SSAT Practice Test (Middle Level: Reading) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: "The old lighthouse keeper trudged up the stairs, his lantern flickering against the damp walls." What does the word "trudged" most nearly mean?
- Walked wearily and with effort (Correct answer)
- Sprinted quickly
- Tiptoed silently
- Floated gracefully
Correct answer: Walked wearily and with effort
"Trudged" describes walking slowly with heavy, tired steps.
Question 2: When an author writes a passage primarily to convince readers that recycling helps the environment, the author's main purpose is to:
- Entertain
- Persuade (Correct answer)
- Confuse
- Apologize
Correct answer: Persuade
Trying to convince readers of a viewpoint is persuasion.
Question 3: In a poem, the line "The wind whispered secrets through the trees" uses which literary device?
- Hyperbole
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Onomatopoeia
- Flashback
Correct answer: Personification
Giving the wind the human ability to whisper is personification.
Question 4: A reading passage describes a character who shares her lunch, comforts a crying classmate, and helps a lost child. The character is best described as:
- Selfish
- Compassionate (Correct answer)
- Dishonest
- Lazy
Correct answer: Compassionate
Helping and comforting others shows compassion.
Question 5: Which sentence states a fact rather than an opinion?
- Summer is the best season of the year.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level. (Correct answer)
- That movie was boring.
- Everyone should love pizza.
Correct answer: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.
A measurable, verifiable statement is a fact.
Question 6: If a passage's first paragraph introduces a problem and the last paragraph offers a solution, the passage is organized by:
- Chronological order only
- Problem and solution (Correct answer)
- Alphabetical order
- Rhyme scheme
Correct answer: Problem and solution
Presenting an issue then resolving it is problem-solution structure.
Question 7: A passage says a scientist was "meticulous" in recording every detail of her experiment. "Meticulous" most nearly means:
- Careless
- Extremely careful and precise (Correct answer)
- Quick
- Forgetful
Correct answer: Extremely careful and precise
Recording every detail shows careful precision.
SSAT Practice Test (Middle Level: Reading) 2
A passage states: "The old lighthouse keeper trudged up the stairs, his lantern flickering against the damp walls." What does the word "trudged" most nearly mean?