Longer Reading

Reading Comprehension Short and Long Text

Uji Latih Terpandu Text II SPMB 2006 Regional 1 Stress is an experience that puts pressure or requirement on us. That pressure means we have to adjust to our new situation or environment. Stress can last for a short period, as when a driver has to act to avoid having an accident, or, it can last longer, as when a woman is told she has a medical problem and thus must change her diet or daily routine in order to become well again. We all experience stress as just a nervous or busy feeling. Other people experience stress so strongly that it may cause them to seek professional help at a hospital. Still other people may die from experiencing so much stress that it leads to heart disease or other serious health-problems. Sometimes these health-related problems are physical, and other times they are psychological. Some people have a personality type that causes them to experience stress more than others. These people are often impatient, competitive, and aggressive and are always short on time. __________________. 1. The topic of the paragraph is ____. (A) the adjustment to stress in human life (B) the possible causes of stress (C) the effect of stress on people (D) the ways to overcome stress (E) the behavior of stress people (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 56) 2. With which of the following sentences should the paragraph end? (A) In conclusion, controlling the impact of stress is very important. (B) Therefore, stress should be totally avoided because it can cause problems. (C) Thus, stress is something people experience that puts pressure on us. (D) Thus, stress is part of life and it has different effects on different people. (E) Thus, stress is useful to keep us challenged and involved in life. (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 57) Text III SPMB 2006 Regional 1 (1) ___________________________. (2) Hackers tend to have a more thorough knowledge of systems and a more highly developed skill set, whereas virus writers generally take a shallower approach to what they are doing. (3) While both hackers and virus writers are initially attracted by the technical challenge, hacking is more about power and control. (4) When they are hacking and they got into a system, they remain involved with that systemthey take over and dominate it. (5) On the other hand, once a virus goes off and keeps on making copies of itself independently of the author. (6) It is not as intimate or connected a relationship as between a hacker and the computerthe virus writer relinquishes control and becomes disassociated from the actual activity he or she has set in motion. (7) Social pressure is changing the impressions people have of hackers and virus writers. 3. Which of the following sentences should the paragraph begin? (A) Hackers and virus writes have different characteristics. (B) Hackers and virus writers are predominantly mate and academics. (C) Hackers and virus writers are regarded as brilliant people. (D) Hackers and virus writers have good knowledge of computer software. (E) Hackers and virus writers work together to spread new viruses. (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 58) 4. The sentence which is irrelevant to the text is sentence number _____. (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 7 (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 59) Text III SPMB 2006 Regional 3 ____________________________. At the time, zoos were places where people could go to see animals from many parts of the world. The animals lived in cages that were made of concrete with iron bars, cages that were easy to keep clean. Unfortunately for the animals, the cages were small and impossible to hide in. the zoo keepers took good care of the animals and fed them well, many of the animal do not thrive, they behaved in strange ways, and many of them became ill. While in modern zoos, people can see animals in more natural habitats. The animals are given more freedom in larger areas so that they can live more as they would in nature. Even the appearance of zoos has changed. Trees and grass grow in the cages, and stream of water flow through the areas that the animals live in. there are a few bars; instead, there is often only a deep ditch, filled with water, which is called moat. The moat surrounds an area where several species of animals live together as they would naturally. 3. Which of the following sentences is the most suitable first sentence of the paragraph which represents its main idea? (A) There are two different types of zoon in the world. (B) Zoos are different depending on where the animals are kept. (C) The environment of modern zoos is different from that of traditional zoos. (D) Modern zoos are different from zoos built fifty years ago. (E) The environment of traditional zoos was anything but natural. (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 58) 4. Which of the following statement is TRUE about zoos that were built 50 years ago? (A) Animals were treated as they had lived in nature. (B) Most of the zoo keepers were not dedicated to their job. (C) Animals were confined in their cages behind iron bars. (D) The environment of the zoo caused animals to move freely
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(E) Animals were often ill because they were maltreated.

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 59)

Text III SPMB 2006 Regional 1 (1) __________________________________________. (2) Flu viruses are classified as A, B, or C. (3) The A viruses, which infect ducks, chickens, pigs and whales, as well as humans, are the most dangerous. (4) They are divided into two groups based on two protein hamagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which spike out from surfaces. (5) Scientists have identified 16 subtypes of HA and nine of NA. (6) This means there are 144 possible combinations of A viruses. (7) Flu rolls around every winter, changing gradually through mutation from one year to the next. (8) Winters are harsh in Canada. (9) People will not catch flu in summers. (10) Some years the strain is more troublesome than others, so the number of people affected varies between five and 15 per cent of the population. (11) Some people die of flu, mainly the elderly and the chronically ill; fatalities range from 250,000 to 500,000 worldwide, depending on the severity of the strain. (12) But for healthy people, the seasonal flu is not lifethreatening. (13) It is only a slighty different version of what we have had before so we have some immunity to it. 5. With which of the following sentences should the text begin? (A) Sneezing and coughing are the main causes of influenza. (B) Influenza is a highly contagious risk infection spread through airborne transmission of viruses. (C) Ducks, chickens, pigs, and whales are dangerous animal for A viruses. (D) Influenza is a common worldwide disease. (E) The A viruses are the most dangerous kind of flu viruses. (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 58) 6. The sentence which is irrelevant to the text is sentence number ________ (A) four (C) eight (E) eleven (B) five (D) nine

(SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 59)

Text 2 SPMB 2006 Regional 2 Languages are much like living creatures that become endangered when numbers decline. Some linguists are taking action in preserving endangered languages. They believe it should be a priority since they are on the brink of extinction. Preservation can occur in two ways. First, linguists can study dying languages and seek to preserve the components of the language the sounds, the vocabulary, the grammar, and the traditions. The second way is to teach children the language and have linguists advise on language maintenance. An example of this latter method is the Maori language of New Zealand. It has seen an increase in the number of speakers between the 1960s and 1970s. New Zealand has since set up language nests in early childhood centers to teach children the Maori language, exposing 100,000 children to the native tongue so far. _________________________________________________. 7. The topic of the paragraph is ________. (A) how to preserve endangered languages. (B) the movement of languages in the world. (C) the Maori language of New Zealand. (D) the estimated rate of language extinction. (E) how to maintains aboriginal languages.

(SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 56)

8. With which of the following sentences should the paragraph end? (A) Revival of languages such as the Maori language is gaining ground. (B) Languages become endangered when they are not passed on to children or when there is a dominant language. (C) These methods have so far proved excellent to preserve many endangered languages. (D) They believe that their language is on the brink of extinction because their children cannot use it. (E) Actions should be taken because a loss in global languages makes a loss of the diverse ideas and cultures. (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 57) Text III SPMB 2004 Regional 1 We are bombarded with words every day. We engage in conversation, we listen to action. preachers and teachers, when we turn on the radio or television. Hour after hour someone is trying to communicate with us through English. But a great deal of our talk is what linguists now call "phatic communion". That is to say, the use of language when the actual meaning of the words is unimportant. "How do you do?" we say to someone and we should be confused if the person addressed began to tell us about his health. "A wet morning, this morning." we say as we buy our newspaper from the unfortunate street vendor dripping in the rain, who is well aware of the fact. "See you," says the American to whom we are introduced in passing, and who knows he will never see us again. So many of our utterances are intended to convey not information but signals of human sympathy and good fellowship. Indeed, it is to easy to conduct long conversations without saying anything at all! 9. The paragraph is about _____. (A) the use of English (C) phatic communion (B) daily conversation (D) greetings in English (E) English on the mass media (SPMB 2004 Regional 1 No. 58)

10. Which of the following statements about English is NOT TRUE? (A) We hear English every day on both television and radio (B) We use English every day but we do not really say anything (C) Many words in everyday English are meaningless (D) Many expressions in English are not meant to convey information (E) English is used worldwide only to express our sympathy to others Text III SPMB 2004 Regional 2
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(SPMB 2004 Regional 1 No. 59)

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In marine habitats, a number of small creatures are involved in a "cleaning symbiosis". At least six species of small shrimp, frequently brightly coloured, crawls over fish, picking off parasites and cleaning injured areas. This is not an accidental occurrence, because fish are observed together around these shrimp and stay motionless while being inspected. Several species of small fish (wrasses) are also cleaners, nearly all of them having appropriate adaptations such as long snouts, tweezer-like teeth, and bright coloration. Striking coloration probably communicates that these animals are not prey. 11. The passage describes ____. (A) the activities of sea creatures in marine life (B) the difference in the cleaning activities of shrimps and wrasses (C) the helplessness of fish towards the colourful shrimps (D) the way all sea creatures clean their environment (E) a symbiotic relationship in a marine habitat

(SPMB 2004 Regional 2 No. 58)

12. Several species of fish are unlikely to be eaten by big fish because _____. (A) they clean the parasites found in marine habitats (D) they have appropriate adaptation as cleaners (B) they stay motionless while being inspected (E) they usually gather around other creatures (C) they are very brightly coloured cleaner fish (SPMB 2004 Regional 2 No. 59) Text II SPMB 2004 Regional 3 Earthquakes are one of the most deadly natural disasters. What causes them? Geologists explain them in terms of a theory known as plate tectonics. Continents are floating apart from each other; this is referred to as the continental drift. About sixty miles below the surface of the sea, there is a emimolten bed of rock over which plates, or slabs, carry continents and sea floors at a rate of several inches a year. As the plates separate from each other, a new sea floor is formed by the molten matter that was formerly beneath. Volcanic islands and large mountain ranges are created by this type of movement. 13. The topic of the paragraph is ___. (A) the occurrence of the continental drift (B) deadly natural disasters (C) the cause of earthquakes (D) the formation of new sea floors (E) geologists research on earthquakes (SPMB 2004 Regional 3 No. 56)

14. From the text we can conclude that the movement of plate tectonics ___. (A) destroy existing continents (D) is good for volcanic islands and mountains (B) are felt sixty miles below sea surface (E) form new sea floors every year (C) cause changes on earth (SPMB 2004 Regional 3 No. 57) Ecologist Dr. Barry Commoner says that ecology has not yet developed specific laws, as has physics. But he suggests four generalizations that have resulted from ecological research on ecosystems. These might be considered as an informal set of laws of ecology. The four generalizations are (1) Everything is connected to everything . This means, everything plays a part in the endless cycles of ecosystems. Too much stress at any one point in the ecosystems may lead to a collapse of the entire ecosystems; (2) Everything must go somewhere. This implies that there is no such thing as waste in nature What is given off by one organism as waste is taken up by another organism as food. (3) Nature knows best. This explain the changes having occurred over billions of years, which have made up the delicately balanced ecosystems that we have today. For every organic substance produced by a living organism, nature has provided an enzyme capable of breaking down that substance. Nature takes care of all natural materials, both organic and inorganic. (4) There is no such thing as a free lunch, meaning that all life in nature lives at the expense of some other life. (USM UGM 2003) 15. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Ecology has not yet developed specific laws B. Physics has developed specific laws C. The four generalizations resulting from ecological research on ecosystems D. Natural laws of ecology E. Ecological research as the development of ecosystem

(USM UGM 2003 No 51)

16. According to the passage, our ecosystem is in a delicately balanced condition. This is made possible by: A. the ecologists concern for the ecosystem B. the never ending research on ecosystems C. peoples awareness of the importance of ecosystem D. the availability of adequate fund to keep the ecosystem balanced E. the characteristic of nature which takes care all natural things (USM UGM 2003 No 52) Text III SPMB 2002 Regional 2 Flexible work hours or Flextime for short is one of the biggest innovations in employment policy in the past decades. Under Flextime, employees choose the times at which they arrive at and depart from the office within limits set by management. Usually core hours are established: during this midday period all employees must be present. They may choose, however, to come in early or to stay late. Under Flextime, absenteeism has dropped significantly, and productivity has risen. As a result, the Public and World Affairs Committee predicts Flextime is going to stay. 17. What is the topic of the paragraph? A. Employment policies B. Innovative office rules C. The role of management
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(D) Adjustable office hours (E) Regular work hours (SPMB 2002 Regional 2 No. 58) 3

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18. From the text we may conclude that A. Flextime is welcome B. absenteeism is encouraged C. profit has increased

(D) office hours are established (E) management is limited (SPMB 2002 Regional 2 No. 59)

Text I SPMB 2006 Regional 1 Kode 411 There is no stopping rock and roll. Since its birth in the fifties, rock and roll has become the liveliest force in popular culture. It was born as a child of jazz, blues, and country music. More recently, it has been influenced by movies, television, sex, drugs, art, literature, and electronics. Since its birth, rock and roll has been grouped and regrouped into an explosion of styles: folk rock, soul, Motown, hard rock, jazz rock, country rock, heavy metal, punk rock, reggae, new wave, rap and so on. Each type has its own style, themes, and stars. Two of the more successful styles are rap and reggae. On the newer styles of rock and roll is rap. Rap is a form of dance music in which singersrappersspeak in rhythm and rhyme rather than sing. Rap first appeared in the mid-seventies in the discos of New York Citys black and neighborhoods. Disco DJs teamed up with rappers to play songs for dancers at parties. At first, the role of the rapper was to keep the beat going with hand claps while DJ changed record. Soon, rappers added lyrics, slogans, rhymes, and call-and-response exchanges with the audience. Early rap songs were mainly about dancing, partying, and the romantic adventure of the rappers, but politics became an important theme in the late eighties and nineties. Although rap is primarily the music of young black males, the first white rappers appeared in 1980, and a woman rapper, Queen Latifah, began her career in 1989. M.C. Hammers 1990 album, Please Hammer Dont Hurt Em, has sold fifteen million copies, making it the best-selling rap album of the decade. Another style of rock and roll is reggae, which was born on the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the sixties and spread throughout the world in the seventies. It developed from a kind of Afro-Caribbean music called mento, which was sung and played on guitars and rums. Some musicians changed mento into a music style called ska by adding a hesitation beat. A few years later, another musicians changed ska, and reggae was born. Reggaes special sound comes from reversing the roles of the instruments: The guitar plays the rhythm and the bass plays the melody. An important influence on reggae music was the Rastafarian cult. The Raftafarians added unusual sound mixes, extra-slow tempos, strange lyrics, and mystical-political themes. The best known reggae musician in the United States is Bob Marley. Rock and roll music is constantly changing. New styles are born, grow, change, and produce offshoots, which in turn grow, change, and produce offshoots. Some styles enjoy lasting popularity, but others disappear rather quickly. However, all contribute to the power and excitement of rock and roll music in our country. 19. Rock and roll music is mainly influenced by _____. (A) explosive styles of music (B) jazz, blues and country music (C) native popular culture (D) mass media, sex and drug (E) soul. Motown and heavy metal (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 51) 20. A suitable title for the text is ____. (A) The history of Rap Music (B) The origin of Rock and Roll Music (C) The role of Jazz in Todays Music (D) Styles of Rock and Roll Music (E) The young Black Males Music (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 52) 21. Which of the following is TRUE about rap? (A) Rappers do not sing at all but speak in rhythm. (B) Rap was originally a form of dance of the 1970s. (C) Rappers enjoy interacting with the audience. (D) Rap music is confined to black neighborhoods. (E) Themes of rap music are limited to casual things. (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 53) 22. From the text we may conclude that rock and roll music _____. (A) was born and developed among black people (B) became popular when the first white rapper appeared (C) is a means to unite black and white people (D) will grow and change into other forms of music (E) is limited to adults because of its serious themes (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 54) 23. Which of the following is not a characteristic of reggae? (A) It is particularly used to convey political messages. (B) It is sung and played on guitars and drums. (C) Its appearance was inspired by a religious group. (D) It has a hesitation beat like mento and ska. (E) Its instruments have to play different roles. (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 55)

