KURSUS ACEPT ONLINE II

IV. READING

Test Reading Comprehension dalam tes AcEPT memiliki kesamaan dengan tes TOEFL sekaligus juga perbedaan. Kesamaan kedua tes ini terletak pada tren soal dan tingkat kesulitannya; sementara perbedaannya terletak pada orientasi bacaan. Jika teks bacaan dalam tes TOEFL lebih menitikberatkan pada informasi yang condong ke Amerika dan Kanada, maka AcEPT lebih bersifat lebih global, yakni dapat berisi informasi tentang hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan Amerika, Kanada, Inggris, Australia, Asia, ataupun Afrika.

Tes Reading Comprehension dalam TOEFL berisi 40 butir pertanyaan dengan waktu pengerjaan 40 menit. Waktu yang terbatas ini harus digunakan untuk membaca empat buah teks akademik dari disiplin ilmu yang berbeda-beda yang masing-masing tersusun atas 400 – 500 kata. Setiap teks bacaan diikuti oleh 10 butir pertanyaan. Gambaran ini menunjukkan betapa perlunya seorang calon peserta tes mempersiapkan langkah-langkah taktis untuk mengerjakan Reading Comprehension ini.

Salah satu upaya taktis untuk menghemat waktu dalam mengerjakan tes AcEPT, khususnya untuk bagian Reading Comprehension ini adalah dengan menggunakan cara yang cepat dan tepat. Cara membaca yang penuh kehati-hatian dan terlalu pelan sangat tidak disarankan dalam tes AcEPT maupun TOEFL. Demikian juga cara membaca yang runtut dari A sampai Z sampai semua detail informasi dapat diserap, tidak direkomendasikan karena cara-cara demikian akan memakan waktu yang banyak sekali. Yang direkomendasikan adalah membaca cepat dan cara yang akurat mengerjakan soal.

Dalam kaitannya dengan ketrampilan membaca cepat ini, relevan sekali bagi calon peserta tes AcEPT untuk menanyakan kepada diri sendiri seberapa efektifkah yang bersangkutan mampu membaca sebuah teks berisi 400 – 500 kata dengan nuansa akademik? Untuk maksud menguji efektifitas membaca, berikut ditampilkan sebuah teks berbahasa Indonesia yang berisi kurang lebih 300 kata. Tugas untuk Anda adalah Jika Anda diberi waktu 60 detik, informasi apa sajakah yang Anda serap? Patuhilah waktu 60 detik yang diberikan kepada Anda. Gunakan jam atau stop watch untuk mengerjakan tugas ini.

Entah penghuninya suka memasak atau tidak, dijamin semua rumah pasti mempunyai dapur. Dapur umumnya berfungsi untuk melakukan kegiatan masak-memasak. Untuk memudahkan orang melakukan kegiatan yang berhubungan dengan masak-memasak ini, dapur biasanya dilengkapi beberapa alat atau media. Salah satunya adalah bak cuci yang sering disebut dengan istilah sink atau kitchen sink.

Cara kerja sink sebetulnya mirip dengan wastafel. Bedanya, bila wastafel biasanya digunakan untuk mencuci tangan dan diletakkan di seputar kamar mandi atau meja makan, sink ditelatakkan di dapur. Fungsinya adalah untuk mencuci sayuran atau peralatan makan.

Bentuk sink biasanya kotak dan agak dalam, sehingga cukup untuk mencuci benda yang agak besar. Dari bentuknya, sink ada yang hanya terdiri dari satu bak (disebut single hole) ada juga yang terdiri dari dua bak yang diletakkan bersebelahan (disebut double hole) Pada sink dua bak, bak yang satu berfungsi untuk mencuci piring kotor, sementara bak yang satunya lagi berfungsi untuk membilas.

Pada bagian tengah sink terdapat lubang untuk pembuangan air, yang akan mengalirkan air kotor ke saluran pembuangan. Pada saat mencuci piring, biasanya ada sisa-sisa makanan yang sering membuat saluran ini menjadi mampet. Agar terhidnar dari hal tersebut, saat ini tersedia penyaring yang bisa diletakkan di atas lubang pembuiangan air. Jadi begitu Anda mengguyur piring di atas bak cuci, kotoran sisa makanan akan terjaring di alat penyaring ini. Setelah selesai mencuci, anda tinggal mengangkat penyaring ini dan membuang kotorannya ke tempat sampah.

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Saat ini dijual sink dalam bentuk jadi, yang umumnya terbuat dari stainless steel yang tekenal awet. Tapi ada juga yang terbuat dari batu alam (marmer atau granit), atau PVC. Yang terbuat dari batu alam tentunya kuat, tapi lebih mahal. Sementara bak yang terbuat dari PVC lebih murah tapi tidak terlalu awet. Orang biasanya memilih bahan ini bila menginginkan warna putih untuk sink”.

(Tabloid RUMAH, ‘Jendela: Kitchen Sink’ hal 32, edisi 52, III/18 Januari – 31 Januari 2005)

Pertanyaan:

Informasi apa saja yang anda serap setelah menghabiskan waktu 60 detik?

Untuk waktu 60 detik, Anda tidak perlu berharap dapat mengingat secara rinci semua informasi dalam bacaan tersebut. Namun paling tidak Anda harus mampu mengenali gagasan utama bacaan tersebut sebab jika tidak, rentetan kesulitan akan Anda hadapi saat mengerjakan soal Reading Comprehension.

Dalam contoh di atas, fokus utama bacaan tersebut adalah sink. Kata ini memang tidak muncul dalam kalimat pertama, tetapi semua data awal pada paragraf pertama mengarah pada kata sink. Kata dapur, walaupun disebut tiga kali di bagian awal paragraf, tidak dapat dikatakan sebagai fokus bacaan. Kata tersebut berfungsi membuka informasi yang oleh penulisnya dipakai untuk menjembatani hadirnya kata sink pada paragraf pertama. Paragraf-paragraf lain menjelaskan tentang sink, sehingga bisa disimpulkan bahwa topik bacaan tersebut adalah sink. Jika Anda adalah seorang pembaca yang efektif, anda tentu juga sempat melihat sekilas informasi mengenai ‘cara kerja sink’, ‘bentuk sink’, ‘bagian tengah sink’, dan ‘bahan dasar sink’. Tentu Anda tidak perlu tahu atau ingat secara rinci semua detail informasi itu karena detail tersebut dalam sebuah tes dapat Anda lacak kembali saat ditanyakan dalam soal.

Teks di atas barangkali relatif mudah untuk dibaca dalam waktu singkat. Jika teks tersebut ditulis dalam bahasa Inggris ada kemungkinan akan mengurangi kecepatan membaca Anda. Ini menggambarkan perlunya berlatih membaca teks berbahasa Inggris dengan cepat dan tepat. Khusus untuk maksud persiapan AcEPT ini calon peserta harus mengasah speed reading skills-nya dengan mempelajari teknik previewing, scanning, skimming, dan guessing. Empat sub-skill ini diyakini akan meningkatkan speed reading calon peserta tes dan akan sangat diperlukan tatkala mengerjakan bagian Reading Comprehension. Untuk itu keempat sub-skill ini harus dipelajari dengan sebaik-baiknya sebelum calon pesertat tes mengikuti tes AcEPT.

A.1. Previewing

Previewing adalah suatu cara untuk melihat teks secara global. Tujuan previewing semata-mata untuk mendapatkan informasi umum mengenai kandungan suatu teks, terutama topik teks bacaan. Dari hasil pengamatan Mikulecky dan Jeffries (1996), melakukan previewing sebelum membaca teks memberikan kontribusi penting pada proses pemahaman informasi dengan cepat. Cara demikian bahkan mampu membantu pembaca mengikuti alur pikir penulis teks tersebut. Sekalipun previewing hanya memerlukan waktu beberapa detik atau menit, cara ini terbukti mampu memberikan investasi penting dalam menghemat waktu membaca (Mikulecky dan Jeffries, 1996).

Previewing dilakukan dengan cara melihat kalimat-kalimat pertama dan kalimat terakhir pada masing-masing paragraf. Hal ini karena pola penulisan orang-orang berbasis bahasa Inggris punya kecenderungan induktif, “straight to the point” (Ballard dan Clanchy, 1996) Dalam hal demikian, kalimat topik hampir selalu muncul pada kalimat-kalimat pertama masing-masing paragraf. Jika topik bacaan tidak dapat disimpulkan dari kalimat-kalimat awal, ada kemungkinan topik bacaan muncul pada bagian akhir paragraf. Untuk itulah dalam previewing Anda

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disarankan pula untuk melihat dengan cepat kalimat akhir pada masing-masing paragraph selain kalimat-kalimat awal masing-masing paragraf tersebut. Apabila fokus bacaan tidak juga diketemukan dari data kalimat-kalimat awal maupun akhir, maka dapat dipastikan bahwa topik bacaan tertulis secara tersirat. Pada kasus ini fungsi kalimat awal biasanya hanya untuk memberikan gambaran umum yang dipakai pengarang untuk mengantar pembaca ke fokus yang dia arahkan.

Although they are an inexpensive supplier of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, eggs also contain a high level of blood cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart disease. One egg yolk, in fact, contains a little more than two-thirds of the suggested daily cholesterol limit. This knowledge has caused egg sales to plummet in recent years, which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs. One alternative is to eat substitute eggs. These egg substitutes are not really eggs, but they look somewhat I ike eggs when they are cooked. They have the advantage of having lower cholesterol rates, and they can be scrambled or used in baking. One disadvantage, however, is that they are not good for frying, poaching, or boiling. A second alternative to regular eggs is a new type of egg, sometimes called “designer” eggs. These eggs are produced by hens that are fed low-fat diets consisting of ingredients such as canola oil, flax, and rice bran. In spite of their diets, however, these hens produce eggs that contain the same amount of cholesterol as regular eggs. Yet, the producers of these eggs claim that eating their eggs will not raise the blood cholesterol in humans.

Egg producers claim that their product has been portrayed unfairly. They cite scientific studies to back up their claim. And, in fact, studies on the relationship between eggs and human cholesterol levels have brought mixed results. It may be that it is not the type of egg that is the main determinant of cholesterol but the person who is eating the eggs. Some people may be more sensitive to cholesterol derived from food than other people. In fact, there is evidence that certain dietary fats stimulate the body's production of blood cholesterol. Consequently, while it still makes sense to limit one's intake of eggs, even designer eggs, it seems that doing this without regulating dietary fat will probably not help reduce the blood cholesterol level.

What is the main purpose of this passage?

(A) to inform people about the relationship between eggs and cholesterol(B) to convince people to eat “designer” eggs and egg substitutes(C) to persuade people that eggs are unhealthy and should not be eaten(D) to introduce the idea that dietary fat increases the blood cholesterol level

Dengan melihat bagian awal dan akhir masing-masing paragraf di atas, dapat ditemukan data berupa kata-kata yang mengarah pada fokus tertentu. Kalimat pertama pada paragraph pertama, misalnya, mengarah pada eggs dan blood cholesterol (Although they are an inexpensive supplier of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, eggs also contain a high level of blood cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart disease) Bagian akhir paragraf pertama disebut-sebut pula tentang eggs dan cholesterol (Yet, the producers of these eggs claim that eating their eggs will not raise the blood cholesterol in humans). Demikian pula bagian awal paragraf ke dua yang menyebut-nyebut kata egg (Egg producers claim that their product has been portrayed unfairly); kemudian paragraf akhir yang menyebut-nyebut lagi eggs dan cholesterol (Consequently, while it still makes sense to limit one's intake of eggs, even designer eggs, it seems that doing this without regulating dietary fat will probably not help reduce the blood cholesterol level).

Saat mengerjakan soal, sekalipun membaca cepat menjadi tuntutan peserta tes AcEPT, tetap saja Anda harus berhati-hati atau sedikit agak pelan ketika membaca kalimat-kalimat awal bacaan. Hal ini karena pada umumnya fokus bacaan ditempatkan di bagian tersebut.

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B.2. Scanning

Disamping Previewing, seorang peserta tes juga perlu menguasai teknik scanning. Scanning adalah melihat kata-kata tertentu dengan kecepatan tinggi. Contoh scanning dalam kehidupan sehari-hari adalah ketika seseorang mencari nomor telepon di Telephone Directory. Untuk mendapatkan nomor telpon Endah Sri Sekarwati, misalnya, seseorang tentu tidak perlu membuka buku itu dari bagian A sampai Z. Orang tersebut cukup membuka halaman yang memuat nama-nama dengan awalan E, lalu segera mencari kata Endah. Jika nama Endah memang ada, pasti akan diketemukan.

Begitu pula dalam tes Reading, ketrampilan scanning digunakan untuk melihat dengan cepat kata-kata yang ditanyakan dalam tes, sehingga ketika ada sebuah soal yang menanyakan persamaan kata tertentu dalam teks dengan salah satu kata yang tersedia pada opsi jawaban, maka peserta tes tidak perlu mencarinya dengan membaca teks tersebut dari A sampai Z. Pehatikan contoh berikut:

Although they are an inexpensive supplier of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, eggs also contain a high level of blood cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart disease. One egg yolk, in fact, contains a little more than two-thirds of the suggested daily cholesterol limit. This knowledge has caused egg sales to plummet in recent years, which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs. One alternative is to eat substitute eggs. These egg substitutes are not really eggs, but they look somewhat I ike eggs when they are cooked. They have the advantage of having lower cholesterol rates, and they can be scrambled or used in baking. One disadvantage, however, is that they are not good for frying, poaching, or boiling. A second alternative to regular eggs is a new type of egg, sometimes called “designer” eggs. These eggs are produced by hens that are fed low-fat diets consisting of ingredients such as canola oil, flax, and rice bran. In spite of their diets, however, these hens produce eggs that contain the same amount of cholesterol as regular eggs. Yet, the producers of these eggs claim that eating their eggs will not raise the blood cholesterol in humans.

As used in line 3, the word “plummet” refers to which of the following?

(A) drop abruptly(B) rise gently(C) hesitate unexpectantly(D) bounce uncertainly

Soal di atas memerlukan scanning untuk mencari kata ‘plummet’. Sebagai peserta tes AcEPT, Anda harus mampu dengan cepat mencari kata yang dipertanyakan. Dengan melihat baris ke tiga (line 3) kata ‘plummet’ dapat diketemukan. Setelah kata ‘plummet’ diketemukan, Anda harus melihat konteks tersebut. Konteks adalah kombinasi antara vocabulary dan grammar yang yang mendukung makna kata tertentu. (lihat Barrons, 1997: 265) Dari konteks tersebut Anda dapat memperkirakan (predict) makna dari kata yang ditanyakan itu.

Kata ‘plummet’, misalnya, hadir dalam konteks “This knowledge has caused egg sales to plummet in recent years, which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs”. Dalam konteks ini, ‘plummet’ dapat dipastikan berkategori verba. Namun arti kata tersebut masih sulit diterka karena data pendukungnya belum lengkap benar. Pembaca hanya tahu bahwa plummet merupakan akibat dari ‘this knowledge’. Peserta tes tidak boleh berhenti sampai di sini. Frasa this knowledge memberikan signal akan adanya infromasi lain yang harus dilacak. Untuk mengetahui kata apa yang diacu kata ‘this’ dalam frasa ‘this knolwdege’ ini, peserta tes harus membaca lagi satu kalimat di depan kalimat tersebut.

Berikut ini adalah rangkaian kalimat-kalimat dimaksud:

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One egg yolk, in fact, contains a little more than two-thirds of the suggested daily cholesterol limit. This knowledge has caused egg sales to plummet in recent years, which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs.

Ternyata this knowledge mengacu pada informasi bahwa satu kuning telor berisi sedikit lebih banyak dari 2/3 batas koleterol yang disarankan perharinya. Dengan demikian dapat kita prediksikan bahwa kata ‘plummet’ dalam konteks di atas sama dengan turun. Maka jawaban yang tepat untuk pertanyaan di atas adalah (A) dropt abruptly. Inilah contoh dari ketrampilan scanning yang harus dimiliki oleh calon peserta tes AcEPT.

C.3. Skimming

Skimming dapat didefinisikan sebagai skill mencari informasi tertentu secara cepat yang terdapat dalam sebuah bacaan. Skimming hasus didasari oleh kemampuan membaca cepat yang dibatasi konteks bacaan. Contoh: dalam sebuah soal, tertulis: “According to the passage, what has been the cause for changes in the sale of eggs?”Ketika mengerjakan soal ini, seorang peserta tes harus dengan cepat mampu mencari penyebab terjadinya perubahan dalam penjualan telor. Dia harus mampu mencari bagian yang mengarah pada informasi yang ditanyakan dalam soal dalam bacaan tersebut. Walaupun dalam teks tidak disebut-sebut kata ‘cause’, sebagaimana tertulis dalam soal, peserta tes harus dapat menyimpulkan dari konteks bacaan bahwa bagian yang dia temukan itu apabila diparafrasa merupakan penyebab dari terjadinya “perubahan pada penjualan telor”.

Although they are an inexpensive supplier of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, eggs also contain a high level of blood cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart disease. One egg yolk, in fact, contains a little more than two-thirds of the suggested daily cholesterol limit. This knowledge has caused egg sales to plummet in recent years, which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs. One alternative is to eat substitute eggs. These egg substitutes are not really eggs, but they look somewhat I ike eggs when they are cooked. They have the advantage of having lower cholesterol rates, and they can be scrambled or used in baking. One disadvantage, however, is that they are not good for frying, poaching, or boiling. A second alternative to regular eggs is a new type of egg, sometimes called “designer” eggs. These eggs are produced by hens that are fed low-fat diets consisting of ingredients such as canola oil, flax, and rice bran. In spite of their diets, however, these hens produce eggs that contain the same amount of cholesterol as regular eggs. Yet, the producers of these eggs claim that eating their eggs will not raise the blood cholesterol in humans.

According to the passage, what has been the cause for changes in the sale of eggs?

(A) dietary changes in hens(B) decreased production(C) increasing price(D) a shrinking market

Penyebab terjadinya perubahan penjualan telur atau ‘the cause for changes in the sale of eggs’ amat sulit untuk dicari di dalam bacaan, terutama apabila peserta tes tidak memiliki kemampuan mencari data yang dimaksud soal. Skimming skill dalam konteks demikian sangatlah diperlukan. Dengan memperhatikan soal, seorang peserta tes dapat melakukan skimming dengan mencari informasi seputar kemungkinan terjadinya perubahan dalam penjualan telur. Informasi yang

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paling dekat dengan perubahan ini tentunya berkaitan dengan jatuhnya harga telor (maka skimming harus diarahkan ke bagian ini), karena logikanya, setelah orang tahu bahwa telor mengandung kolesterol dalam kadar tinggi, mereka tidak lagi mau mengkonsumsi telor. Implikasi dari informasi ini adalah kekhawatiran orang mengkonsumsi telor menyebabkan sulitnya penjualan telor di pasar.

D.4. Predicting/Guessing

Apabila sebagai calon peserta tes AcEPT Anda memiliki masalah dengan vocabulary, Anda harus berani melakukan guessing atau predicting terhadap soal yang Anda kerjakan, terutama soal yang berhubungan dengan persamaan kata. Anda tidak boleh menyerah menghadapi pertanyaan yang mengarah pada kata yang tidak Anda kenal sema sekali. Satu-satunya cara untuk mengatasi masalah ini adalah dengan teknis guessing atau predicting. Oleh karena guessing ini lebih menitikberatkan pada ketrampilan menerka, maka kemungkinan salah selalu ada. Namun demikian, apabila Anda menguasai teknik guessing dengan baik, niscaya Anda akan dapat memperkecil kemungkinan terjadinya ‘salah pilih’ jawaban.

Saat Anda melakukan guessing, Anda harus memperhatikan betul konteks bacaan yang mendukung makna kata yang Anda terka ini. Perhatikan contoh-contoh berikut:

Contoh 1:

What does ‘ravenous’ mean in the following sentence ?“Could I have a piece of bread ? I missed breakfast and I’m simply ravenous.

