All SSAT Middle Level Reading Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 :Poetry Passages
Adapted fromThe Cat and the Foxby Jean de la Fontaine (1678)
The Cat and the Fox once took a walk together,
年代harpening their wits with talk about the weather
And as their walking sharpened appetite too,
They also took some things they had no right to.
Cream, that is so delicious when it thickens,
Pleased the Cat best. The Fox liked little chickens.
With stomachs filled, they presently grew prouder,
And each began to try to talk the louder,
Bragging about his skill, and strength, and cunning.
"Pooh!" said the Fox. "You ought to seemerunning.
Besides, I havea hundred tricks.You Cat, you!
What canyoudo when Mr. Dog comes at you?"
"To tell the truth," the Cat said, "though it grieve me
I've butonetrick. Yet that's enough—believe me!"
There came a pack of fox-hounds, yelping, baying.
"Pardon me", said the Cat. "I can't be staying.
This ismytrick." And up a tree hescurried,
Leaving the Fox below a trifle worried.
In vain, he tried his hundred tricks and ruses
(The sort of thing that Mr. Dog confuses),
Doubling, and seeking one hole, then another,
年代moked out of each until he thought he'd smother.
At last as he once more came out of cover,
Two nimble dogs pounced on him—all was over!
Which of the following is a synonym of the underlined word "scurried"?
Walked
Lumbered
Assembled
Dashed
Hopped
Dashed
When the fox-hounds attempt to chase the Fox and the Cat, the Cat "scurries" up a tree, leaving the Fox behind. Based on the context of the sentence, we are looking for an answer choice that conveys the danger approaching the Fox and the Cat, which requires immediate and swift action to be taken. The best answer choice is "dashed,"defined asto run or travel somewhere in a greathurry.
Example Question #2 :Poetry Passages
Adapted from "No Harm Meant" inChatterbox Periodicaledited by J. Erskine Clark (1906)
Two puppies with good-natured hearts, but clumsy little toes,
Were feeling rather sleepy, so they settled for a doze;
But underneath the very ledge on which they chanced to be,
A large andstatelypussy cat was basking dreamily.
A short half-hour had hardly passed, when one pup made a stir,
And stretching out a lazy paw, just touched the tabby's fur;
'Twas nothing but an accident, yet, oh! the angry wail!
The flashing in the tabby's eye, the lashing of her tail!
"Who's that that dares to serve me so?" she cried with arching back.
"I'll teach you puppies how to make an unprovoked attack!"
One puppy started to his feet with terror in his eyes,
The other said, as soon as pluck had overcome surprise:
"I'm really very sorry, ma'am, but honestly declare
I hadn't any notion that a pussy cat was there."
But just like those who look for wrong in every one they see,
年代he left the spot, nor deigned to take the pup's apology.
The underlined word “stately” most nearly means__________.
modest
outgoing
frank
dignified
expressive
dignified
The word “stately” meansimpressive, grand, but also dignified and graceful.庄严的答案选择最近的意义”" is “dignified,” which meansnoble, behaving like a King,orclassy.None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "stately": “expressive” meanscomfortable saying things and showing feelings; “outgoing” meansfriendly; “modest” meanshumbleandnot boastful of things done well; and “frank” meanshonest.
Example Question #3 :How To Determine The Meaning Of A Word From Its Context In A Poetry Passage
Adapted from "No Harm Meant" inChatterbox Periodicaledited by J. Erskine Clark (1906)
Two puppies with good-natured hearts, but clumsy little toes,
Were feeling rather sleepy, so they settled for a doze;
But underneath the very ledge on which they chanced to be,
A large and stately pussy cat was basking dreamily.
A short half-hour had hardly passed, when one pup made a stir,
And stretching out a lazy paw, just touched the tabby's fur;
'Twas nothing but an accident, yet, oh! the angry wail!
The flashing in the tabby's eye, the lashing of her tail!
"Who's that that dares to serve me so?" she cried with arching back.
"I'll teach you puppies how to make an unprovoked attack!"
One puppy started to his feet with terror in his eyes,
The other said, as soon aspluckhad overcome surprise:
"I'm really very sorry, ma'am, but honestly declare
I hadn't any notion that a pussy cat was there."
But just like those who look for wrong in every one they see,
年代he left the spot, nor deigned to take the pup's apology.
