Reading Passage for HSPT - 53

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 half past six, and Marguerite pulled her shawl tighter against the wind that swept across the harbor. She had made this crossing a dozen times since arriving in San Francisco, but tonight the water looked different – darker, more restless. In her (5) carpetbag she carried three letters, each sealed with red wax, each addressed to a name she had memorized but never spoken aloud. Her brother had entrusted them to her the morning before he disappeared, and she had not slept since.     The other passengers huddled near the cabin, but Marguerite remained at the rail. She thought of her mother’s (10) kitchen in Philadelphia, the smell of bread rising in the morning, the predictable chime of the clock on the mantel. That life seemed impossibly distant now, as if it belonged to someone else entirely. She had come west to find her brother, and instead she had found only questions – questions that led to darkened doorways and whispered conversations that ended the moment she (15) entered a room.     A man in a bowler hat stepped beside her. He did not speak, but his presence was deliberate. Marguerite kept her eyes on the approaching shore, where oil lamps flickered in the windows of the warehouses. The letters in her bag seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment, and she understood, with a clarity that made her (20) breath catch, that delivering them would change everything.

1. The passage is primarily about

1. a woman traveling to San Francisco to start a new business
2. a woman carrying out a mysterious task related to her missing brother
3. the historical development of ferry transportation in California
4. the difficulties faced by immigrants in nineteenth-century America

2. As used in line 5, the word entrusted most nearly means

1. sold
2. committed to someone’s care
3. hidden
4. abandoned

3. The detail about the red wax seals on the letters (line 6) suggests that

1. the letters are official government documents
2. Marguerite is wealthy and uses expensive materials
3. the letters are important and possibly secretive
4. the letters were written by Marguerite herself

4. According to the passage, Marguerite has not slept since

1. she arrived in San Francisco
2. the morning her brother gave her the letters
3. she left Philadelphia
4. she boarded the ferry

5. The description of Marguerite’s mother’s kitchen in lines 9-11 primarily serves to

1. demonstrate Marguerite’s skill at baking bread
2. contrast her former life with her current uncertain situation
3. explain why Marguerite decided to leave Philadelphia
4. criticize the simple lifestyle of her family

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

1. humorous and lighthearted
2. suspenseful and somber
3. angry and confrontational
4. nostalgic and sentimental

7. It can be inferred from the passage that the man in the bowler hat (line 16)

1. is Marguerite’s brother in disguise
2. may be monitoring or following Marguerite
3. is the captain of the ferry
4. is trying to help Marguerite find her brother

Passage 2

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

    For decades, scientists believed that the deep ocean floor was a barren wasteland, devoid of life and geological activity. This assumption was shattered in 1977 when researchers aboard the submersible Alvin descended to the Galápagos Rift and discovered hydrothermal vents – fissures in the seafloor from which (5) superheated water erupts. Surrounding these vents were thriving ecosystems unlike anything previously documented, with tube worms nearly eight feet long, ghostly white crabs, and clouds of bacteria that formed the foundation of an entirely chemosynthetic food web.     Unlike surface ecosystems, which derive energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, these vent communities rely on chemosynthesis. (10) Specialized bacteria oxidize hydrogen sulfide and other chemicals dissolved in the vent fluids, converting the chemical energy into organic compounds. These bacteria, in turn, support a complex community of organisms that have evolved remarkable adaptations to survive in conditions that would be lethal to most life forms – temperatures exceeding 700 degrees Fahrenheit, crushing pressures, and (15) complete darkness.     The discovery of hydrothermal vent ecosystems has profound implications for our understanding of the origins of life. Some researchers now theorize that life on Earth may have first emerged not in shallow tidal pools warmed by the sun, but in the mineral-rich, thermally active environments of deep-sea vents. The finding has also expanded (20) the search for extraterrestrial life; scientists now look with particular interest at Europa and Enceladus, moons of Jupiter and Saturn respectively, which possess subsurface oceans that may harbor similar vent systems beneath their icy crusts.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. the submersible Alvin is the most important tool for ocean exploration
2. hydrothermal vents support unique ecosystems and have changed scientific thinking about life
3. most deep-sea organisms cannot survive in sunlight
4. Europa and Enceladus definitely contain living organisms

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

1. 1977
2. 1967
3. the early twentieth century
4. the 1990s

10. As used in line 8, the word foundation most nearly means

1. building structure
2. charitable organization
3. base or underlying support
4. discovery

11. The passage indicates that chemosynthetic organisms differ from photosynthetic organisms in that chemosynthetic organisms

