Reading Passage for HSPT - 40

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 carriage lurched over the rutted road, and Annika pressed her forehead against the cool glass, watching the birch forests give way to open fields. She had not been back to her grandmother’s estate in nearly (5) three years, not since the spring her mother had died. The house would be different now, she thought, emptier somehow, though nothing in the structure itself had changed.     Her uncle Mikhail had written that the old woman was failing, that (10) her memory came and went like the tide, and that she asked for Annika constantly. The letter had reached her in Moscow just as the first snow began to fall. Within a week, she had packed her trunk and said goodbye to (15) the conservatory where she had been studying piano.     As the carriage turned up the long drive, Annika saw smoke rising from the kitchen chimney. The lilac bushes her grandmother had planted decades ago stood bare and skeletal against the November sky. A servant she (20) did not recognize opened the door before she could knock.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the changing seasons in rural Russia
2. establish the setting and emotional context of a character’s return home
3. explain why Annika left the conservatory
4. compare Annika’s life in Moscow with her childhood

2. According to the passage, Annika had last visited her grandmother’s estate

1. when her mother died
2. three years before the present journey
3. just before she began studying in Moscow
4. when the lilac bushes were first planted

3. As used in line 9, the word “failing” most nearly means

1. disappointing
2. collapsing
3. declining in health
4. not succeeding

4. The comparison of the grandmother’s memory to “the tide” (line 10) suggests that her memory is

1. completely gone
2. unpredictable and intermittent
3. connected to the ocean
4. stronger in the morning than at night

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

1. eager to resume her piano studies
2. reluctant and apprehensive about her visit
3. angry at her uncle for summoning her
4. excited to see the servant at the door

6. The mood of the passage is best described as

1. cheerful and optimistic
2. somber and reflective
3. tense and frightening
4. bitter and resentful

7. The detail that Annika does not recognize the servant who opens the door (lines 19-20) primarily suggests that

1. the estate has hired many new workers
2. Annika has a poor memory for faces
3. time has passed and circumstances have changed since her last visit
4. her grandmother no longer lives at the estate

Passage 2

The following passage is adapted from a general-audience article about urban ecology.

    Cities are not the ecological deserts they are often perceived to be. Recent research has revealed that urban environments support a surprising diversity of wildlife, including species that have adapted (5) remarkably well to human-dominated landscapes. Peregrine falcons, once nearly extinct due to pesticide use, now nest on skyscraper ledges in dozens of North American cities, exploiting the abundance of pigeons and starlings that congregate in (10) downtown areas. These raptors have found that tall buildings mimic the cliff faces they traditionally used for nesting, and the urban heat island effect keeps their territories several degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas during winter months.     The transformation (15) of species behavior in urban settings extends beyond birds. Coyotes in Chicago have learned to navigate pedestrian crosswalks, waiting for traffic signals before crossing busy streets. Studies using GPS collars have shown that individual coyotes maintain (20) distinct territories and demonstrate sophisticated route planning to avoid human contact during daylight hours. This behavioral plasticity allows urban coyote populations to thrive despite fragmented habitats and constant human activity.

8. The main idea of this passage is that

1. peregrine falcons are no longer endangered
2. wildlife has adapted successfully to urban environments
3. cities are warmer than rural areas
4. coyotes are more intelligent than other animals

9. According to the passage, peregrine falcons nest on skyscrapers because

1. they have been trained to do so by researchers
2. tall buildings resemble their traditional cliff nesting sites
3. pigeons force them to nest at higher elevations
4. urban areas are warmer year-round

10. As used in line 8, the word “exploiting” most nearly means

1. mistreating
2. taking unfair advantage of
3. making productive use of
4. discovering

11. The urban heat island effect mentioned in the passage (line 12) benefits peregrine falcons by

1. increasing the pigeon population
2. providing warmer temperatures in winter
3. making skyscrapers more like cliffs
4. preventing pesticide use

12. The author mentions GPS collars (line 18) in order to

1. demonstrate the methods used to study urban coyote behavior
2. prove that coyotes dislike human technology
3. suggest that all urban wildlife should be tracked
4. explain how coyotes learn to cross streets

13. It can be inferred from the passage that “behavioral plasticity” (line 21) refers to

1. the physical flexibility of certain animals
2. the ability to modify behavior in response to environmental conditions
3. the tendency of animals to avoid humans
4. the genetic mutations that occur in cities

14. The author’s tone in this passage can best be described as

1. alarmed and cautionary
2. dismissive and critical
3. informative and appreciative
4. humorous and lighthearted

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered by Susan B. Anthony in 1873 after being arrested and fined for voting in the presidential election.

    Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that (5) in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but instead simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny.     The preamble of the Federal Constitution says: “We, (10) the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and (15) establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union. And we formed it, not to give the (20) blessings of liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people – women as well as men.

15. The primary purpose of this speech is to

1. apologize for breaking the law
2. argue that women have a constitutional right to vote
3. explain the history of the Constitution
4. encourage more women to be arrested

16. According to the passage, Anthony was indicted for

1. giving a public speech
2. organizing a protest
3. voting in a presidential election
4. writing a letter to Congress

17. As used in line 14, the word “posterity” most nearly means

1. ancestors
2. future generations
3. fellow citizens
4. government officials

18. Anthony argues that the phrase “We, the people” in the Constitution refers to

1. white male citizens only
2. all male citizens
3. all people, including women
4. those who wrote the Constitution

19. The distinction Anthony makes between “give” and “secure” (lines 18-20) suggests that

1. the Constitution created new rights that did not previously exist
2. liberty was an existing right that the Constitution was meant to protect
3. only men can give rights to women
4. securing rights is less important than giving them

20. The tone of this passage is best characterized as

1. apologetic and submissive
2. defiant and principled
3. uncertain and questioning
4. angry and vengeful

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – establish the setting and emotional context of a character’s return home
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Annika’s journey back to her grandmother’s estate and her feelings about the return, establishing both where she is going and her emotional state (lines 1-20). Choice (A) is too narrow, as the seasonal details are only background elements rather than the primary focus. Choice (C) is a detail mentioned but not the main purpose of the entire passage.

2. Ans: (B) – three years before the present journey
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Annika “had not been back to her grandmother’s estate in nearly three years” (lines 4-5). Choice (A) distorts the passage; her mother died “the spring” of that last visit, but the visit was three years ago. Choice (D) is not stated in the passage; the lilacs were planted “decades ago,” not during Annika’s last visit.

3. Ans: (C) – declining in health
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Uncle Mikhail wrote that “the old woman was failing,” followed immediately by the detail that “her memory came and went” (lines 9-10), indicating deteriorating health. Choice (A) uses a common meaning of “failing” but does not fit the context of a person’s condition. Choice (D) is another dictionary definition that does not apply to someone’s health status.

4. Ans: (B) – unpredictable and intermittent
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “came and went like the tide” (line 10) suggests fluctuation and unpredictability, much like tides that rise and fall. Choice (A) contradicts the passage; if her memory comes and goes, it is not completely gone. Choice (D) is not stated or implied; the passage gives no information about time-of-day patterns in the grandmother’s memory.

5. Ans: (B) – reluctant and apprehensive about her visit
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Annika thinks the house will be “emptier somehow” and connects it to her mother’s death (lines 5-7), suggesting emotional difficulty with the return. Choice (A) contradicts the passage; she left the conservatory to make this trip (lines 13-15), showing the visit takes priority over her studies. Choice (C) is not supported; there is no indication of anger toward her uncle.

6. Ans: (B) – somber and reflective
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage includes references to death, failing health, bare skeletal bushes, and November, creating a somber atmosphere, while Annika’s thoughts show reflection on the past (lines 4-7, 18-19). Choice (A) is contradicted by the melancholy details throughout. Choice (C) is too extreme; while there is unease, there is no frightening element.

7. Ans: (C) – time has passed and circumstances have changed since her last visit
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The unfamiliar servant reinforces the theme of change established earlier when Annika thinks “the house would be different now” (line 6) after a three-year absence. Choice (B) is not supported; nothing in the passage suggests Annika has memory problems. Choice (D) contradicts the passage; smoke rising from the chimney (line 17) and the servant’s presence indicate the household is occupied.

