Reading Passage for HSPT - 36

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 lurched against the dock with a groan that seemed to come from deep within its rusted hull. Mira clutched her canvas bag tighter, feeling the sharp corners of her father’s wooden box press against her ribs. She had not been back to the island in eleven years, not since the summer her grandmother died and the house was locked up, (5) its shutters painted the color of dried kelp. Now, standing on the salt-bleached planks of the pier, she could see that same house perched on the hillside, smaller than memory had kept it, its roof sagging under the weight of coastal storms.     The island had no proper town, only a scattering of buildings along the harbor: a general store with a faded Coca-Cola sign, a bait shop, (10) a white clapboard church with a steeple that listed slightly to the east. Mira recognized none of the faces on the dock. The lobstermen hauling traps wore the same red suspenders and canvas aprons she remembered, but their faces were younger, unfamiliar. She wondered if they knew her family name, if it still carried weight here.     She walked up the gravel road alone. The box (15) in her bag contained her father’s ashes, though she had told no one she was bringing them. He had made her promise, in those final weeks at the hospital, that she would scatter them from the rocks below the house, where he had fished as a boy. But he had also extracted other promises over the years-promises to visit, to write, to forgive-and she had broken (20) most of them.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the geographical features of a coastal island
2. introduce a character returning to a significant place from her past
3. explain the relationship between a daughter and her deceased father
4. contrast the past and present conditions of a small island community

2. According to the passage, Mira has not returned to the island in how many years?

1. five years
2. seven years
3. eleven years
4. twenty years

3. As used in line 12, the word listed most nearly means

1. catalogued
2. leaned
3. recorded
4. enrolled

4. The description of the house as having "shutters painted the color of dried kelp" (lines 5-6) suggests that the house is

1. recently renovated and well-maintained
2. painted in natural, muted tones that blend with the coastal environment
3. decorated to attract summer tourists
4. covered in actual seaweed from ocean storms

5. It can be inferred from the passage that Mira feels

1. excited to reunite with old friends on the island
2. anxious about fulfilling her father’s final request
3. certain that she made the right decision to stay away
4. eager to sell her grandmother’s house quickly

6. The passage suggests that Mira’s relationship with her father was characterized by

1. mutual understanding and open communication
2. complete estrangement and hostility
3. unfulfilled expectations and broken promises
4. professional collaboration and shared goals

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

1. celebratory and joyful
2. somber and reflective
3. angry and resentful
4. humorous and lighthearted

Passage 2

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

    For decades, scientists believed that the deep ocean floor was a biological desert, too dark and cold to support complex ecosystems. Then, in 1977, geologists exploring the Galápagos Rift made a startling discovery: hydrothermal vents spewing superheated water from cracks in the ocean floor, surrounded by dense clusters of life unlike anything seen before. (5) These vents, often called "black smokers" for the dark, mineral-rich plumes they emit, can reach temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Celsius, yet they teem with organisms that thrive in conditions once thought incompatible with life.     The foundation of these vent ecosystems is not photosynthesis, as in most of Earth’s habitats, but chemosynthesis. Bacteria living near the vents oxidize hydrogen sulfide-a (10) compound toxic to most organisms-and use the energy released to produce organic molecules from carbon dioxide. These chemosynthetic bacteria form the base of the food web, supporting giant tube worms that can grow over two meters long, as well as blind white crabs, pale shrimp, and species of fish found nowhere else on Earth.     What makes these ecosystems particularly intriguing to astrobiologists is their (15) independence from sunlight. Life on Earth has long been thought to depend, either directly or indirectly, on solar energy. But hydrothermal vent communities derive their energy entirely from geochemical processes deep within the planet. This discovery has profound implications for the search for extraterrestrial life, suggesting that life could exist on worlds far from any star, (20) provided they possess internal heat sources and liquid water.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. hydrothermal vents are the hottest environments on Earth
2. deep-ocean ecosystems challenge previous assumptions about the requirements for life
3. chemosynthetic bacteria are superior to photosynthetic organisms
4. the Galápagos Rift is the most important geological formation in the ocean

9. According to the passage, hydrothermal vents were first discovered in what year?

1. 1967
2. 1972
3. 1977
4. 1987

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

1. struggle
2. organize
3. swarm
4. diminish

11. The passage indicates that chemosynthetic bacteria produce organic molecules by

1. absorbing sunlight filtered through ocean water
2. consuming other bacteria and recycling their nutrients
3. oxidizing hydrogen sulfide and using the released energy
4. filtering mineral particles from black smoker plumes

12. The author mentions astrobiologists in the third paragraph primarily to

1. criticize their previous theories about extraterrestrial life
2. illustrate the broader significance of hydrothermal vent ecosystems
3. argue that life exists on other planets
4. explain how hydrothermal vents formed on Earth

13. It can be inferred from the passage that prior to 1977, most scientists believed that

1. the deep ocean contained no life whatsoever
2. all life required sunlight either directly or indirectly
3. hydrothermal vents were common throughout the ocean
4. chemosynthesis was more important than photosynthesis

14. Which of the following best describes the organizational structure of the passage?

1. a problem is presented and multiple solutions are evaluated
2. a discovery is described, its mechanisms are explained, and its implications are discussed
3. two competing theories are compared and one is proven correct
4. a historical narrative is presented in chronological order

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered by Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce in 1879.

