1

DISCUSSION
Text 1
 
Many young people have difficulty deciding where they will live when the time comes to
leave home and make their own way in the world. Among the more common alternatives are sharing
a house or flat with other young people, and finding full board and lodgings in someone else's home.
Renting a house with other young people offers the advantage of a high degree of freedom
and independence. On the down side, renting involves a variety of responsibilities that may be more
than you wish to take on. This would mean you would be responsible for making large rental
payments if one or more of the people you are sharing with should move out of the house or flat. It
might also mean that you are held financially responsible if they damage the dwelling.
Finding board and lodgings, on the other hand, has significant advantages. Generally you
have no responsibility for the cleaning or maintenance of the dwelling or its gardens, other than to
take reasonable care of your room. However, living in board and lodging circumstances has its
drawbacks too. You have less freedom and flexibility in your lifestyle.
In the end, the decision each person makes will depend on their own personal valuing of
independence and of convenience, as well as their feeling of readiness for taking on the considerable
financial and other responsibilities of house or flat rental.
 
1.       The text mainly discusses about …
a. sharing a house
b. cleaning a house
c. deciding where to live
d. renting a house
e. finding full board
 
2.       “Finding board and lodgings, on the other hand, has significant advantages.”
      The underlined word means …
a. gained position
b. rooms rented to live
c. supply of materials                  
d. work of cutting down trees
e. ability to convince
 
3.       The writer’s purpose of writing the text is …
a.       to present two points of view about deciding where to live
b.       to persuade readers to rent a house with other young people
c.       to describe how to decide to find a rented house
d.       to inform readers how to decide where to live
e.       to explain how to find board and lodgings
 
Text 2
 
What do you think about home schooling? Do you think it's a good idea concerning
socialization and all? Believed to be first introduced in the U.S. decades ago, home schooling is now
mushrooming in the country. This phenomenon seems to be in response to the fact that children's
rights are sidelined in the arena of formal education. As an alternative education system, home
schooling could become a popular choice for children of school age
Home schooling provides kids with educational opportunities that traditional public
schooling has not provided. It offers a refreshing system by which students are encouraged to be
creative and express themselves. Students will discover the thrill and sense of accomplishment that
self-initiated learning can bring.
 On the other hand, some people believe that home schooling can be inefficient and
expensive. Students’ social life is, indeed, something to be concerned about in home schooling
education. Most school districts make sincere attempts to keep their home schooled students active
participants in the social, athletic, and extracurricular life of the school.
It is strongly recommended that parents contact home schooling resource that may be able to
put them in touch with kids who have gone through home schooling and those who are currently
being home schooled. Talking with them would be a great way for parents to make a more informed
decision about their kids’ education.
 
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4.       The text mainly discusses about …

a. kids’ education
b. students’ socialization problem
c. education problem
d. an alternative education system
e. popular public schooling
 
5.       What does the writer suggest that parents do before making decision to provide home schooling
for their kids?
a. It's a good idea concerning socialization and all.
b. Parents provide home schooling for their children.
c. Public schooling education offers refreshment system.
d. Parents seek home schooling resource’s information.
e. Parents always keep their home schooled kids active.
 
6.        “… parents contact home schooling resource that may be able to put them in touch with kids
who have gone through home schooling”
The underlined phrase means ….
a. connected               d. informed
b. known                    e. hang out
c. concerned              
 
Text 3
THE ISSUE OF POLYGAMY
 
Polygamy has still become an actual topic to discuss. People react this issue in different
opinions.
Today in the 21st Century polygamy persists and is legally permitted in Muslim
majorityIndonesia. The 1974 Marriage Act in Article 3 states that a husband may have up to four
wives on condition that the wife consents.
Further Article 5 cites three instances where a husband may practise polygamy: the wife is
unable to execute the obligation of a wife; the wife has acquired a bodily handicap or incurable
disease; the wife is unable to bear children.
Woman’s rights advocates reject this provision of the law as it works against women. They
perceive the conditions that allow a husband to practise polygamy are from perspective of the
husband’s interests.
Islam allows a man to have up to four wives in the context of caring for orphans, and it
emphasizes that the women must be treated equally. If the man is unable to do this, the man may
only have one wife. The Koran does not issue a recommendation or a command to commit
polygamy.
Thus the principle marriage in Islam is monogamy, not polygamy. Because of this polygamy
should be banned.
 