Dari kata-kata di sekitar kata ‘ravenous’, juga dari rangkaian informasi yang diawali dengan permintaan roti (Could I have a piece of bread), seorang pembaca bisa menerka bahwa kata ‘ravenous’ yang dimaksud dalam teks tentulah sepadan dengan kata ‘hungry’ atau lapar.

Contoh 2:

What does ‘gaudy’ mean in the following sentence ?“She was wearing such ‘gaudy’ clothes that it was easy to find her in the crowd.”

Kata-kata lain di sekitar ‘gaudy’ mengarahkan pembaca pada satu pemahaman bahwa karena pakaiannya yang ‘gaudy’ itulah yang menyebabkan dia mudah ditemukan ditengah-tengah kerumunan. Pembaca bisa menerka bahwa ‘gaudy’ dalam konteks di atas tentulah sepadan dengan kata norak alam bahasa Indonesia atau ‘very bright and colorful’.

Oleh karena guessing tidak dapat dipisahkan dari soal yang berhubungan dengan vocabulary, maka pembahasan tentang guessing akan lebih detail pada unit yang membahas tentang vocabulary.

Setelah mempelajari ketrampilan membaca cepat dengan teknik previewing, scanning, skimming, dan guessing ini, calon peserta tes AcEPT harus selalu ingat bahwa ketika mengerjakan soal Reading Comprehension yang bersangkutan tidak boleh membaca dengan perlahan-lahan, penuh kehati-hatian, dari A sampai Z. Manfaatkan ketrampilan Previewing sebagai langkah awal mengerjakan soal. Setelah itu, segeralah baca soal dan gunakan teks bacaan hanya untuk menjawab soal-soal. Di bawah ini dipaparkan soal-soal yang diujikan dalam AcEPT, terutama yang berhubungan dengan Reading Comprehension. Pelajari masing-masing unit sebaik-baiknya.

Penyebab terjadinya perubahan penjualan telur atau ‘the cause for changes in the sale of eggs’ amat sulit untuk dicari di dalam bacaan, terutama apabila peserta tes tidak memiliki kemampuan mencari data yang dimaksud soal. Skimming skill dalam konteks demikian sangatlah diperlukan. Dengan memperhatikan soal, seorang peserta tes dapat melakukan skimming dengan mencari informasi seputar kemungkinan terjadinya perubahan dalam penjualan telur. Informasi yang

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paling dekat dengan perubahan ini tentunya berkaitan dengan jatuhnya harga telor (maka skimming harus diarahkan ke bagian ini), karena logikanya, setelah orang tahu bahwa telor mengandung kolesterol dalam kadar tinggi, mereka tidak lagi mau mengkonsumsi telor. Implikasi dari informasi ini adalah kekhawatiran orang mengkonsumsi telor menyebabkan sulitnya penjualan telor di pasar.

B. Materi Uji Reading Comprehension

Tes Reading Comprehension dalam tes AcEPT menguji kemampun peserta tes untuk hal-hal sebagai berikut: Main Idea Questions, Vocabulary Questions, Factual Questions, Inference Questions, Reference Questions, Paragraph Organization Questions, Analogy Questions, dan Viewpoint Questions. Perlu dicatat bahwa item soal Reading Comprehension sebagaimana disebutkan di atas tidak tersebar secara terpisah-pisah seperti soal Structure and Writen Expression, tetapi terkait langsung dengan teks bacaan dengan waktu pengerjaan yang sangat singkat. Dengan demikian, untuk menyelesaikan soal-soal Reading Comprehension dalam tes AcEPT diperlukan ketrampilan membaca (reading skills) dengan kecepatan tinggi (high speed).

Agar persiapan calon peserta menghadapi AcEPT dapat efisien, dia perlu mempelajari dengan seksama jenis-jenis pertanyaan di atas dengan tidak mengesampingkan ketrampilan membaca dengan kecepatan tinggi. Untuk itu pada bab ini akan dipaparkan masing-masing soal di atas dengan disertai cara membaca cepat.

Tabel 1. Item soal Reading dalam tes AcEPT

B.1. Main Idea Questions

A. Apakah Main Idea Questions itu?

Main Idea Questions adalah pertanyaan mengenai gagasan utama sebuah paragraf atau teks bacaan, yang lazimnya muncul mengawali pertanyaan-pertanyaan lainnya. Soal jenis ini tidaklah terlalu rumit untuk dipecahkan karena gagasan utama dari sebuah paragraf relatif mudah untuk dikenali. Mudahnya menebak gagasan utama sebuah paragraph atau bacaan ini adalah karena struktur penulisan teks bahasa Inggris yang cenderung tidak berputar-putar, tetapi straight to the point. Gagasan utama bacaan muncul di bagian awal paragraf, walaupun ada kalanya juga dapat hadir di tengah ataupun di bagian akhir paragraf. Adapun pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang mengarah pada main idea questions biasanya ditulis sebagai berikut:

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B. Main Idea Questions dapat diatasi dengan menggunakan cara previewing

Yakni melihat dengan cepat baris pertama masing-masing paragraf. Dari preview ini akan dapat disimpulkan topik bacaan tersebut. Oleh karena gagasan utama atau topik bacaan sering muncul pada bagian awal paragraf, maka ada baiknya para peserta tes mencermati ‘kata-kata kunci’ pada kalimat-kalimat awal paragraf pertama. Jika dari rangkaian kata kunci itu terlihat adanya fokus bacaan, maka dapat dipastikan bahwa fokus bacaan tersebut merupakan gagasan pokok bacaan. Namun apabila kata kunci pada kalimat-kalimat awal tidak mengarah satu fokus tertentu, maka ada kemungkinan, gagasan utama bacaan tersebut terletak di bagian akhir bacaan, atau tidak terdapat dimana-mana tapi dapat disimpulkan dari rangkaian keseluruhan bacaan.

Perhatikan contoh soal berikut:

A black hole is a region of space created by the total gravitational collapse of matter. It is so intense that nothing, not even light or radiation, can escape. In other words, it is a one-way surface through which matter can fall inward but cannot emerge.

Some astronomers believe that a black hole may be formed when a large star collapses inward from its own weight. So long as they are emitting heat and light into space, stars support themselves against their own gravitational pull with the outward thermal pressure generated by heat from nuclear reactions deep in their interiors. But if a star eventually exhausts its nuclear fuel, then its unbalance gravitational attraction could cause it to contract and collapse. Furthermore, it could begin to pull in surrounding matter, including nearby comets and planets, creating a black hole.

Apabila Anda cermat membaca teks di atas, Anda akan dapat menyimpulkan dengan cepat bahwa topik bacaan tersebut tentulah ‘black hole’. Alasan mengapa topik bacaan di atas adalah ‘black hole’ adalah memfokusnya kata-kata kunci pada ‘black hole’. Perhatikan bagian paling awal paragraf tersebut. Bagian paling awal dimulai dengan frasa a black hole yang diikuti dengan definisi tentangnya. Setelah itu muncul kata it beberapa kali yang mengacu pada frasa a black hole. Dengan demikian dapat dipastikan bahwa topik bacaan tersebut adalah tentang black hole.

Perhatikan juga contoh berikut dan cobalah tentukan gagasan utama pada bacaan ini:

Although each baby has an individual schedule of development, general pattern of growth have been observed. Three periods of development have been identified, including early infancy, which extends from the first to the sixth month; middle infancy, from the sixth to the ninth month; and late infancy, from the ninth to the fifteenth month. Whereas the new born baby is concerned with his or her inner world and responds primarily to hunger and pain, in early

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infancy the baby is already aware of the surrounding world. During the second month, many infants are awake more and can raise their heads to look at things. They also begin to smile at people. By four months the baby is searching for things but not yet grasping them with its hands. It is also beginning to be wary of strangers and may scream when a visiting relative tries to pick it up. By five months, the baby is grabbing objects and putting them into its mouth. Some babies are trying to feed themselves with their hands.

In middle infancy, the baby concentrates on practicing a great many speech sounds. It loves to imitate actions and examine interesting objects. At about seven months, it begins to crawl, a skill that it masters at he end of middle infancy.

What does this passage mainly discuss?

(A) Growth in early infancy(B) The active toddler stage(C) How a baby learns to walk(D) The developmental stages of infancy

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini, seorang peserta tes harus mampu dengan cepat menentukan fokus bacaan tersebut. Kalimat-kalimat awal menjadi penentu apakah fokus bacaan dapat dipastikan pada bagian ini atau tidak (induktif) Jika informasi di kalimat-kalimat awal tidak menuju pada fokus tertentu, maka fokus bacaan dapat diharapkan pada bagian akhir bacaan (deduktif) Pada umumnya teks-teks bacaan berbahasa Inggris ditulis dengan pola induktif, sehingga kalimat-kalimat awal menjadi sangat penting untuk diperhatikan.

Pada teks atau bacaan di atas, kalimat-kalimat awal mengisyaratkan adanya fokus tertentu. Kalimat pertama, misalnya, mengarah pada general pattern of growth. Informasi ini dikembangkan dengan hadirnya informasi Three periods of development have been identified, yang di-back up dengan rincian seperti: early infancy, middle infancy, dan late infancy. Dari data ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa fokus bacaan di atas adalah mengenai ‘tahap perkembangan anak’. Pilihan (A) tidak tepat karena Growth in early infancy hanya satu bagian dari perkembangan yang disebut dalam bacaan; opsi (B) bukan merupakan pilihan yang benar karena pembicaraan tidak memfokus ke ‘toddler stage’. Sekalipun kata ‘toddler’ disebut-sebut pada bagian akhir bacaan; jawaban (C) bukan merupakan pilihan yang benar karena fokus bacaan tidak mengarah pada how a baby learns to walk. Pilihan yang paling tepat adalah (D) karena semua data mengarah pada fokus perkembangan anak.

Perhatikan bagian-bagian yang telah diberi tAnda berikut ini:

Although each baby has an individual schedule of development, general pattern of growth have been observed. Three periods of development have been identified, including early infancy, which extends from the first to the sixth month; middle infancy, from the sixth to the ninth month; and late infancy, from the ninth to the fifteenth month.

Perhatikan pula contoh bacaan berikut ini:

Not much is known about the early history of printing with movable type. There is evidence, however, that hand-set printing with movable type was first invented in China and Korea. At a later time it was developed in Europe. In the 1400s, Laurens Janszoon Koster of Holland and Pamfilo Castaldi of Italy are thought to have made the first European use of printing with movable type. It is Johan Gutenberg’s name, however, that is now associated with the invention of the moveable type printing press. Although the separate elements of printing (the

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type, the ink, the press, and the paper) were not Gutenberg’s own invention, his contribution was that he printed a large quantity of work of high quality.

Born in Mainz Germany, in about 1397, Guttenberg was trained as a goldsmith, but he became a partner in a printing office in about 1436. It was in his hometown of Mainz that he began the project he is most famous for: the printing of the Mazarin Bible. To finance this great project, he borrowed money from a lawyer named Johan Fust and from a printer. He was unable to pay back the money, however, and as a result lost both his printing press and the types to Fust, who carried on Gutenberg’s work.

Gutenberg’s method dominated the printing industry for almost 400 years. It required hand-setting particular pieces of type, locking them into place, and then printing on wooden flatbed hand presses. The rate was low compared to modern printing; 300 to 500 sheets a day printed on a single side was considered a good rate of production. Though not much is known about Gutenber’s life, his name lives on as a person who contributed significantly to the technology of human communication.

What is the main topic of this passage ?

(A) A history of early printing (B) Gutenberg’s contribution to printing (C) The printing of the Mainz Bible (D) Gutenberg’s life in Germany

Dengan menggunakan teknik previewing seorang peserta tes akan dapat melihat fokus bacaan itu dengan cepat. Penglihatan sekilas secara menyeluruh (preview) dengan memperhatikan kalimat awal dan akhir masing-masing paragraf akan menuntun peserta tes pada nama ‘Gutenberg’. Diawali dengan gambaran mengenai langkanya informasi mengenai early printing, (Not much is known about the early history of printing with movable type) yang disertai dengan bukti adanya handset printing ditengah-tengah langkanya informasi mengenai history of early printing tersebut (There is evidence, however, that hand-set printing with movable type was first invented in China and Korea) dan perkembangan printing di Eropa (At a later time it was developed in Europe. In the 1400s, Laurens Janszoon Koster of Holland and Pamfilo Castaldi of Italy are thought to have made the first European use of printing with movable type) bacaan kemudian menyempit pada informasi yang mengarah pada fokus tertentu, yakni ‘Gutenberg’. Kata-kata kunci yang mengarah pada Gutenberg ini adalah hadirnya kata-kata : (It is Johan Gutenberg’s name, however, that is now associated with the invention of the moveable type printing press)

Bagian lain yang juga diacu secara khusus oleh bacaan tersebut adalah sumbangan Gutenberg pada kualitas dan kuantitas printing-nya dengan demikian fokus bacaan tersebut adalah Gutenberg dengan kontribusinya dalam dunia printing. Jawaban (A) the history of early printing bukan merupakan pilihan yang tepat karena sejarah printing bukan fokus bacaan tersebut tetapi hanya sebagai ‘informasi awal’ yang digunakan penulis untuk mengarahkan pembaca pada kontribusi Gutenberg. Pilihan (C) juga bukan merupakan jawaban yang tepat karena the printing of Mainz Bible dalam bacaan tersebut hanya berfungsi sebagai contoh sumbangsihnya pada dunia printing. Pilihan (D) Gutenberg’s life in Germany tidak tepat karena bacaan tersebut tidak mengarah pada kehidupan Gutenberg. Yang paling tepat adalah opsi (B) Gutenberg’s contribution to printing karena seluruh informasi mengarah pada Gutenberg dan sumbangannya dalam dunia printing.

Dari ketiga contoh di atas dapat disimpulkan bahwa untuk menjawab pertanyaan yang berhubungan dengan Main Idea Question, peserta tes harus mampu melihat fokus bacaan dengan benar.

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C. Tip untuk mengerjakan soal bacaan dengan fokus Main Idea

Bacalah dengan hati-hati kalimat pertama pada masing-masing paragraph. Cari kata-kata kunci yang mengarah pada fokus tertentu. Jika Anda mulai yakin akan adanya fokus tertentu yang terefleksi ari kalimat-kalimat awal

tersebut, lihatlah dengan cepat kalimat-kalimat berikutnya untuk meyakinkan Anda bahwa fokus bacaan memang mengarah pada fokus yang Anda duga.

Jika Anda sudah yakin akan fokus bacaan, segeralah jawab pertanyan mengenai main idea ini, dan segera baca pertanyaan berikutnya.

Janganlah membaca dengan ektra hati-hati dari A sampai Z karena Anda tidak punya waktu untuk itu. Ingat, Anda hanya memiliki waktu 10 menit untuk menyelesaikan soal-soal dari satu bacaan.

Jika main idea telah diketemukan, gunakan teknik terbalik untuk soal-soal berikutnya, yakni dengan membaca soal terlebih dahulu kemudian cari jawaban di dalam teks dengan cepat dengan menggunakan teknik-teknik scanning, skimming, dan bila diperlukan guessing.

D. Ingatlah bahwa sekalipun topik soal bacaan dapat sangat bervariasi dan sama sekali tidak berhubungan dengan disiplin ilmu Anda

Sebagai peserta tes Anda tidak perlu berkecil hati karena sesungguhnya yang diujikan bukanlah pengetahuan tentang topik tertentu, melainkan ‘ketrampilan membaca teks’ secara cepat dan tepat. Khusus untuk soal-soal yang berhubungan dengan Main Idea Questions kecepatan memahami gagasan utama bacaan dapat dilakukan dengan menggunakan model previewing. Pelajari lagi teknik previewing dan contoh-contoh di atas untuk kemudian kerjakan latihan-latihan berikut dengan teknik tersebut.

Exercise-1

Teks-1

The peregrine falcon, a predatory bird indigenous to North America, was once in danger of extinction. In the 1960s, scientists discovered byproducts of the pesticide DDT in the birds’ eggs, which caused them to be too soft to survive. The use of the pesticide had been banned in the United States, but the falcons were eating migratory birds from other places where DDT was still used. In order to increase the survival rate, scientists were raising the birds in laboratories and then releasing them into mountainous areas. This practice achieved only moderate success, however, because many of the birds raised in captivity could not survive in the wild.

There is now, however, a new alternative to releases in the wild. A falcon that has been given the name Scarlett chose to make her home on a ledge of the 33rd floor of a Baltimore, Maryland, office building rather than in the wild, and, to the surprise of the scientists, she has managed to live quite well in the city. Following this example, programs have been initiated that release birds like Scarlett into cities rather than into their natural wild habitat. These urban releases are becoming a common way to strengthen the species. Urban homes have several benefits for the birds that wild spots do not. First, there is an abundance of pigeons and small birds as food sources. The peregrine in the city is also protected from its main predator, the great horned owl. Urban release programs have been very successful in reestablishing the peregrine falcons along the East Coast. Though they are still an endangered species, their numbers increased from about 60 nesting pairs in 1975 to about 700 pairs in 1992. In another decade the species may flourish again, this time without human help.

What is the main topic of the passage?

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(A) survival of peregrine falcons(B) releases into the wild(C) endangered species(D) harmful effects of pesticides

Teks-2

Until recently, hunting for treasure from shipwrecks was mostly fantasy; with recent technological advances, however, the search for sunken treasure has become more popular as a legitimate endeavor. This has caused a debate between those wanting to salvage the wrecks and those wanting to preserve them.

Treasure hunters are spurred on by the thought of finding caches of gold coins or other valuable objects. on a sunken ship. One team of salvagers, for instance, searched the wreck of the RMS Republic, which sank outside the Boston harbor in 1909. The search party, using side-scan sonar, a device that projects sound waves across the ocean bottom and produces a profile of the sea floor, located the wreck in just two and a half days. Before the use of this new technology, such searches could take months or years. The team of 45 divers searched the wreck for two months, finding silver tea services, crystal dinnerware, and thousands of bottles of wine, but they did not find the five and a half tons of American Gold Eagle coins they were searching for.

Preservationists focus on the historic value of a ship. They say that even if a shipwreck’s treasure does not have a high monetary value, it can be an invaluable source of historic artifacts that are preserved in nearly mint condition. But once a salvage team has scoured a site, much of the archaeological value is lost. Maritime archaeologists who are preservationists worry that the success of salvagers will attract more treasure-hunting expeditions and thus threaten remaining undiscovered wrecks. Preservationists are lobbying their state lawmakers to legally restrict underwater searches and unregulated salvages. To counter their efforts, treasure hunters argue that without the lure of gold and million-dollar treasures, the wrecks and their historical artifacts would never be recovered at all.

What is the main idea of this passage?

(A) Searching for wrecks is much easier with new technologies like side-scan sonar.(B) Maritime archaeologists are concerned about the unregulated searching of wrecks(C) The search of the RMS Republicfailed to produce the hoped-for coins(D) The popularity of treasure seeking has spurred a debate between preservationists and salvagers

Teks-3

Carnegie Hall, the famous concert hall in New York City, has again undergone a restoration. While this is not the first, it is certainly the most extensive in the building's history. As a result of this new restoration, Carnegie Hall once again has the quality of sound that it had when it was first built.

Carnegie Hall owes its existence to Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy owner of a steel company in thelate 1800s. The hall was finished in 1891and quickly gained a reputation as an excellent performidg arts hall where accomplished musicians gained fame. Despite its reputation, however, the concert hall suffered from several detrimental renovations over the years. During the Great Depression, when fewer people could afford to attend performances, the directors sold

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part of the building to commercial businesses. As a result, a coffee shop was opened in one corner of the building, for which the builders replaced the brick and terra cotta walls with windowpanes. A renovation in 1946 seriously damaged the acoustical quality of the hall when the makers of the film Carnegie Hallcut a gaping hole in the dome of the ceiling to allow for lights and air vents. The hole was later covered with short curtains and a fake ceiling, but the hall never sounded the same afterwards.

