Reading Passage for HSPT - 20

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 the boarding house while Mrs. Kowalski was kneading dough in the back kitchen. Her daughter Aniela found it there, a small yellow envelope that seemed to pulse with importance. She turned it over in her flour-dusted hands, reading (5) the address twice before calling out to her mother. In the three years since they had left Krakow, no one had written. Her father’s brothers had promised letters that never came, and her mother had long since stopped watching for the postman with that particular light in her eyes.     Mrs. Kowalski wiped her hands on her apron and took the telegram with a (10) strange hesitation, as if it might burn her fingers. She read it silently, her lips moving over unfamiliar English words, then read it again. “Your uncle Stefan,” she said finally, her voice flat. “He is coming to Chicago. Next month.”     Aniela felt a complicated knot form in her chest. Uncle Stefan had been (15) her favorite, the one who had carved her a wooden horse and taught her to recognize constellations from the farmhouse window. But he had also been the loudest voice against their leaving, had called her father a fool for chasing American promises. Now he was coming, and she could not tell whether the feeling rising in her throat was joy or dread or some amalgam of both, (20) sharpened by the knowledge that nothing in this new country had turned out quite as her father had imagined before the factory accident took him from them.

1. The passage is narrated from which point of view?

1. First person, from Aniela’s perspective
2. Third person limited, focusing primarily on Aniela
3. Third person omniscient, with access to all characters’ thoughts
4. Second person, addressing the reader directly

2. According to the passage, Mrs. Kowalski and Aniela have been in America for approximately how long?

1. One year
2. Three years
3. Five years
4. The passage does not specify

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

1. unusual
2. specific
3. fussy
4. general

4. The description of Mrs. Kowalski’s hesitation in taking the telegram (lines 9-10) suggests that she

1. is physically afraid of being burned
2. cannot read English well enough to understand it
3. anticipates that the message may be troubling
4. is too busy with her baking to be interrupted

5. The passage indicates that Uncle Stefan had previously

1. encouraged the family to move to America
2. opposed the family’s decision to emigrate
3. written many letters that went unanswered
4. worked in a factory in Chicago

6. Aniela’s feelings about her uncle’s impending visit can best be described as

1. purely joyful
2. entirely fearful
3. mixed and conflicted
4. indifferent and detached

7. The reference to “the factory accident” (line 20) suggests that Aniela’s father

1. is currently recovering in a hospital
2. has died
3. returned to Poland after being injured
4. lost his job due to negligence

Passage 2

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

    The discovery of preserved wooden artifacts in waterlogged archaeological sites has revolutionized our understanding of ancient craftsmanship and daily life. Unlike metal or stone, wood rarely survives in terrestrial contexts, where oxygen and microorganisms conspire to reduce even (5) the sturdiest oak beam to formless decay within decades. But in oxygen-depleted environments – at the bottom of lakes, in peat bogs, or buried beneath layers of wet clay – wood can endure for millennia, its cellular structure intact enough to reveal not only the species of tree from which it came but also the precise techniques used to shape it.     One (10) of the most remarkable such discoveries occurred in 1998 at the Must Farm site in eastern England, where Bronze Age dwellings collapsed into a river channel approximately three thousand years ago. The suddenness of the catastrophe – likely a fire that sent the structures toppling into the water – created what archaeologists call a “time capsule” effect. Everyday objects that would normally (15) have been curated, repaired, or discarded were instead preserved exactly as they had been used: wooden ladles still bearing traces of the meals they had stirred, half-finished textile fragments still wound on their looms, even a wooden wheel complete with its axle.     Analysis of these artifacts has challenged previous assumptions about Bronze Age technology. The sophistication of the joinery – mortise-and-tenon joints, carefully (20) fitted dowels – suggests a level of carpentry skill that rivals much later periods. Moreover, the variety of wood species employed, from ash to willow to oak, indicates that these craftspeople understood the specific properties of different timbers and selected them accordingly, using flexible willow for baskets and dense oak for structural supports.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. waterlogged sites have provided exceptionally well-preserved wooden artifacts that reveal advanced ancient skills
2. Bronze Age people in England were more technologically sophisticated than those in other regions
3. the Must Farm site is the most important archaeological discovery in British history
4. wood is a superior material to metal or stone for constructing buildings

9. According to the passage, wood typically decays rapidly in terrestrial environments because of

1. exposure to water and clay
2. the presence of oxygen and microorganisms
3. the use of inferior tree species
4. fire and other catastrophic events

10. As used in line 14, the word curated most nearly means

1. exhibited in museums
2. carefully maintained or managed
3. sold to collectors
4. decorated with artistic designs

