SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 64

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 auction house smelled of dust and old varnish. Clara stood before the mahogany escritoire, running her fingers along its brass pull handles. She had no business bidding on furniture – her studio apartment could barely accommodate (5) the futon she already owned – but the desk had belonged to her grandfather, sold off years ago when the family estate was liquidated. She recognized the distinctive water stain on the top left panel, shaped like a moth with outstretched wings.     “Lot forty-seven,” the auctioneer announced, his voice cutting through (10) her reverie. “Late Victorian writing desk, circa 1880, with original hardware.”     Clara’s hand trembled as she raised her paddle. A man in a gray suit across the room countered immediately. The price climbed. She thought of her grandfather bent over this very desk, penning letters in his cramped, elegant script. (15) He had written to her every month during her childhood, long missives filled with observations about birds he’d seen and books he was reading. After he died, those letters were the only things she’d kept.     The bidding stalled at twice her budget. Clara hesitated, paddle hovering. The auctioneer’s gavel hung suspended in the air, poised to fall. (20)

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the atmosphere of an auction house in detail
2. portray a character’s emotional conflict during a significant moment
3. criticize the practice of selling family heirlooms
4. explain how Victorian furniture auctions operate
5. trace the history of a particular piece of furniture

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

1. confusion
2. daydream
3. conversation
4. inspection
5. celebration

3. The detail about Clara’s studio apartment and futon (lines 4-6) primarily serves to

1. establish that Clara lives in an urban environment
2. suggest that Clara makes impractical decisions
3. emphasize the conflict between Clara’s desire and her practical circumstances
4. indicate that Clara dislikes her current living situation
5. demonstrate that Clara cannot afford expensive furniture

4. It can be inferred from the passage that Clara’s relationship with her grandfather was

1. distant and formal
2. strained by family conflict
3. meaningful and sustained through correspondence
4. based primarily on shared financial interests
5. limited to occasional holiday visits

5. The water stain “shaped like a moth with outstretched wings” (line 7) is significant because it

1. proves the desk is a valuable antique
2. confirms the desk’s identity to Clara
3. reveals that the desk has been poorly maintained
4. symbolizes Clara’s desire for transformation
5. demonstrates the auctioneer’s lack of attention to detail

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

1. bitterly resentful
2. quietly nostalgic
3. sharply satirical
4. grimly pessimistic
5. cheerfully optimistic

7. The passage ends with Clara’s paddle “hovering” (line 19) in order to

1. suggest that she will ultimately withdraw from the bidding
2. indicate her uncertainty about an important decision
3. demonstrate that she lacks confidence in auction settings
4. prove that she cannot afford the desk
5. show that the auctioneer is waiting impatiently

Passage 2

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

    Cities are not biological deserts. Despite the concrete and steel, urban environments support complex ecological networks that scientists are only beginning to understand. Peregrine falcons, once nearly extinct, now nest on skyscraper ledges, treating high-rises as (5) surrogate cliffs. Coyotes navigate suburban streets with remarkable intelligence, learning traffic patterns and avoiding human contact. But perhaps most surprising is the urban heat island effect’s role in evolutionary change.     Researchers studying white clover in cities have documented rapid evolutionary adaptation. In rural areas, most white clover produces cyanide as a defense (10) against herbivores. This chemical requires specific enzymes to manufacture and comes at a metabolic cost to the plant. In cities, however, where winters are milder due to retained heat from buildings and pavement, many clover populations have lost the ability to produce cyanide. The milder urban winters mean fewer plants die from frost damage to (15) cyanide-producing cells. Without this selective pressure, and with fewer large herbivores in cities, the cyanide trait has become unnecessary. Urban clover populations have diverged genetically from their rural counterparts in as few as thirty years – a blink of an eye in evolutionary terms.     This finding challenges the assumption that evolution requires vast timescales. (20) Cities, far from being evolutionary dead ends, may be laboratories of rapid adaptation.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. urban environments are causing the extinction of many species
2. cities provide unexpected opportunities for rapid evolutionary change
3. peregrine falcons have successfully adapted to city life
4. white clover is more common in cities than in rural areas
5. evolution always requires thousands of years to occur

9. According to the passage, urban white clover has lost the ability to produce cyanide because

1. city pollution has damaged the plants’ genetic material
2. milder winters and fewer herbivores have eliminated selective pressures favoring the trait
3. cyanide production is incompatible with urban soil conditions
4. white clover cannot survive in cities without genetic modification
5. scientists have deliberately bred cyanide out of urban clover populations

10. As used in line 6, the word “surrogate” most nearly means

1. artificial
2. substitute
3. superior
4. temporary
5. dangerous

11. The author mentions peregrine falcons and coyotes (lines 3-7) primarily to

1. provide examples of urban wildlife before introducing a more complex case of adaptation
2. argue that predators adapt more easily than prey species
3. contrast their behavior with that of white clover
4. suggest that cities are safer for wildlife than natural habitats
5. demonstrate that all species evolve at the same rate