7.       From the text we infer that …
a.    Polygamy can be accepted by all people.
b.    Polygamy is the women’s rights.
c.     All religions let men do polygamy.
d.     Men are let perform polygamy by strict requirements.
e.     Indonesian laws ban polygamy.
 
8.       What makes most women disagree with Polygamy?
a.       the husband’s unequal treatment
b.      the husband’s interest
c.        the husband’s attention
d.       the money condition
e.       the daily needs fulfilment
 
9.       Husbands are let practise polygamy when … , except …
a.      his wife approves it
b.     his wife refuses it
c.      his wife cannot give birth to a child
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d.      his wife suffers from incurable diseases

e.       his wife cannot perform her obligation
 
Text 4
 
Genetic research has produced both exciting and frightening possibilities. Scientists are now
able to create new forms of life in the laboratory due to the development of gene splicing.
On the other hand, the ability to create life in the laboratory could greatly benefit mankind. For
example, because it is very expensive to obtain insulin from natural sources, scientists have
developed a method to manufacture it inexpensively in the laboratory.
Another beneficial application of gene splicing is in agriculture. Scientists foresee the day
when new plants will be developed using nitrogen from the air instead of from fertilizer. Therefore
food production could be increased. In addition, entirely new plants could be developed to feed the
world’s hungry people.
Not everyone is excited about gene splicing, however. Some people feel that it could have
terrible consequences. A laboratory accident, for example, might cause an epidemic of an unknown
disease that could wipe out humanity.
As a result of this controversy, the government has made rules to control genetic experiments.
While some members of the scientific community feel that these are too strict, many other people
feel that are still not strict enough.
 
 
 
10.    The text above implies that …
a.     Genetic research always have bad effects on human development
b.     he government ignores the genetic research implementation
c.     All scientists approve of the application of genetic research
d.    Genetic research creates controversy among the scientists
e.     Everyone is satisfied with the development of genetic research
 
11.    Which of the following is the beneficial use of gene splicing?
a.     the laboratory accident
b.     the epidemic of an unknown disease
c.      the insulin development
d.      the fertilizer production
e.       the plant growing in laboratory
 
12.    What can endanger the existence of human life relating to genetic splicing?
a.      the discovery of insulin from natural sources
b.      the ability to create life in laboratory
c.      the insulin manufacturing in laboratory
d.      the development of gene splicing
e.       the epidemic of an unknown disease
 
Text 5
 
Television has certainly changed our lives. Today, most people watching TV to going to the
cinema. Without it, nobody would have paid much attention to national or international-historical,
political, sports, sport, etc.-events. Even, television proved that pictures of suffering can move a
nation to pity. Besides, many things can be learnt from TV.
Are there any disadvantages of TV? Many parents admitted that they found difficulties to stop
their children’s bad habit, for example, they spend their leisure time for watching TV more than
reading. Children become very lazy and irresponsible for their main tasks. This is of course denied
by TV producers of people whose work is related to TV. They are very sure that there are a lot of
benefits of TV for viewers, especially children or students.
On the other hand, they honestly admit that some TV programs can endanger children’s
mental. They regret because parents sometimes don’t have much time to watch TV together with
their children. They suggest parents to have more discussion with their children on any programs
they have seen.
 