    I have heard talk and talk, but nothing is done. Good words do not last long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men. They do not protect my father’s grave. They do not pay for all my horses and (5) cattle. Good words will not give me back my children. Good words will not make good the promise of your War Chief. Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where they can live in peace and take care of themselves.     I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart (10) sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. Too many misrepresentations have been made, too many misunderstandings have come up between the white men about the Indians. If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace. There need be no trouble. (15) Treat all men alike. Give them the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow. All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief. They are all brothers. The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.     Let me be a free man-free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free (20) to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to think and talk and act for myself-and I will obey every law, or submit to the penalty.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. declare war against white settlers
2. demand concrete action and equal treatment for Native Americans
3. request financial compensation for lost property
4. describe the history of the Nez Perce people

16. According to the passage, Chief Joseph believes that "good words" have failed to

1. impress other tribal leaders
2. produce meaningful results or change
3. accurately describe Native American culture
4. convince his own people to negotiate

17. As used in line 12, the word misrepresentations most nearly means

1. false or misleading statements
2. legal representatives
3. artistic depictions
4. political appointments

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

1. hopeful and optimistic
2. indifferent and detached
3. anguished and insistent
4. grateful and appreciative

19. Chief Joseph’s statement that "All men were made by the same Great Spirit Chief" (line 16) serves to

1. establish a religious argument for equal treatment
2. reject all forms of spirituality
3. challenge the authority of white leaders
4. describe Nez Perce creation mythology

20. It can be inferred from the passage that Chief Joseph would most likely support

1. complete separation of Native Americans and white settlers with no contact
2. peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and equal legal rights
3. assimilation of Native Americans into white culture
4. continued negotiations without any specific demands

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – introduce a character returning to a significant place from her past
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Mira’s return to the island after eleven years (line 4) and her emotional response to being back, making the introduction of her character and situation the primary purpose. Choice (A) is too narrow, as geographical description is merely a supporting detail rather than the main purpose. Choice (C) is too broad, as the relationship with her father is only one element of the larger narrative about her return.

2. Ans: (C) – eleven years
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Mira "had not been back to the island in eleven years" (lines 3-4). Choice (A) incorrectly cites five years, which does not appear in the passage. Choice (D) incorrectly cites twenty years, which appears in line 20 but refers to the line number, not a time period mentioned in the text.

3. Ans: (B) – leaned
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 12, the steeple "listed slightly to the east," meaning it tilted or leaned in that direction. Choice (A) is a common meaning of "listed" but does not fit the physical description of a building. Choice (C) is another common meaning that refers to documentation rather than physical position.

4. Ans: (B) – painted in natural, muted tones that blend with the coastal environment
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Dried kelp has a dull, greenish-brown color that would blend with the coastal landscape, suggesting the house has weathered, natural-looking paint (lines 5-6). Choice (D) takes the kelp reference too literally, misunderstanding that it describes paint color, not actual seaweed. Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s description of the house as "smaller than memory had kept it, its roof sagging" (lines 6-7), indicating poor maintenance.

5. Ans: (B) – anxious about fulfilling her father’s final request
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Mira carries her father’s ashes secretly and reflects on broken promises (lines 18-20), suggesting anxiety about this final obligation. Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which states "she recognized none of the faces on the dock" (line 11), indicating she has no friends to reunite with. Choice (D) is not supported by any information in the passage.

6. Ans: (C) – unfulfilled expectations and broken promises
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage explicitly states that her father "extracted other promises over the years-promises to visit, to write, to forgive-and she had broken most of them" (lines 18-20). Choice (A) contradicts this information about broken promises. Choice (B) is too extreme, as the passage indicates ongoing interaction and promises rather than complete estrangement.

7. Ans: (B) – somber and reflective
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage’s descriptions of a decaying house, a father’s ashes, and broken promises (throughout) create a serious, contemplative mood. Choice (A) contradicts the melancholic subject matter of death and regret. Choice (C) is too extreme, as the passage conveys sadness rather than anger.

