Reading Passage for HSPT - 19

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 flour dust hung in the air like fog, and Marguerite could taste it on her tongue as she kneaded the dough. Her grandmother stood at the opposite counter, rolling out pastry with the same maple pin she had brought from Quebec forty years before. Outside, the Montreal (5) streets were already dark, though it was only four in the afternoon. December pressed against the bakery windows, and frost crept up the glass in delicate ferns.

    “You rush,” her grandmother said without looking up. “Bread knows when you rush.”

    Marguerite slowed her hands, though her mind remained restless. Tomorrow she would (10) board the train for Toronto, where the university waited with its stone buildings and English conversations. She had saved for two years, working each morning before school in this very kitchen, her hands learning the rhythms her grandmother’s hands had known since childhood.

    “The dough is ready,” her grandmother announced, (15) setting down the pin. She moved to the oven and peered inside, her face illuminated by the orange glow. “This batch will be your best yet. You see? Patience makes everything rise.”

    Marguerite shaped the loaves in silence, aware that each motion was both a continuation and an ending. The bakery would go on without her, but she would carry its (20) warmth with her like a seed.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the process of making bread in a traditional bakery
2. capture a moment of transition in a young woman’s life
3. contrast the cities of Montreal and Toronto
4. explain why Marguerite wants to leave her family

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

1. exhausted
2. anxious
3. careless
4. confused

3. The grandmother’s statement “Bread knows when you rush” (line 8) suggests that she believes

1. Marguerite lacks the talent to become a baker
2. quality work requires careful attention and time
3. bread-making is more important than education
4. rushing is disrespectful to family traditions

4. According to the passage, Marguerite financed her education by

1. selling pastries she made herself
2. working mornings in the bakery before school
3. receiving money from her grandmother
4. saving wages from an afternoon job

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. joyful and celebratory
3. reflective and bittersweet
4. tense and fearful

6. The detail that the grandmother brought the rolling pin “from Quebec forty years before” (line 5) primarily serves to

1. establish the grandmother’s age
2. emphasize the family’s connection to tradition and heritage
3. explain why the bakery is located in Montreal
4. show that the grandmother is unwilling to buy new equipment

7. The final sentence suggests that Marguerite will

1. eventually return to work in the bakery
2. forget her grandmother’s lessons once she leaves
3. retain the values and experiences she gained in the bakery
4. open her own bakery in Toronto

Passage 2

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

    The human sense of smell, long considered inferior to that of other mammals, has recently become the subject of renewed scientific interest. Researchers have discovered that humans can distinguish more than one trillion different odors, a capacity far exceeding earlier (5) estimates of merely ten thousand. This revelation challenges the traditional hierarchy of human senses, which has historically privileged vision and hearing over olfaction.

    The olfactory system operates through a mechanism both elegant and complex. When odor molecules enter the nasal cavity, they bind to specialized receptor proteins on olfactory sensory neurons. Humans possess approximately four hundred different types (10) of these receptors, each responsive to particular molecular features. A single odor-the scent of a rose, for instance-activates a unique combination of receptors, creating a distinctive neural signature that the brain interprets as that specific smell.

    Unlike other sensory information, which passes through the thalamus before reaching the cerebral cortex, olfactory signals (15) travel directly to the brain’s limbic system, a region intimately involved in emotion and memory. This anatomical peculiarity explains why smells can trigger vivid recollections with startling immediacy. The scent of chlorine might instantly evoke childhood swimming lessons; the aroma of cinnamon might summon a grandmother’s kitchen. This phenomenon, sometimes called the Proust effect after the French novelist (20) who famously described it, demonstrates the profound neurological link between olfaction and autobiographical memory.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. human smell is more sophisticated than previously believed and uniquely connected to memory
2. humans can smell over one trillion different odors
3. the olfactory system is the most important of the human senses
4. scientists have recently begun studying the human sense of smell

9. According to the passage, how many types of olfactory receptor proteins do humans possess?

1. Ten thousand
2. One trillion
3. Approximately four hundred
4. The passage does not specify

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

1. wealthy
2. ranked higher
3. protected
4. restricted

11. The passage indicates that olfactory signals differ from other sensory information in that they

1. are more accurate than visual information
2. bypass the thalamus and connect directly to the limbic system
3. cannot be remembered as clearly
4. require more receptor proteins to process

12. The author mentions Marcel Proust in order to

1. provide a literary example of the connection between smell and memory
2. prove that French novelists understood neuroscience
3. contrast scientific and artistic approaches to studying smell
4. question the accuracy of recent olfactory research

13. It can be inferred from the passage that earlier estimates of human olfactory capacity were

1. based on studies of other mammals
2. deliberately falsified by researchers
3. significantly lower than current findings suggest
4. focused exclusively on the limbic system

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

1. argue that smell is superior to vision and hearing
2. explain how odor molecules bind to receptor proteins
3. inform readers about recent discoveries regarding human olfaction
4. encourage people to pay more attention to smells in daily life

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce in 1879.

