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SAT Reading Practice Test - 6

Passage 1
The following passage is excerpted from a 1932 biography of a famous English novelist from the nineteenth century.

As the result of this tuition and the artistic promise shown by Branwell at the
age of eighteen, it was decided that he should adopt art as his career, and
go up to London in order to study at the Art Schools of the Royal Academy.
There is no evidence to show that he ever went, though he wrote to the
(5) Secretary asking particulars about admission, and it is probable that the idea
was abandoned. He then tried to turn to account his literary gifts, and wrote
some truly amazing letters to the editor of Blackwood's Magazine, and,
somewhat in the style of Mr. Micawber, told him that he was ready to write for
him, and positively challenged him to take him as a regular contributor either
(10) in prose or verse, enclosing a specimen poem and promising to send prose
if desired, on any subject that Mr. Robert Blackwood might select. He
enjoined him not to condemn him unheard; he cautioned him not to behave
like a commonplace person and miss such an opportunity; he reminded him
that "you have lost an able writer in James Hogg." But Mr. Blackwood
(15) preferred to be commonplace, though Branwell gave him four opportunities
of showing a finer quality.

Somewhere about this time he painted a portrait group of his three sisters,
which Mrs. Gaskell saw when she stayed with Charlotte at Haworth: Emily
and Anne were linked together; Charlotte stood apart on the right side of a
(20) column which nearly bisects the picture. Mrs. Gaskell's verdict on it was that
though it possessed little artistic merit, the portrait of Charlotte was strikingly
like her, and that it was reasonable to suppose that those of the other two
sisters were equally faithful. Her description of this picture answers so
closely to the picture by Branwell now in the National Gallery, that it is
*25) difficult to suppose that it was not this which she saw.

1. The author suggests that which of the following is not true about Branwell?
 A) His artistic ability was recognized but not always highly regarded.
B) His portraits were an accurate depiction of his more famous sisters.
C) He was persistent in his efforts to secure work as a writer.
D) He showed promise as an artist as a pupil.
E) He studied art in London.


2. In line 8, "to take" most nearly means
A) to bring
B) to move
C) to recognize
D) to collect
E) to accept


3. The author mentions Mr. Micawber in order to suggest
A) that Branwell was naive and optimistic
B) that Branwell lacked confidence
C) that Branwell needed a better mentor
D) that Branwell was exceptionally persuasive
E) that Branwell was not altogether serious about his proposal


4. In lines 17-25 the author indicates that Mrs. Gaskell
A) knew the three sisters well
B) was acquainted with Charlotte, but not the other sisters
C) was a well-known art critic
D) was employed by Branwell's family
E) was a close friend of Branwell's mother

5. The results of Branwell's interactions with Mr. Blackwood in lines 14-16 suggest the author's belief that
A) Mr. Blackwood was not a competent judge of literary merit.
B) Mr. Blackwood was only interested in working with well-connected individuals.
C) Branwell's interest in the work was not matched by his ability
D) Branwell admired Mr. Blackwood a great deal.
E) Mr. Blackwood was not in a position to accept new contributors at that time, but might reconsider.




Instructions: Reading: Sentence Completion (5 questions)

6. Abbigail, for her part, maintained a _________ attitude in the matter; she neither affirmed nor ____________ what the others asserted was true.
A) prudent .. accepted
B) neutral .. contested
C) determined .. discounted
D) sympathetic .. relinquished
E) impertinent .. endorsed


7. Instead of waiting ______ for her father to return, she ______ sought out a ride with the first brash fellow who was willing to take her on his horse.
A) benignly .. charitably
B) dutifully .. impudently
C) accordingly .. conscientiously
D) watchfully .. skeptically
E) apprehensively .. distinctively


8. Of all the works by Rembrandt, perhaps no painting has ______ so much attention and _________ as his "Night Watch," which can be seen in Amsterdam.
A) ellicited .. diversion
B) required .. paroxysm
C) garnered .. prolongation
D) attracted .. observation
E) attained .. partiality


9. When a stranger speaks to you, always answer him ______, and if his conversation proves __________, you have no alternative except to sit elsewhere.
A) courteously .. admonishing
B) gently .. convenient
C) politely .. disagreeable
D) amiably .. solicitous
E) respectfully .. hesitant


10. Arnold thought that the practice of personally receiving each and every guest at the reception was an unnecessary inconvenience, without any ____________ advantages.
A) compensating
B) alternating
C) undue
D) affirmative
E) ludicrous







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