All SSAT Upper Level Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Context Dependent Meanings Of Words And Phrases In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from "May Day" in Tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1922)
At nine o'clock on the morning of the first of May, 1919, a young man spoke to the room clerk at the Biltmore Hotel, asking if Mr. Philip Dean were registered there, and if so, could he be connected with Mr. Dean's rooms. The inquirer was dressed in a well-cut, shabby suit. He was small, slender, and darkly handsome; his eyes were framed above with unusually long eyelashes and below with the blue semicircle of ill health, this latter effect heightened by an unnatural glow which colored his face like a low, incessant fever.
Mr. Dean was staying there. The young man was directed to a telephone at the side.
After a second his connection was made; a sleepy voice hello'd from somewhere above.
"Mr. Dean?"—this very eagerly—"it's Gordon, Phil. It's Gordon Sterrett. I'm down-stairs. I heard you were in New York and I had a hunch you'd be here."
The sleepy voice became gradually enthusiastic. Well, how was Gordy, old boy! Well, he certainly was surprised and tickled! Would Gordy come right up, for Pete's sake!
A few minutes later Philip Dean, dressed in blue silk pajamas, opened his door and the two young men greeted each other with a half-embarrassed exuberance. They were both about twenty-four, Yale graduates of the year before the war; but there the resemblance stopped abruptly. Dean was blond, ruddy, and rugged under his thin pajamas. Everything about him radiated fitness and bodily comfort. He smiled frequently, showing large and prominent teeth.
"I was going to look you up," he cried enthusiastically. "I'm taking a couple of weeks off. If you'll sit down a sec I'll be right with you. Going to take a shower."
As he vanished into the bathroom his visitor's dark eyes roved nervously around the room, resting for a moment on a great English travelling bag in the corner and on a family of thick silk shirts littered on the chairs amid impressive neckties and soft woollen socks.
Gordon rose and, picking up one of the shirts, gave it a minute examination. It was of very heavy silk, yellow, with a pale blue stripe—and there were nearly a dozen of them. He stared involuntarily at his own shirt-cuffs—they were ragged and linty at the edges and soiled to a faint gray. Dropping the silk shirt, he held his coat-sleeves down and worked the frayed shirt-cuffs up till they were out of sight. Then he went to the mirror and looked at himself with listless, unhappy interest. His tie, of former glory, was faded and thumb-creased—it served no longer to hide the jagged buttonholes of his collar. He thought, quite without amusement, that only three years before he had received a scattering vote in the senior elections at college for being the best-dressed man in his class.
As it is used in the sixth paragraph, the underlined word “prominent” most nearly means __________.
sentient
loose
inconspicuous
pronounced
vibrant
pronounced
“Large and prominent teeth” means large and showy, or conspicuous, teeth. The closest synonym to these would be “pronounced." To help you, "sentient" means able to think, "inconspicuous" means hidden, not obvious, or not showy, and "vibrant" means colorful or lively.
Example Question #44 : Literary Fiction
Adapted from "May Day" in Tales of the Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1922)
At nine o'clock on the morning of the first of May, 1919, a young man spoke to the room clerk at the Biltmore Hotel, asking if Mr. Philip Dean were registered there, and if so, could he be connected with Mr. Dean's rooms. The inquirer was dressed in a well-cut, shabby suit. He was small, slender, and darkly handsome; his eyes were framed above with unusually long eyelashes and below with the blue semicircle of ill health, this latter effect heightened by an unnatural glow which colored his face like a low, incessant fever.
Mr. Dean was staying there. The young man was directed to a telephone at the side.
After a second his connection was made; a sleepy voice hello'd from somewhere above.
"Mr. Dean?"—this very eagerly—"it's Gordon, Phil. It's Gordon Sterrett. I'm down-stairs. I heard you were in New York and I had a hunch you'd be here."
The sleepy voice became gradually enthusiastic. Well, how was Gordy, old boy! Well, he certainly was surprised and tickled! Would Gordy come right up, for Pete's sake!
