Reading Passage for HSPT - 23

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 ferry cut through the gray water of the strait, its engines thrumming beneath my feet. I stood at the rail, watching the mainland recede into the fog. My uncle’s telegram had been cryptic: “Come at once. Matter of inheritance. (5) Bring no one.” I had not seen him in twelve years, not since my father’s funeral, when Uncle Thomas had stood apart from the other mourners, his face unreadable.     The island emerged slowly from the mist, a dark hump crowned with pine trees. A single house (10) stood visible from the water, a Victorian structure with a widow’s walk encircling the uppermost floor. As we drew closer, I could see that the paint had peeled away in long strips, exposing the gray wood beneath. No smoke rose from the chimneys, though the October (15) air was cold enough to see my breath.     The ferryman, a grizzled old sailor who had not spoken during the crossing, finally broke his silence. “You’re the nephew, then,” he said. It was not a question. When I nodded, he shook his head slowly. “Haven’t seen Thomas in (20) town for three months. Groceries left at the dock, that’s all.”

1. The primary purpose of the first paragraph is to

1. establish the narrator’s emotional state and introduce a mysterious situation
2. describe the geographic features of the strait and the island
3. explain the history of the conflict between the narrator and Uncle Thomas
4. criticize the uncle for his secretive behavior

2. As used in line 4, the word cryptic most nearly means

1. lengthy
2. mysterious
3. ancient
4. expensive

3. According to the passage, the narrator last saw Uncle Thomas

1. three months ago
2. when the narrator was a child
3. at the narrator’s father’s funeral
4. on a previous ferry crossing

4. The description of the house in lines 11-15 suggests that it is

1. newly constructed and well-maintained
2. elegant but deteriorating
3. small and cozy
4. completely abandoned and uninhabitable

5. The detail that no smoke rises from the chimneys (lines 14-15) most likely implies that

1. the house has no fireplaces
2. Uncle Thomas may not be using the house normally
3. the weather is too warm for fires
4. the chimneys are blocked and dangerous

6. The ferryman’s comment in lines 19-21 suggests that Uncle Thomas has

1. moved away from the island permanently
2. become increasingly isolated from the community
3. been purchasing groceries in large quantities
4. hired someone to collect his groceries

7. The overall tone of this passage can best be described as

1. cheerful and optimistic
2. angry and resentful
3. mysterious and foreboding
4. humorous and lighthearted

Passage 2

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

    In 1947, Bedouin shepherds stumbled upon one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century in caves near the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Scrolls, as they came to be known, consisted of (5) approximately 900 documents, including biblical texts and sectarian writings. These ancient manuscripts, dating from the third century BCE to the first century CE, have transformed our understanding of Judaism during the Second Temple period and the textual history of the Hebrew Bible.     The scrolls (10) were written primarily in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic and Greek. Many scholars believe they were produced by the Essenes, a Jewish sect that withdrew from mainstream society to live a communal, ascetic life in the Judean Desert. The settlement at Qumran, located near the (15) caves where the scrolls were found, appears to have served as the community’s center. Archaeological evidence suggests that the site included a scriptorium where scribes may have copied texts, ritual baths for purification, and communal dining areas.     Perhaps most importantly, the scrolls have provided scholars with manuscripts of biblical texts that (20) are a thousand years older than previously known copies. These ancient versions have revealed both the remarkable stability of the biblical text over time and the existence of textual variants that illuminate the complex process of transmission and canonization.

8. The main idea of this passage is that the Dead Sea Scrolls

1. were discovered accidentally and have greatly enhanced scholarly understanding of ancient Judaism
2. prove that the Essenes were the only Jewish sect in ancient times
3. demonstrate that biblical texts have changed dramatically over centuries
4. were written exclusively in Hebrew by Bedouin shepherds

9. According to the passage, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered

1. by professional archaeologists conducting a planned excavation
2. by shepherds in 1947
3. in the third century BCE
4. in a scriptorium at Qumran

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

1. wealthy
2. self-denying
3. artistic
4. argumentative

11. The passage indicates that the Qumran settlement included all of the following EXCEPT

1. a scriptorium
2. ritual baths
3. communal dining areas
4. a large temple

12. The author’s primary purpose in the third paragraph is to

1. argue that the Dead Sea Scrolls contradict all previous biblical scholarship
2. explain the significance of the scrolls for understanding biblical textual history
3. describe the physical condition of the ancient manuscripts
4. criticize earlier scholars for ignoring textual variants

13. Based on the passage, it can be inferred that before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical manuscripts dated to approximately

1. the third century BCE
2. the first century CE
3. the tenth century CE
4. the twentieth century CE

14. The passage suggests that the Dead Sea Scrolls have revealed that biblical texts over time have been

1. completely rewritten in every generation
2. both relatively stable and subject to some variation
3. perfectly identical to modern versions
4. transmitted only through oral tradition

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from Susan B. Anthony’s statement to the court following her conviction for voting illegally in the 1872 presidential election.

