SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 51

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 Margot reached the platform, her suitcase banging against her shins. She watched the last carriage recede into the tunnel, its red lights winking like eyes that pitied her. Now she would have to wait another hour in this cavernous station, (5) surrounded by strangers whose faces flickered in and out of shadow. She found a bench near the newsstand and sat down heavily, aware that her stockings had torn somewhere during her sprint down the stairs.     A vendor was selling roasted chestnuts from a cart, and the smell reminded her sharply (10) of winters in Prague, before the war had scattered her family across three continents. Her brother was in Sydney now, working in a factory that made radio components. Her mother had written from Buenos Aires that the heat was unbearable but that she had found work mending clothes for a theater company. (15) Margot herself was bound for Manchester, where a distant cousin had promised her a position in his textile firm, though she suspected the promise was made more from obligation than genuine welcome.     She opened her handbag and took out the letter, reading it again even though she had (20) memorized every word. The cousin’s handwriting was cramped and formal, as if he had consulted a manual on proper correspondence before putting pen to paper.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the architecture and atmosphere of a European train station
2. introduce a character at a moment of transition and uncertainty
3. criticize the social conditions that force people to emigrate
4. celebrate the reunion of a family separated by war
5. explain the historical causes of displacement in mid-century Europe

2. The detail that Margot’s stockings “had torn somewhere during her sprint down the stairs” (lines 6-7) primarily serves to

1. emphasize her carelessness and lack of preparation
2. suggest the physical and emotional strain of her situation
3. indicate that she comes from a wealthy background
4. foreshadow a later accident that will befall her
5. contrast her appearance with that of other travelers

3. As used in line 12, the word “scattered” most nearly means

1. confused
2. dispersed
3. destroyed
4. surprised
5. defeated

4. The passage suggests that Margot’s brother and mother are

1. living together in Buenos Aires
2. planning to join Margot in Manchester
3. residing in different countries from each other
4. working in the same industry
5. unable to communicate with Margot

5. Margot’s suspicion that her cousin’s promise was made “more from obligation than genuine welcome” (lines 17-18) reveals her

1. gratitude for his assistance
2. anticipation of a warm reception
3. doubt about his sincerity
4. anger at his reluctance to help
5. determination to refuse his offer

6. The description of the cousin’s handwriting as “cramped and formal, as if he had consulted a manual on proper correspondence” (lines 21-22) suggests that the letter is

1. written in a language unfamiliar to the cousin
2. affectionate but poorly expressed
3. impersonal and lacking in warmth
4. fraudulent and not actually from the cousin
5. illegible and difficult to understand

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

1. bitterly resentful
2. quietly melancholic
3. cautiously optimistic
4. sharply satirical
5. intensely fearful

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about materials science and archaeology.

    For more than a century, scholars puzzled over the extraordinary durability of Roman concrete, which has kept massive structures like the Pantheon intact for two millennia while modern concrete often crumbles within decades. Recent analyses using advanced spectroscopy and electron microscopy have begun to (5) reveal the ancient formula’s secrets. The key lies not in what Roman engineers added to their concrete, but in how they processed the volcanic ash that formed its foundation.     Roman concrete, or opus caementicium, combined lime mortar with volcanic tephra from the regions surrounding Mount Vesuvius and (10) other volcanic sites. When seawater penetrated the concrete in harbor structures, it triggered a chemical reaction with the aluminum-rich volcanic material, producing rare minerals such as tobermorite and phillipsite. These minerals actually grew within the concrete over time, filling microscopic cracks and strengthening the structure through a process (15) that modern engineers call “self-healing.”     By contrast, contemporary concrete relies on Portland cement, which hardens through a very different chemical pathway. Portland cement mixed with seawater degrades rapidly as the salt crystallizes within its pores, expanding and fracturing the material from within. The Romans, working without (20) the benefit of modern chemistry, nevertheless arrived at a superior solution through empirical experimentation. Their achievement reminds us that technological progress does not always move in a straight line forward.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. ancient Roman structures were built more carefully than modern buildings
2. volcanic ash is the most important ingredient in any type of concrete
3. Roman concrete’s longevity results from chemical processes distinct from those in modern concrete
4. modern engineers have recently invented self-healing concrete based on Roman methods
5. seawater is essential for all concrete to achieve maximum strength

9. According to the passage, recent scientific analyses have used

1. chemical tests performed in ancient Roman laboratories
2. advanced spectroscopy and electron microscopy
3. samples of concrete from the Colosseum only
4. volcanic ash collected from Mount Vesuvius today
5. architectural drawings from the Roman Empire

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

1. organization
2. basement
3. basis
4. charity
5. establishment

11. The passage indicates that tobermorite and phillipsite are

1. minerals that weaken concrete structures over time
2. types of volcanic ash found near Mount Vesuvius
3. minerals formed through chemical reactions in Roman concrete
4. ingredients intentionally added by Roman engineers
5. compounds found only in Portland cement