Text I SPMB 2006 Regional 1 Kode 111 The Pulitzer Prize came about as part of an attempt by newspaper Joseph Pulitzer to upgrade the profession of journalism. Pulitzer, the owner of the New York World and the St. Louis Post-Dispath, made a proposal in 1903 to Colombia University to make $2 million bequest to the university for the dual purposes of establishing a school of journalism at the university and also establishing prizes for exceptional work in journalism and other fields. However, the university did not initially respond as one might expect to such a seemingly generous offer. Interestingly, Columbia University did not immediately agree to the proposal by Pulitzer inasmuch as journalism was not held in high regard in general and the Pulitzer papers were more known for their sensationalization of the news than for the high quality of journalism. The trustees of the university were not at all sure that they wanted a school of journalism because news paper reporting was considered more of a trade than a profession at the time and they did not to decrease the academic prestige of their institution. It took year of discussions and negotiations before the terms for the establishment of the school of journalism and the prizes bearing Pulitzers name were agreed upon, and it was not actually until the year after Pulitzers death in 1911 that construction began on the building to house Columbias news school of journalism. The school of journalism opened in 1913, and the first prizes were awarded in 1917, for work done the previous year.

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The method for selecting Pulitzer Prize winners and the categories for prize has changed slightly over the years. Today, 21 different awards are given in three different areas, with the majority of award going to journalists; 14 of the 21 awards are from various aspects of journalism (i.e. news reporting, feature writing, cartoons, and photography), 6 awards are given in letters (in fiction, non fiction, history, drama, poetry, and biography), and 1 award in music. Columbia University appoints nominating juries consisting of experts in each field, and the nominating juries submit these nominations for each category to the Pulitzer Prize Board, which makes the decisions and awards the prizes. 24. The following were offered by John Pulitzer to Columbia University except ____. (A) a large sum of money (B) the establishment of a school of journalism (C) a grant for a new study program (D) the addition of a new study program (E) scholarship for the best students (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 51) 25. Historically, the Pulitzer prize was particularly meant to be a warded to ____. (A) the Columbia University (B) the best work in journalism (C) the Pulitzers newspaper (D) the best school of journalism (E) the outstanding writer in literature (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 52) 26. Why was Columbia Universitys first reaction to Pulitzers offer negative? (A) The Pulitzer papers were known to focus on trivial things (B) The need for journalists was at that time not yet recognized (C) The study program offered was considered teaching a skill not science (D) The offer has decreased the academic prestige of the institution (E) The school of journalism would take a long time to establish (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 53) 27. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the Pulitzer Prize? (A) It was after Pulitzers death that prizes were awarded. (B) The first prizes were awarded by Pulitzer himself. (C) All kinds of writings might receive Pulitzer himself. (D) The prizes were awarded by experts of the Columbia University. (E) The majority of the prizes go to the best newspapers in the world. (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 54) 28. was not held in high regard in line 8 means ____. (A) was entirely ignored (B) was considered unimportant (C) was not acceptable (D) was quite unpopular (E) was generally not recommended (SPMB 2006 Regional 1 No. 55)

Text 1 SPMB 2006 Regional 2 Kode 310 One of the critical factors that play in susceptibility to colds is age. A study done by the University of Michigan School of Public Health revealed particulars that seem to hold true for the general population. Infants are the most coldridden group, averaging more than six colds in their first year. Boys more have colds than girls up to age three. After the age of three, girls are more susceptible than boys, and teenage girl average three colds a year to boys two. The general incidence of colds continues to decline into maturity. Elderly people who are in good health have as tew as one or two colds annually. One exception is found among people in their twenties, especially women, who show a rise in cold infection, because people in this age group are most likely to have young children Adult who delay having children until their thirties and forties experience the same sudden increase in cold infection. The study also found that economy plays an important role. As income increase, the frequency at which cold are reported in the family decreases. Families with the lowest income suffer about a third more colds than families at the highest end. Lower income in general forces people to live in more cramped quarters than those typically occupied by wealthier people, and crowding increases the opportunities for the cold virus travel from person to person. Low income may also adversely influence diet. The degree to which poor nutrition affects susceptibility to colds is not yet clearly established, but an inadequate diet is suspected of lowering resistance in general. 29. The text mainly discusses ______. (A) measures taken to prevent colds (B) the most coldridden infants (C) symptoms of colds in infants (D) studies conducted on causes of colds (E) peoples susceptibility to colds (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 51) 30. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about colds? (A) Unlike children, grownups suffer less from colds. (B) A research has revealed that colds are likely to attack parents. (C) Compared to boys, girls are more susceptible to catch cold. (D) Mothers who have young children are likely to be infected by their children. (E) Age plays a contributing part in peoples susceptibility to colds (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 52) 31. In what way can a familys economic condition influence cold susceptibility?
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(A) People with low income can prevent colds more than others. (B) Cold susceptibility increases among people who are wealthy. (C) Nutritious food is likely to make people susceptible. (D) The cold virus travels from wealthy to poorer families. (E) Living in cramped houses increases the susceptibility. (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 53) 32. From the text, we may conclude that ________ (A) there are more than two factors influencing peoples susceptibility to colds. (B) all people have the same level of susceptibility to colds. (C) in general, resistance to colds for all ages can be achieved through adequate diet (D) the higher peoples income the higher their risk of getting colds. (E) low income families have colds three times more in year than wealthy families. 5