In 1960,the violinist Isaac Stern became involved in restoring the hall after a group of real estate developers unveiled plans to demolish Carnegie Hall and build a high-rise office building on the site. This threat spurred Stern to rally public support for Carnegie Hall and encourage the City of New York to buy the property. The movement was successful, and the concert hall is now owned by the city. In the current restoration, builders tested each new material for its sound qualities, and they replaced the hole in the ceiling with a dome.The builders also restored the outer walls to their original appearance and closed the coffee shop. Carnegie has never sounded better, and its prospects for the future have never looked more promising.

This passage is mainly about

(A) changes to Carnegie Hall (B) the appearance of Carnegie Hall (C) Carnegie Hall’s history during the Great Depression (D) damage to the ceiling in Carnegie Hall

B.2. Vocabulary Questions

A. Vocabulary Questions pada umumnya mempersoalkan padanan kata tertentu dari kata yang diambilkan dalam sebuah teks bacaan.

Padanan kata untuk kata yang dipertanyakan ini tidak mudah dicari karena lazimnya, kata yang ditanyakan tersebut adalah kata-kata sulit yang tidak sering dijumpai para peserta tes dengan bahasa pengantar non bahasa Inggris. Bagi para peserta yang memiliki tingkat kosakata tinggi, soal jenis ini barangkali akan sangat menyenangkan mereka, karena seringkali begitu sebuah kata ditanyakan mereka sudah tahu jawaban dari pertanyaan itu. Sebaliknya bagi mereka yang memiliki kosakata pas-pasan soal jenis ini dikhawatirkan akan menjadi ‘kartu mati’ peserta tes. Padahal soal ini jumlahnya sangat banyak, yakni dalam kisaran 40%. Artinya setiap bacaan akan ada empat pertanyaan tentang sinonim.

Soal-soal yang berhubungan dengan Vocabulary Questions biasanya ditulis sebagai berikut:

B. Vocabulary Questions dapat diselesaikan dengan menggunakan logical reasoning dengan memanfaatkan konteks bacaan.

Yang dimaksud dengan logical reasoning adalah mencari hubungan logis antar kata yang membentuk makna tertentu berdasarkan hubungan sebab-akibat, konsesi, atau pun bentuk keterkaitan lainnya. Dari hubungan-hubungan ini pembaca dapat memperkirakan makna yang tercipta dari kata-kata yang dianalisisnya itu. Sebagai contoh, dari hubungan konsesi berikut ini kata yang bergaris bawah dapat kita prediksi maknanya sesuai dengan makna yang tercipta dari konteks yang membentuknya:

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“Even though the water had been churned up by the motor on the boats, it was still smooth and clear enough to see the fish.”

Bagi peserta tes berlatar belakang EFL (English as a Foreign Language) atau bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing, kata yang bergaris bawah di atas, churned, boleh jadi merupakan kata yang jarang sekali dijumpainya atau barangkali bahkan belum pernah didengarnya sama sekali. Namun demikian, tidak berarti peserta tersebut pasti kandas untuk nomor tersebut karena yang bersangkutan dapat menggunakan ketrampilan menerka atau guessing dengan menggunakan logika. Apabila Anda sebagai peserta tes cermat melihat hubungan antar kata dalam kalimat tersebut, Anda akan melihat adanya hubungan konsesi pada kalimat tersebut. Hubungan ini terlihat dari dipakainya kata ‘even though’ yang artinya ‘walaupun’. Kata even though menyiratkan adanya sesuatu yang dikontraskan. Misalnya, Even though she was sick, she attended her English class. (Sekalipun dia sakit, dia tetap mengikuti pelajaran bahasa Inggris) Hadirnya kata Even though dalam kalimat ini memberikan signal bahwa apa yang muncul belakangan berkebalikan dengan yang biasanya terjadi (konsesi) Biasanya, ketika seorang pelajar sakit, dia tidak masuk sekolah. Tetapi kata Even though, menuntun pembaca untuk menerima informasi yang tidak seperti biasanya.

Pada kasus kalimat di atas kata churned dapat diperkirakan maknanya dengan melihat-kata-kata pembentuk kalimat tersebut. Hadirnya kata Even though dalam kalimat tersebut mengisyaratkan akan munculnya informasi yang tidak biasa. Mari kita mulai ‘petualangan’ kita menerka arti kata churned dengan meneterjemahkan kalimat tersebut ke dalam bahasa Indonesia. “Sekalipun air itu telah di-churned motor penggerak perahu, air tetap tidak keruh dan cukup jernih untuk melihat ikan”. Kalimat ini mengisyaratkan bahwa lazimnya jika air di-churned akan keruh dan tidak jernih. Oleh karena kata churned pada kalimat tersebut berhubungan dengan motor yang lumrahnya mengakibatkan air keruh, tidak jernih, maka kita bisa duga bahwa kata churned dekat dengan padanan kata ‘stirred’ atau kena putaran motor yang berputar amat cepat.

Contoh lainnya, perhatikan teks bacaan di bawah ini dan terka makna kata-kata yang bergaris bawah:

At the age of sixty-six, Hartland Sanders had to auction off everything he owned in order to pay his debts. Once the successful proprietor of a large restaurant, Sandfers saw his business suffer from the construction of a new freeway that bypassed his establishment and rerouted the traffic that had formerly passed.

Jika anda melihat hubungan sebab-akibat dalam bacaan di atas, Anda akan menemukan data sebagai berikut: Hartland Sanders harus auction segala sesuatunya agar dapat membayar hutang-hutangnya. Logika kita menuntun pada sebuah pemahaman bahwa agar seluruh hutang-hutangnya terbayar, Hartland Sanders harus MENJUAL seluruh harta yang dimilikinya. Padanan kata yang tampaknya pas untuk kata auction, dengan demikian adalah sell. Pada bagian selanjutnya, secara logis dapat kita perkirakan bahwa kata proprietor memiliki arti PEMILIK atau owner. Kepastian dapat kita simpulkan dari kata-kata pendukung bagian itu seperti hadirnya kata a large restaurant.; sementara kata formerly, apabila dilihat kata pendukung lainnya mengarah pada kata ‘YANG LALU’.

C. Tip untuk mengerjakan Vocabulary Questions

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1. Gunakan data-data pendukung untuk memastikan makna kata yang ditanyakan. Contoh data-data pendukung:

Tanda koma dalam keterangan appositive.

Solar energy, energy from the sun, is now commonly used for heating homes in many parts of the world.

Dengan melihat hubungan appositive ini kita dapat memaastikan bahwa solar energy = energy from the sun

Tanda koma sebagai rincian detail

The people were unhappy with the government, so they were working to change the statutes, laws, and regulations.

Dari rincian detail tersebut dapat dipastikan bahwa kata-kata tersebut tentulah memiliki arti yang sejenis, dekat satu sama lainnya. Jadi statutes maknanya sedekat kata laws dan regulations.

2. Gunakan hubungan antar kata yang menunjukkan signal akan adanya informasi yang berkebalikan. Misalnya, hadirnya kata-kata seperti: Although, but, in contrast, by contrast, on the contrary, on the other hand, even though.

3. Gunakan pengetahuan Anda tentang padanan kata yang dipertanyakan. Apabila Anda telah yakin dengan makna yang dipertanyakan, segeralah jawab, tak perlu pertimbangan yang terlalu lama.

Cobalah kerjakan latihan berikut dengan menggunakan tip-tip di atas:

1. Although his tory was plausible, I didn’t believe what he ws trying to say.2. Even though the flood inundated the valley with water, the homes on the hillside stayed

dry.3. Altruistic love and concern for others are difficult to attain if you feel threatened and

insecure.4. His candor was shown by his openness and his truthful answers.5. The victims of the tax swindle were given all their money back when the truth was found

out.6. Janet’s job barely gave her enough money to live on, so she augmented her income by

working at night.7. Every morning at 5:00 AM, we were rousted out of our arm beds, to face the cold air and

round up the cows for milking.

Soal yang berhubungan dengan vocabulary ini di satu sisi sangat mudah terutama bagi yang memiliki kosakata banyak dan memiliki reading skill yang efektif, di sisi lain amat sulit bagi mereka yang memiliki kosakata terbatas dan tidak terlatih mengerjakan soal-soal AcEPT.

Untuk lebih melatih kemampuan Anda memprediksi arti dari kata-kata yang ditanyakan dalam tes, gunakan exercise R-2 di halaman berikutnya sebaik mungkin.

Exercise-2

Teks-1

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The peregrine falcon, a predatory bird indigenous to North America, was once in danger of extinction. In the 1960s, scientists discovered byproducts of the pesticide DDT in the birds’ eggs, which caused them to be too soft to survive. The use of the pesticide had been banned in the United States, but the falcons were eating migratory birds from other places where DDT was still used. In order to increase the survival rate, scientists were raising the birds in laboratories and then releasing them into mountainous areas. This practice achieved only moderate success, however, because many of the birds raised in captivity could not survive in the wild.

There is now, however, a new alternative to releases in the wild. A falcon that has been given the name Scarlett chose to make her home on a ledge of the 33rd floor of a Baltimore, Maryland, office building rather than in the wild, and, to the surprise of the scientists, she has managed to live quite well in the city. Following this example, programs have been initiated that release birds like Scarlett into cities rather than into their natural wild habitat. These urban releases are becoming a common way to strengthen the species. Urban homes have several benefits for the birds that wild spots do not. First, there is an abundance of pigeons and small birds as food sources. The peregrine in the city is also protected from its main predator, the great horned owl. Urban release programs have been very successful in reestablishing the peregrine falcons along the East Coast. Though they are still an endangered species, their numbers increased from about 60 nesting pairs in 1975 to about 700 pairs in 1992. In another decade the species may flourish again, this time without human help.

In line 1, the phrase “indigenous to” could be best replaced by o typical of o protected by o adapted to o native to

The word “byproducts” in line 2 could best be replaced by which of the following? o derivatives o proceeds o chemicals o elements

In line 3, the word “banned” could be best replaced by o authorized o developed o disseminated o prohibited

The word “ledge” in line 8 is closest in meaning to o window o wall o terrace o shelf

Which of the following words is closest in meaning to the word “rate,” as used in line 4? o speed o percentage o continuation o behavior

In line 4, the word “raising” most probably means o breeding o elevating o collecting o measuring

The word “releases” as used in line 7 most probably means o internment

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o regression o distribution o possessions

Teks-2

Although they are an inexpensive supplier of vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein, eggs also contain a high level of blood cholesterol, one of the major causes of heart disease. One egg yolk, in fact, contains a little more than two-thirds of the suggested daily cholesterol limit. This knowledge has caused egg sales to plummet in recent years, which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs. One alternative is to eat substitute eggs. These egg substitutes are not really eggs, but they look somewhat I ike eggs when they are cooked. They have the advantage of having lower cholesterol rates, and they can be scrambled or used in baking. One disadvantage, however, is that they are not good for frying, poaching, or boiling. A second alternative to regular eggs is a new type of egg, sometimes called “designer” eggs. These eggs are produced by hens that are fed low-fat diets consisting of ingredients such as canola oil, flax, and rice bran. In spite of their diets, however, these hens produce eggs that contain the same amount of cholesterol as regular eggs. Yet, the producers of these eggs claim that eating their eggs will not raise the blood cholesterol in humans.

Egg producers claim that their product has been portrayed unfairly. They cite scientific studies to back up their claim. And, in fact, studies on the relationship between eggs and human cholesterol levels have brought mixed results. It may be that it is not the type of egg that is the main determinant of cholesterol but the person who is eating the eggs. Some people may be more sensitive to cholesterol derived from food than other people. In fact, there is evidence that certain dietary fats stimulate the body’s production of blood cholesterol. Consequently, while it still makes sense to limit one’s intake of eggs, even designer eggs, it seems that doing this without regulating dietary fat will probably not help reduce the blood cholesterol level.

1. As used in line 3, the word “plummet” refers to which of the following? a. drop abruptly b. rise gently c. hesitate unexpectantly d. bounce uncertainly

2. As used in line 5, which of the following could best replace the word "somewhat"? a. indefinitely b. in fact c. a little d. a lot

3. As used in line 11, what is the meaning of the phrase “back up”? a. reverse b. advance c. support d. block

4. What does the author mean by the phrase “mixed results” in line 12? a. The results are blended. b. The results are inconclusive. c. The results are a composite of things. d. The results are mingled together.

5. As used in line 10, the word “claim” means a. guarantee b. assert c. deny

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d. confirm 6. The word “portrayed” in line 11 could best be replaced by which of the following?

a. described b. studied c. destroyed d. tested

Teks-3

Carnegie Hall, the famous concert hall in New York City, has again undergone a restoration. While this is not the first, it is certainly the most extensive in the building's history. As a result of this new restoration, Carnegie Hall once again has the quality of sound that it had when it was first built.

Carnegie Hall owes its existence to Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy owner of a steel company in thelate 1800s. The hall was finished in 1891and quickly gained a reputation as an excellent performing arts hall where accomplished musicians gained fame. Despite its reputation, however, the concert hall suffered from several detrimental renovations over the years. During the Great Depression, when fewer people could afford to attend performances, the directors sold part of the building to commercial businesses. As a result, a coffee shop was opened in one corner of the building, for which the builders replaced the brick and terra cotta walls with windowpanes. A renovation in 1946 seriously damaged the acoustical quality of the hall when the makers of the film Carnegie Hallcut a gaping hole in the dome of the ceiling to allow for lights and air vents. The hole was later covered with short curtains and a fake ceiling, but the hall never sounded the same afterwards.

In 1960,the violinist Isaac Stern became involved in restoring the hall after a group of real estate developers unveiled plans to demolish Carnegie Hall and build a high-rise office building on the site. This threat spurred Stern to rally public support for Carnegie Hall and encourage the City of New York to buy the property. The movement was successful, and the concert hall is now owned by the city. In the current restoration, builders tested each new material for its sound qualities, and they replaced the hole in the ceiling with a dome.The builders also restored the outer walls to their original appearance and closed the coffee shop. Carnegie has never sounded better, and its prospects for the future have never looked more promising.

1. The word “extensive” in line 2 could be best replaced by which of the following? a. fabulous b. thorough c. devoted d. continuous

2. In line 6, what is the meaning of the word “detrimental”? a. dangerous b. significant c. extreme d. harmful

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “unveiled” in line 12? a. announced b. restricted c. overshadowed d. located

4. Which of the following words could best replace the word “gaping” in line 10? a. small b. round

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c. vital d. wide

5. The word “fake” in line 11 is most similar to which of the following? a. low b. false c. thin d. handsome

6. The author uses the word “spurred” in line 13 to show that Stern a. predicted the result b. probed the plans c. was told in advance d. was stimulated to act

B.3. Factual Questions

A. Factual Questions atau ‘Pertanyaan Faktual’ adalah pertanyaan dalam Reading Comprehension yang mempersoalkan informasi faktual yang ada di dalam teks.

Pertanyaan ini lazimnya diwakili oleh dua bentuk pertanyaan, yakni ‘faktual positf’ dan ‘faktual negatif’. ‘Faktual positif’ berkaitan dengan informasi yang secara eksplisit terkandung dalam teks; sementara ‘faktual negatif’ berkaitan dengan informasi yang secara eksplisit tidak terkandung dalam teks. Oleh karena jawaban atas pertanyaan jenis ini bisa dilacak di dalam bacaan, para calon peserta tes harus mahir menggunakan skimming skill untuk menemukan hubungan antara pertanyaan dan jawaban yang diperlukan. Factual Questions memiliki prosentase tertinggi kedua dalam Reading Comprehension, yakni 20%. Berikut ini adalah pertanyan-pertanyaan yang biasa ditulis dalam tes:

B. Untuk menjawab Factual Questions, seorang peserta tes harus trampil menghubungkan pertanyaan dengan informasi yang relevan dalam teks.

Oleh karena jawaban atas pertanyaan ini tersedia dalam teks, maka peserta harus mengerti dengan pasti maksud pertanyaan dan cermat dalam mencarai detail yang diperlukan. Harap diingat bahwa pertanyaan-pertanyaan tentang informasi faktual ini harus dijawab dengan data yang ada dalam teks. Peserta yang kebetulan memiliki pengetahuan tentang apa yang ditanyakan dalam tes harus tetap berpatokan pada informasi yang ada dalam teks. Apabila informasi yang disajikan dalam teks tidak mengandung kata-kata yang sama persis dengan kata-kata yang digunakan dalam pertanyaan, maka peserta tes harus mampu mencari informasi yang secara logis menjawab pertanyaan tersebut.

Perhatikan contoh-contoh soal berikut:

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Example-1

Marian Anderson’s brilliant singing career began at age six when she sang spirituals at the Union Baptist Church in her hometown of Philadelphia. She toured Europe in the 1920s, drawing vast acclaim; however, when she returned to the United States she was still barred from performing on the American operatic stage. After she was prevented from singing in Washington’s segregated Constitution Hall in 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt intervened and arranged for Miss Anderson to perform at the Lincoln Memorial. A crowd of 75,000 people came to watch her sing before the Memorial. Marian Anderson’s beautiful contralto voice broke down racial barriers, showing white Americans that blacks had a profound contribution to make to America’s cultural life. Eventually, in 1955, she became the first African-American singer to perform at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. In her many years of touring she had to endure a racism that forced her to enter concert halls and hotels through service entrances. Her grace under this stress showed a moral perseverance that paralleled that of the famous Martin Luther King, Jr.

According to the passage, what did Marian Anderson have in common with Martin Luther King, Jr?

moral perseverance a clear strong voice a performance at the Lincoln Memorial singing in church

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan yang berhubungan dengan factual question, peserta tes harus pandai-pandai menghubungkan inti pertanyaan dengan informasi yang tersedia dalam bacaan. Ketrampilan skimming menjadi sangat penting dalam menentukan keberhasilan seseorang menjawab pertanyaan jenis ini. Langkah pertama yang harus diambil peserta adalah dengan memahami secara pasti maksud pertanyaan. Pertanyaan di atas berbunyi:

According to the passage, what did Marian Anderson have in common with Martin Luther King, Jr ?

Kata kunci pertanyaan di atas adalah have in common atau ‘kesamaan’ yang dimiliki Marian Anderson dengan Martin Luther King Jr. Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini peserta harus segera mencari informasi tentang kesamaan yang dimiliki kedua orang tersebut. Oleh karena pertanyaan ini menyangkut dua nama orang maka bisa dilacak dengan melihat rincian informasi mengenai aktivitas yang dilakukan kedua orang tersebut atau bisa juga kebiasaan yang melekat dalam diri dua orang tersebut. Cara lain adalah dengan melihat persamaan kata kunci dengan kata tertentu yang terdapat dalam teks, terutama yang berhubungan dengan pertanyaan.

Jika Anda cermat melakukan pencarian atas informasi jawaban yang ditanyakan soal di atas, Anda dapat menemukan berupa kata kunci penting yang merupakan sinonim dari salah satu kata kunci dalam pertanyaan di atas, yakni kata paralleled yang dalam konteks kalimat dekat maknanya dengan frasa have in common. Perhatikan bagian berikut:

Her grace under this stress showed a moral perseverance that paralleled that of the famous Martin Luther King, Jr.

Informasi ini menuntun kita pada pemahaman bahwa kesamaan yang dimiliki Marian Andersnon dan Martin Luther King, Jr adalah dalam hal moral perseverance. Maka jawaban yang tepat untuk pertanyaan di atas adalah (A) moral perseverance. Pilihan lainnya bukan merupakan kesamaan yang dimiliki kedua orang tersebut. Perhatikan pula contoh berikut ini:

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Example-2

A cartoon originally was and still is a drawing: a full size pattern for execution in painting, tapestry, mosaic, or other form. The cartoon was the final stage in the series of drawn preparations for painting in traditional Renaissance studio practice. In the early 1840’s. when that studio practice was rapidly decaying, cartoons rather suddenly acquired a new meaning: that of pictorial parody, almost invariably a multiply reproduced drawing, which by the devices of caricature, analogy, and ludicrous juxtaposition (frequently highlighted by written dialog or commentary) sharpens the public view of a contemporary event, folkway, or political or social trend. It is normally humorous but may be positively savage. Just as the personal caricature was for an audience that knew the original, so the cartoon was and is based on wide acquaintance with the subject. It serves as a capsule version of editorial opinion when it makes political satire, and it is a running commentary on social change, sometimes intended as a corrective to social inertia.

