Reading Passage for HSPT - 49

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 horn blasted twice as Margot stepped onto the salt-bleached dock, her camera bag weighing heavy on one shoulder. She had not been back to Whidbey Island in fourteen years, not since the summer her grandmother died and the family sold the cedar-shake cottage (5) overlooking Admiralty Inlet. Now the editor at Pacific Northwest Living had sent her here to photograph the annual mussel harvest festival, and she felt a strange tightness in her chest as she recognized the same bait shop, the same weather-beaten sign advertising night crawlers and smelt.

    A young woman with sun-streaked hair waved from the parking lot. “You (10) Margot Chen? I’m Lily. I’m supposed to show you the best spots.” Her voice carried the easy confidence of someone who had never lived anywhere else.

    They drove north along the coast road. Lily talked rapidly about the decline in mussel beds, the new aquaculture permits, the tensions between longtime (15) islanders and recent transplants from Seattle. Margot listened, her fingers unconsciously tracing the strap of her camera bag, thinking how her grandmother would gather mussels from the rocks at low tide, steaming them with white wine and garlic in a dented pot. The memory rose unbidden, sharp as brine.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the history of mussel harvesting on Whidbey Island
2. introduce a character returning to a place filled with personal memories
3. explain the conflict between islanders and Seattle transplants
4. provide a detailed portrait of Lily’s personality and background

2. As used in line 7, the word tightness most nearly means

1. constriction
2. security
3. pressure
4. emotional tension

3. According to the passage, Margot has returned to Whidbey Island in order to

1. visit her grandmother’s grave
2. photograph a local festival for a magazine
3. investigate the decline in mussel beds
4. reconnect with childhood friends

4. The description of Lily’s voice as having “the easy confidence of someone who had never lived anywhere else” (lines 11-12) suggests that Lily

1. is arrogant about her island upbringing
2. has a secure sense of belonging to the place
3. lacks experience with urban environments
4. speaks more loudly than Margot

5. It can be inferred from the passage that Margot’s grandmother

1. owned the bait shop mentioned in line 8
2. died during the mussel harvest festival
3. lived on Whidbey Island and cooked mussels
4. worked in aquaculture on the island

6. The author includes details about “the same bait shop, the same weather-beaten sign” (line 8) primarily to

1. emphasize how little the island has changed since Margot’s last visit
2. provide historical background about the fishing industry
3. create a cheerful mood of homecoming
4. contrast Margot’s memories with present reality

7. The tone of the passage is best described as

1. nostalgic and reflective
2. anxious and foreboding
3. celebratory and joyful
4. detached and objective

Passage 2

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

    In the shadowed depths of the North Atlantic, a quiet revolution in marine biology has been unfolding. Hydrothermal vents, fissures in the ocean floor from which superheated, mineral-rich water erupts, were first discovered in 1977 near the Galápagos Islands. Scientists initially (5) expected these zones to be biological deserts, devoid of life in the absence of sunlight and photosynthesis. Instead, they found thriving ecosystems sustained by chemosynthesis, a process in which bacteria convert chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide into energy.

    These bacteria form the foundation of the vent food web. They exist both freely in the water and in symbiotic (10) relationships with larger organisms, particularly the giant tube worm Riftia pachyptila. This remarkable creature, which can grow to eight feet in length, has no mouth or digestive tract. Instead, specialized organs called trophosomes house billions of chemosynthetic bacteria that provide all the worm’s nutritional needs. In return, the worm’s blood, rich in hemoglobin, absorbs hydrogen sulfide from the vent (15) fluids and transports it to the bacteria.

    The discovery of chemosynthetic ecosystems has profound implications for astrobiology. If life can flourish in the extreme conditions of hydrothermal vents, similar ecosystems might exist on other worlds where volcanic activity and liquid water coincide, such as Jupiter’s moon Europa or Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

8. The main idea of this passage is that

1. hydrothermal vents are located near the Galápagos Islands
2. chemosynthetic ecosystems at ocean vents challenge previous assumptions and suggest possibilities for extraterrestrial life
3. giant tube worms are the largest organisms living near hydrothermal vents
4. bacteria can survive in extreme environments without oxygen

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

1. the North Atlantic Ocean
2. 1977
3. the waters near Europa
4. the shadowed depths of the Pacific Ocean

10. As used in line 4, the word devoid most nearly means

1. empty
2. lacking
3. deprived
4. isolated

11. The passage indicates that Riftia pachyptila obtains nutrition by

1. filtering mineral-rich water through its mouth
2. relying on bacteria housed in specialized organs
3. photosynthesizing with hemoglobin in its blood
4. absorbing hydrogen sulfide directly from vent fluids

12. The relationship between giant tube worms and chemosynthetic bacteria can best be described as

1. competitive
2. predatory
3. mutually beneficial
4. parasitic

13. The author mentions Europa and Enceladus (line 19) in order to

1. identify moons where hydrothermal vents have already been discovered
2. illustrate where conditions similar to those supporting vent ecosystems might exist
3. prove that life exists elsewhere in the solar system
4. compare the size of their oceans to Earth’s

14. It can be inferred from the passage that before 1977, scientists believed that

1. chemosynthesis was more efficient than photosynthesis
2. life could not exist in deep-ocean environments without sunlight
3. hydrothermal vents were common throughout the ocean floor
4. bacteria were incapable of forming symbiotic relationships

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a historical speech.