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13.    The communicative purpose of this text is …..

a.     to describe the general information about TV
b.     to persuade the readers not to watch TV
c.      to present two points of view about TV
d.      to inform the reader about the effect of TV
e.       to retell events about the history of TV
 
14.    The part of the text which contains statement and preview is …..
a.    point
b.    elaboration
c.     conclusion
d.     argument
e.      issue
15.    The main idea of the first paragraph is ….
a.      TV has become the part of modern people’s life.
b.      TV has turned the modern people’s life.
c.       TV has given some enjoyments to the viewers.
d.       TV has provided viewers some information.
e.       TV has played the important role in modern people’s life.
 
16.    Who is persuaded to consider the effect of TV?
a.     TV producers
b.     children
c.      parents
d.      government
e.       TV programmers
 
Text 6
 
GLOBALIZATION
 
Globalization is a social change formed by the increase of interrelation among society and its
elements and happens because of acculturation and technology development
Globalization gives new nuance and wide impact to the immigrants in different culture. World
becomes more various in aspect of ethnics, race and skin colour. Nowadays social growth brings
about the cultural changes which have pluralistic and cultural characters.
Globalization has positive effect if we can adapt better, by improving the self quality and
selective attitude to the foreign cultural adoption.
The positive of globalization can be seen in the change of the development system. In this
case, national development has given wide opportunity for Indonesian society to get proper
education.
In the change of life view, globalization expands the concept of the balance between material
and immaterial development.
Nevertheless, globalization results in some negative effects as well. The society experiences
cultural shock because they are not ready to accept the foreign culture immediately. Globalization
makes the value in social life not ready to anticipate the changes happened in the community. It may
bring about cultural value destruction having been adopted by the local society.
Good or bad, the changes that caused by the globalization must be faced with selective attitude
to receive the new culture and strong self-ability to fight for it.
 
17.    What is the purpose of the text?
a.     to persuade the readers that globalization is the case.
b.     to present at least two points of view about globalization.
c.      to explain the effect of globalization
d.      to describe how globalization happens
e.       to retell the development of globalization
 
18.    The organization of the text above is ….
a.       orientation, events, re-orientation
b.       general statement, explanation
c.        thesis, arguments, reiteration
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d.       general classification, description

e.       issue, arguments, conclusion
 
 
19.    What is the main idea of the text?
a.       Globalization only creates bad effect.
b.       Globalization causes the life style change.
c.       Globalization destroys the social values.
d.       Globalization has good and bad influence.
e.       Globalization cannot be avoided.
 
20.    What does the writer recommend us to face the globalization?
a.       We must accept the globalization blindly.
b.       We must refuse the globalization strictly.
c.       We must throw away the globalization.
d.       We must prevent the spread of globalization.
e.       We must face the globalization wisely.
 
Text 7
 
SHOULD TV FOOD COMMERCIALS TARGETTING CHILDREN BE BANNED?
 
Children in developed countries are facing serious health hazards, such as obesity, that are
thought to be directly linked to their pattern on consumption influenced by junk food commercials
during children’s TV programs.
New Zealand is considering a ban following a finding that 65 percent of all the commercials
during children’s TV programs promote food that is high in fat, sugar, and salt content such as
sweets, snacks, drinks and ice cream. Child diabetes and dental problems have been attributed to
such foodstuffs.
Most European Union members have also launched strict regulations against children’s TV
commercials, but only Sweden and Norway have seriously attempted to a complete ban. Responses
to the policy have varied; some have protested against it, while others have adjusted their approaches
to marketing their snack products.
A study of Ofcom, a media regulating body in the UK, found that commercials do not have a
direct impact on children’s eating habits. A commercials ban would therefore not mean much in
reducing the childhood obesity rate.
What has been found to have direct impact is the change in the eating habits of the community,
whose access to instant meals is increasing all the time. More people have less time to prepare food,
so variations of instant food are increasingly becoming a choice, despite the fact that most of these
meals are fatty, calorie-laden and high in slat and sugar content.
Another argument against the ban is that child obesity has more to do with a sedentary lifestyle
than with TV commercials. Today’s children spend more hours before the television or computer
than on active play, leading to the calories piling on and turning into fat.
In short, proponents of the ban base are that child obesity their argument on the health risks
facing obese children who will likely grow up obese and prone to disease. They believe that banning
the commercials, children will be less likely to consume junk food.
 
