10/1 /2020
PSAT
™
Practice
Test 1
#
Make time to take the practice test.
It is one of the best ways to get ready
for the PSAT.
Front Cover
, 1 1
Reading Test
60 MINUTES, 47 QUESTIONS
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
DIRECTIONS
Each passage or pair of passages below is followed by a number of questions. After reading
each passage or pair, choose the best answer to each question based on what is stated or
implied in the passage or passages and in any accompanying graphics (such as a table or
graph). e54zvcm33h7s66m9842n7w6ig2xyc2
Questions 1-9 are based on the following the middle of the block on Oceola Avenue, the
passage. two-story white clapboard set the standard for
This passage is adapted from Maxine Clair, October Suite.
decent, with its deep front yard and arborlike pear
©2001 by Maxine Clair. trees, its clipped hedges and the painted wicker
30 chairs on the porch.
When she began occasionally calling herself From her window she could look down on the
October, she was only ten years old. Others said it backyard and see Mrs. Pemberton’s precious
was ridiculous, said she was nobody trying to be marigolds bunched along the back fence, and in front
Line somebody. But she made convincing noises about of them, a few wilting tomato plants and short rows
5 given names, how you could give one to yourself, 35 of collards that waited to be tenderized by the first
how it could be more like you than your real name. frost in Mr. Pemberton’s garden.
She never dared say she hated the name that her A few months before, on the very same June day
father had saddled on her, never said the new name that Cora had pushed her to take advantage of the
had anything to do with the memory of her mother, vacancy coming up at Pemberton House, October
10 who had lost her life. Instead she had mentioned all 40 Brown had knocked on the door, hoping. Word was
the strange names of people they knew, like that you had to know somebody. For her cadet-
Daybreak Honor, and a classmate’s aunt, Fourteen. teacher year at Stowe School, she had lived with the
The pastor of their church had named his daughter Reverend Jackson and his wife. Not so bad, but
Dainty. Usually that fact had made people stop and farther away and further down the scale of nice. Mr.
15 consider. 45 Pemberton, in undershirt and suspenders, had
Then when she was girl-turned-grown-seventeen, opened the door, but his wife, Lydia Pemberton—
struck by her own strangeness and by the whole idea gold hoops sparkling, crown of silvery braids—had
of seasons, she had put it on like a coat and fastened invited her in.
it around her. October was her name. “We don’t take nothin but schoolteachers,” Mrs.
20 Midmorning, on a flaming day in that season—a 50 Pemberton had said. When October explained that
Saturday—October sat in the upstairs kitchenette at indeed, she was a teacher, Mrs. Pemberton had
Pemberton House, sewing on her black iron Singer. looked her up and down.
It was 1950. She was twenty-three, and thanking her “Whereabouts?”
lucky stars for a room in the best house for Negro
25 women teachers in Wyandotte County. Situated in
Unauthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 2 CONTINUE
, 1 1
And October had told her about her cadet year at 1
55 Stowe, her room at the Jacksons’ place, mentioned
In the passage, people react to October’s decision to
Chillicothe, Ohio, where she had grown up, and—
rename herself by
because Mrs. Pemberton had seemed unmoved and
uninterested so far—spoken of her two aunts who A) praising her originality.
had raised her and her sister Vergie with good home B) admitting that they are jealous of her new name.
60 training.
“Y’all are getting younger every year. You know C) criticizing her as arrogant.
any of the other girls here?” Mrs. Pemberton had D) urging her to choose another name instead.
asked.
October explained that Cora Joycelyn Jones had
65 been her lead teacher at Stowe, that they had become 2
good friends. The mention of an established
connection to a recognized good citizen had finally At line 20, the focus of the passage shifts from
satisfied Mrs. Pemberton. A) an analysis of a key decision made by a character
“Follow me,” she said, and led October on a to a summary of its consequences.
70 two-story tour of hardwood floors and high ceilings,
B) a description of how a character perceives herself
French Provincial sitting room (smoke blue), damask
to a description of how others perceive her.
drapes and lace sheers, mahogany dining table that
could comfortably seat twelve, at least, two buffets, C) an affectionate portrait of a character to an
china closets, curio cabinets full of whatnots. objective survey of her interactions with others.
75 Upstairs, all the women’s rooms—Mrs. Pemberton D) a brief account of a character’s youth to a more
did tap lightly before she charged in—had highly detailed discussion of her adult life.
polished mahogany or oak beds, tables, desks, quilts
or chenille bedspreads, no-nails-allowed papered
walls. Photographs, though, on desks, and floor 3
80 lamps and wing chairs, stuffed chairs, venetian blinds
and valances. Then she showed her the kitchenette, a Which choice provides the best evidence that
larger bedroom with a two-burner and a tiny icebox October had originally been uncertain about whether
and “you see the sun goes down right outside that she could secure a room in Pemberton House?
window right there.” A) Lines 25-30 (“Situated . . . porch”)
85 And as they went back down the stairs, Mrs.
Pemberton told her in no uncertain terms that B) Lines 37-41 (“A few . . . somebody”)
nobody under their roof smoked or drank, and that C) Lines 41-44 (“For her . . . nice”)
no men were allowed upstairs, but that the women D) Lines 49-52 (“We don’t . . . down”)
could “have company” in the sitting room
90 downstairs. Yes, October understood.
