Reading Passage for HSPT - 33

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 beneath the door of our rented rooms in Cairo while Mother and I were at the market. I found it when we returned, the thin envelope already (5) dusty from the floor. Mother set down her basket of dates and flatbread, wiped her hands on her skirt, and read it twice without speaking. Then she handed it to me.     “Your father has extended his permit,” she said quietly. “He won’t return until (10) November.”     I had expected this. For three months, Father had been excavating a Roman settlement near Luxor, sending us occasional letters filled with descriptions of pottery shards and (15) column fragments. His passion for antiquity had always eclipsed his attention to us. Still, I felt a sharp disappointment. November meant I would begin school here, among strangers, in a language I barely understood.     Mother must have (20) seen the change in my expression. She touched my shoulder and said, “We shall make the best of it, Charlotte. Perhaps you’ll discover you have your father’s curiosity after all.”

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the historical importance of Roman settlements in Egypt
2. portray a moment of disappointment and adjustment in a young person’s life
3. explain why the narrator’s father chose archaeology as a profession
4. illustrate the difficulties of living in Cairo during the early twentieth century

2. As used in line 14, the word eclipsed most nearly means

1. darkened
2. overshadowed
3. hidden
4. replaced

3. The narrator’s disappointment upon reading the telegram is primarily caused by

1. her father’s lack of interest in Roman pottery
2. the realization that she will have to attend school in Cairo
3. her mother’s decision to remain in Egypt
4. the poor condition of their rented rooms

4. The detail that the envelope was “already dusty from the floor” (lines 4-5) suggests that

1. the telegram had been delivered several days earlier
2. the family’s living conditions were somewhat neglected
3. the narrator and her mother had been away for some time
4. mail delivery in Cairo was unreliable

5. The tone of the mother’s final statement (lines 21-22) can best be described as

1. bitterly sarcastic
2. gently encouraging
3. coldly dismissive
4. anxiously uncertain

6. It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that Charlotte

1. shares her father’s enthusiasm for archaeology
2. has lived in Cairo for many years
3. feels neglected by her father’s professional commitments
4. speaks Arabic fluently

7. The narrator states that she “had expected this” (line 11) in order to

1. emphasize that her father frequently broke his promises
2. show that she understood her father’s priorities despite her disappointment
3. prove that she had read his earlier letters carefully
4. suggest that she wanted to remain in Cairo permanently

Passage 2

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

    Deep beneath the Arctic permafrost, millions of microscopic organisms lie dormant in a state of suspended animation. These extremophiles – organisms that thrive in conditions lethal to most life forms – have been frozen (5) for thousands of years, their metabolic processes slowed to near-cessation. Recent research suggests that many retain the ability to revive when thawed, raising profound questions about the nature of biological resilience and the potential risks of climate change.     In (10) 2021, scientists extracted ice cores from Siberian permafrost and successfully reanimated bdelloid rotifers that had been frozen for approximately 24,000 years. These microscopic animals, barely visible to the naked eye, resumed feeding and reproducing within hours (15) of thawing. The discovery shattered previous records for organismal survival in frozen conditions and demonstrated that complex multicellular life can endure far longer than previously imagined.     The implications extend beyond mere scientific curiosity. As global temperatures (20) rise and permafrost thaws at accelerating rates, ancient microbes are being released into modern ecosystems. Some may be harmless, but others could carry pathogens against which contemporary organisms have no immunity. The permafrost, in effect, serves as a biological time capsule – one (25) that climate change is now forcing open.

8. The main idea of this passage is that

1. bdelloid rotifers are among the most resilient organisms on Earth
2. ancient organisms frozen in permafrost may pose risks as global temperatures rise
3. climate change is causing temperatures in Siberia to increase rapidly
4. scientists have recently developed new techniques for extracting ice cores

9. According to the passage, the bdelloid rotifers discovered in 2021 had been frozen for approximately

1. several hundred years
2. 2,400 years
3. 24,000 years
4. 240,000 years

10. As used in line 7, the word profound most nearly means

1. deeply significant
2. extremely difficult
3. highly technical
4. widely disputed

11. The author compares permafrost to a “biological time capsule” (line 23) in order to

1. suggest that frozen organisms are of interest only to historians
2. emphasize that permafrost preserves ancient life forms that are now being released
3. argue that permafrost should be excavated for scientific study
4. demonstrate that climate change began thousands of years ago

