were regular and organized” (lines 19-20). Choice (A) is incorrect because residue analysis relates to perishable goods, not copper ingots. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage makes no mention of fire causing the ship to sink.

13. Ans: (B) – multiple civilizations participated in an interconnected trade system
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The cargo included items from the Indus Valley, Egypt, and Afghanistan (lines 14-16), demonstrating “evidence of a trade network spanning thousands of kilometers” (line 16) connecting multiple cultures. Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing suggests piracy; the ship was a merchant vessel. Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage mentions both luxury items and bulk goods like copper ingots.

14. Ans: (C) – organized systems enabling cooperation across cultures
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The final sentence explicitly states the network “required sophisticated systems of credit, communication, and trust across vast cultural divides” (lines 22-24). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage discusses trade and cooperation, not military conquest. Choice (B) is incorrect because while communication is mentioned, a shared language is not specified as necessary.

15. Ans: (B) – announce Chief Joseph’s decision to end the conflict
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech culminates in Chief Joseph’s declaration that “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15), announcing his surrender and decision to cease fighting. Choice (A) is incorrect because Chief Joseph is surrendering, not declaring victory. Choice (C) is incorrect because he is ending the fight, not requesting supplies to continue it.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and value what was said
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase “I have it in my heart” (line 2) conveys that Chief Joseph remembers and holds General Howard’s earlier words as important and meaningful. Choice (A) is too narrow; the phrase suggests emotional significance beyond mere memorization. Choice (E) is incorrect because the phrase is figurative, not a literal reference to physical pain.

17. Ans: (B) – explain why younger warriors now make decisions
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph states “The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5), directly connecting the death of elders to the shift in decision-making authority. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no blame assigned to the elders. Choice (A) is incorrect because the tone is sorrowful, not celebratory.

18. Ans: (B) – finding and protecting his scattered people, especially the children
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Chief Joseph states, “I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find” (lines 10-11), and mentions “the little children are freezing to death” (line 7). Choice (A) is incorrect because while surrender is occurring, his immediate stated concern is finding his people. Choice (C) is incorrect because he expresses no desire for vengeance; rather, he is ending the fighting.

19. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph explicitly states “I am tired” and “my heart is sick and sad” (lines 13-14), conveying resignation and sorrow throughout. Choice (A) is incorrect because the speech announces surrender, not defiance. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no expression of anger or desire for revenge.

20. Ans: (B) – combines concrete imagery with absolute finality
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (line 14) provides concrete, immediate imagery of the present moment, while “forever” (line 15) conveys absolute and permanent finality, creating rhetorical power through this combination. Choice (C) is incorrect because the statement is consistent with the exhaustion and determination to stop fighting expressed throughout. Choice (E) is incorrect because “where the sun now stands” indicates the current moment, not specifically sunrise.