engeise

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 1-4)!

West Cornwall

The area that was once the engine room of Britain’s mining industry has a haunting beauty.
The towns of Redruth and its sibling Camborne were West Cornwall’s mining heartland. It is a place where one
must spend time to recognize the beauty. Five kilometers to the west, the village of Portreath overlooks an area
of sand, book ended by cliffs.
Portreath is the best village in the area. It began as the playground of the Redruth Camborne
miners. Now it is slightly middle-class resort filled in summer with families on holidays. In the mid 19th century
the small harbour bustled with sailing vessels.
Cornwall’s mining land-scapes have been nominated for World Heritage status. At dusk, we
climb Cam Brea, an Iron Age settlement and hill fort close to Redruth. We count more than a dozen mine
chimneys against the evening skyline. Standing on top of Cam Brea, it is hard to believe that 150 years ago these
relics of the mining industry shrieked with the sound of heavy machinery. Now, except for chirruping of the
birds, all is silent.
If you’ve got the legs and the stamina there’s no better way to get to know Cornwall’s wild
Atlantic seaboard than to hike it. The National Trust looks after 260 km of Cornish coastline, sand dunes and
sheltered bays for walkers. On a breezy day with the sun flitting in and out of clouds, we take the local bus from
Redruth to St Agnes and hike 12 km south to Portreath.
The 18 km cycling trail is the best in that part of the country. It takes you from Portreath in
the west to the river at Devoran in the southeast. The path follows the tracks of the horse drawn tramways that
once hauled ore to the ports.
Surfing is popular on the beaches of west Cornwall. There is always a hardly group of surfers
in the waves in all weather. New quay is the surf capital but there are plenty of good beaches north towards
Padstow and south to St Ives.
(Adapted from article in week-end Australian, February, 2005)

1. What does the text mainly discuss?

2. What is the main idea of the third paragraph?
3. What happened if you had the legs and the stamina?
4. What is the similar meaning of shrieked

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 5-7)!

Robert Edwards was blinded in an automobile accident nine years ago. He was also partially deaf because of
old age. Last week, he was strolling near his home when a thunderstorm approached. He took refuge under a
tree and was struck by lighting. He was knocked to the ground and woke up some 20 minutes later, lying face
down in water below a tree. He went into the house and lay down in bed. A short time later, he woke; his legs
were numb and he was trembling, but when he opened his eyes, he could see the clock across the room fading
in and out in front of him. When his wife entered, he saw her for the first time in nine years. Doctors confirm
that he has regained his sight and hearing apparently from the flash or lighting, but they are unable to explain
the occurrence. The only possible explanation offered by one doctor was that, since Edwards lost his sight as a
result of trauma in a terrible accident, perhaps the only way it could be restored was by another trauma.

5. What is the topic of the story?

6. What was the first thing that Robert Edwards saw after being struck by lighting?
7. What was Edwards doing when he was struck by lighting?

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 8-11)!

Copenhagen (Reuter): A United Nation summit to fight poverty, unemployment, and social injustice
marked international Women’s Day yesterday by declaring that women were the biggest victims of all three.
“There is no single group which illustrates the three themes of this conference better than women. The
highest percentage of employed are women, the poorest of the poor are women, the socially marginalized and
excluded are women” UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghalli said in speech.
 “Poverty cannot be eliminated, productive employment cannot be expanded and social integration cannot
achieve unless women wholly and equitably participate in social development,” he added.
The United Nations estimates that about 1.3 billion people live in chronic poverty and that 70 percent are
female. Over the past 20 years the number of women in extreme poverty grew by 50 percent while the rate for
men was 30 percent, U.N data shows.

8. What is the aim of the United Nations summit conference based on the above text?
9. What is the synonym of ‘participate’ ?
10. What is the main idea of paragraph 4?
11. What is the main point that you get from the text?

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 12-15)!

Most countries have their own myths and legends. These are stories about the early history of a place or a
group of people. Famous legends in Indonesia are Si Malin Kundang from West Java, Sangkuriang from West
Java, and Calon Arang from Bali.
The Aboriginal people of Australia have many legends. The most famous of these are called the
Dreamtime. The Dreamtime explains the origin and culture of the land and its people. Some people say Aboriginal
culture dates back 65,000 years. Amazing! The Dreamtime contains many parts. As with other cultures it explains
how the Earth was formed and how humans were created. There are Gods and Goddesses –some who were kind
hearted and some were cruel. Each tribe has its own individual Dreamtime story but many of them have similar
parts to the story. The Dreamtime stories are passed down to the next generation through story telling and dancing
and painting. Nothing is written down and there are no TV series about it either.
Taken from KGRE, page 10, June 2007.

12. What is the text about?

13. The synonym of famous is … .
14. What is the most famous legends from the Aboriginal people of Australia?
15. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 16-19)!

