SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 56

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 afternoon rain had turned the clay road into a ribbon of rust-colored mud that clung to Mei’s cloth shoes as she walked. She carried a bamboo basket on her back, filled with persimmons from the tree behind her uncle’s house. The fruit would fetch a good price at the market in town, (5) but the walk was nearly five li, and the sky threatened more rain. Mei shifted the basket’s weight and quickened her pace.     At the bend in the road, she spotted Old Chen sitting beneath the stone bridge, his fishing line dangling in the swollen stream. He looked up as she approached, his face creased (10) like a walnut shell. “You walk too fast for such a young girl,” he called out. “You’ll be old before your time.”     Mei stopped, grateful for the excuse to rest. “If I don’t hurry, the market will close, and my uncle will be angry.”     Old Chen laughed, a sound like wind (15) through dry leaves. “Your uncle is always angry. That is his nature. But the persimmons – those are patient. They have waited all season to ripen. Another hour will not spoil them.” He gestured to the space beside him. “Sit. Watch the water. It teaches better lessons than the market.”     Mei hesitated. She thought of her uncle’s (20) stern face, his voice sharp as a knife when she disappointed him. But her shoulders ached, and the old man’s invitation held a warmth she rarely encountered. She set down her basket and lowered herself onto the damp stone.

1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. establish the physical setting and introduce the main character’s situation
2. create suspense about whether Mei will reach the market in time
3. describe the agricultural economy of a rural Chinese village
4. explain why persimmons are valuable in the local market
5. contrast Mei’s youth with the difficulty of her labor

2. As used in line 9, the word “creased” most nearly means

1. folded
2. wrinkled
3. damaged
4. pressed
5. collapsed

3. Old Chen’s statement that Mei “walk[s] too fast for such a young girl” (line 11) suggests that he believes

1. Mei is not strong enough to carry heavy loads
2. young people should not have to work so hard
3. Mei is acting older than her years due to her responsibilities
4. walking quickly is dangerous on muddy roads
5. Mei should spend more time talking with her elders

4. According to the passage, Mei stops to talk with Old Chen primarily because

1. she values his wisdom about the natural world
2. she welcomes an opportunity to rest from carrying the basket
3. she wants to learn how to fish in the stream
4. she hopes he will help her carry the persimmons to market
5. she fears her uncle more than she fears being late

5. The comparison of Old Chen’s laugh to “wind through dry leaves” (lines 14-15) primarily suggests that his laugh is

1. harsh and unpleasant
2. quiet and barely audible
3. raspy and aged
4. joyful and carefree
5. cold and unfriendly

6. Old Chen’s statement that “the water” teaches “better lessons than the market” (line 19) implies that he values

1. commercial success over personal relationships
2. fishing skills over agricultural knowledge
3. contemplation and patience over hurried activity
4. solitude over community involvement
5. traditional occupations over modern professions

7. The passage suggests that Mei’s decision to sit with Old Chen represents a conflict between

1. her duty to her uncle and her desire for rest and kindness
2. her love of nature and her need to earn money
3. her respect for the elderly and her impatience with their advice
4. her fear of the rain and her determination to reach the market
5. her friendship with Old Chen and her loyalty to her uncle

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about urban planning and psychology.

    For decades, urban planners have focused on efficient traffic flow, zoning regulations, and infrastructure development, treating cities as mechanical systems to be optimized. But a growing body of research in environmental psychology suggests that the design of urban spaces profoundly affects (5) human behavior, mental health, and social cohesion in ways that traditional planning models have consistently overlooked. The field of “psychogeography” examines how specific architectural features and spatial arrangements influence emotional states and decision-making patterns.     One striking example involves street layout. Research conducted in (10) multiple European cities has demonstrated that neighborhoods with irregular, winding streets foster significantly more social interaction among residents than those built on rigid grid patterns. The grid system, championed by modernist planners for its efficiency and clarity, creates what researchers call “cognitive monotony” – (15) a psychological state in which the predictability of one’s surroundings reduces engagement with the environment. When every block looks identical, residents develop what psychologists term “place amnesia,” a diminished emotional connection to their neighborhood that correlates with increased feelings of isolation.     Conversely, irregular street (20) patterns create what urban theorist Jane Jacobs called “visual complexity” – a landscape rich in landmarks, varied sightlines, and unexpected encounters. This complexity demands active attention, which paradoxically makes people feel more relaxed and socially open. The meandering streets slow both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, increasing opportunities for spontaneous (25) conversation and community building.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. urban planning should prioritize psychological effects over traffic efficiency
2. the physical design of city streets significantly influences residents’ mental and social well-being
3. grid-pattern streets are inferior to irregular street layouts in all respects
4. environmental psychology has replaced traditional urban planning methods
5. European cities are better designed than cities in other parts of the world

