SSAT Reading Practice Worksheet - 83

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 rattled through the Bavarian countryside, and Klara pressed her forehead against the cool glass, watching the fir trees blur into a dark ribbon. Her father sat across from her, his newspaper folded precisely in quarters, (5) his reading glasses perched at the end of his nose. He had not spoken since Munich, and she knew better than to break the silence. The telegram had arrived three days before: her brother Franz was missing, presumed captured somewhere near Verdun.     Outside, (10) the November sky hung low and gray, pressing down on the villages they passed. Klara counted church steeples – seven so far – each one a marker of distance from home, from the life that had shattered the moment her mother (15) read those words aloud in the kitchen. Now they were traveling to her aunt’s house in Salzburg, an escape her father had arranged with uncharacteristic haste. He claimed it was for Klara’s safety, but she suspected he simply could not bear (20) to remain in the apartment where Franz’s empty chair stood at the dining table.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the scenery of the Bavarian countryside in wartime
2. illustrate the emotional aftermath of devastating family news
3. explain why Klara and her father are traveling to Salzburg
4. criticize the father’s inability to communicate with his daughter
5. depict the dangers faced by families during World War I

2. As used in line 6, the word “break” most nearly means

1. shatter
2. interrupt
3. fracture
4. violate
5. destroy

3. The detail that Klara’s father folded his newspaper “precisely in quarters” (line 4) suggests that he

1. is deeply absorbed in the news of the war
2. maintains rigid control over his outward behavior
3. has always been meticulous in his habits
4. is attempting to distract himself from thoughts of Franz
5. disapproves of Klara’s attention to the landscape

4. The passage suggests that the father’s stated reason for the trip differs from his actual motivation in that

1. he claims concern for Klara but actually fears remaining at home
2. he pretends to visit family but actually plans to search for Franz
3. he says he needs rest but actually wants to protect Klara
4. he mentions business in Salzburg but actually seeks solitude
5. he cites danger in Munich but actually dislikes his apartment

5. The image of Franz’s “empty chair” (line 20) serves primarily to

1. symbolize the void left by his absence
2. demonstrate the family’s poverty
3. indicate that Franz lived with his parents
4. suggest that the family no longer eats together
5. prove that Franz has died rather than been captured

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. somber and restrained
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. anxious and frantic
5. detached and clinical

7. Klara’s action of counting church steeples (line 11) most likely reflects her

1. religious devotion and desire to pray for her brother
2. interest in the architectural features of Bavaria
3. need to occupy her mind during a painful journey
4. attempt to calculate how far they have traveled
5. habit of documenting details for her diary

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from an article about archaeological research.

    For decades, archaeologists believed that the first humans to settle the remote islands of Polynesia arrived no earlier than 1200 CE, traveling in large double-hulled canoes laden with pigs, chickens, and the root crops (5) necessary to establish new colonies. This timeline, based on radiocarbon dating of pottery shards and bones found at coastal settlements, seemed secure. Recent discoveries in the highlands of Rapa Nui, however, have forced a dramatic revision of this narrative. Excavations (10) led by Dr. Mariana Voss uncovered stone tools and charcoal deposits that date to 900 CE – three centuries earlier than previously thought.     What makes these findings particularly significant is their location. The artifacts were found not along the coast, where (15) one would expect initial settlement, but in inland valleys sheltered by volcanic ridges. This suggests that the earliest inhabitants may have deliberately avoided shoreline exposure, perhaps to escape detection by rivals or to access freshwater sources unavailable (20) near the sea. Dr. Voss proposes that we have been searching in the wrong places, focusing our excavations on the most accessible sites rather than the most strategic ones.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. Polynesian settlers brought agricultural goods to remote islands
2. new evidence has changed the understanding of when and where Polynesian settlement began
3. radiocarbon dating is an unreliable method for determining settlement timelines
4. Dr. Mariana Voss has discovered the first evidence of Polynesian habitation
5. coastal settlements were less important than inland communities in Polynesia

9. According to the passage, the previous belief about Polynesian settlement was based on

1. oral histories passed down through generations
2. analysis of canoe construction techniques
3. radiocarbon dating of pottery and bones from coastal sites
4. stone tools found in highland valleys
5. documentation by European explorers

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

1. protected
2. fastened
3. certain
4. locked
5. safe

11. The passage suggests that the location of Dr. Voss’s discoveries is significant because it

1. confirms that settlers preferred inland areas to coastal ones
2. contradicts expectations about where early inhabitants would establish themselves
3. proves that volcanic activity drove people away from the coast
4. demonstrates that freshwater was more abundant inland than near the sea
5. shows that rivalry among settlers was common in Polynesia

12. Dr. Voss’s proposal in the final sentence implies that archaeologists should

1. abandon coastal excavations entirely
2. focus exclusively on volcanic regions
3. reconsider their assumptions about settlement patterns when choosing dig sites
4. use only the most advanced dating technologies
5. study rivalries among ancient Polynesian groups

13. The author mentions “double-hulled canoes laden with pigs, chickens, and the root crops” (lines 3-4) primarily to

1. illustrate the agricultural knowledge of Polynesian settlers
2. describe the transportation methods used in ancient Polynesia
3. provide context for the previous understanding of settlement
4. explain why the islands could support human habitation
5. emphasize the difficulty of long-distance ocean travel

14. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen Dr. Voss’s argument?

