SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 61

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 last time I saw my uncle before he left for Alaska, he came to our house on a Thursday evening in March, his boots leaving dark prints on the kitchen linoleum. My mother looked up from the potatoes she was peeling, her hands (5) still for a moment, then returned to her work without speaking. Uncle Ray had that effect on people-his arrivals were small emergencies that required no acknowledgment.     He sat down at the table and produced from his coat pocket a pamphlet (10) printed on cheap yellow paper. "Gold," he said, tapping the cover with one thick finger. "They're finding it in the Yukon tributaries, James. Nuggets the size of walnuts." I was fourteen and believed everything he told me, (15) though my father, scraping mud from his work boots by the door, believed nothing.     "You'll be back by September," my father said, not looking up. "Broke and half-frozen, talking about the next sure thing."     But Uncle Ray (20) only smiled, a strange, distant smile that seemed directed not at my father but at some vision only he could see. I think now that it was not greed that drove him north, but something closer to desperation-the need to prove (25) that the world was larger and stranger than the fields and fences that hemmed us in.

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

1. Uncle Ray recalling his journey to Alaska
2. James remembering an event from his youth
3. James’s father reflecting on his brother
4. an objective observer describing a family conflict
5. James’s mother thinking about her brother-in-law

2. The detail about Uncle Ray’s boots leaving “dark prints on the kitchen linoleum” (lines 3-4) primarily serves to

1. illustrate the poor weather conditions in March
2. emphasize the contrast between indoor and outdoor worlds
3. suggest Uncle Ray’s disregard for household cleanliness
4. foreshadow the muddy conditions he will face in Alaska
5. demonstrate James’s attention to physical details

3. As used in line 6, the word “emergencies” most nearly means

1. crises
2. disruptions
3. dangers
4. opportunities
5. catastrophes

4. The narrator’s statement that Uncle Ray’s arrivals “required no acknowledgment” (lines 6-7) suggests that

1. the family had grown accustomed to his unexpected visits
2. Uncle Ray preferred to be ignored when he entered a room
3. James’s mother was too busy to greet visitors properly
4. the family considered Uncle Ray beneath their notice
5. Uncle Ray arrived so quietly that no one noticed him

5. The contrast between James’s reaction to Uncle Ray and his father’s reaction (lines 12-16) primarily emphasizes

1. James’s youth and impressionability versus his father’s experience and skepticism
2. Uncle Ray’s preference for James over his own brother
3. the father’s jealousy of Uncle Ray’s adventurous spirit
4. James’s superior education compared to his father’s
5. the entire family’s distrust of Uncle Ray’s intentions

6. The father’s prediction that Uncle Ray will be “back by September” (line 17) implies that

1. Uncle Ray had previously made similar ventures that ended in failure
2. the journey to Alaska typically took six months
3. the father wanted Uncle Ray to return quickly
4. gold mining was illegal after September
5. Uncle Ray had promised to return by that date

7. In the final paragraph, the narrator suggests that Uncle Ray was motivated primarily by

1. a desire to become wealthy from gold mining
2. a need to escape the limitations of his current life
3. a wish to prove his father wrong about his abilities
4. an interest in exploring the natural beauty of Alaska
5. a plan to abandon his family permanently

Passage 2

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

The peregrine falcon, once driven nearly to extinction by DDT pesticide use, has found an unlikely refuge in the vertical landscape of modern cities. These raptors, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour in their (5) hunting dives, have adapted to urban environments with remarkable success. Where once they nested on cliff faces and rocky outcrops, they now occupy ledges on skyscrapers, bridges, and church steeples, surveying a terrain of steel and glass rather than stone (10) and soil.     The urban ecosystem provides peregrine falcons with an abundant food supply in the form of pigeons, starlings, and other birds that thrive in city environments. A single peregrine hunting territory in a (15) major metropolitan area may contain tens of thousands of potential prey animals-a concentration far exceeding that found in most natural habitats. Moreover, the warm microclimates created by buildings and the absence of larger predators offer distinct advantages. (20)     Yet this adaptation comes with complications. Urban peregrines face hazards unknown to their cliff-dwelling ancestors: collisions with windows, entanglement in netting, and exposure to rodenticides that accumulate in their prey. Biologists monitoring urban peregrine (25) populations have documented lower reproductive success rates compared to rural populations, attributable in part to these anthropogenic threats. The urban falcon’s story, then, is not simply one of triumphant adaptation, but rather a complex negotiation between (30) evolutionary heritage and environmental novelty.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that cities are superior habitats for peregrine falcons
2. explain how peregrine falcons have both benefited from and been challenged by urban environments
3. describe the hunting techniques of peregrine falcons in detail
4. advocate for stronger protections for urban wildlife
5. trace the complete history of DDT use and its effects on bird populations

9. According to the passage, peregrine falcons were “once driven nearly to extinction” (line 1) by

1. collisions with urban buildings
2. lack of suitable nesting sites
3. DDT pesticide use
4. competition with other urban predators
5. rodenticide poisoning

