SECTION 3

Time: 40 Minutes
40 Questions
Directions: Each reading passage is followed by questions about it. Answer the questions that follow a
passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage. For each question, select the answer you
think is best and record your choice by filling in the corresponding oval on the answer sheet.

“The President shall from time to time give to communicate with the American people at the
Congress information of the State of the Union same time. Calvin Coolidge’s 1923 speech was the
and recommend to their Consideration such meas- first to be broadcast on radio. Harry S. Truman’s
ures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” 40 1947 address was the first to be broadcast on
5 Article II, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution television. Lyndon Johnson’s address in 1965 was
On a cold January morning in 1790, George the first delivered in the evening, and George
Washington personally delivered the first state of W. Bush’s 2002 address was the first to be broadcast
the union address to a joint meeting of the two live on the World Wide Web.
bodies of Congress at Federal Hall in New York
10 City, which was then the provisional capital of the
United States. Since Washington’s first speech to 1. The author most likely included the quotation
Congress, U.S. Presidents have “from time to time” from the U.S. Constitution in lines 1–4 in
given Congress an assessment of the condition of order to
the union. Presidents have used the opportunity (A) show how well the author knows the
15 to present their goals and agenda through broad Constitution
ideas or specific details. The annual message or (B) illustrate the wording used in the
“State of the Union” message’s length, frequency, Constitution
and method of delivery have varied from President (C) explain the reason for the State of the
to President and era to era. Union address
20 In 1801, Thomas Jefferson discontinued the (D) demonstrate how different Presidents
practice of delivering the address in person, regard- have interpreted the same provision
ing it as too monarchial for the new republic. (E) point out the difference between a
Instead, Jefferson wrote out his address and sent constitutional duty and a custom
it to Congress to be read by a clerk. This practice
25 continued for the next 112 years. The first presi- 2. The phrase “from time to time” in line 1 has
dent to revive Washington’s spoken precedent been interpreted to mean
was Woodrow Wilson in 1913. (A) once in a while
For many years, the speech was referred to as (B) in a timely manner
“the President’s Annual Message to Congress.” (C) annually
30 The term “State of the Union” did not become (D) at a convenient time
widely used until after 1935 when Franklin Delano (E) when time allows
Roosevelt began using the phrase.
With the advent of radio and television, the
President’s annual message has become not only
35 a conversation between the President and Congress
but also an opportunity for the President to
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SSAT Exam III: Section 3 309

 3. U.S. presidents deliver State of the Union
Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, and even hit the
messages primarily because they
10 east coast of Africa more than 2,300 miles away.
(A) are following a tradition started by
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated
George Washington
by any rapid large-scale disturbance of the sea
(B) are required to do so by the
water. Most tsunamis are generated by earth-
U.S. Constitution
quakes, but they may also be caused by volcanic
(C) need to fulfill campaign promises
15 eruptions, landslides, undersea slumps or meteor
(D) want to thank their supporters
impacts. In 1963 the term “tsunami” was adopted
(E) are trying to unify opposing factions
internationally to describe this natural phenom-
enon. A Japanese word, it is the combination of
4. Thomas Jefferson’s State of the Union address
the characters tsu (harbor) and nami (wave).
differed from Washington’s address in that
20 Tsunamis are often mistakenly called “tidal waves.”
Jefferson
However, the tides have nothing to do with the
(A) spoke first to the Senate and then to the
formation of tsunamis.
House of Representatives
The waves radiate outward in all directions
(B) presented more frequent messages than
from the disturbance and can propagate across
did Washington
25 entire ocean basins. For example, in 1960, an
(C) broadcast his message on radio
earthquake in Chile caused a tsunami that swept
(D) did not deliver his address in person
across the Pacific to Japan. Tsunami waves are
(E) had his speech printed in the newspaper
distinguished from ordinary ocean waves by their
great length between peaks, often exceeding
5. In the first half of the twentieth century, the
30 100 miles in the deep ocean, and by the long
State of the Union address was forever
amount of time between these peaks, ranging
changed by
from five minutes to an hour.
(A) the advent of radio and television
In the deep ocean, a tsunami is barely notice-
(B) Thomas Jefferson
able, causing only a small rising and falling of the
(C) Lyndon Johnson
35 sea surface as it passes. Only as it approaches land
(D) moving the site of the speech from New
does a tsunami become a hazard. As the tsunami
York to Washington, D.C.
approaches land and shallow water, the waves
(E) newspaper coverage of the speech
slow down and become compressed, causing them
to grow in height. In the best of cases, the tsunami
6. Which of the following questions is answered
40 comes onshore like a quickly rising tide and causes
by the information in the passage?
a gentle flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
(A) How many presidents have delivered
In the worst of cases, a bore will form. A bore
spoken State of the Union messages?
is a wall of turbulent water that can be several
(B) When is the State of the Union message
meters high and can rush onshore with great
delivered?
45 destructive power. Behind the bore is a deep and
(C) How long is the average State of the
fast-moving flood that can pick up and sweep
Union message?
away almost anything in its path. Minutes later,
(D) Why did Woodrow Wilson revive the
the water will drain away as the trough of the
spoken State of the Union message?
tsunami wave arrives, sometimes exposing great
(E) Which president delivered the first
50 patches of the sea floor. But then the water will
televised State of the Union message?
rush in again as before, causing additional damage.
This destructive cycle may repeat many times
While they cannot be seen from the air, or felt before the hazard finally passes. Persons caught
aboard an ocean-going ship, tsunamis can cause as in the path of a tsunami have little chance to
great a loss of life and property as their other nat- 55 survive. They can be easily crushed by debris or
ural disaster cousins—tornadoes and hurricanes. they may simply drown. Children and the elderly
5 The tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004, are particularly at risk, as they have less mobility,
was the worst tsunami ever recorded in terms of strength and endurance.
lives lost. Triggered by a powerful earthquake in the
Indian Ocean, it ravaged the shores of Indonesia,
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310 Practice Tests for the SSAT

