SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 69

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 old ferry terminal stood at the edge of the harbor, its wooden pilings slick with algae and barnacles. Mei pressed her forehead against the salt-streaked window of the waiting room, watching the gulls wheel above the churning gray water. Her father had promised to meet her here at noon, (5) but the clock above the ticket counter now read half past one, and the last ferry to the island was boarding.

    She had not seen him in three years, not since he had moved to the island to manage the lighthouse there. At first, his letters had arrived weekly, filled with descriptions of the migrating whales and the way the fog (10) rolled in at dusk like a living thing. Then the letters had grown infrequent, then sporadic, and finally they had stopped altogether. Her mother said it was the isolation that changed people, that living alone with only the sea for company could turn a man inward. But Mei suspected something else – some disappointment (15) he could not name, some failure that made him reluctant to face his family.

    The ferry horn sounded, a deep bellow that rattled the windowpanes. Mei picked up her canvas bag and walked toward the dock, her shoes echoing on the worn floorboards. If he would not come to her, she would go to him.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the physical setting of a harbor town in decline
2. introduce a character facing uncertainty as she pursues a reunion
3. explain why families become estranged over long distances
4. contrast the life of a lighthouse keeper with urban existence
5. argue that isolation inevitably changes human behavior

2. As used in line 8, the word “sporadic” most nearly means

1. irregular
2. lengthy
3. emotional
4. critical
5. cheerful

3. The passage suggests that Mei’s father stopped writing letters because he

1. was physically prevented from mailing them
2. had grown angry with Mei’s mother
3. experienced some personal setback he wished to avoid discussing
4. became too busy with his work at the lighthouse
5. wanted to encourage Mei to visit him in person

4. The description of the fog as “a living thing” (line 11) primarily serves to

1. emphasize the father’s poetic writing style
2. foreshadow a supernatural element in the narrative
3. illustrate the vividness of the father’s early observations
4. suggest that the island environment is hostile to human life
5. demonstrate Mei’s inability to understand her father’s descriptions

5. Mei’s decision to board the ferry indicates that she is

1. unwilling to forgive her father for his absence
2. determined to confront him despite his failure to appear
3. planning to move to the island permanently
4. following her mother’s explicit instructions
5. giving up hope of repairing their relationship

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. nostalgic and sentimental
3. tense and melancholic
4. whimsical and lighthearted
5. analytical and detached

7. The detail that the clock reads “half past one” (line 6) primarily emphasizes

1. Mei’s father’s significant lateness
2. the unreliability of the ferry schedule
3. Mei’s difficulty reading public clocks
4. the passage of time since her father moved away
5. the distance between the harbor and the island

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article on architectural history.

    The invention of the flying buttress in twelfth-century France revolutionized Gothic cathedral construction and fundamentally altered the relationship between structure and aesthetics in Western architecture. Before this innovation, Romanesque builders had relied on thick stone walls to support the immense weight of vaulted (5) ceilings, resulting in buildings that were necessarily dark and fortress-like. The flying buttress, however, transferred lateral thrust from the roof and upper walls to external supports, freeing interior walls from their load-bearing function.

    This structural liberation had profound artistic consequences. Masons could now perforate walls with (10) expansive stained glass windows that transformed the dim interiors of earlier churches into vessels of colored light. At Chartres Cathedral, completed in 1220, more than half of the wall surface consists of glass, creating an luminous environment that medieval theologians understood as a manifestation of divine presence. The buttresses themselves became opportunities (15) for ornamental expression, their supporting arcs embellished with crockets and finials that emphasized the soaring vertical lines characteristic of Gothic design.

    Yet the flying buttress was not merely an aesthetic choice. Wind loading studies conducted on surviving Gothic structures have revealed that these external supports provide crucial lateral stability (20) during storms, effectively bracing the tall, thin walls against horizontal forces that would otherwise cause catastrophic failure.

8. The main idea of the passage is that the flying buttress

1. was invented in France during the twelfth century
2. allowed Gothic cathedrals to withstand powerful storms
3. transformed both the engineering and artistic possibilities of cathedral design
4. enabled the creation of stained glass windows at Chartres Cathedral
5. proved superior to all previous methods of architectural construction

9. According to the passage, Romanesque buildings were “dark and fortress-like” (line 5) because

1. they were designed primarily for defensive purposes
2. builders lacked knowledge of window construction techniques
3. thick walls were required to support the weight of the roof
4. stained glass had not yet been invented
5. medieval builders preferred a somber aesthetic

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

1. strengthen
2. puncture
3. decorate
4. construct
5. reinforce

11. The passage suggests that medieval theologians viewed the light in Gothic cathedrals as

1. a practical solution to the problem of interior darkness
2. an unfortunate consequence of structural innovation
3. a symbolic representation of God’s presence
4. inferior to the solid walls of Romanesque churches
5. the primary purpose of architectural design