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(SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 54) 33. cold riddengroup in line 23 means a group (A) which can get rid of colds (B) the least susceptible to colds

(C) which can prevent colds (D) frequently attacked by colds (E) which do not easily catch colds (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 55)

Uji Latih Mandiri Text II SPMB 2006 Regional 2 Saliva has been shown to promote wound healing as it contains components which produce anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal effects. These beneficial properties are not unique to dog saliva; they are probably true for most species. However, veterinarians do not recommend you allow a dog to lick your wound. Dog saliva may have some beneficial factors, but a dog mouth can also hold bacteria that can cause infections in humans. One bacterium in particular, Pasteurella multocida, has been shown to cause infections in people following dog bites from dogs licking peoples wounds. ______________________________________________________________________________________________. 34. The best concluding sentence for the above paragraph is _________________ (A) Therefore, to avoid infections, never let a dog lick you (B) Moreover, dog saliva has several benefits while it can also endanger you (C) Thus, like other animals, dog saliva is harmful to wounds (D) Finally, we have to be aware of the bad properties of dog saliva (E) However, the harms caused by dog saliva exceed its advantages. (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 56) 35. The topic of the paragraph is __________________ (A) the benefits of dog saliva for human beings (B) the effect of dog bites in human beings (C) the harmful bacteria found in animal saliva (D) the advice of a veterinarian to victims of dog bites (E) the good and bad properties of dog saliva (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 57) Text III SPMB 2006 Regional 2 (1) __________________. (2) You must also actively take care of yourself. (3) This mean learning about your body and the diseases you can get. (4) It also means choosing a doctor and a balanced diet carefully. (5) By educating yourself, you will have a better idea about the kind of care you need. (6) Choosing the right doctor means understanding that not all doctors know the best way to help you stay healthy. (7) There is no proof that good diets and daily exercise increase longevity. (8) By understanding more about your health and choosing the best doctor for your need, you can be more sure of getting the proper health care. (9) Ultimately, you must bear the responsibility for your health. 36. With which of the following sentence should the paragraph begin? (A) Eating a balanced diet and doing regular exercise can make you lose weight (B) Staying healthy today means more than just going to a doctor when you are sick. (C) Eating a high-fibre diet and a low-fat diet can reduce your obesity. (D) Being healthy, you should take all medicines from your doctors. (E) To stay healthy, you should always see your doctor when you are sick. (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 58) 37. The sentence which is irrelevant to the text is sentence number ___________________ (A) 5 (B) 6 (C) 7 (D) 8 (E) 9 (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 59) Text II SPMB 2006 Regional 3 The health benefits of aerobic exercise are not as obvious as the health risk of cigarette smoking. Nevertheless, people who lead inactive lives, without much exercises, have been found to be at greater risk for heart disease and other illnesses. Research at Harvard and Stanford recently reported the results of major study of 17,000 middle-age and older men who were first studies as college students between 1926 and 1950 and then followed up periodically for many decades. The researchers found that those men, who exercised regularly, even at moderate levels, lived longer than those who did not. Even after correcting for such factors as family history, the death rate due to heart disease of the least active group was almost twice as high as that for the most active group. Another recent study found that both men and women who kept physically fit were much less likely to develop high blood pressure which may lead to heart disease than those who did not keep fit ____________________________. 38. The topic of the paragraph is_______. (A) the advantages of non smokers over smokers (B) the risk of heart disease to smokers (C) the advantages of doing regular exercises (D) the effects of leading an inactive live (E) the research on the causes of heart diseases

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 56)

39. The best conclusion sentence for the paragraph is __________ (A) In conclusion, different person need different types of exercise (B) Heart disease are not something that you cannot avoid (C) Thus, certain types of exercises prevent certain types of illnesses (D) We all need to do more exercises regularly (E) Therefore, to stay healthy, one should do regular exercises (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 57)

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Text II SPMB 2006 Regional 3 Archeologists disagree as to exactly what constitutes a city. There have been many attempts at definition, but none has been entirely satisfactory. Nevertheless, archeologists have established a number of characteristics which mark the true urbanization. These characteristics include a permanent settlement, a specialization of skills and functions among the inhabitants, the development of a characteristic style of architecture, the construction of public buildings, and the reaching of a certain population size. ______________________________. 40. The main idea of this paragraph is that _____ (A) none of the definitions of a city has been satisfactory (B) archaeologists have agreed as to what exactly constitutes a city (C) a city must include permanence of settlement (D) certain characteristics mark true urbanization (E) an area must reach a certain size to become a city (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 56) 41. Which of the following statements is the best conclusion of the paragraph? (A) These factors do not need to exist at the same time for a community to be regarded as urban. (B) However, the main characteristic of a city is the construction of public buildings. (C) Therefore, it is difficult for archeologists to determine whether a discovered area was a city (D) To conclude, the definition of a city is based on which of the above characteristics an area has. (E) Only by having all those characteristics can an area be called a true city. (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 57) Text III SPMB 2006 Regional 3 (1) ______________________________________. (2) Fats provide the bodys best means of storing energy, a far more efficient energy source than either carbohydrates or proteins. (3) The intake of too much fat may lead to a variety of health problems. (4) They act as insulation against cold, as cushioning for the internal organs, and as lubricants. (5) Without fats energy would have no way to utilize fatsoluble vitamins. (6) Furthermore, some fats contain fatty acids that contain necessary growth factors and help with the digestion of other foods. 42. The sentence that best begins the paragraph above is __________. (A) Many people have condemned fats for their bad effects (B) Fats store food more efficiently than carbohydrates. (C) Although condemned, fats are in fact essential for us. (D) Fats prove to be able to prevent some kinds of diseases (E) Fats are an increasingly important factor 43. The sentence which is irrelevant to the text is sentence number (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5 (E) 6

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 58) (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 59)

Text III SPMB 2006 Regional 2 (1) __________________. (2) When you are reading a report, listening to instructions, filling out an application for, or speaking about your interests, you are spending your time communicating. (3) Communication activities take skill. (4) When you send a message to others, you want to be sure that the receiver of your message understands exactly what you mean. (5) Facial expression can also be used to convey what you mean. (6) When you are receiving a message from someone, you want to be sure you understand what that person means. (7) To be an effective communicator, you need to know the importance of communication skills both in your personal life and in you career. (8) Finally, you also need to know how communication psychology and evolving technologies can affect your communication skill. 44. Which of the following sentences should best begin the text? (A) Think about how much time you spend communicating with other. (B) Why do you want to spend time to communicate with others? (C) There are several important characteristics of communication. (D) Do you send messages to others or do you receive messages from others? (E) When communicating with others, we have to consider several factors. 45. Which of the following sentences is irrelevant to the text? (A) 3 (C) 5 (E)7 (B).4 (D) 6

(SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 58)

(SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 59)