    Yes, your honor, I have many things to say; for in your ordered verdict of guilty, you have trampled underfoot every vital principle of our government. My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, are all alike ignored. Robbed of the fundamental (5) privilege of citizenship, I am degraded from the status of a citizen to that of a subject; and not only myself individually, but all of my sex, are, by your honor’s verdict, doomed to political subjection under this so-called Republican government.     Your denial of my citizen’s right to vote is the (10) denial of my right of consent as one of the governed, the denial of my right of representation as one of the taxed, the denial of my right to a trial by a jury of my peers as an offender against law. It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male (15) 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 and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people – women as well as men. (20)

15. The main purpose of this passage is to

1. apologize for breaking the law by voting illegally
2. protest the denial of women’s political rights and challenge the legitimacy of the verdict
3. request a lighter sentence from the judge
4. explain why she did not intend to vote in the election

16. As used in line 8, the word subjection most nearly means

1. education
2. subordination
3. participation
4. examination

17. According to the passage, Anthony believes she has been reduced from the status of

1. a criminal to a citizen
2. a subject to a voter
3. a citizen to a subject
4. a taxpayer to a non-taxpayer

18. In lines 13-15, Anthony references “We, the people” in order to

1. argue that the Constitution was intended to protect all people, not just men
2. suggest that only white male citizens should have rights
3. prove that women did not help form the Union
4. criticize the Constitution as a flawed document

19. Anthony’s tone in this passage can best be described as

1. apologetic and submissive
2. indifferent and detached
3. defiant and principled
4. confused and uncertain

20. The passage suggests that Anthony views the judge’s verdict as

1. a fair application of existing law
2. a violation of fundamental governmental principles
3. an unfortunate but necessary decision
4. a decision that affects only her individually

Answer Key

1. Ans: (A) – establish the narrator’s emotional state and introduce a mysterious situation
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph describes the narrator’s journey while revealing the cryptic telegram and the twelve-year absence, creating mystery and anticipation (lines 3-6). Choice (B) is wrong because geographic description is secondary to establishing mood and situation. Choice (C) is wrong because no conflict between the narrator and uncle is explained; the uncle’s behavior at the funeral is merely noted as “unreadable” (line 6).

2. Ans: (B) – mysterious
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The telegram is described as cryptic because it provides minimal information and creates uncertainty about the uncle’s intentions (line 4). Choice (C) is wrong because “cryptic” refers to the unclear meaning of the message, not its age. Choice (A) is wrong because the telegram is actually brief, not lengthy.

3. Ans: (C) – at the narrator’s father’s funeral
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states the narrator had not seen Uncle Thomas in twelve years, “not since my father’s funeral” (lines 5-6). Choice (A) is wrong because three months refers to when the ferryman last saw Thomas in town (lines 19-20), not when the narrator saw him. Choice (B) is too vague and not supported by the specific detail given.

4. Ans: (B) – elegant but deteriorating
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The house is described as a “Victorian structure with a widow’s walk” suggesting former elegance, but the paint has “peeled away in long strips” (lines 10-13), indicating decay. Choice (D) is too extreme; nothing suggests the house is completely uninhabitable. Choice (A) contradicts the description of peeling paint and exposed wood (lines 12-13).

5. Ans: (B) – Uncle Thomas may not be using the house normally
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The absence of chimney smoke despite cold October weather (lines 14-16) suggests abnormal conditions, reinforcing the mystery around Uncle Thomas. Choice (C) contradicts the passage, which states “the October air was cold enough to see my breath” (lines 15-16). Choice (A) is unsupported; Victorian houses typically had fireplaces, and the plural “chimneys” suggests multiple fireplaces exist.

6. Ans: (B) – become increasingly isolated from the community
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The ferryman states he hasn’t seen Thomas in town for three months and that groceries are merely “left at the dock” (lines 19-21), suggesting withdrawal from social contact. Choice (A) is too extreme; the grocery delivery system suggests he still lives on the island. Choice (D) is not supported; the passage implies Thomas himself is not collecting groceries in person, not that he hired someone to do so.

7. Ans: (C) – mysterious and foreboding
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The cryptic telegram, fog, isolated island, decaying house, absent smoke, and the ferryman’s ominous comments (lines 3-21) all create an atmosphere of mystery and impending trouble. Choice (A) is completely wrong; nothing in the passage suggests cheerfulness or optimism. Choice (B) is incorrect because while there is tension, there is no anger or resentment expressed.

