Free Upper Level SSAT Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Upper Level SSAT practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A triangle has a base of 14 inches and a height of 9 inches. What is its area?

   1. A.23 square inches
   2. B.63 square inchesCorrect answer: B
   3. C.126 square inches
   4. D.46 square inches

   Explanation: OpenStax states, "The area of a triangle is one-half the base times the height." Half of 14 times 9 is 63 square inches.

   Reference: Elementary Algebra 2e: Geometry Applications — 3.4, Triangle Properties

2. 2Urban trees do more than make a street attractive. Their leaves shade buildings and pavement, while their roots can help hold soil and take up storm water. People living near green areas may also have more opportunities to spend time outdoors. Yet trees are not spread evenly across a city, and their benefits can therefore differ from one neighborhood to another. Researchers have used satellite observations to examine these differences. One group studied vegetation in many populous metropolitan areas over several years. They used a measurement called the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, or NDVI, derived from satellite imagery. This index helps describe vegetation abundance and health. After examining changes in greenness, the researchers compared them with mortality data for older people. They considered several possible pathways, including shade that reduces exposure to heat and access to parks that may encourage physical activity. Such pathways are complicated, so a relationship between green space and health should not be understood as having only one explanation. A second team studied trees and summer surface temperatures at a much smaller geographic scale. Using detailed maps, it compared individual urban blocks with different income levels. In most areas examined, lower-income blocks had less tree cover and were hotter on average than higher-income blocks. The study also considered factors such as the density of buildings and people. Surfaces such as asphalt absorb and release heat, and densely built neighborhoods may leave less room for trees. Together, the studies suggest that greening strategies can be informed by where vegetation is currently located and who is exposed to heat. The findings describe patterns and possible mechanisms; they do not establish that planting a single tree will produce a particular health outcome for every resident. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?

   1. A.Urban greenery is linked to differences in heat and health across neighborhoods.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Urban neighborhoods with more trees are generally hotter than those with fewer trees.
   3. C.Satellite observations mainly establish that greenness increases mortality among older residents.
   4. D.Building density alone explains neighborhood temperatures regardless of vegetation.

   Explanation: NASA describes "differences in temperatures and health outcomes" associated with unequal tree cover. The passage joins these themes rather than claiming guaranteed results or no relationship.

   Reference: The Inequitable Distribution of Urban Trees — NASA Earth Observatory, study descriptions

3. 3Which word most nearly means candid when describing an answer?

   1. A.frankCorrect answer: A
   2. B.reserved
   3. C.careless
   4. D.indirect

   Explanation: Merriam-Webster defines candid as "expressing opinions, feelings, etc. in an open, honest, and sincere way". In this context, frank is the closest match.

   Reference: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: candid — Dictionary entry, adjective

4. 4Two angles of a triangle measure 47° and 68°. What is the measure of the third angle?

   1. A.55°
   2. B.65°Correct answer: B
   3. C.75°
   4. D.115°

   Explanation: OpenStax states that "the sum of the measures of the angles is 180°." Subtracting 47° and 68° from 180° leaves 65°.

   Reference: Prealgebra 2e: Use Properties of Rectangles, Triangles, and Trapezoids — 9.4, Triangle Properties

5. 5A satellite cannot inspect every leaf as a person might, but it can record light reflected from large areas of Earth's surface. Scientists use those measurements to make maps that reveal where vegetation is dense, sparse, thriving, or under stress. One widely used measure is the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, commonly called NDVI. Sunlight contains many wavelengths. When it reaches a leaf, some wavelengths are absorbed and others are reflected. The pigment chlorophyll absorbs much visible light for photosynthesis. The internal structure of a leaf reflects much of the near-infrared light, which lies beyond the wavelengths normally visible to human eyes. The contrast between these responses provides useful information about vegetation. To calculate NDVI, researchers compare measurements in the visible and near-infrared portions of the spectrum. They subtract the visible measurement from the near-infrared measurement and divide that difference by their sum. The resulting value falls between negative one and positive one. Very low values may correspond to surfaces such as rock, sand, or snow, whereas much higher values can indicate dense green vegetation. Intermediate values can represent grasslands or areas with shrubs. A single observation is only a snapshot. Researchers can combine measurements collected over a number of days to make a map or compare conditions in a particular month with the usual conditions for that month. A departure from the usual pattern is called an anomaly. Such comparisons can help reveal changes in growing conditions, including the effects of water shortages. Interpreting an index still requires attention to what the measurements represent: the index summarizes reflected light associated with vegetation rather than measuring every possible feature of the landscape directly. What does NDVI help researchers assess?

