SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 48

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 ferry lurched away from the dock at six in the morning, and Maya felt the weight of her camera bag shift against her hip. She had promised herself she would photograph the cannery workers before (5) the building was demolished next month, but now, standing on the salt-slicked deck as the mainland receded, she wondered if she had the right to capture their faces at all. Her aunt had worked in that cannery for thirty years, scaling salmon until her fingers grew (10) permanently curved like hooks.     The island appeared as a dark smudge against the pale sky, crowned by the rusted roof of the cannery. Maya had not returned in seven years, not since she left for college, and (15) the guilt of that absence sat like a stone in her chest. She knew the stories by heart: how her grandmother had arrived on a fishing boat in 1952, how the family had lived in the bunkhouse with eleven other families, how the sound of (20) the canning machines had filled every summer until the salmon runs failed. Now only twenty people remained on the island, and the ferry ran twice a week instead of daily.

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

1. Maya’s aunt, reflecting on her years at the cannery
2. an unnamed observer aboard the ferry
3. Maya, a photographer returning to her childhood home
4. a third-person narrator with access to Maya’s thoughts
5. Maya’s grandmother, recounting the family history

2. As used in line 4, the word “capture” most nearly means

1. arrest
2. photograph
3. seize
4. understand
5. trap

3. The description of Maya’s aunt’s fingers in lines 9–10 primarily emphasizes

1. the physical toll of her work at the cannery
2. a genetic condition common in the family
3. the aunt’s skill at scaling fish
4. the reason Maya decided to become a photographer
5. the aunt’s reluctance to retire from her job

4. Maya’s uncertainty about photographing the workers (lines 3–6) suggests that she

1. doubts her technical ability as a photographer
2. fears the workers will refuse to be photographed
3. questions whether she has the moral authority to document their lives
4. believes the cannery should not be demolished
5. worries the photographs will not be published

5. The passage indicates that Maya has been away from the island for

1. thirty years
2. one month
3. seven years
4. since 1952
5. an unspecified period of time

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

1. celebratory and triumphant
2. reflective and melancholic
3. angry and resentful
4. detached and analytical
5. hopeful and optimistic

7. The detail that the ferry now runs “twice a week instead of daily” (line 22) primarily serves to

1. explain why Maya left the island seven years ago
2. illustrate the island’s economic and population decline
3. suggest that Maya will have difficulty returning to the mainland
4. indicate that the cannery has been unprofitable for decades
5. contrast the island’s present isolation with its former accessibility

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about linguistics and cognitive science.

    For decades, linguists have debated whether the language we speak fundamentally shapes how we think – a hypothesis known as linguistic relativity. While the strong version of this idea, which claims that (5) language entirely determines thought, has been largely discredited, recent research suggests that language does influence cognition in subtle but measurable ways.     Consider how different languages encode color. English speakers learn to distinguish “blue” from “green” as separate categories, but (10) speakers of some languages use a single term for both hues. When researchers tested color discrimination abilities, they found that language affects how quickly people can identify color differences. Subjects distinguished between colors more rapidly when the colors had different names in (15) their language than when they fell within the same linguistic category.     Similarly, languages differ in how they express spatial relationships. English relies heavily on egocentric coordinates – left, right, front, back – while some languages use absolute directional (20) systems based on cardinal directions. Speakers of these languages must constantly track their orientation to communicate effectively, and studies show they maintain better spatial awareness than English speakers even in non-linguistic tasks.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that linguistic relativity has been conclusively proven
2. explain how language learning affects childhood development
3. describe evidence that language influences certain cognitive processes
4. compare the structure of English to other world languages
5. discredit the hypothesis of linguistic relativity entirely

9. According to the passage, the “strong version” of linguistic relativity (lines 3–5)

1. claims that language completely determines thought
2. has been confirmed by recent research
3. applies only to color perception
4. is accepted by most contemporary linguists
5. focuses on spatial relationship vocabulary

10. As used in line 9, the word “encode” most nearly means

1. encrypt
2. conceal
3. represent
4. translate
5. decode

11. The color discrimination research described in lines 11–16 demonstrated that

1. English speakers cannot distinguish blue from green
2. all languages categorize colors identically
3. people identify color differences faster when the colors have distinct names in their language
4. linguistic categories have no effect on perception
5. speakers of some languages are color-blind

12. The passage suggests that speakers of languages using cardinal directions (lines 18–23)

1. cannot understand egocentric coordinates like “left” and “right”
2. have difficulty communicating spatial information
3. demonstrate superior spatial awareness even in non-linguistic contexts
4. speak languages unrelated to English
5. live exclusively in tropical regions

13. The author’s attitude toward linguistic relativity can best be described as

1. completely dismissive
2. enthusiastically supportive of the strong version
3. nuanced, accepting moderate influence while rejecting determinism
4. neutral and uninformed
5. skeptical of all research on the topic

14. The passage is organized primarily by

1. presenting a chronological history of linguistic research
2. introducing a hypothesis and then providing two examples of supporting evidence
3. comparing and contrasting English with all other languages
4. describing a problem and proposing multiple solutions
5. refuting opposing viewpoints one by one

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Seattle’s speech delivered in 1854 in response to a proposed treaty.