9. According to the passage, traditional urban planning models have primarily emphasized

1. psychological research and social interaction
2. historical preservation and cultural heritage
3. traffic efficiency and infrastructure systems
4. environmental sustainability and green spaces
5. residential density and affordable housing

10. As used in line 14, the word “cognitive” most nearly means

1. emotional
2. physical
3. mental
4. social
5. spiritual

11. The passage indicates that “place amnesia” (line 18) results from

1. living in a neighborhood for too many years
2. a lack of emotional attachment to visually uniform surroundings
3. increased social interaction with neighbors
4. the irregular layout of city streets
5. poor memory caused by urban stress

12. The author mentions Jane Jacobs (line 21) in order to

1. provide historical context for the development of grid-pattern streets
2. introduce an expert opinion that contradicts the passage’s main argument
3. support the claim that irregular streets create psychologically beneficial environments
4. explain why modernist planners preferred efficiency over aesthetics
5. describe the origins of the field of environmental psychology

13. According to the passage, irregular street patterns promote social interaction by

1. eliminating vehicle traffic entirely
2. reducing the speed of movement and increasing chance encounters
3. requiring residents to ask for directions more frequently
4. creating confusion that forces people to work together
5. providing more public parks and gathering spaces

14. The passage suggests that the relationship between visual complexity and relaxation is “paradoxical” (line 23) because

1. complex environments usually cause stress rather than calmness
2. people typically prefer simple, predictable surroundings
3. irregular streets require more effort to navigate than grid patterns
4. environments that demand attention would normally be expected to increase tension rather than reduce it
5. European and American cities produce opposite psychological effects

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from a 1918 speech by Emmeline Pankhurst, British suffragette and political activist, delivered during a tour of the United States.

    I am here as a soldier who has temporarily left the field of battle to explain what civil war is like when civil war is waged by women. I am not here to advocate violence. I have come to explain the circumstances (5) that drove women to the use of militancy as a political weapon. We were called militant, and we were quite willing to accept the name, because militancy to us meant simply this: that we were determined to obtain the vote, and that we would never give up our determination until victory was won.     For (10) fifty years, patient, constitutional agitation had been tried without success. We found that all the fine phrases about freedom and justice were empty words when applied to women. The politicians praised our patience, they praised our good sense, they praised everything about us except our claim to be treated as (15) human beings. We saw that men had always obtained their rights by force or by the threat of force, and we decided to profit by their example. We began by breaking windows – a time-honored method of protest in England – because we found that until we did this, the Government and the press (20) took no notice of our arguments whatsoever. A broken window, we discovered, was infinitely more valuable than a logical speech.

15. The primary purpose of Pankhurst’s speech is to

1. justify the use of militant tactics in the fight for women’s suffrage
2. recruit American women to join the British suffrage movement
3. apologize for the violence committed by suffragettes in England
4. compare the British and American approaches to women’s rights
5. explain why women should avoid political activism

16. As used in line 6, the word “militancy” most nearly means

1. warfare
2. aggressive activism
3. terrorism
4. patience
5. violence

17. According to the passage, Pankhurst and her fellow suffragettes turned to militant tactics because

1. they believed violence was morally justified in all circumstances
2. fifty years of peaceful efforts had failed to achieve results
3. they wanted to frighten politicians into granting women the vote
4. men encouraged them to use force
5. breaking windows was a traditional British form of celebration

