Reading Passage for HSPT - 4

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 morning Aunt Celestine arrived from Port-au-Prince, Marie was beating rugs in the courtyard. She heard the carriage wheels before she saw them, a sound like distant thunder rolling through the gates. Her mother had been awake since dawn, arranging camellias in the parlor, repositioning (5) the same vase three times. Now she stood at the door, hands clasped so tightly her knuckles whitened.

    Marie had never met her father’s sister. In the stories, Celestine was always laughing, always in motion, a woman who wore red silk to the opera and kept a parrot that cursed in three languages. But the woman who stepped (10) from the carriage moved slowly, leaning on a cane of polished ebony. Her traveling dress was the color of charcoal, and her eyes, when they found Marie across the courtyard, were sharp and measuring.

    “So you are Henri’s daughter,” Celestine said. Her voice carried the rhythm of the island, softer than Marie’s mother’s (15) clipped Charleston accent. “You have his chin. Stubborn as coral.” She reached out and touched Marie’s face with fingers that smelled of tobacco and vanilla. “Your father wrote me that you read Voltaire in the original French. Is this true, or was he boasting again?”

1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. establish the historical setting of the narrative
2. introduce the central conflict between Marie and her mother
3. convey the mother’s anxious anticipation of the visitor’s arrival
4. describe the physical layout of the family’s home

2. As used in line 7, the word clasped most nearly means

1. gripped
2. fastened
3. embraced
4. understood

3. The passage suggests that Marie’s mother rearranged the vase multiple times because she

1. was dissatisfied with the quality of the camellias
2. wanted the parlor to appear perfect for the visitor
3. had difficulty making decisions about decorations
4. was trying to distract herself from worry

4. The description of Celestine in the stories (lines 8-10) contrasts with her actual appearance primarily in terms of her

1. clothing and physical vitality
2. ability to speak multiple languages
3. relationship with Marie’s father
4. social status and wealth

5. According to the passage, Celestine’s cane was made of

1. polished ebony
2. red silk
3. carved ivory
4. charcoal wood

6. The phrase “Stubborn as coral” (line 16) suggests that Celestine believes Marie is

1. beautiful but fragile
2. determined and unyielding
3. connected to the ocean
4. similar to her mother

7. The tone of Celestine’s question about Voltaire (lines 17-18) can best be described as

1. accusatory and harsh
2. skeptical yet curious
3. dismissive and condescending
4. enthusiastic and encouraging

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from a general-audience archaeology article.

    The discovery of purple dye production facilities along the Phoenician coast has revolutionized our understanding of ancient Mediterranean trade networks. For centuries, historians knew that Tyrian purple – a dye extracted from murex sea snails – commanded prices rivaling (5) gold in Roman markets, but the scale of the industry remained speculative. Recent excavations at Sarepta, located in modern-day Lebanon, have unearthed processing vats, crushed shell middens three meters deep, and ceramic vessels still stained with the telltale pigment.

    The production process was both labor-intensive and olfactorily (10) overwhelming. Workers extracted a tiny gland from each snail, requiring approximately 12,000 mollusks to produce 1.4 grams of dye. The glands were then fermented in salt water for ten days, during which the mixture emitted what contemporary sources described as an unbearable stench. This putrefaction was essential: enzymes released during decomposition converted (15) the precursor compounds into the stable purple pigment that would not fade in sunlight or saltwater.

    Archaeologists have also identified a social hierarchy within the dye workshops. Skeletal remains found near the vats show repetitive stress injuries consistent with shell-crushing, suggesting a permanent laboring class. In contrast, administrative buildings nearby contained (20) seals and accounting tablets, evidence of merchant oversight. The workshops functioned not as isolated enterprises but as nodes in a sophisticated export economy linking Phoenician city-states with markets across three continents.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. Tyrian purple was the most expensive commodity in the ancient world
2. recent archaeological findings have revealed the complexity of ancient purple dye production
3. Phoenician merchants controlled all Mediterranean trade routes
4. the production of purple dye caused severe environmental damage

9. According to the passage, Tyrian purple was extracted from

1. a type of Mediterranean seaweed
2. crushed ceramic vessels
3. murex sea snails
4. fermented salt deposits