1. According to the passage, to appreciate modern-day cartoons, one must a. know about the subject b. understand political matters c. enjoy various forms of art d. be highly educated

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a function of the cartoon? a. To draw public attention to an issue b. To provide an impetus for social change c. To supply a commentary on current events d. To depict historical events objectively

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan pertama, seorang peserta tes harus mampu memastikan dengan benar maksud pertanyaan tersebut. Langkah ini bisa ditempuh dengan melihat kata kunci pada pertanyaan. Kata kunci pertanyaan tersebut adalah “untuk memahami dan menikmati kartun” apa yang harus dimiliki seseorang? Setelah kata kunci didapatkan, maka peserta harus segera melakukan skimming, yakni melihat dengan cepat bagian dalam teks yang apabila disimpulkan artinya mengarah pada apa yang harus dimiliki seseorang untuk mengapresiasi cartoon. Setelah skimming dilakukan, terdapat data dalam teks yang mengarah pada jawaban atas pertanyaan tersebut, yakni pada baris ke-10 dan 11 dari bacaan tersebut. Bagian tersebut berbunyi :

“--------------- audience that knew the original and based on a wide acquaintance with the subject”

Data kunci ini mengarahkan kita pada pilihan jawaban (A) know about the subject. Opsi lain tidak menjawab pertanyaan di atas.

Seperti pertanyaan pertama, pertanyaan kedua pun dapat diatasi dengan mencermati kata kunci pertanyaan. Kata kunci yang dimaksud adalah Not mentioned dan function of cartoon atau dalam bahasa Indonesia “yang tidak disebut sebagai fungsi kartun”. Untuk menjawab pertanyaan kedua ini, peserta harus memeriksa satu per satu dengan cepat bagian dalam opsi jawaban yang disebut dalam teks dan mana yang tidak disebut. Yang tidak disebut inilah yang dijadikan dasar untuk menjawab pertanyaan kedua, karena pertanyaan ini mengarah pada pertanyaan faktual negatif. Langkah yang baik untuk mengatasai persoalan ini adalah dengan mengambil masing-masing ‘kata kunci’ atau ‘inti informasi’ yang terkandung pada masing-masing pilihan jawaban untuk kemudian dicocokkan dengan informasi yang relevan dalam teks bacaan.

Anda harus berhati-hati karena mungkin kata kunci yang digunakan dalam opsi jawaban tidak sama dengan kata kunci yang digunakan dalam teks. Namun jika kata-kata pada bagian yang dicari hubungannya ini memiliki maksud yang sama, maka berarti telah ada benang merah baik pada soal maupun pada teks yang harus segera disambungkan. Apabila cara ini Anda tempuh, anda akan mendapatkan informasi yang dimaksud yakni pada baris 8-9 untuk opsi (A) To draw public attention to an issue; dan informasi pada baris ke 12-13 untuk opsi (B) To provide an

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impetus for social change dan (C) To supply a commentary on current events. Pilihan (D) To depict historical events objectively tidak dapat ditemukan dalam teks, jadi pilihan (D) adalah jawaban yang tepat untuk pertanyaan kedua di atas.

C. Tip untuk menjawab pertanyaan Factual Questions:

1. Pastikan bahwa Anda menggunakan data dalam teks untuk menjawab pertanyaan jenis ini. Data di luar teks, seperti pengetahuan yang anda miliki yang kebetulan muncul dalam teks hanya digunakan untuk mendukung informasi yang ada dalam teks. Jika ada perbedaan anatara pengetahuan yang Anda miliki dengan informasi dalam teks, ikutilah informasi yang ada dalam teks saja.

2. Factual questions sering berisi kata atau frasa kunci yang dapat digunakan untuk mencari informasi yang diperlukan guna memilih opsi jawaban, tapi harus diingat bahwa opsi jawaban yang benar seringkali tidak berisi kata-kata yang persis sama seperti yang digunakan dalam pertanyaan.

3. Gunakan skimming skill untuk mencari benang merah yang menghubungkan pertanyaan dengan informasi yang diperlukan dalam teks.

4. Berlatihlah seintensif mungkin untuk bagian ini karena latihan yang intensif akan mempercepat ketrampilan Anda menggunakan teknik skimming.

D. Tidak dapat disangkal bahwa Factual Questions memerlukan kecermatan yang tinggi, walaupun jawaban dari pertanyaan dalam tes selalu dapat dikembalikan dalam teks bacaan.

Masalah yang sering dihadapi peserta tes adalah sulitnya mencari hubungan antara opsi jawaban dan informasi dalam teks, karena seringkali terjadi kata-kata yang digunakan dalam opsi jawaban tidak sama dengan kata-kata yang digunakan dalam teks bacaan. Pandai-pandailah menyimpulkan bagian dalam teks yang berhubungan dengan opsi jawaban sekalipun kata-kata yang digunakan berbeda.

Exercise-3

Text-1

When the president of the United States wants to get away from the hectic pace in Washington D.C, Camp David is the place to go. Camp David, in a wooded mountain area about 70 miles from Washington D.C., is where the president goes to find solitude. It consists of living space for the president, the first family, and the presidential staff as well as sporting and recreational facilities.

Camp David was established by Prisident Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1942. He found the site particularly appealing in that its mountain air provided relief from the summer heat of Washington and its remote location offered a more relaxing environment than could be achieved in the capital city.When Roosevelt first established the retreat, he called it Shangri-La, which evoked the blissful mountain kingdom in James Hilton’s novel Last Horizon. Later, President Dwight David Eisenhower renamed the location Camp David after his grandson David Eisenhower.

Camp David has been used for a number of significant meetings. In 1943 dueing World War II, President Roosevelt met there with Great Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churcill. In 1959 at the height of the Cold War, President Eisenhower mete there with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev; in 1978 President Jimmy Carter sponsored peace talks between Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt’s President Anwar El-Sadat at the retreat at Camp David.

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1. Which of the following is NOT discussed about Camp David? a. Its location b. Its cost c. Its facilities d. Its uses

2. According to the passage, who founded Camp David? a. George Washington b. The first family c. Franklin Delano Roosevelt d. Dwight David Eisenhower

3. Which of the following is NOT true about Prisedent Eisenhower? a. He had a grandson named David b. He attended a conference with Nikita Khruscheve c. He named the presidential retreat Shangri-La d. He visited Camp David

Text-2

Langston Hughes was one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. He was born in Joplin, Missouri, and moved to Cleveland at the age of fourteen. Several years later he spent one year in Mexico before attending Columbia University in New York. For a few years after that he roamed the world as a seaman, visiting ports around the world and writing some poetry. He returned to the United States and attended Lincoln University, where he won the Witter Bynner Prize for undergraduate poetry. After graduating in 1928, he traveled to Spain and to Russia with the help of a Guggenheim fellowship. His novels include Not Without Laughter (1930) and The Big Sea (1940) He wrote an autobiography in 1956 and also published several collections of poetry. The collections include The Weary Blues (1926), The Dream Keeper (1932), Shakespeare in Harlem (1942), Fields of Wonder (1947), One Way Ticket (1947), and Selected Poems (1959)Aman of many talents, Hughes was also a lyricist, librettist, and a journalist. As an older man in the 1960she spent much of his time collecting poems from Africa and from African-Americans to popularize black writers. Hughes is one of the most accomplished writers in American literary history, and he is seen as one of the artistic leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, the period when a neighborhood that was predominantly black produced a flood of great literature, music, and other art forms depicting daily city life for African-Americans.

1. According to the author, what did Hughes do during the later years of his life? a. write short stories b. popularize African-American writers c. advocate racial equality d. write about life in Harlem

2. According to the passage, Langston Hughes was all of the following EXCEPT a. a novelist b. a poet c. an historian d. a journalist

Text-3

May 7, 1840, was the birthday of one of the most famous Russian composers of the nineteenth century: Peter Illich Tchaikovsky. The son of a mining inspector, Tchaikovsky studied music as

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a child and later studied composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. His greatest period of productivity occurred between 1876 and 1890, during which time he enjoyed the patronage of Madame von Meek, a woman he never met,who gave him a living stipend of about $1,000.00 a year Madame von Meek later terminatedher friendship with Tchaikovsky, as well as his living allowance, when she, herself, was facing financial difficulties. It was during the time of Madame von Meck’s patronage, however, that Tchaikovsky created the music for which he is most famous, including the music for the ballets of Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. Tchaikovsky’s music, well known for its rich melodic and sometimes melancholy passages, was one of the first that brought serious dramatic music to dance. Before this, little attention had been given to the music behind the dance. Tchaikovsky died on November 6, 1893, ostensibly of cholera, though there are now some scholars who argue that he committed suicide.

1. According to the passage, all of the following describe Madame von Meek EXCEPT: a. She had economic troubles. b. She was generous. c. She was never introduced to Tchaikovsky. d. She enjoyed Tchaikovsky's music.

2. According to the passage, for what is Tchaikovsky’s music most well known? a. its repetitive and monotonous tones b. the ballet-like quality of the music c. the richness and melodic drama of the music d. its lively, capricious melodies

3. According to the passage, Swan Lakeand The Sleeping Beauty are a. dances b. songs c. operas d. plays

4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? a. Tchaikovsky’s influence on ballet music. b. Tchaikovsky’s unhappiness leading to suicide. c. The patronage of Madame von Meek. d. Tchaikovsky’s productivity in composing.

B.4. Inference Questions

A. Inference Questions adalah soal-soal yang menanyakan ‘makna tersirat’ dari satu informasi yang ada dalam teks bacaan.

Untuk mengerjakan soal jenis ini peserta tes harus mampu membuat simpulan-simpulan yang datanya secara eksplisit tidak tertulis dalam teks bacaan. Ciri-ciri pertanyaan yang berhubungan dengan Inference Questions ini adalah hadirnya kata-kata seperti implied, inferred, likely, atau probably. Kata-kata ini sekaligus memberikan gambaran kepada kita bahwa jawaban atas pertanyaan yang diwakili kata-kata tersebut tidaklah ditulis secara tersurat dalam teks bacaan. Harap dipahami bahwa sekalipun jawaban atas pertanyaan-pertanyaan Inference Questions tidak dapat dicarikan secara langsung dalam teks, tidak berarti peserta tes tidak akan berhasil menemukan jawaban yang tepat atas pertanyaan itu. Justru dengan pertanyaan yang tersirat tersebut, jawaban akan lebih mudah dicari, terutama apabila peserta tes mampu secara kritis menggunakan logikanya untuk mencerna teks yang berhubungan dengan soal. Soal yang berhubungan dengan Inference Questions selalu ada dalam tes Reading Comprehension, jumlahnya kira-kira 14%. Soal tersebut biasanya ditulis sebagai berikut:

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B. Inference Questions berhubungan dengan pertanyaan mengenai informasi yang secara eksplisit tidak tertulis dalam teks bacaan, sehingga data-data yang ada tidak dapat digunakan secara langsung untuk menjawab soal.

Data-data yang ada dalam bacaan hanya dapat digunakan untuk membangun logika yang diharapkan dapat digunakan untuk menjawab pertanyaan. Oleh karena logika memainkan peranan penting dalam menjawab Inference Questions ini, peserta tes yang ingin menyelesaikan soal-soal inference dengan benar harus mampu memahami informasi di seberang kata-kata yang terlihat. Peserta harus mampu menggunakan kata-kata kunci yang dapat digunakan untuk mencari informasi yang dapat dikembangkan menjadi simpulan yang logis.

Perhatikan contoh Inference Questions berikut ini:

Example-1

The Hawaiian language is a melodious language in which all words are derived from an alphabet of only twelve letters, the five vowels a, e, i, o, u and the seven consonants h, k, l, m, n, p, w. Each syllable in the language ends in vowel, and two consonants never appear together, so vowels have a much higher frequency in the Hawaiian language than they do in English.

This musical-sounding language can be heard regularly by visitors to the islands. Most Hawaiians speak English, but it is quite common to hear English that liberally spiced with words and expressions from the traditional language of the culture. A visitor may be greeted with the expression aloha and may be referred to as a malihini because he is a newcomer to the island. The visitor may attend an outside luau where everyone eats too much and be invited afterwards to dance the hula.

1. Which of the following is probably NOT a Hawaian word? a. mahalo b. mahimahi c. meklea d. moana

2. It is implied in the passage that a luau is a. a dance b. a feast c. a concert d. a language

Pertanyaan no 1 dalam contoh di atas sekilas mustahil untuk dapat dijawab karena data dalam opsi jawaban secara eksplisit tidak dapat diketemukan dalam teks. Pilihan (A) mahalo, (B) mahimahi, (C) meklea, dan (D) moana seolah hanya memberikan contoh kata-kata dalam bahasa Hawaii di luar kata-kata dalam teks. Namun justru inilah sebenarnya kesulitan sekaligus kemudahan mengerjakan bagian ini bertemu dalam satu muara. Di satu sisi peserta tes akan merasakan sulit karena tidak disebutnya kata-kata dalam opsi jawaban pada teks bacaan; di sisi lain peserta tes (terutama yang memiliki logika bagus) akan menemukan dengan mudah jawaban yang tersembunyi dalam teks. Untuk pertanyaan nomor 1 ini apabila Anda teliti melihat data dalam teks, terutama yang berhubungan dengan Hawaiian word, Anda akan menemukan data sebagai berikut: Semua kata-kata dalam Bahasa Hawaii hanya tersusun dari 5 huruf hidup a, e, i, u, o dan 7 huruf mati h, k, l, m, n, p, w dengan catatan dua huruf matinya tak kan pernah muncul berdampingan. Dari data ini tentu Anda dapat dengan cepat menentukan jawaban yang tepat

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untuk nomor satu. Pilihan (A) mahalo, (B) mahimahi, dan (D) moana dapat diterma karena memenuhi ketentuan di atas. Pilihan (C) meklea tidak dapat diterima karena pada kata ‘meklea’ terdapat dua konsonan (huruf mati) yang berdampingan.

Tidak seperti nomor 1, pertanyaan nomor 2 relatif dapat segera dicarikan datanya dalam teks. Dengan cara scanning, Anda dapat menemukan kata yang dipertanyakan yakni luau. Namun bagi peserta yang tidak terlaitih menggunakan logika setelah kata luau diketemukan, kemungkinan yang bersangkutan akan kaget karena kata luau sepertinya tidak mengacu ke kata apa-apa, alias tidak bermakna karenatidak dapat ditemukan acuan maknanya dalam teks. Tetapi bagi peserta yang terlatih menggunakan logika, pertanyaan tentang luau ini tidaklah sulit untuk dipecahkan. Dengan menggunakan data dari dua baris terakhir, yakni The visitor may attend an outside luau where everyone eats too much and be invited afterwards to dance the hula, peserta dapat menyimpulkan bahwa kata luau paling dekat dengan pilihan (B) fiest atau pesta karena data yang ada secara tersirat (eats too much food) mengarahkan ke pilihan ini.

C. Tip untuk mengerjakan Inference Questions

1. Hendaknya disadari bahwa Inference Questions menanyakan sesuatu yang tersirat di dalam teks bacaan sehingga untuk menjawab pertanyaan jenis ini Anda harus mampu menarik kesimpulan dari data-data yang berkaitan dengan soal.

2. Jawaban untuk Inference Questions selalu tersembunyi di seberang kata-kata dalam teks. Untuk itu Anda harus mampu mengolah kata sedemikian rupa sehingga Anda mampu mengembangkannya untuk maksud mencari benang merah dari inti soal yang ditanyakan.

3. Apabila sebuah kata ditanyakan maka gunakan teknik scanning untuk mencari kata tersebut dalam teks. Setelah kata berhasil diketemukan gunakan data dalam konteks untuk dijadikan dasar bagi Anda membangun logika dalam rangka mencari jawab atas informasi yang secara tersirat sesuai dengan jawaban yang diperlukan.

D. Dapat dipahami bahwa untuk menjawab Inference Questions peserta tes memerlukan waktu yang lebih lama untuk menimbang-nimbang jawaban yang tepat.

Saran yang dapat diajukan untuk mengatasi persoalan ini adalah tetaplah tenang menghadapi soal yang memang memerlukan kecermatan tinggi dan kemampuan peserta mencari informasi yang tersembunyi di balik data-data dalam teks. Semakin sering seseorang berlatih mengerjakan soal jenis ini semakin baik baginya karena dia akan semakin terlatih memahami sesuatu yang tersirat dalam teks. Untuk itu gunakan latihan berikut ini untuk mempertaajam analisis Anda dalam menghadapi Inference Questions.

Exercise-4

Teks-1

A pilot cannot fly a plane by sight alone. In many conditions, such as flying at night and landing in dense fog, a pilot must use radar, an alternative way of navigating. Since human eyes are not very good at determining speeds of approaching objects, radar can show a pilot how fast nearby planes are moving. The basic principle of radar is exemplified by what happens when one shouts in a cave. The echo of the sounds against the walls helps a person determine the size of the cave. With radar, however, the waves are radio waves instead of sound waves.Radio waves travel at the speed of light, about 300,000 kilometers in one second. A radar set sends out a short burst of radion waves. Then it receives the echoes produced when the waves bounce off objects. By determining the time it takes for the echoes to return to the radar set, a trained technician can determine the distance between the radar set and other objects. The word “radar,” in fact, gets its name from the term “radio detection and ranging.” “Ranging” is the term for detection of the distance between an object and the radar set. Besides being of critical importance to pilots, radar

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is essential for air traffic control, tracking ships at sea, and for tracking weather systems and storms.

What might be inferred about radar? o It takes the place of a radio. o It gave birth to the invention of the airplane. o It developed from a study of sound waves. o It has improved navigational safety.

Teks-2

Archaeology has long been an accepted tool for studying prehistoric cultures. Relatively recently the same techniques have been systematically applied to studies of the more immediate past. This has been called “historical archaeology,” a term that is used in the United States to refer to any archaeological investigation into North American sites that postdate the arrival of Europeans.

Back in the 1930’s and 1940’s, when building restoration was popular, historical archaeology was primarily a tool of architectural reconstruction. The role of archaeologists was to find the foundations of historic buildings and then take a back seat to architects.

The mania for reconstruction had largely subsided by the 1950’s and 1960’s. Most people entering historical archaeology during this period came out of university anthropology departments, where they had studied prehistoric cultures. They were, by training, social scientists, not historians, and their work tended to reflect this bias. The questions they framed and the techniques they used were designed to help them understand, as scientists, how people behaved. But because they were treading on historical ground for which there was often extensive written documentation, and because them own knowledge of these periods was usually limited, their contributions to American history remained circumscribed. Their reports, highly technical and sometimes poorly written, went unread.

More recently, professional archaeologists have taken over. These researchers have sought to demonstrate that their work can be a valuable tool not only of science but also of history, providing fresh insights into the daily lives of ordinary people whose existences might not otherwise be so well documented. This newer emphasis on archaeology as social history has shown great promise, and indeed work done in this area has lead to a reinterpretation of the United States past.In Kingston, New York, for example, evidence has been uncovered that indicates that English goods were being smuggled into that city at a time when the Dutch supposedly controlled trading in the area. And in Sacramento an excavation at the site of a fashionable nineteenth - century hotel revealed that garbage had been stashed in the building’s basement despite sanitation laws to the contrary.

