Reading Passage for HSPT - 52

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 lurched away from the dock at Kowloon just as the first drops of rain began to spatter the deck. Margaret gripped the railing, her knuckles whitening, though whether from fear of the crossing or dread of what awaited her on Hong Kong Island, she could not say. In her coat pocket, (5) the telegram from her brother lay folded into a tight square, its edges soft from repeated handling. “Father gravely ill. Come at once.” Five words that had pulled her from the quiet tedium of her teaching post in Shanghai and thrust her onto this churning gray water.     She had not seen her father in (10) three years, not since the bitter argument over her decision to pursue work rather than marriage. He had called her foolish and ungrateful; she had called him tyrannical. Both had meant every word. Now the possibility that those might have been their last words to each other sat in her stomach like a stone.     A (15) young Chinese woman standing nearby shifted her bamboo baskets to one arm and offered Margaret a sympathetic smile. Margaret attempted to return it, but her face felt frozen. The woman said something in Cantonese that Margaret did not understand, though the kindness in her voice was unmistakable. (20) Margaret nodded her thanks, and the woman turned back toward the bow, leaving her alone with the rain and her regrets.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the setting of Hong Kong in the early twentieth century
2. portray a character experiencing anxiety about an impending reunion
3. explain why Margaret left her teaching position in Shanghai
4. illustrate the dangers of ferry travel during a rainstorm

2. According to the passage, Margaret’s father disapproved of her decision to

1. move to Shanghai without his permission
2. pursue employment instead of getting married
3. travel alone across the harbor during a storm
4. maintain contact with her brother but not with him

3. As used in line 7, the word tedium most nearly means

1. monotony
2. difficulty
3. prestige
4. isolation

4. The detail that Margaret has handled the telegram repeatedly suggests that she

1. doubts the authenticity of her brother’s message
2. has been preoccupied with the news it contains
3. plans to show it to her father as evidence
4. is trying to memorize the exact wording

5. The passage suggests that the argument between Margaret and her father was

1. a minor disagreement that both have since forgotten
2. the result of a misunderstanding about her brother
3. a serious conflict in which both spoke harshly
4. orchestrated by her brother to create family discord

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

1. nostalgic and wistful
2. tense and remorseful
3. hopeful and energetic
4. indifferent and detached

7. The interaction between Margaret and the Chinese woman primarily serves to

1. demonstrate Margaret’s fluency in Cantonese
2. highlight Margaret’s emotional isolation despite human kindness
3. suggest that Margaret has made many friends in China
4. show that the ferry crossing is a dangerous journey

Passage 2

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

    For centuries, cartographers assumed that the seafloor was a vast, featureless plain, a monotonous expanse of mud stretching between the continents. This assumption persisted until the mid-twentieth century, when sonar technology developed during World War II enabled scientists to map the ocean floor (5) with unprecedented precision. What they discovered revolutionized geology: a globe-encircling system of underwater mountain ranges, volcanic ridges, and deep trenches that dwarfed any terrestrial landscape in scale.     The most dramatic feature is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a submerged mountain chain running down the center of the Atlantic Ocean. (10) At the ridge’s crest, magma wells up from Earth’s mantle, creating new oceanic crust that spreads outward in both directions. This process, called seafloor spreading, was proposed by geologist Harry Hess in 1960 and provided crucial evidence for the theory of plate tectonics. As new crust forms at the ridge, older crust is (15) pushed away, moving at rates of a few centimeters per year-about as fast as fingernails grow.     Magnetic patterns in seafloor rocks offered further confirmation. As molten rock solidifies, iron-bearing minerals align with Earth’s magnetic field, creating a permanent record of the field’s orientation at that moment. Because (20) Earth’s magnetic poles reverse periodically, seafloor rocks exhibit symmetrical stripes of alternating magnetic polarity on either side of the ridge, like a geological barcode recording millions of years of planetary history.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. sonar technology was the most important military invention of World War II
2. the discovery of seafloor features transformed scientific understanding of Earth’s geology
3. the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is larger than any mountain range on land
4. Harry Hess was the first scientist to use sonar for ocean mapping

9. According to the passage, cartographers before the mid-twentieth century believed the seafloor was

1. covered with underwater volcanoes and ridges
2. composed of magnetic rocks with alternating polarity
3. a largely flat and uniform surface
4. impossible to map without sonar technology

10. As used in line 6, the word scale most nearly means

1. system of measurement
2. size or extent
3. climbing device
4. balance or instrument

11. The passage indicates that seafloor spreading occurs when

1. oceanic crust moves toward the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
2. new crust forms at a ridge and pushes older crust outward
3. magnetic poles reverse and create symmetrical patterns
4. sonar waves penetrate the ocean floor and create new features

12. The author’s comparison of the rate of seafloor spreading to fingernail growth serves to

1. suggest that geological processes are too slow to measure accurately
2. emphasize that the process is gradual yet measurable
3. argue that seafloor spreading is faster than scientists once believed
4. prove that plate tectonics occurs only in underwater environments

13. The “geological barcode” mentioned in line 21 refers to

1. the texture of volcanic rocks on the ocean floor
2. the pattern of symmetric magnetic stripes in seafloor rocks
3. the shape of underwater mountain ranges
4. the speed at which new oceanic crust is formed

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

1. skeptical and questioning
2. informal and humorous
3. informative and explanatory
4. urgent and persuasive

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a historical speech.