1. Evidence that coastal settlements on other Polynesian islands also date to 900 CE
2. Discovery of additional inland sites from the same period on other islands
3. Proof that radiocarbon dating methods have been inaccurate
4. Documentation that volcanic ridges provided superior defense
5. Analysis showing that freshwater was more abundant in coastal areas

Passage 3

The following is adapted from a speech delivered by Chief Seattle of the Suquamish tribe in 1854, addressing territorial governor Isaac Stevens regarding the proposed transfer of tribal lands.

    The Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. The Great Chief also sends us words of friendship and good will. This is kind of him, since we know he has little need of our (5) friendship in return. But we will consider your offer, for we know that if we do not sell, the white man may come with guns and take our land. How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own (10) the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them from us? Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory (15) and experience of my people. We know that the white man does not understand our ways. One portion of land is the same to him as the next, for he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs. The earth is not his brother, but his enemy, (20) and when he has conquered it, he moves on.

15. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. accept the offer to sell tribal lands to the government
2. declare war on settlers encroaching on native territory
3. articulate a fundamental difference in worldview regarding land ownership
4. request better terms for the sale of the tribe’s property
5. describe the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest

16. The rhetorical questions in lines 6-10 serve primarily to

1. request information about the terms of the proposed sale
2. express confusion about the legal process of land transfer
3. emphasize the absurdity of commodifying natural elements
4. challenge the authority of the Great Chief in Washington
5. suggest that the air and water are too valuable to sell

17. As used in line 8, the word “strange” most nearly means

1. unfamiliar
2. foreign
3. bizarre
4. alien to our understanding
5. suspicious

18. According to the passage, Chief Seattle suggests that his people will consider the offer because

1. they need the friendship of the white man
2. they recognize the Great Chief’s kindness
3. they understand the land may be taken by force otherwise
4. they wish to move to a new territory
5. they believe the terms are fair and generous

19. The passage suggests that the white man’s relationship with the land differs from the tribe’s in that the white man

1. values the land more highly than the tribe does
2. understands the sacred nature of every element
3. views the land as an adversary to be exploited rather than as sacred
4. prefers to live in cities rather than in nature
5. travels constantly without establishing permanent homes

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

1. angry and defiant
2. resigned yet dignified
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. bitter and sarcastic
5. indifferent and detached

■ ■ ■   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) – illustrate the emotional aftermath of devastating family news
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage focuses on Klara and her father’s emotional responses to the telegram about Franz being missing, showing their silence, grief, and inability to remain at home (lines 6-7, 18-21). Choice (A) is too narrow, as the scenery is merely background detail rather than the primary focus. Choice (C) is a detail that supports the main purpose but is not itself the primary purpose.

2. Ans: (B) – interrupt
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, Klara “knew better than to break the silence,” meaning she would not interrupt or disturb the quiet between them. Choices (A), (C), and (E) all relate to physical breaking or destruction, which does not fit the context of silence. Choice (D), violate, is too strong and formal for this context.

3. Ans: (B) – maintains rigid control over his outward behavior
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The precise, controlled folding of the newspaper (line 4) suggests the father is maintaining careful control of his behavior during an emotional crisis. Choice (C) may be true but is not supported by information in the passage. Choice (A) is contradicted by the fact that he has not spoken since Munich, suggesting he is not actually reading.

4. Ans: (A) – he claims concern for Klara but actually fears remaining at home
Explanation: This is a Detail/Inference question. Lines 17-21 explicitly state that the father “claimed it was for Klara’s safety, but she suspected he simply could not bear to remain in the apartment where Franz’s empty chair stood.” Choice (B) invents a motivation not suggested anywhere in the passage. Choice (E) distorts the passage; he cannot bear the apartment because of the emotional association, not because he dislikes it.

5. Ans: (A) – symbolize the void left by his absence
Explanation: This is a Structure/Literary Device question. The empty chair (line 20) represents Franz’s absence from the family and the painful reminder of his missing presence. Choice (B) is entirely unsupported by the passage. Choice (E) contradicts the passage, which states Franz is “missing, presumed captured” (line 7), not confirmed dead.

6. Ans: (B) – somber and restrained
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The passage conveys grief and sadness (somber) while maintaining emotional control through silence and restrained description (lines 4-7, 18-21). Choice (A) is too extreme; there is no bitterness or resentment expressed. Choice (D) is incorrect because the characters display control and silence rather than anxiety or frantic behavior.

7. Ans: (C) – need to occupy her mind during a painful journey
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Klara counts church steeples (line 11) as a way to distract herself during the emotionally difficult trip following the news about Franz. Choice (A) assumes religious motivation not supported by the text. Choice (D) distorts the detail; while she does note they are “markers of distance from home” (line 12), the counting itself reflects psychological need rather than calculation.