    The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? The land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not (5) own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?     Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory (10) and experience of my people.     We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the (15) great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man, all belong to the same family.     The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. (20) If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each ghostly reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father.

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

1. negotiate a higher price for the land
2. express the profound spiritual connection his people have with the land
3. describe the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest
4. accept the President’s offer to purchase the land
5. declare war against the United States government

16. The question “But how can you buy or sell the sky?” (lines 2–3) primarily serves to

1. request information about the proposed treaty terms
2. emphasize the fundamental difference between two worldviews regarding land ownership
3. suggest that the price offered is too low
4. indicate confusion about the legal process of land sales
5. propose that only the sky, not the land, should be sold

17. As used in line 8, the word “sacred” most nearly means

1. expensive
2. mysterious
3. religiously significant and worthy of reverence
4. hidden
5. difficult to access

18. In lines 11–13, Chief Seattle compares the sap in trees to human blood in order to

1. demonstrate his knowledge of biology
2. illustrate the interconnectedness between his people and nature
3. prove that trees are alive
4. explain how his people use trees for medicine
5. suggest that cutting trees causes them pain

19. The passage indicates that Chief Seattle views the water in streams and rivers as

1. a valuable resource that should be sold
2. dangerous and unpredictable
3. the blood of his ancestors and a carrier of memory
4. unimportant compared to the land itself
5. a boundary between different territories

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

1. angry and confrontational
2. reverent and mournful
3. objective and scientific
4. cheerful and optimistic
5. sarcastic and dismissive

■ ■ ■   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: (D) – a third-person narrator with access to Maya’s thoughts
Explanation: This is a Point of View question. The passage uses third-person pronouns (“she”, “her”) but provides direct access to Maya’s internal thoughts and feelings, such as her wondering “if she had the right to capture their faces” (lines 4–6) and the description of guilt sitting “like a stone in her chest” (line 16). Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage is not written in first person from Maya’s perspective. Choice (A) is wrong because the aunt is mentioned as a separate character and does not narrate the passage.

2. Ans: (B) – photograph
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 4, Maya wonders if she has “the right to capture their faces,” and the passage establishes that she is a photographer carrying a camera bag (line 3) who plans to photograph the cannery workers. In this context, “capture” means to photograph or record images. Choice (E) is incorrect because “trap” suggests a different kind of capturing with a negative connotation not supported by context. Choice (A) is wrong because “arrest” refers to detaining people, not photographing them.

3. Ans: (A) – the physical toll of her work at the cannery
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The detail that the aunt’s fingers “grew permanently curved like hooks” (lines 9–10) from thirty years of scaling salmon emphasizes the lasting physical damage caused by her labor. This vivid image illustrates how the work literally shaped her body. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage attributes the curved fingers to her work, not genetics. Choice (C) is wrong because the description emphasizes injury rather than skill.

4. Ans: (C) – questions whether she has the moral authority to document their lives
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Maya wonders “if she had the right to capture their faces at all” (lines 5–6), which indicates ethical uncertainty about her role as an outsider documenting the workers’ lives. This reflects a question of moral authority rather than technical ability. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no indication she doubts her photographic skills. Choice (E) is wrong because publication concerns are never mentioned in the passage.

5. Ans: (C) – seven years
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “Maya had not returned in seven years, not since she left for college” (lines 14–15). This is a straightforward factual detail. Choice (A) is incorrect because thirty years refers to how long her aunt worked at the cannery (line 8), not Maya’s absence. Choice (D) is wrong because 1952 is when her grandmother arrived (line 18), not when Maya left.

6. Ans: (B) – reflective and melancholic
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys Maya’s contemplation of her family history and her guilt over her seven-year absence, with imagery of decay (“rusted roof,” line 13) and loss (failed salmon runs, line 20). This creates a reflective, sorrowful tone. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is nothing celebratory about the cannery’s impending demolition and the island’s decline. Choice (C) is wrong because Maya feels guilt rather than anger.

7. Ans: (E) – contrast the island’s present isolation with its former accessibility
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The detail about reduced ferry service (line 22) follows information about the population declining to twenty people, illustrating how the island has become more isolated compared to its busier past. This contrast emphasizes the island’s decline. Choice (A) is incorrect because Maya left for college, and ferry frequency is not given as her reason. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage does not suggest Maya will have difficulty returning; the ferry still runs twice weekly.

8. Ans: (C) – describe evidence that language influences certain cognitive processes
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage introduces linguistic relativity in the first paragraph, then presents two examples (color perception and spatial reasoning) showing that language affects cognition “in subtle but measurable ways” (lines 6–7). This describes the passage’s overall purpose. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage explicitly rejects the “strong version” of the hypothesis (lines 4–6). Choice (E) is wrong because the passage supports a moderate version of linguistic relativity rather than discrediting it entirely.

