Reading Passage for HSPT - 59

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 wind off the harbor smelled of kelp and diesel fuel, and Martin leaned against the railing of the pier, watching the trawlers come in. His father’s boat wasn’t among them. It wouldn’t be, not for another two days at least, and even then (5) only if the weather held. Martin had come down here every afternoon for a week, ever since the argument that had sent him storming out of the house with his duffel bag and his mother’s stricken face behind him.     He had found work at the cannery, (10) third shift, sorting the day’s catch under fluorescent lights that made everything look alien and cold. The older men didn’t speak to him much. They knew who he was, knew the boat he’d left, and their silence felt like judgment. (15) But Martin told himself he didn’t care. He had his own room now, above the diner on Prospect Street, and his own money, and nobody to tell him he was wasting his life on books and sketches when there was a perfectly (20) good living to be made on the water.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the daily operations of a fishing community
2. establish a character’s recent conflict and current situation
3. explain why the fishing industry is in decline
4. contrast the beauty of the harbor with the ugliness of the cannery

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

1. angry
2. distressed
3. confused
4. relieved

3. It can be inferred from the passage that Martin left home because

1. he wanted to earn more money than fishing could provide
2. his father’s boat was lost at sea
3. he disagreed with his family about his future
4. the cannery offered him a better job than his father could

4. According to the passage, the older men at the cannery

1. openly criticize Martin for leaving his father’s boat
2. are mostly silent toward Martin
3. encourage Martin to pursue his artistic interests
4. are unfamiliar with Martin’s background

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

1. celebratory and hopeful
2. tense and uncertain
3. humorous and lighthearted
4. angry and vengeful

6. The detail that Martin comes to the pier “every afternoon for a week” (line 6) suggests that he

1. is waiting to reconcile with his father
2. has a job interview on one of the trawlers
3. still feels connected to the rhythms of the fishing boats
4. is planning to leave town by boat

7. The passage indicates that Martin’s interests include

1. marine biology and environmental science
2. books and sketches
3. diesel engine repair
4. commercial fishing techniques

Passage 2

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

    For decades, scholars believed that the domestication of horses occurred around 3500 BCE on the steppes of what is now Kazakhstan, based primarily on evidence from the Botai culture. These ancient people left behind (5) settlements filled with horse bones, wear patterns on teeth suggesting the use of bits, and traces of mare’s milk in pottery vessels. The narrative seemed complete: here was the birthplace of horse domestication, the revolutionary moment that would transform human (10) mobility, warfare, and trade across Eurasia.     Recent genetic studies, however, have complicated this tidy story. DNA analysis of ancient Botai horse remains reveals that these animals are not the ancestors of modern domestic horses. Instead, they are (15) the forebears of Przewalski’s horse, a wild species that survives today in small numbers in Mongolia. The true ancestors of domestic horses appear to have been bred in the western Eurasian steppes, possibly near the Volga and Don rivers, several (20) centuries after the Botai culture flourished. This finding suggests that horse domestication may have occurred independently in multiple locations, or that the Botai experiment ultimately failed, leaving no genetic legacy in the horses humans ride today.

8. The main idea of the passage is that

1. the Botai culture was more advanced than previously believed
2. genetic evidence has revised our understanding of where domestic horses originated
3. Przewalski’s horse is the ancestor of all modern horses
4. horse domestication had little impact on ancient trade routes

9. According to the passage, evidence from the Botai culture includes all of the following EXCEPT

1. horse bones at settlement sites
2. tooth wear suggesting bit use
3. traces of mare’s milk in pottery
4. written records of horse breeding practices

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

1. flexibility
2. movement
3. adaptability
4. instability

11. The passage suggests that the relationship between Botai horses and modern domestic horses is

1. one of direct ancestry
2. nonexistent in genetic terms
3. limited to a few rare breeds
4. stronger than previously believed

12. The author’s purpose in the second paragraph is primarily to

1. describe the physical characteristics of Przewalski’s horse
2. present genetic evidence that contradicts the earlier theory
3. argue that the Botai culture never actually domesticated horses
4. explain how DNA analysis techniques have improved

13. The passage indicates that modern domestic horses likely originated

1. in Mongolia
2. in Kazakhstan around 3500 BCE
3. near the Volga and Don rivers
4. in multiple locations simultaneously

14. The phrase “tidy story” (line 11) suggests that the original theory of horse domestication was

1. deliberately falsified by archaeologists
2. based on insufficient evidence
3. neat and apparently complete but oversimplified
4. universally rejected by scientists

Passage 3

The following passage is adapted from a 1917 speech by suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt.

