SECTION 3

Time: 40 Minutes
40 Questions
Each reading passage is followed by questions about it. Answer the questions that follow a passage on the
basis of what is stated or implied in that passage. For each question, select the answer you think is best and
record your choice by filling in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet.

1. The purpose of Madam Walker’s speech was to

At the Thirteenth Annual Convention of the
(A) demonstrate her hair products to the
National Negro Business League in 1912, no
league
women were included on the schedule of speakers.
(B) lash out at Booker T. Washington for
Madam C. J. Walker, a highly successful inventor
ignoring her
5 and distributor of hair care products for African-
(C) make the members of the league take
American women, shocked the participants when
notice of her business success
she walked up and claimed the podium from
(D) influence the members of the league to
moderator Booker T. Washington:
admit more women
(E) encourage black women to go into
“Surely you are not going to shut the door
business for themselves
10 in my face. I feel that I am in a business that is
a credit to the womanhood of our race. I am a
2. As reflected in her speech, Madam Walker’s
woman who started in business seven years ago
attitude is best described as
with only $1.50. This year (up to the 19th day of
(A) envious
this month . . .) I had taken in $18,000. (Prolonged
(B) proud
15 applause.) This makes a grand total of $63,049
(C) reverent
made in my hair business in Indianapolis.
(D) cautious
(Applause.) I have been trying to get before you
(E) fearful
business people to tell you what I am doing. I am
a woman that came from the cotton fields of the
3. The reaction of the members of the league to
20 South; I was promoted from there to the wash-
Madam Walker’s speech can be described as
tub (laughter); then I was promoted to the cook
(A) indifferent
kitchen, and from there I promoted myself into
(B) angry
the business of manufacturing hair goods and
(C) sad
preparations . . . I am not ashamed of my past; I
(D) favorable
25 am not ashamed of my humble beginning. Don’t
(E) critical
think that because you have to go down in the
wash-tub that you are any less a lady! (Prolonged
applause.)”

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SSAT Exam II: Section 3 267

 4. The reference to her promotion from
30 mixed with the rock and debris to create
the cotton fields to the wash-tub to the cook
concrete-like mudflows that scoured river valleys
kitchen is used to
surrounding the mountain.
(A) show how far she has come
A plume of volcanic ash and pumice billowed
(B) establish a connection with her audience
out of the volcano reaching a height of 15 miles
(C) suggest that hard work is not ladylike
35 and transformed day into night across Eastern
(D) debunk a myth about African-American
Washington. Avalanches of super-heated gas and
women
pumice, called pyroclastic flows, swept down the
(E) make people feel sorry for her
flanks of the volcano. While the landslide and
lateral blast were over within minutes, the
5. What does Madam Walker means when she
40 eruption column, mudflows and pyroclastic flows
says, “Don’t think that because you have to go
continued throughout the day and following
down in the wash-tub that you are any less a
night. By the following morning major eruptive
lady” (lines 25–27)?
activity had ceased and the landscape appeared
(A) Ladies should not have to scrub and cook.
to be a gray wasteland.
(B) Getting down on your knees to scrub is
hard work for a lady.
(C) It is not ladylike to work with your hands. 6. The primary purpose of this passage is to
(D) Very few ladies get ahead in the business (A) offer general information about
world. volcanoes
(E) There is nothing demeaning about hard (B) describe a specific volcanic eruption
work. (C) offer specific advice about what to do
when a volcano erupts
(D) provide historical background about
On March 20, 1980, a series of small earthquakes volcanoes
signaled the awakening of Mount St. Helens from (E) appeal for action to protect the
a 123-year slumber. Over the next two months environment
more than 10,000 earthquakes followed as magma
5 moved into the volcano, wedging the volcano 7. The first sentence implies that
apart at a rate of five feet per day. Heat from a (A) Mount St. Helens had never before
rising plume of volcanic ash melted glacial ice erupted
creating cement-like slurries of rock and ash called (B) Mount St. Helens erupts every 123 years
mudflows. Superheated avalanches of hot gas, (C) Mount St. Helens last erupted in 1857
10 magma caused a visible swelling of the volcano’s (D) no records exist for eruptions that
north flank creating a feature that scientists called occurred more than 123 years ago
“the bulge.” (E) no one suspected that Mount St. Helens
Many geologists weren’t surprised by Mount could erupt
St. Helens’ awakening. In the 1950s, geologists
15 had begun an extensive study of the deposits 8. As used in line 7, “rising” most nearly means
around Mount St. Helens. In 1975, they pub- (A) growing
lished a report predicting that Mount St. Helens (B) maturing
was the volcano in the lower 48 states most likely (C) approaching
to erupt by the end of the century. (D) ascending
20 On the morning of May 18, 1980, a magnitude (E) advancing
5.1 earthquake triggered the collapse of the
summit and north flank of Mount St. Helens and
formed the largest landslide in recorded history.
Gas-rich magma and super-heated groundwater
25 trapped inside the volcano were suddenly released
in a powerful lateral blast. In less than three
minutes, 230 square miles of forest lay flattened.
The hot gas and magma melted the snow and ice
that covered the volcano. The resulting floodwater
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268 Practice Tests for the SSAT

