Reading Passage for HSPT - 38

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 narrow boat slipped through the canal locks just as the sun began to silver the mist rising from the water. Margot stood at the tiller, her hands aching from the cold, watching the lock-keeper’s daughter wind the balance beam with practiced ease. They had been traveling since (5) dawn, hauling coal from the Midlands pits down toward London, and Margot knew her father would be angry that she had taken the tiller without permission. But he had been coughing again in the night, that deep rattle that spoke of winters spent in damp cabins, and she (10) had slipped from her berth determined to let him rest.     The lock gates groaned open, and Margot guided the boat forward into the next pound. She had grown up on these waterways, knew every bridge and wharf between Birmingham and the Thames, (15) yet her father still treated her as if she were a child who might run the boat aground at any moment. Her brother Thomas had been given the tiller at twelve, but Margot was sixteen now and still relegated to the cabin and the cooking pot. The injustice (20) of it burned in her chest as fiercely as the coal they carried burned in the city hearths.

1. The passage is narrated from the perspective of

1. an outside observer describing events objectively
2. Margot, reflecting on her experiences in the first person
3. a narrator who reveals Margot’s thoughts and observations
4. the lock-keeper’s daughter watching Margot

2. According to the passage, Margot took the tiller because

1. her father asked her to steer while he rested
2. she wanted to prove she could navigate the canal
3. her father was ill and she wanted him to sleep
4. the lock-keeper’s daughter needed assistance

3. As used in line 13, the word pound most nearly means

1. a unit of weight
2. a section of canal between locks
3. a British unit of currency
4. a forceful striking motion

4. The passage suggests that Margot’s father’s cough is

1. a temporary illness that will soon pass
2. a condition caused by years of working on the canal
3. the result of exposure to coal dust
4. an ailment he contracted in London

5. Margot’s attitude toward her situation can best be described as

1. resigned acceptance
2. bitter resentment
3. quiet contentment
4. amused indifference

6. The comparison in lines 19-20 between the injustice Margot feels and the burning coal serves to

1. show that Margot is physically cold
2. suggest that Margot wants to work in London
3. emphasize the intensity of Margot’s frustration
4. indicate that the coal trade is dangerous

7. The detail that Thomas was given the tiller at age twelve primarily suggests that

1. Thomas was more skilled than Margot at navigation
2. Margot’s father favors his son over his daughter
3. twelve is the traditional age for learning to steer
4. Margot is not interested in operating the boat

Passage 2

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

    For decades, scientists believed that the deep ocean floor was a barren wasteland, devoid of the energy sources necessary to support complex ecosystems. The discovery of hydrothermal vents in 1977 shattered this assumption. These underwater geysers, found along mid-ocean ridges where tectonic (5) plates diverge, spew superheated water rich in minerals and chemicals from beneath the Earth’s crust. Around these vents, researchers found thriving communities of organisms unlike anything seen before: giant tube worms stretching over two meters long, eyeless shrimp, and massive clams, all flourishing in (10) complete darkness under crushing pressure.     The key to these ecosystems lies in chemosynthesis, a process fundamentally different from the photosynthesis that powers most life on Earth. While photosynthetic organisms convert sunlight into energy, chemosynthetic bacteria derive energy from chemical reactions, particularly the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide (15) expelled from the vents. These bacteria form the foundation of the food web, living symbiotically within the tissues of tube worms and other vent fauna or existing as free-floating mats that other organisms consume. The discovery has profound implications for astrobiology, suggesting that life (20) might exist in extreme environments on other planets or moons where sunlight never reaches but geothermal energy abounds.

8. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. argue that hydrothermal vents are the origin of all life on Earth
2. explain how hydrothermal vent ecosystems function without sunlight
3. describe the physical characteristics of mid-ocean ridges
4. compare photosynthesis and chemosynthesis in detail

9. According to the passage, hydrothermal vents are located

1. in shallow coastal waters
2. where tectonic plates move apart
3. only in the Pacific Ocean
4. near underwater volcanoes exclusively

10. As used in line 2, the word barren most nearly means

1. lifeless
2. flat
3. rocky
4. unexplored

11. The passage indicates that chemosynthetic bacteria obtain energy by

1. absorbing sunlight filtered through ocean water
2. consuming organic matter that falls from surface waters
3. processing hydrogen sulfide through chemical reactions
4. feeding on the tissues of tube worms and clams

12. The author mentions giant tube worms, eyeless shrimp, and massive clams primarily to

1. illustrate the diversity of life found at hydrothermal vents
2. prove that these organisms evolved from surface-dwelling ancestors
3. explain how chemosynthesis works at the molecular level
4. show that deep-sea creatures are larger than shallow-water species

13. The passage suggests that the discovery of hydrothermal vent ecosystems is significant for astrobiology because it

1. proves that life exists on other planets
2. demonstrates that life can thrive without sunlight in extreme conditions
3. shows that all life in the universe uses chemosynthesis
4. confirms that Earth’s oceans are unique in the solar system

14. Based on the passage, which of the following best describes the relationship between chemosynthetic bacteria and tube worms?