12. The passage suggests that rural white clover produces cyanide mainly to

1. survive colder winter temperatures
2. compete with other plant species
3. protect itself from animals that eat plants
4. adapt to urban heat island effects
5. accelerate its evolutionary development

13. The phrase “a blink of an eye in evolutionary terms” (line 18) suggests that

1. thirty years is too short a time to measure evolution accurately
2. evolutionary change normally occurs over much longer periods
3. scientists have difficulty observing evolutionary processes
4. urban clover evolves more slowly than rural clover
5. all evolutionary change happens rapidly in cities

14. The author’s tone in this passage can best be described as

1. alarmed and cautionary
2. skeptical and dismissive
3. informative and intrigued
4. detached and indifferent
5. sentimental and nostalgic

Passage 3

The following passage is excerpted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana in 1877.

    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, Too-hul-hul-sote 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 where they are – perhaps freezing to (10) 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 I will fight (15) no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. negotiate better terms of surrender from General Howard
2. announce the decision to end armed resistance
3. celebrate the victories won during the conflict
4. request supplies for the coming winter
5. inspire the young men to continue fighting

16. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (line 4) and “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5) in order to

1. criticize the young men for their inexperience
2. explain the traditional leadership structure of his people
3. indicate that the tribal leadership has been decimated by the conflict
4. suggest that the young men are responsible for the defeat
5. blame General Howard for targeting tribal elders

17. 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

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

1. defiant and angry
2. resigned and sorrowful
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. confused and uncertain
5. formal and detached

19. Chief Joseph’s statement “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 11-12) primarily conveys

1. his certainty that his children have perished
2. his anger at General Howard for the casualties
3. the depth of his fear and uncertainty about his children’s fate
4. his acceptance of death as part of warfare
5. his plan to search the battlefield immediately

20. It can be inferred from the speech that Chief Joseph’s decision to surrender is motivated primarily by

1. his respect for General Howard’s military strategy
2. the suffering of his people, especially the children
3. pressure from the young men who lead the tribe
4. a belief that his cause was unjust from the beginning
5. the promise of favorable terms from the U.S. 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: (B) – portray a character’s emotional conflict during a significant moment
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage focuses on Clara’s internal struggle as she bids on her grandfather’s desk despite financial constraints, building to the moment of decision in lines 18-20. Choice (A) is too narrow, as atmospheric description serves the larger purpose of portraying Clara’s conflict. Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage emphasizes Clara’s emotional experience rather than the desk’s history.

2. Ans: (B) – daydream
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 9, Clara is pulled from her thoughts about the desk and her memories when the auctioneer speaks, indicating she was lost in a reverie or daydream. Choice (A) is incorrect because Clara shows no signs of confusion, only absorption in memory. Choice (C) is wrong because no conversation is taking place; the auctioneer interrupts her private thoughts.

3. Ans: (C) – emphasize the conflict between Clara’s desire and her practical circumstances
Explanation: This is a Structure/Author’s Purpose question. The detail about Clara’s tiny apartment and single futon (lines 4-6) establishes that she has no practical need for or space to accommodate the desk, which heightens the tension of her decision to bid anyway. Choice (E) is too narrow; while cost is mentioned later, the apartment detail specifically highlights spatial impracticality. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage presents Clara’s action sympathetically, not as foolish.

4. Ans: (C) – meaningful and sustained through correspondence
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 14-17 reveal that Clara’s grandfather wrote to her monthly with “long missives” and that she kept these letters, indicating a meaningful relationship maintained through writing. Choice (A) contradicts the description of the letters as filled with personal observations about birds and books. Choice (E) is incorrect because monthly letters indicate much more frequent contact than occasional visits.

5. Ans: (B) – confirms the desk’s identity to Clara
Explanation: This is an Inference/Detail question. Clara recognizes the “distinctive” water stain (line 7), which proves to her that this is indeed her grandfather’s desk. Choice (A) is incorrect because the stain is actually damage, not proof of value. Choice (D) uses symbolic interpretation not supported by the passage; the stain functions as physical evidence, not metaphor.

6. Ans: (B) – quietly nostalgic
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys Clara’s gentle memories of her grandfather’s letters and careful attention to details like the moth-shaped stain, creating a tone of quiet nostalgia without melodrama. Choice (A) is incorrect because Clara shows no resentment; her memories are affectionate. Choice (E) is wrong because the tone is wistful and uncertain, not cheerful.

7. Ans: (B) – indicate her uncertainty about an important decision
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning/Structure question. The image of the hovering paddle (line 19) paired with “Clara hesitated” (line 19) and the suspended gavel creates a frozen moment of indecision. Choice (A) makes an assumption not supported by the text; we don’t know what Clara will decide. Choice (D) contradicts line 18, which states the price has reached “twice her budget,” not that she cannot afford it at all.

