Reading Passage for HSPT - 35

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 Margot wedged her suitcase into the overhead rack, and she stumbled into the seat by the window. Outside, the Glasgow platform dissolved into a blur of grey stone and iron girders. She pressed (5) her gloved hand against the cold glass, watching the city give way to the low hills of Lanarkshire, their slopes darkened by November rain.

    Across from her sat a woman knitting with remarkable speed, her needles clicking in steady rhythm. The woman glanced up once, (10) offered a tight smile, and returned to her work. Margot envied that kind of purposeful absorption. Her own hands lay idle in her lap, though her mind raced with questions she had rehearsed a dozen times during the (15) sleepless night before. What would she say to her brother after three years of silence? Would he even meet her at the station, or had her telegram arrived too late?

    The conductor passed through, (20) punching tickets with brisk efficiency. Margot handed hers over and received a curt nod in return. She had purchased a second-class ticket to Edinburgh, though the expense had taken nearly all the money she had saved from her work at the milliner’s shop. It seemed a reckless (25) extravagance now, but when she had stood at the booking office that morning, the decision had felt urgent and necessary, like drawing breath after holding it too long.

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

1. Margot’s journey to reconcile with her estranged brother
2. the economic hardships faced by working women in Scotland
3. a comparison between train travel and other forms of transportation
4. the knitting techniques of Scottish women in the early twentieth century

2. According to the passage, Margot’s ticket was expensive because

1. she had to bribe the conductor for a better seat
2. train fares to Edinburgh were unusually high in November
3. it cost nearly all the money she had saved from her job
4. second-class tickets were more costly than first-class ones

3. As used in line 24, the word "reckless" most nearly means

1. impulsive
2. courageous
3. thoughtful
4. criminal

4. It can be inferred from the passage that Margot and her brother

1. have maintained regular correspondence over the years
2. have not communicated for an extended period
3. grew up together in Edinburgh
4. work together at a milliner’s shop

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

1. celebratory and joyful
2. anxious and reflective
3. hostile and bitter
4. detached and scholarly

6. Margot envies the knitting woman because the woman

1. has more money than Margot does
2. is traveling to a more interesting destination
3. appears focused and engaged in her activity
4. owns a first-class ticket to Edinburgh

7. The comparison of Margot’s decision to buy the ticket to "drawing breath after holding it too long" (lines 25-26) suggests that she

1. had been suffering from a respiratory illness
2. felt a sense of relief and necessity in making the journey
3. was angry at her brother for ignoring her letters
4. had difficulty breathing on the train

Passage 2

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

    In the highlands of central Peru, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a sophisticated agricultural system that sustained Andean civilizations for more than a millennium. These raised field systems, known locally as waru waru, (5) consist of elevated planting platforms separated by water-filled canals. Far from being primitive, this technology represents an ingenious adaptation to the challenges of high-altitude farming.

    The waru waru system addressed several environmental obstacles simultaneously. The (10) canals absorbed solar radiation during the day and released heat at night, creating a microclimate that protected crops from the killing frosts common at elevations above 12,000 feet. Meanwhile, the raised platforms improved drainage during the rainy season and concentrated (15) organic matter in the soil. Sediment dredged from the canals provided nutrient-rich fertilizer that replenished the fields each year.

    Recent experimental archaeology has validated the effectiveness of these ancient techniques. When researchers (20) reconstructed waru waru fields near Lake Titicaca, they achieved potato yields seven times higher than those from conventional modern plots in the same region. The water in the canals also supported fish and aquatic plants, adding protein and (25) variety to the local diet. Yet despite this proven success, the system fell into disuse centuries ago, likely due to social upheaval following the Spanish conquest. Today, some Andean communities are reviving waru waru agriculture as a sustainable alternative to chemical-intensive farming methods.