11. The “time capsule” effect mentioned in line 14 refers to the fact that

1. the objects were intentionally buried for future generations to find
2. the sudden disaster preserved objects in their state of active use
3. the site contained objects from many different historical periods
4. archaeologists were able to determine the exact date of the fire

12. The passage suggests that Bronze Age craftspeople

1. used only oak wood for all their construction projects
2. lacked knowledge of advanced joinery techniques
3. deliberately selected different woods based on their properties
4. learned carpentry skills from later civilizations

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

1. argue that Bronze Age technology was superior to modern methods
2. explain how waterlogged sites preserve wood and what such discoveries reveal
3. persuade readers to visit the Must Farm archaeological site
4. criticize previous archaeological methods as inadequate

14. The passage indicates that which of the following was found at the Must Farm site?

1. Metal tools used for woodworking
2. A complete wooden wheel with its axle
3. Stone foundations of Bronze Age temples
4. Written records describing construction techniques

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered by Susan B. Anthony in 1873, after she was arrested and tried for voting in the 1872 presidential election.

    Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but (5) instead simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny.     The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: “We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure (10) the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”     It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves (15) and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people – women as well as men. And it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government – the ballot.

15. Anthony’s central argument is that

1. the Constitution should be amended to explicitly grant women the right to vote
2. women already possess the constitutional right to vote and she committed no crime by exercising it
3. only white male citizens were intended to form the Union
4. voting is less important than other civil rights for women

16. As used in line 6, the word deny most nearly means

1. contradict
2. refuse to grant
3. reject a request
4. disbelieve a claim

17. Anthony quotes the Preamble to the Constitution primarily in order to

1. demonstrate her knowledge of American history
2. show that the phrase “We, the people” includes all citizens, not just men
3. prove that the Constitution contains errors
4. argue that the document is outdated and needs revision

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

1. apologetic and conciliatory
2. humorous and lighthearted
3. defiant and reasoned
4. bitter and resigned

19. According to Anthony, the only means of securing liberty provided by the government is

1. the right to free speech
2. the ballot
3. the court system
4. the Constitution itself

20. Anthony characterizes talk of women enjoying liberty without the vote as

1. a well-intentioned mistake
2. a downright mockery
3. a minor inconvenience
4. a temporary situation

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – Third person limited, focusing primarily on Aniela
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage uses third-person pronouns (“she,” “her”) but provides direct access to Aniela’s thoughts and feelings, as shown in lines 14-20 where we learn about her “complicated knot” of emotions and her memories of Uncle Stefan. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage uses third-person pronouns, not “I” or “we.” Choice (C) is incorrect because we do not have access to Mrs. Kowalski’s inner thoughts, only her external actions and dialogue.

2. Ans: (B) – Three years
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states in lines 5-6 that “In the three years since they had left Krakow, no one had written.” Choice (A) is incorrect because one year contradicts the stated timeframe. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage does specify this information clearly.

3. Ans: (B) – specific
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, “that particular light” refers to a specific, distinct kind of hopefulness Mrs. Kowalski once had when watching for mail, making “specific” the best match. Choice (A) is incorrect because “unusual” does not capture the sense of a distinct, identifiable quality. Choice (C) is incorrect because “fussy” relates to a different meaning of “particular” that does not fit this context.

4. Ans: (C) – anticipates that the message may be troubling
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Mrs. Kowalski’s hesitation, described as taking the telegram “as if it might burn her fingers” (lines 9-10), suggests emotional apprehension about bad news, not literal fear. Choice (A) is incorrect because the burning is clearly metaphorical, not a physical concern. Choice (B) is incorrect because although she struggles with English words, her hesitation occurs before she begins reading.

5. Ans: (B) – opposed the family’s decision to emigrate
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 16-17 clearly state that Uncle Stefan “had been the loudest voice against their leaving, had called her father a fool for chasing American promises.” Choice (A) is incorrect because it directly contradicts what the passage states. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage says the uncles promised letters that never came, not that Stefan wrote letters that went unanswered.

6. Ans: (C) – mixed and conflicted
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 14-19 describe Aniela’s emotions as a “complicated knot” and state she “could not tell whether the feeling rising in her throat was joy or dread or some amalgam of both,” clearly indicating conflicted feelings. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage explicitly mentions dread as well as joy. Choice (D) is incorrect because the “complicated knot” in her chest shows she is emotionally engaged, not indifferent.

7. Ans: (B) – has died
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that the factory accident “took him from them” (line 20), a euphemism for death, and the family now consists only of Mrs. Kowalski and Aniela at the boarding house. Choice (A) is incorrect because “took him from them” suggests permanence, not temporary recovery. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no suggestion he returned to Poland, and the phrasing implies death rather than departure.