8. Ans: (B) – deep-ocean ecosystems challenge previous assumptions about the requirements for life
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage begins by noting scientists believed the deep ocean was a "biological desert" (line 2) and then describes the discovery that challenged this view, with implications for understanding life’s requirements (lines 15-20). Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on temperature rather than the broader significance. Choice (C) makes a comparison never stated in the passage.

9. Ans: (C) – 1977
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states "in 1977, geologists exploring the Galápagos Rift made a startling discovery" (lines 2-3) of hydrothermal vents. Choice (A) incorrectly cites 1967, which does not appear in the passage. Choice (B) incorrectly cites 1972, which also does not appear in the passage.

10. Ans: (C) – swarm
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, the vents "teem with organisms," meaning they are abundantly filled or swarming with life. Choice (A) reverses the meaning, suggesting difficulty rather than abundance. Choice (D) contradicts the meaning, as "diminish" means to decrease rather than to be full of life.

11. Ans: (C) – oxidizing hydrogen sulfide and using the released energy
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that bacteria "oxidize hydrogen sulfide" and "use the energy released to produce organic molecules from carbon dioxide" (lines 9-11). Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s emphasis that these ecosystems are independent from sunlight (lines 15-17). Choice (B) describes a process not mentioned in the passage.

12. Ans: (B) – illustrate the broader significance of hydrothermal vent ecosystems
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The astrobiologists are mentioned to show how the discovery has "profound implications for the search for extraterrestrial life" (lines 17-18), demonstrating importance beyond marine biology. Choice (A) misrepresents the tone, as the author describes implications rather than criticism. Choice (C) overstates the claim, as the passage suggests possibility rather than asserting that extraterrestrial life exists.

13. Ans: (B) – all life required sunlight either directly or indirectly
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states "Life on Earth has long been thought to depend, either directly or indirectly, on solar energy" (lines 16-17), indicating the prevailing belief before the vent discovery. Choice (A) is too extreme, as the passage only describes the deep ocean as thought to be a "biological desert" (line 2), not completely lifeless. Choice (D) reverses the actual assumption, as chemosynthesis was not recognized as important until after 1977.

14. Ans: (B) – a discovery is described, its mechanisms are explained, and its implications are discussed
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph describes the 1977 discovery (lines 2-7), the second explains chemosynthesis (lines 8-14), and the third discusses implications for astrobiology (lines 15-20). Choice (A) incorrectly identifies a problem-solution structure not present in the passage. Choice (C) incorrectly suggests competing theories, when the passage presents a single discovery that revised previous thinking.

15. Ans: (B) – demand concrete action and equal treatment for Native Americans
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph repeatedly emphasizes that "good words" are insufficient (lines 1-8) and demands "Treat all men alike. Give them the same law" (line 15), making concrete action and equality the speech’s purpose. Choice (A) contradicts the statement "If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace" (lines 13-14). Choice (C) is too narrow, as financial compensation is mentioned as one example but not the primary purpose.

16. Ans: (B) – produce meaningful results or change
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Chief Joseph states "Good words do not last long unless they amount to something" and lists what they have failed to accomplish (lines 2-8), emphasizing their lack of concrete results. Choice (A) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Choice (D) reverses the situation, as Chief Joseph speaks on behalf of his people, not against them.

17. Ans: (A) – false or misleading statements
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 12, Chief Joseph refers to "too many misrepresentations" made about Indians, meaning false or distorted statements. Choice (B) confuses the word with "representatives," a different term. Choice (C) misapplies the term to visual art rather than verbal statements.

18. Ans: (C) – anguished and insistent
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Chief Joseph’s repeated statements "I am tired of talk" (line 9) and "It makes my heart sick" (lines 9-10) convey emotional pain, while his specific demands (lines 19-21) show insistence. Choice (A) contradicts the despair expressed in phrases like "heart sick" and references to "dead people" (line 2). Choice (B) is incorrect, as the passionate language throughout demonstrates deep emotional involvement.

19. Ans: (A) – establish a religious argument for equal treatment
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. By invoking a shared creator, Chief Joseph argues that all people are "brothers" with "equal rights" (lines 16-17), using spiritual authority to support equality. Choice (B) contradicts the passage, which invokes rather than rejects spirituality. Choice (D) is too narrow, as the statement functions as an argument for equality rather than merely describing mythology.

20. Ans: (B) – peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and equal legal rights
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph states "If the white man wants to live in peace with the Indian, he can live in peace" and demands equal laws and rights (lines 13-17), indicating support for coexistence with equality. Choice (A) contradicts his willingness to "obey every law" (line 21), suggesting integration rather than separation. Choice (C) contradicts his demand to be "free to follow the religion of my fathers" (line 20), indicating he wants to preserve his culture.