8. The main purpose of the passage is to

1. describe an ancient agricultural innovation and its modern applications
2. argue that modern farming techniques are inferior to traditional ones
3. explain why the Spanish conquest destroyed Andean civilization
4. criticize archaeologists for interfering with indigenous communities

9. According to the passage, the canals in the waru waru system

1. were built primarily for transporting goods between villages
2. absorbed heat during the day and released it at night
3. were filled with chemical fertilizers imported from Spain
4. prevented all frost damage to crops year-round

10. As used in line 6, the word "primitive" most nearly means

1. ancient
2. unsophisticated
3. original
4. spiritual

11. The passage indicates that experimental waru waru fields produced

1. slightly lower yields than conventional modern fields
2. crops that were inedible due to canal contamination
3. potato yields seven times greater than modern plots in the region
4. exactly the same results as fields from a millennium ago

12. It can be inferred from the passage that the waru waru system fell into disuse primarily because of

1. environmental changes that made the canals ineffective
2. social disruption following European colonization
3. superior Spanish agricultural technologies
4. the exhaustion of nutrients in the highland soil

13. The author mentions fish and aquatic plants (lines 23-24) in order to

1. illustrate an additional nutritional benefit of the canal system
2. prove that ancient Andeans were primarily fishermen
3. contrast ancient diets with modern Peruvian cuisine
4. explain why the platforms needed to be elevated

14. The structure of the passage can best be described as

1. a chronological narrative of Andean history from ancient times to the present
2. a description of an agricultural system followed by evidence of its effectiveness
3. an argument against modern farming followed by a rebuttal
4. a comparison of multiple agricultural techniques from different cultures

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s address to the New York State Legislature in 1854.

    We do not expect our path will be strewn with the flowers of popular applause, but over the thorns of bigotry and prejudice will be our way, and on our banners will beat the dark storm clouds of opposition from those who have (5) entrenched themselves behind the stormy bulwarks of custom and authority. But we will steadfastly abide the result, for we know that right is on our side and truth and justice must prevail.

    The right is ours. Have (10) it we must. Use it we will. The pens, the tongues, the fortunes, the indomitable wills of many women are already pledged to secure this right. The great truth that no just government can be formed without the consent of the governed we shall (15) echo and re-echo in the ears of the unjust judge until by continual coming we shall weary him.

    There is no such thing as a sphere for a sex. Every man has a different sphere, and one in which he may shine, and it is the same (20) with every woman. The woman may be a blacksmith or a poet, the man may be a nurse or a soldier. There is no law of nature that makes it improper for a woman to study law or medicine, to be a merchant or a minister, or for a man (25) to tend a nursery or educate children. The distinction between the sexes is arbitrary, not natural, and ought to be disregarded in matters of civil and political rights.

15. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. celebrate recent legislative victories for women’s rights
2. advocate for equal civil and political rights regardless of sex
3. describe the historical development of gender roles
4. propose a compromise between traditionalists and reformers

16. According to the passage, Stanton expects that her movement will face

1. immediate acceptance by the legislature
2. opposition rooted in tradition and authority
3. indifference from the general public
4. support primarily from male voters

17. As used in line 14, the word "consent" most nearly means

1. approval
2. tolerance
3. resistance
4. ignorance

18. Stanton’s statement that "every man has a different sphere" (lines 19-20) suggests that

1. all men should pursue the same occupations
2. individual abilities vary regardless of sex
3. men are naturally superior to women in all fields
4. traditional gender roles are based on biological differences

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

1. defeated and pessimistic
2. objective and neutral
3. determined and passionate
4. humorous and lighthearted

20. Stanton argues that the distinction between the sexes in matters of rights is

1. based on biological science
2. supported by natural law
3. arbitrary and should be ignored
4. necessary for social stability

Answer Key

1. Ans: (A) – Margot’s journey to reconcile with her estranged brother
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Margot traveling by train while anxiously contemplating her reunion with her brother after three years of silence (lines 14-17), making this the central concern. Choice (B) is too broad, as the passage mentions Margot’s work only in passing. Choice (D) is a detail mentioned but not the primary focus of the passage.

2. Ans: (C) – it cost nearly all the money she had saved from her job
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that "the expense had taken nearly all the money she had saved from her work at the milliner’s shop" (lines 23-24). Choice (A) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Choice (D) reverses the actual relationship, as second-class tickets would typically cost less than first-class.

3. Ans: (A) – impulsive
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 24, "reckless extravagance" describes a decision that seemed risky or hasty in retrospect, making "impulsive" the best match. Choice (C) is the opposite of what the context suggests. Choice (D) is too extreme and does not fit the context of a travel decision.

4. Ans: (B) – have not communicated for an extended period
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage refers to "three years of silence" between Margot and her brother (lines 15-16), clearly indicating a communication gap. Choice (A) directly contradicts this information. Choice (C) is not supported by any details in the passage.

5. Ans: (B) – anxious and reflective
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Margot’s racing mind, rehearsed questions, and uncertainty about her brother’s reception (lines 12-17) establish an anxious, contemplative mood. Choice (A) contradicts the worried atmosphere. Choice (C) is too negative, as there is no hostility expressed in the passage.