    Mr. President, I rise today not in opposition to progress, but in defense of principle. The bill before us promises the swift expansion of our rail lines into territories scarcely surveyed, the rapid exploitation of mineral wealth beneath lands we do not fully own, and the (5) enrichment of a privileged few at the expense of the many. Its proponents speak in grand terms of national destiny and inevitable advancement. But I ask this body: What destiny is served by the dispossession of native peoples who have occupied these lands for generations? What advancement is achieved when we mortgage the public domain to private (10) corporations that answer to shareholders rather than citizens?     I am not insensible to the economic arguments. I acknowledge the benefits that rail transport brings to commerce and communication. But when the cost of such benefits is the betrayal of our treaty obligations and the sacrifice of our democratic ideals upon the altar (15) of expediency, then I say the price is too high. Let us proceed with enterprise, yes, but let us do so with honor. Let us build, but let us not build upon a foundation of broken promises and legal chicanery. The true measure of a nation is not the speed of its railroads, but (20) the integrity of its commitments.

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

1. celebrate the economic advantages of railroad expansion
2. argue against a bill on moral and legal grounds
3. propose an alternative method of surveying territories
4. praise the accomplishments of native peoples

16. According to the passage, the bill under discussion would result in

1. improved treaty negotiations with native populations
2. government ownership of all new railroad lines
3. financial gain primarily for a limited number of people
4. a temporary halt to westward expansion

1. speed or swiftness
2. convenience over principle
3. careful planning
4. fairness and justice

18. The speaker’s reference to “shareholders rather than citizens” (lines 10-11) suggests that

1. most citizens own shares in railroad corporations
2. private companies may prioritize profit over public welfare
3. shareholders are not allowed to be citizens under the bill
4. the railroad industry is controlled entirely by foreign investors

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

1. passionate and principled
2. lighthearted and optimistic
3. bitter and resentful
4. detached and objective

20. The speaker would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

1. Economic development should never be pursued in new territories.
2. A nation’s moral character is more important than its material progress.
3. Railroad construction is inherently harmful to democratic ideals.
4. Native peoples should be given ownership of all railroad companies.

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – portray a character experiencing anxiety about an impending reunion
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on Margaret’s emotional state as she travels to see her dying father after a bitter argument three years earlier (lines 10-13), focusing on her fear and regret about the reunion. Choice (A) is too narrow because while the Hong Kong setting is mentioned, it is not the primary focus. Choice (D) is incorrect because the rain and ferry are setting details, not the main subject.

2. Ans: (B) – pursue employment instead of getting married
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage explicitly states that the argument was “over her decision to pursue work rather than marriage” (lines 11-12). Choice (A) distorts the information given; while she works in Shanghai, the text does not say the father objected to the move itself. Choice (C) is incorrect because the ferry journey occurs after the argument, not as its cause.

3. Ans: (A) – monotony
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 7, “tedium” describes the “quiet tedium of her teaching post,” suggesting dullness or repetitiveness, which matches “monotony.” Choice (B) is incorrect because “tedium” refers to boredom, not challenge. Choice (C) is wrong because “prestige” is the opposite of what “tedium” implies about the teaching position.

4. Ans: (B) – has been preoccupied with the news it contains
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states the telegram’s “edges soft from repeated handling” (line 6), suggesting Margaret has taken it out and read it many times, indicating preoccupation with its contents. Choice (A) is incorrect because nothing suggests she doubts the message. Choice (D) is wrong because the repetitive handling suggests emotional processing, not memorization attempts.

5. Ans: (C) – a serious conflict in which both spoke harshly
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage states her father “had called her foolish and ungrateful; she had called him tyrannical. Both had meant every word” (lines 12-13), indicating harsh words on both sides. Choice (A) is contradicted by the passage, which describes the argument as “bitter” (line 11). Choice (B) is incorrect because the argument was about her career choice, not about her brother.

6. Ans: (B) – tense and remorseful
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys tension through Margaret’s white knuckles and fear (lines 3-4) and remorse through her reflection on the argument and “regrets” (line 21). Choice (A) is incorrect because while she recalls the past, the mood is anxious rather than wistful. Choice (C) is wrong because the passage emphasizes dread and worry, not hope.

7. Ans: (B) – highlight Margaret’s emotional isolation despite human kindness
Explanation: This is a Structure question. The woman offers kindness that Margaret cannot fully receive-her face feels “frozen” (line 18) and she is left “alone with the rain and her regrets” (lines 20-21), emphasizing her isolation. Choice (A) is contradicted by the passage, which states Margaret “did not understand” the Cantonese (line 18). Choice (C) is incorrect because this brief, unsuccessful connection does not suggest many friendships.

