Reading Passage for HSPT - 15

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 boardinghouse sat at the end of Prospect Street, its clapboard siding the color of old pewter. Mrs. Kowalski had kept the place for seventeen years, ever since her husband died in the mill accident. She took in (5) machinists mostly, men who worked the second shift at the rope factory and needed a clean bed and two hot meals. They were quiet tenants, grateful for the starched pillowcases and the beef stew she ladled out on Thursday evenings.     But the new (10) lodger was different. He had arrived on a Tuesday with a single leather valise and a violin case so battered that the brass latches had turned green. His name was Mr. Farrell, and he paid a month in advance without haggling, which (15) surprised her. Most men asked about the rate, tested the mattress springs, inquired whether she allowed smoking in the rooms. Mr. Farrell simply handed over the bills, climbed the stairs, and shut his door. That night, just after ten o’clock, (20) the music began. It was not loud, but it carried through the floorboards – a slow, mournful melody that made her think of wind over empty fields.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the history of a boarding house in a manufacturing town
2. introduce a new character whose behavior contrasts with the narrator’s expectations
3. explain why Mrs. Kowalski prefers to rent rooms to factory workers
4. illustrate the economic hardships faced by widows in industrial communities

2. According to the passage, Mrs. Kowalski has owned the boardinghouse for

1. two years
2. ten years
3. seventeen years
4. twenty years

3. As used in line 8, the word tenants most nearly means

1. lodgers
2. employees
3. relatives
4. owners

4. The passage suggests that most of Mrs. Kowalski’s previous lodgers

1. paid their rent late each month
2. worked during the daytime hours
3. negotiated the terms of their stay
4. brought musical instruments with them

5. Mr. Farrell’s behavior upon arrival can best be described as

1. hostile and confrontational
2. efficient and uncommunicative
3. friendly and talkative
4. nervous and uncertain

6. The detail about the violin case’s brass latches turning green (lines 12-13) primarily suggests that

1. the instrument is extremely valuable
2. Mr. Farrell recently purchased the case
3. the case has been used for many years
4. Mrs. Kowalski disapproves of musicians

7. The tone of the final sentence (lines 19-21) is best described as

1. cheerful and optimistic
2. wistful and evocative
3. angry and resentful
4. humorous and lighthearted

Passage 2

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

    In the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest, kelp forests create underwater landscapes as complex as any terrestrial woodland. These towering brown algae, primarily species of the genus Macrocystis, can grow more than (5) one hundred feet from the seafloor to the surface, adding as much as two feet to their length each day during peak growing season. Unlike true plants, kelp lack roots; instead, they anchor themselves to rocky substrates with structures called holdfasts, (10) which resemble gnarled fists gripping the stone.     The ecological importance of kelp forests extends far beyond their impressive stature. Their dense canopies provide shelter for over a thousand species, including rockfish, sea otters, and countless invertebrates. (15) Sea otters, in particular, play a critical role in maintaining kelp forest health. By consuming sea urchins – voracious grazers that can decimate kelp stands if left unchecked – otters function as a keystone species, (20) exerting influence on the ecosystem disproportionate to their numbers. In regions where otter populations have declined due to hunting or predation by orcas, urchin barrens often replace once-thriving kelp forests.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. kelp grows faster than any other marine organism
2. kelp forests are ecologically significant and depend on complex relationships
3. sea otters are the most important species in the Pacific Northwest
4. urchin barrens are becoming more common in coastal waters

9. According to the passage, kelp anchor themselves using

1. root systems
2. holdfasts
3. canopies
4. substrates

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

1. twisted
2. smooth
3. colorful
4. fragile

11. The passage indicates that kelp forests provide shelter for approximately how many species?

1. one hundred
2. five hundred
3. over one thousand
4. several million

12. The author’s description of sea otters as a “keystone species” (line 18) suggests that they

1. are the most numerous animals in kelp forests
2. have an impact on the ecosystem greater than their population size would suggest
3. build structures that other species depend upon
4. consume only kelp and no other food sources

13. According to the passage, urchin barrens form when

1. kelp grows too rapidly
2. sea otter populations decrease
3. water temperatures drop suddenly
4. rockfish consume too many invertebrates

14. The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to

1. argue for increased protection of sea otters
2. explain the structure and ecological role of kelp forests
3. compare kelp forests to terrestrial woodlands
4. describe the physical characteristics of brown algae

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a historical speech.

