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Reading Passage 1: History/Social Studies
Practice for the New SAT (2016)
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Problem Set 1: 11 Questions
Reading: Social Science/History Passage
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage.
This passage is an excerpt from the address given by John F.
Kennedy during his inauguration as the 35th President of the
United States, on Friday, January 20, 1961. The speech
addresses many issues that would feature prominently during
Kennedy’s presidency, including nuclear arms and the Cold
War, and communism in Latin American.
Line
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration
of freedom–symbolizing an end as well as a beginning–
signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before
you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears
prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his
mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty
and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary
beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around
the globe–the belief that the rights of man come not from the
generosity of the state but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first
revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to
friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new
generation of Americans–born in this century, tempered by
war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our
ancient heritage–and unwilling to witness or permit the slow
undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always
been committed, and to which we are committed today at
home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill,
that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any
hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the
survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge–and
more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we
share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is
little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided
there is little we can do–for we dare not meet a powerful
challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the
free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control
shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far
more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them
supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them
strongly supporting their own freedom–and to remember that,
40
45
50
55
60
65
in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the
back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe
struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our
best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period
is required–not because the communists may be doing it, not
because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free
society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the
few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a
special pledge–to convert our good words into good deeds–in
a new alliance for progress–to assist free men and free
governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this
peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile
powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with
them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the
Americas. And let every other power know that this
Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United
Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of
war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our
pledge of support–to prevent it from becoming merely a
forum for invective–to strengthen its shield of the new and the
weak–and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our
adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides
begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of
destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in
planned or accidental self-destruction.
1.
In this passage, the main topic of Kennedy’s comments
could best be described as
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
2.
domestic policy.
international relations.
financial reform.
strategies for warfare
Kennedy attempts to portray the United States as
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
docile in the face of threats.
indifferent to the problems of others.
aggressive toward its allies.
opposed to foreign intervention in its region.
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8.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?
(A) Lines 32-35 (“To those … iron tyranny”)
(B) Lines 44-46 (“If a … are rich.”)
(C) Lines 52-54 (“Let all … the Americas.”)
(D) Lines 54-55 (“And let … own house.”)
As used in line 16, “tempered” most nearly means
(A) mixed.
(B) toughened.
(C) softened.
(D) tuned.
The main rhetorical effect of the series of phrases in
lines 23-25 is to
(A) demonstrate US commitment to defending liberty.
(B) list actions Kennedy planned to complete during his
presidency.
(C) notify other nations of US tactical plans.
(D) give reasons for listeners to support Kennedy.
As used in line 29, “ventures” most nearly means
(A) risks.
(B) speculations.
(C) undertakings.
(D) hazards.
Kennedy’s comments to “those new states whom we
welcome to the ranks of the free” lines (33-39) suggest
which of the following?
(A) Some of the states Kennedy is addressing might be
tempted to seek power in ways which would
endanger their own freedoms.
(B) Kennedy believes that the United States had once
imposed a tyranny on certain smaller states.
(C) Newly freed states are not required to support our
view, but we might choose to impose harsh
sanctions on those which do not.
(D) Kennedy plans to liberate small states from the
oppression of tyrants, old and new.
9.
Which of the following provides the most reasonable
summary of the seventh paragraph (lines 40-46)?
(A) We cannot help the poor to help themselves.
(B) We must help the poor in order to undermine
communism.
(C) It is morally wrong to provide aid to the poor for
political reasons.
(D) We must help the poor because it is morally right.
It can reasonably be inferred from lines 47-50 that at the
time of this speech the US had taken what action in
regards to Latin American nations?
(A) Had spoken about reducing poverty, but not taken
much action
(B) Had taken action towards reducing poverty, but not
spoken much about it
(C) Had assisted tyrannies, but not free governments
(D) Had forwarded the issue to the United Nations
10. Lines 56-61 suggest that Kennedy wants to help the
United Nations
(A) protect itself from foreign threats in its own
hemisphere.
(B) expand its influence and increase its power to
protect small states.
(C) work to reduce poverty in South America.
(D) write new documents promoting peace and
distribute them throughout the world.
11. In the final paragraph, Kennedy suggests that the
consequences of failing to make peace with our
adversaries could include
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
the loss of our own freedoms.
tyrannical government.
the destruction of human civilization.
America’s willingness to pay any price for
freedom.
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Summary
11 Questions
665 Word Passage
Passage Complexity: 9th-10th Grade Reading Level
Social Science / History
Estimated Time: 13 minutes
Answers
Answers
Topic
Other Topics
1) B
Information and Ideas
Central Ideas and Themes
2) D
Rhetoric
Analyzing Purpose
3) D
Information and Ideas
Citing Textual Evidence
4) B
Information and Ideas
Words in Context
5) A
Rhetoric
Word Choice
6) C
Information and Ideas
Words in Context
7) A
Information and Ideas
Implicit Meaning
8) D
Information and Ideas
Summarizing
9) A
Information and Ideas
Implicit Meaning
10) B
Information and Ideas
Implicit Meaning
11) C
Information and Ideas
Implicit Meaning