 7. The main purpose of this passage is to 11. The style of the passage is most like that
(A) describe the tsunami of 2004 found in
(B) point out the differences between (A) a personal letter
tsunamis and tidal waves (B) an adventure novel
(C) explain the origin of the term “tsunami” (C) a weather report
(D) provide general information about (D) a science textbook
tsunamis (E) a news article
(E) tell how to survive a tsunami
12. A tsunami becomes a hazard as it approaches
8. The passage names all of the following as land because
possible causes of a tsunami EXCEPT: (A) the waves compress and grow higher in
(A) earthquakes shallow water
(B) volcanic eruptions (B) the waves speed up as they approach the
(C) landslides shore
(D) meteor impacts (C) the water drains away, exposing the sea
(E) tornadoes floor
(D) people get too close to the shore
9. The author cites the 1960 tsunami in Japan to (E) beaches are popular with children and
show the elderly
(A) how far a tsunami can reach
(B) how devastating a tsunami can be 13. As used in paragraph 5, the word “bore” means
(C) the importance of detecting a tsunami (A) hollow, cylindrical chamber
early (B) dull person
(D) how quickly a tsunami can travel (C) gauge
(E) the need for international cooperation in (D) hole made by a drill
preventing tsunamis (E) dangerous wave

10. Which of the following best describes the To an Athlete Dying Young
difference between a tsunami wave and a
regular ocean wave? The time you won your town the race
(A) Tsunami waves are more than 100 miles We chaired you through the market-place;
apart in the deep ocean, while regular Man and boy stood cheering by,
ocean waves follow closely one after the And home we brought you shoulder-high.
other. 5 Today, the road all runners come,
(B) The length between peaks and the Shoulder-high we bring you home,
amount of time between peaks is greater And set you at your threshold down,
in tsunami waves than it is in regular Townsman of a stiller town.
ocean waves.
(C) Regular ocean waves are more harmful Smart lad, to slip betimes away
to young children, while tsunami waves 10 From fields where glory does not stay,
are more likely to endanger the elderly. And early though the laurel grows
(D) Tsunami waves are more likely to affect It withers quicker than the rose.
boats in deep water than are regular Eyes the shady night has shut
ocean waves. Cannot see the record cut,
(E) Tsunami waves are highest in deep water, 15 And silence sounds no worse than cheers
while regular ocean waves are highest After earth has stopped the ears.
near the shore.
Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honors out
Runners whom renown outran
20 And the name died before the man.

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SSAT Exam III: Section 3 311

