Class07_Summer_SSAT_Upper_Level_Homework_July_17 (1)
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Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 7 1 Name: ____________________________________________________________ Mark: _____ Teacher or Date and Time: ________________________________________________________ Merriam-
Webster’s Vocabulary Builder
HER comes from the Latin verb haerere
, meaning “to stick.” Another form of the verb produces the root hes-
, seen in such words as adhesive
, which means basically “sticky” or “sticking,” and hesitate
, which means more or less “stuck in one place.”
adherent: (1) Someone who follows a leader, a party, or a profession. (2) One who believes in a particular philosophy or religion. cohere: To hold together firmly as parts of the same mass. incoherent: (1) Unclear or difficult to understand. (2) Loosely organized or inconsistent. inherent: Part of something by nature or habit. FUG comes from the Latin verb fugere
, meaning “to flee or escape.” Thus, a refugee
flees from some threat or danger, while a fugitive is usually fleeing from the law. centrifugal: Moving outward from a center or central focus. refuge: Shelter or protection from danger or distress, or a place that provides shelter or protection. fugue:
A musical form in which a theme is echoed and imitated by voices or instruments that enter one after another and interweave as the piece proceeds. subterfuge
: (1) A trick designed to help conceal, escape, or evade. (2) A deceptive trick.
Fill in each blank with the correct letter: a. cohere b. refuge c. incoherent d. fugue e. centrifugal f. adherent g. subterfuge h. inherent 1. The author tries to take on so many different subjects that the book really doesn't ___ very well.
Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 2 2. All the plans for the surprise party were in place except the ___ for keeping her out of the house until 6:30. 3. She had left Scientology and was now an ___ of the Unification Church. 4. Fleeing the Nazis, he had found ___ in the barn of a wealthy family in northern Italy. 5. By the time his fever reached 105°, the boy was mumbling ___ sentences. 6. A rock tied to a string and whirled about exerts ___ force on the string. 7. Mahatma Gandhi believed goodness was ___ in humans. 8. As the last piece in the recital, she had chosen a particularly difficult ___ by Bach. Reading Comprehension Reading the following passages and then decide which of the responses is the best answer to each question. Circle the letter that appears before your answer. Cognitive dissonance refers to the state of discomfort that people feel when they hold conflicting beliefs, or act in a way that conflicts with their beliefs. For instance, many people hold a belief that they should exercise more, yet act in conflict with this belief when they do not adhere to an exercise plan. To reduce cognitive dissonance, they might formulate excuses for not exercising, or they might begin exercising more so that their beliefs are reflected in their actions. A specific type of cognitive dissonance is called the sunk cost effect. The sunk cost effect refers to a line of irrational thinking related to investments: when people have invested time or money in an endeavor, they are usually unwilling to accept the failure of that venture. For example, if you start a business, even if the business loses money every year, you may keep investing resources into it in hopes that your investment will pay off. Or, if you spend money on an expensive car, you may pay for many ongoing repairs because of your original investment, the price you initially paid for the car. In both of these (16) cautionary tales, the sunk cost effect impacts your approach. You feel the dissonance between your beliefs and the evidence; however, rather than accept that your original belief (that the business was a good idea or that the car was worth the price) was wrong, you continue to throw away resources in the hopes that your belief may be vindicated. Salespeople, politicians, grassroots organizers, and others use persuasion strategies that take advantage of these psychological tendencies. The foot-in-the-door technique is one related method used to influence people’s behavior. To employ it, a proponent of a certain cause (say safer driving in neighborhoods) will start by getting people to sign a petition calling for a new safe driving law. Signing a petition is a very low-stakes way for someone to essentially state agreement with the cause. After signing, people are psychologically primed to be more open to further actions related to this belief. (Remember, people want to reduce cognitive dissonance -- if they believe that safe driving is
Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 3 important, all of their actions should match this belief.) Thus, the safe-driving proponent is now much more likely to convince the signers of the petition to do something more, like displaying a lawn sign that reads “Drive Safely.” This technique relies on the reasoning that leads to the sunk cost effect, operating on the assumption that a relevant prior commitment can overcom
e people’s resistance to investing time, effort, or money. Being aware of your natural psychological tendencies is the best way to recognize when you may not be acting rationally, or may have some cognitive dissonance. Follow the old Turkish proverb: “No matter how far you've gone down the wrong road, turn back.”