9. Ans: (A) – claims that language completely determines thought
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that the strong version “claims that language entirely determines thought” (lines 4–5), which is accurately paraphrased by choice (A). Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage says this strong version “has been largely discredited” (line 6), not confirmed. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage indicates this view has been discredited, not accepted.

10. Ans: (C) – represent
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 9, the passage discusses how “different languages encode color,” meaning how languages represent or express color categories through words. The context involves linguistic expression of concepts. Choice (A) is incorrect because “encrypt” refers to concealing information through codes, not linguistic representation. Choice (E) is wrong because “decode” means the opposite of encode.

11. Ans: (C) – people identify color differences faster when the colors have distinct names in their language
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “Subjects distinguished between colors more rapidly when the colors had different names in their language than when they fell within the same linguistic category” (lines 13–16). This directly supports choice (C). Choice (A) is incorrect because English speakers can distinguish blue from green; they simply have different category names for them. Choice (D) is wrong because the research shows linguistic categories do affect perception speed.

12. Ans: (C) – demonstrate superior spatial awareness even in non-linguistic contexts
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that speakers of languages using cardinal directions “maintain better spatial awareness than English speakers even in non-linguistic tasks” (lines 22–23). This indicates superior performance beyond just language use. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not claim these speakers cannot understand egocentric coordinates. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage states they “communicate effectively” (line 21).

13. Ans: (C) – nuanced, accepting moderate influence while rejecting determinism
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The author explicitly rejects the strong version that “language entirely determines thought” (lines 4–5) but supports the view that “language does influence cognition in subtle but measurable ways” (lines 6–7). This represents a balanced, nuanced position. Choice (A) is incorrect because the author presents supportive evidence rather than dismissing the concept entirely. Choice (B) is wrong because the author explicitly says the strong version has been discredited.

14. Ans: (B) – introducing a hypothesis and then providing two examples of supporting evidence
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage introduces linguistic relativity in paragraph one (lines 1–7), then provides the color perception example in paragraph two (lines 8–16) and the spatial reasoning example in paragraph three (lines 17–23). This clearly follows the pattern of hypothesis followed by supporting examples. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not present a chronological history. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage does not describe a problem requiring solutions.

15. Ans: (B) – express the profound spiritual connection his people have with the land
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Throughout the speech, Chief Seattle emphasizes that the land is “sacred” (line 8), that his people are “part of the earth and it is part of us” (lines 13–14), and that natural elements are relatives. This conveys a deep spiritual relationship with the land. Choice (A) is incorrect because Chief Seattle questions whether land can even be bought or sold (lines 2–4), rather than negotiating price. Choice (D) is wrong because the tone is resistant rather than accepting.

16. Ans: (B) – emphasize the fundamental difference between two worldviews regarding land ownership
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The rhetorical question in lines 2–3 highlights that the concept of buying and selling sky or land is “strange” (line 4) to Chief Seattle’s people, contrasting their view of land as sacred and unownable with the Western concept of property. Choice (A) is incorrect because this is a rhetorical question expressing philosophical difference, not a genuine request for information. Choice (C) is wrong because Chief Seattle is questioning the entire premise of sale, not the price.

17. Ans: (C) – religiously significant and worthy of reverence
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, Chief Seattle states “Every part of this earth is sacred to my people,” followed by descriptions of natural elements as “holy” (line 9) and spiritual connections. This indicates religious and spiritual significance deserving reverence. Choice (A) is incorrect because “sacred” refers to spiritual value, not monetary worth. Choice (B) is wrong because “sacred” means spiritually significant rather than mysterious or unknown.

18. Ans: (B) – illustrate the interconnectedness between his people and nature
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The comparison between tree sap and human blood in lines 11–13 is followed by “We are part of the earth and it is part of us” (lines 13–14), demonstrating that humans and nature share the same life force and are fundamentally connected. Choice (A) is incorrect because the purpose is spiritual/philosophical rather than scientific. Choice (C) is wrong because demonstrating that trees are alive is not the main purpose; the comparison emphasizes kinship.

19. Ans: (C) – the blood of his ancestors and a carrier of memory
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Chief Seattle explicitly states that the water “is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors” (lines 19–20) and that it tells “of events and memories” (line 22) while the “water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father” (lines 22–23). Choice (A) is incorrect because Chief Seattle views water as sacred, not as a commodity to be sold. Choice (D) is wrong because water is given equal spiritual importance to the land.

20. Ans: (B) – reverent and mournful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speech expresses deep reverence for the land through descriptions of it as “sacred” (line 8) and “holy” (line 9), while the context of responding to a land purchase proposal creates an underlying sorrow at the potential loss. This combination produces a reverent yet mournful tone. Choice (A) is incorrect because while Chief Seattle resists the sale conceptually, the tone is sorrowful rather than angry. Choice (D) is wrong because the speech expresses grief over potential loss rather than optimism.