12. The author’s statement that “technological progress does not always move in a straight line forward” (lines 22-23) suggests that

1. modern societies sometimes lose knowledge possessed by earlier civilizations
2. ancient Romans had access to tools unavailable today
3. contemporary engineers deliberately ignore superior ancient methods
4. all modern concrete should be replaced with Roman-style concrete
5. scientific advancement always requires studying historical techniques

13. The passage suggests that Portland cement deteriorates in seawater because

1. it lacks volcanic ash from Italian sources
2. salt crystallization causes internal fracturing
3. modern engineers have not studied Roman methods
4. it was developed too recently to be effective
5. it contains minerals that dissolve in saltwater

14. The author’s purpose in this passage is primarily to

1. advocate for abandoning Portland cement in all construction
2. explain recent scientific findings about an ancient building technique
3. criticize modern engineers for their inferior methods
4. describe the architecture of Roman harbor structures
5. provide a complete history of concrete from ancient times to the present

Passage 3

The following passage is excerpted 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, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. (5) He who led 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 freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them (10) 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 no more forever.

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

1. announce his decision to end armed resistance
2. request military supplies for his people
3. negotiate specific terms of a peace treaty
4. celebrate the victories his warriors have achieved
5. challenge General Howard to a final battle

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

1. I feel emotional about it
2. I remember it
3. I doubt its truth
4. I have written it down
5. I am grieving over it

17. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” and “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 3-4) primarily to

1. criticize the younger generation for their rashness
2. explain that traditional leadership structures have been destroyed
3. suggest that he is too young to make this decision
4. praise the wisdom of those who have died
5. indicate that he no longer has authority over his people

18. The repetition of phrases about people being dead or freezing serves to

1. emphasize the desperate conditions facing his people
2. assign blame to General Howard for these deaths
3. demonstrate Chief Joseph’s poetic speaking style
4. distract attention from military defeats
5. request medical assistance from the U.S. Army

19. When Chief Joseph says “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 10-11), he reveals his

1. certainty that his children have been killed
2. anger at those who have harmed his family
3. fear that he may not find his children alive
4. determination to continue fighting
5. confusion about what has happened

20. The tone of this speech can best be described as

1. defiant and threatening
2. resigned and sorrowful
3. analytical and detached
4. hopeful and optimistic
5. bitter and vengeful

■ ■ ■   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) – introduce a character at a moment of transition and uncertainty
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage focuses on Margot waiting at the train station after missing her train, with details about her displaced family and uncertain future in Manchester (lines 13-18), establishing her as a character in transition. Choice (A) is too narrow, as the station setting is secondary to Margot’s situation. Choice (D) reverses the passage’s meaning, as the family is separated, not reuniting.

2. Ans: (B) – suggest the physical and emotional strain of her situation
Explanation: This is a Structure/Author’s Purpose question. The torn stockings detail, following her sprint and missed train (lines 6-7), conveys both the physical exertion and the desperation of her circumstances. Choice (A) is wrong because the tearing happened during an urgent sprint, not through carelessness. Choice (D) is incorrect as nothing in the passage foreshadows any future accident.

3. Ans: (B) – dispersed
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 12, “scattered” describes how the war spread Margot’s family “across three continents,” meaning they were dispersed or spread apart geographically. Choice (A) is a common meaning of scattered but doesn’t fit the physical separation described. Choice (C) is too extreme, as the family members are alive in different locations, not destroyed.

4. Ans: (C) – residing in different countries from each other
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that her brother is in Sydney (line 13) while her mother is in Buenos Aires (line 14), placing them in different countries. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, as the mother is in Buenos Aires, not Sydney. Choice (B) is not stated anywhere in the passage.

5. Ans: (C) – doubt about his sincerity
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Margot’s suspicion that the promise came from “obligation” rather than “genuine welcome” (lines 17-18) directly indicates she doubts her cousin’s sincerity. Choice (A) reverses the intended meaning, as suspicion of obligation suggests lack of gratitude. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, as anticipating a warm reception would not align with suspecting obligation.

6. Ans: (C) – impersonal and lacking in warmth
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The description of handwriting as “cramped and formal” and resembling something from “a manual on proper correspondence” (lines 21-22) suggests emotional distance and lack of personal warmth. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, as “formal” and “manual-like” indicate absence of affection. Choice (D) goes beyond what the passage suggests, making an unsupported claim about fraud.

7. Ans: (B) – quietly melancholic
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage’s reflective descriptions of separation, uncertain welcome, and memories of Prague (lines 10-12) create a subdued sadness without extreme emotion, fitting “quietly melancholic.” Choice (A) is too strong, as the passage lacks bitter or angry language. Choice (C) is incorrect because Margot’s doubts about her cousin’s welcome (lines 17-18) undermine any optimism.