1. derive energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight
2. are much larger in size
3. cannot survive in pressurized environments
4. exist only in freshwater habitats

12. The author mentions Europa and Enceladus (line 21) in order to

1. prove that life exists elsewhere in the solar system
2. illustrate how hydrothermal vent discoveries have influenced the search for extraterrestrial life
3. argue that space exploration is more important than ocean exploration
4. describe the chemical composition of vent fluids

13. It can be inferred from the passage that before 1977, scientists believed deep-sea environments

1. contained the most diverse ecosystems on Earth
2. were too hostile to support significant life
3. were identical to surface ocean environments
4. had already been thoroughly explored

14. The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to

1. persuade readers to support deep-sea exploration funding
2. entertain readers with stories of underwater adventure
3. inform readers about hydrothermal vents and their scientific significance
4. instruct readers on how to operate a submersible vessel

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a speech delivered by Frederick Douglass in 1852.

    What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national (5) greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy – a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of (10) savages.     There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of these United States, at this very hour. Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts (15) by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.

15. The main purpose of this passage is to

1. celebrate American independence and freedom
2. condemn the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while maintaining slavery
3. encourage enslaved people to revolt against their masters
4. compare American slavery favorably to conditions in other countries

16. As used in line 4, the word sham most nearly means

1. celebration
2. something false or fake
3. holiday
4. tradition

17. According to the passage, the Fourth of July reveals to the enslaved person

1. hope for future freedom
2. the injustice and cruelty of his situation
3. the superiority of American democracy
4. an opportunity to celebrate with his family

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

1. indifferent and detached
2. optimistic and cheerful
3. indignant and accusatory
4. apologetic and uncertain

19. In lines 12-15, the author’s rhetorical strategy of urging listeners to search the world for comparable abuses serves to

1. suggest that slavery exists everywhere and is therefore acceptable
2. emphasize that American slavery is uniquely hypocritical given the nation’s ideals
3. prove that monarchies are worse than democracies
4. encourage international travel and cultural exchange

20. It can be inferred from the passage that Douglass believes American religious observances (lines 7-9)

1. are sincere expressions of faith that will eventually end slavery
2. are meaningless in a nation that practices slavery
3. should be attended by enslaved people
4. are superior to religious practices in other countries

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – a woman carrying out a mysterious task related to her missing brother
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage centers on Marguerite carrying three letters that her missing brother gave her before he disappeared, and her journey to deliver them (lines 5-7, 18-20). Choice (A) is wrong because there is no mention of starting a business. Choice (C) is wrong because although a ferry is mentioned, the passage is not about transportation history.

2. Ans: (B) – committed to someone’s care
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 5, Marguerite’s brother “entrusted” the letters to her, meaning he gave them to her to keep safe and deliver, which matches “committed to someone’s care.” Choice (A) is wrong because there is no indication of a financial transaction. Choice (D) is wrong because entrusting is the opposite of abandoning.

3. Ans: (C) – the letters are important and possibly secretive
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The detail of red wax seals, combined with the fact that the letters are addressed to names Marguerite has “memorized but never spoken aloud” (lines 6-7), suggests secrecy and importance. Choice (A) is too specific and not supported by the passage. Choice (D) contradicts the passage, which states her brother gave her the letters (line 5).

4. Ans: (B) – the morning her brother gave her the letters
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that her brother entrusted the letters to her “the morning before he disappeared, and she had not slept since” (lines 5-7). Choice (A) is wrong because she had made the crossing “a dozen times,” indicating she arrived earlier than the previous morning. Choice (D) is wrong because the ferry trip is happening now, and she hasn’t slept since before boarding.

5. Ans: (B) – contrast her former life with her current uncertain situation
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. The description of the predictable, comfortable kitchen in Philadelphia (lines 9-11) is followed by “That life seemed impossibly distant now,” creating a contrast with her current mysterious and dangerous circumstances (lines 11-15). Choice (A) is wrong because Marguerite’s baking skill is never mentioned. Choice (D) is wrong because the description is nostalgic, not critical.

6. Ans: (B) – suspenseful and somber
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage creates suspense through mysterious letters, a missing brother, whispered conversations, and the ominous man in the bowler hat (lines 5-20), while the somber mood is established through darkness, Marguerite’s sleeplessness, and her sense of foreboding. Choice (A) is wrong because there is no humor in the passage. Choice (C) is wrong because while there is tension, there is no anger or confrontation.

7. Ans: (B) – may be monitoring or following Marguerite
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The man’s presence is described as “deliberate” (line 17), and he does not speak, which, combined with the atmosphere of secrecy and danger established earlier, suggests surveillance. Choice (A) is not supported by any evidence in the passage. Choice (C) is wrong because a ferry captain would not be standing silently beside a passenger.