   1. A.The precise age of each individual tree
   2. B.The amount and condition of vegetationCorrect answer: B
   3. C.The exact number of plant species in each pixel
   4. D.The ownership of each piece of forested land

   Explanation: NASA describes maps that "identify where plants are thriving and where they are under stress". NDVI characterizes vegetation conditions from reflected light; it does not identify individual tree ages, exact species counts, or land ownership.

   Reference: Measuring Vegetation (NDVI & EVI) — Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, introduction

6. 6A diligent worker is best described as which of the following?

   1. A.distracted
   2. B.industriousCorrect answer: B
   3. C.hasty
   4. D.leisurely

   Explanation: Merriam-Webster defines diligent as "characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort". In this context, industrious is the closest match.

   Reference: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: diligent — Dictionary entry, adjective

7. 7A triangle has side lengths of 7 cm, 9 cm, and 12 cm. What is its perimeter?

   1. A.16 cm
   2. B.19 cm
   3. C.28 cmCorrect answer: C
   4. D.21 cm

   Explanation: OpenStax states, "The perimeter of a triangle is the sum of the lengths of the sides." Adding 7, 9, and 12 gives 28 cm.

   Reference: Prealgebra 2e: Use Properties of Rectangles, Triangles, and Trapezoids — 9.4, Triangle Properties

8. 8Trees do not appear in equal numbers on every block of a city. The distribution matters because tree canopies can shade pavement and buildings and contribute to cooling. To investigate how tree cover and heat are distributed, a team led by Robert McDonald examined urban communities across the United States. The researchers combined detailed maps of tree cover, derived from aerial photographs, with Landsat observations of summer land-surface temperature. Their analysis reached the level of individual blocks and covered thousands of communities with a combined population of 167 million people. They compared their observations with information about neighborhood income, race, and ethnicity. In 92 percent of the areas studied, lower-income blocks had less tree cover on average than higher-income blocks. Those blocks were also hotter in summer. Lower-income blocks had an average of 15.2 percent less tree cover, and the temperature difference averaged 1.5 degrees Celsius. Some of the largest disparities occurred in the Northeast. In certain urbanized places there, the reported differences reached 30 percent less tree cover and 4 degrees Celsius higher temperatures. The researchers also considered building and population density, factors that can affect how much space is available for vegetation. Paved surfaces absorb and release heat, and densely built areas may have fewer places to plant trees. The study estimated that lower-income blocks collectively had millions fewer trees than higher-income blocks and calculated an investment that could help close that gap. These results describe averages across the areas examined. They point to a relationship between neighborhood resources, vegetation, and heat while also showing why local conditions matter when communities consider where to plant and maintain trees. What relationship did the researchers generally find when comparing lower- and higher-income urban blocks?

   1. A.Lower-income blocks had fewer trees and higher summer temperatures.Correct answer: A
   2. B.Lower-income blocks had more trees and lower summer temperatures.
   3. C.Tree cover differed by income, but summer temperatures did not.
   4. D.Summer temperatures differed by income, but tree cover did not.

   Explanation: NASA reports that "low-income blocks were found to have an average of 15.2 percent less tree cover; they also endured summer temperatures that were 1.5°C (2.7°F) hotter than high-income blocks." Both parts of the comparison are needed for the answer.

   Reference: The Inequitable Distribution of Urban Trees — NASA Earth Observatory, study descriptions

9. 9For a statement, select the closest meaning of the word terse.

   1. A.wordy
   2. B.unclear
   3. C.conciseCorrect answer: C
   4. D.ornate

   Explanation: Merriam-Webster defines terse as "using few words". In this context, concise is the closest match.

   Reference: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: terse — Dictionary entry, adjective

10. 10A store sells 24 notebooks, which is 30% of its original stock. How many notebooks were in the original stock?

    1. A.54 notebooks
    2. B.72 notebooks
    3. C.80 notebooksCorrect answer: C
    4. D.96 notebooks

    Explanation: OpenStax states, "The amount is to the base as the percent is to one hundred." Thus 24 divided by the original stock equals 30 divided by 100, so the original stock was 80.

    Reference: Prealgebra 2e: Solve Proportions and their Applications — 6.5, Percent Proportion