8. Ans: (B) – cities provide unexpected opportunities for rapid evolutionary change
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage argues that urban environments, contrary to assumption, can drive rapid evolution, as demonstrated by the white clover example (lines 8-18) and concluded in lines 19-20. Choice (E) reverses the passage’s argument; the passage challenges this assumption. Choice (C) is too narrow, mentioning only one example rather than the broader point about urban evolution.

9. Ans: (B) – milder winters and fewer herbivores have eliminated selective pressures favoring the trait
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 12-16 explain that milder urban winters mean less frost damage and fewer large herbivores mean less need for defense, removing the evolutionary advantages of cyanide production. Choice (A) is not stated in the passage; pollution is never mentioned. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which describes natural evolutionary change, not deliberate breeding.

10. Ans: (B) – substitute
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, skyscrapers function as surrogate or substitute cliffs for falcons that would naturally nest on rock ledges. Choice (A) is a possible meaning of surrogate but doesn’t fit the context; the skyscrapers are real, not artificial. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest skyscrapers are better than cliffs, only that they serve the same function.

11. Ans: (A) – provide examples of urban wildlife before introducing a more complex case of adaptation
Explanation: This is a Structure/Author’s Purpose question. The falcon and coyote examples (lines 3-7) introduce the idea of urban adaptation before the passage turns to the more detailed and scientifically significant clover case beginning in line 8. Choice (C) is incorrect because no contrast is drawn; all three examples support the same point. Choice (E) is wrong because the passage never suggests all species evolve at the same rate.

12. Ans: (C) – protect itself from animals that eat plants
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 9-10 explicitly state that cyanide serves “as a defense against herbivores,” which are plant-eating animals. Choice (A) confuses the issue; frost damages cyanide-producing cells (line 14), but cyanide is not produced to survive cold. Choice (D) is factually wrong; rural clover exists outside urban heat islands.

13. Ans: (B) – evolutionary change normally occurs over much longer periods
Explanation: This is an Inference/Interpretation question. The metaphor in line 18 emphasizes how brief thirty years is “in evolutionary terms,” implying that evolution typically requires far longer timescales. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which treats the thirty-year change as scientifically valid. Choice (D) reverses the relationship; urban clover has evolved faster, not more slowly.

14. Ans: (C) – informative and intrigued
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The author presents scientific information clearly while expressing interest through phrases like “perhaps most surprising” (line 6) and “challenges the assumption” (line 19). Choice (A) is incorrect; the tone shows interest, not alarm. Choice (B) is wrong because the author presents the findings as valid, not with skepticism.

15. Ans: (B) – announce the decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The speech culminates in the declaration “I will fight no more forever” (lines 14-15), announcing Chief Joseph’s surrender. Choice (A) is incorrect because the speech announces a decision already made, not an attempt to negotiate. Choice (E) directly contradicts the speech’s purpose; Chief Joseph is ending, not inspiring, the fight.

16. Ans: (C) – indicate that the tribal leadership has been decimated by the conflict
Explanation: This is an Inference/Structure question. Chief Joseph lists dead leaders by name (lines 2-5), showing that traditional chiefs who would make decisions are gone, leaving inexperienced young men. Choice (B) is too broad; while structure is mentioned, the primary point is the destruction of that structure. Choice (D) is unsupported; Chief Joseph does not blame the young men.

17. Ans: (B) – I remember and value it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, Chief Joseph states that he keeps General Howard’s earlier words in his heart, suggesting he remembers and honors them. Choice (A) is too narrow; “in my heart” implies emotional significance, not just memorization. Choice (D) contradicts the context; Chief Joseph affirms he knows and accepts Howard’s heart.

18. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone question. Phrases like “I am tired,” “my heart is sick and sad” (line 13), and the litany of deaths create a tone of sorrowful resignation. Choice (A) is incorrect because the speech expresses exhaustion and grief, not defiance. Choice (C) contradicts the overwhelmingly sad content about dead leaders and freezing children.

19. Ans: (C) – the depth of his fear and uncertainty about his children’s fate
Explanation: This is an Inference/Interpretation question. The word “maybe” (line 11) combined with the grim possibility of finding them dead conveys Chief Joseph’s anguished uncertainty about whether his children are alive. Choice (A) is too strong; “maybe” indicates uncertainty, not certainty. Choice (E) is incorrect because the speech is about announcing surrender, not detailing immediate plans.

20. Ans: (B) – the suffering of his people, especially the children
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning/Inference question. Chief Joseph repeatedly mentions the cold, lack of blankets, children freezing to death (lines 6-10), and his need to find his children, indicating their suffering drives his decision. Choice (A) is incorrect; respect for Howard is mentioned but is not presented as a motivation for surrender. Choice (E) is unsupported; no promises or terms are mentioned in the speech.