SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 67

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 Mei pressed her forehead against the cool window glass, watching the sprawl of Chengdu dissolve into terraced hillsides. She had left before dawn, her father’s farewell still ringing in her ears: (5) “Remember, you are the first in our family to go so far.” The weight of that pronouncement settled over her like the wool coat her grandmother had insisted she wear, too heavy for the season but (10) necessary, they said, for the northern cold she would encounter in Beijing.     In the seat beside her, a woman unwrapped a bundle of steamed buns, their yeasty smell filling the compartment. Mei’s stomach tightened with (15) hunger, but she did not accept the offered portion. She was practicing austerity, preparing herself for the scholarship competition that would determine whether she could remain at the conservatory beyond the probationary term. Her violin case rested (20) between her feet, battered but faithful, containing the only possession she truly valued. Outside, a farmer guided a water buffalo through a flooded rice paddy, and Mei wondered if he ever imagined lives beyond (25) the endless cycle of planting and harvest.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the agricultural landscape of rural China
2. establish the protagonist’s internal conflict and circumstances
3. criticize the traditional expectations placed on young women
4. compare urban and rural ways of life
5. explain the requirements for admission to a music conservatory

2. As used in line 7, the word “pronouncement” most nearly means

1. declaration
2. condemnation
3. whisper
4. question
5. melody

3. Mei refuses the offered food primarily because she

1. is not hungry at the moment
2. finds the smell of steamed buns unpleasant
3. is practicing self-discipline in preparation for a competition
4. does not trust strangers on trains
5. has brought her own food for the journey

4. The description of the violin case as “battered but faithful” (lines 19-20) suggests that

1. Mei has recently purchased the instrument
2. the case has been damaged during travel
3. the instrument has been well-used and is important to Mei
4. Mei plans to replace the case when she arrives in Beijing
5. the case is too old to provide adequate protection

5. The passage suggests that Mei’s journey to Beijing is significant because

1. she has never traveled by train before
2. she is the first person in her family to venture so far from home
3. the conservatory only accepts students from Chengdu
4. her father has forbidden her to leave
5. she is required to bring her own musical instrument

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

1. celebratory and joyful
2. bitter and resentful
3. reflective and somewhat anxious
4. detached and objective
5. humorous and lighthearted

7. Mei’s observation about the farmer in lines 23-25 suggests that she

1. intends to return to farming after her studies
2. feels superior to those who work in agriculture
3. is contemplating the limitations of traditional rural life
4. plans to write music inspired by rural landscapes
5. believes the farmer is content with his circumstances

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about marine biology.

The mimic octopus, discovered in Indonesian waters in 1998, represents one of the most sophisticated examples of adaptive behavior in the animal kingdom. Unlike its relatives, which typically assume the texture and color of their (5) surroundings, Thaumoctopus mimicus actively impersonates other species. Researchers have documented this cephalopod imitating at least fifteen different animals, including lionfish, sea snakes, and flatfish. The octopus achieves these transformations through (10) specialized skin cells called chromatophores, which expand and contract to alter coloration, and by contorting its eight arms into shapes that resemble the bodies and fins of other creatures.     The evolutionary advantage of such mimicry (15) remains a subject of scientific debate. Some biologists argue that the octopus imitates venomous or unpalatable species to deter predators, a strategy known as Batesian mimicry. Others suggest that the imitations serve an offensive purpose, allowing the octopus to (20) approach prey by disguising itself as a harmless or even beneficial organism. A 2005 study observed a mimic octopus adopting the appearance of a female crab to lure males within striking distance, supporting this predatory hypothesis.     What distinguishes the mimic octopus (25) from other shape-shifters in nature is its apparent ability to assess its environment and select an appropriate disguise. When threatened by damselfish, the octopus has been observed mimicking banded sea snakes, which prey upon damselfish. This (30) suggests a level of cognitive processing previously unrecognized in invertebrates, challenging long-held assumptions about the neural complexity required for such discriminating behavior.

8. The main idea of the passage is that the mimic octopus

1. was first discovered in 1998 in Indonesian waters
2. demonstrates remarkably sophisticated adaptive and possibly cognitive abilities
3. can imitate exactly fifteen different marine species
4. uses chromatophores to change the color of its skin
5. is threatened by damselfish and other predators

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

1. relaxing
2. twisting
3. severing
4. concealing
5. measuring

10. According to the passage, chromatophores are

1. venomous cells that deter predators
2. specialized skin cells that change coloration
3. neural structures that enable cognitive processing
4. organs that detect environmental threats
5. arm segments that can move independently

11. The passage indicates that Batesian mimicry refers to

1. imitating venomous species to avoid predators
2. disguising oneself to approach prey
3. changing color to match the environment
4. the ability to assess environmental threats
5. using multiple disguises simultaneously

12. The 2005 study mentioned in lines 21-23 provides evidence that

1. mimic octopuses prefer to eat crabs
2. mimicry can serve an offensive hunting purpose
3. female crabs are naturally aggressive
4. octopuses possess greater intelligence than previously thought
5. Batesian mimicry is the primary evolutionary advantage

