SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 75

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 telegram arrived on a Thursday, slipped under the door of our apartment by a messenger who didn’t wait for a reply. I watched from the window as he disappeared down Marcy Street, his cap bobbing among the pushcarts and (5) vendors. My sister Leah snatched the yellow paper before I could reach it, tearing it open with fingers still dusty from the cracker factory where she worked ten hours a day.     “It’s Uncle Saul,” she said, her voice flat. (10) “He’s coming to New York.”     I felt the blood drain from my face. Uncle Saul, Papa’s brother, had stayed behind in Lodz when we left five years ago. In my memory he was a tall, somber man who (15) smelled of pipe tobacco and leather, who built cabinets so perfect that even the gentile families commissioned them. Papa never spoke of him, not once in all these years, though I sometimes caught Mama weeping over a photograph she kept (20) wrapped in a handkerchief.     “Why now?” I whispered.     Leah folded the telegram into smaller and smaller squares. Outside, a woman shouted in Yiddish at a fruit peddler. A horn blared. These were the sounds of home now, so different from the quiet (25) courtyard in Lodz where Uncle Saul’s workshop stood.     “Does it matter?” Leah said finally. “He’s family.”     But I remembered the argument, the one we children were supposed to have forgotten. Papa and Uncle Saul standing in the (30) snow outside the synagogue, their voices sharp as broken glass. Something about betrayal, about choices. And then Papa had purchased the tickets to America, and we never saw Uncle Saul again.

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

1. an older woman looking back on her childhood in Poland
2. a young person living in New York remembering events from the past
3. Uncle Saul reflecting on his decision to immigrate
4. Leah describing her sister’s reaction to family news
5. an omniscient observer with access to all characters’ thoughts

2. As used in line 10, the word “flat” most nearly means

1. horizontal
2. deflated
3. monotone
4. absolute
5. smooth

3. The narrator’s description of Uncle Saul in lines 13–17 suggests that he was

1. a wealthy merchant who employed many workers
2. a skilled craftsman respected across social boundaries
3. an elderly man who could no longer work
4. a religious leader in the Jewish community
5. a man who frequently traveled between Poland and America

4. The detail that Mama kept a photograph “wrapped in a handkerchief” (lines 19–20) suggests

1. she feared the photograph would be damaged
2. she treasured it but kept it hidden from view
3. she planned to send it to Uncle Saul
4. she had forgotten about Uncle Saul entirely
5. she was angry with Papa for leaving Poland

5. The sounds described in lines 23–25 primarily serve to

1. emphasize how different the narrator’s current home is from her former one
2. demonstrate the chaos and poverty of immigrant neighborhoods
3. suggest that the narrator feels uncomfortable in New York
4. illustrate the diversity of languages spoken in the city
5. contrast the narrator’s quiet apartment with the noisy street below

6. It can be inferred from the passage that Papa and Uncle Saul

1. had maintained regular correspondence since the family left Poland
2. disagreed about whether to immigrate to America
3. were both skilled cabinet makers who worked together
4. parted on bad terms before the family’s departure
5. had always lived in different cities

7. The narrator’s question “Why now?” (line 21) primarily conveys

1. confusion about the timing of Uncle Saul’s arrival
2. anger that Uncle Saul waited so long to contact the family
3. excitement about reuniting with a beloved relative
4. concern about where Uncle Saul will stay in their apartment
5. curiosity about Uncle Saul’s reasons for leaving Poland

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about the phenomenon of synesthesia.

