SSAT Middle Level Reading Practice Test 31

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But I could not follow the world's orders on this night. There was the Holy Spirit who required my services. I gazed directly at my stunned superior officer and walked away, slowly backpedaling at first, and then jogging out into smoke and fire. I instinctively headed out into the direction where Chuck had gone to fight, attempting to find his soul with a spiritual compass as artillery fire and deafening explosions shocked and awed me from every angle. I was no longer afraid as I walked through the valley of the shadow of death. I carried on into Hell's core with ferocity of step and vengeance of heart empowered by the leadership of my God. I fought up and down the mounts of Iwo Jima, weaponless, searching for my lost friend who desperately needed me at this time—who required my presence before the end.

I searched as many nooks and crevices that the limits of my humanity would allow me, but I could not find Chuck in or out of this world. I collapsed upon my knees with my arms extended to brace my fall. My physical and spiritual reserves were gone and I could no longer pursue eternity on adrenaline alone. The cries of my hopelessness attempted to make contact with my God as the smoke of our greed, and rage, and sin rose past the peak of Mount Suribachi and into the chilly Pacific darkness. Then my eyes chanced to wander into a depression. I saw something sobeautiful, sopreciousthat tears began to trickle down my war-torn face. Chuck was spread out on the black volcanic ash, the left side of his body seared by the weapons of war. I rushed up to him quickly at first, and then a tad slower with joyously tormented eyes. I knelt down upon the ground and held the hand of my dying friend.

1. All of the following add to the difficulty of the narrator's search EXCEPT:

  • A. His friend has been a prisoner of war for a long time.
  • B. He has no rifle in which to fight off the enemy.
  • C. He is searching for his friend in the midst of war.
  • D. The terrain of the island of Iwo Jima is harsh. 
  • E. He is suffering from exhaustion brought on by battle.

2. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that the narrator finally finds his friend through

  • A. human error
  • B. technology
  • C. sight and sound
  • D. landmarks
  • E. blind fortune

3. The main character's emotional state changes from

  • A. hidden panic to forced calm
  • B. painful surprise to tempered joy
  • C. stubborn doubt to passionate belief
  • D. reckless desperation to anguished relief
  • E. annoyed uncertainty to pleased confidence

4. In his quest to find his friend, the main character receives help from which of the following?

I. Covering fire from his fellow soldiers

II. His belief in God

III. Support from his superior officer

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

5. In the last paragraph, the narrator calling what he saw "beautiful" and "precious" is ironic because his friend

  • A. no longer wishes to be saved.
  • B. is only one soldier in the entire army.
  • C. has been mortally wounded.
  • D. disobeyed direct orders of their superior officer.
  • E. is actually an enemy soldier.