Reading Passage for HSPT - 41

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 telegram arrived on a Thursday, slipped under the door of our apartment while Mother was at the millinery shop and I was supposed to be practicing scales. I saw the yellow envelope from my seat at the piano and knew immediately what it meant. (5) No one sent telegrams with good news anymore, not in the spring of 1943. I let my hands fall silent on the keys and walked across the threadbare rug to pick it up.     For a long moment, I simply held it, feeling the weight of those few ounces of paper. Outside, the (10) streetcar rattled past on Amsterdam Avenue, and Mrs. Kowalski’s radio crackled through the thin walls with the afternoon serials. The ordinary sounds of the city pressed in around me, indifferent to the words sealed inside this envelope.     I thought (15) of my brother James, who had taught me to play poker with matchsticks at the kitchen table, who had left for basic training with his duffel bag slung carelessly over one shoulder and a grin that seemed to promise he’d be back by Christmas. That was fourteen months ago. (20) His last letter had come from somewhere in North Africa, so heavily censored that whole sentences were blacked out, leaving only fragments: the heat, the sand, a joke about the food that made no sense without context.

1. The narrator’s first reaction upon seeing the telegram is one of

1. curiosity about who sent it
2. immediate understanding of its likely content
3. relief that a message has finally arrived
4. confusion about why it was delivered to their apartment

2. The detail that the narrator was “supposed to be practicing scales” (line 3) suggests that

1. the narrator is a professional musician
2. the narrator is a young person with assigned responsibilities
3. Mother has recently purchased a new piano
4. the telegram interrupted an important performance

3. As used in line 7, the word “threadbare” most nearly means

1. colorful
2. expensive
3. worn
4. imported

4. The sounds described in lines 9-12 primarily serve to

1. contrast the narrator’s private emotional moment with the uncaring outside world
2. demonstrate the advanced technology available in 1943
3. show that the narrator lives in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood
4. indicate that the narrator is easily distracted by noise

5. The passage suggests that James left for the military

1. reluctantly and with great fear
2. with confidence and optimism
3. after being forced to enlist against his will
4. without saying goodbye to his family

6. The narrator’s mention that James’s last letter was “heavily censored” (line 20) indicates that

1. James was not allowed to write letters at all
2. military authorities removed sensitive information before delivery
3. the narrator had difficulty reading James’s handwriting
4. Mother intercepted the letter before the narrator could read it

7. The overall tone of this passage can best be described as

1. celebratory and joyful
2. anxious and foreboding
3. angry and resentful
4. detached and analytical

Passage 2

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

    The axolotl, a salamander native to the lake systems of Mexico City, possesses one of the most remarkable regenerative abilities in the animal kingdom. Unlike most amphibians, which undergo metamorphosis from aquatic larvae to terrestrial adults, the axolotl (5) reaches sexual maturity while retaining its larval features – a phenomenon called neoteny. With its feathery external gills and perpetual underwater existence, this creature challenges conventional assumptions about development and healing.     What truly distinguishes the axolotl, however, is its capacity to regrow (10) entire limbs, portions of its heart and brain, and even segments of its spinal cord without scarring. When an axolotl loses a leg, specialized cells at the wound site form a structure called a blastema, a mass of undifferentiated cells similar to those found in embryos. These cells then (15) receive chemical signals that guide them to develop into bone, muscle, nerve, and skin in precisely the correct arrangement. The regenerated limb is virtually indistinguishable from the original.     Researchers have long sought to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying this ability, hoping to (20) apply such knowledge to human medicine. Recent studies have identified specific genes that are activated during axolotl regeneration but remain dormant in mammals. Some scientists theorize that humans retain these genetic pathways but have evolved mechanisms that suppress them, possibly as a trade-off that reduces cancer risk. By studying (25) how axolotls avoid tumor formation while maintaining regenerative capacity, medical researchers hope to one day trigger controlled regeneration in human patients suffering from spinal injuries or organ damage.

8. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. argue that axolotls are superior to other amphibians
2. describe the habitat and diet of the axolotl
3. explain the axolotl’s unique regenerative abilities and their scientific significance
4. criticize current medical research methods

9. According to the passage, neoteny refers to

1. the ability to regenerate lost limbs
2. reaching adulthood while keeping juvenile characteristics
3. living exclusively in freshwater environments
4. the formation of a blastema at a wound site

10. As used in line 14, the word “undifferentiated” most nearly means

1. identical
2. unspecialized
3. damaged
4. mature

11. The passage indicates that a blastema is

1. a type of external gill
2. a lake system near Mexico City
3. a mass of cells that forms at an injury site
4. a chemical signal that prevents scarring

12. According to the passage, one reason humans may not regenerate limbs is that

1. humans lack the genes necessary for regeneration entirely
2. evolution may have suppressed these abilities to reduce cancer risk
3. human limbs are too complex to regenerate
4. humans do not possess a blastema structure

13. The passage suggests that axolotls are valuable to medical research because they

1. are easy to keep in laboratory environments
2. can regenerate tissue without developing tumors
3. have a longer lifespan than most amphibians
4. undergo metamorphosis more slowly than other salamanders

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

1. presenting a problem and then proposing multiple solutions
2. introducing an organism, explaining its unique trait, and discussing its research implications
3. comparing and contrasting two different species
4. stating a hypothesis and then refuting it with evidence

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a historical speech.