8. Ans: (B) – wildlife has adapted successfully to urban environments
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses how multiple species, including peregrine falcons and coyotes, have adapted to city life (lines 3-5, 14-22). Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on one detail about falcons rather than the broader theme. Choice (D) is not stated; the passage discusses coyote intelligence but does not compare it to other animals.

9. Ans: (B) – tall buildings resemble their traditional cliff nesting sites
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “tall buildings mimic the cliff faces they traditionally used for nesting” (lines 11-12). Choice (A) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Choice (D) distorts information; while the urban heat island effect is mentioned, it relates to temperature benefits, not the reason for nesting location.

10. Ans: (C) – making productive use of
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The falcons are “exploiting the abundance of pigeons and starlings” as a food source (lines 8-9), meaning they are utilizing this resource. Choice (A) uses a negative connotation of “exploiting” that does not fit the neutral scientific context. Choice (B) similarly applies an inappropriate negative meaning to a passage describing natural predator-prey relationships.

11. Ans: (B) – providing warmer temperatures in winter
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “the urban heat island effect keeps their territories several degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas during winter months” (lines 12-14). Choice (A) reverses causation; the passage does not say the heat island effect increases pigeon populations. Choice (C) distorts the passage; buildings physically resemble cliffs, but heat does not create this resemblance.

12. Ans: (A) – demonstrate the methods used to study urban coyote behavior
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author mentions that “studies using GPS collars have shown” specific behaviors (lines 17-19) to provide evidence for claims about coyote route planning and territorial behavior. Choice (B) is not stated or implied anywhere in the passage. Choice (D) is incorrect; GPS collars track movement but do not explain how coyotes learned the behavior.

13. Ans: (B) – the ability to modify behavior in response to environmental conditions
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes coyotes learning to use crosswalks, avoid humans, and plan routes (lines 16-21), demonstrating behavioral flexibility in urban settings. Choice (A) confuses “plasticity” with physical flexibility rather than behavioral adaptability. Choice (C) is too narrow; avoiding humans is one example of behavioral plasticity, not its definition.

14. Ans: (C) – informative and appreciative
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The author presents factual information about urban wildlife while using positive language like “surprising diversity” and “remarkably well” (lines 3-5), showing appreciation for adaptation. Choice (A) contradicts the passage; there is no alarm or warning about urban wildlife. Choice (B) is incorrect; the author presents urban wildlife positively, not dismissively.

15. Ans: (B) – argue that women have a constitutional right to vote
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Anthony states her purpose is to prove she “simply exercised my citizen’s rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution” (lines 5-8). Choice (A) contradicts the passage; Anthony argues she committed “no crime” (line 5). Choice (C) is too broad; explaining the Constitution is a means to her argumentative purpose, not the purpose itself.

16. Ans: (C) – voting in a presidential election
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Anthony states she stands “under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election” (lines 2-3). Choice (A) is not stated; she is giving a speech now, but was not indicted for speaking. Choice (B) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

17. Ans: (B) – future generations
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The preamble refers to securing liberty “to ourselves and our posterity” (lines 13-14), meaning current and future people. Choice (A) is the opposite of the correct meaning. Choice (C) uses a word from the passage (“citizens”) but posterity specifically means descendants, not contemporaries.

18. Ans: (C) – all people, including women
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Anthony explicitly states: “It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people” (lines 16-18), concluding with “women as well as men” (line 22). Choice (A) is directly contradicted by lines 16-17. Choice (B) is also contradicted by the same lines.

19. Ans: (B) – liberty was an existing right that the Constitution was meant to protect
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Anthony argues the Constitution was formed “not to give the blessings of liberty, but to secure them” (lines 18-20), indicating these rights already existed. Choice (A) reverses Anthony’s argument. Choice (D) contradicts the passage; Anthony emphasizes securing rights as the crucial purpose.

20. Ans: (B) – defiant and principled
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Anthony declares she “committed no crime” and defends her actions based on constitutional rights (lines 5-8), showing both defiance of the indictment and principled argument. Choice (A) contradicts the entire passage; Anthony refuses to apologize and asserts her rights. Choice (D) is too extreme; while defiant, Anthony presents reasoned argument rather than vengeful anger.