    I stand before you today not as a conqueror, but as one who has witnessed the terrible arithmetic of war. When I accepted command of the Allied forces in Europe, I knew that victory would demand sacrifices that would echo through generations. We have achieved that victory. The guns (5) are silent across this continent. Yet as I survey the shattered cities, the millions displaced, the countless families torn apart, I cannot feel the elation that perhaps I should.

    We have learned, at incalculable cost, that modern war spares no one. The distinction between soldier and civilian has been erased by technologies we ourselves unleashed. I have walked through the ruins of (10) villages where grandmothers and children perished alongside soldiers. I have seen the vacant eyes of survivors who have lost not only loved ones but faith in humanity itself.

    Our task now is not celebration but reconstruction – moral as much as physical. We must build institutions that make such devastation impossible to repeat. If we fail in this, if we allow (15) the hatreds of this war to fester, if we seek vengeance rather than justice, then all our sacrifices will have been in vain. The world is watching to see whether we have learned that peace cannot be built on humiliation, only on mutual respect and shared prosperity.

15. The speaker’s primary purpose in this passage is to

1. celebrate the Allied victory in Europe
2. describe the military strategies that led to success
3. emphasize the moral responsibility to build a lasting peace
4. criticize the technologies used during the war

16. As used in line 3, the phrase terrible arithmetic most nearly means

1. mathematical calculations
2. strategic planning
3. grim accounting of losses
4. numerical superiority

17. According to the passage, the speaker believes that modern war

1. affects soldiers and civilians equally
2. can be won through superior technology alone
3. should be followed by immediate celebration
4. creates clear distinctions between combatants and non-combatants

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

1. triumphant and proud
2. bitter and resentful
3. somber and cautionary
4. detached and analytical

19. The speaker suggests that achieving lasting peace will require

1. seeking vengeance against wartime enemies
2. building institutions based on justice and mutual respect
3. allowing hatreds to diminish gradually over time
4. celebrating military victories to boost morale

20. It can be inferred from the passage that the speaker

1. regrets accepting command of the Allied forces
2. believes the war could have been avoided entirely
3. feels the weight of responsibility for the war’s human cost
4. thinks the survivors have maintained their faith in humanity

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – introduce a character returning to a place filled with personal memories
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The passage focuses on Margot’s return to Whidbey Island after fourteen years and her emotional response to the familiar sights, particularly her memories of her grandmother (lines 4-7, 16-18). Choice (A) is too narrow; while mussels are mentioned, the passage is about Margot’s personal journey, not a historical account. Choice (C) is mentioned by Lily but is not the primary focus of the passage.

2. Ans: (D) – emotional tension
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The “strange tightness in her chest” (lines 6-7) is described in the context of Margot recognizing familiar sights from her past, indicating an emotional response rather than a physical sensation. Choice (A) refers to a physical meaning of tightness that doesn’t fit the emotional context. Choice (B) reverses the meaning; tightness here suggests discomfort, not security.

3. Ans: (B) – photograph a local festival for a magazine
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that “the editor at Pacific Northwest Living had sent her here to photograph the annual mussel harvest festival” (lines 5-7). Choice (A) is not mentioned in the passage. Choice (C) distorts information; while Lily mentions the decline in mussel beds (line 13), this is not why Margot returned.

4. Ans: (B) – has a secure sense of belonging to the place
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “easy confidence of someone who had never lived anywhere else” (lines 11-12) suggests Lily is comfortable and rooted in her home environment. Choice (A) goes too far; confidence does not necessarily mean arrogance. Choice (D) is not supported by the passage; the description refers to her manner, not her volume.

5. Ans: (C) – lived on Whidbey Island and cooked mussels
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage mentions “the summer her grandmother died and the family sold the cedar-shake cottage” (lines 4-6) and that “her grandmother would gather mussels from the rocks at low tide, steaming them” (lines 16-17), indicating she lived on the island and prepared mussels. Choice (A) is not stated or implied in the passage. Choice (B) distorts the timeline; the grandmother died in summer, but no connection to the festival is mentioned.

6. Ans: (A) – emphasize how little the island has changed since Margot’s last visit
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose/Structure question. The repetition of “the same” (line 8) highlights the unchanged nature of the island after fourteen years, contributing to Margot’s emotional response. Choice (B) is too broad; the details serve a narrative purpose, not historical background. Choice (C) misidentifies the mood; the tightness in her chest suggests complex emotions, not simple cheerfulness.

7. Ans: (A) – nostalgic and reflective
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage focuses on Margot’s memories of her grandmother and her emotional response to returning to the island (lines 16-18), creating a nostalgic, reflective atmosphere. Choice (B) is too negative; while there is some tension, the dominant tone is nostalgic rather than anxious. Choice (D) is incorrect; the narrative perspective is intimate and emotionally engaged, not detached.