10. As used in line 7, the word “occupy” most nearly means

1. invade
2. inhabit
3. capture
4. control
5. possess

11. The passage suggests that urban environments are advantageous to peregrine falcons primarily because they provide

1. protection from DDT pesticides
2. nesting sites that closely resemble natural cliff faces
3. abundant prey and favorable temperature conditions
4. opportunities to reach higher diving speeds
5. freedom from all natural predators

12. The author mentions that “a single peregrine hunting territory in a major metropolitan area may contain tens of thousands of potential prey animals” (lines 14-16) in order to

1. illustrate the overpopulation problem in cities
2. demonstrate the abundance of food available to urban peregrines
3. prove that urban areas have more biodiversity than rural areas
4. explain why peregrines hunt only in cities
5. suggest that peregrines are endangering urban bird populations

13. According to the passage, urban peregrine falcons experience lower reproductive success than rural populations because of

1. insufficient food supplies in cities
2. the absence of suitable nesting materials
3. human-caused hazards such as window collisions and rodenticides
4. competition with other falcon pairs for territory
5. their inability to reach high speeds in urban environments

14. The tone of the final sentence (lines 27-30) can best be described as

1. celebratory and optimistic
2. alarmist and urgent
3. balanced and nuanced
4. dismissive and skeptical
5. sentimental and nostalgic

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 (10) 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 I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is (15) 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. negotiate better terms of surrender with General Howard
2. announce his decision to end armed resistance
3. celebrate the victories his people have achieved
4. request medical supplies for his wounded warriors
5. persuade his people to continue fighting

16. Chief Joseph’s statement “I know his heart” (line 1) suggests that he

1. distrusts General Howard’s intentions
2. understands General Howard’s character or intentions
3. has defeated General Howard in battle
4. shares a personal friendship with General Howard
5. questions General Howard’s military strategy

17. As used in line 6, the word “led” most nearly means

1. guided
2. misled
3. preceded
4. escorted
5. transported

18. Chief Joseph mentions that “the little children are freezing to death” (lines 7-8) primarily to

1. emphasize the dire conditions facing his people
2. blame General Howard for the suffering
3. request warmer winter clothing
4. explain why the young men refuse to surrender
5. describe the typical Montana winter climate

19. The structure of the speech suggests that Chief Joseph’s decision to surrender is based on

1. a single decisive military defeat
2. the accumulation of losses, hardships, and concern for survivors
3. direct orders from General Howard
4. the advice of the young men in his tribe
5. his personal exhaustion alone

20. The final sentence (lines 14-16) is notable primarily for its

1. use of figurative language to mark a definitive ending
2. aggressive tone toward General Howard
3. optimistic vision of future peace
4. detailed description of battle strategy
5. criticism of the young warriors

■ ■ ■   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)) – James remembering an event from his youth
Explanation: This is a Point of View question. The narrator uses first person ("I") and explicitly states "I was fourteen" (line 13) and later reflects "I think now" (line 21), indicating an adult James looking back on his youth. Choice (A) is incorrect because Uncle Ray is not the narrator. Choice (D) is incorrect because the narrator is clearly a participant using "I," not an objective observer.

2. Ans: ((B)) – emphasize the contrast between indoor and outdoor worlds
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The detail of outdoor mud being tracked onto the indoor linoleum floor (lines 3-4) highlights the intrusion of the outside world into the domestic space, mirroring Uncle Ray’s disruptive presence. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no evidence Ray intentionally disregards cleanliness. Choice (D) is incorrect because the detail functions in the present scene rather than foreshadowing future events.

3. Ans: ((B)) – disruptions
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, "emergencies" describes Uncle Ray’s arrivals as events that disturb normal household routine without being actual crises. Choice (A) is incorrect because "crises" suggests genuine danger, which is too extreme for the context. Choice (E) is incorrect because "catastrophes" also suggests severity not supported by the passage.

4. Ans: ((A)) – the family had grown accustomed to his unexpected visits
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase "required no acknowledgment" (lines 6-7) combined with the mother’s brief pause and return to work suggests the family treats his arrivals as routine despite their disruptive nature. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest Ray’s preference. Choice (E) is incorrect because it contradicts the description of his arrivals as "small emergencies."

5. Ans: ((A)) – James’s youth and impressionability versus his father’s experience and skepticism
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage explicitly contrasts James, who "believed everything" (lines 13-14), with his father, who "believed nothing" (line 15), emphasizing the difference between youthful credulity and mature doubt. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no evidence of jealousy. Choice (D) is incorrect because education is never mentioned.

6. Ans: ((A)) – Uncle Ray had previously made similar ventures that ended in failure
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The father’s specific prediction and his mention of "the next sure thing" (line 18) imply a pattern of failed schemes. Choice (E) is incorrect because there is no indication Uncle Ray made any such promise. Choice (B) is incorrect because the duration is the father’s prediction, not a statement about typical journey length.