    I stand before you today not as a stranger to struggle, but as one who has witnessed the transformation that education brings to those deemed unworthy of it. Twenty years ago, I could neither read the words of Scripture nor write my own name. (5) Twenty years ago, the law itself forbade the very learning that now allows me to address this assembly. Yet here I stand, proof that the human mind cannot be kept in chains when the spirit yearns for knowledge.     Some say that our people are not ready for the responsibilities (10) of full citizenship, that we lack the capacity for self-governance and reasoned debate. To them I say: look at the schools we have built with our own hands and meager resources. Look at the churches where we gather not only to worship but to teach one another the skills (15) that were denied us for generations. We have not waited for permission to improve ourselves; we have seized every opportunity, however small, to demonstrate our worth.     The vote is not a privilege to be granted when we have proven ourselves sufficiently civilized by the standards of those who (20) enslaved us. It is a right inherent to all who live under the governance of law and contribute to the prosperity of this nation. We have tilled this soil, built these cities, and bled in defense of this republic. Now we demand recognition not as subjects, but as citizens.

15. The main purpose of this speech is to

1. thank those who have supported educational initiatives
2. argue for the recognition of citizenship rights for formerly enslaved people
3. describe the speaker’s personal educational journey in detail
4. propose a specific piece of legislation

16. The speaker uses his personal story primarily to

1. prove that anyone can overcome obstacles with determination
2. demonstrate the transformative power of education despite legal barriers
3. criticize those who prevented him from learning
4. establish that he is more qualified than other speakers

17. As used in line 10, the word “capacity” most nearly means

1. volume
2. ability
3. desire
4. permission

18. The speaker’s tone in lines 9-11 (“Some say that our people...reasoned debate”) can best be described as

1. agreeable and accepting
2. uncertain and questioning
3. dismissive and sarcastic
4. presenting an opposing view he will refute

19. According to the passage, the schools and churches mentioned in lines 11-15 were built

1. with government funding and support
2. by the community with limited resources
3. only after slavery was abolished
4. to replace institutions destroyed during war

20. The speaker’s argument in the final paragraph (lines 17-24) rests on the idea that voting rights

1. should be earned through education and property ownership
2. are inherent to all who contribute to and live under a nation’s governance
3. were promised to formerly enslaved people by the Constitution
4. will be granted once the nation has fully recovered from war

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – immediate understanding of its likely content
Explanation: This is a Detail/Inference question. The passage states that the narrator “knew immediately what it meant” upon seeing the yellow envelope (lines 3-4), and explains that “No one sent telegrams with good news anymore, not in the spring of 1943” (lines 4-5). Choice (A) is wrong because the narrator does not wonder who sent it; the focus is on the content. Choice (C) is wrong because the narrator shows dread, not relief.

2. Ans: (B) – the narrator is a young person with assigned responsibilities
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “supposed to be practicing” (line 3) suggests an obligation set by someone else, likely a parent, which indicates the narrator is young and under supervision. Choice (A) is wrong because a professional would not be “supposed to” practice in this way; it implies parental oversight. Choice (D) is wrong because there is no mention of a performance.

3. Ans: (C) – worn
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. “Threadbare” (line 7) describes a rug in an apartment where the family appears to have modest means, given the mother works at a shop and times are difficult. The word means worn thin from use. Choice (B) is wrong because threadbare suggests the opposite of expensive. Choice (A) is wrong because threadbare refers to condition, not color.

4. Ans: (A) – contrast the narrator’s private emotional moment with the uncaring outside world
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage describes ordinary sounds – a streetcar, a radio – as “indifferent to the words sealed inside this envelope” (lines 11-12), creating a contrast between the narrator’s profound moment and the world’s routine continuation. Choice (C) is wrong because the sounds (streetcar, radio through thin walls) suggest a busy, noisy environment, not a quiet one. Choice (D) is wrong because the narrator is not distracted; these sounds emphasize the emotional isolation.

5. Ans: (B) – with confidence and optimism
Explanation: This is an Inference question. James left “with his duffel bag slung carelessly over one shoulder and a grin that seemed to promise he’d be back by Christmas” (lines 17-19), which suggests a confident, optimistic attitude. Choice (A) is wrong because “carelessly” and “grin” indicate the opposite of reluctance and fear. Choice (C) is wrong because there is no suggestion he was forced; his grin suggests willingness.

6. Ans: (B) – military authorities removed sensitive information before delivery
Explanation: This is a Detail/Inference question. The passage states the letter was “so heavily censored that whole sentences were blacked out” (lines 20-21), which describes military censorship practices during wartime. Choice (A) is wrong because James did write letters; they were just censored. Choice (C) is wrong because the issue was not handwriting but deliberate blacking out of text.