    When Diane Rasmussen hears a violin, she sees spirals of gold. The word “Tuesday” tastes like buttered toast. A major chord appears as a rectangle, pale blue and hovering. Rasmussen is not hallucinating; she experiences synesthesia, a (5) neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway involuntarily triggers experiences in another. While the phenomenon has been documented for over two centuries, only in recent decades have neuroscientists begun to understand its underlying mechanisms.     Synesthesia affects approximately four percent of (10) the population, though this figure may underestimate its true prevalence. Many synesthetes assume everyone perceives the world as they do until a chance conversation reveals otherwise. The condition appears to run in families, suggesting a genetic component, and manifests (15) in dozens of forms. The most common type, grapheme-color synesthesia, causes individuals to perceive letters and numbers as inherently colored. A synesthete might always see the number five as green or the letter A as crimson, and these associations remain remarkably (20) consistent throughout the person’s lifetime.     Brain imaging studies have revealed that synesthetes show increased connectivity between sensory regions that normally operate independently. In individuals with grapheme-color synesthesia, for instance, areas responsible for processing visual form activate simultaneously (25) with regions that process color perception. This cross-activation theory, proposed by neuroscientist V.S. Ramachandran, suggests that synesthesia results from incomplete pruning of neural connections during early development. Most infants may begin life with diffuse connections between sensory areas, which typically become more (30) specialized as the brain matures. In synesthetes, some of these pathways apparently persist.     Far from being a disorder, synesthesia often confers cognitive advantages. Research indicates that synesthetes demonstrate superior memory recall, particularly for information that triggers their (35) cross-sensory experiences. Some studies suggest enhanced creativity as well, noting a higher-than-expected proportion of synesthetes among artists, composers, and writers. These findings challenge the assumption that standardized sensory processing represents the only functional arrangement of (40) human perception.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that synesthesia should be considered a medical disorder
2. explain the neurological basis and characteristics of synesthesia
3. describe one individual’s experience with synesthesia in detail
4. compare different types of sensory processing in the brain
5. advocate for more research funding for synesthesia studies

9. According to the passage, synesthesia has been documented for

1. approximately four decades
2. more than two hundred years
3. only the past few years
4. as long as written language has existed
5. the entire history of neuroscience

10. As used in line 14, the word “manifests” most nearly means

1. proves
2. documents
3. appears
4. lists
5. declares

11. The passage indicates that many synesthetes do not realize their perception is unusual because

1. the condition does not cause them any discomfort or inconvenience
2. they assume their sensory experiences are universal
3. brain imaging technology was not available until recently
4. synesthesia only affects a very small percentage of the population
5. doctors have historically dismissed their reports as hallucinations

12. The “cross-activation theory” mentioned in line 26 proposes that synesthesia is caused by

1. damage to sensory regions during infancy
2. exceptional creativity that alters brain structure
3. neural pathways that normally disappear but persist in some individuals
4. intentional training to develop cross-sensory associations
5. genetic mutations that create new sensory organs

13. The passage suggests that synesthesia

1. impairs normal cognitive function and should be treated
2. becomes less consistent as synesthetes age
3. may provide certain mental advantages
4. occurs primarily in people with artistic careers
5. results from exposure to multiple languages in childhood

14. The author’s tone in the final paragraph (lines 32–40) can best be described as

1. skeptical and dismissive
2. neutral and factual
3. enthusiastic and admiring
4. concerned and cautionary
5. surprised and confused

Passage 3

The following is adapted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana Territory in October 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, 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 (15) now stands I will fight no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of Chief Joseph’s speech is to

1. request additional supplies for his people before continuing the fight
2. announce his decision to end armed resistance
3. praise the military leadership of General Howard
4. explain the tactical reasons for his defeat
5. negotiate specific terms for a peace treaty

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 honor it
3. I feel emotional about it
4. I keep it secret
5. I question its truth

17. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (lines 3–4) primarily to

1. explain that traditional leadership structures have been destroyed
2. criticize the young men for continuing to fight
3. suggest that he is too old to lead effectively
4. blame General Howard for targeting tribal elders
5. indicate that he is now the oldest surviving member of his tribe

18. The statement “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 11–12) suggests that Chief Joseph

1. believes most of his children have already been killed
2. fears the worst outcome while hoping for survival
3. plans to bury those who died in the recent battle
4. has received reports confirming his children’s deaths
5. no longer cares whether his children are found

19. The overall tone of the speech can best be described as

1. defiant and angry
2. resigned and mournful
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. confused and uncertain
5. bitter and vengeful

20. The final sentence (lines 14–15) is effective primarily because it

1. uses a metaphor drawn from nature to mark a definitive end
2. contradicts everything Chief Joseph has said previously
3. promises that his people will eventually resume fighting
4. requests that General Howard allow him to leave immediately
5. explains the military strategy that led to his defeat

■ ■ ■   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) – a young person living in New York remembering events from the past
Explanation: This is a Point of View question. The narrator uses first-person pronouns (“I watched,” “I felt”) and describes current events in New York (the telegram’s arrival) while also recalling memories from five years earlier in Lodz (lines 13–17). Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no indication the narrator is now an older woman looking back; the events appear to be unfolding in the present. Choice (E) is incorrect because the narration is limited to one character’s perspective, not omniscient.