1. In the third paragraph. the author implies that the techniques of history and the techniques of social science are

a. quite different from each other b. equally useful in studying prehistoric cultures c. usually taught to students of archaeology d. both based on similar principles

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B.5. Reference Questions

A. Barangkali satu-satunya jenis pertanyaan dalam Reading Comprehension yang relatif mudah diselesaikan adalah Reference Questions.

Reference Questions, sesuai dengan namanya adalah pertanyaan yang me-refer (mengacu) pada penggunaan kata ganti orang, benda atau kata ganti penunjuk. Kata-kata yang sering ditanyakan dalam soal adalah kata it, they, this, these, that, dan those. Terkadang kata the other dan others juga ditanyakan. Oleh karena pertanyaan jenis ini mengacu pada kata ganti, maka calon peserta tes harus paham betul kata yang diacu oleh masing-masing kata ganti tersebut. Harap diingat bahwa tes TOEFL merupakan tes dengan derajat kesulitan yang tinggi. Walaupun Reference Questions tergolong sederhana dan cenderung tidak rumit, peserta tes harus mempertimbangkan kompleksitas teks yang bisa saja menyulitkannya menghubungkan kata ganti yang ditanyakan dalam soal dengan kata yang diacunya. Reference Questions biasanya ditulis sebagai berikut:

B. Reference Questions selalu berkaitan dengan hubungan antara kata ganti dengan kata yang diacu.

Dengan demikian, persoalan mendasar yang harus dicermati adalah mencari dengan pasti acuan kata ganti yang ditanyakan dalam soal. Oleh karena kata ganti selalu muncul setelah kata yang diacu, maka kunci penting untuk memecahkan soal jenis ini adalah dengan melihat bagian yang diacu, yang selalu hadir sebelum kata ganti itu muncul. Dengan demikian kalimat sebelum kata ganti itu muncul harus dianalisis dengan cermat.

Perhatikan contoh berikut:

Example-1

Carnivorous plants, such as the sundew and the Venus flytrap, are generally found in humid areas where there is an inadequate supply of nitrogen in the soil. In order to survive, these plants have developed mechanisms to trap insects within their foliage. They have disgestive fluids to obtain the necessary nitrogen from the insects. These plants trap the insects in a variety of ways. The sundew has sticky hairs on its leaves; when an insect lands on these leaves, it gets caught up in the sticky hairs, and the leaf wraps itself around the insect. The leaves of the Venus-flytrap function more like a trap, snapping suddenly and forcefully shut around an insect.

The pronoun They in line 3 refers to o humid area o these plants o insects o disgestive fluids

Example-2

Marian Anderson’s brilliant singing career began at age six when she sang spirituals at the Union Baptist Church in her hometown of Philadelphia. She toured Europe in the 1920s, drawing vast

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acclaim; however, when she returned to the United States she was still barred from performing on the American operatic stage. After she was prevented from singing in Washington’s segregated Constitution Hall in 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt intervened and arranged for Miss Anderson to perform at the Lincoln Memorial. A crowd of 75,000 people came to watch her sing before the Memorial. Marian Anderson’s beautiful contralto voice broke down racial barriers, showing white Americans that blacks had a profound contribution to make to America’s cultural life. Eventually, in 1955, she became the first African-American singer to perform at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. In her many years of touring she had to endure a racism that forced her to enter concert halls and hotels through service entrances. Her grace under this stress showed a moral perseverance that paralleled that of the famous Martin Luther King, Jr.

In line 9, what does the word “this” refer to? o touring for many years o racist attitudes toward her o performing before thousands of people o being like Martin Luther King, Jr.

Example-3

Martin Luther King, Jr., is well known for his work in civil rights and for his many famous speeches, among them his moving “I Have A Dream” speech. But fewer people know much about King’s childhood M.L., as he was called, was born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, at the home of his maternal grandfather. M.L.’s grandfather, the Reverend A.D. Williams, purchased their home on Auburn Avenue in 1909, twenty years before M.L. was born. The Reverend Williams, an eloquent speaker, played an important role in the community since so many people’s lives centered around the church. He allowed his church and his home to be used as a meeting place for a number of organizations dedicated to the education and social advancement of blacks. M.L. grew up in this atmosphere,with his home being used as a community gathering place, and was no doubt influenced by it.

M.L.’s childhood was not especially eventful. His father was a minister and his mother was a musician. He was the second of three children, and he attended all-black schools in a black neighborhood. The neighborhood was not poor, however. Auburn Avenue was the main artery through a prosperous neighborhood that had come to symbolize achievement for Atlanta’s black people. It was an area of banks,insurance companies, builders, jewelers, tailors, doctors, lawyers, and other black-owned or black-operated businesses and services. Even in the face of Atlanta’s segregation, the district thrived. Dr. King never forgot the community spirit he had known as a child, nor did he forget the racial prejudice that was a seemingly insurmountable barrier that kept black Atlantans from mingling with whites.

1. In line 12, the word “it” refers to which of the following? a. achievement b. neighborhood c. segregation d. services

C. Tip untuk mengerjakan Reference Questions

1. Scan kata ganti yang ditanyakan dalam soal (it, the, this, that, dll) dalam baris yang ditentukan. Lihatlah konteks kalimat yang mengandung kata ganti yang dipertanyakan tersebut; lihat pula satu kalimat di depannya lagi.

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2. Gunakan data-data pada dua kalimat tersebut untuk mencari acuan dari kata ganti yang ditanyakan.

3. Pastikan bahwa kata yang diacu kata ganti tersebut memiliki bentuk yang sama. Jika kata ganti menunjukkan bentuk tunggal (it, this, that) maka kata yang diacu juga harus dalam bentuk tunggal; demikian juga jika kata ganti yang ditanyakan (they, these, those) mewakili bentuk jamak, maka kata yang diacu juga harus dalam bentuk jamak.

D. Soal berjenis Reference Questions ini tidak banyak frekuensi kemunculannya dalam tes.

Namun demikian, hendaknya soal ini manjadi poin yang harus Anda raih karena soal ini relatif mudah untuk diatasi. Asal anda tahu hubungan antara kata ganti dan kata yang diacu, permasalahan mengenai Reference Questions akan sangat mudah Anda atasi. Cobalah kerjakan latihan berikut ini. Apabila ternyata dari hasil latihan, skor yang berhasil Anda buat masih rendah, maka Anda harus belajar lebih intensif lagi untuk bagian ini.

Exercise-5

Teks-1

The growth of cities, the construction of hundreds of new factories, and the spread of railroads in the United States before 1850 had increased the need for better illumination. But the lighting in American homes had improved very little over that of ancient times. Through the colonial period, homes were lit with tallow candles or with a lamp of the kind used in ancient Rome - a dish of fish oil or other animal or vegetable oil in which a twisted rag served as a wick. Some people used lard, but they had to heat charcoal underneath to keep it soft and burnable. The sperm whale provided a superior burning oil, but this was expensive. In 1830 a new substance called “camphene” was patented, and it proved to be an excellent illuminant. But while camphene gave a bright light it too remained expensive, had an unpleasant odor, and also was dangerously explosive.

Between 1830 and 1850 it seemed that the only hope for cheaper illumination in the United states was in the wider use of gas. In the 1840’s American gas manufacturers adopted improved British techniques for producing illuminating gas from coal. But the expense of piping gas to the consumer remained so high that until midcentury gaslighting was feasible only in urban areas, and only for public buildings or for the wealthy.

In 1854 a Canadian doctor, Abraham Gesner, patented a process for distilling a pitchlike mineral found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that produced illuminating gas and an oil that he called “kerosene” (from “keros,” the Greek word for wax, and “ene” because it resembled camphene) Kerosene, though cheaper than camphene, had an unpleasant odor, and Gesner never made his fortune from it. But Gesner had aroused a new hope for making an illuminating oil from a product coming out of North American mines.

1. The word “this” in line 10 refers to a. lard b. charcoal c. wick d. oil

2. The word “it” in line 15 refers to a. fortune b. odor c. camphene

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d. kerosene

Untuk menjawab soal nomor 1, seorang peserta tes harus melakukan scanning kata ‘this’ pada baris ke-8. Setelah kata tersebut diketemukan, konteks kalimat yang mengandung kata this tersebut dipahami dengan seksama. Oleh karena kata ‘this’ adalah kata ganti untuk kata tertentu di depannya, maka peserta harus segera mencari acuan kata tersebut di depan kata ‘this’. Dari pengamatan konteks paragraf tersebut, terutama konteks kalimat yang mengandung kata ‘this’ dapat dipastikan bahwa kata ‘this’ dalam konteks ini mengacu pada a superior burning oil. Kata inti (the head word) dari frasa tersebut adalah oil. Jadi jawaban yang tepat untuk nomor 1 adalah (D) oil.

Cara yang dapat ditempuh untuk soal nomor 2 adalah sama seperti untuk soal nomor 1. Peserta harus scan kata ‘it’ Dari hasil scanning ini didapatkan data kalimat sebagai berikut:

Kerosene, though cheaper than camphene, had an unpleasant odor, and Gesner never made his fortune from it.

Subjek kalimat yang kebetulan merupakan ‘kata kunci’ dari kalimat tersebut adalah Kerosene. Kata it dalam konteks tersebut sangat jelas mengacu pada Kerosene. Kata lain, yakni camphene dipakai untuk mengkontraskan harga, dan kata odor memberikan informasi tentang hal yang melekat pada kerosene, yakni unpleasant odor (bau yang menyengat) Dengan demikian, kata it mengacu pada kata kerosene (D).

Teks-2

Since the world has become industrialized, there has been an increase in the number of animal species that have either become extinct or have neared extinction. Bengal tigers, for instance, which once roamed the jungles in vast numbers, now number only about 2,300, and by the year 2025 their population is estimated to be down to zero. What is alarming about the case of the Bengal tiger is that this extinction will have been caused almost entirely by poachers who, according to some sources, are not interested in material gain but in personal gratification. This is an example of the callousness that is part of what is causing the problem of extinction. Animals like the Bengal tiger, as well as other endangered species, are a valuable part of the world’s ecosystem. International laws protecting these animals must be enacted to ensure their survival, and the survival of our planet.

Countries around the world have begun to deal with the problem in various ways. Some countries, in order to circumvent the problem, have allocated large amounts of land to animal reserves. They then charge admission to help defray the costs of maintaining the parks, and they often must also depend on world organizations for support. With the money they get, they can invest in equipment and patrols to protect the animals. Another solution that is an attempt to stem the tide of animal extinction is an international boycott of products made from endangered species. This seems fairly effective, but it will not, by itself, prevent animals from being hunted and killed.

What does the word “this” refer to in first paragraph? o endangered species that are increasing o Bengal tigers that are decreasing o poachers who seek personal gratification o sources that may not be accurate

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan ini Anda harus men-scan kata ‘this’ pada barus ke-9. Dari data dua kalimat yang berdampingan ini didapatkan informsi sebagai berikut:

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What is alarming about the case of the Bengal tiger is that this extinction will have been caused almost entirely by poachers who, according to some sources, are not interested in material gain but in personal gratification. This is an example of the callousness that is part of what is causing the problem of extinction. Animals like the Bengal tiger, as well as other endangered species, are a valuable part of the world’s ecosystem.

Dari data tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa kata ‘this’ dalam konteks tersebut mengacu pada fakta bahwa poaches lebih tertarik pada persolan gratification. Dengan demikian pilihan yang tepat untuk nomor 2 adalah (C) poachers who seek personal gratification.

Teks-3

About 200 million years ago, as the Triassic Period came to a close, many species of animals disappeared from the face of the Earth. Scientists previously believed that the series of extinctions happened over a period of 15 to 20 million years. Recent discoveries in Nova Scotia suggest, however, that the extinctions may have happened over a much shorter period of time, perhaps less than 850,000 years.

Evidence for a rapid extinction of species at the end of the Triassic Period is found in the McCoy Brook Formation along the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. Fossils found in this formation indicate a rapid disappearance of species rather than a slow and gradual change over time. One explanation for a relatively sudden extinction at the end of the Triassic may be that a large meteorite struck the earth at the time and is responsible for a 70-kilometer hole nearby. If geologists and other researchers can find evidence, such as shocked quartz in the rock formations, that a meteorite did strike the earth, it would give more credence to the theory of rapid Triassic extinctions. It is possible, however, that even if a rapid extinction happened in and around Nova Scotia, it did not necessarily occur in the rest of the world.

1. In paragraph 2, “it” refers to a. evidence b. an extinction c. the earth d. a meteorite

Kata it pada baris ke-15 mengganti kata evidence (A) Kata the Earth (C) dan a meteorite (D) merupakan penjabaran dari evidence yang diandaikan. Sementara kata an extinction (B) tidak mungkin merupakan kata yang diacu karena letaknya dan juga konteksnya tidak mendukung.

B.6. Testing Points Lain-lain

A. Di samping lima testing points di atas, masih ada beberapa testing points lainnya yang juga diujikan dalam Reading Comprehension, diantaranya Paragraph Organization Questions, Analogy Questions, dan Viewpoint Questions.

Namun demikian, preosentase kemunculan unit-unit tersebut dalam tes relatif kecil, yakni dalam kisaran rata-rata 2%. Sekalipun frekuensi kemunculannya dalam tes relatif jarang, ada baiknya calon peserta tes membekali diri dengan pengetahuan yang memadai tentang testing points tersebut. Semakin lengkap pengetahuan calon peserta tes, dan semakin terlatih mengerjakan soal-soal yang bervariasi, semakin besar harapan untuk meraih skor tinggi untuk Reading Comprehension. Berikut dipaparkan secara singkat masing-masing testing points di atas.

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Paragraph Organization Questions biasanya menanyakan tentang kaitan paragraf lanjutan dengan paragraf yang ada dalam teks. Pertanyaan jenis ini juga terkadang menanyakan tentang lokasi informasi dalam paragraf atau baris tertentu.

Analogy Questions menanyakan tentang persamaan (analog) antara gagasan yang ada dalam bacaan dan gagasan di luar bacaan sebagaimana disediakan dalam opsi jawaban. Pertanyaan ini memerlukan kemampuan untuk mencari situasi parallel yang secara logis memiliki kesamaan dengan situasi yang digambarkan dalam teks.

Viewpoint Questions menanyakan pandangan pengarang tentang apa yang ditulisnya itu, tentang orang-orang yang ada dalam bacaan, atau tentang sikap pengarang berkenaan dengan teks yang ditulisnya. Pandangan atau sikap yang dimaksud dalam konteks ini bisa dalam bentuk critical, persuasive, humorous, neutral, dll. Untuk lebih jelasnya, berikut ditampilkan contoh-contoh pertanyaan yang mewakili ketiga testing points di atas.

B. Untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang berhubungan dengan ketiga testing points di atas, peserta tes perlu dengan cermat memahami maksud pertanyaan.

Apabila pertanyaan berbunyi: The following paragraph will most likely discuss maka yang harus dilakukan peserta tes adalah menyimpulkan paragraf akhir dari bacaan dan memprediksi paragraf lanjutan yang sesuai atau logis mengikuti pargraf tersebut. Sebaliknya jika pertanyaan itu berbunyi: The paragraph preciding the passage most probably discusses yang harus segera dilakukan oleh peserta tes adalah menyimpulkan dulu paragraf pertama bacaan, dan kemudian memperkirakan gagasan utama dari paragraf sebelum bacaan. Testing points lainnya seperti Analogy Questions dan View points Questions harus disesuaikan dengan isi teks bacaan dan opsi jawaban.

Untuk lebih jelasnya, perhatikan contoh-contoh soal berikut:

Carnegie Hall, the famous concert hall in New York City, has again undergone a restoration. While this is not the first, it is certainly the most extensive in the building's history. As a result of this new restoration, Carnegie Hall once again has the quality of sound that it had when it was first built.

Carnegie Hall owes its existence to Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy owner of a steel company in thelate 1800s. The hall was finished in 1891and quickly gained a reputation as an excellent performidg arts hall where accomplished musicians gained fame. Despite its reputation, however, the concert hall suffered from several detrimental renovations over the years. During the Great Depression, when fewer people could afford to attend performances, the directors sold part of the building to commercial businesses. As a result, a coffee shop was opened in one corner of the building, for which the builders replaced the brick and terra cotta walls with

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windowpanes. A renovation in 1946 seriously damaged the acoustical quality of the hall when the makers of the film Carnegie Hallcut a gaping hole in the dome of the ceiling to allow for lights and air vents. The hole was later covered with short curtains and a fake ceiling, but the hall never sounded the same afterwards.

In 1960,the violinist Isaac Stern became involved in restoring the hall after a group of real estate developers unveiled plans to demolish Carnegie Hall and build a high -rise office building on the site. This threat spurred Stern to rally public support for Carnegie Hall and encourage the City of New York to buy the property. The movement was successful, and the concert hall is now owned by the city. In the current restoration, builders tested each new material for its sound qualities, and they replaced the hole in the ceiling with a dome.The builders also restored the outer walls to their original appearance and closed the coffee shop. Carnegie has never sounded better, and its prospects for the future have never looked more promising.

1. How does the author seem to feel about the future of Carnegie Hall? a. ambiguous b. guarded c. optimistic d. negative

2. Which of the following would most likely be the topic of the next paragraph? a. a scientific explanation of acoustics and the nature of sound b. a description of people’s reactions to the newly renovated hall c. a discussion of the coffee shop that once was located in the building d. further discussion about the activities of Isaac Stern in 1960

Untuk menjawab pertanyaan nomor 1 ini peserta tes harus dapat memilah mana informasi factual yang disampaikan oleh penulis dan mana pendangan yang disisipkan pengarang dalam tulisannya itu. Apabila dibaca dengan cermat, bagian akhir bacaan menunjukkan pandangan pengarang sebagai kesimpulan dari yang dia tulis itu. Pada bagian penulis menyatakan:

Carnegie has never sounded better, and its prospects for the future have never looked more promising.

Cuplikan kalimat penutup ini mengisyaratkan kepada pembaca bahwa menurut pandangan pengarang, prospek Carnegie Hall tidak pernah secerah sekarang ini. Ini menunjukkan ‘persaan yang amat optimi’s pada diri pengarang. Dengan demikian pilihan jawaban yang tepat untuk soal tersebut adalah (C) optimistic.Jawaban untuk nomor 2 masih berkaitan dengan jawaban nomor 1. Bahwa karena paragraph akhir bercerita tentang komntar optimis tentang renovasi Carnegie Hall, paragraph beikutnya yang paling logis adalah berkenaan dengan renovasi. Topik-topik yang lain dalam opsi jawaban telah disebut di bagian awal. Oleh karena itu, jawaban yang paling tepat untuk pertanyaan ke-dua adalah (B) a description of people’s reactions to the newly renovated hall.

C. Tips untuk mengerjakan soal yang berhubungan dengan Paragraph Organization Questions, Analogy Questions, dan Viewpoint Questions.

1. Cermati gagasan utama paragraf awal jika pertanyaan mengarah pada “paragraph preceding the passage”. Jawaban untuk pertanyaan seperti ini pada umumnya mirip paragraf awal, tetapi harus merupakan informasi yang terlebih dahulu muncul.

2. Jika pertanyaan mengarah pada “paragraph following the passage”, maka peserta harus segera menyimpulkan paragraf akhir bacaan, seraya mencari kata kunci pada paragraf tersebut yang dapat digunakan untuk memprediksi lanjutan paragrafakhir tersebut.

3. Jika pertanyaan mengacu pada informasi yang harus dicari pada baris tertentu, carilah dengan teknik skimming untuk kemudian pastikan pada baris ke berapa informsi itu berada.

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4. Pertanyaan mengenai Analogy Questions hanya bisa dijawab apabila kita secara logis dapat membuat analogi dari sebuah situasi yang digambarkan teks. Untuk itu cermatilah pilihan jawaban yang merupakan analog terbaik dari situasi yang digambarkan teks.

5. Pertanyaan mengenai Viewpoint Questions lebih mengarah pada pandangan penulis teks tentang situasi, orang-orang, atau masalah yang ditulisnya itu. Untuk itu peserta tes harus sangat jeli melihat bagian mana dalam teks yang merupakan fakta, dan bagian mana yang merupakan pandangan penulisnya.