    I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done. Good words do not last long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men. They do not protect my father’s (5) grave. They do not pay for all my horses and cattle. Good words will not give me back my children. Good words will not make good the promise of your War Chief. Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where they can live in peace and take care (10) of themselves.

    I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. Too many misrepresentations have been made, too many misunderstandings have come up between (15) the white men about the Indians. If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people (20) should have equal rights upon it.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. request financial compensation for past injustices
2. express frustration with unfulfilled promises and advocate for equal treatment
3. declare war against white settlers
4. describe the traditions of the Nez Perce people

16. As used in line 13, the word misrepresentations most nearly means

1. false or misleading statements
2. legal representatives
3. artistic depictions
4. political appointments

17. Chief Joseph states that “Good words do not last long unless they amount to something” (lines 1-2) in order to

1. suggest that all spoken promises are worthless
2. emphasize that promises must be followed by concrete action
3. argue that written agreements are superior to verbal ones
4. indicate that he does not understand English well

18. According to the passage, what does Chief Joseph believe would prevent trouble between white men and Indians?

1. Separating the two groups permanently
2. Providing financial payment for past wrongs
3. Treating all people equally under the same law
4. Allowing only authorized men to speak

19. The repetition of the phrase “Good words will not” in lines 5-9 primarily serves to

1. demonstrate Chief Joseph’s limited vocabulary
2. create a rhythmic, emphatic effect that underscores his frustration
3. confuse the audience
4. imitate traditional Nez Perce poetry

20. Chief Joseph’s statement that “The earth is the mother of all people” (lines 19-20) suggests that he believes

1. only Indians have a spiritual connection to the land
2. all people share a common origin and therefore deserve equal rights
3. women should have more authority than men
4. the earth belongs exclusively to the Nez Perce

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – capture a moment of transition in a young woman’s life
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on Marguerite’s final day working in the bakery before leaving for university (lines 9-11), depicting both her anticipation and her connection to tradition. Choice (A) is too narrow, as the bread-making details serve the larger purpose of illustrating the transition. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage never suggests Marguerite wants to leave her family, only that she is pursuing education.

2. Ans: (B) – anxious
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 10, Marguerite’s “restless” mind is contrasted with her slowed hands, indicating mental agitation about her impending departure. Choice (A) is incorrect because “exhausted” refers to physical tiredness, not mental agitation. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage shows Marguerite is careful with her work, not careless.

3. Ans: (B) – quality work requires careful attention and time
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The grandmother’s comment in line 8, followed by her later statement that “Patience makes everything rise” (line 17), indicates her belief in the importance of taking time with one’s work. Choice (A) contradicts the grandmother’s statement that the current batch “will be your best yet” (line 16). Choice (C) is not supported, as nothing suggests the grandmother opposes Marguerite’s education.

4. Ans: (B) – working mornings in the bakery before school
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Marguerite “had saved for two years, working each morning before school in this very kitchen” (lines 11-12). Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage specifies morning work, not afternoon. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage indicates Marguerite saved the money herself through her own labor.

5. Ans: (C) – reflective and bittersweet
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys both Marguerite’s thoughtful awareness of the significance of the moment and the mixed emotions of leaving (lines 18-20). Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing in the passage suggests bitterness or resentment toward her grandmother or the bakery. Choice (B) is wrong because, while Marguerite is pursuing an opportunity, the tone is contemplative rather than celebratory.

6. Ans: (B) – emphasize the family’s connection to tradition and heritage
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The detail about the rolling pin brought from Quebec forty years ago (line 5) establishes the family’s immigrant history and connection to cultural tradition. Choice (A) is too narrow, as the detail serves a larger thematic purpose beyond merely establishing age. Choice (D) is incorrect because nothing suggests unwillingness to buy new equipment.

7. Ans: (C) – retain the values and experiences she gained in the bakery
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The metaphor of carrying the bakery’s warmth “like a seed” (line 20) suggests that Marguerite will keep these experiences as something living and generative. Choice (A) is not supported, as nothing in the passage indicates she plans to return. Choice (B) contradicts the final sentence’s imagery of carrying the warmth with her.