8. Ans: (B) – hydrothermal vents support unique ecosystems and have changed scientific thinking about life
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage discusses the discovery of vent ecosystems (lines 3-8), their unique chemistry (lines 9-15), and their impact on theories about life’s origins and extraterrestrial possibilities (lines 16-22). Choice (D) is wrong because the passage says scientists look at these moons “with particular interest,” not that they definitely contain life. Choice (C) is true but too narrow to be the main idea.

9. Ans: (A) – 1977
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that hydrothermal vents were discovered “in 1977” when researchers descended to the Galápagos Rift (lines 2-4). Choice (B) is a distractor using a similar-looking date. Choice (C) is contradicted by the passage.

10. Ans: (C) – base or underlying support
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. In line 8, bacteria “formed the foundation of an entirely chemosynthetic food web,” meaning they are the base that supports the rest of the ecosystem. Choice (A) uses a different meaning of “foundation” that doesn’t fit the context. Choice (B) uses another meaning of the word that is irrelevant here.

11. Ans: (A) – derive energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly contrasts surface ecosystems, which “derive energy from sunlight through photosynthesis,” with vent communities that “rely on chemosynthesis” using chemical energy (lines 9-12). Choice (B) is wrong because size is not mentioned as a distinguishing factor. Choice (C) reverses the truth, as chemosynthetic organisms thrive under crushing pressures (line 14).

12. Ans: (B) – illustrate how hydrothermal vent discoveries have influenced the search for extraterrestrial life
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The author mentions these moons in lines 20-22 to show that the vent discovery “has also expanded the search for extraterrestrial life.” Choice (A) is wrong because the passage says scientists look with “interest,” not that life is proven. Choice (C) is wrong because no such comparison is made.

13. Ans: (B) – were too hostile to support significant life
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that scientists believed the deep ocean floor was “a barren wasteland, devoid of life” (lines 1-2), and this assumption was “shattered” by the 1977 discovery. Choice (A) reverses what scientists believed. Choice (D) is not supported; the discovery would not have been significant if the area were already explored.

14. Ans: (C) – inform readers about hydrothermal vents and their scientific significance
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The passage presents factual information about the discovery, characteristics, and scientific implications of hydrothermal vents (lines 1-22) in an educational, expository manner. Choice (A) is wrong because the author does not advocate for funding. Choice (B) is wrong because the passage is informative, not primarily entertaining.

15. Ans: (B) – condemn the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while maintaining slavery
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. Throughout the passage, Douglass contrasts American celebrations of liberty with the reality of slavery, calling the celebration “a sham” and accusing the nation of “hypocrisy” (lines 4, 9). Choice (A) reverses the passage’s purpose entirely. Choice (D) contradicts lines 12-16, where Douglass says America “reigns without a rival” in barbarity.

16. Ans: (B) – something false or fake
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. Douglass calls the celebration “a sham” (line 4) in the context of condemning American hypocrisy, meaning it is false or fake given the existence of slavery. Choice (A) uses a word from the passage but misses the critical negative connotation. Choice (D) is too neutral and misses Douglass’s condemnation.

17. Ans: (B) – the injustice and cruelty of his situation
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage directly states that the Fourth of July “reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim” (lines 2-4). Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s tone and content. Choice (C) reverses Douglass’s argument.

18. Ans: (C) – indignant and accusatory
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. Douglass’s tone is angry and condemning throughout, using words like “sham,” “mockery,” “hypocrisy,” and “fraud” (lines 4-9) and directly accusing America of crimes (lines 10-16). Choice (A) is wrong because Douglass is passionately engaged, not detached. Choice (B) is the opposite of the passage’s tone.

19. Ans: (B) – emphasize that American slavery is uniquely hypocritical given the nation’s ideals
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. By urging a worldwide search for comparable abuses and concluding that “America reigns without a rival” in “shameless hypocrisy” (lines 15-16), Douglass emphasizes the contrast between American ideals of freedom and the reality of slavery. Choice (A) contradicts Douglass’s condemnation. Choice (C) is too narrow and misses the main point about American hypocrisy.

20. Ans: (B) – are meaningless in a nation that practices slavery
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Douglass calls religious observances “mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy” and “a thin veil to cover up crimes” (lines 8-10), indicating he sees them as empty and meaningless given slavery. Choice (A) contradicts the passage’s condemnatory tone. Choice (D) is not supported and contradicts Douglass’s argument that America is uniquely hypocritical.