SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 59

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, and Theo pressed his forehead against the cold window, watching the station lights blur into streaks of yellow. His violin case sat wedged between his knees, its worn leather corners speaking of a thousand (5) journeys he had never taken. His father had carried it across Belgium in 1943, or so the story went, though Theo suspected the details shifted with each telling. Now it was his turn to carry it somewhere new, away from the only conservatory that had (10) ever felt like home.     In the seat across from him, a woman unpacked a sandwich with the deliberate care of someone performing a ritual. She caught his eye and smiled-not the pitying smile he had grown (15) accustomed to in recent weeks, but something gentler, almost conspiratorial. "First time to Vienna?" she asked. Her accent was unfamiliar, possibly Dutch. Theo nodded, unsure whether his voice would cooperate if he tried to speak. The woman (20) continued unwrapping her sandwich. "It’s a city that remembers everything," she said. "Whether you want it to or not."

1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. establish the historical setting of the narrative
2. introduce the protagonist and hint at his emotional state
3. describe the physical characteristics of a train journey
4. explain why Theo is traveling to a new city
5. contrast Theo’s experiences with his father’s

2. As used in line 8, the word "details" most nearly means

1. decorations
2. assignments
3. particulars
4. troops
5. photographs

3. The description of the violin case in lines 3-8 suggests that

1. Theo has traveled extensively throughout Europe
2. the case is a family heirloom with historical significance
3. Theo is planning to sell the violin in Vienna
4. the father’s story about Belgium is definitely false
5. Theo has recently purchased a new instrument

4. The phrase "unsure whether his voice would cooperate" (line 18) implies that Theo is

1. suffering from a physical illness
2. experiencing strong emotion
3. unable to speak the woman’s language
4. deliberately trying to avoid conversation
5. intimidated by the woman’s directness

5. The woman’s smile is characterized as "conspiratorial" (line 15) primarily to suggest that she

1. is planning something secretive with Theo
2. shares an unspoken understanding with him
3. disapproves of his decision to leave the conservatory
4. knows more about his situation than she reveals
5. finds his nervousness amusing

6. The woman’s final comment about Vienna (lines 20-21) can best be described as

1. a practical warning about the city’s dangers
2. an ambiguous observation with both positive and negative implications
3. an enthusiastic recommendation for tourists
4. a criticism of Vienna’s cultural institutions
5. a nostalgic reflection on her own past

7. The overall tone of the passage is best described as

1. anxious and uncertain
2. jubilant and hopeful
3. bitter and resentful
4. detached and objective
5. ironic and satirical

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article on evolutionary biology.

    For decades, biologists assumed that evolutionary change occurred at a steady, gradual pace-a view known as phyletic gradualism. Darwin himself envisioned species transforming slowly over millions of years, with tiny modifications accumulating like grains (5) of sand building a dune. But in 1972, paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould challenged this orthodoxy with their theory of punctuated equilibrium. Examining the fossil record with fresh eyes, they noticed something Darwin’s followers had explained away: species remain (10) largely unchanged for long stretches of time, then suddenly-in geological terms-new species appear.     The pattern shows up consistently across different taxa. A species appears in the fossil record with a particular suite of characteristics and persists (15) virtually unchanged for millions of years. Then, instead of the gradual transitional forms predicted by phyletic gradualism, the fossil record shows a geologically brief burst of change, after which new species appear, already distinct. Eldredge and Gould proposed that (20) most evolutionary change occurs during speciation events, when small populations become isolated and adapt rapidly to new conditions. Once established, species tend toward stasis, resisting change even as their environments fluctuate.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. Darwin’s theory of evolution has been completely disproven
2. an alternative model challenges the assumption that evolution proceeds gradually
3. the fossil record provides no useful information about evolutionary change
4. species never change once they appear in the fossil record
5. Eldredge and Gould discovered the first evidence of speciation events

9. According to the passage, Darwin believed that evolutionary change

1. happened in sudden bursts during speciation
2. could not be observed in the fossil record
3. occurred through small modifications over long periods
4. was caused by geographical isolation
5. affected only certain taxonomic groups

10. As used in line 7, the word "orthodoxy" most nearly means

1. religious doctrine
2. established belief
3. scientific method
4. ancient tradition
5. experimental procedure

11. The simile comparing modifications to "grains of sand building a dune" (lines 4-5) emphasizes

1. the difficulty of observing evolutionary change
2. the role of geological processes in evolution
3. the gradual accumulation of small changes
4. the destructive power of natural selection
5. the importance of environmental conditions

12. According to punctuated equilibrium, most evolutionary change occurs when

1. environments fluctuate over millions of years
2. large populations adapt to gradual climate shifts
3. small populations become isolated and face new conditions
4. species resist change to maintain stable characteristics
5. transitional forms appear in the fossil record

