Reading Passage for HSPT - 30

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 train lurched to a stop at the edge of the Sonoran Desert, and Clara pressed her forehead against the window, watching the dust settle over the tracks. Her father had sent her west with nothing but a leather trunk and a letter of introduction to a woman she had never met. The year was 1889, and (5) Philadelphia seemed impossibly distant now, its cobblestone streets and gaslit avenues replaced by an expanse of sand and sagebrush that stretched toward mountains she could not name.     A conductor appeared in the aisle, his face weathered and expressionless. “Rosario Station,” he announced. “End of the line.” Clara gathered her belongings and stepped onto the platform, (10) where the heat struck her like a physical blow. She had expected someone to meet her, but the platform was empty except for a single wooden bench and a water barrel that looked as though it had not been filled in weeks.     She waited for nearly an hour before a wagon appeared on the horizon, moving slowly through the shimmering air. The driver was a woman of perhaps fifty, (15) her hair braided tightly beneath a wide-brimmed hat. She pulled the horses to a stop and regarded Clara with an expression that might have been amusement or skepticism. “You must be the schoolteacher,” she said. “I’m Mrs. Caldwell. You’re younger than I expected.” Clara straightened her shoulders and met the woman’s gaze, determined not to appear as uncertain as she felt. (20)

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

1. Clara’s memories of her life in Philadelphia
2. Clara’s arrival at an unfamiliar destination
3. the challenges of train travel in the American West
4. the development of a friendship between two women

2. According to the passage, Clara is traveling to the desert because

1. she has always wanted to explore the western territories
2. her father has arranged for her to go there
3. she is fleeing from a difficult situation in Philadelphia
4. Mrs. Caldwell has specifically requested her services

3. As used in line 10, the word “struck” most nearly means

1. attacked
2. impressed
3. hit
4. discovered

4. The description of the water barrel in lines 11–12 suggests that

1. the station is not regularly maintained
2. there has been a severe drought in the region
3. Clara will need to bring her own water supply
4. the train conductor has been neglecting his duties

5. Clara’s reaction to Mrs. Caldwell in lines 19–20 indicates that she

1. feels intimidated by the older woman’s appearance
2. wishes to conceal her nervousness
3. recognizes Mrs. Caldwell from a photograph
4. is relieved to finally meet her employer

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

1. humorous and lighthearted
2. tense and apprehensive
3. nostalgic and sentimental
4. bitter and resentful

7. The contrast between Philadelphia and the Sonoran Desert primarily emphasizes

1. Clara’s preference for urban environments
2. the superiority of eastern cities over western settlements
3. the dramatic change in Clara’s circumstances
4. the difficulty of traveling long distances by train

Passage 2

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

    The octopus possesses a nervous system so alien to our own that studying it offers a window into the evolution of intelligence itself. Unlike vertebrates, whose brains are centralized in a protective skull, an octopus distributes its neurons throughout its body: approximately two-thirds of its (5) five hundred million nerve cells reside not in its brain but in its eight arms. Each arm operates with considerable autonomy, capable of exploring a crevice, identifying prey, and manipulating objects without direct input from the central brain.     This decentralized architecture presents fascinating questions about consciousness and decision-making. When an octopus reaches into a jar (10) to retrieve a crab, is the arm acting on instructions from the brain, or is it making independent judgments based on local sensory information? Research suggests the answer lies somewhere between these extremes. The arms possess what scientists call “embodied cognition,” processing tactical information independently while the central brain handles strategic oversight and integrates sensory data from all eight limbs.     Moreover, (15) octopuses exhibit remarkable problem-solving abilities that rival those of many vertebrates. Laboratory studies have documented octopuses opening childproof containers, navigating mazes, and even recognizing individual human researchers. Some species engage in sophisticated hunting strategies, such as using coconut shells as portable shelters or employing coordinated movements to flush prey from hiding places. These (20) behaviors challenge traditional assumptions about the neural requirements for complex cognition.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. argue that octopuses are more intelligent than vertebrates
2. explain the unique features of octopus neurology and intelligence
3. describe the physical appearance of octopus nervous systems
4. compare different species of octopuses and their behaviors

9. According to the passage, approximately how many neurons does an octopus have in its brain?

1. Five hundred million
2. One hundred sixty-seven million
3. Three hundred thirty-three million
4. Two hundred fifty million

