SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 58

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 lighthouse keeper’s daughter had never seen the mainland, though on clear days she could trace its gray outline against the southern horizon. Her father claimed she had been born there, in a hospital with white walls and electric lights, but Isla (5) had no memory of it. The island was her entire geography: the rocky beach where seals hauled themselves onto kelp-covered stones, the grassy plateau where sheep grazed in endless wind, the lighthouse itself with its spiraling iron stairs that rang beneath her boots.     This morning she climbed those stairs (10) with a pail of whitewash and a brush, assigned the tedious task of painting the lamp room windows. Her father was below, wrestling with the clockwork mechanism that turned the great lens. He muttered constantly at the gears, as though the machinery were a stubborn animal that might (15) respond to coaxing. Isla often wondered if the isolation had made him peculiar, or if he had always been this way. Her mother had left when Isla was six, rowing away in the supply boat without explanation, and never returned.     Through the (20) salt-streaked glass, Isla watched a fishing trawler inch across the slate-colored water. She imagined the crew inside: men drinking tea, telling jokes, planning what they would do when they reached port. The fantasy felt both thrilling and absurd. What would she do in a town? She could gut a mackerel and predict (25) weather by the shape of clouds, but she had never ridden in an automobile or spoken to a shopkeeper.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the daily maintenance required to operate a lighthouse
2. portray a young woman’s isolated existence and her conflicted feelings about it
3. explain why Isla’s mother abandoned the family
4. argue that lighthouse keepers should be provided better living conditions
5. illustrate the dangers of living on a remote island

2. As used in line 4, the word "geography" most nearly means

1. academic subject
2. known world
3. physical terrain
4. map collection
5. scientific study

3. The passage suggests that Isla’s father is characterized by

1. violent outbursts directed at his daughter
2. a tendency to talk to inanimate objects
3. refusal to allow Isla to leave the island
4. exceptional skill at repairing machinery
5. frequent trips to the mainland for supplies

4. Isla’s attitude toward the possibility of visiting the mainland can best be described as

1. eager anticipation
2. complete indifference
3. ambivalent curiosity
4. defiant rejection
5. confident preparation

5. The detail about Isla being born "in a hospital with white walls and electric lights" (lines 3-4) primarily serves to

1. contrast the modern mainland with her rustic island life
2. prove that her father is lying about her birthplace
3. explain why Isla dislikes living on the island
4. demonstrate her father’s nostalgia for urban life
5. describe the medical care available in the region

6. Which of the following does the passage explicitly state about Isla’s mother?

1. She found life on the island unbearably lonely.
2. She left the island when Isla was six years old.
3. She had always disliked Isla’s father.
4. She moved to a nearby coastal town.
5. She tried to take Isla with her when she departed.

7. The description of the lighthouse stairs as "spiraling iron stairs that rang beneath her boots" (lines 8-9) appeals primarily to the senses of

1. sight and taste
2. touch and smell
3. sight and sound
4. sound and taste
5. smell and sight

Passage 2

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

    For centuries, glassmakers have understood that adding metallic compounds to molten silica produces vivid colors: cobalt yields deep blue, gold creates ruby red, and copper generates turquoise. Yet until recently, scientists struggled to explain (5) why gold – a metal we associate with yellow luster – should produce glass that glows crimson. The answer lies in a phenomenon called surface plasmon resonance, which occurs when metal particles are reduced to nanoscale dimensions.     When gold is dispersed in glass (10) as particles measuring mere nanometers across, it no longer behaves as bulk metal does. Light striking these nanoparticles causes their surface electrons to oscillate collectively, absorbing certain wavelengths while reflecting others. Gold nanoparticles between 20 and 40 nanometers in diameter absorb green and blue light, (15) allowing red wavelengths to pass through, producing that characteristic ruby tint. Alter the particle size, and the color shifts: smaller particles yield purple, larger ones produce darker red.     This principle has applications far beyond decorative glass. Biomedical researchers now employ gold nanoparticles (20) as targeted drug delivery vehicles and diagnostic markers. Because these particles can be engineered to absorb specific wavelengths, doctors can use infrared light to heat cancer-targeting gold nanoparticles, destroying tumors while sparing surrounding tissue. The medieval artisan who crafted the Lycurgus Cup, which (25) appears green in reflected light but red when illuminated from within, unknowingly pioneered nanotechnology centuries before the word existed.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. gold nanoparticles are more useful in medicine than in glassmaking
2. surface plasmon resonance explains both historical glass coloration and modern applications
3. medieval artisans were more scientifically advanced than previously believed
4. metallic compounds have been used to color glass for many centuries
5. the Lycurgus Cup remains an unsolved mystery of materials science