    We meet at a time when the nation stands at a crossroads. The question before us is not whether we shall have reform, but what manner of reform we shall embrace. There are those who counsel caution, who warn that (5) the pace of change threatens to undermine the very foundations upon which our prosperity rests. To them I say: stagnation is not stability, and timidity in the face of injustice is not prudence – it is complicity.     The farmers of this (10) state know well the cost of concentrated economic power. They have watched as the railroads set freight rates that devour their profits, as the grain elevators fix prices that leave them perpetually in debt, as the bankers foreclose (15) on mortgages they can never hope to satisfy. These are not abstractions debated in legislative chambers; they are the lived realities of families who work from sunup to sundown and still cannot make ends meet. If we are to (20) call ourselves a democracy, we must ensure that government serves the many, not merely the privileged few.

15. The main idea of the passage is that

1. the nation should avoid all forms of economic reform
2. meaningful reform is necessary to address economic injustice
3. farmers are solely responsible for their financial difficulties
4. caution is the most important virtue in politics

16. As used in line 7, the word complicity most nearly means

1. simplicity
2. involvement in wrongdoing
3. careful planning
4. total independence

17. According to the passage, farmers have been harmed by all of the following EXCEPT

1. unfair railroad freight rates
2. price manipulation by grain elevators
3. excessive taxation by the federal government
4. mortgage foreclosures by bankers

18. The speaker contrasts “stagnation” with “stability” (line 6) in order to

1. argue that refusing to act is not the same as maintaining order
2. suggest that economic growth is impossible
3. prove that all change is beneficial
4. demonstrate that stability has already been achieved

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

1. defeated and resigned
2. humorous and lighthearted
3. urgent and impassioned
4. detached and scholarly

20. The speaker’s reference to “abstractions debated in legislative chambers” (lines 15-16) serves to

1. emphasize that economic problems have real consequences for ordinary people
2. suggest that legislatures should debate issues more thoroughly
3. argue that farmers should not be involved in politics
4. indicate that the speaker opposes all legislative action

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – introduce a new character whose behavior contrasts with the narrator’s expectations
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on the arrival of Mr. Farrell and emphasizes how his behavior differs from that of Mrs. Kowalski’s typical lodgers, particularly in lines 9-15 where his actions surprise her. Choice (A) is too broad, as the passage focuses on one new lodger rather than the general history of the boardinghouse. Choice (D) is not supported by the passage, which does not discuss economic hardships in detail.

2. Ans: (C) – seventeen years
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 3-4 explicitly state that “Mrs. Kowalski had kept the place for seventeen years, ever since her husband died in the mill accident.” Choice (A) contradicts the passage. Choice (D) misstates the number of years given.

3. Ans: (A) – lodgers
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, “tenants” refers to the machinists who rent rooms from Mrs. Kowalski, making “lodgers” the best synonym in this context. Choice (B) is incorrect because the men are renters, not employees of Mrs. Kowalski. Choice (D) reverses the relationship, as Mrs. Kowalski is the owner.

4. Ans: (C) – negotiated the terms of their stay
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 13-15 state that “Most men asked about the rate, tested the mattress springs, inquired whether she allowed smoking,” suggesting they negotiated before committing. Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (B) contradicts line 6, which indicates the men worked the second shift, not daytime hours.

5. Ans: (B) – efficient and uncommunicative
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 15-17 describe Mr. Farrell as paying without haggling, climbing the stairs, and shutting his door without conversation, indicating efficiency and lack of communication. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which shows no hostility. Choice (C) is directly contradicted by his silence.

6. Ans: (C) – the case has been used for many years
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The detail that the brass has “turned green” (lines 12-13) indicates oxidation over time, suggesting long use. Choice (A) is not supported; a battered, oxidized case suggests the opposite of high value. Choice (B) contradicts the evidence of age.

