SSAT Elementary Level Reading : SSAT Elementary Level Reading Comprehension

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Elementary Level Reading

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Example Questions

Example Question #32 : Literal Understanding In Nonfiction Passages

The planet Jupiter has many moons. The most well known moons are the four biggest moons. The Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilei, discovered these four moons in 1610. They are named Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, and lo. The biggest of these four moons is Ganymede with a diameter of 5,262.4 km. In fact, if Ganymede were not bound to Jupiter, it would be considered a planet in its own right. Callisto is almost an exact twin of the planet Mercury, Europa is very smooth, and lo is has many active volcanoes. Although there are 57 moons that have been discovered around Jupiter, these four are the most well known.

Who discovered the four biggest moons of Jupiter?

Possible Answers:

Galileo Ganymede

John Smith

Lo Callisto

George Ganymede

 Galileo Galilei

Correct answer:

 Galileo Galilei

Explanation:

The answer is ifound in this sentence: 

"The Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilei, discovered these four moons in 1610."

Example Question #171 : Prose Passages

Keeping Gusland Amusement Park clean is no small task. Workers use 900 brooms, 90 dust pans and 800 mops a year to keep the park looking its best.  Workers collect approximately 12 tons of trash during a busy day—about 8.7 million pounds annually, but not all of the refuse collected in the park goes to the landfill. Every year, Gusland Park recycles approximately 3.1 million pounds of cardboard; 1.1 million pounds of green waste; 270,000 pounds of office paper; 331,260 pounds of glass bottles; 270,280 pounds of plastic bottles; and 14,240 pounds of aluminum cans. The streets of Gusland are washed and steam-cleaned after closing each day. Keeping Gusland looking clean takes teamwork and a lot of hard work!

About how many pounds of trash are collected each year at Gusland Park?

Possible Answers:

270,280 pounds

8.7 thousand pounds

4.1 million pounds

30 tons

8.7 million pounds

Correct answer:

8.7 million pounds

Explanation:

The correct answer is in this sentence:

"They collect approximately 12 tons of trash during a busy day—about 8.7 million pounds annually."

Example Question #34 : Literal Understanding In Nonfiction Passages

California is a beautiful state! It became a state on September 9, 1850. Its capital City is Sacramento. California is approximately 158,706 square miles and is the 3rd largest state in the USA. The population is roughly 37,679,000 residents. Its largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. California borders Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon.

When did California earn its statehood?

Possible Answers:

September 19, 1905

September 9, 1850

September 18, 1950

September 19, 1850

September 9, 1950

Correct answer:

September 9, 1850

Explanation:

Use the information from this sentence to answer the question:

"It became a state on September 9, 1850."

Example Question #172 : Prose Passages

California is a beautiful state! It became a state on September 9, 1850. Its capital City is Sacramento. California is approximately 158,706 square miles and is the 3rd largest state in the USA. The population is roughly 37,679,000 residents. Its largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. California borders Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon.

Which is not one of the largest cities in California?

 

Possible Answers:

San Diego

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Sacramento

San Jose

Correct answer:

Sacramento

Explanation:

Use the information from the passage to answer the question: 

"Its largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco."

Sacramento is a city in California. Its the state's capital, but it is not listed as one of the largest cities. 

Therefore, Sacramento is NOT one of the largest cities in California.

Example Question #1 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages

Adapted from A Child’s History of England by Charles Dickens (1905)

King Henry the Seventh did not turn out to be as fine a man as the nobility and people hoped, in the first joy of their parting from Richard the Third. He was very cold, crafty, and calculating, and would do almost anything for money. He possessed considerable ability, but his chief merit appears to have been that he was not cruel when there was nothing to be gained by being so.

What was King Henry the Seventh’s best quality?

Possible Answers:

King Henry had no good qualities 

He was cold and calculating 

He was crafty and dedicated to making money 

He was a much better man than Richard the Third

He was not unnecessarily cruel 

Correct answer:

He was not unnecessarily cruel 

Explanation:

According to the author, King Henry the Seventh was not as good a man as people had hoped he would be. Instead, the author describes his many negative qualities before conceding that the King was, at least, never cruel when he did not have to be. 

Example Question #2 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages

Adapted from Ten Great Events in History by James Johannot (1887)

The children of Germany and France caught the madness of the hour, and resolved upon a crusade of their own. Inspired by the preaching of a fanatical priest named Nicholas, twenty thousand young boys assembled at Cologne. They came from all ranks of life; the heir of the proud noble marched side by side with the son of the humblest peasant. Sisters, priests, and servants joined the throng, swelling the numbers and adding to the confusion. They stayed in Cologne for several weeks, set back by chaos and disease. Eventually the ill-fated group set off for the Holy Land, but their difficulties were just beginning. 

Who helped inspire the Children’s Crusade?

