Reading Passage for HSPT - 46

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 morning my father sold the skiff, I watched from the upstairs window as the buyer’s truck rolled down our oyster-shell driveway, the little boat riding backward on the trailer, its stern pointed toward the house. My father stood with his hands in his pockets, (5) his shoulders curved forward the way they had been ever since the cannery closed. He didn’t wave. The buyer didn’t wave. The whole transaction had taken maybe ten minutes.     I had learned to row in that skiff when I was seven, my father’s calloused hands guiding mine on the worn oar handles. (10) We’d gone out every Saturday that summer, drifting along the marsh creeks while he taught me to read the water-where the current ran fast, where the bottom shoaled up, where the redfish liked to feed when the tide was falling. He never (15) raised his voice, not even when I caught a crab with the oars and nearly flipped us both into the channel.     Now the skiff was gone, and with it went the last piece of the life we’d had before. My mother said we needed the money more than we needed memories, and maybe she was right. But I couldn’t (20) help thinking my father had sold away part of himself, too.

1. The main purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the process of selling a boat
2. convey a young person’s sense of loss during a difficult time
3. explain why the cannery closed
4. criticize the father’s financial decisions

2. According to the passage, the narrator learned to row when he or she was

1. five years old
2. seven years old
3. ten years old
4. a teenager

3. As used in line 15, the word “raised” most nearly means

1. lifted
2. increased
3. elevated
4. brought up

4. The detail about the father’s “shoulders curved forward” (line 5) suggests that he

1. has a medical condition
2. is physically exhausted from rowing
3. feels defeated or burdened
4. is angry at the buyer

5. The passage indicates that the father and the narrator used to go out in the skiff

1. every day during the summer
2. once a week during one particular summer
3. whenever the tide was falling
4. only when they went fishing for redfish

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

1. bitter and resentful
2. wistful and melancholy
3. cheerful and optimistic
4. detached and analytical

7. It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that the family is experiencing

1. a move to a new city
2. a period of celebration
3. financial hardship
4. a conflict between the parents

Passage 2

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

    For centuries, cartographers believed the ocean floor was a vast, featureless plain, as monotonous as a frozen lake. This assumption crumbled in the 1950s when geologist Marie Tharp began mapping the Atlantic seafloor using sonar data collected (5) by naval vessels. Working in a Columbia University laboratory, Tharp painstakingly translated strings of depth measurements into hand-drawn topographic profiles. What emerged from her meticulous work was startling: a continuous mountain range running down the center of the Atlantic, split (10) by a deep rift valley.     Tharp’s discovery provided crucial evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, which was still controversial at the time. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, as the formation came to be known, marks the boundary where two massive plates of Earth’s crust are slowly (15) pulling apart. Magma wells up through the rift, cooling to form new ocean floor-a process that continues today at a rate of about two centimeters per year. This means the Atlantic Ocean is gradually widening, pushing Europe and North America farther apart with each passing decade.     Tharp’s (20) achievement was all the more remarkable given the gender barriers she faced. Women were not permitted aboard research vessels in that era, so she never saw the underwater landscapes she mapped with such precision.

8. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. explain how sonar technology works
2. describe a significant scientific discovery and the person who made it
3. argue that women should be allowed on research vessels
4. compare different theories about ocean formation

9. According to the passage, before the 1950s, cartographers believed the ocean floor was

1. covered with mountain ranges
2. impossible to map accurately
3. flat and uniform
4. split by rift valleys

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

1. rapid
2. painstaking
3. creative
4. mechanical

11. The passage indicates that the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is

1. a boundary where two crustal plates are separating
2. a mountain range on the coast of Europe
3. the deepest part of the ocean
4. a formation that no longer changes

12. It can be inferred from the passage that Tharp’s work was important because it

1. allowed women to join research expeditions
2. disproved the theory of plate tectonics
3. supported a scientific theory that was not yet widely accepted
4. showed that the Atlantic was shrinking

13. According to the passage, new ocean floor is created at a rate of approximately

1. two centimeters per decade
2. two centimeters per year
3. two meters per year
4. two millimeters per year

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

1. a chronological narrative of Tharp’s entire career
2. an introduction to a discovery followed by its scientific significance and historical context
3. a comparison of competing scientific theories
4. a detailed explanation of how to map the ocean floor

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from Chief Joseph’s surrender speech, delivered in 1877.

    Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Too-hul-hul-sote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who (5) say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are-perhaps (10) freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands (15) I will fight no more forever.

15. The main purpose of Chief Joseph’s speech is to

1. declare his intention to continue fighting
2. announce his surrender and express his grief
3. request supplies for his people
4. criticize General Howard’s actions

16. According to the passage, Chief Joseph says that among his people, the decision-makers are now

1. the old men
2. the young men
3. the women
4. General Howard

17. As used in line 13, the phrase “Hear me” most nearly serves to

1. request medical attention
2. demand immediate action
3. call for attention and understanding
4. test whether his audience is listening

18. Chief Joseph mentions that Looking Glass and Too-hul-hul-sote are dead in order to

1. blame General Howard for their deaths
2. illustrate the devastating losses his people have suffered
3. explain why he became the new chief
4. prove that he is the only leader remaining

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

1. defiant and threatening
2. resigned and sorrowful
3. hopeful and optimistic
4. angry and accusatory

20. It can be inferred from the passage that Chief Joseph’s most immediate concern is

1. negotiating better terms of surrender
2. finding and helping his scattered people, especially the children
3. rebuilding his army
4. recording his people’s history

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – convey a young person’s sense of loss during a difficult time
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on the narrator’s emotional response to the sale of the skiff, which symbolizes the loss of a previous, happier life, as evidenced by the reflections on learning to row and the statement that “with it went the last piece of the life we’d had before” (lines 17-18). Choice (A) is too narrow, focusing only on the mechanics of the sale rather than its emotional significance. Choice (C) is incorrect because the cannery closing is mentioned only as background (line 6) but is not explained.

2. Ans: (B) – seven years old
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states, “I had learned to row in that skiff when I was seven” (line 8). Choice (A) incorrectly states five years old, which is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Choice (C) incorrectly states ten years old, which does not appear in the text.

3. Ans: (D) – brought up
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In the phrase “He never raised his voice” (lines 14-15), the word means to increase the volume or intensity of speaking, which is best captured by “brought up.” Choice (A), “lifted,” refers to physical elevation and does not fit the context of vocal volume. Choice (B), “increased,” is too general and does not specifically relate to voice in common usage.

4. Ans: (C) – feels defeated or burdened
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The description of curved-forward shoulders immediately follows the mention of the cannery closing (line 6), suggesting a posture of dejection or weariness resulting from hardship. Choice (A) is incorrect because there is no indication of a medical condition in the passage. Choice (D) is wrong because the father shows no signs of anger; in fact, “He didn’t wave” (line 6) suggests emotional withdrawal rather than anger.

5. Ans: (B) – once a week during one particular summer
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states, “We’d gone out every Saturday that summer” (lines 9-10), indicating weekly trips during a specific summer. Choice (A) is too broad, as “every day” contradicts “every Saturday.” Choice (D) is too narrow because fishing for redfish is mentioned only as one of several activities, not the sole purpose of their trips (lines 12-14).

6. Ans: (B) – wistful and melancholy
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The narrator’s reflections on cherished memories combined with present loss, especially in phrases like “I couldn’t help thinking my father had sold away part of himself” (lines 19-20), create a wistful, sad atmosphere. Choice (A) is incorrect because while there is sadness, there is no bitterness or resentment expressed toward any person. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage contains no cheerful or optimistic elements.

7. Ans: (C) – financial hardship
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Multiple details support this inference: the cannery closing (line 6), the mother’s statement that “we needed the money more than we needed memories” (lines 18-19), and the father’s defeated posture. Choice (A) is not supported by the passage, which mentions no move. Choice (B) contradicts the melancholy tone throughout the passage.

8. Ans: (B) – describe a significant scientific discovery and the person who made it
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage presents Marie Tharp’s mapping of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (lines 3-10) and explains both its scientific importance (lines 11-18) and the personal context of her achievement (lines 19-22). Choice (A) is too narrow, as sonar is mentioned only briefly as a data source (lines 4-5). Choice (C) distorts the passage; while gender barriers are mentioned (lines 20-22), arguing for policy change is not the primary purpose.

