SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 49

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 telegram arrived on a Thursday, slipped under the door of our third-floor apartment while Papa was at the factory and Mama was haggling with the fishmonger downstairs. I found it there, a slim yellow rectangle that seemed to pulse with importance. My hands trembled as I tore (5) it open, though I knew it was not addressed to me. “UNCLE CHEN ARRIVES SATURDAY STOP BRINGING DAUGHTER STOP PREPARE ROOM STOP.”     I had never met Uncle Chen, though his name appeared frequently in the whispered conversations my parents conducted late at night when they believed I was asleep. He was my father’s younger brother, the one who had remained (10) in Guangzhou when Papa left for San Francisco in 1932. Now, fourteen years later, Uncle Chen had somehow secured passage across the Pacific, and he was bringing a cousin I had never known existed.     The news transformed our small apartment. Mama attacked the clutter with ferocious energy, piling newspapers into twine-bound bundles and scrubbing the wooden floors until they gleamed. Papa said (15) little, but I noticed how his eyes lingered on the photograph of his mother that hung above the kitchen table, and how his chopsticks paused midair during dinner, as if he were listening for footsteps that had not yet arrived. I wondered what it meant to wait for a brother you had not seen since you were young, to prepare a place for a stranger who carried your own blood.

1. The narrator’s discovery of the telegram can best be described as

1. an anticipated event that brings relief
2. an unexpected occurrence that generates excitement and nervousness
3. a disappointing interruption of daily routine
4. a confusing message that requires parental interpretation
5. a frightening notification of bad news

2. As used in line 3, the word “pulse” most nearly means

1. throb
2. radiate
3. circulate
4. beat rhythmically
5. move visibly

3. The passage suggests that the narrator’s parents’ late-night conversations about Uncle Chen were

1. arguments about whether to invite him to visit
2. discussions they did not want their child to overhear
3. casual reminiscences about childhood memories
4. plans to return to China permanently
5. complaints about his failure to write letters

4. According to the passage, Papa left Guangzhou for San Francisco in

1. 1918
2. 1932
3. 1946
4. fourteen years before the telegram arrived
5. when Uncle Chen was still young

5. The description of Mama’s response to the news (lines 13-15) primarily emphasizes her

1. resentment at having to host unexpected guests
2. energetic preparation and desire to make a good impression
3. confusion about where the visitors will sleep
4. anger at not being consulted about the visit
5. exhaustion from maintaining the household

6. The narrator’s observation about Papa’s eyes and chopsticks (lines 15-17) suggests that he is

1. distracted by memories and anticipation
2. worried about the cost of hosting relatives
3. upset about the telegram’s arrival
4. too tired to finish his meal
5. listening for sounds from the street below

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

1. Uncle Chen describing his journey to America
2. a child observing family preparations for visitors
3. Mama reflecting on her husband’s past
4. Papa remembering his separation from his brother
5. an adult looking back on immigrant life in San Francisco

Passage 2

The following passage is from an article about a geological phenomenon.

    When Mount Tambora erupted in April 1815 on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, it expelled an estimated 36 cubic miles of rock, ash, and pumice into the atmosphere, making it the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history. The immediate devastation was catastrophic: pyroclastic flows incinerated villages within a (5) thirty-mile radius, and tsunamis triggered by the collapse of the volcano’s caldera swept across nearby coastlines, killing an estimated 71,000 people. Yet the eruption’s most profound impact would not be felt for months, and it would extend far beyond Indonesia’s shores.     The immense quantity of volcanic sulfur dioxide injected into the stratosphere created a global aerosol veil that reflected sunlight away from Earth’s surface. By the (10) summer of 1816, the climatic effects were unmistakable. Across New England, snow fell in June, and lakes remained frozen into July. European harvests failed as persistent cold and rain rotted crops in the fields. In Switzerland, the incessant gloom inspired Mary Shelley to write “Frankenstein” during a vacation spent largely indoors. The year became known as “Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death” or simply “the Year Without a Summer.”     The crisis (15) revealed the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems in ways that nineteenth-century observers could scarcely comprehend. A volcanic event in the tropics had disrupted monsoon patterns in Asia, triggered food riots in Europe, and contributed to a typhus epidemic in Ireland. Modern climate scientists regard the Tambora eruption as a natural experiment demonstrating how even temporary atmospheric perturbations can cascade through ecological and social systems across the globe.

8. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. compare Mount Tambora to other major volcanic eruptions
2. explain the immediate and far-reaching consequences of a historical eruption
3. argue that volcanic eruptions are the main cause of climate change
4. describe the geological process by which volcanoes form
5. persuade readers to prepare for future volcanic disasters

9. According to the passage, approximately how many people died in the immediate aftermath of the eruption?

1. 36,000
2. 30,000
3. 71,000
4. An unknown number
5. Millions across the globe

10. As used in line 6, the word “profound” most nearly means

1. intellectually deep
2. showing great knowledge
3. far-reaching and significant
4. emotionally intense
5. difficult to understand

11. The passage indicates that the global cooling effect was caused by

1. ash falling directly onto crops and killing them
2. tsunamis that altered ocean temperatures
3. sulfur dioxide in the stratosphere reflecting sunlight
4. pyroclastic flows that changed wind patterns
5. smoke from burning villages blocking the sun

12. The author mentions Mary Shelley’s writing of “Frankenstein” (line 13) primarily to

1. illustrate one cultural consequence of the unusual weather
2. prove that the eruption affected only European writers
3. suggest that volcanic eruptions inspire creativity
4. explain why people stayed indoors during 1816
5. argue that literature reflects geological events

13. The passage suggests that nineteenth-century observers

1. fully understood the connection between the eruption and the climate effects
2. did not recognize how a tropical eruption could affect distant regions
3. refused to believe that volcanoes could change weather patterns
4. had predicted the climatic consequences before the eruption occurred
5. studied only the immediate destruction near Mount Tambora

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

1. alarmed and urgent
2. skeptical and dismissive
3. analytical and reflective
4. celebratory and enthusiastic
5. sorrowful and regretful

Passage 3

The following is adapted 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, 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 the young men (5) 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 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! (10) I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.     I do not understand how the government sends a man out to fight us, as it did General Miles, and then breaks his word. Such a government has something wrong about it. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There have been too many misunderstandings (15) between the white men and the Indians. If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run backward (20) as that any man who was born free should be contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases.

15. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. announce the speaker’s decision to cease fighting
2. accuse General Howard of betraying his trust
3. celebrate the victories his people have achieved
4. request additional supplies for his people
5. describe the geography where his people are hiding

16. As used in line 9, the word “chiefs” most nearly means

1. military commanders
2. leaders and elders
3. heads of state
4. tribal warriors
5. spiritual guides

17. Chief Joseph’s statement “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 10-11) suggests that

1. he will resume fighting when the sun sets
2. his surrender is immediate and permanent
3. he is waiting for a sign from nature
4. the battle will continue until nightfall
5. he refuses to negotiate with the government

18. According to the passage, Chief Joseph believes the government has

1. sent too few soldiers to fight his people
2. failed to honor its agreements
3. treated all Native Americans with respect
4. provided adequate supplies during winter
5. misunderstood his intentions from the beginning

19. Chief Joseph’s comparison of expecting “the rivers to run backward” (line 20) serves to emphasize that

1. geographical features can change over time
2. Native Americans have supernatural powers over nature
3. restricting freedom goes against human nature
4. the government should redirect rivers for irrigation
5. his people prefer to live near water sources

20. The tone of the second paragraph can best be described as

1. resigned yet principled
2. angry and vengeful
3. detached and unemotional
4. optimistic and hopeful
5. confused and uncertain

■ ■ ■   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 unexpected occurrence that generates excitement and nervousness
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator describes the telegram as seeming to “pulse with importance” and notes that “my hands trembled” when opening it (lines 3-5), indicating both excitement and nervousness. The passage does not suggest the telegram was anticipated, making choice (A) incorrect. The narrator shows no disappointment, so choice (C) is wrong.

2. Ans: (B) – radiate
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 3, the telegram “seemed to pulse with importance,” meaning it appeared to radiate or give off a sense of importance. While “pulse” can mean “throb” or “beat rhythmically,” those meanings refer to literal physical pulsing, not the metaphorical sense used here. Choice (D) is too literal for this context. Choice (E) is incorrect because the telegram is not described as actually moving.

3. Ans: (B) – discussions they did not want their child to overhear
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator mentions that Uncle Chen’s name appeared in “whispered conversations my parents conducted late at night when they believed I was asleep” (lines 8-9), indicating they were keeping these discussions private. Nothing in the passage suggests these were arguments, making choice (A) incorrect. The passage does not indicate these were casual reminiscences, so choice (C) is wrong.

4. Ans: (B) – 1932
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Papa “left for San Francisco in 1932” (line 10). While the passage also mentions this was “fourteen years” before the present, making choice (D) technically true, the question asks for the specific year, and choice (B) provides the exact information stated in line 10. Choice (E) is too vague and does not answer the question precisely.

5. Ans: (B) – energetic preparation and desire to make a good impression
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes Mama attacking clutter “with ferocious energy” and “scrubbing the wooden floors until they gleamed” (lines 13-15), showing energetic preparation. Nothing suggests resentment, making choice (A) incorrect. There is no indication of anger at not being consulted, so choice (D) is wrong.

6. Ans: (A) – distracted by memories and anticipation
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Papa’s eyes lingering on his mother’s photograph and his chopsticks pausing “as if he were listening for footsteps that had not yet arrived” (lines 15-17) suggest he is lost in memories and anticipating his brother’s arrival. The passage gives no indication he is worried about cost, making choice (B) incorrect. Choice (E) is too literal; he is not actually listening for sounds from the street.