13. The example of the octopus mimicking sea snakes when threatened by damselfish (lines 26-29) primarily suggests that the octopus

1. instinctively imitates any nearby species
2. fears damselfish more than other predators
3. selects disguises based on the specific threat it faces
4. has learned this behavior from other octopuses
5. can only imitate venomous species

14. The author’s tone in the final paragraph can best be characterized as

1. skeptical of scientific claims about invertebrate intelligence
2. impressed by the cognitive implications of the octopus’s behavior
3. critical of researchers who anthropomorphize animals
4. concerned about threats to the mimic octopus population
5. dismissive of earlier theories about cephalopod behavior

Passage 3

The following is excerpted from Chief Seattle’s 1854 speech upon the proposed transfer of Native American lands to the United States government.

Yonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change. Today is fair. Tomorrow it may be overcast with clouds. My words are like (5) the stars that never change. Whatever Seattle says, the great chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons. The white chief says that Big Chief at Washington sends us greetings of friendship and goodwill. This is kind (10) of him for we know he has little need of our friendship in return. His people are many. They are like the grass that covers vast prairies. My people are few. They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-swept plain.     Your God is not our God! Your God loves your (15) people and hates mine! He folds his strong protecting arms lovingly about the paleface and leads him by the hand as a father leads an infant son. But he has forsaken his red children. We are orphans who can look nowhere for help. (20) How then can we be brothers? Your God makes your people wax stronger every day. Soon they will fill all the land. Our people are ebbing away like a rapidly receding tide that will never return. The white man’s God cannot love our people (25) or he would protect them. They seem to be orphans who can look nowhere for help.

15. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. express the speaker’s sorrow and critique of the disparity between Native and white populations
2. accept the friendship offered by the government in Washington
3. describe the physical landscape of Native American territory
4. argue that Native Americans and white settlers worship the same God
5. request military protection from the United States government

16. As used in line 7, the word “rely” most nearly means

1. depend
2. question
3. ignore
4. joke
5. improve

17. In lines 3-6, Chief Seattle compares his words to stars that never change in order to

1. demonstrate his knowledge of astronomy
2. emphasize the permanence and reliability of his statements
3. suggest that his people worship celestial objects
4. contrast natural phenomena with political promises
5. indicate that he speaks only at night

18. The comparison of white people to “grass that covers vast prairies” and Native people to “scattering trees of a storm-swept plain” (lines 11-13) primarily emphasizes

1. the agricultural practices of both groups
2. the difference in population size and stability
3. the superiority of trees over grass
4. the beauty of the natural landscape
5. the peaceful coexistence of different species

19. Chief Seattle’s statement “Your God is not our God!” (line 14) most directly implies that

1. Native Americans do not believe in any deity
2. the speaker rejects all forms of religious belief
3. white settlers and Native Americans have fundamentally different spiritual beliefs and experiences
4. the speaker wishes to convert to Christianity
5. both groups worship the same God under different names

20. The tone of the passage as a whole can best be described as

1. optimistic and hopeful about future relations
2. dignified but mournful and critical
3. angry and threatening toward white settlers
4. confused and uncertain about political matters
5. indifferent to the proposed land transfer

■ ■ ■   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) – establish the protagonist’s internal conflict and circumstances
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage focuses on Mei’s journey to Beijing, her family’s expectations, her anxiety about the scholarship competition, and her sense of leaving her familiar world behind (lines 1-25). Choice (A) is too narrow, as the landscape is only one detail among many. Choice (E) is not stated in the passage at all.

2. Ans: (A) – declaration
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “pronouncement” refers to the father’s weighty statement about Mei being the first to travel so far, making “declaration” the closest synonym. Choice (B) is incorrect because the father’s words are supportive, not condemning. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage indicates the words are still “ringing in her ears,” suggesting emphasis rather than quietness.

3. Ans: (C) – is practicing self-discipline in preparation for a competition
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 15-18 explicitly state that Mei “was practicing austerity, preparing herself for the scholarship competition.” Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which says her “stomach tightened with hunger” (lines 14-15). Choice (E) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

4. Ans: (C) – the instrument has been well-used and is important to Mei
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The description in lines 19-20 of the case as “battered” indicates wear from use, while “faithful” and the statement that it contains “the only possession she truly valued” (line 20) show its importance. Choice (A) reverses the truth, as a battered case would not be recently purchased. Choice (D) is not suggested anywhere in the passage.

5. Ans: (B) – she is the first person in her family to venture so far from home
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The father’s words in lines 5-6 explicitly state, “you are the first in our family to go so far.” Choice (A) is not stated in the passage. Choice (C) contradicts the passage, as there is no indication that the conservatory only accepts students from one city.

6. Ans: (C) – reflective and somewhat anxious
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The passage conveys Mei’s thoughtful observations about her journey and her anxiety about the competition and her family’s expectations (lines 6-8, 15-18). Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no celebration or joy expressed. Choice (B) is wrong because while there is anxiety, there is no bitterness or resentment in the passage.