 9. The statement that “Many geologists weren’t
20 brilliancy, and he continually used them in a
surprised by Mount St. Helens’ awakening,”
conscious, theatrical sort of way, peculiarly offen-
(lines 13–14) primarily suggests that
sive in a boy. The pupils were abnormally large, as
(A) geologists were able to predict when
though he were addicted to belladonna, but there
Mount St. Helens would erupt
was a glassy glitter about them which that drug
(B) the assumptions geologists had made about
25 does not produce.
Mount St. Helens were being proven
When questioned by the Principal as to why
(C) the longer a volcano remains dormant,
he was there Paul stated, politely enough, that he
the more likely it is to become active
wanted to come back to school. This was a lie, but
(D) nothing is surprising to geologists
Paul was quite accustomed to lying; found it,
(E) the heat rising from the volcanic ash had
30 indeed, indispensable for overcoming friction.
provided an important clue to the
His teachers were asked to state their respective
geologists
charges against him, which they did with such a
rancor and aggrievedness as evinced that this was
10. The author describes the events of May 18,
not a usual case. Disorder and impertinence were
1980, mainly by means of
35 among the offenses named, yet each of his
(A) scientific analysis
instructors felt that it was scarcely possible to put
(B) detached and impartial observation
into words the real cause of the trouble, which lay
(C) vivid language and dramatic images
in a sort of hysterically defiant manner of the
(D) presentation of facts in chronological order
boy’s; in the contempt which they all knew he felt
(E) presentation of details in spatial order
40 for them, and which he seemingly made not the
least effort to conceal. Once, when he had been
11. By calling the landscape “a gray wasteland”
making a synopsis of a paragraph at the black-
(line 44), the author implies that
board, his English teacher had stepped to his side
(A) the landscape was covered with a blanket
and attempted to guide his hand. Paul had started
of dirty snow
45 back with a shudder and thrust his hands violently
(B) the landscape was littered with garbage
behind him. The astonished woman could scarcely
and other waste matter
have been more hurt and embarrassed had he
(C) the trees were all covered with gray ash
struck at her. The insult was so involuntary and
(D) the sun could not penetrate the forest
definitely personal as to be unforgettable. In one
(E) the landscape had been stripped bare and
50 way and another he had made all his teachers, men
covered in volcanic ash
and women alike, conscious of the same feeling
of physical aversion. In one class he habitually sat
It was Paul’s afternoon to appear before the with his hand shading his eyes; in another he always
faculty of the Pittsburgh High School to account looked out of the window during the recitation;
for his various misdemeanors. He had been 55 in another he made a running commentary on the
suspended a week ago, and his father had called lecture, with humorous intention.
5 the Principal’s office and confessed his perplexity Willa Cather from “Paul’s Case: A Study in
about his son. Paul entered the faculty room Temperament”
suave and smiling. His clothes were a trifle out-
grown, and the tan velvet on the collar of his open 12. This passage can best be characterized as
overcoat was frayed and worn; but for all that (A) an amusing story about a high school
10 there was something of the dandy about him, and escapade
he wore an opal pin in his neatly knotted (B) a fond remembrance of the narrator’s
black four-in-hand, and a red carnation in his youth
buttonhole. This latter adornment the faculty (C) a penetrating examination of a young
somehow felt was not properly significant of the man’s character
15 contrite spirit befitting a boy under the ban of (D) a polite appeal for forgiveness
suspension. (E) an astute description of the relationship
Paul was tall for his age and very thin, with between a father and son
high, cramped shoulders and a narrow chest.
His eyes were remarkable for a certain hysterical
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SSAT Exam II: Section 3 269