1. The bacteria prey upon the tube worms
2. The bacteria and tube worms compete for resources
3. The bacteria live inside the tube worms and provide them with energy
4. The tube worms protect the bacteria from predators

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a historical speech.

    I stand before you today not as a representative of one narrow interest, but as a citizen convinced that the preservation of our natural heritage is inseparable from the welfare of the nation itself. For too long we have acted as if the resources of this continent were inexhaustible, (5) as if the forests could be felled without consequence, the soil mined of its fertility without replenishment, and the rivers dammed and diverted without regard for the intricate systems they sustain. We have been prodigal with our inheritance, spending the capital rather than living on the interest, and (10) our children will pay the price of our shortsightedness.     The establishment of national forests and parks is not, as some claim, a locking away of resources from productive use. Rather, it is the highest form of productivity – the preservation of watersheds that supply our cities, the protection of (15) habitat for game that feeds our people, the maintenance of timber reserves for future generations. Those who would sacrifice these lands for immediate profit demonstrate a poverty of imagination and a betrayal of duty to posterity. We are but temporary stewards of this land, and (20) stewardship demands that we pass on what we have received undiminished, if not enhanced.

15. The speaker’s main argument is that

1. all logging and mining should be immediately prohibited
2. natural resource conservation is essential for the nation’s future
3. national parks should be established in every state
4. private land ownership threatens the environment

16. As used in line 8, the word prodigal most nearly means

1. careful
2. wasteful
3. talented
4. generous

17. The metaphor of spending capital rather than living on interest (lines 8-9) suggests that

1. the nation needs better financial planning
2. Americans are depleting resources instead of using them sustainably
3. natural resources should be sold to generate revenue
4. economic growth requires investment in industry

18. According to the passage, opponents of national forests and parks believe that these protected areas

1. are too expensive to maintain
2. prevent resources from being used economically
3. do not contain valuable timber or minerals
4. should be managed by state governments instead

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

1. urgently persuasive
2. dispassionately scientific
3. bitterly sarcastic
4. cheerfully optimistic

20. The speaker’s reference to “temporary stewards” (line 19) implies that

1. government officials serve limited terms
2. current citizens have a responsibility to future generations
3. natural resources belong to the government
4. conservation efforts are only temporarily necessary

Answer Key

1. Ans: (C) – a narrator who reveals Margot’s thoughts and observations
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The passage uses third-person narration but provides access to Margot’s internal thoughts and feelings, as seen in phrases like “Margot knew her father would be angry” (lines 6-7) and “The injustice of it burned in her chest” (lines 18-19). Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage uses third-person pronouns (“she,” “her”) rather than first-person narration. Choice (A) is incorrect because the narrator reveals Margot’s subjective thoughts rather than remaining objective.

2. Ans: (C) – her father was ill and she wanted him to sleep
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Margot’s father “had been coughing again in the night” and she “had slipped from her berth determined to let him rest” (lines 8-10). Choice (A) is incorrect because her father did not ask her to take the tiller; in fact, she knew “her father would be angry that she had taken the tiller without permission” (lines 6-7). Choice (B) distorts her motivation; while she may want to prove herself, the passage indicates her immediate reason was her father’s illness.

3. Ans: (B) – a section of canal between locks
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 13, “pound” refers to the stretch of canal between two locks, as indicated by the context of the lock gates opening and the boat moving forward. Choice (A) is a common meaning of “pound” but does not fit the context of canal navigation. Choice (C) is another common meaning but is irrelevant to the description of the boat’s movement through the canal system.

4. Ans: (B) – a condition caused by years of working on the canal
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes the cough as “that deep rattle that spoke of winters spent in damp cabins” (lines 8-9), suggesting it is a chronic condition resulting from prolonged exposure to the harsh canal environment. Choice (A) is incorrect because the description implies a long-standing, serious condition rather than a temporary illness. Choice (C) is not supported by the passage, which attributes the cough to damp conditions, not coal dust.

5. Ans: (B) – bitter resentment
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Margot’s feelings are characterized by “injustice” that “burned in her chest as fiercely as the coal they carried” (lines 18-20), indicating strong negative emotion and resentment toward her unequal treatment. Choice (A) is incorrect because Margot actively defies her father by taking the tiller, showing she has not accepted her situation. Choice (C) contradicts the passage’s emphasis on her sense of injustice and frustration.

6. Ans: (C) – emphasize the intensity of Margot’s frustration
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The simile comparing Margot’s sense of injustice to burning coal (lines 19-20) uses vivid imagery to convey the strength of her emotional response to being excluded from the tiller. Choice (A) misinterprets the figurative language as literal; while Margot’s hands are cold (line 4), the burning refers to her emotions. Choice (B) is too narrow; the passage does not suggest she wants to work in London specifically.

7. Ans: (B) – Margot’s father favors his son over his daughter
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage contrasts Thomas being given the tiller at twelve with Margot being sixteen and “still relegated to the cabin and the cooking pot” (lines 17-18), suggesting gender-based unequal treatment. Choice (A) is contradicted by the passage, which states Margot “knew every bridge and wharf” (lines 14-15), indicating her competence. Choice (D) directly contradicts Margot’s clear desire to operate the boat and her frustration at being excluded.