6. Ans: (C) – appears focused and engaged in her activity
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states Margot "envied that kind of purposeful absorption" (line 11) while describing the knitting woman’s steady work. Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (D) distorts passage information, as both characters are in the same train car.

7. Ans: (B) – felt a sense of relief and necessity in making the journey
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The comparison to breathing after holding one’s breath (lines 25-26) conveys that the decision felt both urgent and necessary, suggesting relief. Choice (A) takes the metaphor literally rather than figuratively. Choice (C) introduces emotions not present in the passage.

8. Ans: (A) – describe an ancient agricultural innovation and its modern applications
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage explains the waru waru system (lines 3-17) and concludes by discussing its modern revival (lines 27-29). Choice (B) is too extreme, as the passage does not argue for the inferiority of all modern techniques. Choice (C) is too narrow and not the main focus.

9. Ans: (B) – absorbed heat during the day and released it at night
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that "the canals absorbed solar radiation during the day and released heat at night" (lines 10-12). Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (D) is too absolute, as the passage says the system protected crops from frost, not that it prevented all damage.

10. Ans: (B) – unsophisticated
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, the passage contrasts "primitive" with "sophisticated" and "ingenious," indicating that "primitive" means crude or unsophisticated. Choice (A) means old but does not capture the negative connotation being refuted. Choice (D) has no connection to the context.

11. Ans: (C) – potato yields seven times greater than modern plots in the region
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that reconstructed waru waru fields "achieved potato yields seven times higher than those from conventional modern plots" (lines 21-23). Choice (A) reverses the relationship described. Choice (D) makes a comparison not stated in the passage.

12. Ans: (B) – social disruption following European colonization
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage indicates the system "fell into disuse centuries ago, likely due to social upheaval following the Spanish conquest" (lines 26-28). Choice (A) is not supported by the passage. Choice (C) contradicts the passage’s demonstration that waru waru was more effective than modern methods.

13. Ans: (A) – illustrate an additional nutritional benefit of the canal system
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The mention of fish and aquatic plants adding "protein and variety to the local diet" (lines 23-25) demonstrates another advantage of the waru waru system. Choice (B) is too extreme and not supported by the text. Choice (D) confuses cause and effect.

14. Ans: (B) – a description of an agricultural system followed by evidence of its effectiveness
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage first describes how waru waru works (lines 3-17), then presents experimental evidence of its success (lines 18-25). Choice (A) is too broad, as the passage does not provide a comprehensive chronological narrative. Choice (C) mischaracterizes the passage, which does not present an argument and rebuttal structure.

15. Ans: (B) – advocate for equal civil and political rights regardless of sex
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Stanton argues that sex-based distinctions "ought to be disregarded in matters of civil and political rights" (lines 26-27) throughout the passage. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which anticipates opposition rather than celebrating victories. Choice (D) misrepresents Stanton’s uncompromising stance.

16. Ans: (B) – opposition rooted in tradition and authority
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Stanton explicitly mentions "opposition from those who have entrenched themselves behind the stormy bulwarks of custom and authority" (lines 4-6). Choice (A) contradicts the entire first paragraph. Choice (C) is refuted by the references to active opposition.

17. Ans: (A) – approval
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 14, "consent of the governed" refers to the approval or agreement of those being governed, a fundamental democratic principle. Choice (C) is the opposite of the intended meaning. Choice (D) has no logical connection to the context.

18. Ans: (B) – individual abilities vary regardless of sex
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Stanton argues that just as every man has a different sphere of ability (lines 19-20), so does every woman, emphasizing individual rather than sex-based differences. Choice (A) contradicts the statement about different spheres. Choice (C) is the opposite of Stanton’s argument for equality.

19. Ans: (C) – determined and passionate
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The forceful declarations such as "Have it we must. Use it we will" (lines 9-10) and "we will steadfastly abide the result" (lines 6-7) convey determination and passion. Choice (A) contradicts the confident, resolute tone throughout. Choice (B) ignores the clearly persuasive and emotional nature of the address.

20. Ans: (C) – arbitrary and should be ignored
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Stanton explicitly states that "the distinction between the sexes is arbitrary, not natural, and ought to be disregarded" (lines 25-27) in matters of rights. Choice (A) contradicts her assertion that the distinction is not natural. Choice (D) reverses her argument entirely.