1. Which choice best summarizes the second paragraph of the passage? (A) People are tempted by the sunk cost effect because they don't want to feel wasteful. (B) The theory of cognitive dissonance offers the best explanation for the sunk cost effect. (C) The sunk cost effect impacts people because they are essentially irrational. (D) People tend to believe that the more expensive an item or service is, the higher quality it must be. (E) People might be tempted to persist in irrational investments because the more they have invested, the more committed they feel. 2. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following is likely NOT an example of the sunk cost effect? (A) You continue driving your car even though you could take the bus, because it's more convenient. (B) You continue going to basketball games even though you don't enjoy them, because you bought season tickets. (C) You continue trimming and fertilizing a rose bush even though it hasn't bloomed for years, because you transplanted it specially to your garden. (D) You continue taking accordion lessons even though you no longer like them, because you've already spent two years learning. (E) You continue paying for repairs on a computer that keeps breaking, because the initial repair was very expensive. 3. The passage's discussion of the foot-in-the-door technique primarily serves to (A) identify a possible explanation for the sunk cost effect. (B) emphasize the importance of the foot-in-the-door effect. (C) demonstrate that human behavior can be manipulated. (D) introduce the concept of persuasion strategies. (E) warn consumers about sales techniques designed to encourage spending. 4. In line 16, "cautionary tales" most nearly means (A) stories that are entertaining, but pessimistic. (B) stories with an embedded warning. (C) examples of questionable manners and conduct. (D) informal expressions to make a point. (E) metaphors to illustrate difficult concepts.
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Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 4 5. The main purpose of the passage is to (A) introduce the concept of the sunk cost effect. (B) illustrate a common human psychological tendency. (C) compare rational and irrational reasoning. (D) describe various explanations for the sunk cost effect. (E) discuss the myriad ways that people are compelled to waste resources. One of the most impressive feats in nature is the ability of birds to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to distant lands where they breed and spend the winter. Migration is not just the seasonal movement of birds each fall and spring. In every month, some percentage of the Western Hemisphere’s five billion birds are in the midst of migration. Their journeys can take weeks or months to complete, depending on the species and difficulties encountered along the way. Impending cold weather is one of a number of factors that encourage birds to migrate. The main trigger is depletion of the food supply, as when insects go into hibernation or when snow cover makes seeds inaccessible. Diminishing daylight means that there is less time to feed, and birds begin to have difficulty maintaining sufficient energy stores to cope with lower temperatures. This cause-and-
effect relationship creates another signal that it is time to head south. Once the instinct to migrate is triggered, activities such as feeding, resting, and aggression are often suppressed, allowing birds to focus on little else but reaching their destination. Most large-scale migration occurs at night when the air is cool and calm and there are few predators. Warblers, vireos, thrushes, and tanagers are all night-time flyers, as are shorebirds. Daylight migrants include ducks, geese, cranes, loons, swallows, and swifts. Soaring birds, such as hawks and vultures, migration during the day to take advantage of the warm updrafts created by heat from the sun. Migrating birds use mountain ranges, narrow peninsulas, and coastlines as landmarks to help them navigate. They are also known to use the setting sun and star patterns for migration, and some birds species appear to reply on the magnetic field of the Earth. Overcast or foggy nights can hamper the progress of birds that rely on the stars for navigational cues. Birds have help, however, from seasonal wind patterns than blow in the general direction they need to travel. Whatever the means of navigation, it is extraordinary that many species are capable of returning not only to their home ranges, but to their exact nesting or winter feeding sites. 6. This passage is primarily about (A) how and why birds migrate. (B) using landmarks to navigate. (C) reasons why birds fly at night. (D) locating the right nesting and feeding sites. (E) preparations for a long flight.
Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 5 7. All of the following prefer to migrate at night EXCEPT: (A) thrushes. (B) warblers. (C) hawks. (D) shorebirds. (E) tanagers. 8. Which of the following best describes the author’s attitude toward migration? (A) hostile (B) admiring (C) amused (D) skeptical (E) concerned 9. The author suggests that most large-scale migration occurs at night primarily because (A) there are few predators at night. (B) birds can fly faster at night. (C) birds are better able to take advantage of seasonal wind patterns at night. (D) birds have good night vision. (E) the stars make it easier for birds to navigate. 10. The instinct to migrate is triggered primarily by (A) longer days. (B) warmer temperatures. (C) increased activity of predators. (D) insufficient food supplies. (E) the need to hibernate. 11. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? (A) Migrations can take months to complete. (B) Spring and fall are the times when birds migrate. (C) Many species return to their exact nesting sites. (D) During migration, instincts such as feeding and resting may be suppressed. (E) Seasonal wind patterns blow in the direction birds need to travel. On July 13, 1863, New York City saw the most destructive civil disturbance in its history, a direct response to the U.S. gover
nment’s attempt to enforce the draft. Only recently had the U.S. Congress passed a law that required all men between the ages of 20 and 45 to register to be drafted into military service. The idea of serving in the war wasn’t the problem. Instead, the devi
l was in the details: conscription could be avoided with simple payment of only three hundred dollars. In the middle of the Civil War, inflation was sky-high, competition for jobs was immense, and racial tension and prejudice was monumental. A vast majority of those affected by the law were incredibly poor, and thus could never dream of paying the three hundred dollar sum. This combination of economic hardship, political struggle, and ethnic strife came to a head in the New York Draft Riots.
Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 6 Government buildings were burned, and on July 15, 1863, rioters fought with troops who had been sent in to restore order. By the time all was said and done, 119 people perished
—
most of them rioters, but some were black New Yorkers who fell prey to racists who used them as scapegoats for perceived injustices. 12. The passage suggests that (A) the New York Draft Riots were the worst civil disturbance in New York City history. (B) racism caused the New York Draft Riots. (C) poor men didn’t want to serve in the Civil War. (D) the New York Draft Riots occurred because of a variety of factors. (E) the New York Draft riots could have been avoided. 13. It can be inferred that (A) all rioters were between the ages of 20 and 45. (B) no rioters were black New Yorkers. (C) more than 100 people died in the riots. (D) July 1863 was the first time the U.S. government attempted to enforce the draft. (E) black New Yorkers took jobs from white New Yorkers. 14. According to the author, some rioters (A) took their frustrations out on innocent people. (B) were not poor. (C) were black. (D) paid 300 dollars. (E) disapproved of the Civil War. 15. Which of the following is probably true? (A) the New York Draft Riots lasted only a few days. (B) all of the rioters were white. (C) the U.S. government wanted to incite riots. (D) the U.S. government hoped to raise money through the draft avoidance payment. (E) men under the age of 20 could not be drafted. Verbal
1. PREMONITION (A) clairvoyant (B) seer (C) fortune (D) fortuitous (E) intuition 2. DECREE (A) extent (B) order (C) principle (D) indigenous (E) disingenuous
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Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 7 3. PRECARIOUS (A) uncertain (B) cautionary (C) reliable (D) indefinite (E) nonchalant 4. DESTITUTE (A) replaceable (B) affluent (C) interchangeable (D) fateful (E) penniless 5. HERMITAGE (A) amphibian (B) monk (C) hide (D) habitat (E) sanctuary 6. IMMATERIAL (A) nonfungible (B) synthetic (C) irrelevant (D) constructive (E) authentic 7. CLANDESTINE (A) cover (B) overt (C) covert (D) conspiracy (E) kinship 8. SCUTTLE (A) ship (B) drift (C) wander (D) meander (E) scurry 9. ASPHYXIATION (A) suffering (B) suffocation (C) suffrage (D) suffix (E) souffle 10. RENDEZVOUS: (A) response (B) invitation (C) score (D) meeting (E) memento
Write a paragraph using at least five
of the terms from the first ten questions of the verbal section. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 8 _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 11. Press is to wine as churn is to __________ (A) paddle (B) cream (C) butter (D) stomach Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 12. Collar is to shirt as __________ is to hat (A) button (B) visor (C) pullover (D) hood Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 13. Wheat is to chaff as quality is to __________ (A) thresh (B) whole (C) inadequacy (D) worth Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 14. Thicket is to shrubs as __________ is to stars (A) sun (B) cluster (C) orbit (D) moon Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 15. Rainbow is to downpour as postmortem is to __________ (A) address (B) forecast (C) mourning (D) death Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________
Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 9 16. Rake is to leaves as __________ is to information (A) homeowner (B) profile (C) census (D) lawn Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 17. Hedonist is to pleasure as __________ is to tradition (A) purist (B) Eden (C) displeasure (D) agnostic Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 18. Coward is to bravery as knave is to __________ (A) retreat (B) beauty (C) truth (D) stoicism Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 19. Tarpaulin is to rain as __________ is to stain (A) stove (B) picnic (C) puddle (D) apron Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ 20. Outrage is to peeve as __________ is to strive (A) attempt (B) curse (C) duel (D) shun Relationship: ___________________________________________________________________ Writing Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic:
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Meritus Academy/SSAT Upper Level/Homework 5 10 Many young people today are too worried about the way they look and this causes them problems. Do you agree or disagree? What is the situation in your country? You should use your own ideas, knowledge, and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________