SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Test 24

What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice property, ease and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men.

Americans have always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to fight. They fight joyously in a just cause.

We Americans know thatfreedom, like peace, is inseparable. We cannot retain our liberty if three-fourths of the world is enslaved. Brutality, injustice and slavery, if practiced as dictators would have them, universally and systematically, in the long run would destroy us as surely as a fire raging in our nearby neighbor's house would burn ours if we didn't help to put out his.

-Harold Ickes fromWhat is an American?

1. According to the speaker, all of the following describes an American EXCEPT

• A. his desire to go to war for a good reason.
• B. his status in society.
• C. his readiness to fight for his friends.
• D. his love of justice.
• E. his willingness to sacrifice for his family.

2. The author's tone can best be described as

• A. blunt
• B. ecstatic
• C. argumentative
• D. cunning
• E. sad

3. This passage is primarily about

• A. knowing how to identify an American imposter.
• B. the brutality and injustices of world dictators.
• C. rights contained in the Declaration of Independence.
• D. what does and does not define an American.
• E. the differences between Americans and foreigners.

4. In the last sentence, the speaker is urging Americans to

• A. avoid out-of-control forest fires.
• B. recognize the injustices practiced by dictators.
• C. fight with partnering countries against evil.
• D. realize that war is not the solution in the long run.
• E. know that neighbors can sometimes be the enemy.

5. As it is used in the last paragraph, the statement "freedom, like peace, is inseparable" means

• A. you must fight for freedom in order to obtain peace.
• B. freedom and peace are the same to true Americans.
• C. free will is guaranteed to people who fight for it.
• D. freedom and peace cannot be seen without sacrifice.
• E. America is not free if most of the world is not free.