A few minutes later Philip Dean, dressed in blue silk pajamas, opened his door and the two young men greeted each other with a half-embarrassed exuberance. They were both about twenty-four, Yale graduates of the year before the war; but there the resemblance stopped abruptly. Dean was blond, ruddy, and rugged under his thin pajamas. Everything about him radiated fitness and bodily comfort. He smiled frequently, showing large and prominent teeth.
"I was going to look you up," he cried enthusiastically. "I'm taking a couple of weeks off. If you'll sit down a sec I'll be right with you. Going to take a shower."
As he vanished into the bathroom his visitor's dark eyes roved nervously around the room, resting for a moment on a great English travelling bag in the corner and on a family of thick silk shirts littered on the chairs amid impressive neckties and soft woollen socks.
Gordon rose and, picking up one of the shirts, gave it a minute examination. It was of very heavy silk, yellow, with a pale blue stripe—and there were nearly a dozen of them. He stared involuntarily at his own shirt-cuffs—they were ragged and linty at the edges and soiled to a faint gray. Dropping the silk shirt, he held his coat-sleeves down and worked the frayed shirt-cuffs up till they were out of sight. Then he went to the mirror and looked at himself with listless, unhappy interest. His tie, of former glory, was faded and thumb-creased—it served no longer to hide the jagged buttonholes of his collar. He thought, quite without amusement, that only three years before he had received a scattering vote in the senior elections at college for being the best-dressed man in his class.
Which of these most accurately restates the meaning of “I heard you were in New York and I had a hunch you'd be here," a line that appears in the fourth paragraph?
I've been waiting for you to come to New York so I could visit you here.
I had no idea you were in New York but happened to sense you were here.
Everyone said you were out of town so I came here in search of you.
I was informed you were in the city and guessed you would stay here.
I detected your presence in New York and thought I would call on you.
I was informed you were in the city and guessed you would stay here.
A “hunch” is a guess, so the correct answer should suggest a guess and the fact that someone has informed or told Gordon that Philip is in the city.
Example Question #1 : Finding Context Dependent Meanings Of Words In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from "After the Race" from Dubliners by James Joyce (1914)
Their sympathy, however, was for the blue cars—the cars of their friends, the French. The French, moreover were natural victors. Their team had finished solidly: they had been placed second and third and the driver of the winning German car was reported a Belgian. Each blue car, therefore, received a double measure of welcome as it topped the crest of the hill and each cheer of welcome was acknowledged with smiles and nods by those in the car.
What does the word "sympathy" mean in the sentence above?
They hated the French.
They empathized with the French.
They were rooting for the French.
They enjoyed classical French music.
They felt pity for the French.
They were rooting for the French.
The word "sympathy" usually refers to compassion. In this context it means that they felt akin to the French and were rooting for them to win.
Example Question #1 : Context Dependent Meanings Of Words And Phrases In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from "A Little Cloud" from Dubliners by James Joyce (1914)
He remembered the books of poetry upon his shelves at home. He had bought them in his bachelor days and many an evening, as he sat in the little room off the hall, he had been tempted to take one down from the bookshelf and read something to his wife. But shyness had always held him back; and so the books had remained on their shelves. At times he repeated lines to himself and this consoled him.
What does the underlined word "bachelor" mean?
An unhappy man
An unmarried man
A soldier
A married man
A man who sells meat
An unmarried man
A "bachelor" is a man of the age where he could get married but who is not married. From the passage, we learn that he bought books of poems before he married his wife.
Example Question #3 : Finding Context Dependent Meanings Of Words In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from "After the Race" from Dubliners by James Joyce (1914)
Their sympathy, however, was for the blue cars—the cars of their friends, the French. The French, moreover were natural victors. Their team had finished solidly: they had been placed second and third and the driver of the winning German car was reported a Belgian. Each blue car, therefore, received a double measure of welcome as it topped the crest of the hill and each cheer of welcome was acknowledged with smiles and nods by those in the car.
What does the underlined word "victors" mean in the passage above?