12. The author mentions “wind loading studies” (line 18) in order to

1. criticize modern interference with historical structures
2. demonstrate that flying buttresses served a practical engineering function
3. prove that Gothic cathedrals were poorly designed
4. suggest that medieval builders understood contemporary physics
5. explain why many Gothic cathedrals have collapsed

13. The passage indicates that flying buttresses were embellished with “crockets and finials” (line 16) in order to

1. provide additional structural support during storms
2. enhance the decorative and visual impact of the building
3. distinguish French cathedrals from those in other countries
4. compensate for the weakness of the stone used in construction
5. honor the individual masons who constructed them

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

1. chronological narrative of cathedral construction
2. comparison between two opposing architectural philosophies
3. presentation of a problem followed by multiple solutions
4. introduction of an innovation and examination of its multiple effects
5. argument for the superiority of Gothic over Romanesque design

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 who say yes or no. He who led on the young men (5) 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 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 (10) the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is 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. announce his decision to end armed resistance
2. request medical supplies for his wounded warriors
3. negotiate better terms of surrender from General Howard
4. inspire his people to continue fighting despite their losses
5. describe the geographical terrain of the Bear Paw Mountains

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

1. I have memorized his exact words
2. I remember and value what he said
3. I disagree with his assessment
4. I feel emotional pain when recalling it
5. I have written it down for future reference

17. Chief Joseph’s statement that “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5) suggests that

1. young warriors have always made military decisions in his tribe
2. the traditional leadership structure has been destroyed by the conflict
3. he believes young men are better military strategists than elders
4. General Howard should negotiate with younger tribal members
5. the Nez Perce have a democratic system of government

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

1. defiant and unrepentant
2. exhausted and mournful
3. optimistic and forward-looking
4. bitter and vengeful
5. analytical and dispassionate

19. Chief Joseph’s reference to children “freezing to death” (lines 6 and 9) primarily serves to

1. request warm clothing from General Howard
2. explain why he must postpone his surrender
3. emphasize the desperate circumstances facing his people
4. blame General Howard for the suffering of innocent people
5. describe typical winter conditions in Montana

20. The final sentence of the speech (lines 11-12) can be inferred to mean that Chief Joseph

1. will continue fighting after the sun sets
2. is making an unconditional and permanent commitment to peace
3. expects General Howard to cease military operations immediately
4. plans to resume fighting in the following year
5. will surrender only if his specific conditions are met

■ ■ ■   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 a character facing uncertainty as she pursues a reunion
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on Mei waiting for her father, then deciding to board the ferry to find him despite his absence, which establishes her as the focal character confronting an uncertain reunion (lines 1-19). Choice (A) is too narrow, as the harbor setting is merely the backdrop for the character’s emotional journey. Choice (C) is too broad and analytical, treating the passage as an explanatory essay rather than a narrative focused on one character’s specific situation.

2. Ans: (A) – irregular
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes the letters as first “weekly,” then “infrequent,” then “sporadic,” and finally stopping (lines 8-10), indicating a progression toward less regular correspondence. Choice (B) is incorrect because “sporadic” describes frequency of occurrence, not duration. Choice (C) is wrong because it addresses the content or tone of the letters rather than the pattern of their arrival.

3. Ans: (C) – experienced some personal setback he wished to avoid discussing
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Mei suspects “some disappointment he could not name, some failure that made him reluctant to face his family” (lines 14-16), suggesting a personal setback. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, as nothing suggests physical inability to mail letters. Choice (D) is unsupported; the passage never indicates his work became more demanding.

4. Ans: (C) – illustrate the vividness of the father’s early observations
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. This phrase appears in the description of the father’s early letters, which were “filled with descriptions” of natural phenomena (lines 8-11), demonstrating his engaged, vivid writing style at that time. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage is realistic fiction with no supernatural elements. Choice (E) is wrong because Mei clearly understands and remembers her father’s descriptions.

5. Ans: (B) – determined to confront him despite his failure to appear
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The final line states, “If he would not come to her, she would go to him” (line 19), showing determination to pursue the reunion even after he failed to meet her. Choice (A) reverses the passage’s meaning; her action shows she is pursuing connection, not rejecting him. Choice (E) contradicts her decision to actively seek him out rather than giving up.

6. Ans: (C) – tense and melancholic
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys tension through Mei’s waiting and her father’s absence, and melancholy through details like the “churning gray water” (line 4) and descriptions of estrangement (lines 12-16). Choice (A) is too strong; while Mei is disappointed, the tone is sad rather than bitter. Choice (D) is completely wrong, as the passage contains no lighthearted or whimsical elements.

7. Ans: (A) – Mei’s father’s significant lateness
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states her father “had promised to meet her here at noon” but “the clock above the ticket counter now read half past one” (lines 5-6), establishing he is an hour and a half late. Choice (B) is incorrect; the ferry schedule is not described as unreliable. Choice (D) uses details from the passage but distorts their meaning; the clock time measures his lateness that day, not the years of separation.