7. Ans: ((B)) – a need to escape the limitations of his current life
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator states in lines 22-25 that Uncle Ray was driven "not by greed" but by "the need to prove that the world was larger and stranger than the fields and fences that hemmed us in." Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage explicitly rejects greed as the primary motivation. Choice (E) is incorrect because there is no suggestion of permanent abandonment.

8. Ans: ((B)) – explain how peregrine falcons have both benefited from and been challenged by urban environments
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses both advantages (abundant prey, warm microclimates in lines 12-19) and disadvantages (collisions, lower reproductive success in lines 21-26) of urban adaptation. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not argue cities are superior-it presents a "complex negotiation" (line 28). Choice (C) is too narrow, focusing only on hunting rather than the broader adaptation theme.

9. Ans: ((C)) – DDT pesticide use
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states in lines 1-2 that peregrine falcons were "driven nearly to extinction by DDT pesticide use." Choice (A) is incorrect because collisions are mentioned only as a current urban hazard (line 22), not a historical cause of near-extinction. Choice (E) is incorrect because rodenticides are mentioned as a contemporary problem (line 23), not a historical one.

10. Ans: ((B)) – inhabit
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, "occupy" refers to how falcons use ledges as nesting sites, making "inhabit" the closest synonym. Choice (A) is incorrect because "invade" suggests hostile entry, which is not the meaning here. Choice (D) is incorrect because "control" suggests dominance rather than simply dwelling in a space.

11. Ans: ((C)) – abundant prey and favorable temperature conditions
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states urban areas provide "abundant food supply" (line 12) and "warm microclimates" (line 18) as advantages. Choice (B) is incorrect because while urban structures serve as nesting sites, the passage does not claim they closely resemble natural cliffs. Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage says "absence of larger predators" (line 19), not all predators.

12. Ans: ((B)) – demonstrate the abundance of food available to urban peregrines
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The specific number "tens of thousands" (line 15) illustrates the point made in the previous sentence about "abundant food supply" (line 12). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not discuss overpopulation as a problem. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage never claims peregrines hunt only in cities.

13. Ans: ((C)) – human-caused hazards such as window collisions and rodenticides
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states lower reproductive success is "attributable in part to these anthropogenic threats" (lines 25-26), referring to the hazards listed in lines 21-24. Choice (A) is incorrect because it contradicts the passage’s statement about abundant food (lines 12-16). Choice (B) is incorrect because nesting materials are never mentioned.

14. Ans: ((C)) – balanced and nuanced
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The final sentence (lines 27-30) presents the situation as "not simply one of triumphant adaptation, but rather a complex negotiation," showing balanced consideration of multiple factors. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage emphasizes complications rather than celebrating success. Choice (B) is incorrect because the tone is measured and analytical, not alarmist.

15. Ans: ((B)) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The entire speech builds to the declaration "I will fight no more forever" (lines 15-16), making the announcement of surrender the primary purpose. Choice (E) is incorrect because it directly contradicts the speech’s message. Choice (A) is incorrect because Chief Joseph announces surrender rather than negotiating terms.

16. Ans: ((B)) – understands General Howard’s character or intentions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase "I know his heart" (line 1) is an expression indicating understanding of someone’s nature or intentions, reinforced by "What he told me before, I have it in my heart" (lines 1-2). Choice (A) is incorrect because knowing someone’s heart suggests understanding, not distrust. Choice (C) is incorrect because the speech is a surrender, not a victory statement.

17. Ans: ((A)) – guided
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, "led" refers to someone who directed or commanded the young men in battle, making "guided" the closest synonym. Choice (B) is incorrect because "misled" has a negative connotation not present in the context. Choice (E) is incorrect because "transported" refers to physical movement rather than leadership.

18. Ans: ((A)) – emphasize the dire conditions facing his people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The detail about freezing children (lines 7-8) is part of a catalog of suffering that justifies the surrender decision. Choice (B) is incorrect because Chief Joseph does not assign blame to Howard. Choice (D) is incorrect because it reverses the situation-the young men’s leader is dead (line 6), and the speech explains the surrender, not resistance.

19. Ans: ((B)) – the accumulation of losses, hardships, and concern for survivors
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The speech lists multiple reasons: dead chiefs (lines 3-6), cold and lack of supplies (lines 6-7), missing people (lines 8-10), and concern for children (lines 11-13). Choice (A) is incorrect because the structure presents multiple accumulated factors, not a single event. Choice (E) is too narrow, ignoring the many reasons Chief Joseph provides.

20. Ans: ((A)) – use of figurative language to mark a definitive ending
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The phrase "From where the sun now stands" (lines 14-15) uses poetic, figurative language to emphasize the finality of "I will fight no more forever" (lines 15-16). Choice (B) is incorrect because the tone throughout is resigned and sorrowful, not aggressive. Choice (C) is incorrect because the tone is sad rather than optimistic.