SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 54

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 fog rolled in from the bay just after dawn, thick and gray as wool, muffling the clatter of the wharf below. Mei stood at the window of the cannery office, her fingers still aching from the night shift, (5) and watched the fishing boats disappear into the mist. She had been working at the cannery for three months now, ever since her father’s boat had been sold to pay his debts. The work was monotonous-sorting, cleaning, packing-but it paid enough to keep her younger brothers in school, (10) and that was all that mattered.     Behind her, Mrs. Chen was counting the morning’s inventory, her abacus clicking with mechanical precision. The older woman rarely spoke except to give orders, but Mei had learned to read her moods in the set of her shoulders and the (15) speed of her counting. Today the clicks came fast and irregular, which meant trouble. Sure enough, Mrs. Chen turned and fixed Mei with a sharp look. “The shipment to Sacramento left two crates short yesterday,” she said. “Mr. Lawson will want to know why.”     Mei felt her (20) stomach tighten. She had packed those crates herself, had counted them twice before the wagon pulled away. But there was no use protesting.

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

1. an outside observer with no access to any character’s thoughts
2. Mei, using first-person narration
3. a narrator with access to Mei’s thoughts and perceptions
4. Mrs. Chen, reflecting on her employees
5. multiple characters, shifting between their perspectives

2. The description of the fog in lines 1-2 primarily serves to

1. establish the geographical location of the cannery
2. create a sense of obscurity and isolation
3. foreshadow a dangerous event that will occur later
4. explain why the fishing boats have not yet returned
5. contrast with the warmth of the cannery office

3. As used in line 8, the word “monotonous” most nearly means

1. difficult
2. repetitive
3. exhausting
4. dangerous
5. unrewarding

4. It can be inferred from lines 5-10 that Mei’s father

1. works alongside Mei at the cannery
2. is no longer able to support the family through fishing
3. disapproves of Mei working at the cannery
4. owns several fishing boats in the bay
5. has recently moved to Sacramento

5. The description of Mrs. Chen’s abacus in lines 13-15 suggests that

1. Mrs. Chen prefers traditional methods to modern ones
2. the cannery is too poor to afford modern equipment
3. Mei finds the sound of the abacus soothing
4. the speed and rhythm of the counting reflect Mrs. Chen’s emotional state
5. Mrs. Chen is teaching Mei how to use the abacus

6. Mei’s reaction in lines 19-22 suggests that she

1. knows she made an error in packing the crates
2. believes defending herself would be futile
3. plans to blame someone else for the shortage
4. feels confident that Mrs. Chen will support her
5. is surprised to learn about the missing crates

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

1. lighthearted and optimistic
2. tense and uncertain
3. bitter and resentful
4. nostalgic and reflective
5. mysterious and suspenseful

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about urban ecology.

    For decades, ecologists viewed cities as biological deserts, places where nature had been paved over and driven out. But a growing body of research suggests that urban environments harbor far more biodiversity than previously thought, and that (5) some species have not merely survived in cities but have actually thrived there, evolving in response to distinctly urban pressures. The peregrine falcon, once nearly extinct due to pesticide poisoning, now nests on skyscraper ledges in dozens of North American cities, where the tall buildings mimic (10) the cliff faces of its ancestral habitat. Meanwhile, urban populations of white-footed mice have been found to carry different genetic markers than their rural cousins, adaptations that appear to help them metabolize the high-fat, high-sugar diet available in cities.     These adaptations occur with remarkable (15) speed. In some cases, evolutionary changes that might take thousands of years in rural environments can happen in mere decades in cities, a phenomenon scientists call “rapid evolution.” One striking example comes from Puerto Rico, where urban populations of the crested anole lizard have developed longer legs and (20) stickier toe pads than their forest-dwelling relatives, traits that help them navigate smooth, vertical surfaces like walls and windows.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that cities should create more green spaces
2. challenge a common assumption about urban wildlife
3. describe the dangers facing endangered species in cities
4. explain how pesticides have affected bird populations
5. compare urban and rural ecosystems in detail

9. According to the passage, ecologists once believed that cities were

1. ideal habitats for most species
2. environments with little biological diversity
3. more diverse than rural areas
4. too cold for most animals to survive
5. important sites for evolutionary research

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

1. conceal
2. transport
3. contain
4. protect
5. welcome

11. The passage indicates that peregrine falcons nest on skyscrapers because

1. these buildings provide protection from pesticides
2. tall buildings resemble their natural nesting sites
3. cities have banned the use of harmful chemicals
4. they have evolved longer legs to climb buildings
5. their rural habitat has been completely destroyed

12. The white-footed mice discussed in lines 11-13 are presented as an example of

1. a species that has gone extinct in urban areas
2. an animal that migrates between cities and forests
3. genetic adaptation to urban food sources
4. a pest that causes problems for city residents
5. rapid evolution occurring in rural environments

13. According to the passage, “rapid evolution” refers to

1. the movement of animals from rural to urban areas
2. evolutionary changes that occur over a few decades rather than millennia
3. the speed at which cities expand into natural habitats
4. the rate at which scientists discover new species
5. genetic changes that happen only in tropical climates

14. The crested anole lizard is used to illustrate

1. a species that has not adapted well to city life
2. the dangers of urban environments for reptiles
3. physical traits that evolved to suit urban structures
4. an animal that prefers forests to cities
5. the effects of pesticides on lizard populations

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from a speech delivered by Chief Seattle of the Suquamish tribe in the 1850s, in response to the U.S. government’s offer to buy tribal lands.

