SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Test 52

The story of the Pony Express is a bit like the story of Paul Revere's ride—an actual historic event, rooted in fact and layered with centuries of falsehoods, added extras and outright lies. In the mid-20th century, William Floyd, one of many amateur historians to look into the tale of the Pony Express, threw up his hands and observed, "It's a tale of truth, half-truth and no truth at all." He was right on each account.

The business was called the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company, a name too wordy to appear on anything. The company's mail service across America in 1860 and 1861 became known as the Pony Express, a legend in its own time. Americans living on the Pacific slope in the new state of California, drawn there by the Gold Rush, were desperate for news of home. The Pony Express dramatically filled that gap by promising to deliver mail across the country from the end of the telegraph in the East to the start of the telegraph in the West, in 10 days time or less. Normal mail, brought overland or via ship, took months. The term "pony express" had been used before, and, indeed, Americans had transmitted information on the backs of fast horses since colonial times. Historians of mail service always note that Genghis Khan used mounted couriers.

-Christopher Corbett

1. According to the passage, how did the Pony Express get its name?

• A. It sent messages faster than the telegraph.
• B. Horses were a common mode of transportation.
• C. It seemed to fit with the term Gold Rush.
• D. California was growing rapidly in the 1860s.
• E. The name of its company was too long.

2. The author's main purpose is to

• A. compare the Pony Express with Paul Revere's ride.
• B. explain the role of ponies in delivering mail.
• C. discuss William Floyd's view of a historical event.
• D. describe a famous mail service of the 1800s.
• E. show how the Pony Express carried mail so fast.

3. According to the author, how is the story of Paul Revere's ride similar to the story of the Pony Express?

• A. They both occurred during the 1860s.
• B. They both involved a single rider on a pony.
• C. William Floyd was a witness to both events.
• D. They both involved American speed records.
• E. They both included some truths and some lies.

4. According to the author, Genghis Khan

• A. used horse riders to move information.
• B. started the original Pony Express.
• C. trained horses to travel long distances.
• D. sent messages during colonial times.
• E. was a historian of ancient mail services.

5. The Pony Express became popular for which of the following reasons?

I. It was much faster than normal mail.

II. Californians wanted to know of news back East.

III. Gold could be transported cross-country in days.

• A. I only
• B. II only
• C. I and II only
• D. II and III only
• E. I and III only