10. As used in line 6, the word speculative most nearly means

1. theoretical
2. impressive
3. profitable
4. doubtful

11. The passage indicates that the fermentation process lasted

1. three meters
2. ten days
3. 1.4 grams
4. 12,000 hours

12. The author mentions that the dye would not fade in sunlight or saltwater (lines 15-16) in order to

1. explain why the pigment was chemically stable and valuable
2. contrast Tyrian purple with modern synthetic dyes
3. argue that Phoenician dyers understood advanced chemistry
4. describe the environmental conditions of ancient workshops

13. The passage suggests that the skeletal remains found near the vats (lines 17-18) provide evidence of

1. the dangers of fermentation processes
2. a distinct working class that performed manual labor
3. conflicts between workers and merchants
4. the religious significance of purple dye production

14. The phrase “nodes in a sophisticated export economy” (line 21) emphasizes that the workshops were

1. technologically advanced facilities
2. independent of government regulation
3. integral parts of a larger trade system
4. located at the geographic center of Phoenicia

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered 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, Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. (5) He who led 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 death. I want to have time to look (10) 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 no more forever.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. negotiate better terms of surrender with General Howard
2. announce the decision to end armed resistance
3. memorialize the leaders who died in battle
4. request medical assistance for wounded warriors

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

1. I feel emotional pain
2. I remember and understand
3. I keep it secret
4. I question its truth

17. Chief Joseph mentions that “the old men are all dead” (line 4) in order to

1. explain why the young men now make decisions
2. criticize General Howard’s military tactics
3. emphasize the cultural losses suffered by his people
4. suggest that the war could have been avoided

18. According to the passage, some of Chief Joseph’s people have

1. surrendered to General Howard
2. fled to the hills without supplies
3. died from battle wounds
4. refused to stop fighting

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

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

20. The final sentence (lines 11-12) is structured to

1. issue a warning to future generations
2. mark a definitive end to conflict with solemnity
3. challenge General Howard’s authority
4. request a specific period of time for surrender

Answer Key

1. Ans: (C) – convey the mother’s anxious anticipation of the visitor’s arrival
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph focuses on the mother’s nervous behavior, including rearranging the vase three times and standing at the door with whitened knuckles (lines 3-6), which reveals her anxiety about Celestine’s arrival. Choice (A) is too broad, as the paragraph emphasizes emotion rather than historical context. Choice (D) is incorrect because only the courtyard and door are mentioned, not a comprehensive layout.

2. Ans: (A) – gripped
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “hands clasped so tightly her knuckles whitened” describes the mother holding her hands together with physical tension, making “gripped” the best match. Choice (B) “fastened” suggests a mechanical joining rather than muscular tension. Choice (C) “embraced” implies holding another person, not one’s own hands.

3. Ans: (B) – wanted the parlor to appear perfect for the visitor
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The mother’s repeated repositioning of the vase (lines 4-5), combined with her overall anxious behavior about Celestine’s arrival, suggests she is trying to make everything perfect for the important guest. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no indication the flowers themselves were problematic. Choice (C) misreads the behavior as a general personality trait rather than situation-specific anxiety.

4. Ans: (A) – clothing and physical vitality
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The stories describe Celestine as “always laughing, always in motion” and wearing “red silk to the opera” (lines 8-9), while her actual appearance shows her “mov[ing] slowly, leaning on a cane” and wearing a “charcoal” colored dress (lines 10-11). Choice (B) is incorrect because the parrot spoke three languages, not necessarily Celestine herself. Choice (D) is not supported by any contrast in the passage.

5. Ans: (A) – polished ebony
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Line 11 explicitly states that Celestine was “leaning on a cane of polished ebony.” Choice (B) “red silk” appears in the passage but refers to clothing from the stories (line 9), not the cane. Choice (D) “charcoal wood” incorrectly combines the color of her dress with the cane.

6. Ans: (B) – determined and unyielding
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Coral is a hard, rigid natural material, and the word “stubborn” (line 16) explicitly characterizes resistance to change, together suggesting Marie is determined and unyielding. Choice (A) is incorrect because coral, while attractive, is known for hardness rather than fragility. Choice (D) is wrong because Celestine is commenting on Marie’s resemblance to her father Henri, not her mother.

7. Ans: (B) – skeptical yet curious
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Celestine asks “Is this true, or was he boasting again?” (lines 17-18), which indicates doubt about the father’s claim while simultaneously showing interest in Marie’s actual abilities. Choice (A) is too harsh, as there is no accusation present. Choice (C) is incorrect because Celestine is genuinely seeking information rather than dismissing Marie.