7. Ans: (C) – is contemplating the limitations of traditional rural life
Explanation: This is an Inference question. In lines 23-25, Mei wonders whether the farmer ever “imagined lives beyond the endless cycle of planting and harvest,” suggesting she is reflecting on the constrained nature of his existence. Choice (B) is too extreme and not supported by the contemplative tone. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, as Mei questions rather than assumes his contentment.

8. Ans: (B) – demonstrates remarkably sophisticated adaptive and possibly cognitive abilities
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage emphasizes the octopus’s sophisticated mimicry behavior (lines 1-4), the evolutionary purposes it may serve (lines 14-23), and evidence of cognitive processing (lines 24-32). Choice (A) is too narrow, as it is only one detail. Choice (C) distorts the passage, which says “at least fifteen” (line 7), not exactly fifteen.

9. Ans: (B) – twisting
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 9, “contorting” describes how the octopus bends “its eight arms into shapes that resemble the bodies and fins of other creatures,” making “twisting” the best synonym. Choice (A) is the opposite of the intended meaning. Choice (C) is too extreme and would suggest injury rather than controlled shaping.

10. Ans: (B) – specialized skin cells that change coloration
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 8-10 explicitly define chromatophores as “specialized skin cells…which expand and contract to alter coloration.” Choice (A) confuses chromatophores with the venomous species the octopus mimics. Choice (C) incorrectly associates them with neural structures rather than skin cells.

11. Ans: (A) – imitating venomous species to avoid predators
Explanation: This is a Detail question. Lines 15-17 define Batesian mimicry as imitating “venomous or unpalatable species to deter predators.” Choice (B) describes offensive mimicry, which the passage contrasts with Batesian mimicry (lines 17-20). Choice (C) describes basic camouflage, not Batesian mimicry specifically.

12. Ans: (B) – mimicry can serve an offensive hunting purpose
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The study in lines 21-23 shows the octopus luring prey by disguising itself, which the passage says supports “this predatory hypothesis” (line 23) of offensive mimicry. Choice (A) is too narrow and not the study’s purpose. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, as the study supports offensive rather than defensive (Batesian) mimicry.

13. Ans: (C) – selects disguises based on the specific threat it faces
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 26-29 describe how the octopus chooses to mimic sea snakes specifically when threatened by damselfish, which are preyed upon by sea snakes, showing threat-specific selection. Choice (A) contradicts this strategic selection. Choice (B) is not supported, as the passage does not compare fear levels of different predators.

14. Ans: (B) – impressed by the cognitive implications of the octopus’s behavior
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The final paragraph (lines 24-32) emphasizes how the behavior “suggests a level of cognitive processing previously unrecognized” and “challenging long-held assumptions,” conveying scientific interest and appreciation. Choice (A) is incorrect because the author presents the findings positively rather than skeptically. Choice (C) is wrong because the author does not criticize anthropomorphization.

15. Ans: (A) – express the speaker’s sorrow and critique of the disparity between Native and white populations
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage emphasizes the vast difference between the numerous white settlers and the dwindling Native population (lines 11-13, 20-25), and the speaker’s grief over this disparity and perceived abandonment. Choice (B) contradicts the critical tone throughout. Choice (D) reverses the passage’s assertion in line 14 that “Your God is not our God!”

16. Ans: (A) – depend
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, Chief Seattle says the chief in Washington can “rely upon” his words “with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun,” making “depend” the best synonym for trust or count on. Choice (B) is the opposite of the intended meaning. Choice (C) also contradicts the context of trustworthiness.

17. Ans: (B) – emphasize the permanence and reliability of his statements
Explanation: This is a Structure/Author’s Purpose question. In lines 3-6, the comparison to stars “that never change” establishes that his words are constant and trustworthy. Choice (A) is too literal and misses the rhetorical purpose. Choice (E) makes an absurd literal interpretation not supported by the text.

18. Ans: (B) – the difference in population size and stability
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The comparison in lines 11-13 contrasts the abundant, covering grass (white people) with scattered, storm-damaged trees (Native people), emphasizing numerical and situational disparity. Choice (A) is too literal and not the metaphor’s purpose. Choice (C) reverses the implied advantage and misses the population emphasis.

19. Ans: (C) – white settlers and Native Americans have fundamentally different spiritual beliefs and experiences
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The statement in line 14 followed by descriptions of how the white God favors white people but has “forsaken his red children” (lines 14-18) indicates fundamentally different religious experiences and beliefs. Choice (A) is too extreme and not stated. Choice (E) directly contradicts the assertion that “Your God is not our God.”

20. Ans: (B) – dignified but mournful and critical
Explanation: This is a Tone question. Chief Seattle speaks with formal, measured language and poetic imagery (lines 1-6) while expressing deep sorrow over his people’s decline (lines 12-13, 20-25) and criticizing the disparity in divine favor (lines 14-25). Choice (A) contradicts the mournful descriptions of a people “ebbing away” (line 22). Choice (C) is too extreme, as the tone is sorrowful rather than threatening.