SSAT Elementary Level Reading : How to Locate and Analyze Details in Nonfiction Passages
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Reading
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Example Questions
Example Question #81 : Literal Understanding In Nonfiction Passages
Penguins - The flightless wonders
Molly Kubik, 2016
The penguin is very special bird. Everyone knows that most birds love to fly, but not the penguin! Penguins are unique. They are very different from other birds. Penguins have feathers, but even their feathers are different from other birds. The penguin's feathers grow all over their body like hair grows on a mammal's body. Other birds have rows of feathers, which helps them fly, but you won't see an penguin in a tree like an eagle or a hawk. Penguins have heavy, solid bones, so they are too heavy to fly, but they are great swimmers. They can swim faster than most birds and many sea creatures. The penguin lives by the ocean, and you are most likely to see them swimming quickly through the ocean waters as they hunt for fish. Penguins eat a lot of fish. It is one of their main sources of food. Their thick, strong, muscular wings, and flippers make the penguin a great swimmer. Penguins are not good at walking on land, which is one reason that they spend so much of their time in the water. A penguin can spend months in the ocean without taking a break!
According to the passage, the major difference between the penguin and the eagle is __________________.
The penguin is heavier than the eagle
The eagle is more aggressive than the penguin
The eagle has bigger wings than the penguin
The eagle can fly and the penguin cannot
The eagle can fly and the penguin cannot
The passage states, "other birds have rows of feathers, which helps them fly, but you won't see a penguin in a tree like an eagle or a hawk. Penguins have heavy, solid bones, so they are too heavy to fly, but they are great swimmers." This is the only answer that is explicitly compares the eagle and the penguin. The other answers can be inferred by the reader, but are not explicitly stated by the passage.
Example Question #221 : Prose Passages
Penguins - The flightless wonders
Molly Kubik, 2016
The penguin is very special bird. Everyone knows that most birds love to fly, but not the penguin! Penguins are unique. They are very different from other birds. Penguins have feathers, but even their feathers are different from other birds. The penguin's feathers grow all over their body like hair grows on a mammal's body. Other birds have rows of feathers, which helps them fly, but you won't see an penguin in a tree like an eagle or a hawk. Penguins have heavy, solid bones, so they are too heavy to fly, but they are great swimmers. They can swim faster than most birds and many sea creatures. The penguin lives by the ocean, and you are most likely to see them swimming quickly through the ocean waters as they hunt for fish. Penguins eat a lot of fish. It is one of their main sources of food. Their thick, strong, muscular wings, and flippers make the penguin a great swimmer. Penguins are not good at walking on land, which is one reason that they spend so much of their time in the water. A penguin can spend months in the ocean without taking a break!
According to the passage, why does the penguin spend more time in the water than on the land?
The penguin's thick feathers make walking hard because it overheats easily
The penguin likes to swim better
The penguin is too heavy to walk
The penguin walks very slowly because it has flippers that are better for swimming than walking
The penguin walks very slowly because it has flippers that are better for swimming than walking
The passage states, "Their thick, strong, muscular wings, and flippers make the penguin a great swimmer. Penguins are not good at walking on land, which is one reason that they spend so much of their time in the water." The other answers could be inferred by the reader as reasons why the penguin doesn't spend much time on land, but it is not explicitly stated by the passage.
Example Question #222 : Prose Passages
Egypt
Molly Kubik, 2016
Egypt is a country in northern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Cairo is the largest city in Africa, and has been a very important place throughout Egypt's history. Cairo is a modern city. If you visit, you will see large buildings and many cars. Egypt has a very rich history. Long ago, the ancient Egyptians were a very advanced civilization. They were very intelligent people who built pyramids, invented ways to farm in the desert, invented a way of writing, and set up many schools. Ancient Egyptian writing was very advanced. Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write, which are small pictures that tell a written story. Although is very difficult to live in the desert, the ancient Egyptians were very resourceful and were able to create a prosperous civilization. Like the ancient Egyptians and modern day Egyptians mainly live near the Nile River. Modern day Egypt sometimes has problems. Over 82 million people live in Egypt. Some people live in poverty. Many poor people need jobs, homes, and education. There have been problems with wars. Egypt is working very hard to solve these problems. They are working hard to make their schools better, and are helping students to learn more. Egypt has a wonderful history, and it will have a great future too because people are working hard to make Egypt a great place.
Egypt is located in which part of Africa?
Northern Africa
Western Africa
Eastern Africa
Southern Africa
Northern Africa
The passage states "Egypt is a country in Africa." This answer is the only answer that is supported by the passage. The reader might have answered Eastern or Western Africa because they are familiar with a map of Africa, but this is not stated in the passage. The most correct answer according to the passage is Northern Africa.
Example Question #82 : Literal Understanding In Nonfiction Passages
Egypt
Molly Kubik, 2016
Egypt is a country in northern Africa. Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Cairo is the largest city in Africa, and has been a very important place throughout Egypt's history. Cairo is a modern city. If you visit, you will see large buildings and many cars. Egypt has a very rich history. Long ago, the ancient Egyptians were a very advanced civilization. They were very intelligent people who built pyramids, invented ways to farm in the desert, invented a way of writing, and set up many schools. Ancient Egyptian writing was very advanced. Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to write, which are small pictures that tell a written story. Although is very difficult to live in the desert, the ancient Egyptians were very resourceful and were able to create a prosperous civilization. Like the ancient Egyptians and modern day Egyptians mainly live near the Nile River. Modern day Egypt sometimes has problems. Over 82 million people live in Egypt. Some people live in poverty. Many poor people need jobs, homes, and education. There have been problems with wars. Egypt is working very hard to solve these problems. They are working hard to make their schools better, and are helping students to learn more. Egypt has a wonderful history, and it will have a great future too because people are working hard to make Egypt a great place.
How does the passage describe schools in Egypt?
Schools in Ancient Egypt were terrible, but schools in modern day Egypt are much better
Schools in Ancient Egypt and modern Egypt have always been excellent
Schools in Ancient Egypt were very good. Schools in modern day Egypt have had some problems, which are getting fixed
Schools in Egypt have always been bad
Schools in Ancient Egypt were very good. Schools in modern day Egypt have had some problems, which are getting fixed
The passage mentions that Ancient Egyptians were leaders who set up schools and taught hieroglyphics. The passage also mentions that schools in modern day Egypt have had problems, which they are working to fix.
Example Question #51 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages
The wonders of Natural Gas
Molly Kubik, 2016
Energy is all around us. We use energy every day to when we cook, light our homes, and use electronics. Natural gas is a form of energy. When the gas burns, it creates heat energy that humans can use. When gas burns, it makes energy. That energy is heat. People use natural gas for many things. When you take a shower, you water was most likely heated by natural gas. Some people use natural gas to power their cars, and other people use natural gas in their stove when they cook. Even farmers use natural gas! Some farms use fertilizer that is made from natural gas. This helps the farmer's crops grow better. Natural gas is a cleaner form of energy than coal. It does not pollute the environment as much. Natural gas is a very useful energy resource.
Which statement best describes the main idea of the passage?
Humans would have a hard time without natural gas
Natural gas is a very important and useful natural resource
Natural gas can be dangerous
Natural gas is a great resource, but it is expensive
Natural gas is a very important and useful natural resource
This passage discusses how important and useful natural gas is. It lists the many activities that humans use natural gas for.
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