8. Ans: (B) – chemosynthetic ecosystems at ocean vents challenge previous assumptions and suggest possibilities for extraterrestrial life
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses the unexpected discovery of life at hydrothermal vents (lines 4-7) and concludes with implications for astrobiology (lines 16-19), encompassing both key themes. Choice (A) is too narrow and only a supporting detail. Choice (C) focuses on a single organism rather than the broader ecosystem concept central to the passage.

9. Ans: (B) – 1977
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that hydrothermal vents “were first discovered in 1977 near the Galápagos Islands” (lines 3-5). Choice (A) is mentioned but as a different location where research has continued, not where vents were first discovered. Choice (D) distorts the passage; the Galápagos are in the Pacific, but the passage specifies them, not just “the Pacific Ocean.”

10. Ans: (B) – lacking
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. “Devoid of life” (line 5) means completely without or lacking life, which fits the context of scientists’ expectations about the vents. Choice (A) is close but “lacking” better captures the sense of being without something specific. Choice (D) changes the meaning; isolated means separated, not without.

11. Ans: (B) – relying on bacteria housed in specialized organs
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that tube worms have “specialized organs called trophosomes” that “house billions of chemosynthetic bacteria that provide all the worm’s nutritional needs” (lines 11-13). Choice (A) contradicts the passage, which states the worm “has no mouth or digestive tract” (line 11). Choice (C) misuses a term from the passage; hemoglobin transports chemicals but doesn’t photosynthesize.

12. Ans: (C) – mutually beneficial
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage describes how bacteria provide nutrition to the worm while the worm’s blood transports hydrogen sulfide to the bacteria (lines 13-15), indicating a symbiotic, mutually beneficial relationship. Choice (A) is contradicted by the passage’s description of cooperation. Choice (D) reverses the relationship; both organisms benefit rather than one harming the other.

13. Ans: (B) – illustrate where conditions similar to those supporting vent ecosystems might exist
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage mentions these moons as places “where volcanic activity and liquid water coincide” (line 19), suggesting similar conditions to Earth’s vents might support life. Choice (A) is too strong; the passage says ecosystems “might exist,” not that vents have been discovered. Choice (C) overstates the claim; the passage suggests possibility, not proof.

14. Ans: (B) – life could not exist in deep-ocean environments without sunlight
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states scientists “expected these zones to be biological deserts, devoid of life in the absence of sunlight and photosynthesis” (lines 4-6), indicating their prior assumption. Choice (A) is not stated or implied in the passage. Choice (C) contradicts the passage; the discovery in 1977 was significant precisely because vents were unexpected.

15. Ans: (C) – emphasize the moral responsibility to build a lasting peace
Explanation: This is a Main Idea/Author’s Purpose question. The speaker focuses on the need for “reconstruction – moral as much as physical” and building “institutions that make such devastation impossible to repeat” (lines 12-14), emphasizing future responsibility over past victory. Choice (A) is contradicted by the speaker’s statement that “I cannot feel the elation that perhaps I should” (line 6). Choice (D) is too narrow; technology is mentioned but is not the primary focus.

16. Ans: (C) – grim accounting of losses
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. “Terrible arithmetic of war” (line 3) is used in the context of sacrifices and witnessing devastation, suggesting a somber calculation of human costs rather than literal mathematics. Choice (A) is too literal; while arithmetic means calculation, the phrase is metaphorical here. Choice (B) is related to war but doesn’t capture the sense of tragic loss conveyed by “terrible.”

17. Ans: (A) – affects soldiers and civilians equally
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The speaker states that “the distinction between soldier and civilian has been erased” (line 8) and describes villages where “grandmothers and children perished alongside soldiers” (lines 10-11). Choice (D) directly contradicts this statement. Choice (B) is not supported; the speaker criticizes technologies but doesn’t suggest they alone can win wars.

18. Ans: (C) – somber and cautionary
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speaker describes devastation, expresses an inability to feel elation (line 6), and warns about the consequences of failure (lines 14-16), creating a serious, warning tone. Choice (A) is contradicted by the speaker’s explicit statement about not feeling elation. Choice (B) is too strong; while serious, the tone is more concerned with the future than bitter about the past.

19. Ans: (B) – building institutions based on justice and mutual respect
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The speaker explicitly states “We must build institutions that make such devastation impossible to repeat” (lines 13-14) and argues that “peace cannot be built on humiliation, only on mutual respect and shared prosperity” (lines 16-18). Choice (A) is directly contradicted by the warning against seeking “vengeance rather than justice” (line 15). Choice (C) contradicts the warning not to “allow the hatreds of this war to fester” (lines 14-15).

20. Ans: (C) – feels the weight of responsibility for the war’s human cost
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The speaker describes witnessing devastation personally, mentions the “incalculable cost” (line 7), and expresses inability to feel elation (line 6), suggesting a burden of responsibility for the consequences. Choice (A) is too extreme; feeling weight of responsibility does not mean regret about accepting command. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which describes survivors with “vacant eyes” who have “lost faith in humanity itself” (lines 11-12).