13. The passage suggests that earlier biologists "explained away" (line 9) certain fossil patterns because

1. they lacked the technology to date fossils accurately
2. the patterns contradicted their expectations about gradual change
3. Eldredge and Gould had not yet published their research
4. they focused exclusively on geological processes
5. the fossil record was too incomplete to be reliable

14. The author’s attitude toward punctuated equilibrium can best be described as

1. skeptical and dismissive
2. neutral and explanatory
3. enthusiastic and promotional
4. confused and uncertain
5. critical and argumentative

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, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the (5) young men 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 the sun now stands (15) I will fight no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of the speech is to

1. negotiate better terms of surrender with General Howard
2. announce the decision to end armed resistance
3. criticize the actions of the U.S. military
4. inspire the young men to continue fighting
5. request supplies for the coming winter

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 value it
3. I feel emotional about it
4. I disagree with it privately
5. I have written it down

17. Chief Joseph mentions that "the old men are all dead" (line 4) primarily to

1. emphasize the devastating losses his people have suffered
2. explain why he personally must make the decision
3. suggest that the young men are too inexperienced to lead
4. blame General Howard for targeting tribal leaders
5. indicate that traditional decision-making structures have collapsed

18. The repetition of "no blankets" in lines 6 and 8 serves to

1. criticize General Howard for inadequate supplies
2. emphasize the immediate physical suffering of his people
3. contrast the past prosperity with current poverty
4. suggest that winter is the primary cause of defeat
5. request specific aid from the U.S. military

19. The statement "Maybe I shall find them among the dead" (lines 12-13) conveys a tone of

1. angry accusation
2. resigned despair
3. bitter sarcasm
4. hopeful determination
5. detached observation

20. Which of the following best describes the structure of the speech?

1. A logical argument building to a surprising conclusion
2. A chronological narrative of the military campaign
3. An accumulation of losses and hardships leading to a final declaration
4. A comparison between past promises and present realities
5. A series of demands followed by consequences if unmet

■ ■ ■   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 the protagonist and hint at his emotional state
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph introduces Theo as the main character and establishes his uncertain emotional state through details like pressing his forehead against the window and his reference to leaving "the only conservatory that had ever felt like home" (lines 9-10). Choice (A) is too narrow because while historical details appear, they are not the primary purpose. Choice (D) is incorrect because the paragraph hints at but does not explicitly explain his reason for traveling.

2. Ans: (C) – particulars
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, "details" refers to the specific facts or particulars of the father’s story about carrying the violin case, which Theo suspects "shifted with each telling." Choice (A) is a different meaning of "details" not applicable here. Choice (D) refers to military details, which uses the word in an entirely different sense.

3. Ans: (B) – the case is a family heirloom with historical significance
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that Theo’s father carried the case "across Belgium in 1943" (line 6) and that it now sits with "worn leather corners speaking of a thousand journeys" (lines 4-5), suggesting it is a meaningful family object with history. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which states these are "journeys he had never taken" (line 6). Choice (D) is too extreme; Theo only suspects the details shifted, not that the entire story is false.

4. Ans: (B) – experiencing strong emotion
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase suggests Theo is so emotionally affected that he might not be able to speak steadily, consistent with someone leaving a place that "had ever felt like home" (lines 9-10) and receiving pitying smiles (lines 14-15). Choice (A) is not supported by any textual evidence of illness. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage indicates the woman speaks to him in a language he understands.

5. Ans: (B) – shares an unspoken understanding with him
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. "Conspiratorial" in line 15 suggests the woman’s smile conveys a sense of shared, private understanding, distinguishing it from the "pitying smile" (line 14) others have given him. Choice (A) takes the word too literally, implying an actual conspiracy. Choice (D) reverses the sympathetic tone suggested by contrasting her smile with pitying ones.

6. Ans: (B) – an ambiguous observation with both positive and negative implications
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The statement "It’s a city that remembers everything...whether you want it to or not" (lines 20-21) could be positive (Vienna preserves culture and history) or negative (the past may be inescapable), making it deliberately ambiguous. Choice (A) is too narrow and literal; this is a metaphorical observation, not a practical warning. Choice (C) is wrong because the phrase "whether you want it to or not" suggests potential negativity, not pure enthusiasm.

7. Ans: (A) – anxious and uncertain
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys anxiety through details like Theo pressing his forehead against the window, being unsure if his voice would cooperate (line 18), and leaving the only place that felt like home (lines 9-10), all suggesting uncertainty about the future. Choice (B) contradicts the melancholy mood established throughout. Choice (D) is incorrect because the close third-person perspective and emotional details create an involved, not detached, tone.

