Reading Passage for HSPT - 34

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 forward just as Marta swung her satchel onto the overhead rack, and she stumbled into the seat by the window. Outside, the gray facades of Copenhagen’s warehouses slid past, giving way to (5) smaller workshops and then, finally, to the open countryside. She pressed her forehead against the cold glass and watched the November fields blur into streaks of brown and gold. In her coat pocket, folded into a tight square, was the letter (10) from her brother in Argentina. She had read it so many times that the creases were beginning to split.     “You’ll find work in the vineyards,” he had written. “The climate is nothing like home, but (15) the people are kind.” Marta was not convinced. She had never been farther south than Hamburg, and now she was expected to cross an ocean and start over in a place where she didn’t speak the language. Her mother had wept (20) at the station, clutching Marta’s hands and whispering prayers she only half-remembered from childhood.

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

1. First person
2. Second person
3. Third person limited
4. Third person omniscient

2. As used in line 7, the word blur most nearly means

1. merge indistinctly
2. obscure intentionally
3. erase completely
4. focus sharply

3. The detail that Marta has read her brother’s letter many times suggests that she is

1. forgetful and confused about her plans
2. anxious and seeking reassurance
3. bored during the long train journey
4. determined to memorize every word

4. According to the passage, Marta’s brother is currently living in

1. Hamburg
2. Copenhagen
3. Argentina
4. Denmark

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

1. joyful and celebratory
2. uncertain and melancholic
3. hostile and bitter
4. detached and analytical

6. It can be inferred from the passage that Marta’s mother

1. is traveling with Marta to Argentina
2. encouraged Marta to leave Denmark
3. is distressed by Marta’s departure
4. no longer practices her childhood religion

7. The author includes the detail about the “creases beginning to split” primarily to

1. illustrate the poor quality of paper used for international mail
2. emphasize how frequently Marta has handled the letter
3. suggest that Marta is careless with her possessions
4. indicate that the letter was written many years ago

Passage 2

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

    The discovery of the Antikythera mechanism in 1901, pulled from a Roman-era shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera, fundamentally altered our understanding of ancient technological sophistication. This corroded bronze device, no larger (5) than a shoebox, initially baffled researchers. Early investigators recognized gears and inscriptions, but the object’s true function remained elusive for decades. Only with the application of advanced imaging technology in the twenty-first century did the (10) mechanism reveal itself as an intricate astronomical calculator capable of predicting eclipses, tracking the Olympic Games cycle, and modeling the irregular motion of the Moon.     The complexity of the Antikythera mechanism challenges the traditional narrative (15) that technological progress follows a simple linear trajectory. Its existence proves that Greek artisans of the second century BCE possessed mechanical knowledge that would not be matched in Europe until the development of medieval astronomical clocks more than a (20) thousand years later. This revelation forces scholars to reconsider what other sophisticated technologies may have existed in antiquity and subsequently been lost to history.

8. The primary purpose of the passage is to

1. describe the salvage operation that recovered the mechanism
2. explain the significance of an ancient technological artifact
3. compare Greek and Roman engineering techniques
4. argue for increased funding for underwater archaeology

9. According to the passage, the Antikythera mechanism was discovered in

1. the second century BCE
2. the medieval period
3. 1901
4. the twenty-first century

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

1. difficult to grasp
2. deliberately hidden
3. widely debated
4. scientifically invalid

11. The passage indicates that researchers were able to fully understand the mechanism’s function through the use of

1. medieval astronomical clocks
2. advanced imaging technology
3. ancient Greek inscriptions alone
4. Olympic Games records

12. The author mentions medieval astronomical clocks primarily to

1. suggest that medieval technology was superior to ancient Greek technology
2. provide a point of comparison for the mechanism’s sophistication
3. explain how researchers decoded the mechanism’s inscriptions
4. prove that technological knowledge was transmitted from Greece to Europe

13. Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage?

1. A problem is presented and then multiple solutions are compared
2. A discovery is described and then its historical implications are discussed
3. A hypothesis is proposed and then systematically disproven
4. A chronological narrative traces the mechanism from creation to recovery

14. The passage suggests that the Antikythera mechanism’s existence

1. confirms that technological progress always moves forward steadily
2. indicates that some ancient knowledge may have been lost over time
3. proves that Romans were more advanced than previously thought
4. demonstrates that eclipses were more common in ancient times

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a 1919 address by economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen.

