SSAT备考：ssat阅读练习下载

Section 1 Writing SampleTOPIC: All that glitters is not gold.ASSIGNMENT: D O you agree or disagree with the topic? Illustrate your opinion with specific examples from your life, from literature or history, or from current events.Section 2 Quantitative Skills1. If the vertices of a triangle are A (1, 3), B (3, -4), and C (1, -4), find its area.(A) 10(B) 7(C) 9(D) 12(E) 82. Simplify 3>√8—√18.(A) 2√3(B) 4√3(C) 3√2(D) 3√5(E) 4√23. Describe the following line graph.(A) -4 > x > 1(B) -4 < x < 1(C) -4 ≤x ≤1(D) -4 < x ≤1(E) 1 < x ≤-44. Mitch drives for 30 minutes at 50 miles per hour. He then drives for an additional 45minutes at 60 miles per hour. How many miles did he drive altogether?(A) 60 miles(B) 80 miles(C) 50 miles(D) 65 miles(E) 70 miles5. An ocean-going cargo ship has a capacity of 800 tons. If it sails from Los Angeles to HongKong carrying five-eighths of its capacity and returns carrying three-fifths of its capacity, how many tons did it carry round-trip?(A) 650 tons(B) 760 tons(C) 980 tons(D) 870 tons(E) 840 tons6. A circle has a diameter of 10”, with a radius OC. If another circle with a radius of 6” isdrawn with the center at the middle of radius OC, at how many points do the two circles intersect?(A) 3(C) 2(D) 0(E) 17. Excluding 1, what is the difference between the sum of the prime factors of 35 and 30?(A) 5(B) 4(C) 2(D) 3(E) 58. If a, b, and c are consecutive odd integers in the given order and c = 11, what is the product of a and b ?(A) 55(B) 45(C) 72(D) 87(E) 639. Simplify √42b √7.(A) a b √6(B) a √6(C) ab √7 (D) b a √7(E) ab √610. Julissa drives from Central City to Marbury, a distance of 154 miles. If she leaves Central City at 8 A .M . and arrives in Marbury at 10:45 A .M ., what is her average rate of speed?(A) 58 mph(B) 62 mph(C) 54 mph(D) 56 mph(E) 59 mph11. If X and y are negative integers and y > x, which of the following statements is true?(A) xy <0(B) x + y > 0(C) xy > 0(D) y - x < 0(E) yx < 012. Find the value of the expression 3rs - 2t when r = 2, s = 3, and t= 4.(A) 12(C) 14(D) 8(E) 1813. O is the center of the circle. Which of the following statements is true?(A) AB > CD(B) CO < OB(C) AB - OB = DO(D) CD - OB < OD(E) CD > OA + OC̅̅̅̅is perpendicular to ST̅̅̅. m∠TSU = 22°. Find x.14. SR(A) 54°(B) 66°(C) 22°(D) 68°(E) 48°15. If two central angles of a triangle are 60 and 130°, find the measure of the other angle.(A) 60°(B) 170°(C) 65°(D) 95°16. Mary Lou is pumping oxygen into an emergency room at the rate of 3 cubic meters perminute. If the room is 9 meters long by 6 meters wide by 4 meters high, how long will it take for the room to be filled with oxygen?(A) 64 minutes(B) 72 minutes(C) 86 minutes(D) 44 minutes(E) 58 minutes17. The ABC Construction Company charges $2.58 a square foot to cement a driveway. Atthis rate, what is the cost of cementing a driveway 11 feet by 34 feet? Round off your answer to the nearest dollar.(A) $965(B) $966(C) $961(D) $964(E) $96318. What happens to the area of a triangle when its base is doubled and its height is tripled?(A) it is doubled(B) it is tripled(C) it is quadrupled(D) it is increased fivefold(E) it is increased sixfold19. If the following sets of numbers represent the three sides of various triangles, select thescalene triangle.(A) 4, 4, 4(B) 6, 7, 7(C) 8, 11, 8(D) 5, 6, 7(E) 6, 9, 620. The temperature is 90°F at 3 P.M.If it decreases by 40 percent by midnight and thenincreases by 26 percent by 10 A.M.the next day, what is the temperature at 10 A.M.?Round off to the nearest degree.(A) 68°F(B) 54°F(C) 66°F(D) 42°F(E) 58°F21-22. The average monthly prices for a gallon of regular gasoline are indicated in the chart.21. Find the average price of a gallon of gasoline for the months of April and August.(A) $3.10(B) $3.40(C) $3.70(D) $4.10(E) $3.5022. How much was the steepest drop in the average price per gallon of gasoline betweentwo consecutive months?(A) $.40(B) $.60(C) $.30(D) $.80(E) $.5023. The measure of the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is 50°. Find the measure of anexterior angle to one of the base angles of the triangle.(A) 65°(B) 125°(C) 115°(D) 80°(E) 75°24. Examine the figures and choose the best answer.(A) Area A is greater than area C.(B) Area A is greater than area B.(C) Area B is greater than area C.(D) Area C is less than area A.(E) Area B is less than area C.25. The Missoula Manatees scored 12, 7, 10, 6, and 9 runs in their last five games. If theywant to maintain an average of 9 runs per game for six games, how much do they have to score on their next game?(A) 6(B) 8(C) 10(D) 4(E) 12Section 3 Reading Comprehension Skills UFO enthusiasts often attempt to prove the existence of aliens. Theyshow fuzzy photos of floating white cigars and point to oddities in thewa y the world works as proof that “we are not alone.” They also pointto the mysterious Anasazi culture. The Anasazi, historians say, were anancient Native American tribe located near the desert area we now call 5Area 51 that suddenly began experiencing a huge cultural revolution.Some people attribute such miraculous cultural growth to a decision to farm beans, but others prefer to give credit to assistance to friendlyaliens.Now, alien fans can add some weight to their argument that aliens 10exist—from the writings of Washington Irving. Irving (1783-1859)wrote the first fiction works in the colonial America. Among otherthings, Irving wrote about the history of New York and mythologicalstories; he also wrote satires, a powerful tool given the fledgling nation's political turmoil. However, he is b est known for his stories, like “The15Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Tales of a Traveler.”Of Irving's ouvre, it is Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” to which UFO fans should direct their attention, for the argument has been made that Van Winkle's twenty-year sleep is actually a ease of alien abduction. As odd as this sounds, the ease deserves some investigation.201. What is the function of paragraph two?(A) to hook the reader’s attention so that s/he will continue reading(B) to move the discussion from the introduction to the highlight of the article(C) t o give a detailed argument that “Rip Van Winkle” describes a UFO abduction(D) to tell biographical information about Washington Irving(E) to tell the story of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”2. Which of the following events hap pened around the time of Irving’s lifetime?(A) the Civil War(B) the Vietnam War(C) World War I(D) the American Revolution(E) World War II3. Which of the following inferences can be made about the Anasazi?(A) The beans probably gave them additional energy and cultural stability.(B) They lived near New England.(C) They all disappeared mysteriously.(D) They sacrificed children to the aliens.(E) They migrated freely until the 1980s.4. According to the article, for which of his writings was Irving famous?(A) “Tale of a Tub”(B) "Old Mother Hubbard"(C) “The Headless Horseman”(D) "Rip Van Winkle"(E) “The Life of Washington”5. Which of the following best describes the author’s tone?(A) rude but informative(B) knowledgeable but playful(C) Conceited but angry(D) Skeptical but pious(E) Sarcastic but rigorous6. The author’s main purpose in writing this piece is______.(A) to embarrass Washington Irving’s successors(B) to get the reader interested in reading mythology(C) to bring to light a little-known theory about Irving’s work(D) to argue that aliens do not exist(E) to refute the argument that George Washington believed in alien life.In the 1980s, theaters presented a new animated film called Anastasia.It told the story of a young, poverty-stricken Russian girl who comes tofind out that she is the long-lost Princess Anastasia, daughter of CzarNicholas II. By the end of the movie, she ascends her throne as abenevolent ruler. But fans of that movie must face an unpleasant truth:5Either the writers got it all wrong, or they intentionally ignored history.On July 17, 1918, Anastasia, along with the rest of her family, wasmurdered before she reached the age of 18; there were no survivors.And although the film correctly targets Rasputin as a disreputablevillain, it nevertheless caricatures his character and his ambitions.10It's time to set the record straight.Rasputin, born Grigory Yefimovisc Novykh, was born in Siberia in 1872. He came from poverty-stricken, illiterate people, and he soonearned for himself a bad reputation for his wild lifestyle; indeed, hisnickname “Rasputin” means debauched. For a time, Rasputin studied at15a monastery, but he came to believe that the only means of salvationcame through indulging one’s appetites. He then became a wandering,self-proclaimed holy man, and he traveled extensively, even into Greeceand Jerusalem. Upon his return to Russia, Rasputin traveled to St.Petersburg. There he met Czar Nicholas II and his family.20Unbelievably, despite his salacious lifestyle and his distaste for bathing,Rasputin ingratiated himself with the Czarina. For whatever reason,Rasputin proved repeatedly that he could comfort the crown princeAlexis, who was afflicted with hemophilia.Naturally, his close relationship with the ruling family threw a sour25taste into the mouths of-the Russian nobility. They eventually plottedagainst Rasputin with" the goal of engineering his death. On December29, 1916, a nobleman invited Rasputin to his home for drinks andconversation. There, he poisoned Rasputin^ drink and waited for himto die. Rasputin proved stronger than anticipated, and so the noble and 30his friends tried to shoot him instead. Again, Rasputin clung to life.Finally, the nobles had to drag him down to the river and drown him.Rasputin had his drawbacks. He was selfish. He was corrupt. He was politically ambitious. However, he does not deserve to be represented as he is in Anastasia.357. The author’s intent in writing this passage is______.(A) to further confound the information people have about Anastasia and her family(B) to desecrate Rasputin’s reputation(C) to praise the film Anastasia for its historical accuracy(D) to restore a little dignity to a powerful historical figure(E) to talk about Czar Nicholas II and his family8. When were Anastasia and her family murdered?(A) 1872(B) 1890(C) 1916(D) 1918(E) 19299. What did Rasputin consider himself?(A) a politician(B) a holy man(C) a czar(D) a noble(E) a spy10. W ho, according to the article, had hemophilia?(A) Anastasia(B) the czar(C) the czarina(D) The crown prince(E) Rasputin11. T he author writes this passage with(A) humility(B) fear(C) anxiety(D) serenity(E) outrageTurning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere5The ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity ...—William Butler Yeats (1920)12. Which of the following events take place in this poem?(A) The volcanoes are beginning to explode.(B) The falcon cannot hear the falconer.(C) The animals cannot find their way home.(D) The people cannot see the sun.(E) The tidal wave dashes the shore to pieces.13. What is let loose upon the world?(A) the blood-dimmed tide(B) the widening gyre(C) the falconer(D) the ceremony of innocence(E) mere anarchy14. What cannot hold?(A) the moon(B) the tide(C) the center(D) the world(E) the worst15. This poem tries to express the______.(A) fine skill of falconry(B) understandable injustice of death(C) great joy about life(D) deep pessimism about the world(E) appreciation for anarchy as a political system16. Why do you t hink that the author uses words like “blood-dimmed,” “anarchy,” and“drowned innocence”?(A) to give a happy tone to the poem(B) to give a sad tone to the poem(C) to give a menacing tone to the poem(D) to give a light-hearted tone to the poem(E) to give a proud tone to the poemScattered across the United States are countless statues of men on horseback. You can find them in cemeteries, in parks, and outsidepublic service buildings. Normally, these statues depict men in uniform sitting astride horses. The main difference among these statues are the position the horses hold; they rear back on their hind legs with both5hooves in the air, or hold one hoof aloft, or plant all four hooves firmly on the ground.Legend has it that you can look at statues of men on horseback, anywhere in the United States, and know how they died. If the ridersits atop a horse with one hoof held up, then that person was wounded 10in battle and later died of his wounds. If the horse rears back on bothhind legs, then that person died in battle. And if the horse stands on all four hooves, the rider died of natural causes.Unfortunately, this stor y is a load of horse manure. It’s pretty to think that all sculptors adhered to this rule, but they did not. A simple 15scan across the horse-and-rider statues will prove this point. In fact, the lore generally is true only for Civil War battlefields.17. You are in a graveyard located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. You see many statues of menon horseback. One in particular catches your attention; it is made of bronze, and the man sits astride a horse reared back on both hind legs. You infer that______.