2. Ans: (C) – monotone
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Leah’s voice is described as “flat” (line 10) when delivering difficult news, suggesting an emotionless, monotone quality. Choice (A) is incorrect because “horizontal” is a literal meaning of “flat” that cannot apply to a voice. Choice (B) is incorrect because “deflated” suggests a loss of energy rather than an absence of emotional inflection.

3. Ans: (B) – a skilled craftsman respected across social boundaries
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that Uncle Saul “built cabinets so perfect that even the gentile families commissioned them” (lines 15–17), indicating both exceptional skill and respect that crossed religious and social divisions. Choice (A) is incorrect because Uncle Saul is described as building cabinets himself, not as a merchant. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no mention of him being a religious leader; the synagogue reference (line 29) shows him as an attendee, not a leader.

4. Ans: (B) – she treasured it but kept it hidden from view
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The detail that Mama kept the photograph “wrapped in a handkerchief” and that the narrator “sometimes caught” her weeping over it (lines 18–20) suggests she valued it deeply but concealed it, likely because Papa never spoke of Uncle Saul. Choice (A) is too narrow; while protection may be one function, the primary implication is emotional concealment. Choice (D) is incorrect because her weeping over it demonstrates she had not forgotten Uncle Saul.

5. Ans: (A) – emphasize how different the narrator’s current home is from her former one
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The narrator explicitly contrasts the loud New York street sounds with “the quiet courtyard in Lodz where Uncle Saul’s workshop stood” (lines 24–25), emphasizing the difference between past and present homes. Choice (C) is incorrect because the narrator calls these sounds “the sounds of home now” (line 23), suggesting acceptance rather than discomfort. Choice (E) is incorrect because the contrast is between New York and Lodz, not between apartment and street.

6. Ans: (D) – parted on bad terms before the family’s departure
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The narrator describes an argument between Papa and Uncle Saul “outside the synagogue, their voices sharp as broken glass” involving “betrayal” and “choices” (lines 28–31), after which they “never saw Uncle Saul again” (line 32). Choice (A) reverses what is stated; Papa “never spoke of him, not once” (lines 16–17), suggesting no contact. Choice (B) is too narrow; while immigration may have been part of the disagreement, the passage does not confirm this specifically.

7. Ans: (A) – confusion about the timing of Uncle Saul’s arrival
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The narrator asks “Why now?” (line 21) after learning Uncle Saul is coming to New York, expressing puzzlement about why he would choose to come after five years of silence. Choice (B) is incorrect because the question expresses confusion, not anger. Choice (C) is incorrect because the narrator’s earlier reaction (“I felt the blood drain from my face,” line 13) suggests anxiety rather than excitement.

8. Ans: (B) – explain the neurological basis and characteristics of synesthesia
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes what synesthesia is, how common it is, its genetic and neurological basis (lines 22–31), and its cognitive effects (lines 32–40). Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which states synesthesia is “far from being a disorder” (line 32). Choice (C) is too narrow; while Diane Rasmussen is mentioned in lines 1–3, she serves only as an introductory example.

9. Ans: (B) – more than two hundred years
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “the phenomenon has been documented for over two centuries” (lines 6–7). Choice (A) is incorrect because it confuses the recent neuroscientific understanding (“only in recent decades,” line 7) with the longer documentation history. Choice (C) reverses the time frame stated in the passage.

10. Ans: (C) – appears
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In context, the passage states that synesthesia “manifests in dozens of forms” (lines 14–15), meaning it appears or presents itself in various ways. Choice (A) is incorrect because “proves” suggests demonstration of truth rather than the way something presents itself. Choice (E) is incorrect because “declares” implies a verbal announcement, which makes no sense in this scientific context.