    The question of a practicable industrial system for the near future is, in effect, a question of what is to be done with the technological knowledge and proficiency that now is the (5) common possession of the civilized peoples. This technological knowledge is a joint stock, the product of the past and the possession of the community at large, not of any class or nation. It has been accumulated through ages of painful experience and experimentation, and it (10) is added to day by day by the workmen, technologists, and scientists who are carrying on the work. The question for the present is not how this joint stock is to be increased – that goes on as a matter of course – but rather (15) how it is to be administered for the material welfare of the underlying population.     At present, in the main, the control and administration of this technological knowledge is in the hands of the business men, who use it (20) for their own pecuniary gain rather than for the benefit of the community.

15. The main idea of the passage is that

1. technological knowledge should be controlled by scientists rather than workmen
2. the management of shared technological knowledge is a pressing social question
3. business leaders are best suited to administer industrial systems
4. technological progress has slowed in recent years

16. As used in line 6, the phrase joint stock most nearly means

1. corporate investment
2. shared resource
3. financial instrument
4. manufacturing equipment

17. According to the passage, technological knowledge has been accumulated through

1. business competition
2. government planning
3. experience and experimentation
4. community welfare programs

18. Veblen’s tone toward business control of technology can best be described as

1. enthusiastically supportive
2. mildly approving
3. neutral and objective
4. implicitly critical

19. The passage suggests that technological knowledge is currently being used primarily for

1. the material welfare of the population
2. scientific experimentation
3. private financial profit
4. increasing the joint stock

20. It can be inferred from the passage that Veblen believes technological knowledge

1. belongs exclusively to those who created it
2. should be restricted to civilized nations
3. is the collective property of society
4. increases too rapidly to be properly controlled

Answer Key

1. Ans: (C) – Third person limited
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage uses third-person pronouns (“she,” “her”) and provides access to Marta’s thoughts and perceptions (“Marta was not convinced”) but does not reveal the inner thoughts of other characters, which is characteristic of third person limited narration (lines 1–20). Answer (A) is incorrect because the narrator is not a character using “I.” Answer (D) is incorrect because the narration does not reveal the thoughts of multiple characters.

2. Ans: (A) – merge indistinctly
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, the fields “blur into streaks” as seen from a moving train, indicating they become visually indistinct or merged together due to the speed of motion. Answer (C) is incorrect because the fields are not erased or disappearing. Answer (D) is incorrect because it represents the opposite of what happens when something blurs.

3. Ans: (B) – anxious and seeking reassurance
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that Marta has read the letter “so many times that the creases were beginning to split” (lines 9–10), and later reveals her doubts (“Marta was not convinced” in line 16), suggesting she repeatedly returns to her brother’s words for comfort about her uncertain journey. Answer (A) is incorrect because nothing suggests she is forgetful. Answer (C) is incorrect because the letter-reading occurred before the train journey even begins.

4. Ans: (C) – Argentina
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that the letter is “from her brother in Argentina” (line 10). Answer (A) is incorrect because Hamburg is mentioned only as the farthest south Marta herself has traveled (line 17). Answer (B) is incorrect because Copenhagen is where Marta is departing from, not where her brother lives.

5. Ans: (B) – uncertain and melancholic
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys Marta’s doubts about her journey (“Marta was not convinced” in line 16), her mother’s tears (line 18), and the somber November setting (line 5), creating an atmosphere of sadness and uncertainty. Answer (A) is incorrect because there is no joy in the departure scene. Answer (C) is incorrect because while there is sadness, there is no hostility or bitterness expressed.

6. Ans: (C) – is distressed by Marta’s departure
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes Marta’s mother weeping at the station and “clutching Marta’s hands and whispering prayers” (lines 18–20), behaviors that clearly indicate emotional distress at the separation. Answer (A) is incorrect because the mother is at the station seeing Marta off, not traveling with her. Answer (B) is incorrect because the mother’s weeping suggests the opposite of encouragement.

7. Ans: (B) – emphasize how frequently Marta has handled the letter
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The detail that the creases are “beginning to split” from Marta having “read it so many times” (lines 9–10) physically demonstrates the frequency of her handling the letter, reinforcing her emotional attachment and need for reassurance. Answer (A) is incorrect because the splitting results from repeated folding, not paper quality. Answer (D) is incorrect because nothing in the passage suggests the letter is old; it describes a current journey.

8. Ans: (B) – explain the significance of an ancient technological artifact
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage describes the Antikythera mechanism and then discusses how its complexity “challenges the traditional narrative” and “forces scholars to reconsider” assumptions about ancient technology (lines 14–22), focusing on the artifact’s historical importance. Answer (A) is incorrect because the salvage operation is mentioned only briefly in passing. Answer (C) is incorrect because the passage focuses on Greek technology, not a comparison with Roman engineering.