8. Ans: (A) – were discovered accidentally and have greatly enhanced scholarly understanding of ancient Judaism
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes the accidental discovery by shepherds (lines 1-3) and emphasizes how the scrolls “have transformed our understanding” of Judaism and biblical texts (lines 6-8, 18-23). Choice (C) is wrong because the passage states the scrolls revealed “remarkable stability” of biblical texts (line 21), not dramatic changes. Choice (D) is factually wrong; the passage states scrolls were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek (line 10), and shepherds discovered, not wrote, them.

9. Ans: (B) – by shepherds in 1947
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “In 1947, Bedouin shepherds stumbled upon” the scrolls (lines 1-2). Choice (A) contradicts the passage; the discovery was accidental, not a planned excavation. Choice (C) is wrong because the third century BCE is when some scrolls were written (line 6), not when they were discovered.

10. Ans: (B) – self-denying
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes the Essenes as living “a communal, ascetic life” after withdrawing from mainstream society (lines 12-14), indicating a lifestyle of self-denial and austerity. Choice (A) reverses the meaning; ascetic life suggests poverty and simplicity, not wealth. Choice (C) confuses “ascetic” with “aesthetic,” an entirely different word.

11. Ans: (D) – a large temple
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage lists a scriptorium, ritual baths, and communal dining areas as features of Qumran (lines 16-18) but never mentions a temple. Choices (A), (B), and (C) are all explicitly stated in lines 16-18. This question requires identifying what is NOT mentioned.

12. Ans: (B) – explain the significance of the scrolls for understanding biblical textual history
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The third paragraph focuses on how the scrolls provided manuscripts “a thousand years older” than previous copies and what this revealed about textual stability and variation (lines 18-23). Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage states the scrolls revealed “remarkable stability,” not contradiction (line 21). Choice (D) is wrong; the passage does not criticize earlier scholars.

13. Ans: (C) – the tenth century CE
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The scrolls date from the third century BCE to the first century CE (line 6) and provided manuscripts “a thousand years older than previously known copies” (lines 19-20). Adding 1,000 years to the first century CE yields approximately the tenth century CE. Choice (B) is wrong because that is when the scrolls themselves were written, not when previous manuscripts dated to. Choice (A) is even earlier than the scrolls themselves.

14. Ans: (B) – both relatively stable and subject to some variation
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states the scrolls “revealed both the remarkable stability of the biblical text over time and the existence of textual variants” (lines 20-22). Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s emphasis on “remarkable stability” (line 21). Choice (C) is too extreme; the passage acknowledges “textual variants” exist (line 22), meaning not perfectly identical.

15. Ans: (B) – protest the denial of women’s political rights and challenge the legitimacy of the verdict
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Anthony states the verdict “trampled underfoot every vital principle of our government” (lines 2-3) and argues her rights and those of all women are ignored (lines 3-8). Choice (A) is completely wrong; she shows no apologetic tone and instead condemns the verdict. Choice (C) is unsupported; she makes no request for mercy but rather challenges the court’s authority.

16. Ans: (B) – subordination
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Anthony contrasts citizen status with being “degraded” to the status of a “subject” and describes this as “political subjection” (lines 6-8), indicating a state of being under authority without rights. Choice (C) reverses the meaning; Anthony is protesting her exclusion from participation, not describing it. Choice (A) is unrelated to the context of political powerlessness.

17. Ans: (C) – a citizen to a subject
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Anthony explicitly states she is “degraded from the status of a citizen to that of a subject” (lines 6-7). Choice (A) reverses the order of the relationship. Choice (B) also reverses the direction; she moved from citizen to subject, not subject to voter.

18. Ans: (A) – argue that the Constitution was intended to protect all people, not just men
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Anthony emphasizes “we, the whole people” and contrasts this with “white male citizens” or “male citizens” alone (lines 13-15), arguing the Constitution was meant for everyone, “women as well as men” (lines 19-20). Choice (B) contradicts her entire argument; she explicitly rejects limiting rights to white male citizens (lines 13-14). Choice (C) reverses her claim; she argues women were part of forming the Union (lines 15-16).

19. Ans: (C) – defiant and principled
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Anthony directly challenges the judge, stating he has “trampled underfoot every vital principle of our government” (lines 2-3) and invokes constitutional principles to defend her position (lines 13-20). Choice (A) is the opposite of her tone; she shows no apology or submission. Choice (D) is wrong; her arguments are clear, confident, and certain, not confused.

20. Ans: (B) – a violation of fundamental governmental principles
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Anthony states the verdict has “trampled underfoot every vital principle of our government” and violated her “natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights” (lines 2-4). Choice (A) contradicts her argument entirely; she fundamentally challenges the law’s legitimacy. Choice (D) is too narrow; she explicitly states “not only myself individually, but all of my sex” are affected (lines 7-8).