8. Ans: (B) – an alternative model challenges the assumption that evolution proceeds gradually
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage contrasts phyletic gradualism with punctuated equilibrium, explaining how Eldredge and Gould challenged the orthodox view of steady evolutionary change (lines 6-10). Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage presents an alternative view but does not claim Darwin was completely wrong. Choice (D) distorts the theory, which says species resist change during stasis but do change during speciation events.

9. Ans: (C) – occurred through small modifications over long periods
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that "Darwin himself envisioned species transforming slowly over millions of years, with tiny modifications accumulating" (lines 3-5). Choice (A) reverses Darwin’s view; sudden bursts are associated with punctuated equilibrium, not Darwin’s gradualism. Choice (B) contradicts Darwin’s reliance on observable evidence over time.

10. Ans: (B) – established belief
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, "orthodoxy" refers to the conventional or established belief in phyletic gradualism that dominated biology before 1972. Choice (A) uses the religious meaning of orthodoxy, which does not fit this scientific context. Choice (C) confuses orthodoxy with methodology; the passage refers to a belief, not a method.

11. Ans: (C) – the gradual accumulation of small changes
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The simile in lines 4-5 illustrates how Darwin believed tiny modifications accumulate over time to create major change, just as individual grains of sand accumulate to build a dune. Choice (A) addresses observation but the simile emphasizes accumulation, not difficulty. Choice (B) is a trap using the word "geological" from elsewhere in the passage but not relevant to this simile’s purpose.

12. Ans: (C) – small populations become isolated and face new conditions
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that "most evolutionary change occurs during speciation events, when small populations become isolated and adapt rapidly to new conditions" (lines 19-22). Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which states that species resist change "even as their environments fluctuate" (line 23). Choice (E) is wrong because the theory notes the absence of transitional forms in the fossil record.

13. Ans: (B) – the patterns contradicted their expectations about gradual change
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage indicates that earlier biologists noticed species remaining "largely unchanged for long stretches" (lines 9-10) but explained this away because it contradicted the gradualist orthodoxy they expected. Choice (A) is not supported; the issue was interpretation, not technology. Choice (E) distorts the passage; the fossil record was complete enough to show patterns, but those patterns were dismissed.

14. Ans: (B) – neutral and explanatory
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The author presents punctuated equilibrium objectively, explaining both the theory and the evidence without advocating for or against it, using phrases like "they noticed" (line 8) and "proposed" (line 18). Choice (A) is wrong because the author presents the theory respectfully without skepticism. Choice (C) overstates the tone; while clear, the passage remains academically neutral rather than promotional.

15. Ans: (B) – announce the decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The speech builds to the declaration "From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever" (lines 14-15), making clear its purpose is to announce surrender. Choice (A) is too narrow; while addressed to General Howard, the speech announces a decision rather than negotiating terms. Choice (D) reverses the speech’s intent entirely, as Chief Joseph explicitly states he is tired of fighting.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and value it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, "I have it in my heart" suggests Chief Joseph remembers what General Howard said and holds it as important, establishing a tone of respect despite the circumstances. Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on memory without the emotional weight. Choice (D) contradicts the respectful tone established by "I know his heart" (line 1).

17. Ans: (E) – indicate that traditional decision-making structures have collapsed
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph states "the old men are all dead" and then notes "It is the young men who say yes or no" (lines 4-5), indicating that traditional leadership structures have broken down due to deaths. Choice (A) is partially true but too general; this specific detail relates to decision-making authority. Choice (C) is not supported; Chief Joseph does not criticize the young men’s capability.

18. Ans: (B) – emphasize the immediate physical suffering of his people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The repetition of "no blankets" in lines 6 and 8, combined with references to cold and freezing children, stresses the urgent physical deprivation his people face. Choice (A) is not supported; Chief Joseph does not criticize Howard for the lack of supplies. Choice (E) is too narrow; while he mentions needs, the repetition emphasizes suffering rather than making a specific request.

19. Ans: (B) – resigned despair
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The statement in lines 12-13 conveys Chief Joseph’s expectation that he may find his children dead, reflecting deep sorrow combined with resignation to circumstances beyond his control. Choice (A) is wrong because the tone is sorrowful rather than angry. Choice (D) contradicts the grim expectation expressed in the line.

20. Ans: (C) – An accumulation of losses and hardships leading to a final declaration
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The speech lists losses (dead chiefs in lines 3-5, lack of blankets and food in lines 6-9, missing children in lines 10-12) that build to the final statement "I will fight no more forever" (line 15). Choice (A) is incorrect because the structure is accumulative and emotional rather than logical and argumentative. Choice (B) is wrong because the speech does not narrate events chronologically but rather catalogs present conditions.