(A) this man died in battle(B) this man was wounded in battle and later died(C) this man died of natural causes(D) this man was a public servant(E) this man liked horses18. In what sort of publication would you likely find this article?(A) a science text(B) an almanac(C) a book of trivia(D) a history book(E) a comic book19. The best title for this passage would be______.(A) Urban Legends Explained(B) Ripley’s Believe It or Not(C) Secrets of Civil War Battlegrounds(D) The Story of the Civil War(E) The Art of Making Statues20. The author’s tone can be described as______.(A) heavyhanded(B) mathematical(C) dour(D) lighthearted(E) loquaciousIt has bee n said that “History is written by the winners,” and to a certain extent this statement is true. If nothing else, history has a veryselective memory. As we study the events of World War II, storiescontinue to surface. Some of these are happy; others are sad. Still others are merely intriguing.5One such story is that of Vasili Zeitsev, who fought for the Russian army against the invading Germans. Zeitsev, a deer hunter from theUrals, became a hero for his marksmanship; in one ten-day period, heshot 40 Germans. He was so good a shot, and so demoralizing forGerman soldiers, that the Germans shipped in their own sharpshooter, 10Colonel Heinz Thornwald, for the express purpose of killing Zeitsev.Unfortunately for Thornwald, Zeitsev proved the better soldier.Thornwald, after attempting a shot, stuck up his head for a quick lookaround; Zeitsev took the advantage and eliminated Thornwald. By theend of the war, Zeitsev alone defeated 242 Germans before he was15blinded by a land mine.Anyone interested in Zeitsev’s story can watch the recent film Enemy at the Gates, starring Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, and Ed Harris. Eventhough some details have been changed, for example the inclusion of a love triangle, the movie is quite exciting and informative.2021. How many Germans did Zeitsev kill?(A) 142(B) 242(C) 342(D) 442(E) 54222. What does the phrase “History is written by the winners” mean?(A) The losers, because of their suffering, arc more interesting to listen to.(B) The soldiers, because of their sacrifice, are ignored.(C) The winners, because they are now more powerful, can control information flow.(D) The generals, because of their military skill, can remain silent.(E) The artists, because of their skill, will listen to the soldiers.23. What ended Zeitsev’s career?(A) He stepped on a land mine and blew himself up.(B) He went deaf after standing too near a tank when it fired its shot.(C) He drowned in the attack on Normandy.(D) He was blinded by a land mine.(E) He was paralyzed when the cavalry stampeded his tent.24. Zeitsev was ______.(A) American(B) French(C) German(D) neutral(E) Russian25. The author intended_______.(A) to anger the reader(B) to relate an interesting historical tidbit(C) to plug the movie Enemy at the Gates(D) to praise the Germans(E) to document the story of Heinz Thornwald26. W hat can we infer from Thornwald’s defeat?(A) If Thornwald had aimed to the left, Zeitsev would be dead.(B) If Zeitsev had been more careful about checking his shot, Thornwald would be alive.(C) If Thornwald had not eaten 15 minutes before making his shot, Zeitsev would be alive.(D) If Thornwald had not joined the German army, Zeitsev would not have joined theRussian army.(E) If Thornwald had been more careful about checking to see whether he hit, Zeitsev mightnot have gotten a shot.27. Because of his great aim, which of the following jobs was Zeitsev assigned?(A) sniper(B) radio man(C) gunner(D) pilot(E) cookAnyone who has lived in the United States for any length of time has seen, or heard of, graffiti. Graffiti is the scrawled artwork that defacespublic buildings, street signs, and roadways. The subjects depicted bygraffiti artists range widely; sometimes the graffiti is just gang namesand logos, other times it is the a rtist’s name. Sometimes the graffiti is5vaguely attractive, but more often than not, it is just a mass of obscene words.Linguists will tell you that the term graffiti comes from the Italian word graffito, which means to scratch. Artists will tell you that the artform (They call it an art form!) dates back to the dawn of humanity;10even the cave men used graffi ti on their cave walls, and don’t forget the caricature of Jesus on the Domus Gelotiana in Rome, now on display ina museum.These modern, politically correct yahoos would have you believe the garbage we sec scrawled on sidewalks and mailboxes every day is15somehow contributing to our quality of life. By ridding ourselves ofthese “urban artworks,” they say, we are discriminating against thosewhose artistic ideals are different from ours.Well, I say, our ideals arc different—and theirs arc wrong. Art does not deface property. Art is not vulgar. Art is not commercialism for20gangland activities. And I urge you to join my opinion.28. From what language does the word graffiti come?(A) English(B) Russian(C) Italian(D) Latin(E) Hebrew29. In what context arc you likely to find this kind of writing?(A) the headlines(B) the opinions/editorial page(C) the gossip columns(D) the sports page(E) the real estate section30. 'Which position does the author likely endorse?(A) The city should set aside funding for grants to graffiti artists so they can continue theirwork.(B) The Museum of Modern Art should consider having a showcase for graffiti art.(C) Young children should be allowed to express their artistic impulses on sidewalks andschool buildings.(D) Urban artists should create their own wrapping paper design.(E) Graffiti artists should receive jail sentences.31. In what place docs this author likely live?(A) a rural town in Mississippi(B) a village in eastern Kentucky(C) New York City(D) the seaside in Florida(E) a resort in Alaska32. With what emotion does the author write?(A) satisfaction(B) joy(C) fear(D) exasperation(E) sorrowStudents study the theory of communism in school. They know that it was created and popularized by Marx and Engels. They know that itadvocates putting the sta te's needs above the individual’s needs. They know many of the Russian leaders—like Stalin, Khrushchev, andGorbachev.5What they may not realize is that, in the late 1890s, many great European and American thinkers adamantly advocated communism.This was a time during which one could sec class division taking place.At that time, people generally fit into one of two categories; either they were rich, or striving to be rich, or they were dirt poor. The poor10desired to be rich, and the rich had no desire to come into any contactwith the poor. Communism offered a way out for the poor at theexpense of the wealthy; classlessness offered a hopeful future formany.Take, for example, British author H. G. Wells. Wells, one of the first 15science fiction writers, wrote The Time Machine with the tenets ofcommunism firmly in mind. The Time Machine warns about what willhappen if society continues to split into two factions—the rich and the poverty-stricken. The book shows the poverty-stricken class finally rising up and taking revenge upon the rich. By contrast, Wells argues,20communism, with its classless society, offers a much more hopefulfuture.Another writer who favored communism was American author John Steinbeck. In his The Grapes of Wraths for example, he sets up a story in which poverty-stricken folk are offered a dream—the American25Dream—that will never come true for them. Steinbeck holds capitalism accountable for the poverty and despair that exists in the world. Hedoes this by depicting the horrible events that befall the Joad family on their way to find work in California. Bankers take over their farm.Their car breaks down, and salesmen try to gyp them out of their cash.30The Joads can’t find work in California because there is always someone willing to work at a lower wage. All of these traumas, Steinbeckinsinuates, will come true under capitalism. Steinbeck offers only oneharmonious event for the Joads: a camp that runs on the principlesof communism.3533. According to the passage, what text did John Steinbeck write?(A) Marx and Engels(B) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(C) The Time Machine(D) Communism: The Way to Go(E) The Grapes of Wrath34. Which statement outlines the organization of these four paragraphs?(A) An introduction and an example with two opposite claims.(B) A conclusion, two supporting paragraphs, and an introduction.(C) An introduction, a claim, and two supporting paragraph-long examples.(D) Two claims with a supporting example.(E) An introduction, two supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.35. We can infer from the passage that the author_______.(A) is neutral(B) is a communist(C) is a capitalist(D) is a novelist(E) is poor36. The author sets out to______.(A) argue that communism is an evil theory(B) give an explanation as to why people once took a great interest in communism(C) advocate a return to communism(D) recommend some good books to read(E) eradicate capitalism from the worldIf you are a fan of such shows as Days of Our Lives or Passions, you are enjoying a dramatic tradition over a thousand years old. Any fan ofa soap opera knows that certain trademark characters will be a part ofthe show, whether or not you want them to be. Every soap opera has a naive, innocent character (usually female) who runs into trouble with an 5evil, conniving, manipulative character (also usually female) who has set her s ights on the innocent character’s boyfriend. Every soap opera,additionally, has an earnest young man who, because he is in love with the naive, innocent character, finds himself in conflict with acalculating, boastful man. These recurring character types are modern 10versions of archetypes created by commedia del l’arte.Commedia dell'arte evolved from the standards set by Roman comedies that became particularly popular during the Renaissance.Roman comedy had become highly formalized, and it used six maintypes of characters around whom the story unfolded. These characters 15included the Sweet Young Thing (a naive, innocent, young femalecharacter), the Miles Gloriosus (the superficially bold but secretlycowardly soldier), the Old Man (who takes a highly inappropriateinterest in the Sweet Young Thing), the Old Woman (usually a nurseor chaperone of the Sweet Young Thing), the Brave Young Man (who20eventually weds the Sweet Young Thing), and the Clever Slave (whocomically but cleverly aids the Brave Young Man and the Sweet YoungThing in their attempts to escape the evil clutches of the Old Man).Commedia dell'arte adopted these main characters, in particular the Clever Slave (often called the zanni) and the Brave Young Man and the 25Sweet Young Thing (also called The Lovers or Harlequin andColumbine) and expanded their number. Eventually, a typical commedia dell’arte company consisted of 10 or 12 actors, each specializing in one or two character types, who ad-libbed performances. Over time, people grew tired of these stereotypical characters, and drama turned to more 30realistic depictions of human traumas. Nevertheless, remnants ofcommedia d ell’arte exist--such as those in modem soap operas, as weshall see as we analyze some modern day examples.37. The author wants to make the point that(A) soap operas are a complete waste of time(B) commedia dell'arte is a modem art form(C) Days of our Lives is the best soap opera on TV(D) old things can sometimes be recreated in new ways(E) commedia dell’arte was a highly scripted art form38. The character in commedia dell'arte who is a secret coward is the______.(A) Sweet Young Thing(B) Miles Gloriosus(C) Clever Slave(D) Old Man(E) Brave Young Man39. What is the purpose of paragraph one?(A) to tell about the commedia dell’arte(B) to discuss the latest plot developments of Days of Our Lives(C) to t alk about specific commedia dell’arte characters(D) to engage the reader’s attention(E) to waste the reader’s time40. What is the name of the pair of lovers in commedia dell'arte?(A) Romeo and Juliet(B) Abbot and Costello(C) Punch and Judy(D) Betty and Veronica(E) Harlequin and ColumbineSection 4 Verbal Skills1. FOE(A) author(B) warrior(C) poet(D) spy(E) enemy2. FRACTION(A) piece(B) break(C) breach(D) disagreement(E) opposing side3. DISCARD(A) reject(B) acquire(C) offend(D) play(E) amass4. EMPLOY(A) deceive(B) use(C) trick(D) pay(E) fall 5. CONTORT(A) twist(B) accompany(C) legislate(D) dine(E) diet6. EXALT(A) elevate(B) breathe(C) insult(D) denigrate(E) fatigue7. SOMNOLENT(A) liquid(B) flexible(C) spartan(D) fluid(E) sleepy8. TERRAIN(A) land(B) water(C) justice(D) storm(E) atmosphere。