 So set, before its echoes fade, The earthquake shook down in San Francisco
The fleet foot on the sill of shade, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of walls
And hold to the low lintel up and chimneys. But the conflagration that followed
The still-defended challenge-cup. burned up hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth
5 of property. There is no estimating within hundreds
25 And round that early-laurelled head
of millions the actual damage wrought. Not in
Will flock to gaze the strength less dead,
history has a modern imperial city been so
And find unwithered on its curls
completely destroyed. San Francisco is gone.
The garland briefer than a girl’s.
Nothing remains of it but memories and a fringe
—A. E. Housman 10 of dwelling-houses on its outskirts. Its industrial
section is wiped out. Its business section is wiped
14. The athlete described in this poem is most out. Its social and residential section is wiped out.
likely a The factories and warehouses, the great stores
(A) tennis player and newspaper buildings, the hotels and the
(B) swimmer 15 palaces of the nabobs, are all gone. Remains only
(C) runner the fringe of dwelling-houses on the outskirts of
(D) football player what was once San Francisco.
(E) girl Within an hour after the earthquake shock the
smoke of San Francisco’s burning was a lurid
15. The setting for this poem is a 20 tower visible a hundred miles away. And for
(A) victory celebration three days and nights this lurid tower swayed in
(B) funeral the sky, reddening the sun, darkening the day,
(C) field of laurels and filling the land with smoke.
(D) rose garden On Wednesday morning at a quarter past five
(E) championship race 25 came the earthquake. A minute later the flames
were leaping upward. In a dozen different quarters
16. The “stiller town” referred to in line 8 means south of Market Street, in the working-class ghetto,
(A) old age and in the factories, fires started. There was no
(B) a country village opposing the flames. There was no organization,
(C) home 30 no communication. All the cunning adjustments
(D) death of a twentieth century city had been smashed by
(E) a quiet town the earthquake. The streets were humped into
ridges and depressions, and piled with the debris
17. The author admires the athlete for of fallen walls. The steel rails were twisted into
(A) winning his race 35 perpendicular and horizontal angles. The telephone
(B) bringing home a laurel wreath and telegraph systems were disrupted. And the
(C) setting a new record great water-mains had burst. All the shrewd
(D) returning to his hometown contrivances and safeguards of man had been
(E) dying young thrown out of gear by thirty seconds’ twitching of
40 the earth-crust.
18. The author is likely to agree with which of the By Wednesday afternoon, inside of twelve
following statements? hours, half the heart of the city was gone. At that
I. Glory is a fleeting thing. time I watched the vast conflagration from out on
II. It is best to die at the peak of one’s fame. the bay. It was dead calm. Not a flicker of wind
III. An athlete’s fame lives on even after 45 stirred. Yet from every side wind was pouring in
retirement. upon the city. East, west, north, and south, strong
winds were blowing upon the doomed city. The
(A) I only heated air rising made an enormous suck. Thus
(B) II only did the fire of itself build its own colossal chimney
(C) III only 50 through the atmosphere. Day and night this dead
(D) I and II only
(E) I, II, and III
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312 Practice Tests for the SSAT

 23. Which best describes the overall organization
calm continued, and yet, near to the flames, the
of the passage?
wind was often half a gale, so mighty was the suck.
(A) a discussion of opposing viewpoints
Wednesday night saw the destruction of the
(B) a description of events in spatial order
very heart of the city. Dynamite was lavishly used,
(C) a description of events in chronological
55 and many of San Francisco proudest structures
order
were crumbled by man himself into ruins, but there
(D) an enumeration of facts supported by
was no withstanding the onrush of the flames.
statistical data
Time and again successful stands were made by
(E) a statement of opinion backed up by
the fire-fighters, and every time the flames flanked
reasons
60 around on either side or came up from the rear,
and turned to defeat the hard-won victory.
24. The primary purpose of the passage is to
Jack London from
(A) present a scientific explanation of the
“The Story of an Eyewitness”
San Francisco earthquake
(B) provide an eyewitness report of the San
19. The first paragraph of the passage establishes a Francisco earthquake
mood of (C) convey the despair of San Francisco
(A) awe and disbelief residents as they watched the destruction
(B) desperate longing of their city
(C) uncontrolled outrage (D) describe the conditions that allowed the
(D) cautious optimism fires to spread
(E) heartfelt pity (E) praise the efforts of fire-fighters who
battled bravely to put out the fires
20. The author describes the effects of the
earthquake by relying on
Over 200 years ago, English physician Edward
(A) scientific knowledge
Jenner observed that milkmaids stricken with a
(B) comparisons to similar events in history
viral disease called cowpox were rarely victims of
(C) confirmed statistical data
a similar disease, smallpox. This observation led
(D) vivid images appealing primarily to the
5 to the development of the first vaccine. In an
sense of sight
experiment that was to prove a revelation, Jenner
(E) insights based largely on interviews with
took a few drops of fluid from a pustule of a
residents
woman who had cowpox and injected the fluid
into a healthy young boy who had never had
21. In line 15, “nabobs” most nearly means
10 cowpox or smallpox. Six weeks later, Jenner
(A) knaves
injected the boy with fluid from a smallpox
(B) wealthy persons
pustule. Miraculously, the boy remained free of
(C) elected officials
the dreaded smallpox.
(D) native sons
In those days, a million people died from
(E) descendants of royalty
15 smallpox each year in Europe alone, most of
them children. Those who survived were often
22. The statement that “All the cunning
left with grim reminders of their ordeals: blindness,
adjustments of a twentieth century city had
deep scars, and deformities. When Jenner laid the
been smashed by the earthquake”
foundation for modern vaccines in 1796, he started
(lines 30–32) suggests primarily that
20 on a course that would ease the suffering of people
(A) the city had been reduced to a primitive
around the world for centuries to come. By the
existence
beginning of the 20th century, vaccines for rabies,
(B) the earthquake destroyed many of the
diphtheria, typhoid fever, and plague were in use,
city’s newest buildings
in addition to the vaccine for smallpox. By 1980,
(C) numerous irreplaceable mechanisms
25 an updated version of Jenner’s vaccine led to the
were lost during the earthquake
total eradication of smallpox.
(D) only necessities such as plumbing and
electricity remained intact
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SSAT Exam III: Section 3 313