12. The passage suggests that the reanimation of ancient microbes could be dangerous because

1. they reproduce more rapidly than modern organisms
2. they require extreme cold to survive
3. modern organisms may lack immunity to ancient pathogens
4. scientists cannot control their spread once thawed

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

1. argue for increased funding for permafrost research
2. explain a scientific discovery and its potential consequences
3. describe the process by which ice cores are extracted
4. warn readers about the immediate dangers of Arctic exploration

14. Which of the following statements about extremophiles is supported by the passage?

1. They can only survive in Arctic environments.
2. They are all microscopic organisms.
3. They can survive in conditions that would kill most life forms.
4. They are immune to all known pathogens.

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a historical essay.

    It is a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or (5) six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants, who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want (10) of work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.     I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and (15) frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound, useful members of the commonwealth would deserve so well of the public as to have his (20) statue set up for a preserver of the nation.

15. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. propose a specific solution to poverty
2. describe the severity of poverty and call attention to the need for a solution
3. criticize mothers for begging in the streets
4. encourage emigration to Spain and the Barbadoes

16. As used in line 5, the word importuning most nearly means

1. urgently requesting
2. angrily confronting
3. politely greeting
4. deliberately avoiding

17. According to the passage, mothers are forced to beg because they

1. prefer begging to working
2. cannot find honest work while caring for their children
3. are waiting for their husbands to return from Spain
4. have been ordered to do so by the government

18. The passage suggests that children who grow up in poverty often

1. receive education from charitable organizations
2. find work in their native country
3. turn to crime or leave the country
4. establish successful businesses

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

1. celebratory and optimistic
2. somber and concerned
3. angry and accusatory
4. detached and scientific

20. The author suggests that a person who could solve the problem of impoverished children would

1. be elected to high political office
2. receive great wealth from the government
3. deserve public honor as a national hero
4. be granted land in the Barbadoes

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – portray a moment of disappointment and adjustment in a young person’s life
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on Charlotte’s reaction to learning her father will not return soon and her resulting disappointment about starting school in Cairo (lines 15-17), making this a character study of a moment of adjustment. Choice (A) is wrong because the passage mentions Roman settlements only briefly as context for the father’s work, not as the primary focus. Choice (D) is too broad, as the passage focuses on one family’s personal situation rather than general difficulties of Cairo life.

2. Ans: (B) – overshadowed
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage states that the father’s “passion for antiquity had always eclipsed his attention” to his family (lines 14-15), meaning his professional interests overshadowed or took precedence over family attention. Choice (A) is wrong because “darkened” is too literal an interpretation of eclipse as an astronomical event. Choice (D) is incorrect because the father’s passion did not replace his attention entirely, but rather diminished its priority.

3. Ans: (B) – the realization that she will have to attend school in Cairo
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The narrator explicitly states that “November meant I would begin school here, among strangers, in a language I barely understood” (lines 16-18) immediately after expressing disappointment. Choice (A) reverses the passage content, as the father is interested in pottery, not lacking interest. Choice (C) is wrong because the mother’s decision to remain is not mentioned as a source of disappointment.

4. Ans: (C) – the narrator and her mother had been away for some time
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states they were “at the market” when the telegram arrived and it became dusty from lying on the floor (lines 3-5), suggesting they had been gone long enough for dust to accumulate. Choice (A) is not supported, as dust could accumulate in a single afternoon in Cairo. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage gives no information about the reliability of mail delivery.

5. Ans: (B) – gently encouraging
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The mother’s words “We shall make the best of it” and suggestion that Charlotte might discover her father’s curiosity (lines 21-22) are supportive and hopeful in tone. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no sarcasm in her attempt to comfort Charlotte. Choice (C) is incorrect because the mother touches Charlotte’s shoulder (line 20), a gesture of warmth, not dismissiveness.

6. Ans: (C) – feels neglected by her father’s professional commitments
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage indicates the father’s “passion for antiquity had always eclipsed his attention” to the family (lines 14-15) and Charlotte’s disappointment at his extended absence, suggesting she feels neglected. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, as Charlotte does not express enthusiasm for archaeology. Choice (D) is contradicted by line 18, where she states she “barely understood” the language.