21.    What is the view of commercials ban protesters?
a.     Junk food commercials threat the children’s health.
b.    The commercials ban makes the children obese.
c.     The commercials would decrease the childhood obesity rate.
d.     The commercials have no direct impact on children’s eating habit.
e.      The commercials have changed the lifestyle of the community.
 
22.    Some countries have launched the TV commercials ban in order to ….  
a.       abolish the broadcasts of commercials on TV at all
b.       protect the children from consuming junk food
c.        promote the health risk of suffering obesity
d.       reduce the childhood obesity
e.       regulate the broadcast of food commercials
 
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23.    From the last paragraph we infer that ….  

a.     the children’s obesity is prone to fatal disease
b.     the commercials ban will completely reduce the children’s obesity
c.      the commercials ban will reduce junk food consumption
d.      the children will likely to grow up obese
e.       the proponents will keep on fighting to ban the commercials
 
24.    … ,such as obesity, that are thought to be directly linked to their pattern on consumption …
What is the synonym of the underlined word?
a.       dialled                    d. installed
b.       glued                     e. related
c.        lined
 
Text 8
 
Commercial breaks during television shows generally generate one of two reactions: viewers
will reach for the remote and switch channels, or they will sit through the ads.
In recent survey by Marketing Research Indonesia (MRI), some 47 percent of respondents
switched channels during commercial breaks, while 37 percent they sat through the ads.
In the survey of 711 people in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Medan andMakassar;
83 percent of respondents suggested that the government strictly regulate the content of TV ads.
Despite all the criticism, most respondents agreed on the importance of TV ads to support
broadcast programs. Some 80 percent saw the necessity of ads for the survival of TV stations.
Besides the advertisers and the advertising industry, television stations should also take part in
filtering quality ads to show audiences. TV stations should take a stand in rejecting advertisements
considered to be of low quality.
 
25.    What is the type of the above text?
a.       exposition              d. description
b.       discussion              e. report
c.       explanation
 
 
26.    What does the writer want from the text?
a.       to describe commercial TV ads specifically
b.       to explain how TV ads are broadcasted in TV
c.        to present at least two points of view about TV ads
d.       to describe commercial TV ads generally
e.       to persuade the readers to advertise their product through TV ads
 
27.    Why are TV ads indispensable for TV? Because ….
a.       they are main income of TV
b.       they attract the audiences to watch TV
c.        they make the audiences switch the channels
d.       they give significant lesson to the audiences
e.       they determine the program availability
 
28.    Which is TRUE according to the text?
a.       The presence of ads has no effect on TV stations.
b.       The TV stations have no power to reject the low quality ads.
c.        More people agree with the importance of TV ads.
d.       The viewers give different reactions to the TV ads.
e.       TV broadcast needs no TV ads to run its programs.
 
29.    …. television stations should also take part in filtering quality ads to show audiences.
The underlined words have synonymous meaning with ….
a.       separate                       d. assemble
b.       resemble                      e. create
c.        participate
 
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Text 9
 
For the first in two decades, an Indonesian citizen has joined the prestigious Miss Universe
contest, held in Bangkok Thailand. The participation of Artika Sari Devi in the beauty contest,
however, has drawn protests at home. The country had previously prohibited contestants in local
beauty pageants in predominantly Muslim Indonesia from competing in international pageants as it
was said to be a disgrace to Indonesian culture and woman.
Instead of condemning Artika, we should be proud of her and consider her our representative
in the international arena. It is hypocrite for people who condemn her as they are silent on many
other immoral acts in the country.
She is joining the contest for a good reason, and wearing a swimsuit at a beach or swimming
pool is normal. There is nothing pornographic about it.
 