Text II SPMB 2005 Regional 1

_________. In the process of trying to discover the various causes of such accidents, an investigator considers factors related to the time of the day. He collects information on the number of accidents occurring during the various working hours of the day, and by using statistical methods he is able to show that the accident rate increases during the morning and also during the afternoon. Further statistical studies then reveal some of the major contributing factors involved in these accidents. 46. Which of the following would best begin the paragraph above? (A) So far there has not been enough information about people having accidents at work site. (B) An industrial firm is concerned about the large number of accidents occurring in its plants. (C) Investigators have found out that working hours in some industrial firms are too long. (D) The result of an investigation shows that accidents in a plant never occurs in the evening. (E) Statistical plays a very important role in eliminating the causes of accidents in a plant. (SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 56)
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47. The topic of the above text is ____. (A) the investigation of causes of accidents (B) the role of statistics for investigators (C) working hours and types of accidents

(D) contributions of investigators in a company (E) major accidents in the working hours (SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 57)

Text III SPMB 2005 Regional 1

Traditional nineteenth-century education is usually associated with the image of a stern teacher standing in front of a blackboard in one-room schoolhouse, teaching only the three Rs of reading, writing, and arithmetic, and demanding rote (mechanical repetition) learning in an atmosphere of silence and restrain. Accurate or not, that image conflicts sharply with the modern reality. Today, the typical public school offers students a diversity of subject areas, a plethora of educational materials, and a variety of activities from creative dramatics to journalism. The modern school complex contain an array of educational facilities. Within the classroom setting, students are encouraged to speak up and engage in guided discussion. In fact, articulate speech and debate are desirable skills. Children are encouraged to interrelate on class projects that are independent of the teacher. _______________. 48. Which of the following would best end the text? (A) There has been a change in the teachers attitude in the past few years. (B) Traditional and modern education have different goals to achieve. (C) The development in education tends to make students independent. (D) Unlike the traditional education, the modern one is less strict. (E) It is the task of modern education to make children creative. 49. The topic of the text is ____. (A) the traditional nineteenth century education (B) the freedom of students to choose from a variety of subjects (C) the role of the teachers in education (D) the difference between traditional and modern education (E) the teaching of reading, writing, and arithmetic Text III SPMB 2005 Regional 1 (1) ___________________________. (2) Dr. Tai Khoa Lam and colleagues at the Nepean Hospital in Sydney trailed the use of phone camera in the their emergency room to assist with the treatment of hand injuries. (3) Their study, published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery, looked at how effective snapshots of injuries and X-rays were at helping attendant doctors communicate with consultants in 27 cases of hand injuries. (4) ER doctors usually rely on registrars and specialists-intraining to track down a busy expert consultant and then described the X-rays and injuries to thema time-consuming task. (5) In addition, not all doctors have a camera mobile phone. (6) But by taking digital photos, Lam was able to communicate with the consultant almost straight away and despite the poor quality of the low-resolution image, the physicians found sufficient details to discuss the injuries and the patient's care. (7) With photos costing just cents to send, camera phones may be a perfect addition to every doctor's bag. 50. Which sentence would best start the paragraph? (A) A mobile phone camera can be a useful and cheap diagnostic tool for Australian doctors. (B) Mobile phone cameras are widely used by doctors in emergency rooms (C) Doctors in the Nepean Hospital, Sydney, use mobile phones to communicate with one another (D) Australian doctors use a mobile phone camera to take pictures of patients in emergency rooms (E) You can always find a mobile phone camera in every Australian doctor's bag (SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 58) 51. The sentence which is irrelevant to the text is sentence number ______. (A) two (C) four (E) six (B) three (D) five Text II SPMB 2005 Regional 2 (1) _____________________________. (2) The email service, which comprises the biggest use of internet, has made it possible for people on the opposite ends of the world to send messages and to get replies instantly if the person they are communicating with are on-line. (3) To read an American daily newspaper such as the New York Times for instance, you only need to register yourself and download it anytime you feel like reading it. (4) However, you could also buy a hard copy of this newspaper in any international hotel. (5) To buy a computer you don't even need to visit a computer shop. (6) You can study all the specifications of computers available and compare prices by going on line. (7) You can even do your banking matters from the comfort of your home. (8) Not only does the internet provide us with facilities that make our life easier, but it also can satisfy people's needs for entertainment and socializing. (9) One of the latest trends around today is Friendster, an internet way of making friends and socializing. 52. The best topic sentence for the paragraph is _______. (A) Email, which became a means of communication in the early 1990s, is used by millions of people all over the world (B) In the last decade, the internet has made a big impact on the lifestyle of people around the world (C) The use of computers is affecting the way we communicate with other people around the world (D) The rapid development in information technology is affecting the way people carry out their business (E) In the last ten years we have experienced the development of technology that had never occurred before (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 56)
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(SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 58)

(SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 59)

(SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 59)

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53. The sentence which is irrelevant to the text is sentence number ____. (A) two (C) four (E) seven (B) three (D) six Text III SPMB 2005 Regional 3

(SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 57)

All Dutch children go through the same non-selective primary school. They then go through a sophisticated assessment process, based on which the head-teacher produces a recommendation to the secondary school. As they enter secondary school, pupils are divided into four pathways within the same school, each studying the same 15 subjects from the same books but at four different levels and speeds. After two years, these four pathways take radically different routes. About 15% of the children take the most demanding academic route, which lasts a further four years; 25% take the slightly less demanding academic route, which takes three years; 45% take two-year academic route that includes some practical vocational work; and the remaining 15% take an essentially vocational pathway with some academic; extras for two years ____________________________. 54. Which sentence would best end the paragraph? (A) It is clear then that education is a complicated problem for the government (B) These four pathways indicate the government's concern about different needs and wants (C) Thus, in this system a different pathways shows a different duration of study (D) In conclusion, the Dutch government is having a great problem with the four pathways in education (E) Therefore, only in primary school do Dutch children get similar subjects during the same period of time (SPMB 2005 Regional 3 No. 58) 55. The topic of the paragraph is ______. (A) the pathways in the Dutch education system (D) subjects taught to Dutch children at secondary school (B) non-selective primary school for Dutch children (E) different duration of study for Dutch children (C) different speeds and levels for learning (SPMB 2005 Regional 3 No. 59) Text II SPMB 2005 Regional 3 _____________________________. Carbon dioxide levels rise, Mercury climbs, Oceans warm, Glaciers melt, Sea level rises, Sea ice thins, Permafrost thaws, Wildfires increase, Lakes shrink, lakes freeze up later, Ice shelves collapse, Droughts linger, Precipitation increases, Mountain streams run dry, Winter loses its bite, Spring arrives earlier, Autumn comes later, Plants flower sooner, Migration times vary, Habitats change, Birds nest earlier, Diseases spread, Coral reefs bleach, Snow packs decline, Exotic species invade, Amphibians disappear, Coastlines erode, Cloud forests dry, Temperatures spike at high latitude. 56. Which sentence would best begin the paragraph? (A) Natural disasters recently happened in the world (B) Incidents on earth have caused natural disasters (C) Changes in nature are likely to destroy human civilizations (D) People are concerned about he disasters that have happened (E) The whole world is threatened by the changes occurring on earth

(SPMB 2005 Regional 3 No. 56)