The largest of the world’s 17 penguin species, emperor penguins stand nearly four feet and weigh up to 90
pounds. These sea birds never set foot on dry land. (1) An estimated 200,000 breeding pairs live in about 40 penguin
colonies scattered along the coasts of Antarctica. (2) Their waterproofed feathers, flipper-like wings, and streamlined
bodies make them excellent swimmers and divers. On ice they can travel distances up to 50 miles by “tobogganing”—
gliding on their stomachs while pushing with their wings and feet.
(3) Emperor penguins breed during the Antarctic winter in some of the world’s most severe weather conditions
(temperatures of –80 F and winds up to 112 miles per hour). Breeding during the winter allows chicks to mature in
midsummer when food is plentiful. After the female lays a single egg, the male holds it in a fold of skin near his feet
for a two-month incubation period. During this time he huddles with other males to keep warm. (4) The male moves
very little and does not eat, usually losing up to a third of his body weight. Meanwhile the females go to sea and dive
for fish so that when they return they can feed and care for the newly hatched chicks. After the male restores his body
weight, both parents take turns caring for their young.
The world’s emperor penguin population declined in the last 50 years due to a period of warming ocean
temperatures. Warm water shrinks ice cover and reduces the population of krill—a small crustacean that is the emperor
penguin’s staple food. Today the emperor penguin population has stabilized, but warming trends could again threaten
this magnificent sea bird.

16. What is the author’s main purpose in this passage?

17. What can you explain from the emperor penguin based on the text?
18. The word ‘stabilized’ is closest in meaning to ___
19. Why do male emperor penguins form a huddle?
Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 20-23)!

If we can agree that government has some roles to play in our lives, then let's at least make it a positive one.
Consider the benefits of free, fully-subsidized public transportation.
First, it will motivate more people to leave their cars at home. Think of the reduction in pollution and traffic
jams and insurance costs due to accidents. Greener cities, safer cities, more liveable cities. More room for parks and
trees. Think of the money we'll all save by consuming less gas, spending less frequently on car repairs, and so on.
That money will stay in our wallets and we could then turn around and give the economy a boost by spending it on
other consumer goods or services. More jobs.
Secondly, we must consider the health benefits. We'll all walk a little more. This will reduce visits to
doctors' offices and hospitals because we'll be healthier. We'll have improved blood pressure, lower stress and
possibly a better complexion.
In addition, free transportation will encourage us to enjoy the company of our friends and family. It will
become much more feasible to safely drink another glass of wine at the restaurant or have that extra beer at the
family gathering. We'll avoid the worry of getting behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol level that's above the legal
limit. Fewer accidents, fewer tragedies, lower costs of policing and reduced court backlogs. The increased public
expense in transportation should pay off in the form of reduced health care costs and a safer society.
Then, think about some of the other social benefits: imagine how much we'll learn from each other when
we share rides instead of sitting in isolation in our cars. Talking to the neighbors might come back into fashion.
More people will meet and talk and maybe even help each other.
Having someone else drive us will also give us more time for reading books and newspapers. So, park your
car and use it for your dream vacation.
No more fumbling for change, just hop on and off the streetcar or bus wherever and whenever you like.
What a great idea, especially for those who live in crowded, polluted cities. It will renew life on our streets.
So I can't agree more with this proposition. Let's go for it!

Source: Inter-language: English for Senior High School Students XI Science and Social Study Program.

20. What is the text about?

21. Whom is the text for?
22. What is the purpose of the text?
23. The word benefits is similar to ... .
 Read the text carefully and answer the question (24-27)!

2012 Film Review

2012 is Roland Emmerich’s film which uses the Mayan calendar and other end-of-days prophecies for
their doomsday scenario. It imagines the world coming to an end in 2012.
2012 film brings off a series of wonders. The movie hits its peak early on. It starts when Cusack drives a
limo through the streets of Los Angeles as freeways and skyscrapers crumble all around him from the sock of a
10.5 earthquake. The preposterous flying sequence is equally thrilling. The climax occurs aboard the giant ark
when an equipment malfunction almost threatens the entire mission.
Unfortunately, the crucial sequence is not filmed or edited with the requisite clarity. In 2012 film,
Emmerich leaves us befuddled as to exactly what is happening to whom. However, Emmerich’s 2012 deserves
credit for offbeat casting. Cusack supplies his trademark hangdog charm. McCarthy has perhaps his best role ever
as Peet’s cocky. Danny Glover lends dignity to the role of the tormented president. Chiwetel Ejiofor, as the chief
scientist, brings a moving sense of anguish to a stock role. Platt has fun playing the villain of the piece, and
Woody Harrelson also chews the scenery as a bug-eyed radio prophet trying to warn his listeners about
Armageddon.
All in one, 2012’s cinematography, production design and visual effects are awards-worthy. Music also
propels the movie. It presents American idol runner-up, Adam Lambert, who provides a rousing anthem over the
end credits.
Source: 26th October 2010 http://understandingtext.blogspot.com/search/label/Review?max-results=2

24. What is the purpose of the text?

25. What are the strengths of the film?
26. After reading the review, how would you judge this film? It is ...

27. The word prophecies means ... .

28. Arrange the following sentences into a good recount text!

1. In Indonesia it’s ok to eat on public transport.

2. She decided to take a public transport to college.
3. One day Nani woke up late for lectures.
4. While she was eating, she suddenly noticed that most of the passengers were looking at her and she
wondered why.
5. Because she was late, she decided to have her usual mixed-rice breakfast on the bus.
6. Later she found out that it is prohibited to eat on public transport in Australia.