30.    Why did some people reject the Indonesian participation in Miss Universe contest? Because
….   
a.       it was disgrace to the Indonesian culture and woman
b.       it was prohibited by the predominant Indonesian Muslims
c.        it has drawn protest in the country itself
d.       it was held in Bangkok, Thailand, the neighbour country
e.       it was not the culture of Indonesia
 
31.    What is the type of the text?
a.       hortatory exposition     d. analytical exposition
b.       explanation                  e. description
c.        discussion
 
32.    What became the controversy in Miss Universe contest for Indonesian people?
a.       the place where Miss Universe contest was held
b.       the participants’ obligation to wear a swimsuit
c.        the participation of Indonesia in Miss Universe contest
d.       the pornographic issue in Miss Universe contest
e.       the immoral act in Miss Universe contest
 
33.    It is hypocrite for people who condemn her as they are silent on many other immoral acts in the
country.
The underlined word most nearly means ….
a.       accuse                 d. sentence
b.       attack                  e. commend
c.        rebuke
 
Text 10
 
THE CONTROVERSY OF HARNESSING SOLAR ENERGY
 
We often hear about solar car, solar heating or solar batteries. But will solar energy ever be a
major source of energy for industrial societies? The solar energy is cheaper than any other fossil
fuels because we can get the abundant source from the sun.
In sunny desert areas, 50% of the sun’s radiation that reaches the ground could be used to
produce electricity of business and industry to provide heat, light and hot water for homes.
Experimental solar ponds can produce hot water to drive generators.
Unfortunately, we can’t yet power our homes entirely on sunlight. Solar energy can only be
exploited in bright light. Its great potential, therefore, is in hot countries that have clear skies for
most of the year, while most houses are not always in the sunniest part of the world. In addition, to
harness to solar power, solar cells are needed to convert the sunlight directly into electricity. Solar
cells are very cheap to run, but relatively to buy and many people can’t afford it.
Needless to say that solar energy is a useful and non-polluted source of energy. Nevertheless,
solar cells, the main important device to harness the sun’s energy are still very expensive.
 
34.    The organization of the text above is ….
a.       orientation, complication, resolution, re-orientation
b.       issue, argument, conclusion
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c.        newsworthy event, background even, sources

d.       goal, material, steps
e.       identification, description
 
35.    The social function of the text above is ….
a.       to deal with actual or vicarious experience in different ways
b.       to entertain the readers about harnessing solar energy
c.        to explain the process involved in the information
d.       to describe the harnessing solar energy
e.       to present information and opinions about more than one side of an issue
 
36.    The type of the text is ….
a.       report                     d. discussion
b.       news item              e. hortatory exposition
c.        explanation
 
37.    Which is TRUE according to the text?
a.       We can find devices to harness the sun’s energy easily
b.       The topic of the text above is exploiting solar energy
c.        Experimental solar ponds can produce hot water to drive generator
d.       We have powered our homes entirely on sunlight
e.       Solar cells are very expensive to run
 
 
38.    “Unfortunately, we can’t power our homes entirely on sunlight.”
The underlined word means ….
a.       partly                     d. directly
b.       properly                 e. dependently
c.        wholly
 
39.    “In addition, to harness the solar power, power cells are needed to convert sunlight directly into
electricity.”
The underlined word most nearly means ….
a.       move                      d. change
b.       produce                  e. switch
c.        transfer
 
40.    The text above mainly tells us about ….
a.       fossil fuel                      d. solar cells    
b.       exploiting bright light  e. two points of views
c.        solar energy
 