People who often win contests
Men named Victor
People who are vicious
People who will do anything to win
People who naturally brag a lot
People who often win contests
The word "victor" means winner, so the correct answer is "people who often win contests."
Example Question #1 : Finding Context Dependent Meanings Of Words In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from "After the Race" from Dubliners by James Joyce (1914)
They were not much more than acquaintances as yet but Jimmy found great pleasure in the society of one who had seen so much of the world and was reputed to own some of the biggest hotels in France. Such a person (as his father agreed) was well worth knowing, even if he had not been the charming companion he was. Villona was entertaining also—a brilliant pianist—but, unfortunately, very poor.
How well does Jimmy know the man who is reputed to own some of the biggest hotels in France?
Jimmy has likely met him once or twice before, but does not know him well.
Jimmy has never met him, but has heard a lot about him.
Jimmy wishes he didn't know this man at all.
Jimmy has known him since birth.
Jimmy knows his friends well, and they are other high-society people.
Jimmy has likely met him once or twice before, but does not know him well.
The passage says they were "not much more than acquaintances." If two people are acquainted, it means they have met, and since they are "not much more than acquaintances," the meaning is that they have met but have not yet become close friends.
Example Question #321 : Ssat Upper Level Reading Comprehension
Adapted from "A Little Cloud" from Dubliners by James Joyce (1914)
He remembered the books of poetry upon his shelves at home. He had bought them in his bachelor days and many an evening, as he sat in the little room off the hall, he had been tempted to take one down from the bookshelf and read something to his wife. But shyness had always held him back; and so the books had remained on their shelves. At times he repeated lines to himself and this consoled him.
What does the underlined word "consoled" mean in the passage above?
Made him feel sad
Energized him
Made him feel better
Made him feel lonely
Made him sleepy
Made him feel better
The man is sad that he is too shy to read the poems to his wife, but it makes him feel better to read the poems to himself.
Example Question #2 : Context Dependent Meanings Of Words And Phrases In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)
The fact is, that among his hunters at least, the whale would, by all hands, be considered a noble dish were there not so much of him; but when you come to sit down before a meat-pie nearly one hundred feet long, it takes away your appetite. Only the most unprejudiced of men, like Stubb, nowadays partake of cooked whales; but the Esquimaux are not so fastidious. We all know how they live upon whales and have rare old vintages of prime old train oil. Zogranda, one of their most famous doctors, recommends strips of blubber for infants as being exceedingly juicy and nourishing. And this reminds me that certain Englishmen, who long ago were accidentally left in Greenland by a whaling vessel—that these men actually lived for several months on the moldy scraps of whales which had been left ashore after trying out the blubber. Among the Dutch whalemen, these scraps are called “fritters,” which, indeed, they greatly resemble, being brown and crisp, and smelling something like old Amsterdam housewives’ dough-nuts or oly-cooks when fresh. They have such an eatable look that the most self-denying stranger can hardly keep his hands off.
But what further depreciates the whale as a civilized dish is his exceeding richness. He is the great prize ox of the sea, too fat to be delicately good. Look at his hump, which would be as fine eating as the buffalo’s (which is esteemed a rare dish), were it not such a solid pyramid of fat. But the spermaceti itself, how bland and creamy that is, like the transparent, half-jellied, white meat of a coconut in the third month of its growth, yet far too rich to supply a substitute for butter. Nevertheless, many whale men have a method of absorbing it into some other substance and then partaking of it. In the long try watches of the night, it is a common thing for the seamen to dip their ship-biscuit into the huge oil-pots and let them fry there awhile. Many a good supper have I thus made.
In the context of the passage, what does the underlined word "depreciates" mean?
Causes the material to decay faster
Lowers the cost or price of an item significantly
Causes the value to increase
Lessens the worth of an item
Lessens the worth of an item
"Depreciate" means to lessen the price or value of or to think or speak of as being of little worth. In the context of the passage, it refers to the overall worth of an item, not its monetary value.