9. According to the passage, gold nanoparticles produce red glass by

1. reflecting all wavelengths of light equally
2. absorbing red light and reflecting green and blue
3. increasing the temperature of the molten glass
4. absorbing green and blue light and transmitting red
5. converting yellow light into red wavelengths

1. large quantity
2. majority
3. normal-sized
4. heavy
5. unrefined

11. The passage suggests that the color of gold-infused glass depends on

1. the temperature at which the glass is melted
2. the type of silica used in the glass
3. the size of the gold nanoparticles
4. the amount of cobalt added to the mixture
5. the thickness of the finished glass

12. The author mentions the Lycurgus Cup (line 24) primarily to

1. prove that ancient Romans understood surface plasmon resonance
2. illustrate that nanotechnology principles existed in practice before the theory was understood
3. argue that medieval artisans should receive credit for modern medical advances
4. describe the most valuable glass artifact ever created
5. explain why gold was more commonly used than copper in ancient glassmaking

13. The passage indicates that biomedical researchers use gold nanoparticles for all of the following EXCEPT

1. delivering drugs to specific locations
2. serving as diagnostic markers
3. heating cancer-targeting particles with infrared light
4. replacing traditional surgical instruments
5. destroying tumors while protecting healthy tissue

14. The organizational structure of the passage is best described as

1. a scientific question followed by its explanation and modern applications
2. a chronological history of glassmaking from ancient times to the present
3. a comparison between medieval and modern manufacturing techniques
4. an argument against traditional theories of light and color
5. a description of multiple competing scientific hypotheses

Passage 3

The following 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, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men (5) who say yes or no. He who led on 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 (10) 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! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where (15) the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

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

1. negotiate better terms of surrender for his people
2. announce his decision to end armed resistance
3. praise the military skill of General Howard
4. request medical supplies for wounded warriors
5. explain the military strategy that led to defeat

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

1. I have memorized it
2. I remember and honor it
3. I feel emotional about it
4. I disagree with it privately
5. I have written it down

17. Chief Joseph mentions the deaths of Looking Glass and Ta Hool Hool Shute (lines 3-4) in order to

1. blame them for poor military decisions
2. request a proper burial ceremony
3. emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
4. prove that General Howard violated a peace treaty
5. explain why he is now the sole leader of his tribe

18. The tone of the speech can best be described as

1. defiant and angry
2. weary and sorrowful
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. bitter and accusatory
5. detached and clinical

19. Which of the following concerns does Chief Joseph emphasize most strongly?

1. The need to recover tribal lands
2. The suffering of children and those who have fled
3. His personal relationship with General Howard
4. The military capabilities of the young warriors
5. The cultural traditions that will be lost

20. The phrase "From where the sun now stands" (lines 14-15) serves to

1. indicate the specific time of day the speech was delivered
2. reference a traditional Nez Perce method of telling time
3. make the moment of surrender more concrete and solemn
4. suggest that Chief Joseph may resume fighting at a later date
5. describe the weather conditions in the Bear Paw Mountains

■ ■ ■   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) – portray a young woman’s isolated existence and her conflicted feelings about it
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Isla’s life on the isolated island and her mixed emotions about the mainland, shown through her imaginings of the trawler crew and her recognition that she possesses unusual skills but lacks ordinary experiences (lines 20-25). Choice (A) is too narrow, as lighthouse maintenance is a minor detail rather than the central focus. Choice (C) is wrong because the mother’s reasons for leaving are never explained in the passage.

2. Ans: (B) – known world
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Isla states that "the island was her entire geography," meaning it constitutes the complete extent of her experienced world (lines 4-8). Choice (A) is incorrect because she is not referring to the academic subject of geography. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage makes no mention of maps or map collections.

3. Ans: (B) – a tendency to talk to inanimate objects
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that her father "muttered constantly at the gears, as though the machinery were a stubborn animal" (lines 13-15). Choice (A) is incorrect because no violence is mentioned in the passage. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage describes him "wrestling" with the mechanism, suggesting struggle rather than exceptional skill.

4. Ans: (C) – ambivalent curiosity
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Isla imagines mainland life as "both thrilling and absurd" (line 23), showing she is simultaneously attracted to and uncertain about it. Choice (A) is too strong, as she views the fantasy as partly absurd rather than eagerly anticipating it. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, since she clearly spends time imagining what mainland life would be like (lines 20-25).

5. Ans: (A) – contrast the modern mainland with her rustic island life
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The mention of hospitals, white walls, and electric lights (lines 3-4) highlights the technological difference between the place she was supposedly born and the primitive island existence she now knows. Choice (B) is incorrect because nothing suggests the father is lying. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage never states that Isla dislikes island life; her feelings are more ambivalent.