Fill in the missing word with the most suitable one (29-31)!

Computers are undoubtedly, used by almost all people in the world. Computers provide people with quicker,
practical and useful works. People admit the superiority of computers in their work. They can make use of the
(29) …. product of technology which brings many benefits for society, from children to adult.
(30)…..., computers certainly do not promote physical activity. There are some students who are caught
in the mystique of this machine. They forgot about lunch, forget to rest and even want to skip from after school-
activities. Even, those who hold strong oppositions about this machine, they say that this machine fail to (31)...…
its users some of emotions that are desirable in human beings. In fact some preliminary research has shown that
prolong exposure to computerized testing situations has resulted students in being surly and often abusive to each
other.
So, whatever opinion a person holds, try to bear in the mind that computers not only bring some benefits
but also cause some problems.

Please fill the missing word number (29)

A. used
 B. sophisticated
C. disordered
D. imitated
E. hesitated

Please fill the missing word number (30)

A. Therefore
B. Hence
C. In addition
D. However
E. Furthermore

Please fill the missing word number (31)

A. ignore
B. neglect
C. stimulate
D. permit
E. allow

Read the text carefully and answer the question (32-37)!

Avian Flu Probably was Spread by human.

Bangkok: a 26 year old woman who carded her dying daughter in her arms for 10 hours at a hospital in north-
western Thailand, and later fell sick and died herself, was the first probable case of human-to human transmission of
avian influenza this year, Thai and international health agency officials declared on Tuesday.
The diagnosis suggests that the lethal A (H5N1) virus, popularly known as bird flu, can sicken people who do not
have close contact with infected birds.
But the doctors said that the discovery did not necessarily mean that another influenza pandemic would occur
around the world, and urged renewed international efforts to bring the diseases under control.
A small segment of the mother’s virus has already been genetically sequenced, and matches viral samples taken
from Thai poultry, Thai health official said, suggesting that the virus may not have developed dramatically yet.

32. The word emitted means (synonym in English)… discharge release

,

33. What is the text about? Avian Flu

34. Where did the story take place? Thailand
35. When was the first human to human transmission case declared?
36. The diagnosis suggests that…
37. The word transmission can be best replaced by ….
transference passed
,
on

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 38 – 43)!

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages of being Famous Celebrities ?

Famous celebrities are well treated with due respect and courtesy. They live in a world of kindness, respect,
and difference. They are well served and respected wherever they go. People will do everything they can to please
them, simply because they are celebrities
Celebrities earn their living easily. They are paid exorbitantly just for appearing in ceremonies or pomp.
However, they spend them on their extravagant lifestyles.
The common disadvantage happens to celebrities is their loss of privacy. Their personal live are being watched
and encroached by public, The public want to know every single detail about them. Which sometimes make their lives
very miserable.
Once the celebrities become popular, they are desperate to stay there. In order to maintain their fame, some
celebrities will do anything just to appear in the tabloids. They enjoy the publicity. Then, they always complain that
the paparazzi are taking their photographs or are being harassed by them to attract public sympathy. Conversely, they
actually enjoy the media attention
 They are unable to distinguish who are their genuine friends among the false ones. Some people would like to
befriend the celebrities because they also wanted to be in the limelight too. Yet, when the celebrities are in trouble,
these friends will leave them as fast as they wanted to befriend them
Given this situation, I would prefer to live a normal life, going anywhere or do anything, without being watched
or scrutinized.

38. The above text mainly discusses about ….

39. What does the word “encroached” in paragraph 3 mean ?
40. What is the communicative purpose of the above text ?
41. Why would the speaker like to thank the organizing committee? It is because of____

Read the text carefully and answer the question (number 42-45)!

The story to ‘Kung Fu Panda’

The story to ‘Kung Fu Panda’ is nothing really new, but it is told so well as to actually pack an emotional
punch. And it never comes off as laughable, which in lesser hands could easily have happened. Speaking of laughs,
there are many to be had here as well. ‘Kung Fu Panda’ works on just about every level a family movie can.

The cast features Jack Black as Po the Panda. The furious five, the most feared group of warriors in all of
China, consists of Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Roger), Viper (Lucy Liu), and
Crane (David Cross). Their master is Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), a fur ball creature who is a legendary teacher of Kung
Fu. Escaped from prison and on high way to claim the Dragon Scroll, which will make him the all powerful Dragon
Warrior, is the good gone bad Tai Lung (Ian McShane). But first, he’ll have to muscle his way around 400 pounds of
panda to get to it.
‘Kung Fu Panda’ is a damn good time at the movies. This was the movie that Dreamworks Animation so
desperately needed after the disappointing ‘Shrek The Third’. With gorgeous animation, spectacular action, a great
cast and dramatic weight of an Akira Kurosawa film, Kung Fu Panda is one of the favourite movie of the year.

42. Which of the following quality does not describe the movie?
43. Shrek The Third is ….
44. The antagonist role of the movie is ….
45. The phrase ’a fur ball creature’ means….