18. Pankhurst’s statement that “fine phrases about freedom and justice were empty words when applied to women” (lines 11-13) suggests that

1. politicians did not understand the meaning of freedom and justice
2. women did not deserve the same rights as men
3. the rhetoric of equality was not matched by actual treatment of women
4. freedom and justice were concepts invented by men
5. women preferred actions to words in all situations

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

1. apologetic and regretful
2. defiant and explanatory
3. uncertain and questioning
4. bitter and resentful
5. celebratory and triumphant

20. Pankhurst’s claim that “a broken window” was “more valuable than a logical speech” (lines 22-23) implies that

1. women were incapable of making logical arguments
2. destruction of property is always more effective than reasoned debate
3. dramatic actions attracted attention in ways that reasoned arguments had not
4. politicians were too unintelligent to understand speeches
5. windows were expensive and therefore important to the government

■ ■ ■   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: (A) – establish the physical setting and introduce the main character’s situation
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph describes the muddy road, the rain, Mei’s basket of persimmons, and her need to reach the market (lines 1-6), thereby establishing where the action takes place and what challenge Mei faces. Choice (B) is too narrow because suspense is not the primary purpose, only a minor element. Choice (C) is too broad because the paragraph focuses on Mei’s specific situation rather than the general economy.

2. Ans: (B) – wrinkled
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes Old Chen’s face as “creased like a walnut shell” (lines 9-10), comparing it to the wrinkled, lined texture of a walnut. Choice (A) “folded” is incorrect because faces are not folded like paper. Choice (D) “pressed” suggests smoothness, which is the opposite of the intended meaning.

3. Ans: (C) – Mei is acting older than her years due to her responsibilities
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Old Chen observes that Mei walks too quickly and warns she’ll “be old before [her] time” (lines 11-12), suggesting her burdens are aging her prematurely. Choice (A) is not supported because Chen says nothing about her strength. Choice (E) reverses the meaning – he offers her rest, not criticism for not talking enough.

4. Ans: (B) – she welcomes an opportunity to rest from carrying the basket
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states Mei was “grateful for the excuse to rest” (line 13). Choice (A) is not supported because at this point she has not yet heard his wisdom. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no indication she expects or wants help carrying the basket.

5. Ans: (C) – raspy and aged
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The comparison of Old Chen’s laugh to “wind through dry leaves” (lines 14-15) suggests a dry, rustling quality characteristic of an elderly person’s voice. Choice (A) is incorrect because the simile does not suggest unpleasantness, especially given the warm tone of the encounter. Choice (D) contradicts the “dry” quality of the comparison.

6. Ans: (C) – contemplation and patience over hurried activity
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Old Chen tells Mei to sit and watch the water rather than hurry to market (lines 18-19), suggesting he values quiet observation over rushing. Choice (A) reverses his values – he explicitly favors the water over the market. Choice (B) is too narrow because the contrast is not between fishing and agriculture specifically but between contemplation and commerce.

7. Ans: (A) – her duty to her uncle and her desire for rest and kindness
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The final paragraph shows Mei thinking of her uncle’s “stern face” and “sharp” voice (lines 19-21) while also being drawn to Old Chen’s warmth and the relief from her aching shoulders (lines 21-23). Choice (C) is incorrect because Mei shows no impatience with Old Chen’s advice. Choice (E) distorts the passage because Mei and Old Chen are not established as friends, only acquaintances.

8. Ans: (B) – the physical design of city streets significantly influences residents’ mental and social well-being
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses how street layout affects behavior, mental health, and social cohesion (lines 3-6) and compares grid versus irregular patterns throughout. Choice (A) is too extreme – the passage does not say psychological effects should be prioritized over all else. Choice (C) is too absolute because the passage does not claim grids are inferior “in all respects,” only in certain psychological dimensions.

9. Ans: (C) – traffic efficiency and infrastructure systems
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The first paragraph states that urban planners have focused on “efficient traffic flow, zoning regulations, and infrastructure development” (lines 1-3). Choice (A) reverses the passage’s point – traditional models have overlooked psychological research (line 6). Choice (D) is not mentioned in the passage as a focus of traditional planning.