    We have waited long enough for the vote. We have been patient, we have been law-abiding, we have tried every constitutional means at our disposal. We have made our case in the courts and in the legislatures, in the press and from (5) the platform. We have gathered petitions with millions of signatures. We have marched, we have lobbied, we have pleaded. And still, the right that belongs to us as citizens of a republic is withheld.     Some tell us to wait, that our (10) time will come, that public opinion must ripen slowly like fruit on a tree. But I ask you: how long must one half of humanity wait for justice? Our mothers waited. Our grandmothers waited. They were told the same: be patient, your time will (15) come. That time is now. The women of this nation have earned their citizenship not only through endurance but through service. We have built schools and hospitals, we have raised the children who fight in this very war, we have worked in (20) the factories and the fields. We ask only for what is already ours by right.

15. The primary purpose of this passage is to

1. describe the history of the suffrage movement in detail
2. urge immediate action on women’s voting rights
3. compare American suffrage efforts with those in other countries
4. criticize men for denying women the vote

16. As used in line 10, the word ripen most nearly means

1. spoil
2. mature
3. sweeten
4. darken

17. According to the passage, suffragists have used all of the following methods EXCEPT

1. gathering petitions
2. marching and lobbying
3. engaging in violent protest
4. making their case in courts

18. The tone of the passage is best described as

1. defeated and resigned
2. scholarly and detached
3. urgent and impassioned
4. humorous and satirical

19. The speaker’s reference to “our mothers” and “our grandmothers” (lines 12-13) serves to

1. emphasize how long women have been denied voting rights
2. suggest that earlier generations were less committed to the cause
3. prove that public opinion has not changed over time
4. criticize previous suffrage leaders for their methods

20. It can be inferred from the passage that the speaker believes women have demonstrated their right to vote through

1. their superior moral character compared to men
2. their contributions to society and their patience
3. their willingness to break unjust laws
4. their success in other countries

Answer Key

1. Ans: (B) – establish a character’s recent conflict and current situation
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage focuses on Martin’s recent departure from home after an argument (lines 6-8) and his current circumstances working at the cannery and living alone (lines 9-20). Choice (A) is too broad; while fishing is mentioned, the passage centers on Martin’s personal situation, not the community’s operations. Choice (C) is not supported by the passage, which never discusses industry decline.

2. Ans: (B) – distressed
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The word appears in the phrase “his mother’s stricken face” (line 8) in the context of Martin leaving home after an argument, indicating his mother was upset or distressed. Choice (A) “angry” is too harsh and not supported by the context, which emphasizes the mother’s emotional pain rather than anger. Choice (D) “relieved” directly contradicts the emotional tone of a mother watching her son leave after a fight.

3. Ans: (C) – he disagreed with his family about his future
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage indicates Martin left after “the argument” (line 6) and mentions that someone told him “he was wasting his life on books and sketches” when he could fish (lines 18-20), suggesting a conflict over his future path. Choice (A) is too narrow; while money is mentioned, the core conflict is about his interests versus family expectations. Choice (B) is factually incorrect; the passage states his father’s boat will return “in another two days” (line 5).

4. Ans: (B) – are mostly silent toward Martin
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states “The older men didn’t speak to him much” and “their silence felt like judgment” (lines 12-14). Choice (A) distorts the passage; the men are silent, not openly critical. Choice (D) contradicts lines 12-13, which state “They knew who he was, knew the boat he’d left.”

5. Ans: (B) – tense and uncertain
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The passage conveys tension through Martin’s conflict with his family, his defensive assertion that “he didn’t care” (line 16), and uncertainty about his decision and future. Choice (A) is contradicted by the overall mood; nothing in the passage is celebratory. Choice (D) is too extreme; while there is conflict, Martin is not characterized as vengeful.

6. Ans: (C) – still feels connected to the rhythms of the fishing boats
Explanation: This is an Inference question. Despite leaving the fishing life, Martin habitually watches the boats come in (lines 1-6), suggesting he remains drawn to that world even as he tries to separate from it. Choice (A) is plausible but too specific; the passage doesn’t indicate he’s seeking reconciliation. Choice (B) is not supported; he already has a job at the cannery (lines 9-10).

7. Ans: (B) – books and sketches
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage explicitly states that Martin was told he was “wasting his life on books and sketches” (lines 18-19), directly identifying his interests. Choice (A) is not mentioned anywhere in the passage. Choice (D) reverses the passage’s meaning; Martin is rejecting fishing, not pursuing it as an interest.

8. Ans: (B) – genetic evidence has revised our understanding of where domestic horses originated
Explanation: This is a Main Idea question. The passage presents an old theory about Botai horses (lines 1-10) and then explains how DNA analysis has shown that domestic horses actually originated elsewhere (lines 11-23). Choice (C) reverses the information; Przewalski’s horse descended from Botai horses (lines 14-16), not modern domestic horses. Choice (D) is not addressed in the passage.