 28. The vaccine produced by Jenner in 1796
Since Jenner’s time, vaccines have been
(A) completely eradicated smallpox
developed against more than 20 infectious diseases
(B) was effective only against cowpox
such as influenza, pneumonia, whooping cough,
(C) served as the basis for modern vaccines
30 rubella, meningitis, and hepatitis B. Due to tremen-
(D) could be used against rabies
dous advances in molecular biology, scientists are
(E) wiped out typhoid fever
using novel approaches to develop vaccines against
deadly diseases that still plague humankind.
29. Which of the following best describes how
Scientists use vaccines to “trick” the human
vaccines work?
35 immune system into producing antibodies or
(A) They directly attack the disease-causing
immune cells that protect against the real disease-
organism.
causing organism. Weakened microbes, killed
(B) They fool the body into producing
microbes, inactivated toxins, and purified proteins
antibodies that protect against the real
or polysaccharides derived from microbes are the
disease-causing organism.
40 most common components used in vaccine devel-
(C) They contain deadly disease-producing
opment strategies. As science advances, researchers
organisms that are injected directly into
are developing even better vaccines.
the blood stream.
(D) They contain antibodies that protect the
25. Which of the following best describes smallpox body from deadly diseases.
in the years before 1796? (E) They cause allergic reactions in most
(A) It struck a million people a year in people.
Europe alone.
(B) It was common among milkmaids.
The crimson hand, which at first had been
(C) It was spread by cows.
strongly visible upon the marble paleness of
(D) It killed more than a million Europeans a
Georgiana’s cheek, now grew more faintly out-
year.
lined. She remained not less pale than ever; but
(E) The few who survived the disease were
5 the birthmark, with every breath that came and
left unharmed.
went, lost somewhat of its former distinctness.
Its presence had been awful; its departure was
26. According to the passage, vaccines have been
more awful still. Watch the stain of the rainbow
developed for all of the following diseases
fading out of the sky, and you will know how the
EXCEPT:
10 mysterious symbol passed away.
(A) pneumonia
“By Heaven! It is well-nigh gone!” said Aylmer
(B) scarlet fever
to himself, in almost irrepressible ecstasy. “I can
(C) typhoid fever
scarcely trace it now. Success! Success! And now
(D) rubella
it is like the faintest rose color. The lightest flush
(E) meningitis
15 of blood across her cheek would overcome it.
But she is so pale!”
27. According to the passage, which of the
He drew aside the window curtain and suffered
following are components used in vaccine
the light of natural day to fall into the room and
development?
rest upon her cheek. At the same time he heard a
I. inactivated toxins
20 gross, hoarse chuckle, which he had long known
II. weakened microbes
as his servant Aminadab’s expression of delight.
III. purified proteins
“Ah, clod! ah, earthly mass!” cried Aylmer,
(A) I only laughing in a sort of frenzy. “You have served me
(B) II only well! Matter and spirit—earth and heaven—have
(C) III only 25 both done their part in this! Laugh, thing of the
(D) I and II only senses! You have earned the right to laugh.”
(E) I, II, and III These exclamations broke Georgiana’s sleep.
She slowly unclosed her eyes and gazed into the

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314 Practice Tests for the SSAT