7. Ans: (B) – a child observing family preparations for visitors
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The narrator uses first person (“I”), discovers the telegram, and observes the parents’ reactions, indicating a child’s perspective in the present moment (lines 1-18). While the narrator uses some mature language, there is no indication this is an adult looking back, making choice (E) incorrect. Uncle Chen does not narrate the passage, so choice (A) is wrong.

8. Ans: (B) – explain the immediate and far-reaching consequences of a historical eruption
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes both the immediate devastation in Indonesia (lines 3-6) and the global climatic effects that followed (lines 6-20). Choice (A) is incorrect because no other eruptions are compared. Choice (C) distorts the passage’s message; the eruption is presented as one event, not the main cause of climate change.

9. Ans: (C) – 71,000
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that the immediate devastation from pyroclastic flows and tsunamis killed “an estimated 71,000 people” (line 6). Choice (A) confuses the cubic miles of material expelled (36) with casualties. Choice (E) is too broad; millions were affected by climate effects, but not killed immediately.

10. Ans: (C) – far-reaching and significant
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “profound impact” refers to effects that extended globally and lasted for months, meaning far-reaching and significant. While “profound” can mean “intellectually deep,” that sense does not fit this context about physical impacts. Choice (B) relates to a different meaning of profound that does not apply here.

11. Ans: (C) – sulfur dioxide in the stratosphere reflecting sunlight
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “volcanic sulfur dioxide injected into the stratosphere created a global aerosol veil that reflected sunlight away from Earth’s surface” (lines 8-9). Choice (A) is incorrect because ash affected crops locally, but the global cooling was caused by the aerosol veil. Choice (D) confuses pyroclastic flows, which caused immediate local destruction, with the cooling mechanism.

12. Ans: (A) – illustrate one cultural consequence of the unusual weather
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The mention of Shelley writing “Frankenstein” during “a vacation spent largely indoors” (line 13) serves as a specific example of how the weather affected cultural activity. Choice (B) is too narrow; the passage discusses effects far beyond European writers. Choice (C) overgeneralizes; the passage does not claim eruptions generally inspire creativity.

13. Ans: (B) – did not recognize how a tropical eruption could affect distant regions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that the crisis “revealed the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems in ways that nineteenth-century observers could scarcely comprehend” (lines 15-16), suggesting they did not fully understand these connections. Choice (A) reverses the passage’s meaning. Choice (C) is too extreme; the passage says they “could scarcely comprehend,” not that they refused to believe.

14. Ans: (C) – analytical and reflective
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The final paragraph discusses how the event “revealed the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems” and how “modern climate scientists regard” it as “a natural experiment” (lines 15-20), using analytical and reflective language. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no alarm or urgency in the tone. Choice (B) is wrong because the paragraph presents scientific analysis, not skepticism.

15. Ans: (A) – announce the speaker’s decision to cease fighting
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The first paragraph centers on Chief Joseph’s statement “I am tired of fighting” (line 2) and concludes with “I will fight no more forever” (lines 10-11). Choice (C) is contradicted by the passage; the speaker lists fallen leaders and describes defeat. Choice (D) is too narrow; while he mentions lack of blankets, the primary purpose is to announce surrender.

16. Ans: (B) – leaders and elders
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 9, Chief Joseph addresses “my chiefs” in a speech context, referring to the leaders and elders of his people. While “chiefs” can mean military commanders, in this context it has a broader meaning encompassing tribal leadership. Choice (D) is incorrect because “warriors” is too narrow and does not capture the leadership aspect.

17. Ans: (B) – his surrender is immediate and permanent
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (line 10) indicates the present moment, and “forever” indicates permanence, together conveying immediate and permanent surrender. Choice (A) reverses the meaning; “forever” means he will never resume fighting. Choice (D) contradicts “forever,” which extends far beyond nightfall.

18. Ans: (B) – failed to honor its agreements
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Chief Joseph states the government “breaks his word” (line 12) and mentions “all the broken promises” (line 14), indicating failure to honor agreements. Choice (C) contradicts the passage’s content about broken promises and misunderstandings. Choice (D) is contradicted by the statement that his people “have no blankets” and “the little children are freezing” (lines 5-6).

19. Ans: (C) – restricting freedom goes against human nature
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Chief Joseph says you might “as well expect the rivers to run backward as that any man who was born free should be contented when penned up” (lines 20-21), using an impossible natural phenomenon to emphasize that restricting freedom is equally contrary to nature. Choice (A) is a literal misreading of a figurative comparison. Choice (B) distorts the passage; the comparison is about natural impossibility, not supernatural powers.

20. Ans: (A) – resigned yet principled
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The second paragraph expresses acceptance of defeat (“my heart is sick,” line 10) while firmly articulating principles about equal rights and freedom (lines 15-21), creating a tone that is both resigned and principled. Choice (B) is incorrect because while Chief Joseph expresses pain, he does not call for vengeance. Choice (D) is wrong because the overall tone is not optimistic, though he expresses principles for future peace.