6. Ans: (B) – She left the island when Isla was six years old.
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage directly states "Her mother had left when Isla was six" (line 16). Choice (A) may be true but is not stated in the passage. Choice (C) is also not supported by any information given in the text.

7. Ans: (C) – sight and sound
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The description includes visual imagery ("spiraling iron stairs") and auditory imagery ("rang beneath her boots") in lines 8-9. Choice (A) is incorrect because no taste imagery appears in this description. Choice (B) is wrong because while "iron" might suggest touch, the passage emphasizes the visual spiral and the ringing sound.

8. Ans: (B) – surface plasmon resonance explains both historical glass coloration and modern applications
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses how surface plasmon resonance accounts for colored glass throughout history and enables current biomedical uses (lines 5-25). Choice (A) distorts the passage by claiming one application is more useful than another; the passage presents both as significant. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which explains the Lycurgus Cup through nanotechnology principles (lines 24-26).

9. Ans: (D) – absorbing green and blue light and transmitting red
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that gold nanoparticles "absorb green and blue light, allowing red wavelengths to pass through" (lines 14-16). Choice (B) reverses the correct relationship, claiming gold absorbs red instead of transmitting it. Choice (A) is wrong because the particles selectively absorb certain wavelengths rather than reflecting all equally.

10. Ans: (C) – normal-sized
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage contrasts nanoscale gold particles with "bulk metal," meaning gold in its ordinary, macroscopic form (lines 9-11). Choice (A) uses a common meaning of "bulk" but doesn’t fit the context of comparing particle sizes. Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage is discussing size, not purity or refinement level.

11. Ans: (C) – the size of the gold nanoparticles
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that particles between 20 and 40 nanometers produce ruby red, while "smaller particles yield purple, larger ones produce darker red" (lines 14-17). Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage as affecting color. Choice (D) is wrong because cobalt is mentioned as producing blue glass, not as affecting gold-infused glass (line 2).

12. Ans: (B) – illustrate that nanotechnology principles existed in practice before the theory was understood
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage describes how the medieval artisan "unknowingly pioneered nanotechnology centuries before the word existed" (lines 25-26). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage says the artisan worked unknowingly, not that Romans understood the scientific principle. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage makes no claim about the cup’s monetary value.

13. Ans: (D) – replacing traditional surgical instruments
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage mentions drug delivery, diagnostic markers, and destroying tumors (lines 19-23), but never mentions replacing surgical instruments. Choice (A) is explicitly stated in line 20. Choice (B) is directly mentioned in line 21 as one use of gold nanoparticles.

14. Ans: (A) – a scientific question followed by its explanation and modern applications
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage opens with the puzzle of why gold produces red glass (lines 1-7), explains the science (lines 7-17), then discusses modern applications (lines 18-26). Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage is not organized chronologically but rather by concept. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage does not compare medieval and modern techniques but rather shows continuity of physical principles.

15. Ans: (B) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph declares "I will fight no more forever" (line 15), making this a surrender announcement. Choice (A) is incorrect because he does not negotiate or request different terms. Choice (C) is wrong because while he acknowledges General Howard (line 1), praise is not the speech’s purpose.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and honor it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph says he knows General Howard’s heart and keeps what Howard said "in my heart" (lines 1-2), suggesting he remembers and respects it. Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on memory without the emotional and moral weight. Choice (D) contradicts the respectful tone of the opening lines.

17. Ans: (C) – emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph lists multiple dead leaders and notes "The old men are all dead" (lines 3-5) to show how completely his people have been decimated. Choice (A) is incorrect because he does not blame these men for anything. Choice (D) is wrong because he makes no accusation that Howard violated any treaty.

18. Ans: (B) – weary and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph repeatedly emphasizes exhaustion ("I am tired," "I am tired; my heart is sick and sad") and grief over deaths and suffering (lines 3-15). Choice (A) is incorrect because the tone is resigned rather than defiant. Choice (C) contradicts the overwhelming sadness expressed throughout the speech.

19. Ans: (B) – The suffering of children and those who have fled
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Chief Joseph devotes significant attention to children freezing without blankets and people who fled to the hills without food (lines 6-12). Choice (A) is not mentioned in this speech. Choice (D) is referenced briefly but not emphasized as the primary concern.

20. Ans: (C) – make the moment of surrender more concrete and solemn
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The poetic phrase marks this exact moment as the permanent end of resistance, giving it weight and finality (lines 14-15). Choice (D) contradicts the phrase "forever," which indicates permanence. Choice (E) is wrong because the phrase functions as a temporal marker, not a weather description, though cold is mentioned earlier.