 34. Georgiana’s feelings toward Aylmer could best
mirror which her husband had arranged for that
be described as
30 purpose. A faint smile flitted over her lips when
(A) bitter
she recognized how barely perceptible was now
(B) angry
that crimson hand which had once blazed with
(C) happy
such disastrous brilliancy as to scare away all their
(D) tender
happiness. But then her eyes sought Aylmer’s
(E) uncaring
35 face with a trouble and anxiety that he could by
no means account for.
35. Which is the best expression of the main idea
“My poor Aylmer!” murmured she.
of this passage?
“Poor? Nay, richest, happiest, most favored!”
(A) Love is blind.
exclaimed he. “My peerless bride, it is successful!
(B) Birthmarks should be removed.
40 You are perfect!”
(C) Perfection cannot be achieved on earth.
“My poor Aylmer,” she repeated with a more
(D) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
than human tenderness, “you have aimed loftily;
(E) All’s well that ends well.
you have done nobly. Do not repent that with so
high and pure a feeling, you have rejected the
45 best the earth could offer. Aylmer, dearest The summers we spent in the country, now at
Aylmer, I am dying!” one place, now at another. We children, of course,
Nathaniel Hawthorne from “The Birthmark” loved the country beyond anything. We disliked
the city. We were always wildly eager to get to the
5 country when spring came, and very sad when in
30. The birthmark on Georgiana’s face had the
the late fall the family moved back to town. In the
shape of a
country we of course had all kinds of pets—cats,
(A) rainbow
dogs, rabbits, a coon, and a sorrel Shetland pony
(B) rose
named General Grant. When my younger sister
(C) hand
10 first heard of the real General Grant, by the way,
(D) butterfly
she was much struck by the coincidence that some
(E) sun
one should have given him the same name as the
pony. (Thirty years later my own children had
31. It can be reasonably inferred from the story
their pony Grant.) In the country we children ran
that Aylmer
15 barefoot much of the time, and the seasons went
(A) is a poor man
by in a round of uninterrupted and enthralling
(B) does not love his wife
pleasures—supervising the haying and harvesting,
(C) is trying to kill his wife
picking apples, hunting frogs successfully and
(D) has performed an operation on his wife
woodchucks unsuccessfully, gathering hickory-nuts
(E) is dying
20 and chestnuts for sale to patient parents, building
wigwams in the woods, and sometimes playing
32. Which of the following best describes what
Indians in too realistic manner by staining
happens to the mark on Georgiana’s cheek?
ourselves (and incidentally our clothes) in liberal
(A) It takes a new shape.
fashion with poke-cherry juice. Thanksgiving was
(B) It becomes very faint.
25 an appreciated festival, but it in no way came up
(C) It stays the same.
to Christmas. Christmas was an occasion of literally
(D) It grows larger.
delirious joy. In the evening we hung up our
(E) It turns a deep red color.
stockings—or rather the biggest stockings we
could borrow from the grown-ups—and before
33. Which word best describes how Aylmer
30 dawn we trooped in to open them while sitting on
regards Georgiana at the end of the passage?
father’s and mother’s bed; and the bigger presents
(A) flawless
were arranged, those for each child on its own
(B) amusing
table, in the drawing-room, the doors to which
(C) tiresome
were thrown open after breakfast. I never knew
(D) brilliant
(E) undesirable
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SSAT Exam III: Section 3 315

 39. The statement that “I never knew any one else
35 any one else have what seemed to me such
have what seemed to me such attractive
attractive Christmases, and in the next genera-
Christmases, and in the next generation I tried
tion I tried to reproduce them exactly for my own
to reproduce them exactly for my own
children.
children” (lines 34–38) primarily suggests that
Theodore Roosevelt from An Autobiography
the author
(A) wanted his children to follow his example
36. This passage serves mainly to (B) missed the Christmases from his childhood
(A) recount the author’s experience working (C) went to great lengths trying to recreate
on a farm in summer his childhood
(B) provide a description of the author’s (D) carried on certain traditions because he
summer home thought his children would enjoy them,
(C) describe the joys of being in the country too
(D) convey the author’s love of family (E) wanted his children to know the value of
celebrations carrying on traditions
(E) explain the significance of the pony’s name
40. The passage is told from the point of view of
37. In lines 8–13, the author includes the story of (A) an adult looking back fondly on his own
the pony’s name primarily to life
(A) show his love for animals (B) a child describing his life
(B) poke good-hearted fun at his sister later (C) an adult describing another person’s life
(C) point up the difficulty of raising a pony (D) a child describing events that happened
(D) show his love for his own children. to someone else
(E) emphasize the friendship between the (E) an adult filled with regret over the
Roosevelt and Grant families passing of time

38. All of the following can be explicitly answered

by information in the passage EXCEPT:
(A) Where did the author and his siblings
prefer to spend their childhood summers?
(B) What types of pets did the author and his
siblings have in the country?
(C) How did the author and his siblings
spend their time in the country?
(D) Where did the author and his siblings
stay while in the country?
(E) How did the author feel about
Thanksgiving?

STOP!
If you finish before time is up, check your work on this section only.

316 Practice Tests for the SSAT