Yes, she was lucky to have her kitchenette.
4
As used in line 57, “unmoved” most nearly means
A) unimpressed.
B) immobile.
C) heartless.
D) unspoken.
Unauthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 3 CONTINUE
, 1 1
5 8
In the eleventh paragraph (lines 69-84), the Which choice provides the best evidence for the
description of the rooms in Pemberton House serves answer to the previous question?
mainly to
A) Lines 54-60 (“And October . . . training”)
A) confirm that October and Mrs. Pemberton have B) Lines 64-68 (“October . . . Mrs. Pemberton”)
similar tastes.
C) Lines 69-74 (“Follow . . . whatnots”)
B) establish that the house is well kept and carefully
furnished. D) Lines 85-90 (“And as . . . downstairs”)
C) contrast the bedrooms with the rest of the house.
D) justify October’s sense of alienation amid her 9
new surroundings.
In context, the repetition of the word “yes” in lines
90-91 serves mainly to
6 A) reiterate October’s long-term plans to live at
Pemberton House.
The details of how Mrs. Pemberton enters the rooms
upstairs serve mainly to B) illustrate a shift in October’s attitude toward
Mrs. Pemberton.
A) portray her as somewhat unconcerned with her
tenants’ privacy. C) underscore October’s satisfaction with the
realities of life at Pemberton House.
B) illustrate how her actions conflict with her
professed ideals. D) emphasize Mrs. Pemberton’s intolerance of
viewpoints differing from her own.
C) demonstrate that she feels personal affection for
her tenants.
D) stress her impatience with formalities and social
customs in general.
7
Based on the passage, which choice best identifies a
nonnegotiable condition for residing at Pemberton
House?
A) Belonging to a family in good standing in the
community
B) Being recommended to Mrs. Pemberton by other
residents of the house
C) Abiding by certain notions of personal
respectability
D) Taking care to preserve the historical features of
the house
Unauthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 4 CONTINUE
PSAT
™
Practice
Test 1
#
Make time to take the practice test.
It is one of the best ways to get ready
for the PSAT.
Front Cover
, 1 1
Reading Test
60 MINUTES, 47 QUESTIONS
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section.
DIRECTIONS
Each passage or pair of passages below is followed by a number of questions. After reading
each passage or pair, choose the best answer to each question based on what is stated or
implied in the passage or passages and in any accompanying graphics (such as a table or
graph). e54zvcm33h7s66m9842n7w6ig2xyc2
Questions 1-9 are based on the following the middle of the block on Oceola Avenue, the
passage. two-story white clapboard set the standard for
This passage is adapted from Maxine Clair, October Suite.
decent, with its deep front yard and arborlike pear
©2001 by Maxine Clair. trees, its clipped hedges and the painted wicker
30 chairs on the porch.
When she began occasionally calling herself From her window she could look down on the
October, she was only ten years old. Others said it backyard and see Mrs. Pemberton’s precious
was ridiculous, said she was nobody trying to be marigolds bunched along the back fence, and in front
Line somebody. But she made convincing noises about of them, a few wilting tomato plants and short rows
5 given names, how you could give one to yourself, 35 of collards that waited to be tenderized by the first
how it could be more like you than your real name. frost in Mr. Pemberton’s garden.
She never dared say she hated the name that her A few months before, on the very same June day
father had saddled on her, never said the new name that Cora had pushed her to take advantage of the
had anything to do with the memory of her mother, vacancy coming up at Pemberton House, October
10 who had lost her life. Instead she had mentioned all 40 Brown had knocked on the door, hoping. Word was
the strange names of people they knew, like that you had to know somebody. For her cadet-
Daybreak Honor, and a classmate’s aunt, Fourteen. teacher year at Stowe School, she had lived with the
The pastor of their church had named his daughter Reverend Jackson and his wife. Not so bad, but
Dainty. Usually that fact had made people stop and farther away and further down the scale of nice. Mr.
15 consider. 45 Pemberton, in undershirt and suspenders, had
Then when she was girl-turned-grown-seventeen, opened the door, but his wife, Lydia Pemberton—
struck by her own strangeness and by the whole idea gold hoops sparkling, crown of silvery braids—had
of seasons, she had put it on like a coat and fastened invited her in.
it around her. October was her name. “We don’t take nothin but schoolteachers,” Mrs.