8. Ans: (A) – human smell is more sophisticated than previously believed and uniquely connected to memory
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses both the discovery of humans’ trillion-odor capacity (lines 2-5) and the unique neurological pathway connecting smell to memory (lines 14-20). Choice (B) is too narrow, presenting only one detail rather than the complete main idea. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage challenges the hierarchy of senses but does not claim smell is most important.

9. Ans: (C) – Approximately four hundred
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “Humans possess approximately four hundred different types of these receptors” (lines 9-10). Choice (A) is incorrect because ten thousand refers to the old estimate of distinguishable odors, not receptor types. Choice (B) is wrong because one trillion refers to the number of odors humans can distinguish, not receptors.

10. Ans: (B) – ranked higher
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “privileged” describes how the traditional hierarchy placed vision and hearing above olfaction, indicating a ranking system. Choice (A) uses a common meaning of “privileged” but one that does not fit this context about sensory hierarchy. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage discusses ranking, not protection.

11. Ans: (B) – bypass the thalamus and connect directly to the limbic system
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “Unlike other sensory information, which passes through the thalamus before reaching the cerebral cortex, olfactory signals travel directly to the brain’s limbic system” (lines 14-16). Choice (A) is not stated in the passage. Choice (C) contradicts the passage’s emphasis on smell’s powerful connection to memory (lines 16-20).

12. Ans: (A) – provide a literary example of the connection between smell and memory
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author references Proust and the “Proust effect” (lines 19-20) to illustrate the phenomenon of smell-triggered memory with a famous cultural example. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage does not claim Proust understood neuroscience. Choice (C) is wrong because the reference supports rather than contrasts with the scientific discussion.

13. Ans: (C) – significantly lower than current findings suggest
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that humans can distinguish over one trillion odors, “a capacity far exceeding earlier estimates of merely ten thousand” (lines 3-5). Choice (A) is not supported by information in the passage. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage does not discuss what earlier estimates focused on.

14. Ans: (C) – inform readers about recent discoveries regarding human olfaction
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage presents recent research findings about human smell capacity and explains the olfactory system’s connection to memory (lines 1-20). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage challenges traditional hierarchies but does not argue smell is superior. Choice (B) is too narrow, as receptor binding is one detail within the larger informative purpose.

15. Ans: (B) – express frustration with unfulfilled promises and advocate for equal treatment
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Chief Joseph opens by criticizing empty words and broken promises (lines 1-10) and concludes by calling for equal treatment under the same law (lines 16-18). Choice (A) is too narrow, as while he mentions what words cannot pay for, his larger purpose is advocating for justice and equality. Choice (C) is incorrect because the speech advocates for peace, not war (line 15).

16. Ans: (A) – false or misleading statements
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 13, “misrepresentations” appears alongside “misunderstandings” in a passage criticizing dishonest dealings, indicating false statements. Choice (B) uses a word with a similar root but an entirely different meaning. Choice (C) is incorrect because the context concerns spoken or written communications, not visual depictions.

17. Ans: (B) – emphasize that promises must be followed by concrete action
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Chief Joseph contrasts words that “amount to something” with empty talk (lines 1-2), then lists what good words alone cannot accomplish (lines 3-9), emphasizing the need for action. Choice (A) is too extreme, as he criticizes unfulfilled promises, not all spoken words. Choice (C) is not supported, as the passage does not discuss written versus verbal agreements.

18. Ans: (C) – Treating all people equally under the same law
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Chief Joseph explicitly states, “If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace” and then calls to “Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law” (lines 15-17). Choice (A) contradicts his vision of peaceful coexistence. Choice (B) is mentioned as something words cannot do, but not presented as the solution to prevent trouble.

19. Ans: (B) – create a rhythmic, emphatic effect that underscores his frustration
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The repetition of “Good words will not” in lines 5-9 builds rhetorical power and emphasizes the inadequacy of promises without action. Choice (A) is incorrect because repetition is a sophisticated rhetorical device, not evidence of limited vocabulary. Choice (D) is not supported, as the passage does not indicate this imitates traditional poetry.

20. Ans: (B) – all people share a common origin and therefore deserve equal rights
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph states that “All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief” and “The earth is the mother of all people” (lines 18-20) to support his argument that “all people should have equal rights” (line 20). Choice (A) contradicts his inclusive statement about all people. Choice (D) is wrong because he argues for shared, equal rights, not exclusive ownership.