13. In line 10, the expression “there was something
The Homestead Act of 1862 has been called
of the dandy about him” means that Paul
one the most important pieces of legislation in the
(A) was afraid of appearing before the faculty
history of the United States. Designed to spur
(B) was in need of new clothes
Western migration, the Homestead Act culminated
(C) did not care how he looked
5 a twenty-year battle to distribute public lands to
(D) paid great attention to his clothes
citizens willing to farm. Opposition to the Act came
(E) was hard on his clothes
from Northern businessmen, who feared it would
lower property values and reduce the supply of
14. The red carnation in Paul’s buttonhole in lines
cheap labor, and from Southerners, who feared
12–13 made the faculty feel that Paul
10 homesteaders would add to the voices calling for
(A) did not take his suspension seriously
the abolition of slavery. With Southerners out of
enough
the picture in 1862, the legislation finally passed
(B) did not really want to come back to school
and was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln.
(C) was trying to impress the principal
Under this Act, 270 million acres, or 10% of the
(D) thought he should be forgiven
15 area of the United States, was claimed and settled.
(E) was sincere in his desire to improve his
A homesteader had only to be the head of a
behavior
household and at least 21 years of age to claim
a 160-acre parcel of land. Settlers from all walks
15. In the eyes of the faculty, Paul’s most serious
of life, including newly arrived immigrants,
offense was his
20 farmers without land of their own from the East,
(A) insulting remarks made in class
single women and former slaves came to meet
(B) inability to control his temper
the challenge of “proving up” and keeping this
(C) failure to complete his assignments
“free land.” Homesteaders were required to live
(D) obvious contempt for his teachers
on the land, build a home, make improvements,
(E) lack of attention in class
25 and farm for 5 years before they were eligible to
“prove up.” A total filing fee of $18 was the only
16. Which adjective best describes Paul?
money required, but settlers paid a big price in
(A) contrite
sacrifice and hard work.
(B) funny
People interested in Homesteading first had
(C) defiant
30 to file their intentions at the nearest Land Office
(D) violent
where they paid a fee of $10 to claim the land
(E) embarrassed
temporarily, and a $2 commission to the land agent.
The homesteader then returned to the land to
17. As used in line 33, the word “rancor” means
begin the process of building a home and farming
(A) turmoil
35 the land, both requirements for “proving up.”
(B) bitterness
After five years of living on and working the land,
(C) remorse
the homesteader had to find two neighbors or
(D) resistance
friends willing to vouch for the truth of his or her
(E) dismay
statements about the land’s improvements and
40 sign the “proof” document. With the successful
18. In lines 45–46, Paul shuddered and threw his
completion of this final form and payment of a
hands behind him because
$6 fee, the homesteader received the patent
(A) his teacher had touched his hand
(or deed) for the land, signed with the name of
(B) he could not answer the teacher’s
the current President of the United States.
question
(C) his teacher had hurt him
(D) he was afraid of the teacher
(E) he wanted to strike the teacher

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270 Practice Tests for the SSAT