SSAT阅读练习题分享想在SSAT阅读考试中取得好成绩，就要在平时多做练习积累经验。

下面小编为大家分享了一篇SSAT阅读练习题，大家可以测试一下自己的水平。

In the sixteenth century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's favor. After he was dismissed from service to the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South America. Finally they found the passage they sought near a latitude of 50 degrees S. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today we know it as the Strait of Magellan.One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean. Those who remained crossed the meridian we now call the International Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after ninety-eight days on the Pacific Ocean. During those long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation and disease.Later Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and seventeen sailors under the command of the Basque navigator Elcano survived tocomplete the westward journey to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no precipice at the edge.1.The sixteenth century was an age of great ___exploration.A. cosmicB. landC. mentalD. common manE. none of the above2. Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a political ___.A. entanglementB. discussionC. negotiationD. problemsE. none of the above3. The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50 degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a ___ direction.A. north and southB. crosswiseC. easterlyD. south eastE. north and west4. One of Magellan's ships explored the ___ of South America for a passage across the continent.A. coastlineB. mountain rangeC. physical featuresD. islandsE. none of the above5. Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern ___.A. coastB. inlandC. body of land with water on three sidesD. borderE. answer not available6. The passage was found near 50 degrees S of ___.A. GreenwichB. The equatorC. SpainD. PortugalE. Madrid7. In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the ___ now called the International Date Line.A. imaginary circle passing through the polesB. Imaginary line parallel to the equatorC. areaD. land massE. answer not found in article参考答案:BAACCBA以上就是SSAT阅读练习题的分享。

ssat真题：SSAT阅读真题解析简单的说，SSAT考试其实就是美国的中考，如果中国中学生想申请去美国高中留学的话，SSAT考试可是必考的一项，而阅读也是SSAT考试中的必考部分，以下就是收集的一篇SSAT阅读真题，并附上正确答案。

In the sixteenth century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's favor. After he was dismissed from service to the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South America. Finally they found the passage they sought near a latitude of 50 degrees S. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today we know it as the Strait of Magellan.One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean. Those who remained crossed the meridian we now call the International Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after ninety-eight days on the Pacific Ocean. During those long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation and disease.Later Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and seventeen sailors under the command of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no precipice at the edge.The sixteenth century was an age of great ___exploration.A. cosmicB. landC. mentalD. common manE. none of the above2. Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a political ___.A. entanglementB. discussionC. negotiationD. problemsE. none of the above3. The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50 degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a ___ direction.A. north and southB. crosswiseC. easterlyD. south eastE. north and west4. One of Magellan's ships explored the ___ of South America for a passage across the continent.A. coastlineB. mountain rangeC. physical featuresD. islandsE. none of the above5. Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern ___.A. coastB. inlandC. body of land with water on three sidesD. borderE. answer not available6. The passage was found near 50 degrees S of ___.A. GreenwichB. The equatorC. SpainD. PortugalE. Madrid7. In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the ___ now called the International Date Line.A. imaginary circle passing through the polesB. Imaginary line parallel to the equatorC. areaD. land massE. answer not found in article答案：1. B2. A3. A4. C5.C,6 B 7A以上就是整理的SSAT阅读考试真题及答案，通过真题来进行SSAT考试实战演练对于考试能力的提升还是比较明显的，希望对即将参加SSAT考试的同学们有所帮助。

SECTION240 QuestionsRead 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.Proudly wearing his Muslim robes, a chief butcher in a town in Ghana is an important man. It is his duty to slaughter the cattle that will be sold in market , andsince many people in this area of Africa are Muslims, the process must be carried outaccording to their religious regulations. The government requires that the butcher also Line 5 make sure that the cattle are in good health before he slaughters them.In Muslim areas of Ghana, chief butchers inherit their positions. Like tribal chiefs, they have their own bands of musicians who never play for anyone else. Themusicians go to the market in the morning. As soon as the meat arrives, they begin toplay. Their music continues as long as the supply of meat lasts. This way, everyone in Line10 town knows when the butcher shop is open. They can also tell when all of the meat has been sold.1.According to the passage, themusicians begin to play when(A)evening comes(B)they are hungry(C)the meat arrives(D)the butcher arrives(E)government officials visit2.Muslims in Ghana probably look onthe butcher with(A)respect(B)suspicion(C)confusion(D)amazement(E)dissatisfaction3.According to the passage, butchersare like tribal chiefs because they(A)are Muslims(B)wear splendid robes(C)have musicians play for them(D)are regulated by government(E)are taught to sing when they areyoung4.The author is most concerned withdescribing(A)African restaurants(B)how meat is prepared(C)a man and his occupation(D)musical instruments of Ghana(E)the appearance of Muslimgarments5.according to the passage , peopleknow when all the meat has been sold because(A)a bell is rung(B)the music stops(C)the butcher puts a sign out(D)the butcher’s door is locked(E)a special flag is hung outside theshopThe myths of the ancient Greeks described the world as managed by a multitude of ,beings who were like men but who had different powers. They loved and hated andquarreled with each other, like men. They were gods, though, and could not kill eachother because they were immortal. They were, however, subject to a higher power which Line 5 they called Necessity.Many of the myths are beautiful, but some are not. They seem to say that the gods rose from savagery, just as men did, and were not always sure what was good andnoble. The Greeks thought of the gods as friendly people, rather like themselves. Theyalso feared them as terrible and strong and ready to punish those who angered them.6.The author is primarily concernedwith(A)discussing life in ancient Greece(B)telling a story involving(C)explaining the role of Necessityin Greek myths(D)describing the Greek’s beliefabout their gods(E)explaining why the Greeksbelieved in many gods7.According to the passage, the godscould Not do which of the following?(A)punish men(B)kill one another(C)love one another(D)fight with one another(E)deal directly with them8.When the author mentions “being” inthe first sentence, he is referring to(A)the gods(B)Necessity(C)the Greek people(D)men and animals(E)people from different countries 9.The author suggests that the Greeksthought of their gods as(A)domineering and easily angered(B)friendly but possibly dangerous(C)cheerful and uninterested in men(D)easily surprised by men’sbehavior(E)dishonest and generallyirresponsible10.According to the passage, the Greekgods were subject to(A)the will of men(B)the will of other gods(C)good and noble judges(D)a power called Necessity(E)laws made by the godsthemselves11.The author concludes from the Greekmyths that the gods were(A)evil(B)unkind(C)imperfect(D)unnecessary(E)unconcernedLittle Jim was ,for the time, Engine Number 36, and he was making the run between Syracuse and Rochester. He was fourteen minutes behind time, and thethrottle was wide open. As a result, when he swung around the curve at the flowerbed, a wheel of his cart destroyed a tulip. Number 36 slowed down at once and looked Line 5 guiltily at his father, who was mowing the lawn. The doctor had his back to the accident, and he continued to pace slowly to and fro, pushing the mower.Jim dropped the handle of the cart. He looked at his father and at the broken flower. Finally, he went to the tulip and tried to stand it up, but it would only hanglimply from his hand. Jim could not repair it. He looked again toward his father.12.At the beginning of the passage, Jimwas pretending that he was(A)piloting an airplane(B)driving a tractor(C)a passenger on a train(D)a speeding railroad engine(E)running a race with a freight train13.The author is primarily concernedwith(A)describing Jim’s actions(B)ridiculing Jim’s mistakes(C)detailing Jim’s appearance(D)predicting the reactions of Jim’sfather(E)comparing Jim’s thoughts tothose of his father14.According to the passage, Jim’s fatherwas a(A)farmer(B)doctor(C)gardener(D)train engineer(E)business executive15.Jim apparently thought that when hisfather saw the broken flower hisreaction would be one of(A)fear(B)anger(C)curiosity(D)amusement(E)indifference16.The story apparently takes place in(A)a city park(B)a railroad station(C)the yard by Jim’s house(D)a meadow near the railroad track(E)the playground near Jim’s school17.At the time the tulip was broken, Jimwas probably(A)make a bouquet(B)mend its injury(C)use it in a game(D)give it to his father(E)move it out of the way18.Jim picked up the tulip because hewanted to(A)make a bouquet(B)mend its injury(C)use it in a game(D)give it to his father(E)move it out of the wayAs in all phases of mountaineering, on snow and ice the judgment of the probable safety of the climb rests with the leader. He must be able to estimate the length of theclimb, allowing for an early enough start to permit finishing. He must know at a glanceif there is avalanche danger. He must instantly recognize those situations in whichLine 5 speed is essential. He must know whether the capabilities of his party will meet the rest of a traverse across an ice slope. He must be alert to fatigue in others and adjust the paceaccordingly, even calling retreat if the physical condition of a member of his rope hasdeteriorated to the point wherein safety of the party many jeopardized.19.It can inferred that the most importantcharacteristic of the leader of amountain-climbing party is(A)great strength(B)good judgment(C)acrobatic agility(D)reckless courage(E)unusual endurance20.Which of the following titles bestsummarizes the content of thepassage?(A)Ideal Weather Conditions for aMountain Climb(B)Cooperation and Coordination:Essentials for Climbing(C)Dangers on a Mountain Climband How to Prevent Them(D)The Hazards of Mountaineering :Man’s Greatest Challenge(E)The Abilities Required of theLeader of a Mountain Climb21.According to the author, the leader ofa mountain climb may direct his partyto retreat if a member of the party(A)wishes to stop(B)becomes extremely tired(C)travels at a very erratic pace(D)refuses to comply with groupdecisions(E)does not recognize a dangeroussituation22.Knowledge of which of the followingis NOT mentioned by the author asbeing required of a leader of amountain-climbing expedition?(A)the indications of a sudden snowslide(B)the approximate length of timethe climb will require(C)the difficulties encountered byprevious climbers of themountain(D)the factors which make itnecessary for the party to movemore slowly(E)the factors which make itnecessary for the party to movemore quickly.Some “scientists” peering through microscopes thought they saw strange things which escaped their colleagues’ notice. In 1836, Andrew Crosse actually believed he sawmicroscopic insects appearing as a by-product of his research. He had wanted to createminerals artificially by sending an electrical current through certain chemicals. Crosse Line 5 recorded what he observed through his microscope-small, white projections growing from an electrified stone. He observed that, after he had electrified the stone, eachprojection became “a perfect insect, standing erect on a few bristles which formed its tail.” Crosse reported that the smaller insects had six legs and the larger ones, eight. Heguessed them to be a previously unobserved specimen genus Arcurus, said they flew10 about the laboratory, hiding in dark spots as though avoiding light.In 1872, Bastian, a noted English biologist, also claimed to have witnessed spontaneous development of life in his microscope. But when colleagues repeatedhis experiments, taking precautions against bacteria in the air, the results weredisappointing. In 1906, Burke, using radium, thought he had developed half-living,15 half-crystalline forms which he called “radiobes”. Other scientists, however, failed toconfirm Burke’s findings.23.When Andrew Crosse bean hisexperiments, he was trying to(A)determine the number of legscharacteristic of the genusArcurus(B)test the reactions of the genusArcurus to light(C)study certain minerals todetermine their ability to conductelectrical current(D)produce artificial mineralsthrough the application ofelectrical current to chemicals(E)prove that microscopic insectsgrow from electrified minerals24.According to the passage, Burkeclassified a “radiobe ” as which of the following?(A)a vegetable(B)an animal(C)a mineral(D)part vegetable and part animal(E)part living and part non-living 25.It can be inferred that the living formsthat Bastian observed with hismicroscope were actually(A)radiobe specimens(B)members of the genus Arcurus(C)multiplying bacteria in the air(D)insects capable of standing ontheir tails(E)projections from the electrifiedstone26.Which of the following would theauthor probably believe bestestablishes the truth or falsehood of ascientist’s claims?(A)reading the scientist’s notes(B)repeating the scientist’s originalexperiment(C)checking the scientist’sbackground and qualifications(D)examining the scientist’sequipment for defects(E)studying the previous scientificinvestigation in the field27.The passage is primarily concernedwith(A)proving that life cannot developout of mineral matter(B)describing how experiments canbe carefully controlled(C)showing how some scientistsmisunderstand what they see(D)demonstrating that amateurscientists often are moresuccessful than professionals(E)criticizing scientist for failure toconfirm the findings of Crosse,Bastian, and Burke28.According to the passage, AndrewCrosse believed that the things he saw in his(A)insects(B)chemicals(C)light rays(D)dark spots(E)electrical currents29.According to the passage, which ofthe following did Burke use inconducting his experiments?(A)radium(B)crystals(C)bacteria(D)radio waves(E)electrified stonesWomen played an important part in the Hopi society. Although Hopi political leaders and warriors were traditionally men, both genders took part in storytelling,music and artwork, and traditional medicine. The fields, the crops, the pueblos, belongedto women. Descent is traced through the women; a child belongs to its mother’s clan. If Line 5 a marriage is broken, women typically retain property rights.Each clan is divided into “lineages” whose members are all descended from a common ancestor. The clan organizations extend across all the villages. Children arenamed by the women of the father’s clan. On the twentieth day of a baby’s life, thewomen of the paternal clan gather, each woman bringing a name and a gift for the10 child. The parents selected the name that was to be used.Hopi children learned all domestic skills from their mother. Boys learned to weave, while girls cared for the infants, learned to grind corn, weave baskets and makepottery. Each clan was in charge of certain religious ceremonies throughout the year.The spirits of natural elements, animals, or deceased ancestors, known as kachinas, are 15 welcomed to the village each spring to dance and sing, bring rain for the harvest, andgive gifts to the children.Prior to each kachina ceremony, the men spend days carefully carving masked dolls in the likeness of the kachina represented in that particular ceremony. Followingthe ceremony, the dolls are hung on the walls of the pueblo and are studied in order to 20 learn the characteristics of that certain kachina. The revered dolls are then passed on toThe daughters of the village to give visual understanding to the spirits.30.Which of the following best expressesthe main idea of the passage?(A)The Hopis were governed by men(B)Hopi men brought about thekachina ceremony(C)Although the Hopi, women are ofgreat importance(D)Hopi children learned weavingfrom their mothers(E)Hopi women were responsible fornaming children31.If a Hopi marriage fails, the couple’sfields are probably(A)confiscated by the clan(B)held in trust for the children(C)turned over to the entire tribe(D)kept in the wife’s possession(E)reverted to the husband’s family32.We can infer from the passage thatkachinas are(A)feared by the children(B)valued for their ability to dance(C)former, deceased clan members(D)sacred spirits treasured by thetribe(E)chosen for their influence on theweather 33.According to the passage, woman wasusually(A)The main storyteller(B)Subjected to rule by men(C)The model for the kachina dolls(D)Responsible for politicalleadership(E)Considered the main propertyowner34.A carved kachina doll is most like(A)a spiritual aide(B)the head of a ceremony(C)a casual toy(D)a wall hanging(E)a member of the clan35.It is reasonable to infer that kachinadolls(A)signified a good harvest(B)identified a chief’s lineage(C)represented material wealth(D)were treated with reverence(E)were award to the best dancerMelanie’s purse was pink suede, and the purple patches on it were beautiful, but Alex was very tired of it. A colorful, braided yarn bracelet finished off the handle andmarked it as special; the bracelet greeted Alex whenever Melanie hung her bog on theback of her chair. It was there now. Thoughtfully, he took the bracelet’s strand between Line 5 his fingers, and, without disturbing Melanie, uncapped his black marker and doodled on it. He marked it with black lines and laid it out on his desk; though, a momentlarger when Melanie leaned forward, the bracelet moved off Alex’s desk and its still-wetmarkings were able to add some picturesque touches to Melanie’s suede purse.36.According to the passage, which ofthe following statements is true?(A)Alex’s markings were on nothingbut Melanie’s bracelet(B)Alex drew on Melanie’s braceletjust as she told him not to(C)Alex did not tell Melanie that hewas drawing on her bracelet(D)Alex did not mean to draw onMelanie’s bracelet with marker(E)Alex drew on Melanie’s braceletwith marker and ripped her purse37.Melanie sits(A)next to Alex(B)behind Alex(C)in front of Alex(D)two seats away from Alex(E)across the room from Alex 38.Alex found the sight of Melanie’spurse(A)tiresome(B)beautiful(C)refreshing(D)terrifying(E)ridiculous39.At the time Alex doodled on herbracelet, Melanie was(A)facing Alex(B)standing up(C)leaning back in her seat(D)leaning forward over a book(E)leaning over to pick up a pencile40.Alex is best described as(A)worried(B)studious(C)confused(D)considerate(E)mischievous。