Possible Answers:

The people of Cologne 

None of these answers 

A priest named Nicholas

Sisters, priests and servants 

All of these answers 

Correct answer:

A priest named Nicholas

Explanation:

In the second and third lines of the passage, the author specifically mentions how twenty thousand young boys were “Inspired by the preaching of a fanatical priest named Nicholas."

Example Question #3 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages

Adapted from Ten Great Events in History by James Johannot (1887)

The children of Germany and France caught the madness of the hour, and resolved upon a crusade of their own. Inspired by the preaching of a fanatical priest named Nicholas, twenty thousand young boys assembled at Cologne. They came from all ranks of life; the heir of the proud noble marched side by side with the son of the humblest peasant. Sisters, priests, and servants joined the throng, swelling the numbers and adding to the confusion. They stayed in Cologne for several weeks, set back by chaos and disease. Eventually the ill-fated group set off for the Holy Land, but their difficulties were just beginning. 

Which of these was not a setback encountered by the crusaders in Cologne?

Possible Answers:

Confusion 

Chaos 

All of these answers 

Disease 

Warfare

Correct answer:

Warfare

Explanation:

In the fourth and fifth lines, the author specifically mentions the factors of “confusion”, “chaos and disease” which cause the crusaders to be delayed. There is no mention of warfare as a hindrance.

Example Question #4 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages

Adapted from A Child’s History of England by Charles Dickens (1905)

France was a far richer country than Scotland, and the new King was eager to conquer it. So, he left Scotland alone, and pretended that he had a claim to the French throne. He had, in reality, no right at all; but that mattered little in those times. He brought over to his cause many little princes and rulers and with these forces Edward invaded France; but he achieved little by that, except running himself into debt. The next year he did better; gaining the harbor of Sluys. This success, however, was very short-lived, for the King’s allies took fright at the siege of Saint Omer and ran away, leaving their weapons and allegiance behind them. When Philip, the French King, arrived with his army some moments later, Edward proposed to settle the difference by single combat with him. The French King said, he thanked him; but seeing as how the English King was without allies the French King would take his chances.

Why would the King rather capture France than Scotland?

Possible Answers:

The French have been weakened by disease and distrust

France is a much richer country 

All of these answers 

The Scottish are better fighters 

Scotland is too close to home

Correct answer:

France is a much richer country 

Explanation:

In the first sentence of the passage, the author states, “France was a far richer country than Scotland, and the new King was eager to conquer it.” 

Example Question #5 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages

Adapted from A Child’s History of England by Charles Dickens (1905)

France was a far richer country than Scotland, and the new King was eager to conquer it. So, he left Scotland alone, and pretended that he had a claim to the French throne. He had, in reality, no right at all; but that mattered little in those times. He brought over to his cause many little princes and rulers and with these forces Edward invaded France; but he achieved little by that, except running himself into debt. The next year he did better; gaining the harbor of Sluys. This success, however, was very short-lived, for the King’s allies took fright at the siege of Saint Omer and ran away, leaving their weapons and allegiance behind them. When Philip, the French King, arrived with his army some moments later, Edward proposed to settle the difference by single combat with him. The French King said, he thanked him; but seeing as how the English King was without allies the French King would take his chances.

When does the English King lose his allies?

Possible Answers:

In a battle in Scotland 

At the harbor of Sluys

At the siege of Omer 

At the battle with the French King

He never loses his allies 

Correct answer:

At the siege of Omer 

Explanation:

In the sixth sentence of the passage, the author says that “the King’s allies took fright at the siege of Saint Omer and ran away.”

Example Question #11 : How To Locate And Analyze Details In Nonfiction Passages

Adapted from The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 2., No. 24 (June, 1898)

There is a very interesting account of the origin of the Red Cross Society. About forty years ago, M. Henry Dimont, a native of Switzerland, having witnessed the unnecessary suffering of the wounded, from lack of care, at the battle of Solferino, published a book, pointing out the necessity of forming a group of nurses to work in the cause of humanity in time of war, regardless of nationality of the injured, and who should be permitted to aid the wounded on the battle-field, under the protection of a flag which should be recognized as neutral. So much interest was taken in the idea that the outcome was a convention held at Geneva in 1864, which was attended by representatives from sixteen of the great nations of the world, who signed an agreement that they would protect members of the association when caring for the wounded on the field of battle. It was decided that the work of the Red Cross Society should not be confined to times of war, but that in case of disasters and calamities the organization was to provide aid. During the past seventeen years the American Red Cross Society has served in fifteen disasters and famines, and Russians, Armenians, and Cubans have all received aid from this society.

Which of these nationalities does the article NOT mention as receiving help from the Red Cross Society?

Possible Answers:

Russians 

Armenians 

All of these nationalities are mentioned as receiving help from the Red Cross Society

Cubans 

Swiss 

Correct answer:

Swiss 

Explanation:

At the end of the passage the author mentions how the “Russians, Armenians, and Cubans” have all received aid from the Red Cross. Although Henry Dimont is from Switzerland, there is no mention of the Red Cross helping the Swiss. 

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