8. Ans: (B) – the discovery of seafloor features transformed scientific understanding of Earth’s geology
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage explains how sonar mapping revealed seafloor features that “revolutionized geology” (line 5) and provided evidence for plate tectonics (line 13). Choice (A) is too narrow because sonar is mentioned only as a tool, not as the main topic. Choice (D) is factually incorrect; the passage does not claim Hess was the first to use sonar for mapping.

9. Ans: (C) – a largely flat and uniform surface
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage states that cartographers “assumed that the seafloor was a vast, featureless plain, a monotonous expanse” (lines 1-3). Choice (A) reverses the information; underwater volcanoes and ridges were discovered later, contradicting earlier assumptions. Choice (D) is true but not stated; the passage does not say they thought mapping was impossible.

10. Ans: (B) – size or extent
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 6, “scale” refers to the enormous size of underwater features that “dwarfed any terrestrial landscape in scale,” meaning in size or magnitude. Choice (A) uses a different meaning of “scale” that does not fit the context. Choice (C) is a different definition entirely (a ladder or climbing tool).

11. Ans: (B) – new crust forms at a ridge and pushes older crust outward
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The passage explains that “magma wells up from Earth’s mantle, creating new oceanic crust that spreads outward in both directions” and “older crust is pushed away” (lines 11-15). Choice (A) reverses the direction of movement described. Choice (C) confuses magnetic reversals with the spreading mechanism itself.

12. Ans: (B) – emphasize that the process is gradual yet measurable
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The comparison to fingernail growth (line 16) illustrates that seafloor spreading is slow (“a few centimeters per year”) but steady and quantifiable. Choice (A) is incorrect because the comparison shows the process is measurable, not too slow to measure. Choice (C) contradicts the passage, which emphasizes the slowness, not speed.

13. Ans: (B) – the pattern of symmetric magnetic stripes in seafloor rocks
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage describes “symmetrical stripes of alternating magnetic polarity” (lines 20-21) as a “geological barcode,” making the pattern of magnetic stripes the correct answer. Choice (A) is incorrect because the barcode refers to magnetic patterns, not rock texture. Choice (C) confuses the magnetic stripes with the physical shape of ridges.

14. Ans: (C) – informative and explanatory
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The passage presents scientific information in a straightforward manner, explaining seafloor features and their discovery (throughout). Choice (A) is incorrect because the author presents established scientific findings without skepticism. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage maintains a serious, educational tone without humor.

15. Ans: (B) – argue against a bill on moral and legal grounds
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The speaker opposes the bill, citing “betrayal of our treaty obligations” (line 14) and sacrifice of “democratic ideals” (line 15), making moral and legal arguments. Choice (A) reverses the speaker’s position; he acknowledges economic benefits (line 12) but ultimately opposes the bill. Choice (C) is incorrect because the speaker does not propose an alternative surveying method.

16. Ans: (C) – financial gain primarily for a limited number of people
Explanation: This is a Detail question. The speaker describes the bill as enabling “the enrichment of a privileged few at the expense of the many” (lines 4-5). Choice (A) reverses the passage content; the speaker criticizes betrayal of treaty obligations (line 14), not improvement of negotiations. Choice (B) is contradicted by the reference to “private corporations” (lines 9-10).

17. Ans: (B) – convenience over principle
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 14, “expediency” appears in the phrase “sacrifice of our democratic ideals upon the altar of expediency,” suggesting prioritizing what is convenient or practical over what is right. Choice (A) offers a different meaning of expedience (speed) that does not fit the moral context. Choice (D) is the opposite of what “expediency” suggests in this context.

18. Ans: (B) – private companies may prioritize profit over public welfare
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The contrast between “shareholders” and “citizens” (lines 10-11) suggests corporations serve private profit interests rather than the public good. Choice (A) is not supported by the passage and misses the speaker’s critical point. Choice (C) distorts the passage; the speaker does not claim shareholders cannot be citizens, but that corporate priorities differ from public ones.

19. Ans: (A) – passionate and principled
Explanation: This is a Tone question. The speaker expresses strong conviction about moral issues (“defense of principle,” line 1; “honor,” line 16) with emphatic language throughout. Choice (B) is incorrect because the tone is serious and critical, not lighthearted. Choice (D) is wrong because the speaker is emotionally engaged and takes a clear position, not detached.

20. Ans: (B) – A nation’s moral character is more important than its material progress.
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The speaker states “The true measure of a nation is not the speed of its railroads, but the integrity of its commitments” (lines 18-20), prioritizing moral values over economic advancement. Choice (A) is too extreme; the speaker acknowledges benefits of development (line 12) and says “Let us build” (line 16), just not dishonorably. Choice (C) overgeneralizes; the speaker opposes this particular bill’s methods, not railroad construction itself.