Example Question #351 : Literature Passages
Adapted from Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (1851)
The fact is, that among his hunters at least, the whale would, by all hands, be considered a noble dish were there not so much of him; but when you come to sit down before a meat-pie nearly one hundred feet long, it takes away your appetite. Only the most unprejudiced of men, like Stubb, nowadays partake of cooked whales; but the Esquimaux are not so fastidious. We all know how they live upon whales and have rare old vintages of prime old train oil. Zogranda, one of their most famous doctors, recommends strips of blubber for infants as being exceedingly juicy and nourishing. And this reminds me that certain Englishmen, who long ago were accidentally left in Greenland by a whaling vessel—that these men actually lived for several months on the moldy scraps of whales which had been left ashore after trying out the blubber. Among the Dutch whalemen, these scraps are called “fritters,” which, indeed, they greatly resemble, being brown and crisp, and smelling something like old Amsterdam housewives’ dough-nuts or oly-cooks when fresh. They have such an eatable look that the most self-denying stranger can hardly keep his hands off.
But what further depreciates the whale as a civilized dish is his exceeding richness. He is the great prize ox of the sea, too fat to be delicately good. Look at his hump, which would be as fine eating as the buffalo’s (which is esteemed a rare dish), were it not such a solid pyramid of fat. But the spermaceti itself, how bland and creamy that is, like the transparent, half-jellied, white meat of a coconut in the third month of its growth, yet far too rich to supply a substitute for butter. Nevertheless, many whale men have a method of absorbing it into some other substance and then partaking of it. In the long try watches of the night, it is a common thing for the seamen to dip their ship-biscuit into the huge oil-pots and let them fry there awhile. Many a good supper have I thus made.
In the context of the passage, what does the underlined word “fastidious” mean?
Not very smart
Full of pride
Hard to please
Grumpy
Hard to please
"Fastidious" means choosy, picky, or hard to please. Because the Equimaux are not choosy or picky, they do not mind eating whales.
Example Question #11 : Finding Context Dependent Meanings Of Words In Literary Fiction Passages
Adapted from Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (1895)
He sounded the clacker till his arm ached, and at length his heart grew sympathetic with the birds' thwarted desires. They seemed, like himself, to be living in a world which did not want them. Why should he frighten them away? They took upon more and more the aspect of gentle friends and pensioners—the only friends he could claim as being in the least degree interested in him, for his aunt had often told him that she was not. He ceased his rattling, and they alighted anew.
"Poor little dears!" said Jude, aloud. "You shall have some dinner—you shall. There is enough for us all. Farmer Troutham can afford to let you have some. Eat, then my dear little birdies, and make a good meal!"
They stayed and ate, inky spots on the nut-brown soil, and Jude enjoyed their appetite. A magic thread of fellow-feeling united his own life with theirs. Puny and sorry as those lives were, they much resembled his own.
His clacker he had by this time thrown away from him, as being a mean and sordid instrument, offensive both to the birds and to himself as their friend. All at once he became conscious of a smart blow upon his buttocks, followed by a loud clack, which announced to his surprised senses that the clacker had been the instrument of offense used. The birds and Jude started up simultaneously, and the dazed eyes of the latter beheld the farmer in person, the great Troutham himself, his red face glaring down upon Jude's cowering frame, the clacker swinging in his hand.
"So it's 'Eat my dear birdies,' is it, young man? 'Eat, dear birdies,' indeed! I'll tickle your breeches, and see if you say, 'Eat, dear birdies' again in a hurry! And you've been idling at the schoolmaster's too, instead of coming here, ha'n't ye, hey? That's how you earn your sixpence a day for keeping the rooks off my corn!"
As it is used in the passage, the underlined word “alighted” most nearly means __________.
perched
descended
ablaze
lighted
fell
descended
In the first paragraph, Jude is scaring the birds away from the field where they keep landing. In the sentence, “He ceased his rattling, and they alighted anew,” alighting is synonymous with landing or descending. Whilst all of the words are different synonyms of “alighted,” “descended” is the best answer. To help you, “ablaze” means on fire, and “perched” means sat on and often refers to birds sitting on things.
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