SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Test 55

Alone

Lying, thinking

Last night

How to find my soul a home

Where water is not thirsty

And bread loaf is not stone

I came up with one thing

And I don't believe I'm wrong

That nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires

With money they can't use

Their wives run round like banshees

Their children sing the blues

They've got expensive doctors

To cure their hearts of stone.

But nobody

No, nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely

I'll tell you what I know

Storm clouds are gathering

The wind is gonna blow

The race of man is suffering

And I can hear the moan,

‘Cause nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone

Nobody, but nobody

Can make it out here alone.

-Maya Angelou

1. According to the poem, "The race of man is suffering" most likely due to

• A. ignorance and laziness
• B. economic turmoil
• C. wealth and wastefulness
• D. natural disasters
• E. separation and racism

2. The beginning of the poem indicates that the author got her inspiration through

• A. her desire for companionship
• B. educational research
• C. her thoughts and soul-searching
• D. healthy relationships
• E. her experiences with wealthy people

3. The poet would most likely agree that

• A. even families need to live with the rest of humanity.
• B. people place too much value on food and water.
• C. many friends are better than a single friend.
• D. loneliness affects the wealthy more than the poor.
• E. most people think they can make it through life alone.

4. In the poem, "Where water is not thirsty" and "Alone, all alone, Nobody, but nobody, Can make it out here alone" are examples of

• A. hyperbole and pun
• B. onomatopoeia and alliteration
• C. metaphor and irony
• D. personification and repetition
• E. allusion and simile

5. According to the poet, "Storm clouds are gathering" and "The wind is gonna blow" most likely because

• A. of the frequency of hurricanes and tornadoes.
• B. living apart will lead to conflict and war.
• C. governments no longer listen to their citizens.
• D. global warming has reached critical levels.
• E. people ignore the consequences of loneliness.