8. Ans: (C) – transformed both the engineering and artistic possibilities of cathedral design
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses how the flying buttress “revolutionized Gothic cathedral construction” (line 2), enabled artistic changes like stained glass windows (lines 9-11), and provided structural benefits (lines 18-21). Choice (A) is too narrow, stating only a factual detail rather than the main idea. Choice (D) is also too narrow, mentioning only one specific example rather than the broader transformation.

9. Ans: (C) – thick walls were required to support the weight of the roof
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Romanesque builders “relied on thick stone walls to support the immense weight of vaulted ceilings, resulting in buildings that were necessarily dark and fortress-like” (lines 4-6). Choice (A) is unsupported; the passage never suggests defensive purposes. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, which indicates the limitation was structural, not technical knowledge of windows.

10. Ans: (B) – puncture
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage states that masons could “perforate walls with expansive stained glass windows” (lines 9-10), meaning they could pierce or make openings in the walls. Choice (A) contradicts the context, as creating window openings weakens rather than strengthens walls. Choice (E) also contradicts the meaning, as reinforcing would make walls more solid rather than opening them up.

11. Ans: (C) – a symbolic representation of God’s presence
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that the luminous environment created by windows was something “medieval theologians understood as a manifestation of divine presence” (lines 12-14). Choice (A) distorts the passage by suggesting only practical concerns when theologians clearly interpreted the light symbolically. Choice (B) reverses the passage’s meaning, as theologians valued rather than regretted the increased light.

12. Ans: (B) – demonstrate that flying buttresses served a practical engineering function
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The studies are mentioned to show that flying buttresses “provide crucial lateral stability during storms” (lines 19-20), emphasizing they were “not merely an aesthetic choice” (line 17). Choice (A) is unsupported; the passage presents the studies neutrally without criticism. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which discusses how buttresses prevent rather than document collapse.

13. Ans: (B) – enhance the decorative and visual impact of the building
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states buttresses “became opportunities for ornamental expression” with embellishments that “emphasized the soaring vertical lines” (lines 14-17), indicating aesthetic purposes. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage distinguishes between the structural function and the ornamental additions. Choice (C) is unsupported; the passage never discusses distinguishing French cathedrals from those elsewhere.

14. Ans: (D) – introduction of an innovation and examination of its multiple effects
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage introduces the flying buttress (lines 1-3), then examines its structural effects (lines 4-8), artistic consequences (lines 9-17), and engineering functions (lines 17-21). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage is organized by types of effects rather than chronological sequence. Choice (C) is wrong because no problem-solution structure appears; the passage describes an innovation and its impacts.

15. Ans: (A) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech concludes with “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 11-12), and the entire speech explains this decision. Choice (D) reverses the passage’s purpose entirely, as Chief Joseph explicitly states he is “tired of fighting” (line 3). Choice (C) is incorrect because he makes an unconditional statement rather than negotiating terms.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and value what he said
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph states “I know his heart” and “What he told me before, I have it in my heart” (lines 1-2), indicating he remembers and respects General Howard’s earlier words. Choice (A) is too narrow and literal; “in my heart” suggests emotional significance beyond mere memorization. Choice (C) contradicts the context, which suggests respect rather than disagreement.

17. Ans: (B) – the traditional leadership structure has been destroyed by the conflict
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph lists the dead chiefs and states “The old men are all dead” (lines 3-4), then notes that young men now make decisions, implying the normal hierarchy has collapsed. Choice (A) is true but not stated; nothing indicates this was always the practice. Choice (E) distorts the passage; the statement reflects loss of leaders, not a description of governmental structure.

18. Ans: (B) – exhausted and mournful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph repeatedly expresses weariness (“I am tired of fighting,” line 3; “I am tired,” line 11) and grief over deaths and suffering (lines 3-10). Choice (A) contradicts the passage, as he is surrendering rather than remaining defiant. Choice (D) is incorrect because while sad, the speech contains no vengeful language or threats.

19. Ans: (C) – emphasize the desperate circumstances facing his people
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The repeated references to freezing children (lines 6, 9), lack of blankets and food (lines 6-8), and people scattered in the hills illustrate the severity of his people’s suffering. Choice (A) is too narrow; while he mentions the need, the primary function is to convey desperation. Choice (B) is incorrect because he uses this detail to explain his surrender, not to postpone it.

20. Ans: (B) – is making an unconditional and permanent commitment to peace
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever” (lines 11-12) expresses finality and permanence without conditions. Choice (A) badly misinterprets the phrase; “where the sun now stands” means “from this moment,” not “only during daylight.” Choice (D) contradicts “forever,” which eliminates any possibility of resuming fighting later.