7. Ans: (B) – wistful and evocative
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The description of the melody as “slow, mournful” and making her think of “wind over empty fields” (lines 19-21) creates a wistful, evocative mood. Choice (A) contradicts the melancholy tone. Choice (C) is not supported, as there is no anger expressed.

8. Ans: (B) – kelp forests are ecologically significant and depend on complex relationships
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses both the ecological importance of kelp forests (lines 11-14) and the complex relationship between kelp, sea urchins, and otters (lines 14-23). Choice (A) is too narrow and distorts the comparison in lines 4-6. Choice (C) is too extreme; otters are important but not described as “most important.”

9. Ans: (B) – holdfasts
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 8-10 explicitly state that kelp “anchor themselves to rocky substrates with structures called holdfasts.” Choice (A) contradicts line 7, which states kelp “lack roots.” Choice (C) refers to the top portion of kelp, not the anchoring structure.

10. Ans: (A) – twisted
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 10, “gnarled” describes holdfasts that resemble “fists gripping the stone,” suggesting a twisted, rough appearance. Choice (B) is the opposite of the intended meaning. Choice (D) contradicts the image of strong gripping structures.

11. Ans: (C) – over one thousand
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 12-14 state that kelp canopies “provide shelter for over a thousand species.” Choice (A) understates the number given. Choice (D) greatly exaggerates the stated figure.

12. Ans: (B) – have an impact on the ecosystem greater than their population size would suggest
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 18-20 define keystone species as “exerting influence on the ecosystem disproportionate to their numbers.” Choice (A) contradicts the concept of disproportionate influence relative to numbers. Choice (D) is not stated and contradicts the passage, which mentions they consume sea urchins.

13. Ans: (B) – sea otter populations decrease
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 20-23 state that “In regions where otter populations have declined due to hunting or predation by orcas, urchin barrens often replace once-thriving kelp forests.” Choice (A) is not mentioned as a cause. Choice (C) is not discussed in the passage.

14. Ans: (B) – explain the structure and ecological role of kelp forests
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage describes kelp structure (lines 1-10) and then explains their ecological importance and relationships with other species (lines 11-23). Choice (A) is too narrow; while otters are discussed, the passage is not primarily argumentative. Choice (D) is too narrow, covering only part of the passage.

15. Ans: (B) – meaningful reform is necessary to address economic injustice
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speaker argues that reform is needed (lines 1-3) and describes economic injustices facing farmers (lines 9-20), concluding that government must serve the many (lines 18-21). Choice (A) reverses the speaker’s position. Choice (C) contradicts lines 9-17, which blame concentrated economic power, not farmers.

16. Ans: (B) – involvement in wrongdoing
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, the speaker equates “timidity in the face of injustice” with “complicity,” meaning passive involvement in wrongdoing. Choice (A) is a similar-sounding word but has an entirely different meaning. Choice (D) is the opposite of the intended meaning of being involved.

17. Ans: (C) – excessive taxation by the federal government
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage mentions railroads (line 11), grain elevators (line 12), and bankers (lines 13-15) as sources of harm, but never mentions federal taxation. Choice (A) is explicitly stated in lines 10-11. Choice (D) is stated in lines 13-15.

18. Ans: (A) – argue that refusing to act is not the same as maintaining order
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The speaker distinguishes between “stagnation” (inaction) and “stability” (order) in line 6 to refute those who oppose reform, arguing that inaction does not preserve order. Choice (B) is not supported by the passage. Choice (D) contradicts the speaker’s call for reform.

19. Ans: (C) – urgent and impassioned
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speaker uses emphatic language (“I say,” line 5), vivid descriptions of injustice (lines 9-17), and calls to action (lines 18-21), creating an urgent, impassioned tone. Choice (A) contradicts the activist stance. Choice (B) contradicts the serious subject matter.

20. Ans: (A) – emphasize that economic problems have real consequences for ordinary people
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The speaker contrasts abstract legislative debates with “lived realities of families” (lines 15-18) to stress that these issues affect real people, not just theoretical policy. Choice (C) contradicts the speaker’s advocacy for farmers. Choice (D) misrepresents the speaker’s position; the criticism is of detached debate, not all legislative action.