 19. The primary purpose of the passage is to
manatees or dugongs. With a little imagination,
(A) discuss the reasons for westward
10 manatees have an uncanny resemblance to human
expansion in the United States
form that could only increase after long months
(B) explain the provisions of the Homestead
at sea. In fact, manatees and dugongs may have
Act
helped to perpetuate the myth of mermaids.
(C) point out the difficulties of homesteading
Like the mythological creatures for which they
(D) argue in favor of extending the
15 were named, all sirenians living on earth today
Homestead Act
are vulnerable to extinction
(E) explain the importance of “proving up”
Manatees and dugongs are the only completely
aquatic mammals that are herbivores. Unlike the
20. In line 30, “file” most nearly means
other marine mammals (dolphins, whales, seals,
(A) arrange in order
20 sea lions, sea otters, walruses, and polar bears)
(B) classify
sirenians eat only seagrasses and other aquatic
(C) sharpen
vegetation. Unlike other marine mammals,
(D) record
sirenians have an extremely low metabolism and
(E) finish
zero tolerance for cold water. Like dolphins and
25 whales, manatees and dugongs are totally aquatic
21. In order to acquire land under the Homestead
mammals that never leave the water—not even
Act, claimants had to meet all of the following
to give birth. The combination of these factors
conditions EXCEPT:
means that sirenians are restricted to warm
(A) be a head of household
shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers, with
(B) be at least 21 years of age
30 healthy ecosystems that support large amounts of
(C) be a native-born U.S. citizen
seagrass and other vegetation.
(D) farm the land for five years
The average adult manatee is about three
(E) build a house on the land
meters (9.8 feet) long and weighs between
362–544 kilograms (800–1,200 pounds). It is
22. How much U.S. land was transferred to
35 estimated that a manatee can eat about 10–15%
individuals under the terms of the Homestead
of its body weight in vegetation daily. So, for
Act?
example, a 453-kilogram (1,000-pound) manatee
(A) 160 acres per person
would probably eat between 45–68 kilograms
(B) 320 acres per family
(100–150 pounds) of sea grass and water hyacinths
(C) 1.6 million acres
40 a day!
(D) 270 million acres
(E) 30% of all U.S. land
24. Paragraph 1 is primarily concerned with
23. The author calls the Homestead Act one of the (A) the origin of the scientific classification
most important pieces of legislation in United Sirenia
States history because it (B) the similarities between manatees and
(A) helped settle the West mermaids
(B) provided cheap labor (C) how manatees cause shipwrecks
(C) lowered land values (D) a comparison between manatees and
(D) helped to end slavery dugongs
(E) passed after a twenty year battle (E) the imagination of manatees

25. As used in line 6, “mesmerizing” most nearly

Manatees and dugongs, also known as sea means
cows, belong to the scientific order Sirenia. (A) discordant
In ancient mythology, “siren” was a term used for (B) mellifluous
monsters or sea nymphs who lured sailors and (C) high pitched
5 their ships to treacherous rocks and shipwreck (D) hypnotic
with mesmerizing songs. Throughout history, (E) mysterious
sailors sometimes thought they were seeing
mermaids when they were probably seeing
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SSAT Exam II: Section 3 271

 26. The passage supports which of the following
an intangible pall over the face of things, a subtle
conclusions?
gloom that made the day dark, and that was due to
(A) Manatees are like other marine mammals
the absence of sun. This fact did not worry the man.
in their diet.
As he turned to go on, he spat speculatively.
(B) All sirenians are endangered.
15 There was a sharp, explosive crackle that startled
(C) Because of their low metabolism,
him. He spat again. And again, in the air, before
manatees tolerate cold water well.
it could fall to the snow, the spittle crackled.
(D) Mermaids were classified as sirenians.
He knew that at fifty below spittle crackled on
(E) Manatees leave the water only to give
the snow, but this spittle had crackled in the air.
birth.
20 Undoubtedly it was colder than fifty below—how
much colder he did not know. But the temperature
27. The author develops paragraph 2 by
did not matter. He was bound for the old claim on
presenting
the left fork of Henderson Creek, where the boys
(A) two sides of an issue
were already. They had come over across the
(B) a thesis followed by specific examples
25 divide from the Indian Creek country, while he
(C) a description of similarities and
had come the roundabout way to take a look at
differences
the possibilities of getting out logs in the spring
(D) an opinion and reasons why it is held
from the islands in the Yukon.
(E) a hypothesis and data to prove it
At the man’s heels trotted a dog, a big native
30 husky, the proper wolf-dog, gray-coated and
28. According to the passage, manatees prefer the
without any visible or temperamental difference
shallow coastal waters of Florida because of
from its brother, the wild wolf. The animal was
which of the following?
depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it
I. availability of vegetation
was no time for travelling. Its instinct told it a
II. favorable water temperatures
35 truer tale than was told to the man by the man’s
III. safety
judgment. It experienced a vague but menacing
(A) I only apprehension that subdued it and made it slink
(B) II only along at the man’s heels, and that made it question
(C) III only eagerly every unwonted movement of the man as
(D) I and II only 40 if expecting him to go into camp or to seek shelter
(E) I, II, and III somewhere and build a fire.
Jack London from “To Build a Fire”
29. Which of the following represents the number
of pounds of food an average adult manatee
30. In the first paragraph the author establishes a
consumes in a day?
mood of
(A) 10–15
(A) promise
(B) 100–150
(B) serenity
(C) 352–544
(C) hostility
(D) 800–1,000
(D) foreboding
(E) 1,000–1,200
(E) regret