57. What is a suitable concluding idea for the text? (A) Governments have predicted what is happening now (D) The surface of the earth has changed by the thinning of ice (B) Scientists are wondering what is going on in the world (E) People try to live comfortably in the changing world (C) Efforts should be made to prevent disasters from happening (SPMB 2005 Regional 3 No. 57)

Text II SPMB 2004 Regional 1

Tomatoes are full of nutrients and are an especially good source of antioxidant vitamins. In fact, one serving of tomato will give you 40% of your recommendation daily allowance of vitamin C. Diets rich in fruit and vegetables are associated with lower risks of many diseases and a diet which includes high intake of tomatoes has been shown to protect against prostate cancer. Tomatoes are by far the richest source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, which gives tomato its red colour. No other food contains this high level of antioxidant. Lycopene is highest in processed tomato foods, such as tomato puree, because they are concentrated. 58. The topic of the above paragraph is ____. (A) the way to prevent getting various disease (B) the functions of antioxidant vitamins (C) the content of lycopene in tomatoes (D) their recommended diets for healthy people (E) the benefit of including tomatoes in our diets (SPMB 2004 Regional 1 No. 56)

59. From the text we may conclude that ____. (A) only tomatoes are the source of a powerful antioxidant called lycopene (B) lots of tomatoes in the diets can prevent prostate cancer (C) food rich in vitamin C can cure many diseases (D) the best source of antioxidants is vegetables (E) processed fruits are much better than fresh fruits

(SPMB 2004 Regional 1 No. 57)

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Text III SPMB 2004 Regional 1 While fats have lately acquired a bad image, one should not forget how essential they are. Fats provide the bodys best means of storing energy, a far more efficient energy source than either carbohydrates or proteins. They ac as insulation against cold, or cushioning for the internal organs, and as lubricants. Without fats, energy would have no way to utilize fatsoluble vitamins. Furthermore, some fats contain fatty acids that contain necessary growth factors and help with the digestion of other foods. 60. The following are the function of fats, EXCEPT ____. (A) increasing people energy (B) enabling utilization of fat-soluble vitamins (C) reducing the possibility of catching cold 61. The topic of the paragraph is ____. (A) the negative things about fats (B) the energy stored in fats (C) the utilization of at-soluble vitamins (D) helping people with the digestion of food (E) producing fatty acid used as lubricants (SPMB 2004 Regional 1 No. 58)

(D) the functions of fats in our body (E) the content of fats in general (SPMB 2004 Regional 1 No. 59)

Text III SPMB 2004 Regional 3 The Chinese are credited with the invention of printing. They carved out wooden blocks so as to provide raised surfaces for words and pictures, and practiced relief printing as early as the ninth century AD. By the fourteenth century, metal type foundries were operating in China and in Korea as well. However, carved relief printing remained popular and the printing process developed little beyond this stage in either China or Korea. 62. What is the topic of the above text? (A) The influence of Chines printing (B) Printing in the life of ancient people (C) China, the pioneer in printing 63. The first printing effort was ____. (A) to carve words and pictures on wood (B) to use paper in relief printing (C) to paint relief on wood Text 3 USM UGM 2004 Today most cars use gasoline, but in the future many people may drive electric cars. Electric cars do not pollute the air. Electricity from a battery powers the motor of an electric car. Drivers of electric cars do not fill their cars with gasoline, they connect their cars to an electric outlet to charge the battery with electricity. The driver of an electric car connects the car to an electrical outlet at night. In the morning, the battery is charged with enough electricity to drive all day. Electric cars are not as fast as gasoline powered cars, and they cannot travel more than 150 miles (270 kilometers). After 150 miles, the driver must charge the battery again. However, electric car may be one answer to the problems of pollution and high gasoline prices. 64. What is the topic of the paragraph? (A) Pollution and expensive gasoline (B) The batteries of electric cars (C) Gasoline cars (D) Electric cars (E) Functions of a battery (USM UGM 2004 No. 51) (D) China's competitor in printing (E) Popularity of carved relief printing (SPMB 2004 Regional 3 No. 57) (D) to print pictures on metal (E) to use metal type foundries (SPMB 2004 Regional 3 No. 58)

65. Compared with gasoline-powered cars, electric cars are (A) slower and travel shorter distance (D) slower but travel longer distance (B) faster but travel shorter distance (E) as fast but travel longer distance (C) faster and travel longer distance (USM UGM 2004 No. 52) Text II SPMB 2003 Regional 1 The Japanese economic achievements are basically due to the technological transformation during the last thirty years. The Japanese are by nature admirers of excellent craftsmanship and are able to master new techniques and processes without any difficulty. They have perfected the art of acquiring foreign technology at the appropriate stage and exploiting it commercially to their benefit. If the production index in the manufacturing industries is assumed to be 100 in 1951, it rose to 450 in 1969. This was a remarkable achievement. It is estimated that 50 per cent of this enormous growth was due to the technological innovation. 66. The topic of the paragraph is _____. (A) technological transformation in the last thirty years (B) Japanese admires of excellent craftsmanship (C) Enormous growth in the technological innovation (D) The reason for Japans economic achievement (E) Exploiting foreign technology for commercial interest (SPMB 2003 Regional 2 No. 56)

67. The Japanese have no difficulty in transforming technology for their commercial benefit because _____. (A) they have mastered new techniques in craftsmanship (B) they are by nature gifted in the field of technology (C) they have increased their production index in manufacturing (D) they acquired the art of foreign technology (E) they have made various technological innovations (SPMB 2003 Regional 2 No. 57)
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Text III SPMB 2003 Regional 3 The first mention of tea tree oil was documented when Joseph Banks, a botanist, sailed with captain James Cook to the Australia continent in the late 18th century. Banks observed the native Aborigines collecting the leaves of a tree, now known scientifically as Meloleuca alternifora. They used the leaves, after boiling them, to heal a variety of external skin problems. Banks also learned that by boiling the leaves he could produce a tasty brew similar to lemon tea. Thereafter, he referred to this particular species of the tree genetically as the tea tree, a name commonly applied to it today. 68. One of the uses of the tea tree is _____. (A) to cure various disease (D) to prevent the skin problems (B) to produce oil (E) to make a kind of beverage (C) to make lemon tea 69. The topic of the text is _____. (A) the usefulness of the tea tree (B) how tea tree oil got its scientific name (C) the history of tea tree oil

(SPMB 2003 Regional 3 No 58)

(D) how the native aborigines made tea (E) the scientific use of tea tree (SPMB 2003 Regional 3 No 59)