D. Apabila Anda telah memahami tiga testing points di atas, sebaiknya segeralah berlatih mengerjakan soal-soal yang berhubungan dengan soal jenis ini.

Sekalipun soal jenis ini tidak banyak keluar dalam tes AcEPT maupun TOEFL, Anda tetap harus bersiap-siap menghadapi soal-soal jenis ini karena dengan lengkapnya pengetahuan anda tentang soal-soal yang diujikan kemungkinan meningkatkan skor AcEPT akan semakin besar. Kerjakanlah latihan di halaman berikutnya dengan sebaik-baiknya.

Exercise-6

Teks-1

To Americans the Pony Express was a fixture of the Old West; most Americans are rather surprised to find out that in reality the Pony Express was in existence for only a short period or time, about a year and a half. This forefather of “express” mail service operated between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, a distance of just under 2,000 miles; letters and small packages could be delivered in under 10 days instead of the 3 to 4 weeks that it had taken prior to the institution of the Pony Express.

In 1860, St Joseph was the westernmost terminal of the country’s railroad system; mail destined for the West Coast could come to St. Joe by train, but the only way to get it farther west was on horseback. The Pony Express service was established on April 3, 1860, to fill this need: a letter carried on horseback with only minimal downtime for changes in horses and riders could cover 200 miles in one twenty-four hour period.

The Pony Express system considered of approximately 80 riders, 400 horses, and 190 stations every 10 to 15 miles along along the route. One rider took a mail pouch and carried it for 75 miles, changing his tired horse for a fresh one at every station; he then passed the pouch to another rider. Riders traveled day and night, and the mail never stopped.

On October 24, 1861, only a year and a half after the start of the Pony Express, the first transcontinental telegraph opened for building, ending the need for the Pony Express. The Pony Express officially closed for business on October 26, 1826; obviously its owners were quick to recognize that the need for their services had just been basically wiped out.

Where in the passage does the author mention the amount of time it took to deliver a letter before the Pony Express?

o Lines 1-4 o Lines 7-8 o Lines 13-15 o Lines 16-18

Where in the passage does the author discuss why the Pony Express was discontinued? o The first paragraph o The second paragraph

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o The third paragraph o The fourth paragraph

What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage? o To warn of the dire effects of ending the Pony Express o To describe a little-known reality about a historical subject o To incite readers to auction on behalf of the Pony Express o To describe the development of express mail service

Teks-2

The rules of etiquette in American restaurants depend upon a number of factors: the physical location of the restaurant, e.g., rural or urban; the type of restaurant, e.g., informal or formal; and certain standards that are more universal. In other words, some standards of etiquette vary significantly while other standards apply almost anywhere. Learning the proper etiquette in a particular type of restaurant in a particular area may sometimes require instruction, but more commonly it simply requires sensitivity and experience. For example, while it is acceptable to read a magazine in a coffee shop, it is inappropriate to do the same in a more luxurious setting. And, if you are eating in a very rustic setting it may be fine to tuck your napkin into your shirt, but if you are in a sophisticated urban restaurant this behavior would demonstrate a lack of manners. It is safe to say, however, that in virtually every restaurant it is unaccept able to indiscriminately throw your food on the floor. The conclusion we can most likely draw from the above is that while the types and locations of restaurants determine etiquette appropriate to them, some rules apply to all restaurants.

1. What is the author’s main purpose in this passage? a. to assist people in learning sophisticated manners b. to describe variations in restaurant manners c. to simplify rules of restaurant etiquette d. to compare sophisticated and rustic restaurants

Exercise-7

Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text.

There are more than 30,000 different jobs in our society. These jobs involve a wide range of educational and personal requirements. They provide a variety of working conditions, opportunities for advancement, and financial, social, and psychological rewards. Somewhere in this great number of job opportunities you should be able find a job that you could make into a lasting career. A career is a lifelong occupation.

What, then, is an occupation? And what is the difference between an occupation and a vocation? An occupation refers to a particular type of work that is done for a living, such as the work of a teacher, salesperson, or mechanic. Each occupation involves certain requirements and a number of specific tasks. A vocation is an occupation for which the person feels a calling or a sense of dedication. An occupation becomes a vocation when the person feels that it is the best way he or she can make a contribution to the society.

As you go about selecting a vocation, you might keep in mind several points. For one thing, it’s wise not to limit yourself too much in deciding to pursue a particular occupation. Society is constantly changing, and these changes always have some effect on the work force. Jobs come and go as the society changes. A very promising job at the present time may not exist ten years

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from now, as new inventions take over jobs previously done by individuals. Always keep a few alternate careers in the back of your mind. Also, remember that your interests and abilities may change. If you keep yourself flexible and plan ahead, you will fare much better in the world of work in a changing society.

1. What is the subject being discussed in the passage?< a. job requirements b. the changing society and the changing jobs c. alternate careers d. occupation and vocation

2. The word ‘They’ in the first paragraph refers to which of the following? a. personal requirements b. job seekers c. working conditions d. opportunities for advancement

3. According to the passage, the following does not belong to occupation a. it is done for living b. it needs certain requirements c. it is a calling or a sense of devotion d. it is done to meet the needs for the daily life

4. The following reasons suggest that ‘a person needs to keep a few alternate careers in the back of her mind’, except

a. A very good job at the present time might not exist in the future b. A promising job must be secured, thus other possible jobs must be ignored c. Jobs might be disappeared when new inventions appear to take over the jobs previously

done by individuals d. A promising job might be no longer needed in the future

5. What is the purpose of the last paragraph of the passage? a. to give tips to those looking for jobs b. to remind the readers to be careful with their jobs c. to give suggestions to those in the pursuit of occupations d. to differentiate between occupation and vocation

6. The word ‘lasting’ in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to which of the following? a. interesting b. enjoyable c. ending d. long term

7. The word ‘dedication’ in the second paragraph can best be replaced by a. possession b. consolidation c. enthusiasm d. commitment

8. The word ‘pursue’ can be replaced by which of the following? a. manage b. run c. hunt d. receive

9. The word ‘previously’ is closest in meaning to a. in the past b. intensively c. at a regular basis d. the most current situation

10. The phrase ‘alternate careers’ can be replaced by which of the following? a. changing careers b. other possible careers c. various careers d. essential careers

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Exercise-8

Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text.

Most newspaper, radio, and television news comes from special news agencies called “wire services”. They are called “wire” services because they send and receive many of their news reports over telephone and telegraph wires, although most wire services today use radio, communication satellites, and computer links as well. Of the four major wire services in the world today two are based in the United States, one in Britain, and one in the Soviet Union.

The Associated Press (AP) is a non-profit membership association and its headquarters are in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza. AP began in 1848 as an unofficial newsgathering cooperative for New York newspapers. Today 10,000 newspapers, radio stations, and television stations in more than 100 countries receive news reports and photographs from AP. 1300 of these newspapers and 3600 of the radio and television stations are in the United States. AP is known as a conservative wire service: most of its stories agree with the opinions of the rich families who own many of its member newspapers, and its foreign news often follows official U.S. government policy.

In 1958, the United Press and the International News Service joined together to form UPI, the United Press International. UPI is a privately-owned business with its headquarters on New York’s 42nd Street. It serves 6972 newspapers, radio stations, and television all over the world, including 1131 newspapers and 3650 radio and televisions in the U.S. UPI uses a modern computerized system with video typewriters and computer links between offices to send and receive news report quickly. However, UPI’s news reports are often not very interesting and they contain little analysis or opinion. As a result, many people think that UPI speed is more important than good news reporting.

Paul Julius Reuter was a German expatriate who started a financial news service for banks in London in 1858. Later he extended the service to newspapers, and then he included general news with financial news. Today, the Reuters news agency has over 3000 subscribers in 155 countries, many of them Third World Countries. It is well known as a source of accurate and objective news reports on international events. Reuters is a non-profit organization and its headquarters are located in Fleet Street, the newspaper district of London.

1. What is the subject being discussed in the passage? a. The Associated Press b. The United Press c. Wire Services d. The United Press International

2. The word “they” in the second paragraph refers to which of the following? a. news agencies b. radio news c. television news d. news reports

3. Which of the following is true about the major wire services? a. 25 % of the major wire services centered their activities in Europe b. 50 % of the major wire services were based in Europe c. 25 % of the major wire services was in the United States of America d. 75 % of the major wire services were based in U.S.

4. Since when has newspapers in New York informally received news provided by the Associated Press?

a. Since U.S. government issued a decree for foreign news to follow U.S. government policy.

b. Since they became the members of official newsgathering cooperative. c. Since the United Press and the International News Services joined together in 1958. d. Following the emergence of the United Press International.

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5. Which of the following information is NOT supported by the text? a. There are 4900 radio and television stations in the U.S. receiving news reports and

photographs from the Associated Press. b. There are almost 50 % of the news media receiving news reports and photographs

which are based in the U.S. c. The number of radio and television stations receiving news reports and photographs in

the U.S. reaches 3600. d. The number of newspapers receiving news reports and photographs in the U.S. reaches

as many as 1300. 6. Which of the following is true?

a. The United Press and the International News Services were established in 1958. b. The United Press International served 6972 newspapers, radio stations, and television

stations outside the U.S. c. The United Press International served 4781 newspapers, radio stations, and television

stations outside the U.S. d. The United Press International served 2191 newspapers, radio stations, and television

stations outside the U.S. 7. The following statement might reflect the weaknesses of the United Press International’s news

reports as outlined by the passage, except a. They are not stimulating. b. They are remarkable. c. They are not very interesting. d. They contain little analysis and opinion.

8. That people think UPI speed is more important than good news reporting implies that a. People are disappointed with the UPI news reports. b. Speed is more important than good news reporting. c. News reporting cannot be interesting if the speed does not support it. d. Good news is not more important than speed.

9.a. The Reuters news agency was initially based in Germany but is now moved to London. b. The Reuters news agency was established for German expatriates in London. c. The Reuters news agency was initially a financial news service for banks in London in

1858. d. Reuters news agency is as dull as the United Press International.

10. Which of the following fact is true according to the passage? a. Reuters news agency is noted for its accuracy and objectivity in the news reports on

International affairs. b. Reuters is similar to UPI in terms of its imprecision in their news report on International

events. c. Reuters news agency has less than 3000 subscribers around the world. d. Reuters news agency is a cooperative of newspaper subscribers in Fleet Street.

Exercise-9

Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text.

One of only four orangutan sanctuaries in the world, Sepilok is about 25 km north of Sandakan. The center was established in 1964; it now covers 40 sq km and has become one of Sabah’s top tourist attractions.

The centre has doubtless suffered from its own success – so many camera-clicking tourists are turned loose on the viewing platforms that the atmosphere can seem more like a circus than a sanctuary. More seriously, constant contact with humans has exposed the orang-utans to diseases, which can make rehabilitation to the wild all but impossible.

Orangutans are the only species of great ape found outside Africa. A mature male is an impressive, not to mention hairy, creature with an armspan of 2.25 m, and can weigh up to 144

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kg. It was once said that an orangutan could swing from tree to tree from one side of Borneo to the other without touching the ground. Sadly this is no longer case, and hunting and habitat destruction continue to take their toll.

Orphaned and injured orangutans are bought to Sepilok to be rehabilitated to return to forest life, and so far the center has handled about 100, although only about 20 still return regularly to be fed. It’s unlikely you’ll see anywhere near this number at feeding time – three or four is more likely. Females that have returned to the wild often come back to the feeding platforms when they’re given birth, after which they go back to the forest.

The orangutans are fed fruit, such as bananas, twice daily from a platform in the forest, about 10 minutes’ walk from the center. This feeding is just to supplement what they can find for themselves in the jungle – if trees are fruiting, few apes will turn up.

Young orangutans in particular are endlessly appealing, with ginger fur and intelligent eyes. Macaques may also join the feeding and photo frenzy – it’s quite dim under the forest canopy and if you’re taking photographs, you’ll need ASA 400 film.

Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, Lonely Planet, p 429-430.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss? a. Sipiliok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. b. The species of great ape outside Africa. c. Sanctuary and forest life. d. The difficulty of caring orangutan.

2. The writer uses the word “circus” to show that: a. Sepilok is the only sanctuary that has circus. b. Sepilok Sanctuary is an attractive place for tourists to see a circus. c. Orangutans show in Sepilok is of a great success. d. The situation of the sanctuary is no longer conducive as a place of safety for orangutans.

3. Which one is true according to the passage? a. Nowadays you can see orangutan swing from tree to tree without touching the ground. b. Though they are not extinct, orangutans population decreases. c. The length of orangutans’ arms is 2.25 meters. d. A mature orangutan is not hairy but impressive.

4. The last sentence of paragraph three may mean that a. The number of dead orangutans is increasing, and this endangers the habitat. b. Hunting and habitat destruction are no longer the case for the rehabilitation of

orangutans in Sepilok. c. Hunting is no longer the case in the destruction of the habitat of orangutans. d. To go for hunting, one should pass the toll road.

5. The word ‘orphaned’ in the opening of the third paragraph denotes that those orangutans a. have no parents b. have no friends c. have no relatives d. have no siblings

6. The world ‘this’ in paragraph three refers to which of the following a. Case b. Hunting c. The fact that orangutans could swing from tree to tree. d. Toll

7. The word ‘it’ in the last sentence means a. being under forest canopy b. photo frenzy c. forest canopy d. Macaques

8. According to the passage, of the number handled by the center, approximately how many orangutans return to the forest?

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a. 100 b. 80 c. 3-4 d. 16-17

9. The word ‘platform’ as used in the text is closest in meaning to which of the following? a. policy b. ground c. raised area d. habitat

10. Why do you need ASA 400 to take photograph under the forest canopy? a. to catch an object in a place which lacks light b. to catch a moving object which is unpredictable c. to make an object looks dimmer d. to tease orangutans with the flashlight

Exercise-10

Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text.

Early peoples believed that the earth was fixed in space with the sun, moon, and stars rotating around it, and they naturally concluded that the earth must have been fixed on some support. Earthquakes were then quite reasonably attributed to movements in that support. In Japan, at one time the support was believed to be a great spider, and later a giant catfish. In Mongolia and the Celebes, it was a hog; in India, a gigantic mole; in some parts of the South America, a whale; and among some of the North American Indians, a giant tortoise.

Aristotle, working with the four elements of the universe of his time – air, earth, fire, and water – pictured large masses of air or gases contained in subterranean cavities and heated to the point where they struggled to escape. This struggle and sometimes subsequent escape, he believed, caused the shaking of the ground which produced earthquakes. In line with this theory, he expounded the idea that prior to an earthquake, air having been forced or taken into earth cavities in abnormal amounts, the atmosphere became stifling. This led to the supposition that a stuffiness which sometimes accompanies high humidity was a warning of an impending earthquake, and such atmospheric conditions became known as earthquake weather. The idea that there is such a thing as earthquake weather has persisted to this day, though there is no basis in scientific fact for the belief.

The world’s greatest earthquakes, and practically all of any kind of size, are the result of structural changes in the earth, and are called tectonic earthquakes. The term is derived from the Greek word tekton, which means “a builder” or “a carpenter”, and thus refer to things pertaining to the architecture of the earth, that is, the development of its structure. Some of the changes affected in the generation of tectonic earthquakes are known to be accomplished by the fracturing of earth materials along the surfaces, called faults. At the times of fracture, there is a release of energy, which travels away from the source, or focus, in the form of elastic vibrations – earthquakes. Earthquake foci have been located at varying depths ranging from near the surface to more than 400 miles below the surfaces.

Encyclopedia Americana, no 9, Volume IX, p. 495, Americana Corporation.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss? a. History of earthquake. b. Aristotle’s explanation about earthquake. c. Earthquake according to people in the past time. d. Some beliefs about the causes of earthquakes.

2. The word ‘it’ in the first sentence of the first paragraph refers to which of the following? a. space

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b. sun c. earth d. star

3. Which of the following supports might live under the ground? a. mole b. spider c. tortoise d. whale

4. Which of the following order of events is true according to Aristotle? a. An earthquake occurred, then the atmosphere became stifling. b. An earthquake occurred, then air was forced into the earth cavities. c. Air was forced into the earth cavities, then an earthquake occurred followed by stifling

atmosphere. d. Before an earthquake occurred, the atmosphere was stifling.

5. The phrase ‘this theory’ in the third sentence of the second paragraph refers to a. the universe consisting of the air, earth, fire, and water b. the idea of subterranean cavities that house the four elements of the universe c. the escaping gases which cause the shaking of the ground d. the belief that the earthquake occurs because of the movements of a certain huge

Creature 6. According to Aristotle, the earthquake occurred because

a. gases in the subterranean cavities were clogged and this made the earth trembled b. the subterranean cavities struggled to make gases inside escape c. the subterranean cavities were abnormal and couldn’t hold the large gases d. large masses of gases were heated to the point where they were forced to travel

through the passages they found to escape 7. According to the passage, the most devastated earthquake was caused by

a. giant catfish b. structural changes in the earth c. giant tortoise d. large masses of gases

8. The writer used the word ‘fault’ in the last paragraph to explain a. the fracturing of the earth materials b. the non volcanic earthquake c. the architecture of the earth d. the generation of tectonic earthquake

9. It can be inferred from the passage that the epicentrum of the earthquake is a. at varying depths from near the surface to more than 400 miles below he surface b. 400 miles below the surface c. at an estimated depth of more than 400 miles below the surface d. at a constant depth, which is more than 400 miles below the surface

10. The word ‘release’ as used in second sentence from the bottom of the last paragraph can best be replaced by

a. product b. emission c. demand d. change

Exercise-11

Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text.

In schools, bullying usually occurs in all areas of school. It can occur in nearly any part in or around the school building, though it more often occurs in recess, hallways, bathrooms, on school buses and waiting for buses, classes that require group work and/or after school activities. Bullying in school sometimes consists of a group of students taking advantage of, or isolating one student in particular and gaining the loyalty bystanders who want to avoid becoming the next

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victim. These bullies will taunt and tease their target before physically bullying the target. Targets of bullying in school are often pupils who are considered strange or different by their peers to begin with, making the situation harder for them to deal with. Some children bully because they have been isolated, and they have a deep need for belonging, but they do not possess the social skills to effectively keep friends. “When you’re miserable, you need something more miserable than yourself.” This may explain the negative actions towards others that bullies exhibit. However, just like with adults, there are also those who simply enjoy hurting other people.

Bullying can also be perpetrated by teachers and the school system itself: there is an inherent power differential in the system than can easily predispose to subtle or covert abuse, humiliation, or exclusion even while maintaining overt commitments to anti-bullying policies.

School shootings are a bullying-related phenomenon that receive an enormous amount of media attention. An investigation undertaken by the United States Secret Service found that in over 2/3 of cases, attackers in school shooting incidents “felt persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked, or injured by others prior to the incident”, and discredits the idea that school shooters are “loners” who “just snap”. Though observing that, “clearly, not every child who is bullied in school presents a risk for targeted violence in school”, the investigation reports states that, “a number of attackers had experienced bullying and harassment that was longstanding the attack at school”. The report also observes “in a number of cases, attackers described experienced of being bullied in terms that approached torment”. The report concluded that “that bullying played a major role in a number of these school shootings should strongly support ongoing efforts to combat bullying in American schools”.

Anti bullying programs are designed to teach students cooperation, as well as training peer moderators in intervention and dispute resolution techniques, as a form of peer support.

American victims and their families have legal recourse, such as suing a school or teacher for failure to adequately supervise, racial or gender discrimination, or other civil right violations. Special education students who are victimized may sue a school or school board under the ADA or Section 504. In addition, the victims of some school shootings have sued both the shooter’s families and the schools.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying

1. What does the passage mainly discuss? a. Anti-bullying policy. b. Victims of bullying. c. Bullying in school. d. A bullying-related phenomenon.