SECTION 3 READING COMPREHENSION SKILLSEver wonder why we have wisdom teeth? If you're like most people, you’ll have your wisdom teeth removed before they even start to surface.How can we just throw away teeth without their absence having someimpact on the state of our mouths? The science of dentistry studiesquestions like this.5Although it dates back to 3700 B.C.in Egypt, dentistry as we know it did not emerge until the 19th century, when people began to studysystematically the mouth, gums, jaw, and teeth. Modern dentistry is anintrinsic part of our lives. Nowadays, we cannot go a day withouthearing something about teeth care, if only through our television sets.10If we have gingivitis, we can use mouthwash. If we have cavities, we canget fillings in a variety of colors and material types. If we have yellowteeth, we can make them white again in seven short days.And, if we have crooked teeth, we can get braces. In fact, people routinely get braces, so much so that we consider it an oddity if someone 15goes through their entire childhood without the experience of going to the orthodontist every month. Chances are that if someone does not getbraces, they lack money or time, not interest in having work done.The evolution of dentistry shows how medical science is changing the human being. Because of i ncreasingly good dental care, we don’t lose20our teeth and rely on our wisdom teeth coming in to give us a new set.To answer the question with which we began: We simply don’t needthose teeth anymore. Indeed, nowadays we have to pay to get ourredundant teeth taken out.1. The article says that we pull our wisdom teeth because______.(A) we have gingivitis(B) they cause crooked teeth(C) we don't need them anymore(D) we listen to information about teeth care daily on TV(E) they make our teeth yellow2. Which of the following statements is true based on the reading?(A) Braces are a common solution to yellowing teeth.(B) Egyptian dentists conducted dentistry much as we do today.(C) If we have gingivitis, we can treat it with fillings.(D) We don’t expect to lose our teeth because we have been taught how to care for them.(E) Braces are a rare experience while growing up.3. When did dentists pull the first tooth?(A) 3700 B.C.(B) 17th century(C) 18th century(D) 19th century(E) The article does not say.4. The writer’s main purpose is apparently______.(A) to answer frequently asked questions about teeth .(B) to talk a little about the history of dentistry(C) to explain dreams about teeth(D) to write the section on dentistry for a medical school text(E) to encourage people to cut down on sweets5. All but which of the following problems, according to the article, can dentists fix?(A) bad breath(B) yellowing teeth(C) crooked teeth(D) root canals(E) cavitiesI t’s easy, nowadays, to blame others for bad things that happen to us.We complain that we don’t have enough money because thegovernment takes our taxes. We blame carbohydrates for our fat count.We blame society for our embarrassingly low educational scores.Well, I disagree. I say we could save money by skipping McDonald’s5and buying the non-name-brand food items at the grocery. I say we’re fat beca use we don't exercise. I say we’re stupid because we watch toomuch TV and never read anything more difficult than sixth gradereading material.I say that it’s in our own hands if we are operating at less than our10potential.So, sometime, when you’re at a loss for something to do, change your life for the better. Crack open the dictionary at a random page and see what’s inside.Seriously.15Chances are you’ll find something interesting you didn’t know before. Reading the dictionary is like reading a thousand mininovels, for each word has a story.For example, we often hear someone referred to as a “spinster.” Most of us know that we use this term to describe an old, unmarried woman, 20but few of us know that the name originally had more meaning. Thereason that “spinster” came to refer to all old, unmarried women isbecause in earlier times old, unmarried women had to spin to earn their livings; old, unmarried women who could not spin nevertheless gotlumped in with the rest. Consider, also, the word “whirling dervish.”25We know that this word is used to refer to dancers or tornadoes.Originally, however, the word referred to Muslim priests who wandered the land as beggars; In addition to whirling dervishes, there existed also howling and dancing dervishes, too.So, take five minutes and re ad the dictionary next time you’re bored.30Seriously.6. What is the best title for this passage?(A) Unexpected Discoveries(B) Through the Eye of a Needle(C) A Thousand and One Words(D) Boring Facts and Trivia(E) On the Origin of the Word “Dervish”7. How would you describe the authors tone in this piece?(A) humorous and trivial(B) adamant and angry(C) friendly yet tired(D) amusing yet serious(E) sulky and sullen8. Who does the author say is responsible for the state of our lives?(A) the government(B) McDonald s(C) television(D) educators(E) we, ourselves9. Why does the author give the word seriously in line 12 its own paragraph?(A) The author thinks the reader will take his/her advice seriously; therefore s/he usesseriously to indicate s/he has made a joke.(B) The author must include nine paragraphs in the article and is cheating.(C) The author wishes the reader to look up the word seriously in a dictionary.(D) The author anticipates that the reader will scoff at the author's advice; the authorwishes to convey serious intent of his/her advice.(E) The author desires to confuse the reader at all costs.10. Which of the following words best defines the phrase lumped in?(A) left out(B) copied(C) combined with(D) evolved(E) destroyedPieter Brueghel, 16th century Flemish painter, has left for us a series of great paintings. One of his best works depicts the Greek myth ofIcarus.To understand Brueghel’s treatment of the piece, you must first recall the facts of the Icarus story. Icarus was the son of Deadalus, the most5brilliant thinker of his time. Deadalus had aided Ariadne in savingTheseus from the Minotaur. The king, angered by Deadalus’ action,swiftly imprisoned Deadalus and his son in a lonely tower on a deserted shore, visited only by birds. Eager to escape, however, Deadalus usedthe feathers and wax to create two sets of wings, and he and his son10made plans to fly to freedom. Unfortunately, Icarus, exhilarated by thefreedom he felt while flying, flew too close to the sun, despite hisfather’s warnings. The suns heat melted the wax on his wings, and heplummeted into the ocean and drowned. Deadalus, heartbroken,nevertheless, made it to safety.15Brueghel’s work depicts a huge, glorious scene of people working the land along a beautiful shoreline. Animals frolic; men work. Ships ladenwith goods plow through the waves. Amidst all the action captured inthe scene, one is hard pressed to locate Icarus. Finally, after somesearching, we see him. He is located in the lower, right-hand side of the 20painting. Even so, his depiction is small. Indeed, ail we see are two palelegs, kicking frantically in the surf.Brueghel’s work sends a clear message, one that underscores the largeness of the world and the relative insignificance of the individualtherein.2511. W hat will the author most likely discuss next?(A) artist Vincent van Gogh and how he cut off his ear(B) another artwork by Brueghel(C) an explanation of Brueghel’s message regarding the insignificance in the world(D) an expanded discussion of the crime that landed Dedalus in jail(E) nothing, the article is complete12. T he author’s purpose can best be described by which of the following statements?(A) to avoid discussing anything important(B) to advocate the talents of Brueghel(C) to relate the tale of Dedalus and Icarus(D) to argue that Brueghel is an untalented artist(E) to show how art can convey social comment.13. W hich of the following words can be substituted for the word exhilarated in line 11without changing the meaning of the sentence?(A) saddened(B) angered(C) joyous(D) frightened(E) advised14. What is the tone of this piece?(A) solemn(B) understanding(C) sarcastic(D) joyous(E) unintelligent15. All but which of the following words have the same meaning as plummeted in line 14?(A) fell(B) hung(C) dropped(D) sank(E) plunged16. Which of the following words has a meaning most nearly opposite to the wordfrantically in line 22?(A) feebly(B) wildly(C) enthusiastically(D) vigorously(E) angrily17. What caused Icarus’ wings to melt?(A) the cold ocean spray(B) the swooping, swirling seagulls(C) the dampness of the water(D) the heat of Dedalus’ wrath(E) the warmth of the sunHistory documents the bloody habits of Vlad Tepes (or Vlad the Impaler), an infamous general who lived in Transylvania from 1431 to1476. Stories about Vlad Tepes seem gruesome even by today'sstandards. Consider this story about a group of generals whom VladTepes was entertaining. Prior to their arrival, Vlad had punished several 5people by impaling them on long spikes surrounding the banquet area.One of the visiting generals complained of the smell; after all, he hadbeen invited to a dinner. Vlad apologized and then had the generalimpaled on an even longer spike. His reason? So that the general, being suspended above the other rotting bodies, would not have to smell what 10offended him.Other vampire tales come to us from this period, but they are clinical, historical accounts. The vampire legend grew popular only after the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1897. In his novel, Stokercreates a frightening combination of man and monster. His Dracula is15striking in appearance, ruthless, calculating, and quite intelligent. Sincethen, vampire stories have grown in popularity over the years, inspiring both serious and tongue-in-cheek treatments.The serious vampire offerings have grown increasingly enraptured by the idea of being undead. Take for example, the work of Anne Rice.20Rice’s books modernize the old vampire story. While Stokers novel tells about the exp loits of a single vampire, Rice’s novels explore an entirevampiric underworld that coexists with—and preys upon—the humanworld. Rice’s stories allow the old vampire lore to evolve into an entireworld view; they work out in great detail the logistical and philosophical 25problems that come into play, if vampires really exist en masse. Moreimportantly, however, Rice^ stories humanize the vampire. Many of her characters are guilt-stricken to the point of madness because they must drink human blood to survive; some rail against their undead state, forthey are frozen in time, unable to transit from one stage of human30maturity to the next.18. What does the word Tepes mean?