11. Ans: (B) – they assume their sensory experiences are universal
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “many synesthetes assume everyone perceives the world as they do until a chance conversation reveals otherwise” (lines 11–13). Choice (A), while possibly true, is not stated as the reason they don’t realize it’s unusual. Choice (D) contradicts the passage’s point that the prevalence may be underestimated precisely because many don’t realize they have it.

12. Ans: (C) – neural pathways that normally disappear but persist in some individuals
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The cross-activation theory proposes that synesthesia “results from incomplete pruning of neural connections during early development” (lines 27–28), and that connections which “typically become more specialized as the brain matures” instead “persist” in synesthetes (lines 29–31). Choice (A) is incorrect because the theory describes persistence of connections, not damage. Choice (B) reverses cause and effect; the theory suggests brain structure causes creativity, not vice versa.

13. Ans: (C) – may provide certain mental advantages
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The final paragraph states that synesthesia “often confers cognitive advantages” including “superior memory recall” and possibly “enhanced creativity” (lines 32–35). Choice (A) directly contradicts the statement that synesthesia is “far from being a disorder” (line 32). Choice (D) is too broad; the passage notes “a higher-than-expected proportion” of synesthetes among artists (lines 35–37), not that it occurs primarily in such people.

14. Ans: (B) – neutral and factual
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The final paragraph presents research findings about cognitive advantages in straightforward, objective language without emotional language or value judgments beyond what the research supports (lines 32–40). Choice (C) is incorrect because while the content is positive, the author maintains a measured, academic tone rather than enthusiasm. Choice (A) is incorrect because the author presents the findings as valid, not with skepticism.

15. Ans: (B) – announce his decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph states “I am tired of fighting” (line 3) and concludes “I will fight no more forever” (line 15), making clear his surrender. Choice (A) is incorrect because while he mentions lack of supplies (lines 6–7), he states he will not continue fighting regardless. Choice (E) is incorrect because he does not negotiate terms; he simply announces his surrender.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and honor it
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. When Chief Joseph says he has General Howard’s previous words “in my heart” (line 2), he indicates he remembers and respects what was said, as evidenced by his statement that he knows Howard’s heart (line 1). Choice (A) is too narrow; “in my heart” suggests emotional significance beyond mere memorization. Choice (D) contradicts the context; Chief Joseph is openly referencing what Howard told him, not keeping it secret.

17. Ans: (A) – explain that traditional leadership structures have been destroyed
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. By listing dead chiefs and stating “the old men are all dead” followed by “It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 3–5), Chief Joseph indicates that traditional authority has been eliminated. Choice (B) is incorrect because he does not criticize the young men; he simply states the reality of who remains. Choice (E) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest he is the oldest survivor, only that traditional leaders are gone.

18. Ans: (B) – fears the worst outcome while hoping for survival
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph says he wants “time to look for my children” and “see how many of them I can find” (lines 10–11), then adds “Maybe I shall find them among the dead” (lines 11–12), showing he acknowledges the possibility of death while still searching. Choice (A) is too extreme; “maybe” indicates uncertainty, not belief. Choice (D) contradicts the passage; he says “no one knows where they are” (lines 9–10), indicating lack of confirmation.

19. Ans: (B) – resigned and mournful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph repeatedly expresses weariness (“I am tired,” line 3; “I am tired; my heart is sick and sad,” lines 13–14) and grief over losses (dead chiefs, freezing children), conveying resignation and sorrow throughout (lines 1–15). Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no defiance; he is surrendering. Choice (C) contradicts the pervasive sadness and statements of exhaustion.

20. Ans: (A) – uses a metaphor drawn from nature to mark a definitive end
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The phrase “From where the sun now stands” (lines 14–15) uses the sun’s position as a time marker to emphasize the finality of “I will fight no more forever,” making the surrender both specific and absolute. Choice (B) is incorrect because the statement is consistent with everything he has said about being tired and having lost his leaders. Choice (C) reverses the meaning; “forever” indicates permanence, not eventual resumption.