9. Ans: (C) – flat and uniform
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “cartographers believed the ocean floor was a vast, featureless plain” (lines 1-2). Choice (A) directly contradicts this, as the mountain ranges were what Tharp discovered, not what was previously believed. Choice (D) is incorrect because rift valleys were part of Tharp’s discovery (lines 9-10), not prior belief.

10. Ans: (B) – painstaking
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The context describes Tharp “painstakingly translated” data and did “meticulous work” (lines 6-8), indicating careful, detail-oriented effort; “painstaking” captures this meaning. Choice (A), “rapid,” contradicts the careful, time-intensive nature described. Choice (D), “mechanical,” suggests routine or automatic work, which contradicts the skill and precision implied.

11. Ans: (A) – a boundary where two crustal plates are separating
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states the Ridge “marks the boundary where two massive plates of Earth’s crust are slowly pulling apart” (lines 13-15). Choice (B) misrepresents the Ridge as a coastal rather than underwater feature. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which states the process “continues today” (line 16).

12. Ans: (C) – supported a scientific theory that was not yet widely accepted
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states Tharp’s discovery “provided crucial evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, which was still controversial at the time” (lines 11-12). Choice (B) reverses the relationship; Tharp’s work supported, not disproved, plate tectonics. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which states the Atlantic is “gradually widening” (line 18).

13. Ans: (B) – two centimeters per year
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states the process continues “at a rate of about two centimeters per year” (lines 16-17). Choice (A) incorrectly substitutes “per decade” for “per year.” Choice (C) incorrectly changes “centimeters” to “meters,” which would be one hundred times faster.

14. Ans: (B) – an introduction to a discovery followed by its scientific significance and historical context
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The first paragraph introduces Tharp’s discovery (lines 1-10), the second explains its scientific importance (lines 11-18), and the third provides historical context about gender barriers (lines 19-22). Choice (A) is too broad; the passage covers only one discovery, not Tharp’s entire career. Choice (C) is incorrect because no competing theories are compared.

15. Ans: (B) – announce his surrender and express his grief
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. Chief Joseph explicitly states “I will fight no more forever” (lines 15-16) and expresses profound sorrow about dead chiefs, freezing children, and his “sick and sad” heart (line 14). Choice (A) directly contradicts the speech’s concluding declaration. Choice (D) is incorrect because Chief Joseph says he knows General Howard’s heart (line 1) and offers no criticism.

16. Ans: (B) – the young men
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. Chief Joseph states, “The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no” (lines 4-5). Choice (A) directly contradicts this statement that “the old men are all dead” (line 4). Choice (D) misunderstands the passage; General Howard is the recipient of the message, not a decision-maker for Chief Joseph’s people.

17. Ans: (C) – call for attention and understanding
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. “Hear me, my chiefs!” (line 13) serves as a rhetorical appeal for his listeners to pay attention to his momentous declaration of surrender that follows. Choice (A) misinterprets “hear” literally as relating to medical needs rather than as a call for attention. Choice (D) is too literal and misses the rhetorical force of the phrase.

18. Ans: (B) – illustrate the devastating losses his people have suffered
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. Chief Joseph lists the dead chiefs (lines 2-4) as part of a catalog of losses that justifies his surrender, along with freezing children and scattered people. Choice (A) is incorrect because he assigns no blame to General Howard in this speech. Choice (D) is too narrow and inaccurate; other leaders remain, as he addresses “my chiefs” (line 13).

19. Ans: (B) – resigned and sorrowful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Phrases like “I am tired of fighting,” “my heart is sick and sad,” and “I will fight no more forever” (lines 2-3, 14, 15-16) convey exhausted resignation and deep grief. Choice (A) contradicts the speech’s message of surrender rather than continued defiance. Choice (C) is incorrect because there are no hopeful or optimistic elements in the speech.

20. Ans: (B) – finding and helping his scattered people, especially the children
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Chief Joseph states, “I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find” (lines 10-11) and expresses particular concern for “little children” who “are freezing to death” (lines 6-7). Choice (A) is incorrect because he makes no demands or attempts to negotiate terms. Choice (C) directly contradicts his declaration that “I will fight no more forever” (lines 15-16).