(A) innocent(B) Dracula(C) impaler(D) bloody(E) ruler19. Which statement gives an acc urate description of Vlad Tepes’ character?(A) He is a wise and caring ruler.(B) He is a brilliant military strategist.(C) He was poor, despite his great power.(D) He was popular with women.(E) His sense of justice is very unconventional.20. Which is the best title for this passage?(A) An American Werewolf in London(B) Witches, Warlocks, and Other Halloween Nasties(C) The Vlad Dynasty: A Family Tree(D) The Enduring Zombie(E) Still Hungry After All These Years21. Which date approximates the time period when Anne Rice wrote?(A) 1431(B) 1476(C) 1789(D) 1897(E) 199022. The statement “Other vampire tales come to us from this period, but they are clinical,hi storical accounts” implies that_______.(A) vampire tales that come from this period are even more exciting than the Tepes story(B) interest in vampire lore died out altogether during this period(C) vampire stories that were written from this period were boring(D) stories about female vampires were especially popular during this period(E) Anne Rice was popular even during this periodExistentialism is a philosophy that focuses only on the actions that we humans make in the physical world that surrounds us. Because itadmits no afterlife of any sort, Existentialism takes the world veryseriously; every decision forces the Existentialist to ponder deeplythe consequences. She only gets one shot at life, so everything depends on 5her getting it right the first time. According to its tenets, life is absurdand filled with actions that seem pointless, futile, and ceaselessly endless.Camus illustrates Existentialism using the example of Sisyphus from Greek mythology. Sisyphus vastly enjoyed life but held little respect forthe gods. Upon his deathbed, Sisyphus instructed his wife to leave his10body unburied as a gesture of anger and resentment at dying. Sheagreed to do as he said, but when he died, she reneged on her word.Upon waking in Hades, Sisyphus knew immediately that his wife hadbetrayed him, and he asked permission from King Hades to go revengehimself upon her. Hades agreed on condition that Sisyphus return to15the underworld immediately after getting his revenge. However, as soonas Sisyphus reached the earth’s surface, he chose to give up his revengeand refused to return to the underworld. Only after great efforts didKing Hades recapture his prisoner.As punishment for his hubris or conceitedness, King Hades created a20special task for Sisyphus. He now spends eternity rolling an enormousrock up a great hill, only to have it come crashing down immediatelyupon reaching th e hill’s summit. Sisyphus’ task ill ustrates clearly thetenets of E xistentialism outlined here. Let’s see how.23. According to the article, the story of Sisyphus comes from______.(A) old wives’ tale s(B) Japanese tradition(C) Indian lore(D) Roman history(E) Greek myth24. What does Sisyphus initially want to do when he returns to earth?(A) Stay alive.(B) Get revenge on his brother.(C) Punish his wife.(D) See his family.(E) Negotiate a treaty.25. Which of the following most nearly means tenets as used in line 6?(A) beliefs(B) rules(C) portable buildings(D) woven strands of rope to catch fish(E) numbers26. What will probably come after paragraph three?(A) background information about Camus(B) more information about Sisyphus’ escapades(C) nothing; the author has made his/her point(D) a discussion of how Sisyphus’ story illustrates the tenets of Existentialism(E) an opinion from a philosophy professor at the University of Kentucky27. Which of the following words best represents an antonym for hubris?(A) daring(B) fearful(C) piety(D) miserable(E) perturbedHave you ever wondered why you aren’t supposed to wear white after Labor Day? It is a long-standing tradition, one that those of us from the South have had beaten into our heads from our very earliest memories.But from where does this rule come?People dispute the origin of this custom. Some say that the rule5developed from practicality. After all, everyone knows that wearingwhite in the summer is wise because the white reflects heat and helpsthe wearer keep cool; wearing dark colors is wise in the winter becausethe dark material absorbs heat and keeps the wearer warm. The rule ofthumb, they say, merely solidifies what was already well known, widely10accepted common knowledge.Others say that the custom developed out of practical concerns, but for cleanliness reasons not for warmth purposes. They argue that therule of white applies only to shoes, and that out of attempts to keepthem clean grew the rule of wearing white only in the warm months.15Still others say that the rule grew out of a class struggle that took place in the late 1800s. With the rise of manufacturing in America, anew class of wealthy people grew up, one that conflicted with the oldmoney class that had existed since the founding of the colonics in the18th century. The nouveau riche class wanted desperately to be accepted 20by the old money folk, but the old money people did not want toaccept them. Therefore, the old money folk used knowledge that theyhad created for use among themselves, unwritten customs and accepted ways of doing things unknown to the nouveau riche, to keep the newmoney folk away.25Whatever the reason, however, the rule remains in use today.28. Which of the following words can be substituted for the word solidifies withoutchanging the meaning of the sentence?(A) confirms(B) thickens(C) rebuilds(D) reconstitutes(E) goes against29. Which of the following statements is supported by the information in the passage?(A) Customs became a weapon used by those with new money to force those with oldmoney to let them became part of society.(B) Customs became a weapon used by those with old money to snub those with newmoney.(C) Customs regarding fashion quickly became out of date.(D) Customs regarding when to wear white changed to allow people to wear white year-round.(E) Customs always grow out of practical responses to issues of daily life.30. Which of the following statements is not true according to the article?(A) The issue over when to wear white may have originated in the 1800s.(B) The nouveau riche had a hard time getting respect.(C) People should wear dark clothes in the winter.(D) Wearing white originally applied to shoes rather than clothes.(E) Concerns over keeping clean were never a concern when the rules for wearing whitewere developed.31. All but which of the following inferences may be made about the author?(A) The author is willing to do research to find answers to interesting questions.(B) The author has studied some history.(C) The author is knowledgeable about fashion.(D) The author is female.(E) The author is from the South.32. What will come next in this discussion?(A) nothing; the author has finished the article(B) a discussion of other instances in which the new money and old money clashed(C) an account of some famous Southern wome n who defied the “no-white- after-Labor Day” rule(D) a complete list of insta nces in which one can break the “no-white-after- Labor-Day”rule(E) a handy mnemonic device to help us remember when to wear black33. This passage deals with all but which of the following topics?(A) social customs(B) historical data(C) human behavior(D) psychology(E) data analysis34. Based on your, reading of the article, what does nouveau riche mean?(A) newly married -(B) newly wealthy(C) newly graduated(D) newly born(E) newly bankrupted35. This article sets out to______.(A) set the record straight on old money in the South .(B) supply interesting, but trivial, information(C) support new money people in the North(D) explain the cause of the Civil War(E) convince people to wear white after Labor Day36. In which of the following publications would you most likely find this information?(A) the sports section of your local newspaper(B) the world news section of a weekly newsmagazine(C) the arts and leisure section of the Sunday paper(D) the science news section of a television news program(E) the comics page onlineMost, if not all, Americans are familiar with the concept of kamikaze, special Japanese pilots who fought in World War II. These men wereunique because they enlisted in the war effort knowing that they would be fighting to the death. They trained to be suicide pilots, whopurposely drove their planes headlong into their targets, exploding5themselves along with their planes and their targets.Few of us, however, have heard of the kaiten. The kaiten were small vessels, carried on submarines; they weighed eight tons and were loaded with explosive warheads. They had limited range (traveling a distanceranging from 12 miles at top speed and 30 miles at low speed) and10silent movement. But like the kamikaze planes, these kaiten wereunrecoverable; if they reached their target, they exploded, captain andall, and if they didn’t, they sank, carrying their captains with them.Both of these military strategies depended heavily on the concept of honor. Honorable death, especially by suicide for the sake of the15Emperor during battle, brought nobility to the soldier and his family.These fighters were idolized by their countrymen; they represented the highest ideals of the nation—that of total sacrifice on behalf oftheir ruler.37. Based on the article, which of the following actions would be seen as honorable byJapanese warriors in World War II?(A) becoming a kamikaze pilot but pulling out of the final dive at the lastminute(B) refusing to man the kaiten on which he had trained(C) defending Hiroshima as the atom bomb dropped(E) emigrating to Canada just after the war started(D) spying for the Americans38. Which of the following words best describes the kaiten?(A) luxury liners(B) floating coffins(C) bamboo tubes(D) warrior flutes(E) underwater kayaks39. W hat kind of ruler did Japan have during World War II, according to this article?(A) emperor(B) king(C) prince(D) president(E) chancellor40. W hich of the following gives an example of something that is unrecoverable}(A) a penny at the bottom of a wading pool(B) the moon when it is full(C) your shoe when it fails over a cliff(D) your book you left at your grandmother’s house(E) a sand dune at high tideReading1-5 C D E B D6-10 A D E D C 11-15C E C A B 16-20A E C E E 21-25 E C E C A 26-30 D C A B E 31-35D A E B B 36-40 C C B A C。