10. As used in line 8, the word “autonomy” most nearly means

1. freedom
2. independence
3. isolation
4. authority

11. The concept of “embodied cognition” mentioned in line 13 refers to

1. the octopus brain’s ability to control all eight arms simultaneously
2. the arms’ capacity to process information without brain direction
3. the integration of sensory data by the central brain
4. the octopus’s ability to recognize individual humans

12. The author mentions coconut shells in line 19 as an example of

1. the octopus’s natural habitat
2. tactical information processed by octopus arms
3. sophisticated problem-solving behavior
4. a coordinated hunting strategy

13. It can be inferred from the passage that traditional assumptions about cognition have been

1. confirmed by octopus research
2. based primarily on vertebrate brain structure
3. rejected entirely by modern scientists
4. developed through laboratory studies of octopuses

14. The organization of the passage is best described as

1. a chronological account of octopus evolution
2. a comparison of octopus and vertebrate intelligence
3. a presentation of octopus neural structure followed by examples of cognitive abilities
4. an argument against conventional neuroscience followed by supporting evidence

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered by Susan B. Anthony in 1873.

    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 (5) no crime, but, 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 (10) welfare, and secure 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. The main purpose of Anthony’s speech is to

1. apologize for breaking the law by voting illegally
2. argue that her act of voting was constitutionally protected
3. describe the experience of being indicted for voting
4. encourage other women to vote in future elections

16. According to the passage, Anthony believes that the Constitution was created by

1. white male citizens exclusively
2. all male citizens of the United States
3. the entire population, including women
4. those citizens who possess the right to vote

17. As used in line 7, the word “posterity” most nearly means

1. descendants
2. ancestors
3. neighbors
4. representatives

18. Anthony’s use of the phrase “downright mockery” in line 16 suggests that she feels

1. amused by the contradiction in denying women the vote
2. indifferent to the political situation of women
3. outraged by the hypocrisy of excluding women from voting
4. uncertain whether women truly deserve political rights

19. Anthony argues that the ballot is

1. a privilege granted by individual states
2. the essential tool for protecting liberty
3. a blessing provided to half the population
4. less important than other constitutional rights

20. The tone of the passage is best described as

1. apologetic and humble
2. detached and academic
3. assertive and impassioned
4. sarcastic and dismissive

Answer Key

1. Ans: ((B)) – Clara’s arrival at an unfamiliar destination
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Clara stepping off the train in an unfamiliar desert location and waiting to be met by Mrs. Caldwell (lines 1–20). Choice (A) is too narrow; while Philadelphia is mentioned, Clara’s memories are not the focus. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage ends at their first meeting, with no friendship yet developed.

2. Ans: ((B)) – her father has arranged for her to go there
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “Her father had sent her west with nothing but a leather trunk and a letter of introduction” (lines 2–3). Choice (A) is not stated in the passage; there is no indication Clara wanted to travel west. Choice (C) reverses the situation; she is being sent, not fleeing.

3. Ans: ((C)) – hit
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 10, the heat “struck her like a physical blow,” meaning it hit her with sudden force. Choice (B) is a valid definition of “struck” but does not fit this context of physical impact. Choice (D) uses a different meaning of “struck” that is inappropriate here.

4. Ans: ((A)) – the station is not regularly maintained
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The description of the water barrel as looking “as though it had not been filled in weeks” (lines 11–12) suggests neglect and lack of maintenance. Choice (B) is too broad; a drought is not mentioned, only the barrel’s condition. Choice (C) is not stated; there is no indication Clara needs to bring water.

5. Ans: ((B)) – wishes to conceal her nervousness
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Clara “straightened her shoulders and met the woman’s gaze, determined not to appear as uncertain as she felt” (lines 19–20), showing she wants to hide her true feelings. Choice (C) is not stated; there is no mention of a photograph. Choice (D) contradicts the text; Clara appears uncertain, not relieved.

6. Ans: ((B)) – tense and apprehensive
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys Clara’s uncertainty and nervousness as she arrives alone in an unfamiliar place and waits anxiously (lines 10–20). Choice (A) is incorrect; there is no humor in the passage. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage focuses on present apprehension, not nostalgic reflection.

7. Ans: ((C)) – the dramatic change in Clara’s circumstances
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The contrast between “cobblestone streets and gaslit avenues” and “an expanse of sand and sagebrush” (lines 5–7) highlights how completely Clara’s environment has changed. Choice (A) is not stated; we do not know Clara’s preferences. Choice (B) distorts the passage; no judgment about superiority is made.