8. Ans: (B) – recent archaeological findings have revealed the complexity of ancient purple dye production
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses how “recent excavations” (line 6) have provided new understanding of the production facilities, labor processes, and social organization of the dye industry. Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on price mentioned in lines 4-5 rather than the broader archaeological discoveries. Choice (C) is too broad and unsupported, as the passage discusses dye production specifically, not all trade routes.

9. Ans: (C) – murex sea snails
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 3-4 explicitly state that Tyrian purple was “a dye extracted from murex sea snails.” Choice (B) is incorrect because ceramic vessels are mentioned (line 8) as containers that held the dye, not its source. Choice (D) confuses fermented salt water (line 12), which was part of the processing method, with the original source material.

10. Ans: (A) – theoretical
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “the scale of the industry remained speculative” means historians had theories but lacked concrete evidence before the recent discoveries, making “theoretical” the correct answer. Choice (C) “profitable” refers to financial success, which is unrelated to the epistemological uncertainty being described. Choice (D) “doubtful” suggests disbelief rather than lack of evidence.

11. Ans: (B) – ten days
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 12-13 state that “the glands were then fermented in salt water for ten days.” Choice (A) “three meters” refers to the depth of shell middens (line 7), not fermentation time. Choice (C) “1.4 grams” is the amount of dye produced (line 11), not a time period.

12. Ans: (A) – explain why the pigment was chemically stable and valuable
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author mentions the dye’s resistance to fading (lines 15-16) immediately after describing the complex fermentation process, to show what made the resulting pigment worth the effort and expense. Choice (B) is incorrect because modern dyes are never mentioned in the passage. Choice (D) misidentifies the point, as sunlight and saltwater refer to conditions where dyed fabric would be used, not workshop conditions.

13. Ans: (B) – a distinct working class that performed manual labor
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The skeletal remains show “repetitive stress injuries consistent with shell-crushing” (lines 18-19), which indicates a “permanent laboring class” that performed physically demanding work. Choice (A) is incorrect because the injuries resulted from repetitive labor, not dangerous fermentation. Choice (C) is unsupported, as no conflict is mentioned in the passage.

14. Ans: (C) – integral parts of a larger trade system
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase appears in lines 21-22 describing workshops as connected points within “a sophisticated export economy linking Phoenician city-states with markets across three continents,” emphasizing their role as components of an interconnected system. Choice (A) is incorrect because “nodes” refers to network position, not technological advancement. Choice (D) misreads “nodes” as indicating geographic centrality rather than systemic interconnection.

15. Ans: (B) – announce the decision to end armed resistance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech culminates in the declaration “I will fight no more forever” (line 12), and the preceding sentences explain the circumstances leading to this decision. Choice (A) is incorrect because Chief Joseph announces surrender rather than negotiating terms. Choice (C) is too narrow, as memorializing the dead is only one element supporting the main purpose.

16. Ans: (B) – I remember and understand
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Chief Joseph says “What he told me before, I have it in my heart” (lines 1-2), indicating he remembers and holds onto General Howard’s previous words. Choice (A) misreads the phrase as expressing pain rather than retention of information. Choice (C) is incorrect because the statement is part of an open declaration, not concealment.

17. Ans: (A) – explain why the young men now make decisions
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph states “The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5), directly connecting the death of elder leaders to the shift in decision-making authority. Choice (B) is incorrect because Chief Joseph does not criticize Howard’s tactics anywhere in the speech. Choice (D) is unsupported, as no counterfactual about avoiding war is presented.

18. Ans: (B) – fled to the hills without supplies
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 6-8 state “My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food.” Choice (A) contradicts the passage, as those who fled have not surrendered. Choice (D) reverses the speech’s meaning, as Chief Joseph is announcing the end of fighting.

19. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph repeatedly expresses weariness (“I am tired,” line 2; “I am tired,” line 10) and grief (“my heart is sick and sad,” line 11), conveying resignation and sorrow. Choice (A) is incorrect because the speech expresses exhaustion rather than defiance. Choice (C) is wrong because the focus on death, cold, and surrender conveys no optimism.

20. Ans: (B) – mark a definitive end to conflict with solemnity
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The final sentence (lines 11-12) uses the poetic image “From where the sun now stands” and the absolute phrase “no more forever” to create a solemn, irreversible declaration. Choice (A) is incorrect because the statement addresses the present moment, not future generations. Choice (D) misreads the temporal phrase as a request rather than a rhetorical marker of finality.