8. Ans: (A) – waterlogged sites have provided exceptionally well-preserved wooden artifacts that reveal advanced ancient skills
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses how waterlogged sites preserve wood (lines 1-9), describes the Must Farm discovery (lines 10-17), and explains how these artifacts reveal sophisticated Bronze Age technology (lines 18-23). Choice (C) is too broad and extreme; the passage never claims Must Farm is the most important British discovery. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage argues wood preservation is rare and special, not that wood is superior as a building material.

9. Ans: (B) – the presence of oxygen and microorganisms
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 3-5 explicitly state that in terrestrial contexts “oxygen and microorganisms conspire to reduce even the sturdiest oak beam to formless decay within decades.” Choice (A) is incorrect because water and clay are mentioned as preservation factors in oxygen-depleted environments, not causes of decay. Choice (D) is incorrect because fire is mentioned only as the cause of the Must Farm catastrophe, not as a general cause of wood decay.

10. Ans: (B) – carefully maintained or managed
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In lines 14-15, objects “would normally have been curated, repaired, or discarded” suggests regular care and maintenance in daily life, making “carefully maintained” the best fit. Choice (A) is incorrect because museum exhibition is a modern meaning of “curated” that does not fit the Bronze Age domestic context. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no mention of commercial activity or selling objects.

11. Ans: (B) – the sudden disaster preserved objects in their state of active use
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 13-17 explain that the sudden catastrophe created a “time capsule” by preserving “everyday objects” exactly as used: ladles with meal traces, textiles on looms, indicating active use at the moment of disaster. Choice (A) is incorrect because the preservation was accidental, not intentional. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage describes objects from a single catastrophic event, not multiple periods.

12. Ans: (C) – deliberately selected different woods based on their properties
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Lines 21-23 state that craftspeople “understood the specific properties of different timbers and selected them accordingly, using flexible willow for baskets and dense oak for structural supports.” Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage describes use of multiple species including ash, willow, and oak. Choice (B) is incorrect because lines 19-20 describe sophisticated joinery including mortise-and-tenon joints.

13. Ans: (B) – explain how waterlogged sites preserve wood and what such discoveries reveal
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage explains the science of wood preservation in waterlogged conditions (lines 1-9), provides the Must Farm example (lines 10-17), and discusses what these artifacts reveal about Bronze Age skill (lines 18-23). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage never claims Bronze Age technology was superior to modern methods. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage does not criticize previous archaeological methods.

14. Ans: (B) – A complete wooden wheel with its axle
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 16-17 specifically mention “even a wooden wheel complete with its axle” among the preserved artifacts at Must Farm. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage discusses wooden artifacts, not metal tools. Choice (D) is incorrect because Bronze Age sites would not contain written records in the form described.

15. Ans: (B) – women already possess the constitutional right to vote and she committed no crime by exercising it
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Anthony states in lines 3-6 that in voting she “not only committed no crime, but instead simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution.” Choice (A) is incorrect because Anthony argues the Constitution already grants this right, not that it needs amendment. Choice (C) reverses her argument; she explicitly rejects the idea that only white males formed the Union (lines 12-13).

16. Ans: (B) – refuse to grant
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, Anthony refers to her rights as guaranteed “beyond the power of any state to deny,” meaning states cannot refuse to grant or withhold these rights. Choice (A) is incorrect because “contradict” relates to statements or claims, not rights. Choice (D) is incorrect because “disbelieve” does not fit the context of governmental power over rights.

17. Ans: (B) – show that the phrase “We, the people” includes all citizens, not just men
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. After quoting the Preamble (lines 7-11), Anthony immediately analyzes it in lines 12-14, emphasizing “we, the people; not we, the white male citizens…but we, the whole people.” Choice (C) is incorrect because Anthony argues the Constitution supports her position, not that it contains errors. Choice (D) is incorrect because she argues the Constitution already supports women’s rights as written.

18. Ans: (C) – defiant and reasoned
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Anthony boldly defends her actions as lawful (lines 3-6) while presenting logical constitutional arguments (lines 7-18), combining defiance with systematic reasoning. Choice (A) is incorrect because Anthony shows no apology; she insists she “committed no crime” (line 4). Choice (D) is incorrect because the assertive argument shows determination, not resignation.

19. Ans: (B) – the ballot
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 17-18 explicitly state that women are “denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government – the ballot.” Choice (A) is incorrect because free speech is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (C) is incorrect because the court system is not identified as the means of securing liberty.

20. Ans: (B) – a downright mockery
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Lines 16-18 state “it is a downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied” the ballot. Choice (A) is incorrect because “mockery” is far stronger than “well-intentioned mistake.” Choice (C) is incorrect because calling something a “mockery” indicates it is a serious injustice, not a minor inconvenience.