10. Ans: (C) – mental
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. “Cognitive monotony” (line 14) is described as a “psychological state” (line 14), indicating it relates to mental processes. Choice (A) “emotional” is related but too narrow – cognitive specifically refers to thinking and perception. Choice (B) “physical” is incorrect because the passage discusses psychological, not bodily, states.

11. Ans: (B) – a lack of emotional attachment to visually uniform surroundings
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage defines “place amnesia” as “a diminished emotional connection to their neighborhood” (line 18) that occurs when “every block looks identical” (line 17). Choice (A) is not stated – duration of residence is never mentioned. Choice (C) reverses the passage’s meaning because place amnesia correlates with isolation, not interaction (line 19).

12. Ans: (C) – support the claim that irregular streets create psychologically beneficial environments
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Jacobs is cited to define “visual complexity” (line 21) in irregular patterns, which the passage argues makes people “more relaxed and socially open” (line 23). Choice (B) is incorrect because Jacobs’s view supports, not contradicts, the argument. Choice (D) is wrong because Jacobs is associated with irregular streets, not modernist grid planning.

13. Ans: (B) – reducing the speed of movement and increasing chance encounters
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that meandering streets “slow both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, increasing opportunities for spontaneous conversation” (lines 23-25). Choice (A) is too extreme – the passage mentions slowing traffic, not eliminating it. Choice (C) uses passage words (“irregular streets”) but invents a mechanism not mentioned in the text.

14. Ans: (D) – environments that demand attention would normally be expected to increase tension rather than reduce it
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The passage states that visual complexity “demands active attention, which paradoxically makes people feel more relaxed” (lines 22-23), indicating the unexpected nature of this relationship. Choice (A) is too broad and not the specific paradox identified. Choice (C) mentions difficulty but misses the specific attention-relaxation paradox the passage emphasizes.

15. Ans: (A) – justify the use of militant tactics in the fight for women’s suffrage
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Pankhurst states she has come “to explain the circumstances that drove women to the use of militancy” (lines 3-5) and describes why such tactics became necessary. Choice (C) reverses her intent – she explicitly states she “[is] not here to advocate violence” but explains, not apologizes for, militancy (lines 3-4). Choice (E) contradicts the entire passage, which encourages activism.

16. Ans: (B) – aggressive activism
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Pankhurst defines militancy as determination to obtain the vote and never give up (lines 6-9), which describes aggressive but purposeful activism. Choice (A) “warfare” is too extreme – though she uses military metaphors, she distinguishes militancy from actual war. Choice (C) “terrorism” is far too extreme and not supported by the context of window-breaking as protest.

17. Ans: (B) – fifty years of peaceful efforts had failed to achieve results
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Pankhurst explicitly states that “fifty years, patient, constitutional agitation had been tried without success” (lines 9-11). Choice (A) distorts the passage – she does not claim violence is justified “in all circumstances,” only in their specific situation. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which states women decided to “profit by [men’s] example” (line 17), not that men encouraged them.

18. Ans: (C) – the rhetoric of equality was not matched by actual treatment of women
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Pankhurst contrasts “fine phrases about freedom and justice” with the reality that these were “empty words when applied to women” (lines 11-13), indicating hypocrisy. Choice (A) is too narrow – the problem was not lack of understanding but lack of action. Choice (D) distorts the passage by making an extreme claim about the origin of concepts not stated in the text.

19. Ans: (B) – defiant and explanatory
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Pankhurst unapologetically defends militant tactics while explaining the reasons behind them (lines 3-9 and throughout). Choice (A) is incorrect because she shows no regret or apology for the tactics. Choice (E) is wrong because she has not yet achieved victory and is still fighting, so the tone is not celebratory.

20. Ans: (C) – dramatic actions attracted attention in ways that reasoned arguments had not
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Pankhurst explains that “until we” broke windows, “the Government and the press took no notice of our arguments whatsoever” (lines 18-21), but window-breaking gained attention. Choice (A) reverses the passage – she implies women made logical arguments that were ignored, not that they were incapable. Choice (B) is too broad because she does not claim this is always true, only in their specific circumstances.