31. As used in line 1,“broken” most nearly

Day had broken cold and gray, exceedingly means
cold and gray, when the man turned aside from (A) dawned
the main Yukon trail and climbed the high (B) separated
earth-bank, where a dim and little-traveled trail (C) shattered
5 led eastward through the fat spruce timberland. (D) interrupted
It was a steep bank, and he paused for breath at (E) cracked
the top, excusing the act to himself by looking at
his watch. It was nine o’clock. There was no sun
nor hint of sun, though there was not a cloud in
10 the sky. It was a clear day, and yet there seemed
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272 Practice Tests for the SSAT

 32. The statement that “It was a steep bank,
more useful man if I had had time for sports.
and he paused for breath at the top, excusing
10 During the period that I spent in slavery I was not
the act to himself by looking at his watch,”
large enough to be of much service, still I was
(lines 6–8) suggests that the man
occupied most of the time in cleaning the yards,
(A) was worried about running late
carrying water to the men in the fields, or going to
(B) was not accustomed to hiking in the
the mill, to which I used to take the corn, once a
Yukon
15 week, to be ground. The mill was about three
(C) was disoriented by the extreme cold
miles from the plantation. This work I always
(D) had traveled farther than he thought
dreaded. The heavy bag of corn would be thrown
(E) expected to see the sun
across the back of the horse, and the corn divided
about evenly on each side; but in some way,
33. The discussion of spitting into the air
20 almost without exception, on these trips, the corn
(lines 14–19) serves primarily to suggest
would so shift as to become unbalanced and
(A) the strangeness of the landscape
would fall off the horse, and often I would fall
(B) the severity of the cold
with it. As I was not strong enough to reload
(C) the courage of the man
the corn upon the horse, I would have to wait,
(D) the frustration of the dog
25 sometimes for many hours, till a chance passer-by
(E) the gloom of the day
came along who would help me out of my trouble.
The hours while waiting for someone were usually
34. In lines 15–16, the author includes the detail
spent in crying. The time consumed in this way
that the sharp, explosive crackle “startled him”
made me late in reaching the mill, and by the time
primarily to emphasize
30 I got my corn ground and reached home it would
(A) the man’s fragile state of mind
be far into the night. The road was a lonely one,
(B) how eerily quiet it had become
and often led through dense forests. I was always
(C) that the temperature was dropping
frightened. The woods were said to be full of
(D) the danger the man was in
soldiers who had deserted from the army, and I
(E) that it was colder than the man thought
35 had been told that the first thing a deserter did to
a Negro boy when he found him alone was to cut
35. Which word best describes how the author
off his ears. Besides, when I was late in getting
regards the man in the story?
home I knew I would always get a severe scolding
(A) clever
or a flogging.
(B) cautious
Booker T. Washington from Up from Slavery:
(C) foolish
An Autobiography
(D) ambitious
(E) ruthless
37. In line 2, “engaged” means most nearly
36. With which of the following statements is the (A) pledged
author most likely to agree? (B) occupied
(A) The man is right to press on. (C) meshed
(B) The dog is unfazed by the cold. (D) participated
(C) The man is jealous of the dog. (E) reserved
(D) The dog is wiser than the man.
(E) The sun will make the day more bearable. 38. The author’s “trouble” in line 26 is
(A) not being able to have the corn ground at
the mill
I was asked not long ago to tell something (B) having to travel alone in the dark
about the sports and pastimes that I engaged in (C) not being able to reload the corn that
during my youth. Until that question was asked it had fallen off the horse
had never occurred to me that there was no (D) not knowing the way through the woods
5 period of my life that was devoted to play. From (E) facing a flogging for being late
the time that I can remember anything, almost
every day of my life has been occupied in some
kind of labor; though I think I would now be a
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SSAT Exam II: Section 3 273

39. The author was always frightened on his way 40. The author’s attitude toward his youth is best
home from the mill for all of the following described as
reasons EXCEPT: (A) affectionate nostalgia
(A) There were few people on the road at (B) analytical detachment
night. (C) open hostility
(B) The woods were full of soldiers. (D) deep sorrow
(C) He feared having his ears cut off. (E) righteous indignation
(D) He knew he would be flogged for being
late.
(E) He thought he might be kidnapped.

STOP!
If you finish before time is up, check your work on this section only.

274 Practice Tests for the SSAT