8. Ans: (B) – explain how hydrothermal vent ecosystems function without sunlight
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on describing the discovery of hydrothermal vents and explaining how chemosynthesis allows life to thrive in darkness (lines 11-17), contrasting this with photosynthesis. Choice (A) is too broad and not supported; the passage discusses vent ecosystems but does not claim they are the origin of all life. Choice (D) is too narrow; while the passage mentions both processes, comparison is not the primary purpose.

9. Ans: (B) – where tectonic plates move apart
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that hydrothermal vents are “found along mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates diverge” (lines 4-5). Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which describes vents on the deep ocean floor, not in shallow waters. Choice (C) is too narrow; while the passage does not specify all locations, it does not limit vents to the Pacific Ocean.

10. Ans: (A) – lifeless
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 2, “barren” describes the early scientific belief that the deep ocean floor was “devoid of the energy sources necessary to support complex ecosystems,” indicating it was thought to be without life. Choice (B) refers to a different meaning of barren relating to terrain but does not fit the context of the absence of life. Choice (D) is incorrect because “barren” describes the perceived quality of the environment, not whether it had been explored.

11. Ans: (C) – processing hydrogen sulfide through chemical reactions
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that chemosynthetic bacteria “derive energy from chemical reactions, particularly the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide expelled from the vents” (lines 14-16). Choice (A) contradicts the central point that these ecosystems exist “in complete darkness” (line 9) without sunlight. Choice (D) reverses the relationship; the bacteria live within tube worms and provide them energy, not the other way around (lines 16-17).

12. Ans: (A) – illustrate the diversity of life found at hydrothermal vents
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The list of organisms (lines 7-9) provides concrete examples of the “thriving communities of organisms unlike anything seen before” to demonstrate the unexpected variety of life. Choice (C) is too narrow; these examples illustrate what lives there, not the mechanism of chemosynthesis. Choice (D) makes an unsupported generalization; the passage does not compare deep-sea and shallow-water organism sizes broadly.

13. Ans: (B) – demonstrates that life can thrive without sunlight in extreme conditions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states the discovery “suggest[s] that life might exist in extreme environments on other planets or moons where sunlight never reaches but geothermal energy abounds” (lines 19-21). Choice (A) is too strong; the passage says the discovery “suggests” life might exist elsewhere, not that it proves it does. Choice (C) overgeneralizes; the passage does not claim all extraterrestrial life would use chemosynthesis.

14. Ans: (C) – The bacteria live inside the tube worms and provide them with energy
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explains that chemosynthetic bacteria live “symbiotically within the tissues of tube worms” (line 16) and form “the foundation of the food web” (line 16), meaning they provide energy. Choice (A) reverses the relationship; bacteria are not predators of tube worms. Choice (B) contradicts the description of their symbiotic relationship.

15. Ans: (B) – natural resource conservation is essential for the nation’s future
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speaker argues throughout that “the preservation of our natural heritage is inseparable from the welfare of the nation itself” (lines 2-3) and emphasizes the duty to “posterity” (line 18). Choice (A) is too extreme; the speaker advocates for preservation and sustainable use, not total prohibition of resource extraction. Choice (C) is too narrow and not stated in the passage.

16. Ans: (B) – wasteful
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, “prodigal” describes the reckless use of natural resources, as clarified by the metaphor of “spending the capital rather than living on the interest” (lines 8-9). Choice (A) is the opposite of the intended meaning. Choice (D) is a possible meaning of prodigal in other contexts but does not fit here, where the emphasis is on wastefulness rather than generosity.

17. Ans: (B) – Americans are depleting resources instead of using them sustainably
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The financial metaphor (lines 8-9) contrasts spending principal (using up resources completely) with living on interest (using resources sustainably), criticizing current practices. Choice (A) misinterprets the metaphor as literal financial advice rather than a figurative comparison about resource use. Choice (C) contradicts the speaker’s conservation message entirely.

18. Ans: (B) – prevent resources from being used economically
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The speaker references “some [who] claim” that national forests and parks are “a locking away of resources from productive use” (lines 12-13), meaning economic use. Choice (A) is not mentioned as an argument opponents make. Choice (C) contradicts the passage, which mentions that protected lands contain timber and other resources (line 17).

19. Ans: (A) – urgently persuasive
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speaker uses emphatic language (“For too long,” line 3; “our children will pay the price,” lines 9-10) and moral appeals (“betrayal of duty,” line 18) to convince the audience of conservation’s importance. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage is clearly argumentative and value-laden rather than objective. Choice (C) misreads the serious, earnest tone as sarcastic.

20. Ans: (B) – current citizens have a responsibility to future generations
Explanation: This is an Inference question. By calling citizens “temporary stewards” who must “pass on what we have received undiminished” (lines 19-20), the speaker emphasizes intergenerational responsibility. Choice (A) focuses on a literal interpretation of “temporary” related to political office rather than the broader point about generational succession. Choice (D) contradicts the passage; the speaker argues conservation is a permanent duty, not a temporary measure.