7. Ans: (B) – show that she understood her father’s priorities despite her disappointment
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Charlotte follows “I had expected this” (line 11) with an explanation of her father’s passion eclipsing family attention (lines 13-15), showing she understood his character even while feeling disappointed. Choice (A) is too extreme, as the passage does not emphasize broken promises but rather consistent prioritization. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, as Charlotte clearly does not want to remain in Cairo.

8. Ans: (B) – ancient organisms frozen in permafrost may pose risks as global temperatures rise
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses dormant organisms in permafrost (lines 1-9), their successful reanimation (lines 10-17), and the potential risks of ancient pathogens being released as permafrost thaws (lines 19-25). Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on one example rather than the broader implications. Choice (C) is a supporting detail, not the main idea of the entire passage.

9. Ans: (C) – 24,000 years
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage explicitly states that the rotifers “had been frozen for approximately 24,000 years” (lines 12-13). Choice (B) represents a misreading of the number, confusing 24,000 with 2,400. Choice (D) adds an extra zero, demonstrating careless reading of the specific detail provided.

10. Ans: (A) – deeply significant
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes organisms that can revive after millennia raising “profound questions about the nature of biological resilience” (lines 7-8), meaning deeply significant or important questions. Choice (B) is wrong because the sentence does not suggest the questions are difficult to answer, but rather important. Choice (C) misses the emotional weight of “profound,” which implies importance beyond mere technicality.

11. Ans: (B) – emphasize that permafrost preserves ancient life forms that are now being released
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author uses the time capsule metaphor immediately after discussing ancient microbes being released (lines 20-23) and follows it by stating “climate change is now forcing open” this capsule (lines 24-25). Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage emphasizes scientific and health concerns, not merely historical interest. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage does not advocate for deliberate excavation.

12. Ans: (C) – modern organisms may lack immunity to ancient pathogens
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage explicitly states that some microbes “could carry pathogens against which contemporary organisms have no immunity” (lines 22-23). Choice (A) is not stated in the passage and represents information not provided. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, which discusses organisms that can survive when thawed, not requiring cold.

13. Ans: (B) – explain a scientific discovery and its potential consequences
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage describes the 2021 rotifer discovery (lines 10-17) and then discusses the implications for climate change and public health (lines 18-25). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage never mentions funding or makes a direct argument for it. Choice (D) is too extreme, as the passage discusses potential risks, not immediate dangers of exploration.

14. Ans: (C) – They can survive in conditions that would kill most life forms.
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage defines extremophiles as “organisms that thrive in conditions lethal to most life forms” (lines 3-4). Choice (A) is too narrow, as extremophiles can exist in various extreme environments, not only Arctic ones. Choice (B) is contradicted by the passage, which mentions “complex multicellular life” (line 16) as extremophiles.

15. Ans: (B) – describe the severity of poverty and call attention to the need for a solution
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes impoverished mothers and children (lines 1-11) and concludes by praising anyone who could find a solution (lines 16-20). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage calls for a solution but does not propose a specific one. Choice (C) misreads the tone, as the author sympathizes with mothers “forced to employ all their time” begging (lines 6-7).

16. Ans: (A) – urgently requesting
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes beggars “importuning every passenger for an alms” (lines 5-6), meaning persistently and urgently requesting money. Choice (B) is too aggressive in tone, as begging implies requesting rather than confronting. Choice (C) is too mild, as “importuning” suggests persistent urgency beyond mere politeness.

17. Ans: (B) – cannot find honest work while caring for their children
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage states mothers “instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants” (lines 6-9). Choice (A) reverses the passage, which says they are “forced” to beg, not that they prefer it. Choice (D) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

18. Ans: (C) – turn to crime or leave the country
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage states that as children grow up, they “either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country” to fight abroad or sell themselves (lines 9-11). Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, which emphasizes the lack of work available.

19. Ans: (B) – somber and concerned
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The opening words “melancholy object” (line 1) and phrases like “deplorable state of the kingdom” (line 15) establish a somber, concerned tone about poverty. Choice (A) is contradicted by the melancholy opening. Choice (C) is too extreme, as the author expresses sadness and concern rather than anger.

20. Ans: (C) – deserve public honor as a national hero
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage states such a person “would deserve so well of the public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation” (lines 18-20), indicating public honor. Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (D) confuses the Barbadoes, mentioned earlier as a destination for the desperate (line 11), with a reward.