20 Midmorning, on a flaming day in that season—a 50 Pemberton had said. When October explained that
Saturday—October sat in the upstairs kitchenette at indeed, she was a teacher, Mrs. Pemberton had
Pemberton House, sewing on her black iron Singer. looked her up and down.
It was 1950. She was twenty-three, and thanking her “Whereabouts?”
lucky stars for a room in the best house for Negro
25 women teachers in Wyandotte County. Situated in
Unauthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 2 CONTINUE
, 1 1
And October had told her about her cadet year at 1
55 Stowe, her room at the Jacksons’ place, mentioned
In the passage, people react to October’s decision to
Chillicothe, Ohio, where she had grown up, and—
rename herself by
because Mrs. Pemberton had seemed unmoved and
uninterested so far—spoken of her two aunts who A) praising her originality.
had raised her and her sister Vergie with good home B) admitting that they are jealous of her new name.
60 training.
“Y’all are getting younger every year. You know C) criticizing her as arrogant.
any of the other girls here?” Mrs. Pemberton had D) urging her to choose another name instead.
asked.
October explained that Cora Joycelyn Jones had
65 been her lead teacher at Stowe, that they had become 2
good friends. The mention of an established
connection to a recognized good citizen had finally At line 20, the focus of the passage shifts from
satisfied Mrs. Pemberton. A) an analysis of a key decision made by a character
“Follow me,” she said, and led October on a to a summary of its consequences.
70 two-story tour of hardwood floors and high ceilings,
B) a description of how a character perceives herself
French Provincial sitting room (smoke blue), damask
to a description of how others perceive her.
drapes and lace sheers, mahogany dining table that
could comfortably seat twelve, at least, two buffets, C) an affectionate portrait of a character to an
china closets, curio cabinets full of whatnots. objective survey of her interactions with others.
75 Upstairs, all the women’s rooms—Mrs. Pemberton D) a brief account of a character’s youth to a more
did tap lightly before she charged in—had highly detailed discussion of her adult life.
polished mahogany or oak beds, tables, desks, quilts
or chenille bedspreads, no-nails-allowed papered
walls. Photographs, though, on desks, and floor 3
80 lamps and wing chairs, stuffed chairs, venetian blinds
and valances. Then she showed her the kitchenette, a Which choice provides the best evidence that
larger bedroom with a two-burner and a tiny icebox October had originally been uncertain about whether
and “you see the sun goes down right outside that she could secure a room in Pemberton House?
window right there.” A) Lines 25-30 (“Situated . . . porch”)
85 And as they went back down the stairs, Mrs.
Pemberton told her in no uncertain terms that B) Lines 37-41 (“A few . . . somebody”)
nobody under their roof smoked or drank, and that C) Lines 41-44 (“For her . . . nice”)
no men were allowed upstairs, but that the women D) Lines 49-52 (“We don’t . . . down”)
could “have company” in the sitting room
90 downstairs. Yes, October understood.
Yes, she was lucky to have her kitchenette.
4
As used in line 57, “unmoved” most nearly means
A) unimpressed.
B) immobile.
C) heartless.
D) unspoken.
Unauthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 3 CONTINUE
, 1 1
5 8
In the eleventh paragraph (lines 69-84), the Which choice provides the best evidence for the
description of the rooms in Pemberton House serves answer to the previous question?
mainly to
A) Lines 54-60 (“And October . . . training”)
A) confirm that October and Mrs. Pemberton have B) Lines 64-68 (“October . . . Mrs. Pemberton”)
similar tastes.
C) Lines 69-74 (“Follow . . . whatnots”)
B) establish that the house is well kept and carefully
furnished. D) Lines 85-90 (“And as . . . downstairs”)
C) contrast the bedrooms with the rest of the house.
D) justify October’s sense of alienation amid her 9
new surroundings.
In context, the repetition of the word “yes” in lines
90-91 serves mainly to
6 A) reiterate October’s long-term plans to live at
Pemberton House.
The details of how Mrs. Pemberton enters the rooms
upstairs serve mainly to B) illustrate a shift in October’s attitude toward
Mrs. Pemberton.
A) portray her as somewhat unconcerned with her
tenants’ privacy. C) underscore October’s satisfaction with the
realities of life at Pemberton House.
B) illustrate how her actions conflict with her
professed ideals. D) emphasize Mrs. Pemberton’s intolerance of
viewpoints differing from her own.
C) demonstrate that she feels personal affection for
her tenants.
D) stress her impatience with formalities and social
customs in general.
7
Based on the passage, which choice best identifies a
nonnegotiable condition for residing at Pemberton
House?
A) Belonging to a family in good standing in the
community
B) Being recommended to Mrs. Pemberton by other
residents of the house
C) Abiding by certain notions of personal
respectability
D) Taking care to preserve the historical features of
the house
Unauthorized copying or reuse of any part of this page is illegal. 4 CONTINUE