9. Ans: (C) – 1901
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “The discovery of the Antikythera mechanism in 1901” occurred when it was “pulled from a Roman-era shipwreck” (lines 1–3). Answer (A) is incorrect because the second century BCE is when the mechanism was created, not discovered. Answer (D) is incorrect because the twenty-first century is when advanced imaging was applied, not when the initial discovery occurred.

10. Ans: (A) – difficult to grasp
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, the mechanism’s “true function remained elusive for decades” means researchers could not understand or determine it despite their efforts, indicating it was difficult to grasp or comprehend. Answer (B) is incorrect because “elusive” here refers to intellectual difficulty, not deliberate concealment. Answer (D) is incorrect because the function was real and valid, just hard to discover.

11. Ans: (B) – advanced imaging technology
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “Only with the application of advanced imaging technology in the twenty-first century did the mechanism reveal itself” as an astronomical calculator (lines 8–11). Answer (A) is incorrect because medieval clocks are mentioned for comparison, not as a research tool. Answer (C) is incorrect because inscriptions alone were insufficient; the passage says early investigators saw inscriptions but the function “remained elusive.”

12. Ans: (B) – provide a point of comparison for the mechanism’s sophistication
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage states that the mechanism’s mechanical knowledge “would not be matched in Europe until the development of medieval astronomical clocks more than a thousand years later” (lines 17–20), using the clocks to illustrate how advanced the ancient device was. Answer (A) is incorrect because the passage indicates the medieval technology only matched, not surpassed, the mechanism. Answer (D) is incorrect because the passage does not claim direct transmission of knowledge.

13. Ans: (B) – A discovery is described and then its historical implications are discussed
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph describes the discovery and identification of the mechanism (lines 1–12), while the second paragraph discusses how this discovery “challenges the traditional narrative” and “forces scholars to reconsider” historical assumptions (lines 14–22). Answer (A) is incorrect because no solutions are compared. Answer (C) is incorrect because no hypothesis is disproven; rather, a traditional narrative is challenged.

14. Ans: (B) – indicates that some ancient knowledge may have been lost over time
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that the mechanism’s existence “forces scholars to reconsider what other sophisticated technologies may have existed in antiquity and subsequently been lost to history” (lines 20–22). Answer (A) is incorrect because the passage explicitly states the mechanism “challenges” the idea of “simple linear trajectory” of progress (lines 14–15). Answer (C) is incorrect because the passage focuses on Greek, not Roman, technological advancement.

15. Ans: (B) – the management of shared technological knowledge is a pressing social question
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage opens by framing “the question of a practicable industrial system” as really “a question of what is to be done with the technological knowledge” (lines 1–4), and asks “how it is to be administered for the material welfare of the underlying population” (lines 14–16). Answer (A) is incorrect because Veblen does not advocate for scientist control specifically. Answer (C) is incorrect because it contradicts Veblen’s critical tone toward business administration in lines 18–20.

16. Ans: (B) – shared resource
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, Veblen describes technological knowledge as “a joint stock, the product of the past and the possession of the community at large, not of any class or nation,” indicating it is a collectively owned resource. Answer (A) is incorrect because while “joint stock” has a financial meaning, the context makes clear Veblen is speaking metaphorically about shared knowledge. Answer (C) is similarly incorrect as it represents the literal financial meaning rather than the contextual meaning.

17. Ans: (C) – experience and experimentation
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that technological knowledge “has been accumulated through ages of painful experience and experimentation” (lines 7–9). Answer (A) is incorrect because business is mentioned only in terms of current control, not the source of accumulated knowledge. Answer (B) is incorrect because government planning is not mentioned at all in the passage.

18. Ans: (D) – implicitly critical
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Veblen states that business men use technological knowledge “for their own pecuniary gain rather than for the benefit of the community” (lines 19–20), a contrast that implies criticism of prioritizing private profit over public welfare. Answer (A) is incorrect because Veblen clearly disapproves of business control. Answer (C) is incorrect because the phrase “rather than” signals a value judgment, not neutrality.

19. Ans: (C) – private financial profit
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that business men “use it for their own pecuniary gain” (lines 19–20), with “pecuniary” meaning financial or monetary. Answer (A) is incorrect because Veblen contrasts business use with “the material welfare of the underlying population,” indicating welfare is not the current priority. Answer (D) is incorrect because Veblen says increasing the joint stock “goes on as a matter of course,” not that it is the primary use.

20. Ans: (C) – is the collective property of society
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Veblen explicitly describes technological knowledge as “the common possession of the civilized peoples” and “the possession of the community at large, not of any class or nation” (lines 4–7), indicating he views it as collective property. Answer (A) is incorrect because it directly contradicts the passage’s statement that the knowledge is “not of any class.” Answer (D) is incorrect because Veblen states that increase “goes on as a matter of course” without suggesting it is problematic.