9. Ans: (D) – written records of horse breeding practices
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage lists horse bones, tooth wear patterns, and mare’s milk traces (lines 4-7) as Botai evidence, but never mentions written records. Choice (A) is explicitly mentioned in line 4. Choice (B) is stated in lines 5-6.

10. Ans: (B) – movement
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The passage discusses how horse domestication “would transform human mobility, warfare, and trade” (lines 9-10), clearly referring to the ability to move across distances. Choice (A) “flexibility” uses a related concept but doesn’t capture the specific meaning of physical movement in this context. Choice (D) “instability” contradicts the positive transformation described.

11. Ans: (B) – nonexistent in genetic terms
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The passage states that Botai horses “are not the ancestors of modern domestic horses” (line 14) and that true domestic horse ancestors came from elsewhere (lines 16-19), indicating no genetic connection. Choice (A) directly contradicts line 14. Choice (D) reverses the passage’s point; the genetic evidence shows a weaker, not stronger, connection than previously believed.

12. Ans: (B) – present genetic evidence that contradicts the earlier theory
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The second paragraph introduces DNA analysis (line 12) showing Botai horses aren’t ancestors of domestic horses (lines 13-15) and identifies different origins (lines 16-19), directly challenging the first paragraph’s theory. Choice (A) is too narrow; Przewalski’s horse is mentioned but describing it is not the primary purpose. Choice (C) is too extreme; the passage suggests the Botai did domesticate horses, but those horses didn’t leave a genetic legacy (lines 21-23).

13. Ans: (C) – near the Volga and Don rivers
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage states that domestic horse ancestors “appear to have been bred in the western Eurasian steppes, possibly near the Volga and Don rivers” (lines 17-19). Choice (A) is associated with Przewalski’s horse (line 16), not domestic horses. Choice (B) contradicts the passage; this was the old, now-disproven theory (lines 2-3).

14. Ans: (C) – neat and apparently complete but oversimplified
Explanation: This is an Inference question. The phrase “tidy story” appears after the author describes the earlier complete-seeming narrative (lines 1-10), then introduces complications (line 11), suggesting the original theory was too simple. Choice (A) is too extreme; nothing suggests deliberate falsification, only incomplete evidence. Choice (B) is too broad; the evidence seemed sufficient at the time, but new genetic data revealed complexity.

15. Ans: (B) – urge immediate action on women’s voting rights
Explanation: This is an Author’s Purpose question. The speaker emphasizes that waiting is over (lines 1-2, 14-15) and declares “That time is now” (line 15), clearly urging immediate enfranchisement. Choice (A) is too narrow; while methods are listed (lines 3-7), the primary purpose is persuasive, not historical. Choice (C) is not supported; no other countries are mentioned in the passage.

16. Ans: (B) – mature
Explanation: This is a Vocabulary in Context question. The phrase “public opinion must ripen slowly like fruit on a tree” (lines 10-11) uses ripening as a metaphor for gradual maturation or development. Choice (A) “spoil” suggests decay, which contradicts the intended meaning of positive development. Choice (C) “sweeten” is too literal and narrow, missing the broader sense of development.

17. Ans: (C) – engaging in violent protest
Explanation: This is a Detail/Fact question. The passage lists petitions, marching, lobbying, and court cases (lines 3-7) and emphasizes being “law-abiding” (line 3), but never mentions violence. Choice (A) is mentioned in line 6. Choice (D) is stated in lines 4-5.

18. Ans: (C) – urgent and impassioned
Explanation: This is a Tone/Mood question. The speaker uses emphatic language (“waited long enough,” line 1; “That time is now,” line 15) and emotional appeals, creating urgency and passion. Choice (A) contradicts the assertive, demanding tone throughout. Choice (B) is incorrect; the speech is personal and emotional, not scholarly or detached.

19. Ans: (A) – emphasize how long women have been denied voting rights
Explanation: This is a Structure/Organization question. By invoking multiple generations who were also told to wait (lines 12-14), the speaker stresses the extended duration of this injustice. Choice (B) contradicts the passage; the speaker honors previous generations rather than criticizing their commitment. Choice (D) is not supported; no criticism of earlier leaders appears in the passage.

20. Ans: (B) – their contributions to society and their patience
Explanation: This is an Extended Reasoning question. The speaker argues women have “earned their citizenship” through “endurance” and “service” (line 16), listing specific contributions like building schools, raising children, and working (lines 17-20). Choice (A) is too extreme; the passage emphasizes contributions, not moral superiority. Choice (C) contradicts line 3, which stresses being “law-abiding.”