Now that you know just about everything there is to know about SAT Reading, try your hand at this sample passage. Answers are at the end with links to video and text explanations for these questions on Magoosh SAT !
Ethan Frome
He hung back, and she came out alone and paused within a few yards of him. E1 She was almost the last to leave the hall, and she stood looking uncertainly about her as if wondering why he did not show himself. E2 Then a man's gure approached, coming so close to her that under their formless wrappings they seemed merged in one dim outline.
"Gentleman friend gone back on you? Say, Matt, that's tough! No, I wouldn't be mean enough to tell the other girls. I ain't as low-down as that." (How Frome hated his cheap banter!) "But look a here, ain't it lucky I got the old man's cutter down there waiting for us?"
Frome heard the girl's voice, gaily incredulous: "What on earth's your father's cutter doin' down there?"
"Why, waiting for me to take a ride. I got the roan colt too. I kinder knew I'd want to take a ride to-night," Eady, in his triumph, tried to put a sentimental note into his bragging voice.
B1/F1 The girl seemed to waver, and Frome saw her twirl the end of her scarf irresolutely about her ngers.
B2/F2 C1 Not for the world would he have made a sign to her, though it seemed to him that his life hung on her next gesture. C2
"Hold on a minute while I unhitch the colt," Denis called to her, springing toward the shed.
G1 She stood perfectly still, looking after him, in an attitude of tranquil expectancy torturing to the hidden watcher; Frome noticed that she no longer turned her head from side to side, as though peering through the night for another gure. G2 She let Denis Eady lead out the horse, climb into the cutter and ing back the bearskin to make room for her at his side. Then, with a swift motion of ight, she turned about and darted up the slope toward the front of the church.
"Good-bye! Hope you'll have a lovely ride!" she called back to him over her shoulder.
A1 Denis laughed, and gave the horse a cut that brought him quickly abreast of her retreating gure. A2
"Come along! Get in quick! It's as slippery as thunder on this turn," he cried, leaning over to reach out a hand to her.
She laughed back at him: "Good-night! I'm not getting in."
By this time they had passed beyond Frome's earshot and he could only follow the shadowy pantomime of their silhouettes as they continued to move along the crest of the slope above him. He saw Eady, after a moment, jump from the cutter and go toward the girl with the reins over one arm. The other he tried to slip through hers;
but she eluded him nimbly, and Frome's heart, which had swung out over a black void, trembled back to safety.
D1 A moment later he heard the jingle of departing sleigh bells and discerned a gure advancing alone toward the empty expanse of snow before the church. D2
In the black shade of the Varnum spruces he caught up with her and she turned with a quick "Oh!"
"Think I'd forgotten you, Matt?" he asked with sheepish glee.
She answered seriously: "I thought maybe you couldn't come back for me."
"Couldn't? What on earth could stop me?"
"I knew Zeena wasn't feeling any too good to-day."
"Oh, she's in bed long ago." He paused, a question struggling in him. "Then you meant to walk home all alone?"
"Oh, I ain't afraid!" she laughed.
They stood together in the gloom of the spruces, an empty world glimmering about them wide and grey under the stars. He brought his question out.
"If you thought I hadn't come, why didn't you ride back with Denis Eady?"
"Why, where were you? How did you know? I never saw you!"
H1 At this point, she dropped all pretense and their laughter ran together like spring rills in a thaw. Ethan had the sense of having done something arch and ingenious. H2 To prolong the e ect he groped for a dazzling phrase, and brought out, in a growl of rapture: "Come along."
Questions
1. Which choice best summarizes the passage?
A. Two characters are unable to reveal their true feelings for each other.
B. A rebellious character nds ways to avoid those who approach her.
C. Two characters make a pretense of not seeing each other until one of them takes the initiative.
D. A character is able to avoid an unpleasant situation
2. Ethan primarily perceives Denis Eady as A. a slight nuisance
B. a potential obstacle C. a worthy rival D. an unwitting ally
3. The passage implies that Ethan is most worried that A. Mattie will not reciprocate Eady’s feelings for her.
B. Mattie will decide to go with Eady.
C. he will act too impulsively.
D. Mattie will have to walk home alone.
4. Which choice provides the best evidence to the previous question?
A. A1-A2 “Denis laughed . . . retreating gure.”
B. B1-B2 “The girl . . . her ngers.
C. C1-C2 “Not for . . . next gesture.”
D. D1-D2 “A moment . . . the church.”
5. For most of the passage, there is tension between
A. Ethan and Denis Eady.
B. Mattie and Ethan.
C. Ethan’s desire to act and his reluctance to reveal himself.
D. Mattie’s desire for a means home and her desire to walk alone.
6. During the course of the passage, Ethan’s predominant mood shifts from A. apprehension to relief
B. disconsolation to ecstasy C. optimism to pessimism D. re ective to boisterous
7. In the last paragraph, Ethan’s attitude can best be described as A. self-congratulatory
B. oblivious C. insincere D. unforthcoming
8. Why does Mattie most likely not allow Denis Eady to whisk her away on his father’s cutter?
A. She is hoping Ethan will approach her B. She thinks Dennis Leady is dishonest C. She wants to walk by herself
D. She is conservative by nature
9. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
A. E1-E2 “She was . . .show himself."
B. F1-F2 “The girl . . . her ngers.”
C. G1-G2 “She stood . . .another gure.”
D. H1-H2 “At . . . ingenious.”
10. Mattie answers Ethan’s question regarding why she did not go with Denis Eady by being
A. frank.
B. coy.
C. hostile.
D. evasive.
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1. C 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. C 6. A 7. A 8. A 9. C 10. B
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