2. In which of the following situations that bullying will most unlikely to occur? a. in the absence of teachers b. in school buses c. after school activities d. in group work activities

3. The phrase ‘loyalty bystanders’ in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to a. a person who sees the bullying by chance b. a person who doesn’t want to become the next target of bullying c. a person who always bullies others d. a person who sees the bullying but not involved

4. The word ‘they’ in the sixth sentence of the first paragraph refers to which of the following? a. targets of bullying b. social skills c. negative actions d. some children

5. The last sentence of the first paragraph means

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a. Some children like hurting others. b. Adults like bullying children. c. Together with adults children hurt other people. d. Some adults enjoy hurting themselves.

6. The word ‘itself’ in the second paragraph refers to a. bullying b. system c. school d. power

7. The word ‘persecuted’ as used in the third paragraph can best be replaced by a. relieved b. appreciated c. offended d. offered

8. According to an investigation undertaken by the US Secret Service, bullying in the form of school shooting was related to which of the following?

a. being lonely b. being bullied by others c. defending mechanism d. discrediting others

9. The writer used the word ‘torment’ in paragraph 3 to explain a. that bullying is a good exercise to face torture b. that bullying is uncontrollable and tends to be sadistic c. how their experience of being bullied was closed to that situation d. how bullying can be more severe than torment

10. The following statement is true, except a. Teachers can be brought to trial if failed to protect students from being bullied. b. Parents can file lawsuit to teachers if there is evidence that teachers fail to protect

children from racial discrimination. c. American family have legal training to protect their children from bullying. d. Issues in racial and gender discrimination must be well taken care by any school in

America.

Exercise-12

Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text.

Changes in the white blood cells may be associated with a rise above the normal level of 4,500 to 11,000 per cubic mm, which is called leukocytosis, and with a decrease below the lower limit of normal which is designated a leukopenia.

A leukocytosis is most frequently due to an infection which evokes an increase in the polymorphonuclear cells, the most common variety of leukocyte, for the purpose of defense against infection. This occurs in many diseases due to bacteria, such as pneumococcus, streptococcus, and staphylococcus, which are the common pus-forming organisms. An increase to a moderate level of 20,000 per cubic mm in such a condition as pneumococcus, lobar pneumonia is evidence of a satisfactory response and one which indicates an adequate body defense. If the response on the other hand, had been a decrease rather than an increase, with a white blood cell count as low as 3,000 or 4,000 per cubic mm., for example, it would indicate a subnormal effort on the part of the body and an ominous outlook. In certain other febrile disease, such as malaria, typhoid fever, and undulant fever in the white blood cell count, which is a helpful diagnostic feature in these maladies.

A leukopenia may result from such an inadequate response to an infection or in response to certain injections. It is also found in a condition known as agranulocytosis when the total white blood cell count may fall to extremely low levels, such as several hundred cell per cubic mm. With this striking reduction, many or all of the polymorphonuclear cells may disappear from

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their circulating blood. When such a condition prevails, infection usually gains the upper hand, and the patient is likely to succumb, unless white cell production is restored and the injection controlled by appropriate antibiotics. This condition is known to be due to the susceptibility of certain persons to drugs such as aminopyrine (Pyramodon), gold, some of the sulfonamide drugs, thioracil used in the treatment of certain thyroid disorders, and dinitrophenol. The frequency with which this susceptibility occurs is not known but it must be relatively rare. This is shown by the fact that although the sulfonamide drugs are in widespread use, they rarely cause agranulocytosis. It is estimated that about one person in 1,000 who are given gold preparation may develop the condition, of which about 50 percent succumb. In the past a greater number of cases developed following the use of aminopyrine, but as the drug is now used less frequently, cases from this cause are distinctly less.

Encyclopedia Americana, no 4, Volume IV, p. 110, Americana Corporation.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss? a. Blood disease called Leukocytosis. b. Blood disease associated with changes in white blood cells. c. Some possible causes of Leukocytosis. d. Some possible causes of Leukopenia

2. Which of the following can be categorized Leukocytosis? a. A fixed amount of white blood cell of 4,500 per cubic mm. b. A decrease of white blood cell of approximately 4,500 – 11,000 per cubic mm. c. A number of white blood cell surpassing 4,500 per cubic mm. d. A number of white blood cell surpassing far above 11,000 per cubic mm.

3. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage? a. Leukocytosis is a manifestation of bacteria. b. Leukocytosis is the other name of polymorphonuclear cell. c. Leukocytosis includes pneumococcus and streptococcus. d. Leukocytosis is a defense mechanism against infection.

4. The response against pus-forming organism in of our body is considered adequate if a. There is a number of white blood cell ranging from 4,500 – 11,000 cubic mm. b. There is an increase of white blood cell to a moderate level of 20,000 cubic mm. c. There is an increase of white blood cell up to 4,000 cubic mm. d. There is either a decrease or increase of white blood cell, ranging from 3,000 to 4,000

cubic mm. 5. The word ‘it’ in the fourth sentence of the second paragraph refers to

a. decrease b. increase c. white blood cell d. response

6. The word ‘maladies’ in the last sentence of the second paragraph is closest in meaning to which of the following?

a. tunes b. changes c. Problems d. infections

7. What will happen if polymorphonuclear cell disappear from the circulating blood? a. A person’s life will be in a great danger. b. A person will be protected from bacteria. c. It will make it easy to diagnose diaseases. d. It will make it difficult to identify human diseases.

8. The word ‘succumb’ in the fourth sentence of the third paragraph is closest in meaning to a. weaken b. bother c. give up d. rest

9. The loss of polymorphonuclear cell in our body is most likely caused by which of the following? a. The adequate response to an infection.

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b. The adequate response to an injection. c. The insignificant reduction of white blood cell. d. The insufficient response to an infection.

10. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? a. Aminopyrine is a kind of drug. b. Aminopyrine has caused problems to people suffering from leukopenia. c. Aminopirine is still widely used nowadays. d. Sulfonamide is more widely used than Aminopyrine.

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V. MATERI COMPOSING SKILL:

Introduction

Composing Skills merupakan salah satu bagian penting tes AcEPT karena kemampuan mengerjakan bagian ini akan memberikan kontribusi signifikan dalam scoring. Agar peserta tes dapat mengantisipasi soal Composing Skills, berikut digambarkan tentang Rahasia Tes Composing Skill dan bagaimana mempersiapkan diri menghadapi tes.

Rahasia Composing Skills

Composing mengujikan kemampuan menyusun kalimat dalam bahasa Inggris. Yang harus diperhatikan peserta tes dalam uji kemampuan ini adalah (1) bagaimana kalimat itu tersusun, dan (2) bagaimana kalimat-kalimat itu disusun menjadi sebuah paragraf. Agar seseorang dapat memahami bagaimana kalimat itu tersusun (1), maka dia harus mempelajari secara mendetail elemen-elemen kalimat. Untuk maksud ini Anda dapat mempelajari kembali bagian Grammar and Structure, pada bab yang membahas Elemen-elemen kalimat; dan agar seseorang dapat memahami bagaimana kalimat-kalimat itu disusun manjadi sebuah paragraph (2), maka dia dapat mempelajari “Apa itu Paragraf” pada pembahasan di halaman berikutnya.

YANG DIUJIKAN DALAM COMPOSING SKILLS

Pada bagian Composing Skills ini Anda diminta untuk menunjukkan kemampuan Anda memparafrasa kalimat dan mengenali bagian yang dianggap tidak baku dalam bahasa Inggris tulis. Ada lima sub bagian dengan perintah soal yang berbeda-beda.

A. Numbers 1 - 10 contain complete and correct sentences. For each number, you are required to choose the most appropriate paraphrased sentence closest in meaning to the original one.

[Soal nomor 1 - 10 berisi kalimat yang telah lengkap dan benar. Untuk masing-masing nomor Anda diminta memilih parafrasa kalimat A, B, C, dan D yang paling dekat artinya dengan kalimat asal].

Contoh soal

Fredy has decided to quit her job. I have to turn in his room key. o Fredy, who turned in his room key, has decided to quit his job. o Fredy, whose room key I have to turn in, has decided to quit her job. o Fredy, who had turned in his room key, decided to quit his job. o Fredy, whose room key I have to turn it, he has decided to quit his job.

The snapping turtle is actually quite docile. It is believed by many to be an aggressive animal. o The snapping turtle, is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite

docile. o The snapping turtle, which is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, which is

actually quite docile. o The snapping turtle, believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite

docile. o The snapping turtle, which is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, actually quite

docile. Mango trees are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers. They grow

rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

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o Mango trees, which are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, they grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

o Mango trees, are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, they grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

o Mango trees, densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, they grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

o Mango trees, which are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two building. One of the buildings was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

o The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, one of the buildings was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

o The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, which was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

o The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, one of which was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

o The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, which one of the buildings was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

B. Numbers 11 - 20 contain incorrect sentences. The incorrect part of the sentence has been identified for you. You are required to find the correct option to replace the underlined part.

[Soal nomor 11 - 20 berisi kalimat yang ‘tidak berterima’. Bagian yang ‘tidak berterima’ atau ‘error’ pada masing-masing kalimat telah diberi tanda berupa garis bawah. Anda diminta mengganti bagian yang bergaris bawah dengan memilih opsi yang secara tepat mengganti bagian yang salah tersebut]

Contoh soal

1. Marine Biology, the study of oceanic plants and animals and their ecological relationships, has furthered the efficiently development of fisheries.

a. the efficient development of fisheries. b. the efficiently development of fisheries. c. the development efficient of fisheries. d. the development efficiently of fisheries.

2. From birth, nightjar chicks solicit food by walking to the front of an adult bird, reaching up, and they peck at its bill.

a. they pecking at its bill. b. peck at its bill. c. pecking at its bill. d. at its bill they peck.

3. Canada having a bicameral, or two-chamber, parliament. a. Canada has b. Having Canada c. Because Canada has d. That Canada is having

4. In blank verse consisting each line of ten syllables, five of which are accented. a. line consists of each b. consists of each line c. each line consists d. it consists of each line

5. Tornados, powerful, destructive wind storms, occur most often in the spring when hot winds rise over flat land encounter heavy, cold air.

a. which to rise b. that rising c. are rising

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d. rising

C. Numbers 21 - 30, choose the most appropriate and correct sentence.

[Untuk soal nomor 21 - 30, pilihlah kalimat yang ‘benar’ atau sesuai dengan tatabahasa yang ‘berterima’ dalam bahasa Inggris]

Contoh soal

1.a. Because what she said is insulting. b. She said is insulting. c. What she said is insulting. d. It is insulting because what she said.

2.a. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yields a medicinal oil containing thymol. b. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yields a medicinal oil contains thymol. c. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yielding a medicinal oil contains thymol. d. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yielding a medicinal oil containing thymol.

3.a. Nutritionists considering goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested. b. Nutritionists are considered goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested. c. Nutritionists considered goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested. d. Nutritionists to consider goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested.

4.a. A ray of light passing through the center of a thin lens keeps its original direction. b. A ray of light passes through the center of a thin lens keeps its original direction. c. A ray of light that passes through the center of a thin lens keeping its original direction. d. A ray of light passing through the center of a thin lens what keeps its original direction.

5.a. Even though Indonesia consists of many islands. b. Indonesia is an archipelago, it consists of many islands. c. Indonesia consists of many islands it is an archipelago. d. Indonesia, an archipelago, consists of many islands.

D. Numbers 31 - 36 contain jumbled sentences. One of the sentences has been underlined. You are required to choose the next sentence which logically follows the underlined one.

[Soal nomor 31 - 36 berisi kalimat-kalimat yang tidak disusun dengan urutan yang logis. Kalimat pertama telah digarisbawahi. Anda diminta untuk memilih kalimat berikutnya yang secara logis mengikuti urutan kalimat yang digarisbawahi]

Contoh soal 1

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank. 2. In short, an ATM is a helpful machine which makes people’s life more efficient.3. For example, a customer care use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a limited amount of

cash.4. It enables customers to do several banking transactions twenty-four hours a day.5. In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get a cash advance on a credit

card.

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a. 2 b. 3 c. 4 d. 5

E. Numbers 37 - 40 contain jumbled sentences. You are required to identify the correct order to form a good paragraph.

[Soal nomor 37 - 40 berisi kalimat-kalimat yang tidak disusun dengan urutan yang logis. Anda diminta untuk memilih opsi yang menujukkan urutan kalimat logis yang membentuk paragraf.]

Contoh soal 1

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank.2. In short, an ATM is a helpful machine which makes people’s life more efficient3. For example, a customer care use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a limited amount of

cash.4. It enables customers to do several banking transactions twenty-four hours a day.5. In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get a cash advance on a credit

card.a. 2-3-4-1-5 b. 1-4-3-2-5 c. 1-4-5-3-2 d. 1-4-3-5-2

Contoh soal 2

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank.2. In short, an ATM is a helpful machine which makes people’s life more efficient3. For example, a customer care use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a limited amount of

cash.4. It enables customers to do several banking transactions twenty-four hours a day.5. In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get a cash advance on a credit

card.a. 2-3-4-1-5 b. 1-4-3-2-5 c. 1-4-5-3-2 d. 1-4-3-5-2

YANG HARUS DIPERSIAPKAN

Agar peserta tes dapat mengerjakan bagian ini dengan baik, setiap peserta tes harus menguasai (1) elemen-elemen kalimat dan (2) pengetahuan paragraf dengan baik.

1. ELEMEN-ELEMEN KALIMAT

Kenali Elemen-Elemen Kalimat: Kata, Frasa, dan Klausa

Perhatikan contoh-contoh berikut:

Kata

1. lady

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2. young3. beautiful

Frasa

1. beautiful lady2. young lady3. beautiful young lady

Penjelasan tentang kata, frasa, dan klausa:

Excercise-1

A. Mana bagian berikut ini yang merupakan ‘kata’, ‘frasa’, atau ‘klausa’.

1. car2. city car3. dictionary4. bilingual dictionary5. although she is sick6. because they are naughty7. computer rental8. secret

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9. admirer10. secret admirer11. when the smoke is going down12. unless he is consistent

Jawaban:

1. Car (kata)2. city car (frasa)3. dictionary (kata)4. bilingual dictionary (frasa)5. although she is sick (klausa)6. because they are naughty (klausa)7. computer rental (frasa)8. secret (kata)9. admirer (kata)10. secret admirer (frasa)11. when the smoke is going down (klausa)12. unless he is consistent (klausa)

2. STRUKTUR KALIMAT

Kenali Kalimat yang Tak Berterima dan Kalimat yang Berterima

Kalimat Yang Tak Berterima dapat berupa ‘pecahan kalimat’ (fragment) dan ‘kalimat yang kelebihan unsur pembentuknya secara tidak proporsional’ (Run-on sentence).

2.A. Struktur Kalimat Tak Berterima

Kalimat tak berterima adalah sebuah struktur kalimat yang dibangun seorang penulis tetapi di dalamnya terdapat ‘ketidaklengkapan’ unsur-unsur utama pembentuk kalimat sehingga bangunan kalimat yang ditulisnya ini lebih menyerupai ‘pecahan kalimat’ (fragment). Kalimat tak berterima juga dapat berupa bangunan kalimat yang di dalamnya terdapat lebihan unsur pembentuk kalimat sehingga susunan kalimat menjadi tidak proporsional.

Fragment [Pecahan Kalimat] dan cara mengenalinya:

Tidak terdapat unsur S V inti. Jika ada S V, hanya merupakan patahan dari bagian lain yang hilang.

Contoh

A very talented young man. Since human behavior has always fascinated him. Who has the ability to keep her classes involved throughout the lesson. Running a mile or two before breakfast. To tell people about exotic countries that they might visit.

Run-on Sentence [Kalimat yang kelebihan unsur pembentuknya] dan cara mengenalinya:

Terdapat lebihan unsur S atau V yang tidak proporsional pada konstruksi yang telah mengandung S V.

Contoh

S V V S S V

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SV SV S V, SV

2.B. Struktur Kalimat Berterima (Correct Sentences)

Terdapat unsur SV (satu pasang atau lebih) yang tersusun secara proporsional (gramatik).

Terdapat unsur SV (satu pasang atau lebih) yang tersusun secara proporsional (gramatik).

SV SV Con SV Con SV, SV SV, Coord Conj SV

Gunakan Teori di Halaman Sebelumnya untuk Mengerjakan Soal di Bawah Ini

Exercise-2

Choose the most appropriate and correct sentence

[Mana di antara pilihan berikut ini yang merupakan Kalimat Berterima]

1.a. Because what she said is insulting. b. She said is insulting. c. What she said is insulting. d. It is insulting because what she said.

2.a. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yields a medicinal oil containing thymol. b. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yields a medicinal oil contains thymol. c. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yielding a medicinal oil contains thymol. d. Thyme, a fragrant garden herb, yielding a medicinal oil containing thymol.

3.a. Nutritionists considering goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested.

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b. Nutritionists are considered goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested. c. Nutritionists considered goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested. d. Nutritionists to consider goat milk to be rich, nourishing, and readily digested.

4.a. A ray of light passing through the center of a thin lens keeps its original direction. b. A ray of light passes through the center of a thin lens keeps its original direction. c. A ray of light that passes through the center of a thin lens keeping its original direction. d. A ray of light passing through the center of a thin lens what keeps its original direction.

5.a. Even though Indonesia consists of many islands. b. Indonesia is an archipelago, it consists of many islands. c. Indonesia consists of many islands it is an archipelago. d. Indonesia, an archipelago, consists of many islands.

Jawaban Exercise-2

1. Pilihan yang tepat untuk nomor 1 adalah C. Mari kita lihat hasil analisis sbb:

Catatan

Con S V - Hanya membentuk Fragment (bukan kalimat). S V V – membentuk konstruksi Run-on Sentence (bukan kalimat). S V – Kalimat yang benar. SV Con S – Belum membentuk konstruksi kalimat yang benar.

2. Pilihan yang tepat untuk nomor 2 adalah  A . Mari kita lihat hasil analisis sbb:

Catatan

S V – Konstruksi kalimat yang benar. S V V – membentuk konstruksi run-on sentence. S – kelengkapan kalimat belum terbentuk. S – kelengkapan kalimat belum terbentuk.

3. Pilihan yang tepat untuk nomor 3 adalah  C . Mari kita lihat hasil analisis sbb:

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Catatan

S – tidak membentuk konstruksi kalimat (considering bukanlah Verb). V bentuk Ing tidak bisa menjadi V jika tidak didahului be.

S V – membentuk konstruksi kalimat yang benar. S V – membentuk konstruksi kalimat yang benar. S – tidak membentuk konstruksi kalimat.

Dari dua pilihan yang masuk nominasi, pilihan C merupakan pilihan yang lebih daripada B baik karena makna yang tercipta logis (C. Ahli gizi mengganggap susu kambing….); sementara pilihan (B. Ahli gizi dianggap susu kambing…).

4. Pilihan yang tepat untuk nomor 4 adalah  A. Mari kita lihat hasil analisis sbb:

Catatan

S V – membentuk konstruksi kalimat yang benar. S V V – membentuk run-on sentence. S – tidak membentuk konstruksi kalimat. S – tidak membentuk konstruksi kalimat.

5. Pilihan yang tepat untuk nomor 5 adalah  D . Mari kita lihat hasil analisis sbb:

Catatan

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Con S V – tidak membentuk konstruksi kalimat. S V, S V – membentuk run-on sentence. S V S V – membentuk run-on sentence. S V – membentuk konstruksi kalimat yang benar.

Rekomposisi

Salah satu bagian dalam Composing skill adalah me-recompose (menyusun ulang kalimat dengan tatanan berbeda tapi mengandung pengertian yang sama). Ketrampilan menyusun ulang kalimat ini menjadi skill penting dalam bahasa Inggris dan merupakan salah satu dasar kemampuan Academic Writing. Oleh karena tes ini menguji ‘Komposisi Kalimat’, maka Anda diharuskan mampu me-recompose kalimat dengan bagian-bagian di dalamnya yang meliputi Adjective Clause, Adverbial Clause, Noun Clause, Reduced Clause, Comparative, Conditional Sentences, Active and Passive Voice, dsb.