2015年4月25日SSAT真题答案2015年4月25日SSAT真题答案下载地址：/ssat/zt/20150427/xxq-2015n4y25rssatzthy.html?seo=wenku4.610 2015年4月25日SSAT真题答案已经在小马过河率先发布了，考生可以复制链接进入免费索取下载使用。

2015年4月25日SSAT真题答案部分内容：1. Two cyclists start biking from a trail's start 3 hours apart. The second cyclist travels at 10 miles per hour and starts 3 hours after the first cyclist who is traveling at 6 miles per hour. How much time will pass before the second cyclist catches up with the first from the time the second cyclist started biking?A. 2 hoursB. 4 ½ hoursC. 5 ¾ hoursD. 6 hoursE. 7 ½ hours2. The last week of a month a car dealership sold 12 cars. A new sales promotion came out the first week of the next month and the sold 19 cars that week. What was the percent increase in sales from the last week of the previous month compared to the first week of the next month?A. 58%B. 119%C. 158%D. 175%E. 200%3.It is true that the most memorable day of our lives re those in which we underwent some personal transformation or awakening?4.Do you agree with the idea that people can exercise control over their fear, or does fear control people?5.Do you agree with the idea that war is never justified?6.Brave heart------for freedom and justice~7.What do you think of the view that the worst sorrows are those for which we are responsible?8.SAT阅读原文：In 1976, Sichan Siv was crawling through the jungle, trying to escape from Cambodia. By 1989, however, Siv was working in the White House, in Washington D.C., as an advisor to the President of the United States. How did this strange journey come about?Like millions of Cambodians, Siv was a victim of a bloody civil war. One of the sides in this war was the Cambodian government. The other was a group called the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge won the war, the situation in Cambodia got worse. Many people were killed, while others were forced into hard labor. Sometimes entire families were wiped out........2015年4月25日SSAT真题答案下载地址：/ssat/zt/20150427/xxq-2015n4y25rssatzthy.html?seo=wenku4.610。

SSAT备考：SSAT阅读基础练习题SSAT阅读考试是许多同学迫切希望提高的部分，以下是我们为大家准备的SSAT基础阅读练习题，希望对同学们的SSAT阅读日常备考有所帮助。

Many great inventions are greeted with ridicule and disbelief. The invention of the airplane was no exception. Although many people who heard about the first powered flight on December 17,1903, were excited and impressed, others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea of flying an aircraft was repulsive to some people. Such people called Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of the first flying machine, impulsive fools. Negative reactions, however, did not stop the Wrights. Impelled by their desire to succeed, they continued their experiments in aviation.Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in aeronautics and mechanics. As young boys they earned money by making and selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they designed a newspaper-folding machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop. In 1896, when they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brother′s interest in flight grew into a compulsion.Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting his body in the desired direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers, however, and they searched for more efficient methods to control the balance of airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights tested numerous gliders and developed control techniques. The brothers′inability to obtain enough lift power for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts.After further study, the Wright brothers concluded that the published tables of air pressure on curved surfaces must be wrong. They set up a wind tunnel and began a series of experiments with model wings. Because of their efforts, the old tables were repealed in time and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces. This work, in turn, made it possible for them to design a machine that would fly. In 1903 the Wrights built their first airplane, which cost less than one thousand dollars. They even designed and built their own source of propulsion- a lightweight gasoline engine. When they started the engine on December 17, the airplane pulsated wildly before taking off. The plane managed to stay aloft for twelve seconds, however, and it flew one hundred twenty feet.By 1905 the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and remain airborne for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons or in hang gliders, but the Wright brothers were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly under its own power. As the contributors of one of the most outstanding engineering achievements in history, the Wright brothers are accurately called the fathers of aviation.1.The idea of flying an aircraft was ___to some people.A. boringB. distastefulC. excitingD. needlessE. answer not available2. People thought that the Wright brothers had ____.A. acted without thinkingB. been negatively influencedC. been too cautiousD. had not given enough thoughtE. acted in a negative way3. The Wright′s interest in flight grew into a ____.A. financial empireB. planC. need to actD. foolish thoughtE. answer not in article4. Lilenthal′s idea about controlling airborne vehicles was ___the Wrights.A. proven wrong byB. opposite to the ideas ofC. disliked byD. accepted byE. opposed by5. The old tables were __ and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces.A. destroyedB. canceledC. multipliedD. discardedE. not used6. The Wrights designed and built their own source of ____.A. force for moving forwardB. force for turning aroundC. turningD. force to going backwardE. none of the aboveAnswer Key: 1. (B) 2. (A) 3. (C) 4. (C) 5. (B) 6. (A)。

YESSAT阅读材料Famous People(PartⅠ)01. Howard Conklin BaskervilleHoward Conklin Baskerville (April 10, 1885 - April 19 1909) was an American teacher in the Presbyterian mission school in Tabriz, Iran. He is often referred to as the "American Lafayette in Iran". (J. Lorentz)In 1908, during the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, he decided to join the Constitutionalists and fight against the Qajar despot King Mohammad Ali Shah. He was shot while leading a group of student soldiers to break the Siege of Tabriz.The affection that many Iranians have for America perhaps may have roots in Tabriz, where this Nebraskan missionary was killed. Baskerville was a teacher in the American School, one of many such institutions created by the American missionaries who had worked in the city since the mid-19th century. He arrived in 1907 fresh out of Princeton Theological Seminary to teach at the American Memorial School in Tabriz, and was swept up in the revolutionary mood in Iran, fought a royalist blockade that was starving the city. On April 19, 1909, he led a contingent of 150 nationalist fighters into battle against the royalist forces. A single bullet tore through his heart, killing him instantly nine days after his 24th birthday.The same day the Arg of Tabriz was attacked and bombed by 4000 Russian troops. The Persians held out for four days. While the US consulate was in the line of fire, some Americans like Baskerville, took to arms, helping the people of Iran.Many Iranian nationalists still revere Baskerville as an exemplar of an America that they saw as a welcome ally and a useful “third force” that might break the power of London and Moscow in Tehran.02. Georgia Totti O'KeeffeGeorgia Totti O'Keeffe (November 15, 1887—March 6, 1986) was anAmerican artist. She is typically associated with the American Southwestand particularly New Mexico where she settled late in life. O'Keeffe hasbeen a major figure in American art since the 1920s. She is chiefly knownfor paintings in which she synthesizes abstraction and representation inpaintings of flowers, rocks, shells, animal bones and landscapes. Her paintings present crisply contoured forms that are replete with subtle tonal transitions of varying colors, and she often transformed her subject matter into powerful abstract images.03.Just before 12:30 p.m. CST, Kennedy’s limousine entered Dealey Plaza and slowly approached the Texas School Book Depository head-on, and then turned left 120-degrees directly in front of the Depository, 65 feet (20 m) away.When the Presidential limousine passed the Depository and continued down Elm Street, shots were fired at Kennedy; the great majority of witnesses recalled hearing three shots. There was hardly any reaction in the crowd to the first shot, many later saying they thought they had heard a firecracker or the exhaust backfire of a vehicle. President Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally, sitting with his wife in front of the Kennedys in the limousine, both turned abruptly from looking to their left to looking to their right. Connally immediately recognized the sound of a high powered rifle. "Oh, no, no, no," he said as he turned further right, and then started to turn left, attempting to see President Kennedy behind him.According to the Warren Commission and the House Select Committee on Assassinations, as President Kennedy waved to the crowds on his right, a shot entered his upper back, penetrated his neck, and exited his throat. He raised his clenched fists up to his neck and leaned forward and to his left, as Mrs. Kennedy put her arms around him in concern. Governor Connally also reacted, as the same bullet penetrated his back, chest, right wrist, and left thigh. He yelled, "My God, they are going to kill us all." The final shot took place when the Presidential limousine was passing in front of the John Neely Bryan north pergola concrete structure. As the shot was heard, a fist-size hole exploded out from the right side of President Kennedy's head, covering the interior of the car and a nearby motorcycle officer with blood and brain tissue.Secret Service agent Clint Hill was riding on the left front running board of the car immediately behind the Presidential limousine. Sometime after the shot that hit the President in the back, Hill jumped off and ran to overtake the limousine. After the shot that hit the President in the head, Mrs. Kennedy climbed onto the rear of the limousine, though she later had no recollection of doing so. Hill believed she was reaching for something, perhaps a piece of the President's skull. He jumped onto the back of the limousine, pushed Mrs. Kennedy back into her seat, and clung to the car as it exited Dealey Plaza and sped to Parkland Memorial Hospital.‘Abbās was born in Herat (now in Afghanistan) from a Georgian mother from Mazandaran Province, in Northern Iran. The Safavid empire had substantially weakened during the reign of his semiblind father, allowing usurpations and the inner feuds of the Kizilbash amīrs, leaders of the Turcoman tribes constituting the backbone of the Safavid army. Furthermore, Ottoman and Uzbek inroads were harassing the West and Eastern provinces, respectively. In the midst of such upheaval, he was proclaimed ruler of Khorāsān in 1581.In October 1588 he attained the Persian throne by revolting against his father Mohammad, whom he imprisoned. He accomplished the coup with the help of Morshed Gholi Ostajlou, whom he later killed in July, 1589. Determined to raise the fallen fortunes of his country, he signed a separate peace with the Ottomans (1589-90, including the cession of large areas of west and northwest Persia) and then directed his efforts against the predatory Uzbeks, who occupied and harassed Khorāsān. 'Abbās needed some ten years to launch a decisive offensive: this was caused by his decision to form a standing army. Cavalry was comprised of Christian Georgians, Armenians and desc endants of Circassian prisoners (ghulāms, "slaves"), instead of the mistrustful Kizilbash tribal cavalry levies of former times; Persian peasantry formed the infantry. Budgetary problems were resolved by restoring to the Shah's control the provinces formerly governed by the Kilibash chiefs, the revenues of which supplemented the royal treasury. The new Ghulāms were often appointed as governors of the provinces.After a long and severe struggle, 'Abbās regained Mashhad, and defeated the Uzbeks in a great battle near Herat in 1597, driving them beyond the Oxus River. In the meantime, taking advantage of tsar Ivan the Terrible's death in 1584, he had gained the homage of the provinces on the southern Caspian Sea, which had depended on Russia till then.He moved his capital from Qazvin to the more central and more Persian Isfahan in 1592. Embellished by a magnificent series of new mosques, baths, colleges, and caravansaries, Isfahan became one of the most beautiful cities in the world.Agee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee at Highland Avenue and 15th Street (renamed James Agee Street in 1999) to Hugh James Agee and Laura Whitman Tyler, and had distant French and English ancestry on his father's side. When Agee was six, his father died in an automobile accident, and from the age of seven he and his younger sister, Emma, were educated in boarding schools.The most influential of these was located near his mother's summer cottage two miles from Sewanee, Tennessee. Saint Andrews School for Mountain Boys was run by Episcopal monks affiliated with the Order of the Holy Cross), and it was there that Agee's lifelong friendship with an Episcopal priest, Father James Harold Flye, began in 1919. As Agee's close friend and spiritual confidant, Flye was the recipient of many of Agee's most revealing letters.Agee went to Knoxville High School for the 1924-1925 school year, then travelled with Father Flye to Europe in the summer, when Agee was sixteen. On their return, Agee moved to boarding school in New Hampshire, entering the class of 1928 at Phillips Exeter Academy. There he was president of The Lantern Club and editor of the Monthly where his first short stories, plays, poetry and articles were published. Despite barely passing many of his high school courses, Agee was admitted to Harvard University's class of 1932. He was editor-in-chief of the Harvard Advocate and delivered the class ode at his commencement.After graduation, he wrote for Fortune and Time magazines. (He is better known, however, for his later film criticism in The Nation.) He married Via Saunders on January 28, 1933; they divorced in 1938 and that same year he married Alma Mailman. In 1934, he published his only volume of poetry, Permit Me Voyage, with a foreword by Archibald MacLeish.In the summer of 1936, Agee spent eight weeks on assignment for Fortune with photographer Walker Evans living among sharecroppers in Alabama. While Fortune didn't publish his article (he left the magazine in 1939), Agee turned the material into a book entitled, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941). It sold only 600 copies before being remaindered. That same year, Alma moved to Mexico with their year-old son, Joel, to live with Communist writer Bodo Uhse. Agee began living with Mia Fritsch in Greenwich Village, whom he married in 1946. They had two daughters, Teresa and Andrea, and a son, John, who was eight months old when Agee died.In 1942, Agee became the film critic for Time, while also writing occasional book reviews, and subsequently becoming the film critic for The Nation. In 1948, however, he quit both magazines to become a freelance writer. As a freelance in the 1950's, he continued to write magazine articles while working on movie scripts (often with photographer Helen Levitt).He was an ardent champion of Charlie Chaplin's then extremely unpopular film Monsieur Verdoux (1947), which has since become a film classic. He was also a great admirer of Laurence Olivier's Henry V and Hamlet, especially Henry V, for which he actually published three separate reviews, all of which have been printed in the collection Agee on Film.In 1951 in Santa Barbara, Agee suffered the first two in a series of heart attacks, which ultimately claimed his life four years later at the age of 45. He died on May 16, 1955 (while in a taxi cab en route to a doctor's appointment) -- coincidentally two days before the anniversary of his father's death. He was buried on a farm he owned at Hillsdale, NY.。