Text 11
 
Nowadays, the police have been applying the new regulation concerning the use of seat belts.
In European countries, this regulation has been applied for a long time. However, this new regulation
has become controversial and is an interesting topic to discuss. Here are some of the arguments.
The use of seat belt has been proven to reduce the risk of injury or death in an accident. Seat
belt has become a standard component in cars.
The research shows that most car accidents will cause an injury to the head. Frequently,
drivers or the passengers driving without seat belts die because of this. By wearing the seat belts, the
injury will not happen since the seat belts restrain our body on the car seat when the accident
happens.
Unfortunately, many cars, especially the old ones, don’ have seat belts. This is because the
traffic conditions in the past were unlike the recent traffic conditions. The designer of old cars didn’t
consider a seat belt as an important part. Besides, the drivers wearing the seat belts will think that
they are completely safe, so they may drive carelessly. They are safe, indeed, but how about the
safety of others?
The seat belt is only one of the ways to reduce the risk of car accidents. It doesn’t mean that
we are completely safe. In short, our safety depends on ourselves.
 
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41.    What is the writer’s intention?

a.       To describe the use of seat belt.
b.       To present two points of view about the seat belt.
c.        To persuade the readers to use the seat belt.
d.       To tell the readers about the use of seat belts.
e.       To explain about the use of the seat belt.
 
42.    What part of the text is the last paragraph?
a.       coda                       d. point of view
b.       re-orientation         e. elaboration
c.        conclusion
 
43.    Which is NOT TRUE according to the text?
a.       The regulation of the use of seat belt makes controversial.
b.       The use of seat belts can reduce the risk of car accidents.
c.        Our safety depends on ourselves.
d.       The old cars don’t have seat belts.
e.       The regulation of the use of seat belts has been applied for a long time.
 
44.    “The use of seat belts has been proven to reduce  the risk of injury or death in an accident.
 The underlined word means ….
a.       loosen                    d. minimize
b.       cancel                     e. omit
c.        move
 
45.    “Frequently, drivers or the passengers driving without seat belts die because of this.
What does the underlined word refer to?
a.       drivers                   
b.       driving without seat belts
c.        the car accident
d.       wearing the seat belt
e.       the recent traffic conditions
 
Text 12
 
BOXING
By Kerry Williams
 
There was a lot of discussion about whether boxing should be banned.

The people who agree with this idea, such as Sarah, claim that if they do carry on
boxing they should wear something to protect their heads. They also argue that people who
do boxing could have brain damage and get seriously hurt. A further point they make is that
most of the people the have died did have families.

However, there are also strong arguments against this point of view. Another group of
people believe that boxing should not be banned. They say that why they invent it if it is a
dangerous sport. They say that boxing is a good sport, people enjoy it. A furthermore reason
is if they ban boxing it will ruin people’s career.

After looking at the different points of view and the evidence from them I think boxing
should be banned because five hundred people have died in boxing since 1884.

 
46.    There was a lot of discussion about whether boxing should be banned.
The schematic structure of this sentence is ….
a.       issue                      d. recommendation
b.       conclusion              e. argument for
c.        argument against
 
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47.    However, there are also strong arguments against this point of view.

The underlined words mean ….
a.       advice                    d. suggestion
b.       encouragement      e. decision
c.        opinion
 
48.    The communicative purpose of the text is ….
a.       to describe boxing
b.       to present two points of view about boxing
c.        to persuade the readers that boxing is the case
d.       to retell an event with a humorous twist
e.       to critique boxing for the public audiences
 
49.    The followings are reasons why boxing shouldn’t be banned, except ….
a.       Boxing is not dangerous sport.
b.       People enjoy boxing.
c.        Banning boxing will ruin people’s career.
d.       Boxing is a good sport.
e.       Boxers should wear something to protect their heads.
 
50.    What is the best conclusion we can get from the text above?
a.       The writer said that boxing should not be banned.
b.       The writer agreed to do boxing as a sport.
c.        The writer stated that boxing should be banned.
d.       Boxing is not a good sport as it can ruin people’s career.
e.       People invent boxing as a dangerous sport.