7. Ans: (B) – anxious and foreboding
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The entire passage builds tension around an unopened telegram that the narrator knows contains bad news (lines 4-5), creating an atmosphere of anxiety and dread. Choice (A) is wrong because there is nothing celebratory; the mood is heavy with worry. Choice (D) is wrong because the narrator is emotionally invested, not detached.

8. Ans: (C) – explain the axolotl’s unique regenerative abilities and their scientific significance
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on the axolotl’s regenerative abilities (lines 9-17) and their importance to medical research (lines 18-25). Choice (B) is wrong because habitat is mentioned only briefly in line 2, and diet is not discussed at all. Choice (D) is wrong because the passage does not criticize research methods; it describes them positively.

9. Ans: (B) – reaching adulthood while keeping juvenile characteristics
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly defines neoteny: the axolotl “reaches sexual maturity while retaining its larval features” (lines 4-6). Choice (A) is wrong because regeneration and neoteny are presented as separate traits. Choice (C) is wrong because living in water is a result of neoteny, not the definition of it.

10. Ans: (B) – unspecialized
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes blastema cells as “undifferentiated” and “similar to those found in embryos” (line 14), which can then develop into different tissue types (lines 15-16), indicating they are not yet specialized. Choice (A) is wrong because undifferentiated means lacking specialization, not being identical to each other. Choice (D) is wrong because undifferentiated is the opposite of mature.

11. Ans: (C) – a mass of cells that forms at an injury site
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “specialized cells at the wound site form a structure called a blastema, a mass of undifferentiated cells” (lines 12-14). Choice (A) is wrong because external gills are mentioned separately as a feature of axolotls (line 6), not as a blastema. Choice (D) is wrong because chemical signals guide the blastema cells (line 15), but the blastema itself is not a chemical signal.

12. Ans: (B) – evolution may have suppressed these abilities to reduce cancer risk
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that “humans retain these genetic pathways but have evolved mechanisms that suppress them, possibly as a trade-off that reduces cancer risk” (lines 22-24). Choice (A) is wrong because the passage says humans retain the genes but suppress them, not that they lack the genes entirely. Choice (C) is wrong because complexity is not mentioned as a reason.

13. Ans: (B) – can regenerate tissue without developing tumors
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage explains that researchers study “how axolotls avoid tumor formation while maintaining regenerative capacity” (lines 24-25) to apply this to human medicine. Choice (A) may be true but is not stated in the passage, making it a wrong answer that seems plausible but lacks textual support. Choice (D) is wrong because axolotls do not undergo metamorphosis at all, as stated in lines 3-4.

14. Ans: (B) – introducing an organism, explaining its unique trait, and discussing its research implications
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph introduces the axolotl (lines 1-7), the second explains its regenerative ability (lines 8-17), and the third discusses research applications (lines 18-25). Choice (A) is wrong because no problem is presented; the structure is descriptive and explanatory. Choice (C) is wrong because only one species is discussed in detail.

15. Ans: (B) – argue for the recognition of citizenship rights for formerly enslaved people
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The speech builds from the speaker’s personal experience to a demand for voting rights and citizenship recognition (lines 17-24). Choice (C) is wrong because while the speaker mentions personal history, it serves as evidence for the larger argument, not as the main purpose. Choice (D) is wrong because no specific legislation is proposed.

16. Ans: (B) – demonstrate the transformative power of education despite legal barriers
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The speaker mentions being unable to read or write twenty years ago when “the law itself forbade the very learning” (lines 4-5) to show what education has accomplished despite these barriers. Choice (A) is too broad; the focus is specifically on education’s power in the context of legal oppression. Choice (D) is wrong because the speaker does not claim superiority over others.

17. Ans: (B) – ability
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase “lack the capacity for self-governance and reasoned debate” (lines 10-11) refers to a claimed lack of ability or capability. Choice (C) is wrong because capacity here means ability, not desire or willingness. Choice (D) is wrong because capacity refers to an inherent quality, not external permission.

18. Ans: (D) – presenting an opposing view he will refute
Explanation: This is a Tone/Structure question. The speaker introduces what “some say” and then immediately counters with “To them I say” (line 10), presenting an opposing argument he will dispute. Choice (C) is partially correct about the dismissive quality, but (D) better captures the rhetorical structure of presenting and refuting. Choice (A) is wrong because the speaker clearly disagrees with this view.

19. Ans: (B) – by the community with limited resources
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The speaker refers to “schools we have built with our own hands and meager resources” (lines 11-13), indicating community effort with limited means. Choice (A) is wrong because the emphasis on “our own hands and meager resources” indicates lack of government support. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage does not specify the timing relative to abolition.

20. Ans: (B) – are inherent to all who contribute to and live under a nation’s governance
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The speaker argues the vote “is a right inherent to all who live under the governance of law and contribute to the prosperity of this nation” (lines 20-22). Choice (A) reverses the speaker’s argument; he explicitly rejects the idea that rights must be earned by meeting others’ standards (lines 17-20). Choice (D) is wrong because the speaker demands immediate recognition, not a promise of future rights.