8. Ans: ((B)) – explain the unique features of octopus neurology and intelligence
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage describes the octopus’s distributed nervous system (lines 3–8) and then discusses its cognitive abilities (lines 15–20). Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage does not argue octopuses are more intelligent than all vertebrates. Choice (D) is incorrect; different octopus species are not compared.

9. Ans: ((B)) – One hundred sixty-seven million
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “two-thirds of its five hundred million nerve cells reside not in its brain but in its eight arms” (lines 4–6), meaning one-third (approximately 167 million) are in the brain. Choice (A) is the total number of neurons, not those in the brain. Choice (C) reverses the fraction, giving the number in the arms instead.

10. Ans: ((B)) – independence
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, “autonomy” describes how each arm can operate and make decisions “without direct input from the central brain,” indicating independence. Choice (A), while related, is too abstract for this scientific context. Choice (C) is incorrect; autonomy does not mean isolation.

11. Ans: ((B)) – the arms’ capacity to process information without brain direction
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explains that embodied cognition means “processing tactical information independently while the central brain handles strategic oversight” (lines 13–14). Choice (A) contradicts the passage; the brain does not control all arms simultaneously in this model. Choice (D) uses information from the passage but is unrelated to embodied cognition.

12. Ans: ((C)) – sophisticated problem-solving behavior
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The coconut shell example appears in a sentence about “sophisticated hunting strategies” and follows a discussion of “remarkable problem-solving abilities” (lines 15–19). Choice (A) is incorrect; coconut shells are used as tools, not natural habitats. Choice (B) confuses tactical information with the specific example given.

13. Ans: ((B)) – based primarily on vertebrate brain structure
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage contrasts octopus neurology with “vertebrates, whose brains are centralized” (line 3) and states octopus behaviors “challenge traditional assumptions about the neural requirements for complex cognition” (lines 20–21), implying these assumptions were based on vertebrate models. Choice (A) contradicts the passage; the assumptions are challenged, not confirmed. Choice (C) is too extreme; they are challenged, not rejected entirely.

14. Ans: ((C)) – a presentation of octopus neural structure followed by examples of cognitive abilities
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph describes the distributed nervous system (lines 1–8), the second discusses decision-making (lines 9–15), and the third provides examples of problem-solving (lines 15–21). Choice (A) is incorrect; the passage does not discuss evolution chronologically. Choice (D) is wrong; the passage does not argue against neuroscience.

15. Ans: ((B)) – argue that her act of voting was constitutionally protected
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Anthony explicitly states she will “prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me…by the National Constitution” (lines 3–6). Choice (A) contradicts the passage; she argues she committed no crime. Choice (D) is not stated as her purpose in this speech.

16. Ans: ((C)) – the entire population, including women
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Anthony emphasizes that the Constitution says “We, the people” and clarifies this means “not we, the white male citizens…but we, the whole people, who formed the Union” (lines 11–13). Choice (A) is what Anthony argues against. Choice (B) is also rejected in her argument (lines 11–12).

17. Ans: ((A)) – descendants
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “posterity” appears in the phrase “ourselves and our posterity,” referring to future generations or descendants. Choice (B) is the opposite; ancestors are past generations. Choice (C) is unrelated to the meaning in this context.

18. Ans: ((C)) – outraged by the hypocrisy of excluding women from voting
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Anthony calls it a “downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied” the ballot (lines 16–18), expressing strong disapproval of this contradiction. Choice (A) misreads her tone; she is outraged, not amused. Choice (D) contradicts the entire argument; she clearly believes women deserve rights.

19. Ans: ((B)) – the essential tool for protecting liberty
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Anthony describes the ballot as “the only means of securing” the blessings of liberty (lines 17–18), making it essential. Choice (A) contradicts her argument; she claims voting is a constitutional right, not a state privilege. Choice (D) reverses her position; she argues the ballot is the most important means of protection.

20. Ans: ((C)) – assertive and impassioned
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Anthony makes strong declarative statements (“I stand before you tonight under indictment,” line 1) and uses emphatic language (“downright mockery,” line 16) throughout. Choice (A) is incorrect; she does not apologize but defends her actions. Choice (B) is wrong; the speech is passionate, not detached.