8. Ans: (C) – Roman concrete’s longevity results from chemical processes distinct from those in modern concrete
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage explains how Roman concrete’s durability comes from unique chemical reactions with volcanic ash and seawater (lines 10-15), contrasting this with Portland cement’s different and inferior chemical pathway (lines 16-20). Choice (A) is too broad and not the focus, which is on the concrete formula, not construction carefulness. Choice (D) misstates the passage, which says modern engineers have discovered how Roman concrete worked, not that they’ve invented new self-healing concrete.

9. Ans: (B) – advanced spectroscopy and electron microscopy
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 3-5 explicitly state that “recent analyses using advanced spectroscopy and electron microscopy” revealed the formula’s secrets. Choice (A) is historically impossible, as ancient Romans lacked such laboratories. Choice (C) is too narrow, as the passage mentions the Pantheon but doesn’t limit analyses to one structure.

10. Ans: (C) – basis
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “foundation” refers to volcanic ash as the fundamental basis or primary component of the concrete formula, not a physical foundation. Choice (B) represents the literal architectural meaning of foundation, but the context is about ingredients, not building parts. Choice (D) is an unrelated meaning of foundation that doesn’t fit the context.

11. Ans: (C) – minerals formed through chemical reactions in Roman concrete
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that tobermorite and phillipsite were “produced” when seawater triggered reactions with volcanic material (lines 11-13). Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which emphasizes these minerals formed through reactions, not intentional addition. Choice (E) is incorrect as these minerals are associated with Roman concrete, not Portland cement.

12. Ans: (A) – modern societies sometimes lose knowledge possessed by earlier civilizations
Explanation: This is an Inference/Extended Reasoning question. The statement follows the explanation that Romans achieved a superior concrete formula (lines 20-23), implying that modern societies don’t always surpass ancient achievements and may lose earlier knowledge. Choice (C) is too strong and negative, as the passage doesn’t suggest deliberate ignoring. Choice (D) is too extreme, as the passage doesn’t advocate complete replacement.

13. Ans: (B) – salt crystallization causes internal fracturing
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 18-20 explain that Portland cement degrades when “salt crystallizes within its pores, expanding and fracturing the material from within.” Choice (A) is too narrow, as the passage indicates the problem is the chemical pathway of Portland cement, not simply lacking Italian volcanic ash. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which describes crystallization and expansion, not dissolution.

14. Ans: (B) – explain recent scientific findings about an ancient building technique
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage presents recent discoveries (lines 3-5) about how Roman concrete worked and contrasts it with modern methods, serving primarily to explain scientific findings. Choice (A) is too extreme, as the passage doesn’t advocate abandoning Portland cement entirely. Choice (E) is too broad, as the passage focuses on Roman concrete specifically, not a complete history.

15. Ans: (A) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The speech culminates in the declaration “I will fight no more forever” (line 12), with preceding lines explaining the reasons for this decision. Choice (B) is too narrow, as the mentions of lacking blankets and food support the larger purpose of announcing surrender. Choice (D) reverses the speech’s meaning, which catalogs losses and defeats, not victories.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, “I have it in my heart” refers to something General Howard told Chief Joseph before, indicating he has retained or remembered these words. Choice (A) is too general, as the phrase specifically indicates retention of information, not just emotion. Choice (C) reverses the meaning, as having something “in my heart” suggests acceptance, not doubt.

17. Ans: (B) – explain that traditional leadership structures have been destroyed
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose/Structure question. By noting that the old men (traditional leaders) are dead and young men now make decisions (lines 3-4), Chief Joseph explains how war has disrupted normal tribal governance. Choice (A) misreads the tone, as Chief Joseph isn’t criticizing the young men but explaining changed circumstances. Choice (E) is incorrect because Chief Joseph is still acting as leader by making this surrender speech.

18. Ans: (A) – emphasize the desperate conditions facing his people
Explanation: This is a Structure/Author’s Purpose question. The repeated references to death and freezing throughout the speech (lines 3-4, 6-9, 10-11) accumulate to convey the severity of his people’s suffering. Choice (B) is incorrect as the speech doesn’t directly blame Howard. Choice (D) misreads the purpose, as these aren’t distractions but central reasons for surrender.

19. Ans: (C) – fear that he may not find his children alive
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The word “Maybe” (line 10) indicates uncertainty, and the possibility of finding them “among the dead” reveals his fear that they may have died. Choice (A) is too certain, as “maybe” indicates he doesn’t know their fate. Choice (E) misreads the passage, as Chief Joseph clearly understands the situation; he simply doesn’t know his children’s specific fate.

20. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The repeated statements of being “tired” (lines 2, 11), the catalog of deaths and suffering, and the final surrender declaration (line 12) create a tone of sorrowful resignation. Choice (A) contradicts the speech, which announces surrender rather than defiance. Choice (D) is wrong because the speech expresses exhaustion and grief, with no indication of hope or optimism.