SSAT TEST 2 Section 3 Reading Comprehension SkillsUFO enthusiasts often attempt to prove the existence of aliens. They show fuzzy photos of floating white cigars and point to oddities in the way the world works as proof that “we are not alone.” They also point to the mysterious Anasazi culture. The Anasazi, historians say, were an ancient Native American tribe located near the desert area we now call Area 51 that suddenly began experiencing a huge cultural revolution. Some people attribute such miraculous cultural growth to a decision to farm beans, but others prefer to give credit to assistance to friendly aliens.Now, alien fans can add some weight to their argument that aliens exist—from the writings of Washington Irving. Irving (1783-1859) wrote the first fiction works in the colonial America. Among other things, Irving wrote about the history of New York and mythological stories; he also wrote satires, a powerful tool given the fledgling nation's political turmoil. However, he is best known for his stories, like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Tales of a Traveler.”Of Irving's ouvre, it is Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” to which UFO fans should direct their attention, for the argument has been made that Van Winkle's twenty-year sleep is actually a ease of alien abduction. As odd as this sounds, the ease deserves some investigation.1. What is the function of paragraph two?(A) to hook the reader’s attention so that s/he will continue reading(B) to move the discussion from the introduction to the highlight of the article(C) to give a detailed argument that “Rip Van Winkle” describes a UFO abduction(D) to tell biographical information about Washington Irving(E) to tell the story of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”2. Which of the following events happened around the time of Irving’s lifetime?(A) the Civil War(B) the Vietnam War(C) World War I(D) the American Revolution(E) World War II3. Which of the following inferences can be made about the Anasazi?(A) The beans probably gave them additional energy and cultural stability.(B) They lived near New England.(C) They all disappeared mysteriously.(D) They sacrificed children to the aliens.(E) They migrated freely until the 1980s.4. According to the article, for which of his writings was Irving famous?(A) “Tale of a Tub”(B) "Old Mother Hubbard"(C) “The Headless Horseman”(D) "Rip Van Winkle"(E) “The Life of Washington”5. Which of the following best describes the author’s tone?(A) rude but informative(B) knowledgeable but playful(C) Conceited but angry(D) Skeptical but pious(E) Sarcastic but rigorous6. The author’s main purpose in writing this piece is______.(A) to embarrass Washington Irving’s successors(B) to get the reader interested in reading mythology(C) to bring to light a little-known theory about Irving’s work(D) to argue that aliens do not exist(E) to refute the argument that George Washington believed in alien life.In the 1980s, theaters presented a new animated film called Anastasia. It told the story of a young, poverty-stricken Russian girl who comes to find out that she is the long-lost Princess Anastasia, daughter of Czar Nicholas II. By the end of the movie, she ascends her throne as a benevolent ruler. But fans of that movie must face an unpleasant truth: Either the writers got it all wrong, or they intentionally ignored history. On July 17, 1918, Anastasia, along with the rest of her family, was murdered before she reached the age of 18; there were no survivors. And although the film correctly targets Rasputin as a disreputable villain, it nevertheless caricatures his character and his ambitions.It's time to set the record straight.Rasputin, born Grigory Yefimovisc Novykh, was born in Siberia in 1872. He came from poverty-stricken, illiterate people, and he soon earned for himself a bad reputation for his wild lifestyle; indeed, his nickname “Rasputin” means debauched. For a time, Rasputin studied ata monastery, but he came to believe that the only means of salvation came through indulging one’s appetites. He then became a wandering, self-proclaimed holy man, and he traveled extensively, even into Greece and Jerusalem. Upon his return to Russia, Rasputin traveled to St. Petersburg. There he met Czar Nicholas II and his family. Unbelievably, despite his salacious lifestyle and his distaste for bathing, Rasputin ingratiated himself with the Czarina. For whatever reason, Rasputin proved repeatedly that he could comfort the crown prince Alexis, who was afflicted with hemophilia.Naturally, his close relationship with the ruling family threw a sour taste into the mouths of-the Russian nobility. They eventually plotted against Rasputin with" the goal of engineering his death. On December 29, 1916, a nobleman invited Rasputin to his home for drinks and conversation. There, he poisoned Rasputin^ drink and waited for himto die. Rasputin proved stronger than anticipated, and so the noble and his friends tried to shoot him instead. Again, Rasputin clung to life. Finally, the nobles had to drag him down to the river and drown him.Rasputin had his drawbacks. He was selfish. He was corrupt. He was politically ambitious. However, he does not deserve to be represented as he is in Anastasia.7. The author’s intent in writing this passage is______.(A) to further confound the information people have about Anastasia and her family(B) to desecrate Rasputin’s reputation(C) to praise the film Anastasia for its historical accuracy(D) to restore a little dignity to a powerful historical figure(E) to talk about Czar Nicholas II and his family8. When were Anastasia and her family murdered?(A) 1872(B) 1890(C) 1916(D) 1918(E) 19299. What did Rasputin consider himself?(A) a politician(B) a holy man(C) a czar(D) a noble(E) a spy10. Who, according to the article, had hemophilia?(A) Anastasia(B) the czar(C) the czarina(D) The crown prince(E) Rasputin11. The author writes this passage with(A) humility(B) fear(C) anxiety(D) serenity(E) outrageTurning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity ...—William Butler Yeats (1920)12. Which of the following events take place in this poem?(A) The volcanoes are beginning to explode.(B) The falcon cannot hear the falconer.(C) The animals cannot find their way home.(D) The people cannot see the sun.(E) The tidal wave dashes the shore to pieces.13. What is let loose upon the world?(A) the blood-dimmed tide(B) the widening gyre(C) the falconer(D) the ceremony of innocence(E) mere anarchy14. What cannot hold?(A) the moon(B) the tide(C) the center(D) the world(E) the worst15. This poem tries to express the______.(A) fine skill of falconry(B) understandable injustice of death(C) great joy about life(D) deep pessimism about the world(E) appreciation for anarchy as a political system16. Why do you think that the author uses words like “blood-dimmed,” “anarchy,” and“drowned innocence”?(A) to give a happy tone to the poem(B) to give a sad tone to the poem(C) to give a menacing tone to the poem(D) to give a light-hearted tone to the poem(E) to give a proud tone to the poemScattered across the United States are countless statues of men on horseback. You can find them in cemeteries, in parks, and outside public service buildings. Normally, these statues depict men in uniform sitting astride horses. The main difference among these statues are the position the horses hold; they rear back on their hind legs with both hooves in the air, or hold one hoof aloft, or plant all four hooves firmly on the ground.Legend has it that you can look at statues of men on horseback, anywhere in the United States, and know how they died. If the rider sits atop a horse with one hoof held up, then that person was wounded in battle and later died of his wounds. If the horse rears back on both hind legs, then that person died in battle. And if the horse stands on all four hooves, the rider died of natural causes.Unfortunately, this story is a load of horse manure. It’s pr etty to think that all sculptors adhered to this rule, but they did not. A simple scan across the horse-and-rider statues will prove this point. In fact, the lore generally is true only for Civil War battlefields.17. You are in a graveyard located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. You see many statues of menon horseback. One in particular catches your attention; it is made of bronze, and the man sits astride a horse reared back on both hind legs. You infer that______.(A) this man died in battle(B) this man was wounded in battle and later died(C) this man died of natural causes(D) this man was a public servant(E) this man liked horses18. In what sort of publication would you likely find this article?(A) a science text(B) an almanac(C) a book of trivia(D) a history book(E) a comic book19. The best title for this passage would be______.(A) Urban Legends Explained(B) Ripley’s Believe It or Not(C) Secrets of Civil War Battlegrounds(D) The Story of the Civil War(E) The Art of Making Statues20. The author’s tone can be described as______.(A) heavyhanded(B) mathematical(C) dour(D) lighthearted(E) loquaciousIt has been said that “History is written by the winners,” and to a certain extent this statement is true. If nothing else, history has a very selective memory. As we study the events of World War II, stories continue to surface. Some of these are happy; others are sad. Still others are merely intriguing.One such story is that of Vasili Zeitsev, who fought for the Russian army against the invading Germans. Zeitsev, a deer hunter from the Urals, became a hero for his marksmanship; in one ten-day period, he shot 40 Germans. He was so good a shot, and so demoralizing for German soldiers, that the Germans shipped in their own sharpshooter, Colonel Heinz Thornwald, for the express purpose of killing Zeitsev. Unfortunately for Thornwald, Zeitsev proved the better soldier. Thornwald, after attempting a shot, stuck up his head for a quick look around; Zeitsev took the advantage and eliminated Thornwald. By the end of the war, Zeitsev alone defeated 242 Germans before he was blinded by a land mine.Anyone interested in Zeitsev’s story can watch the recent film Enemy at the Gates, starring Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, and Ed Harris. Even though some details have been changed, for example the inclusion of a love triangle, the movie is quite exciting and informative.21. How many Germans did Zeitsev kill?(A) 142(B) 242(C) 342(D) 442(E) 54222. What does the phrase “History is written by the winners” mean?(A) The losers, because of their suffering, arc more interesting to listen to.(B) The soldiers, because of their sacrifice, are ignored.(C) The winners, because they are now more powerful, can control information flow.(D) The generals, because of their military skill, can remain silent.(E) The artists, because of their skill, will listen to the soldiers.23. What ended Zeitsev’s career?(A) He stepped on a land mine and blew himself up.(B) He went deaf after standing too near a tank when it fired its shot.(C) He drowned in the attack on Normandy.(D) He was blinded by a land mine.(E) He was paralyzed when the cavalry stampeded his tent.24. Zeitsev was ______.(A) American(B) French(C) German(D) neutral(E) Russian25. The author intended_______.(A) to anger the reader(B) to relate an interesting historical tidbit(C) to plug the movie Enemy at the Gates(D) to praise the Germans(E) to document the story of Heinz Thornwald26. What can we infer from Thornwald’s defeat?(A) If Thornwald had aimed to the left, Zeitsev would be dead.(B) If Zeitsev had been more careful about checking his shot, Thornwald would be alive.(C) If Thornwald had not eaten 15 minutes before making his shot, Zeitsev would be alive.(D) If Thornwald had not joined the German army, Zeitsev would not have joined theRussian army.(E) If Thornwald had been more careful about checking to see whether he hit, Zeitsev mightnot have gotten a shot.27. Because of his great aim, which of the following jobs was Zeitsev assigned?(A) sniper(B) radio man(C) gunner(D) pilot(E) cookAnyone who has lived in the United States for any length of time has seen, or heard of, graffiti. Graffiti is the scrawled artwork that defaces public buildings, street signs, and roadways. The subjects depicted by graffiti artists range widely; sometimes the graffiti is just gang names and logos, other times it is the artist’s name. Sometimes the graffiti is vaguely attractive, but more often than not, it is just a mass of obscene words.Linguists will tell you that the term graffiti comes from the Italian word graffito, which means to scratch. Artists will tell you that the art form (They call it an art form!) dates back to the dawn of humanity; even the cave men used graffiti on their cave walls, and don’t forget the caricature of Jesus on the Domus Gelotiana in Rome, now on display in a museum.These modern, politically correct yahoos would have you believe the garbage we sec scrawled on sidewalks and mailboxes every day is somehow contributing to our quality of life. By ridding ourselves of these “urban artworks,” they say, w e are discriminating against those whose artistic ideals are different from ours.Well, I say, our ideals arc different—and theirs arc wrong. Art does not deface property. Art is not vulgar. Art is not commercialism for gangland activities. And I urge you to join my opinion.28. From what language does the word graffiti come?(A) English(B) Russian(C) Italian(D) Latin(E) Hebrew29. In what context arc you likely to find this kind of writing?(A) the headlines(B) the opinions/editorial page(C) the gossip columns(D) the sports page(E) the real estate section30. 'Which position does the author likely endorse?(A) The city should set aside funding for grants to graffiti artists so they can continue theirwork.(B) The Museum of Modern Art should consider having a showcase for graffiti art.(C) Young children should be allowed to express their artistic impulses on sidewalks andschool buildings.(D) Urban artists should create their own wrapping paper design.(E) Graffiti artists should receive jail sentences.31. In what place docs this author likely live?(A) a rural town in Mississippi(B) a village in eastern Kentucky(C) N ew York City(D) the seaside in Florida(E) a resort in Alaska32. With what emotion does the author write?(A) satisfaction(B) joy(C) fear(D) exasperation(E) sorrowStudents study the theory of communism in school. They know that it was created and popularized by Marx and Engels. They know that it advocates putting the state's needs above the individual’s needs. They know many of the Russian leaders—like Stalin, Khrushchev, and Gorbachev.What they may not realize is that, in the late 1890s, many great European and American thinkers adamantly advocated communism. This was a time during which one could sec class division taking place. At that time, people generally fit into one of two categories; either they were rich, or striving to be rich, or they were dirt poor. The poor desired to be rich, and the rich had no desire to come into any contact with the poor. Communism offered a way out for the poor at the expense of the wealthy; classlessness offered a hopeful future for many.Take, for example, British author H. G. Wells. Wells, one of the first science fiction writers, wrote The Time Machine with the tenets of communism firmly in mind. The Time Machine warns about what will happen if society continues to split into two factions—the rich and the poverty-stricken. The book shows the poverty-stricken class finally rising up and taking revenge upon the rich. By contrast, Wells argues, communism, with its classless society, offers a much more hopeful future.Another writer who favored communism was American author John Steinbeck. In his The Grapes of Wraths for example, he sets up a story in which poverty-stricken folk are offered a dream—the American Dream—that will never come true for them. Steinbeck holds capitalism accountable for the poverty and despair that exists in the world. He does this by depicting the horrible events that befall the Joad family on their way to find work in California. Bankers take over their farm.Their car breaks down, and salesmen try to gyp them out of their cash. The Joads can’t find work in California because there is always someone willing to work at a lower wage. All of these traumas, Steinbeck insinuates, will come true under capitalism. Steinbeck offers only one harmonious event for the Joads: a camp that runs on the principlesof communism.33. According to the passage, what text did John Steinbeck write?(A) Marx and Engels(B) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(C) The Time Machine(D) Communism: The Way to Go(E) The Grapes of Wrath34. Which statement outlines the organization of these four paragraphs?(A) An introduction and an example with two opposite claims.(B) A conclusion, two supporting paragraphs, and an introduction.(C) An introduction, a claim, and two supporting paragraph-long examples.(D) Two claims with a supporting example.(E) An introduction, two supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.35. We can infer from the passage that the author_______.(A) is neutral(B) is a communist(C) is a capitalist(D) is a novelist(E) is poor36. The author sets out to______.(A) argue that communism is an evil theory(B) give an explanation as to why people once took a great interest in communism(C) advocate a return to communism(D) recommend some good books to read(E) eradicate capitalism from the worldIf you are a fan of such shows as Days of Our Lives or Passions, you are enjoying a dramatic tradition over a thousand years old. Any fan of a soap opera knows that certain trademark characters will be a part of the show, whether or not you want them to be. Every soap opera has a naive, innocent character (usually female) who runs into trouble with an evil, conniving, manipulative character (also usually female) who has set her sights on the innocent character’s boyfriend. Every soap opera, additionally, has an earnest young man who, because he is in love with the naive, innocent character, finds himself in conflict with a calculating, boastful man. These recurring character types are modern versions of archetypes created by commedia dell’arte.Commedia dell'arte evolved from the standards set by Roman comedies that became particularly popular during the Renaissance. Roman comedy had become highly formalized, and it used six main types of characters around whom the story unfolded. These characters included the Sweet Young Thing (a naive, innocent, young female character), the Miles Gloriosus (the superficially bold but secretly cowardly soldier), the Old Man (who takes a highly inappropriate interest in the Sweet Young Thing), the Old Woman (usually a nurseor chaperone of the Sweet Young Thing), the Brave Young Man (who eventually weds the Sweet Young Thing), and the Clever Slave (who comically but cleverly aids the Brave Young Man and the Sweet Young Thing in their attempts to escape the evil clutches of the Old Man).Commedia dell'arte adopted these main characters, in particular the Clever Slave (often called the zanni) and the Brave Young Man and the Sweet Young Thing (also called The Lovers or Harlequin and Columbine) and expanded their number. Eventually, a typical commedia dell’arte company consisted of 10 or 12 actors, each specializing in one or two character types, who ad-libbed performances. Over time, people grew tired of these stereotypical characters, and drama turned to more realistic depictions of human traumas. Nevertheless, remnants of commedia d ell’arte exist--such as those in modem soap operas, as we shall see as we analyze some modern day examples.37. The author wants to make the point that(A) soap operas are a complete waste of time(B) commedia dell'arte is a modem art form(C) Days of our Lives is the best soap opera on TV(D) old things can sometimes be recreated in new ways(E) commedia dell’arte was a highly scripted art form38. The character in commedia dell'arte who is a secret coward is the______.(A) Sweet Young Thing(B) Miles Gloriosus(C) Clever Slave(D) Old Man(E) Brave Young Man39. What is the purpose of paragraph one?(A) to tell about the commedia dell’arte(B) to discuss the latest plot developments of Days of Our Lives(C) to talk about specific commedia dell’arte characters(D) to engage the reader’s attention(E) to waste the reader’s time40. What is the name of the pair of lovers in commedia dell'arte?(A) Romeo and Juliet(B) Abbot and Costello(C) Punch and Judy(D) Betty and Veronica(E) Harlequin and Columbine。