    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 own the freshness of the air and (5) 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 and experience (10) 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 great eagle, (15) 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.     So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us. This we (20) know: the earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to the earth.

15. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the natural beauty of the tribal lands
2. negotiate a fair price for the land sale
3. express a worldview that contradicts the concept of land ownership
4. threaten the U.S. government with military resistance
5. request that the President visit the tribal lands in person

16. In lines 2-5, Chief Seattle’s questions serve primarily to

1. request more information about the government’s offer
2. highlight the fundamental difference between his people’s beliefs and those of the government
3. suggest that the price being offered is too low
4. indicate confusion about the President’s intentions
5. propose an alternative method of selling the land

17. As used in line 9, the word “holy” most nearly means

1. religious
2. perfect
3. sacred
4. mysterious
5. ancient

18. The comparison in lines 11-13 between sap and blood primarily emphasizes

1. the tribe’s knowledge of plant biology
2. the interconnectedness of humans and nature
3. the importance of hunting and gathering
4. the similarity between all living organisms
5. the tribe’s dependence on trees for survival

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

1. angry and defiant
2. reverent and philosophical
3. objective and detached
4. cheerful and optimistic
5. resigned and defeated

20. The final sentence (lines 20-21) suggests that Chief Seattle believes

1. the earth owns all the land and water
2. humans are subordinate to and part of the earth, rather than its owners
3. man has the right to sell land to whomever he wishes
4. the President does not understand the value of the land
5. his people will eventually be forced to leave their homeland

■ ■ ■   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) – a narrator with access to Mei’s thoughts and perceptions
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage uses third-person narration but provides access to Mei’s internal experience, as seen in “her fingers still aching” (lines 4-5) and “Mei felt her stomach tighten” (lines 19-20). Choice (A) is incorrect because the narrator does access Mei’s thoughts and feelings. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage uses third-person pronouns (“she”) rather than first-person (“I”).

2. Ans: (B) – create a sense of obscurity and isolation
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The fog that is “thick and gray as wool” and makes boats “disappear” (lines 1-5) establishes an atmosphere of limited visibility and separation, which mirrors Mei’s own uncertain situation. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no indication of imminent danger in the passage. Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage never describes the temperature inside the office as warm.

3. Ans: (B) – repetitive
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The word “monotonous” is followed immediately by examples of repetitive tasks: “sorting, cleaning, packing” (line 9), which indicates the work involves doing the same things over and over. Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing in the passage suggests the work is challenging or hard to perform. Choice (C) is incorrect because while her fingers ache, the monotony refers to repetition, not physical exhaustion.

4. Ans: (B) – is no longer able to support the family through fishing
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that Mei has been working “ever since her father’s boat had been sold to pay his debts” (lines 6-8), which implies he lost his means of livelihood and can no longer provide for the family. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no mention of the father working at the cannery. Choice (D) is incorrect because it contradicts the passage, which states his boat was sold (singular), not that he owns multiple boats.

5. Ans: (D) – the speed and rhythm of the counting reflect Mrs. Chen’s emotional state
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage explicitly states that “Mei had learned to read her moods in the set of her shoulders and the speed of her counting” (lines 13-15), and that “Today the clicks came fast and irregular, which meant trouble” (lines 15-16). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not discuss Mrs. Chen’s preference for traditional versus modern methods. Choice (C) is incorrect because it reverses the meaning-Mei interprets fast, irregular clicks as signaling trouble, not as soothing.

6. Ans: (B) – believes defending herself would be futile
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that although Mei “had counted them twice,” she concludes “there was no use protesting” (lines 21-22), indicating she does not believe speaking up would help. Choice (A) is incorrect because Mei “had counted them twice” and clearly believes she did her job correctly. Choice (D) is incorrect because Mrs. Chen’s sharp look and accusatory tone suggest she will not support Mei.

7. Ans: (B) – tense and uncertain
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The fog, Mei’s aching fingers, the irregular counting signaling trouble, and her tightening stomach in response to an accusation (lines 19-20) all create an atmosphere of anxiety and instability. Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing in the passage suggests optimism or lightheartedness. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage is set in the present moment of the narrative, not reflecting on the past with nostalgia.

8. Ans: (B) – challenge a common assumption about urban wildlife
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage opens by stating that ecologists once viewed cities as “biological deserts” but that new research shows urban environments “harbor far more biodiversity than previously thought” (lines 1-5), directly contradicting the old view. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not advocate for any particular policy or action. Choice (D) is incorrect because while pesticides are mentioned briefly, they are not the focus of the passage.