Adjective Clause

A. Adjective Clause atau ‘klausa ajektiva’ adalah klausa yang memiliki karakter ajektif dalam kalimat. Oleh karena ajektif memiliki fungsi menerangkan kata/frasa benda, maka Adjective Clause dapat didefinisikan sebagai klausa yang bertugas menerangkan kata/frasa benda. Adjective Clause lazimnya didahului oleh kata-kata seperti: who, whom, which, that, whose, of which, by which, dsb. Adjective clause dapat pula didahului oleh kata-kata seperti when, where, dll.

Perhatikan contoh-contoh berikut:

The blond girl who just came in is Sarah. I don’t like people who lose their tempers easily. This is Henry, whose wife works for my brother-in-law.

Pada kalimat pertama, yang bercetak miring merupakan sebuah klausa. Klausa adalah bagian dari kalimat yang mengandung unsur Subject dan Verb. Oleh karena klausa tersebut mempunyai fungsi menerangkan frasa benda the blond girl, maka bagian yang bercetak miring itu disebut klausa ajektiva.

Pada kalimat kedua, bagian yang bercetak miring, yakni who lose their tempers easily adalah klausa yang menerangkan kata ‘people’. Kehadiran klausa ajektif dalam konteks di atas sangat penting karena tanpa kehadiran klausa tersebut, informasi yang tergambar dalam kalimat menjadi kurang jelas. Perhatikan potongan kalimat berikut: I don’t like people. Secara gramatik, kalimat tersebut telah memenuhi syarat untuk dikatakan sebagai kalimat karena telah mengandung Subject dan Verb. Tetapi makna yang tercipta, sekalipun tetap bisa diterima, terasa tidak lengkap. “Saya tidak suka orang”. Sebagai pembaca, kita akan bertanya lebih jauh “Orang yang mana?” atau “Orang yang bagaimana?” Dalam kalimat di atas, kehadiran klausa who lose their tempers easily (yang mudah naik pitam) benar-benar menjelaskan people (orang) yang dimaksud.

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Seperti contoh kalimat pertama dan kedua, kalimat ketiga juga diwarnai hadirnya klausa dalam kalimat tersebut, yakni whose wife works for my brother-in-law, yang menjelaskan ‘kata benda’ Henry. Oleh karena klausa tersebut menjelaskan kata benda, maka klausa itu disebut sebagai klausa ajektiva atau klausa yang menerangkan benda.

Adjective Clause

A. Tip untuk mengerjakan soal yang berhubungan dengan Adjective Clause:

Untuk dapat menguasai persoalan Adjective Clause, anda harus mampu menganalisis ‘ekstensi’ atau ‘perluasan’ kata/frasa benda tertentu dari suatu kalimat. Pastikan bahwa Anda memahami proses perluasan tersebut. Jika Anda mengalami kesulitan untuk melihat proses perluasan kalimat dengan menggunakan relative clause maka bagian ini wajib Anda baca dan ikuti dengan seksama. Perhatikan contoh berikut:

The man who was selling magazines rang the doorbell. The student whose book I borrowed lives down the hall.

Kehadiran klausa who was selling magazine pada kalimat nomor 1 dianggap penting dalam kalimat tersebut karena kehadirannya memperjelas Subject The man. Tanpa adanya klausa tersebut, kita akan bertanya-tanya “orang yang mana yang memencet bel pintu”. Dalam konteks inilah adjective clause tampil, yakni memperjelas bagian yang diterangkan, yakni orang yang menjual majalah itu yang memencet bel pintu (The man who was selling magazines rang the doorbell) Apabila dipecah, kalimat tersebut berasal dari dua kalimat, yakni:

The man rang the doorbell He was selling magazines

Pada kalimat nomor 2 klausa whose book I borrowed juga memiliki peran penting dalam menerangkan Subject kalimat, sebab tanpa kehadiran klausa tersebut pembaca akan bertanya-tanya ‘student’ yang mana yang tinggal di hall. Untuk dapat melihat lebih detail mengenai bagian-bagian dalam kalimat tersebut, kita harus mampu memecah kalimat itu menjadi dua bagian, sehingga kita dapat memahami proses terjadinya kalimat tersebut. Apabila kita pecah, kalimat tersebut akan menjadi:

The student lives down the hall. I borrowed his book.

Apabila disederhanakan, kedua kalimat di atas menjadi:

The student whose book I borrowed lives down the hall.

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Berikut ini kami tunjukkan contoh-contoh penggabungan kalimat yang dapat memberikan gambaran kepada Anda mengenai kalimat yang mengandung Adjective Clause beserta unsur-unsur pembentuknya.

Kalimat asal: o The man rang the doorbell. o He was selling magazines

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o The man who was selling magazines rang the doorbell.o The man ( ) selling magazines rang the doorbell.o who was dapat dihilangkan dalam konteks kalimat di atas.

Kalimat asal: o I am reading Future Shock. o It is a starling and unsettling book

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o I am reading Future Shock, which is a startling and unsettling book.o I am reading Future Shock, ( ) a startling and unsettling book.o which is dapat dihilangkan dalam konteks kalimat di atas.

Kalimat asal: o Here is the contract. o The terms of it are binding.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o Here is the contract, the terms of which are binding. Kalimat asal:

o I’ll assign you a dictionary. o You should become familiar with it

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o I’ll assign you a dictionary, with which you should become familiar. Kalimat asal:

o The boy was stranded for three hours. o His bus left without him.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o The boy, whose bus left without him, was stranded for three hours. Kalimat asal:

o Mary has decided to resign. o I turned in her report to the manager yesterday.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o Mary, whose report I turned in to the manager yesterday, has decided to resign. Kalimat asal:

o It was a day. o Everything went wrong on that day.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

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o It was a day when everything went wrong. Kalimat asal:

o That was the moment. o Mack made his announcement then.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o That was the moment when Mack made his announcement. Kalimat asal:

o The car was parked in the east lot. o The wind damage was worst there.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o That car was parked in the east lot, where the wind damage was worst. Kalimat asal:

o We visited the town. o My mother lived there.

Kalimat yang telah digabung:

o We visited the town where my mother lived.

Exercise-3

Numbers 1 – 4 contain complete and correct sentences. For each number, you are required to choose the most appropriate paraphrased sentence closest in meaning to the original one.

1. Fredy has decided to quit her job. I have to turn in his room key. a. Fredy, who turned in his room key, has decided to quit his job. b. Fredy, whose room key I have to turn in, has decided to quit her job. c. Fredy, who had turned in his room key, decided to quit his job. d. Fredy, whose room key I have to turn it, he has decided to quit his job.

2. The snapping turtle is actually quite docile. It is believed by many to be an aggressive animal. a. The snapping turtle, is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite

docile. b. The snapping turtle, which is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, which is

actually quite docile. c. The snapping turtle, believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite

docile. d. The snapping turtle, which is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, actually quite

docile. 3. Mango trees are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers. They grow

rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet. a. Mango trees, which are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant

flowers, they grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet. b. Mango trees, are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers,

they grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet. c. Mango trees, densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, they

grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet. d. Mango trees, which are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant

flowers, grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet. 4. The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two building. One of the buildings was designed by

the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. a. The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, one of the buildings was

designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

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b. The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, which was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

c. The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, one of which was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

d. The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, which one of the buildings was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Cara menganalisis Adjective Clause

Fredy has decided to quit her job. I have to turn in his room key.

Perhatikan bagian yang sama pada kedua kalimat tersebut. Fredy has decided to quit her job. I have to turn in his room key.

Pada kalimat kedua, Fredy ditulis dalam bentuk Possessive Pronoun (kata ganti kepunyaan). Untuk kata ganti kepunyaan, yang dipakai adalah WHOSE.

Jika dianalisis dari sudut pandang Fungsi, ------------- “I have to turn in his room key, frasa his room key menduduki fungsi objek. Sehingga komposisinya apabila kedua kalimat itu digabung menjadi: Fredy, whose room key I have to turn in, has decided to quit her job.

The snapping turtle is actually quite docile. It is believed by many to be an aggressive animal.

Jika kalimat di atas disederhanakan menjadi:

The snapping turtle, believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite docile.

Mango trees are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers. They grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

Jika kalimat di atas disederhanakan, maka kalimat tersebut akan menjadi:

Mango trees, which are densely covered with glossy leaves and bear small fragrant flowers, grow rapidly and can attain heights of up to 90 feet.

The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two building. One of the buildings was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Jika kalimat di atas disederhanakan, maka kalimat tersebut akan mejadi:

The Dallas Theater Center presents plays in two buildings, one of which was designed by the internationally renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Exercise-4

Bagian A

Numbers 1 – 8 contain complete and correct sentences. For each number, you are required to choose the most appropriate paraphrased sentence closest in meaning to the original one.

[Soal nomor 1 – 8 berisi kalimat yang telah lengkap dan benar. Untuk masing-masing nomor Anda diminta memilih parafrasa kalimat A, B, C, dan D yang paling dekat artinya dengan kalimat asal].

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1. Andre has decided not to apply for that position. I translated his application letter into English. a. Andre, who asked me to tranlate his application letter into English, has decided not to

apply for that position. b. Andre, whom I translated his application letter into English, has decided to quit his job. c. Andre, whose application letter I translated into English, has decided to quit his job. d. Andre, I translated his application letter into English, has decided to quit his job.

2. Has she enrolled Professor Wijana’s classes? Do you know? a. Do you know has she enrolled Professor Wijana’s classes? b. Do you know if she has enrolled Professor Wijaya’s classes? c. Do you know she has enrolled Professor Wijana’s classes? d. Do you know Professor Wijana’s classes she has enrolled?

3. Although the building was comfortable, it was not chosen by our badminton club as the place for badminton training.

a. The building was not chosen by our badminton club as it was uncomfortable. b. Now that the building was comfortable, the badminton club did not choose it as the

place for our badminton training. c. Despite its comfort, the building was not chosen by the badminton club as the place for

our badminton training. d. Despite its comfort, our badminton club did not choose the building as the place for our

badminton training. 4. Simon Santosa defeated Lee Chong Wei in the final round. All his team mates congratulated

him. a. Having defeated Lee Chong Wei in the final round, all his team mates congratulated him. b. Defeating Lee Chong Wei in the final round, Simon Santosa congratulated all his team

mates. c. Having defeated Lee Chong Wei in the final round, Simon Santosa was congratulated by

all his team mates. d. To be congratulated by all his team mates, Simon Santosa defeated Lee Chong Wei in

the final round. 5. Had the shop keeper closed the store before you got there?

a. Had you closed the store before the shop keeper got there? b. Had you got there before the shop keeper closed the store? c. Had the store been closed by the shopkeeper before you got there? d. Had the shop keeper got there before you closed the store?

6. To achieve 300 on AcEPT test is not an easy job. a. An easy job is not to achieve 300 on AcEPT test. b. Not an easy job is to achieve 300 on AcEPT test. c. 300 on AcEPT test in not easy job to achieve. d. It is not an easy job to achieve 300 0n AcEPT test.

7. Gadjah Mada University language center was inaugurated on Kartini’s day. It has become the most important institution to help prepare Indonesian students to study overseas.

a. Gadjah Mada University language center was inaugurated on Kartini’s day, it has become the most important institution to help prepare Indonesian students to study overseas.

b. Gadjah Mada University language center has become the most important institution to help prepare Indonesian students to study overseas was inaugurated on Kartini’s day.

c. Established on Kartini’s day, Gadjah Mada University has become the most important institution to help prepare Indonesian students to study overseas.

d. It has become the most important institution to help prepare Indonesian students to study overseas. It was inaugurated on Kartini’s day.

8. Canada is a very interesting place to visit. It is sometimes called the Big Apple. a. To be called the Big Apple, Canada is a very interesting place to visit. b. Canada is sometimes called the Big Apple, it is a very interesting place to visit. c. Canada is a very interesting place to visit because it is sometimes called the Big apple. d. Canada, sometimes called the Big Apple, is a very interesting place to visit.

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Bagian B

Numbers 1 – 10 contain incorrect sentences. The incorrect part of the sentence has been identified for you. You are required to find the correct option to replace the underlined part.

[Soal nomor 1 – 10 berisi kalimat yang ‘tidak berterima’. Bagian yang ‘tidak berterima’ atau ‘error’ pada masing-masing kalimat telah diberi tanda berupa garis bawah. Anda diminta mengganti bagian yang bergaris bawah dengan memilih opsi yang secara tepat mengganti bagian yang salah tersebut].

1. Worker bees labor for the good of the hive by collecting food, caring for the young, and to expand the nest.

a. expand b. to be expanded c. expanding d. expands

2. Sharing corporate stocks with employees can be an effective way to promote harmonious, efficiency, and equitability in the workplace.

a. To be harmonious b. Be harmonious c. Harmony d. Harmoniously

3. The construction of sundials was considered to be an acceptable part of a sundial’s educator as late as the seventeenth century.

a. education b. educating c. educated d. educator

4. Jekyll Island has been one of George’s state parks in 1954. a. on b. for c. since d. within

5. Reptiles must always to avoid extremes of temperature if they are to maintain appropriate body heat.

a. avoiding b. avoided c. tobe avoided d. avoid

6. Where does a river intersects another river, a city usually is formed. a. a river does b. is a river c. a river d. a river is

7. Brain growth is partially produced by the stimulate of ganglia during what is known as REM sleep.

a. stimulating b. stimulation c. stimulate d. stimulated

8. The area of Alaska is considerable larger than that of Texas. a. consoderably b. considering c. consider d. to consider

9. A person who is "right-brained" is said to be more intuitive, to thoughtfully and subjective. a. thoughtful b. to thoughtfulness

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c. thoughts d. to thoughtful

10. Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs was an American entrepreneur, marketer, and inventor, where was the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc.

a. who b. which c. whom d. is

Bagian C

Numbers 1 – 8, Choose the most appropriate and correct sentence.

[Untuk soal nomor 1 – 8, pilihlah kalimat yang ‘benar’ atau sesuai dengan tatabahasa yang ‘berterima’ dalam bahasa Inggris].

1.a. When Colombus reached the New World, corn was the most widely grown plant in the

USA. b. Colombus reached the New World, corn was the most widely grown plant in the USA. c. Colombus reached the New World corn was the most widely grown in the USA. d. It is when Colombus reached the New World, corn was the most widely grown plant in

the USA. 2.

a. Cedar Rapids, is a city in east central Iowa, is the governmental seat of Linn County. b. Cedar Rapids, a city in east central Iowa, the governmental seat of Linn County. c. Cedar Rapids, is a city in east central Iowa, the governmental seat of Linn County. d. Cedar Rapids, a city in east central Iowa, is the governmental seat of Linn County.

3.a. The Hopi people having occupied their desert homeland in northern Arizona for at least

one thousand years. b. The Hopi people have occupied their desert homeland in northern Arizona for at least

one thousand years. c. The Hopi people who have occupied their desert homeland in northern Arizona for at

least one thousand years. d. The Hopi people have been occupied their desert homeland in northern Arizona for at

least one thousand years. 4.

a. Hillary Clinton is an advocate for children’s rights has been a leading attorney for the past twenty years.

b. Hillary Clinton, an advocate for children’s rights, has been a leading attorney for the past twenty years.

c. Hillary Clinton is an advocate for children’s rights, she has been a leading attorney for the past twenty years.

d. Hillary Clinton, an advocate for children’s rights, she has been a leading attorney for the past twenty years.

5.a. Unless suffient evidence of criminal behavior is presented to a grand jury, can not indict

a person. b. Unless suffient evidence of criminal behavior is presented to a grand jury, it can not

indict a person. c. Unless suffient evidence of criminal behavior is presented to a grand jury, can it not

indict a person. d. Unless suffient evidence of criminal behavior it is presented to a grand jury, it can not

indict a person. 6.

a. Because what he said is hard to believe.

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b. What he said is hard to believe. c. It is hard to believe because what he said. d. hard to believe what he said.

7.a. Water polo is a game it requires an ability to accelerate quickly in the water and to

endure long periods of swimming without rest. b. Water polo is a game requires an ability to accelerate quickly in the water and to endure

long periods of swimming without rest. c. Water polo is a game that it requires an ability to accelerate quickly in the water and to

endure long periods of swimming without rest. d. Water polo is a game that requires an ability to accelerate quickly in the water and to

endure long periods of swimming without rest. 8.

a. Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan, she is reputed to have saved John Smith just before his execution.

b. Pocahontas, she is the daughter of Chief Powhatan , is reputed to have saved John Smith just before his execution.

c. Pocahontas, is the daughter of Chief Powhatan , is reputed to have saved John Smith just before his execution.

d. Pocahontas , the daughter of Chief Powhatan , is reputed to have saved John Smith just before his execution .

Bagian D

Numbers 1 – 2 contain jumbled sentences. One of the sentences has been underlined. You are required to choose the next sentence which logically follows the underlined one.

[Soal nomor 1 – 2 berisi kalimat-kalimat yang tidak disusun dengan urutan yang logis. Kalimat pertama telah digarisbawahi. Anda diminta untuk memilih kalimat berikutnya yang secara logis mengikuti urutan kalimat yang digarisbawahi].

1.a. The scientific study of clouds began in 1803 when Luke Howard, a British pharmacist and

amateur meteorologist, introduced the first system for classifying clouds.b. It is based on the shape, distribution, and altitude of clouds.c. Although many other procedures for cloud classification have been devised over the

years, Howard’s system is so simple and effective that it is still in use today.d. Howard used their latin names to identify them.e. He identified ten different categories.f. 2 g. 3 h. 4 i. 5

2.a. Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do not always have the same

emotional meaning.b. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, and aggressive but not pushy.c. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because many so-called synonyms

are not really synonymous at all.d. For example, the words stingy and frugal both mean "careful with money.e. However, to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word frugal has a much more

positive connotation.f. 2 g. 3 h. 4 i. 5

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Bagian E

Numbers 1 – 2 contain jumbled sentences. You are required to identify the correct order to form a good paragraph.

[Soal nomor 1 – 2 berisi kalimat-kalimat yang tidak disusun dengan urutan yang logis. Anda diminta untuk memilih opsi yang menujukkan urutan kalimat logis yang membentuk paragraf].

1.a. The energy that is released by a hurricane in one day exceeds the total energy

consumed by human kind throughout the world.b. These violent storms are often a hundred miles in diameter, and their winds can reach

velocities of 75 miles per hour or more.c. Hurricanes, which are also called cyclones, exert tremendous power.d. Furthermore, the strong winds and heavy rainfall that accompany them can completely

destroy a small town in a couple of hours.e. 1 – 2 – 4 – 3 f. 3 – 1 – 2 – 4 g. 2 – 3 – 4 – 1 h. 3 – 2 – 4 – 1

2.a. This in turn contributed to an increase in the population in the area.b. The Egyptian landscape has been changing for centuries.c. One of the most notable aspects of this transformation is the year-round irrigation of

land for agricultural purposes, rather than strict on the annual flood.d. Conversion to continuous irrigation, which began around 1500 and was limited only by

the level of technology, led to improve agricultural productivity.e. One area which has undergone dramatic change over the last 7.000 years is Nile River

basin.f. 2 – 5 – 3 – 4 – 1 g. 2 – 3 – 5 – 4 – 1 h. 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 4 i. 1 – 2 – 5 – 3 – 4

KUNCI JAWABAN

Bagian A

1. C2. B3. C4. C5. C6. D7. C8. D

Bagian B

1. C2. C3. A4. C

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5. D6. C7. B8. A9. A10. A

Bagian C

1. A2. D3. B4. B5. B6. B7. D8. D

Bagian D

1. B2. C

Bagian E

1. D2. A

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