SSAT阅读Rea di n g 解释和练习ReadingA. Read1.Vocabulary2.Sentence, look for main sentence, and know the main idea.Long sentence practice:a.Many anthropologists see this as proof of the Bering Strait migration theory, which holds thatbetween 11000 and 6000 year ago, ancestors of Native America across a land bridgethat had jointed the two continents. (定语从句)b.Nothing that tribal legends locate Apache origins squarely in the American Southwest, heoffers an alternative explanation of newfound genetic link. (现在分词短语做状语)c.Stanford University linguist Merritt Rulen has discovered striking similarities between et,a nearly extinct language spoken in central Siberia, and various languages of theAthabaskan group, traditionally spoken by Native American living along the western edgeof North America, including the Apache in he southwestern United States. (同位语从句，过去分词短语做状语 )d.In the first quarter of the twentieth century, some women scientists who engaged inresearch worked at the most prestigious institutes of the period and enjoyed morecareer mobility than women researchers would experience again for several decades. ( 长定语从句在中间 )e.Sabin, an anatomist at the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research noted for herresearch on the lymphatic system, is one important example. (同位语从句加过去分词)f.To have maintained an active role in research institutions, women would have had to sharesome of the decision-making power: they needed to be part of hiring, promotionand funding decisions. ( 表目的的不定式提前，冒号句)g.As a result, they found it almost impossible to provide opportunities for a younger set offemale colleagues seeking employment in a research setting, to foster their productivity and facilitate their productivity and facilitate their career mobility, and eventually to allow themaccess to the top ranks. (it is impossible to do sth., and to do sth., and to do sth.三个并列成分 )h.Even those with very high professional aspirations accepted subordinate status asassistants if doing so seemed necessary to gain access to research position and too oftenthese were the only position offered them in their chosen careers. (if后面的句子很复杂，分析一下 )i.Thus they could easily become highly visible targets for elimination from the staff, especiallyif their behavior was judged in the least imprudent.j.Women ’sawareness that they were unequal colleagues, included in professional settingsonly on the sufferance of male colleagues, who held the positions of power,conflicted with their belief in meritocracy. （定语从句，过去分词）k.She relates that, during her ten years in the department, men were given at least six positions that she was qualified for and wanted desperately, but for which she was not even considered because she was a woman. （定语从句）3.Reading typesa.Narrative: people/thing ---- you have to know the tone of the author while you arereading it. Underline the words. 注意表达作者态度的单词，需要你在读的时候划出来。