8. Ans: (B) – new evidence has changed the understanding of when and where Polynesian settlement began
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes how recent discoveries have forced “a dramatic revision” (line 8) of the timeline and location assumptions about Polynesian settlement. Choice (A) is a detail mentioned in passing (lines 3-5) but not the main idea. Choice (C) contradicts the passage, which presents radiocarbon dating as reliable, just applied to the wrong sites.

9. Ans: (C) – radiocarbon dating of pottery and bones from coastal sites
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 5-7 explicitly state that the previous timeline was “based on radiocarbon dating of pottery shards and bones found at coastal settlements.” Choice (B) mentions canoes, which are discussed in the passage (lines 3-4) but not as the basis for dating. Choice (D) describes the new evidence, not the previous belief.

10. Ans: (C) – certain
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, the timeline “seemed secure” means it seemed certain or firmly established. Choices (A), (D), and (E) all relate to physical security or safety, which does not fit the context of a scientific timeline. Choice (B), fastened, relates to physical attachment rather than intellectual certainty.

11. Ans: (B) – contradicts expectations about where early inhabitants would establish themselves
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 13-15 state the artifacts were found “not along the coast, where one would expect initial settlement, but in inland valleys,” directly contradicting expectations. Choice (A) is too broad; the passage does not claim settlers preferred inland areas generally. Choice (C) invents a causal relationship not stated in the passage.

12. Ans: (C) – reconsider their assumptions about settlement patterns when choosing dig sites
Explanation: This is an Inference/Extended Reasoning question. Dr. Voss’s statement (lines 20-23) that archaeologists have been “focusing our excavations on the most accessible sites rather than the most strategic ones” implies they should reconsider their site selection criteria. Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage does not suggest abandoning coastal excavations entirely. Choice (B) is too narrow and not supported by the text.

13. Ans: (C) – provide context for the previous understanding of settlement
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The mention of canoes and supplies (lines 3-5) appears in the opening sentence describing what “archaeologists believed” about early settlement, providing background for the old theory. Choice (A) is true but too narrow to be the primary purpose of mentioning these details. Choice (E) may be implied but is not the main reason for including this detail in the passage’s structure.

14. Ans: (B) – Discovery of additional inland sites from the same period on other islands
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Finding more inland sites from 900 CE on other islands would support Dr. Voss’s argument that archaeologists should search inland rather than only coastal areas (lines 20-23). Choice (A) would actually weaken the argument by showing coastal sites are equally early. Choice (C) would undermine all the evidence rather than strengthen the specific argument about location.

15. Ans: (C) – articulate a fundamental difference in worldview regarding land ownership
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage centers on the contrast between the tribe’s sacred relationship with the land (lines 10-15) and the white man’s view of land as property to be conquered (lines 15-20). Choice (A) contradicts the tone and content; Chief Seattle expresses deep reluctance and philosophical objection. Choice (E) is too narrow; natural beauty is mentioned to illustrate the larger point about sacredness.

16. Ans: (C) – emphasize the absurdity of commodifying natural elements
Explanation: This is a Structure/Rhetorical Device question. The questions “How can you buy or sell the sky” and “how can you buy them from us?” (lines 6-10) are rhetorical, highlighting how strange the concept of selling air and water seems to the tribe. Choice (A) misidentifies these as literal information-seeking questions. Choice (E) distorts the meaning; the point is not that these elements are too valuable, but that the concept of ownership itself is alien.

17. Ans: (D) – alien to our understanding
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. When Chief Seattle says “The idea is strange to us” (line 8), he means it is fundamentally alien to their way of understanding the world, not merely unfamiliar. Choice (A) is too weak for the context. Choice (C), bizarre, carries a judgment of oddness that doesn’t capture the cultural incompatibility being expressed.

18. Ans: (C) – they understand the land may be taken by force otherwise
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 5-7 explicitly state: “we will consider your offer, for we know that if we do not sell, the white man may come with guns and take our land.” Choice (A) contradicts line 4, which says the Great Chief “has little need of our friendship in return.” Choice (E) is contradicted by the entire tone of reluctance and philosophical objection.

19. Ans: (C) – views the land as an adversary to be exploited rather than as sacred
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 18-20 state that to the white man, “The earth is not his brother, but his enemy, and when he has conquered it, he moves on,” contrasting with the tribe’s view of every part as “sacred” (line 10). Choice (A) reverses the relationship described in the passage. Choice (E) distorts the detail about moving on; the point is exploitation, not constant travel.

20. Ans: (B) – resigned yet dignified
Explanation: This is a Tone question. Chief Seattle acknowledges the likely outcome (lines 5-7) with resignation while maintaining dignity through eloquent expression of his people’s values (lines 10-15). Choice (A) is too strong; while there is implicit criticism, the tone is not angry or defiant. Choice (D) is incorrect because, though there is sadness, the tone is earnest and sincere rather than sarcastic.