The underlined word “pluck” most nearly means__________.
courage
astonishment
jubilation
terror
trepidation
courage
In context, the author says “'Who's that that dares to serve me so?' she cried with arching back. 'I'll teach you puppies how to make an unprovoked attack!' One puppy started to his feet with terror in his eyes, The other said, as soon as pluck had overcome surprise . . .” By describing how the puppies are fearful of the cat, the author suggests that fear was what needed to be overcome with “pluck.” This suggests that “pluck” meanscourageorbravery.None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "pluck": “terror” isgreat fear; “jubilation” isgreat happiness; “astonishment” issurprise; and “trepidation” isanxiety, carefulness,orworry.
Example Question #7 :How To Determine The Meaning Of A Word From Its Context In A Poetry Passage
Adapted from "No Harm Meant" inChatterbox Periodicaledited by J. Erskine Clark (1906)
Two puppies with good-natured hearts, but clumsy little toes,
Were feeling rather sleepy, so they settled for a doze;
But underneath the very ledge on which they chanced to be,
A large and stately pussy cat was basking dreamily.
A short half-hour had hardly passed, when one pup made a stir,
And stretching out a lazy paw, just touched the tabby's fur;
'Twas nothing but an accident, yet, oh! the angry wail!
The flashing in the tabby's eye, the lashing of her tail!
"Who's that that dares to serve me so?" she cried with arching back.
"I'll teach you puppies how to make an unprovoked attack!"
One puppy started to his feet with terror in his eyes,
The other said, as soon as pluck had overcome surprise:
"I'm really very sorry, ma'am, but honestly declare
I hadn't any notion that a pussy cat was there."
But just like those who look for wrong in every one they see,
年代he left the spot, nordeignedto take the pup's apology.
The underlined word “deigned” most nearly means__________.
obtained
comprehended
condescended
forgave
ascended
condescended
In context, the author says, “But just like those who look for wrong in every one they see, / She left the spot, nor deigned to take the pup's apology.” Here, “deigned” meanscondescendedortalked down to.None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "deigned": “ascended” meanswent up; “comprehended” meansunderstood; “forgave” meansaccepted someone’s apology; and “obtained” meansgot.
Example Question #3 :Poetry Passages
Adapted from "No Harm Meant" inChatterbox Periodicaledited by J. Erskine Clark (1906)
Two puppies with good-natured hearts, but clumsy little toes,
Were feeling rather sleepy, so they settled for a doze;
But underneath the very ledge on which they chanced to be,
A large and stately pussy cat was basking dreamily.
A short half-hour had hardly passed, when one pup made a stir,
And stretching out a lazy paw, just touched the tabby's fur;
'Twas nothing but an accident, yet, oh! the angry wail!
The flashing in the tabby's eye, the lashing of her tail!
"Who's that that dares to serve me so?" she cried with arching back.
"I'll teach you puppies how to make an unprovoked attack!"
One puppy started to his feet with terror in his eyes,
The other said, as soon as pluck had overcome surprise:
"I'm really very sorry, ma'am, but honestly declare
I hadn't anynotionthat a pussy cat was there."
But just like those who look for wrong in every one they see,
年代he left the spot, nor deigned to take the pup's apology.
The underlined word “notion” most nearly means__________.
Dream
Dread
Idea
Fear
Danger
Idea
In context, the author says “The other said, as soon as pluck had overcome surprise: / 'I'm really very sorry, ma'am, but honestly declare / I hadn't any notion that a pussy cat was there.'” Here, one of the puppies is making an excuse to the cat by saying that he can honestly say he had no idea a cat was there. So, the answer choice closest in meaning to "notion" is "idea." As for the other answer choices, “dread” isgreat worry and fear.
Example Question #5 :How To Determine The Meaning Of A Word From Its Context In A Poetry Passage
Adapted from “The Duel” by Eugene Field (1888)
The gingham dog and the calico cat
年代ide by side on the table sat;
'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Not one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! What shall we do?"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw--
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy Iexaggerate!
I got my views from the Chinese plate!)
Next morning where the two had sat
They found no trace of the dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole the pair away!
But the truth about the cat and the pup
Is this: They ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock, it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)
The underlined word “exaggerate” most nearly means__________.
understate
overstate
overthrow
underwhelm
overwhelm
overstate
The word “exaggerate” is used to describe a situation where someone hasmade somethingmore noticeable or prominentor when someoneoverstates the situation, or adds details to a story that makes it more dramatic.In this context, the poem's narrator says “Don't fancy I exaggerate! I got my views from the Chinese plate.” In this context, the narrator means “Do not think I am adding details to make the story more dramatic, this is what actually happened according to the Chinese plate.” To help you, "understate" meansmake less of a point than is usual; "overwhelm" meansheavily affect someone due to their having to deal with too many of a certain thing; "underwhelm" meansbe not as good as was expected or unimpressive; and "overthrow" meansreplace someone in a powerful position using force.
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