SSAT Elementary Level Reading › SSAT Elementary Level Reading Comprehension
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.
Which statement best explains the main idea of the passage?
Egypt is a country with a rich history and a bright future
Egypt was better in the past than it is now
Ancient Egypt was very important
Egypt is having a lot of problems
This is the correct answer because it best supports the main idea of the passage. The passage is mainly about Egypt's history and the things that are happening in Egypt to make the future better. The passage discusses some problems that Egypt has had, such as poverty and problems with schools, but this is not what the passage is mainly about.
Adapted from "The Ant and the Grasshopper" by Aesop (trans. Jacobs 1909)
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, carrying a very heavy ear of corn to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and tiring in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper. "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants consuming every piece of corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: it is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
What does the underlined word “toil” most nearly mean?
Work
Play
Hunt
Exhausting
Laugh
The word "toil" means work, so if you are “toiling away,” you are working hard. If you did not know the meaning of the word, you could figure out its meaning from the whole of the passage, since the ant is engaged in work and the grasshopper is being lazy. This would suggest that when the author describes the ant continuing “its toil,” it is continuing its work.
Adapted from "The Lion’s Share" in The Fables of Aesop by Aesop (trans. Jacobs 1902)
The Lion once went hunting with the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf. They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag, and soon took its life. Then came the question of how the spoil should be divided. "Quarter me this Stag," roared the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four parts. Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass and pronounced judgment: "The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts; the second is mine as arbiter; another share comes to me for my part in the chase; and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it." "Humph," grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his legs; but he spoke in a low growl. “You may share the labors of the great, but you will not share the spoil."
The underlined word “spoil” most nearly means __________.
prize
ruin
snack
area
water
In this context, the word “spoil” is used to refer to the stag that has been captured. As such, it is closest in meaning to “prize.” In other contexts in which "spoil" is used as a verb, to "spoil" something can mean to ruin it.
Adapted from "The Buffoon and the Countryman" in The Fables of Aesop by Aesop (trans. Jacobs 1902)
At a country fair there was a Buffoon who made all the people laugh by imitating the cries of various animals. He finished off by squeaking so like a pig that the spectators thought that he had a porker concealed on him. But a Countryman who stood by said: "Call that a pig’s squeak! Nothing like it. You give me 'till tomorrow and I will show you what it's like." The audience laughed, but next day, sure enough, the Countryman appeared on the stage, and putting his head down squealed so hideously that the spectators complained and threw stones at him to make him stop. "You fools!" he cried, "see what you have been hissing," and held up a little pig whose ear he had been pinching to make him utter the squeals. Men often applaud a copy and boo the real thing.
The underlined word “buffoon” most likely means __________.
joker
teacher
helper
doctor
vender
From the context of the sentence, you know that the “buffoon” “made all the people laugh.” This suggests that the answer choice closest in meaning to "buffoon" is “joker.” A "buffoon" is someone who makes a fool of themselves to amuse others. To help you, a "vender" is someone who sells things.
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.
Which statement best explains the main idea of the passage?
Egypt is a country with a rich history and a bright future
Egypt was better in the past than it is now
Ancient Egypt was very important
Egypt is having a lot of problems
This is the correct answer because it best supports the main idea of the passage. The passage is mainly about Egypt's history and the things that are happening in Egypt to make the future better. The passage discusses some problems that Egypt has had, such as poverty and problems with schools, but this is not what the passage is mainly about.
Adapted from "Belling the Cat" by Aesop (trans. Jacobs 1909)
Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily hide while she was in the neighborhood." This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies."
The underlined word “procured” most nearly means __________.
gotten
hidden
surprised
stolen
desired
The word “procured” means obtained or gotten. From the context of the sentence, you know that the mice want to “procure” a bell. It would hardly make sense for them to hide or surprise it, and there is no suggestion of them stealing it. So the answer must be “gotten.”
"The Dangers of Sugar" by Daniel Morrison (2014)
Sugar is a highly addictive substance that plays a dangerous role in the health and well-being of people around the world. It is particularly threatening to American health, as it is placed in everything from carbonated sodas to beef jerky and vegetable juice. The average American consumes seventy-five pounds of sugar every year—that is roughly the weight of a elementary school child. Many health experts believe that sugar is the number one contributing factor in the high rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes that can be found in the contemporary United States.
Why does the author believe that sugar is “particularly threatening to American health”?
Because it is found in so many different products in the United States
Because it is grown and harvested in the United States
Because it is especially addictive to American people
Because the government refuses to ban or regulate sugar consumption
Because it is consumed by such a large percentage of the population
Answering this question first requires understanding what “particularly threatening” means. Something that is “threatening” looks like it could cause harm. When the author says “particularly,” he means that Americans are more threatened by sugar than people in other countries. The reason the author gives for this is that, in America, sugar “is placed in everything from carbonated sodas to beef jerky and vegetable juice.” So, you can say that sugar is “particularly threatening to American health” because “it is found in so many different products in the United States.”
Determine the meaning of the underlined word.
Fred went to the flower market to pick up some beautiful blooms. He needed to buy lovely flowers for the soirée at his house that evening. When he returned, he quickly dressed in his best suit and tie because his guests were about to arrive.
A fancy party
A host
A meeting
A game
A school
A "soirée"is a fancy party in the evening.
Adapted from "Belling the Cat" by Aesop (trans. Jacobs 1909)
Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat. Some said this and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case. "You will all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her. I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured, and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat. By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily hide while she was in the neighborhood." This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said: "That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?" The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke. Then the old mouse said: "It is easy to propose impossible remedies."
The underlined word “procured” most nearly means __________.
gotten
hidden
surprised
stolen
desired
The word “procured” means obtained or gotten. From the context of the sentence, you know that the mice want to “procure” a bell. It would hardly make sense for them to hide or surprise it, and there is no suggestion of them stealing it. So the answer must be “gotten.”
Adapted from "The Lion’s Share" in The Fables of Aesop by Aesop (trans. Jacobs 1902)
The Lion once went hunting with the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf. They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag, and soon took its life. Then came the question of how the spoil should be divided. "Quarter me this Stag," roared the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four parts. Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass and pronounced judgment: "The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts; the second is mine as arbiter; another share comes to me for my part in the chase; and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it." "Humph," grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his legs; but he spoke in a low growl. “You may share the labors of the great, but you will not share the spoil."
The underlined word “spoil” most nearly means __________.
prize
ruin
snack
area
water
In this context, the word “spoil” is used to refer to the stag that has been captured. As such, it is closest in meaning to “prize.” In other contexts in which "spoil" is used as a verb, to "spoil" something can mean to ruin it.