9. Ans: (B) – environments with little biological diversity
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “ecologists viewed cities as biological deserts, places where nature had been paved over and driven out” (lines 1-3), indicating they believed cities had minimal biodiversity. Choice (A) is incorrect because it directly contradicts the passage. Choice (C) is incorrect because it reverses the relationship-ecologists thought cities were less diverse than rural areas.

10. Ans: (C) – contain
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 4, “harbor” is used to mean that urban environments hold or contain biodiversity, without necessarily implying active protection or concealment. Choice (A) is incorrect because “conceal” suggests hiding, which is not the meaning here. Choice (D) is incorrect because while “protect” is a common meaning of “harbor,” in this context the word simply means the cities have or contain biodiversity.

11. Ans: (B) – tall buildings resemble their natural nesting sites
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that peregrine falcons nest “on skyscraper ledges” where “the tall buildings mimic the cliff faces of its ancestral habitat” (lines 8-11). Choice (A) is incorrect because buildings do not provide protection from pesticides. Choice (E) is too extreme-the passage does not state that all rural habitat has been destroyed.

12. Ans: (C) – genetic adaptation to urban food sources
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The passage states that urban white-footed mice “carry different genetic markers” that “help them metabolize the high-fat, high-sugar diet available in cities” (lines 11-13), demonstrating genetic adaptation to urban food. Choice (A) is incorrect because it contradicts the passage, which discusses how the mice have survived and adapted. Choice (E) is incorrect because the example concerns urban, not rural, evolution.

13. Ans: (B) – evolutionary changes that occur over a few decades rather than millennia
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage defines “rapid evolution” as changes that “might take thousands of years in rural environments” but “can happen in mere decades in cities” (lines 15-18). Choice (A) is incorrect because rapid evolution refers to genetic changes, not animal migration. Choice (E) is too narrow-the passage mentions Puerto Rico as one example but does not limit the phenomenon to tropical climates.

14. Ans: (C) – physical traits that evolved to suit urban structures
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The passage describes how urban crested anole lizards “developed longer legs and stickier toe pads” that “help them navigate smooth, vertical surfaces like walls and windows” (lines 18-21), demonstrating physical adaptation to the built environment. Choice (A) is incorrect because it contradicts the passage, which presents the lizard as successfully adapted. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage states urban populations have different traits than forest-dwelling relatives, implying successful urban adaptation.

15. Ans: (C) – express a worldview that contradicts the concept of land ownership
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Throughout the passage, Chief Seattle questions how one can “buy or sell the sky” (line 2) and concludes that “the earth does not belong to man” (line 20), articulating a perspective fundamentally at odds with private property. Choice (B) is incorrect because Chief Seattle never discusses price or terms of sale. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no threat of violence in the passage.

16. Ans: (B) – highlight the fundamental difference between his people’s beliefs and those of the government
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The rhetorical questions “how can you buy or sell the sky?” and “how can you buy them?” (lines 2-5) emphasize that the concept of purchasing natural elements is alien to his people’s worldview. Choice (A) is incorrect because these are rhetorical questions meant to make a point, not genuine requests for information. Choice (C) is incorrect because Chief Seattle is not negotiating price but questioning the entire premise of the transaction.

17. Ans: (C) – sacred
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 9, “holy” is used in the context of describing elements of nature as spiritually significant, and the passage begins by stating “Every part of this earth is sacred to my people” (line 6), making “sacred” and “holy” essentially synonymous here. Choice (A) is too narrow-while “holy” can mean religious, “sacred” better captures the broader spiritual meaning in this context. Choice (B) is incorrect because “holy” refers to spiritual significance, not perfection.

18. Ans: (B) – the interconnectedness of humans and nature
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The comparison states “We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins” (lines 11-12), followed by “We are part of the earth and it is part of us” (lines 12-13), emphasizing the intimate connection between people and the natural world. Choice (A) is too narrow-the point is not about botanical knowledge but about spiritual connection. Choice (D) is too broad-the comparison specifically links humans to nature, not all organisms to each other.

19. Ans: (B) – reverent and philosophical
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Seattle’s description of nature as “sacred” and “holy” (lines 6-9) and his reflections on the relationship between humans and earth (lines 20-21) convey deep respect and thoughtful contemplation. Choice (A) is incorrect because while Chief Seattle disagrees with the government’s proposal, his tone is measured and reflective, not angry. Choice (E) is incorrect because there is no sense of resignation or defeat in the passage.

20. Ans: (B) – humans are subordinate to and part of the earth, rather than its owners
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The statement “the earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to the earth” (lines 20-21) reverses the typical ownership relationship, placing humans within nature rather than above it. Choice (A) is incorrect because Chief Seattle does not suggest the earth itself is a conscious owner. Choice (C) is incorrect because it directly contradicts the passage, which rejects the entire concept of land ownership and sale.