Text 1 SPMB 2006 Regional 3 Kode 710 The 44.5carat Hope Diamond is the worlds largest blue diamond. It is also one of the most popular attractions in the Smithsonian National Museum of Naturaj History in Washington, D.C. The Hope Diamond is flawless and priceless. However, ownership of this gem has not always been a stroke of great fortune. The Hope Diamond is a remnant of a 1 12carat Indian diamond stolen from a statue of Hindu goddess,. Sita. The angry goddess cast a spell of misfortune on anyone who acquired the gem The spell began to work when the stone arrived in Fiance It was sold to be French King Louis XIV Louis had the gem cut into a 67carat jewel After wearing it once. He became sick and died of smallpox. Next, the stone passed down to Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette. Their bad misfortune was to lose their heads in the French Revolution. The gem was stolen again at the end of the French Revolution, it reappeared in London 38 years. It was recut and bought by a British banker and gem collector, Henry Thomas Hope. We do not know about any misfortune Henry Hope suffered. However, in 1890 Lord Francis Hope inherited the Hope Diamond. His wife soon ran off with another man. Lord Hope was later forced to sell the diamond to avoid bankruptcy; His unfaithful wife died in poverty. The ongoing woeful story of the diamonds owner continued for decades. An Eastern European prince gave it to an exotic dancer. But later he became jealous and shot her to death. Another owner had a car accident and died with his wife an children. Finally, in 1911, Evalyn Walsh Mclean purchased the Hope Diamond. She was a wealthy American socialite. She was sometimes unconventional. For example, she had her dog wear the diamond to greet party guests. She said she did not believe in the diamonds -curse. However, she suffered several personal tragedies while she owned the gem. Her son died in a car accident. Her daughter dies from an overdose of sleeping pills, and her husband went insane. The diamonds final owner, Harry Winston bought the stone after Dame McLean died in 1947. He donated to the Smithsonian 11 years later. Without explaining his actions, Winston sent the stone in a plain brown wrapper to the museum. The Hope Diamond now holds a place of honor in the museums remodelled Hall of Gems, perhaps bringing an end to its colourful yet sometimes tragic history. 70. The main topic of the whole text is ____. (A) the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (B) the diamond on the statue of the Hindu goddess (C) the cutting of the Hope Diamond into smaller carats (D) the history of the worlds largest blue diamond (E) the kings who were at one time owners of the Hope Diamond 71. The Hope Diamond was originally ____. (A) a jewel exhibited in a museum in Washington, DC (B) a bigger gem stone attached to an Indian statue (C) a 1 12carat diamond owned by European kings (D) meant to be auctioned to the royal (E) a sacred object worshipped by Indian people

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 51)

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 52)

72. The following were misfortunes happening to the owners of the Hope Diamond, except ___. (A) death from smallpox (D) a fatal car accident (B) beheaded in a revolution (E) getting married to an exotic dancer (C) broken marriage (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 53) 73. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the Hope Diamond? (A) Dame McLean was the most cursed person among the owners of the Diamond. (B) Not only people but also an animal had worn the Hope Diamond. (C) Having been the owner of the diamond for a decade, Winston donated it to the Smithsonian. (D) The Hope Diamond maintained its original shape after it had been cut. (E) As the diamond is flawless and priceless, it has never been sold. (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 54) 74. To cast a spell of misfortune on someone in line 5 means (A) to wish someone bad luck (D) to throw bad words to someone (B) to do magic by saying special words (E) to look at something quickly
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(C) to put a curse on someone Text I SPMB 2006 Regional 2 Kode 610

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 55)

The killer sea waves known as tsunamis are so quiet in their approach from afar, so harmless, that until recently history has been one of surprise attack. Out in the middle of the ocean, the distance between tsunami wave crests can be 100 miles and the height of the wave no more than three feet: Sailors can ride one and suspect nothing. At the shoreline, the first sign is often an ebbing a retreat but rather a gathering of forces. When the great waves finally do strike, they rear up and hit harbour and coast, causing death and damage. These seismic sea waves or tidal waves, as they are sometimes called bear no relation to the moon or tides. And the word tsunami, Japanese for harbour wave, relates to their destination rather than their origin. The causes are various: undersea or coastal earthquakes, deep ocean avalanches or volcanism. Whatever the cause, the wave motion starts with a sudden move like a hit from a giant paddle that displaces the water. And the greater the undersea hit, the greater the tsunamis damaging power. In 1883, Krakatoa volcano in East Indies erupted, and the entire island collapsed in 820 feet of water. A tsunami of tremendous forces bouncing around Java and Sumatra, killing 36,000 people with walls of water that reached 115 feet in height. In 1946 a tsunami struck first near Alaska and then, without warning, hit the Hawaiian Islands, killing 159 people and causing millions of dollars of damage. This led to the creation of Tsunami Warning System, whose nerve centre in Honolulu keeps a round the clock vigil with the aid of new technology. If the seismic sea waves are confirmed by the Honolulu center, warnings are transmitted within a few hours to all threatened Pacific points. Tsunamis have been deprived of their most deadly sting surprise. 75. The writer describes in detail _____. (A) how harmless the tsunami seems to be for sailors (B) what damage the tsunami caused in Japan (C) when the tsunami tends to attack unexpectedly (D) why tsunamis are called the killer sea waves (E) where tsunamis have been most severe in their attack

(SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 51)

76. Why are tsunamis seemingly harmless when they start? (A) The waves out in the ocean were not alarmingly high. (B) The ebbing of the waters leaves fish stranded and slapping on the bottom. (C) The great wave strike, reaching up and hitting harbour and coast. (D) The waves approaching from the afar gather forces and move the waters away from the land. (E) The seismic sea waves bear no relation to the moon or tides. (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 52) 77. The following are possible causes for seismic waves, EXCEPT _____. (A) earthquake under the ocean (D) ocean volcanoes (B) underwater avalanches (E) seashores earthquake (C) the rise and fall of sea levels (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 53) 78. The following are possible causes for seismic waves, EXCEPT _______. (A) earthquake under the ocean (D) ocean volcanoes (B) underwater avalanches (E) seashores earthquake C) the rise and fall of sea levels (SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 54) 79. The danger of tsunamis has been reduced by ______. (A) establishing local nerve centre (B) the countries around the Pacific Rim (C) close control from a new warning centres (D) warning the nerve centre of seismic waves (E) the tsunami warning system at the bottom of the sea

(SPMB 2006 Regional 2 No. 55)

Text 1 SPMB 2006 Regional 3 Kode 510 Paper is different from other waste products because it comes from trees. Unlike plastic and metal waste products, which cannot disintegrate, paper is biodegradable it can be broken down into substance by the action of bacteria, and are not harmful to the environment. While 45 out of every 100 tones of wood fibre used to make paper in Australia comes from waste paper, the rest comes from virgin fibre from forests and plantations. By world standards this is a good performance since the world-wide average is 33 percent waste paper. Governments have encouraged waste paper collection and sorting schemes and at the same time, the paper industry has responded by developing new recyclicing technologies that have paved the way for even greater utilization of use fibre. As a result, industrys use of recycled fibres is expected to increase at twice the rate of virgin fibre over the coming years. Already, waste paper constitutes 70% of paper used for packaging and advances in the technology required to remove ink from the paper have allowed a higher recycled content in newsprint and writing paper. To achieve the benefits of recycling, the community must also contribute. We need to accept a change in the quality of paper products; for example, stationery may be less white and of rougher texture. There also needs to be support from community for waste paper collection programs. Not only do we need to make the paper available to collectors but it also needs to be separated into different types and sorted from contaminants such as staples, paperclips, string and other miscellaneous items. There are technical limitations to the amount of paper which can be recycled and some paper products cannot be collected for re-use. These include paper in the form of books and permanents records, photographic paper and paper which
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is badly contaminated. The four most common sources of paper for recycling are factories and retail stores which gather large amounts of packaging material in which goods are delivered, also offices which have unwanted business documents and computer output, paper converters and printer and lastly households which discard newspaper and packaging material. The paper manufacturer pays a price for the paper and may also have to pay the collection cost. 80. The appropriate title for the text is ____. (A) the difference between p0aper and other types of wastes (B) the advantages and disadvantages of recycling paper (C) the types of paper which cannot be recycled (D) the increased popularity of recycling paper (E) the advances in the technology of recycling paper

(SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 51)

81. The following statements about recycled paper are TRUE, except that ____. (A) it comes from used paper (B) it helps preserve forests (C) it has a smooth surface (D) it is less white (E) it is mostly used for packaging (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 52) 82. Recycling waste paper has been encouraged by governments because_____. (A) It primarily enables us to conserve the existing forest (B) New technology can produce perfectly white paper from it (C) It can pave the way for greater utilization of virgin fibre (D) The community is not paid for the collection of waste paper (E) Its production decreases the rate of unemployment (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 53) 83. Producers of recycled paper spend a lot of money to acquire the waste paper; however, they do not accept______. (A) Packaging material for delivering goods (B) Paper that has been used in photography (C) Discarded business documents (D) Collected old newspapers (E) All contaminated waste paper (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 54) 84. The term vibre fibre in the line 4 means fibre which____ (A) has a rough texture (B) originates from Australia (C) has been processed (D) can be recycled (E) comes directly from tees (SPMB 2006 Regional 3 No. 55) Text 1 SPMB 2005 Regional 1 Motion sickness comes in many forms, not just sicknesses. Ninety percent of the human race is susceptible to motion sickness. Some people become sick when they sit in the back seat of a car; others cannot read or look at the map in any kind of moving vehicle. People get motion sickness on airplanes, motorcycles, amusement park rides, and even on camels! Scientist have learned that motion sickness occurs when the brain is trying to make sense of a situation and there are too many conflicting massages. While the eyes are sending one message, the ears are trying to send a message about balance. The skin and bone joint, sensitive to out air pressure, send another message. Many people who have experienced violent motion sickness try to avoid travel. But that is not always the possible. So travelers should employ some well-known strategies to avoid getting sick. The most useful strategy concerns food: eat a little meal before travelling and bring along a packet of plain soda crackers to snack on regularly. Avoid alcoholic and carbonated beverages, high-fat foods, and spices. Care in choosing the location of your seat is another important strategy. In a car, sit in front and keep your eyes fixed on the horizon. People who still got sick after trying these strategies can try medical help. Some rely on over-the counter medications, although some of them can make you sleepy. Others use simple ginger capsules to settle their stomach. A large number of travelers use pressure bands on their wrists. It is not clear how these bands work, but they do prevent motion sickness. 85. A suitable title for the text is ____. (A) Motion Sickness (D) The Worst Kind of Motion Sickness (B) Inability to Avoid Motion Sickness (E) Susceptibility to Motion Sickness. (C) Effect of Motion Sickness (SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 51) 86. A person gets motion sickness because of _____. (A) sitting in vehicles (D) the conflicting messages received by the brain (B) reading a book while traveling (E) watching rides in the amusement park (C) waiting for the airplane to come (SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 52) 87. Victims of motion sickness can reduce the chance of becoming sick by doing the following, except ____. (A) avoiding spicy food (C) consuming high-fat food (E) not consuming alcohol (B) eating a light meal before traveling (D) taking the back-seat in a car (SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 53) 88. The meaning of over-the counter medication is medicine bought _____. (A) outside drugstores (C) only in drugstores (E) without prescription
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(B) in small grocery stores

(D) without prescription

(SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 54)

89. From the text we may conclude that ____. (A)basically everyone tends to get sick when they are travelling (B)there is no definite solution to the problem of motion sickness (C)medical help is the best way to cure motion sickness (D)there are so many ways for people to stop getting motion sickness (E) motion sickness can be overcome by any drug prescribed by a doctor Text I SPMB 2005 Regional 2

(SPMB 2005 Regional 1 No. 55)

The catastrophe called the Great Dying, which occurred between the Permian and Triassic periods wiped out 90 percent of the planet's marine life and 70 percent of all plant and animal life. The most recent popular scientific belief about what caused it was the impact of a large object from space, but the examination of sediment and fossil deposited at the time has led two groups of scientists to revise this belief. Animals and plants both on land and in the sea were dying at the same time and apparently from the same causes too much heat and too little oxygen, said Peter Ward, a University of Washington paleontologist. In their research published in Science Express, the groups found increased levels of sulphur and depleted oxygen in the ancient rock. Ward and his team of researchers from the United States and South Africa thought that the sulphur came from continued volcanic eruptions in an area known as the Siberian Trap. The eruptions warmed the Earth, trapped sunlight, and depleted oxygen in the air. At the same time, the Earth's shifting tectonic plates lowered the levels of the ocean, exposing seabeds and releasing methane trapped in the sediment there, further increasing the global warming. The temperatures kept rising so that it got hotter and hotter until it reached a critical point causing everything to die. Temperatures around the world rose 8 degrees, killing off plants which served as food for animal, there by starving them. In addition, oxygen levels dropped to about 16 percent of the atmosphere, whereas levels today are at 21 percent. Therefore, it is believed that widespread volcanic eruptions that led to global warming was likely the cause of massive extinction 250 million years ago, not the impact of an asteroid or comet. 90. The text tells us about ___ (A) the extinction of global life (B) research conducted by scientists (C) the effect of the shifting of tectonic plates (D) Prof. Ward, the anthropologist (E) the cause of the Great Dying
(SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 51)

91. From the text we may conclude that the writer's objective is to show the public that ____. (A) the Great Dying occurred two hundred and fifty million years ago (B) there is a new theory about the cause of the Great Dying (C) the enormous extinction on earth, was caused by the fall of a comet (D) it was during the Permian and Triassic periods that the earth changed (E) the Great Dying referred to the dying of marine life in the world (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 52) 92. Which of the following is NOT the cause of the massive extinction millions of years ago? (A) Increased global warming (D) Widespread eruptions of volcanoes (B) Sudden drop of high temperatures (E) High rate of sulphur emissions (C) Gradual loss of oxygen (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 53) 93. What was most probably the cause of the Great Dying? (A) Volcanic eruptions in the area called the Siberian Trap (B) The shifting of tectonic plates caused by terrible earthquakes (C) The publication of scientific researches in the United States and in Africa (D) The finding of excessive amounts of sulphur and lack k of oxygen in the ancient rock (E) The massive extinction of animal and plant life on the planet (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 54) 94. "Marine life" in line 2 means the life of _____. (A) All life existing in the sea (D) sailors who have ranks in the navy (B) people working for sea lines (E) fisherman living along the beach (C) creatures living in nature (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 55) Text I SPMB 2005 Regional 3 Heart disease is Western society's number-one killer. It accounts for one-third of all deaths in America and for well over half the deaths among middle-aged men. Heart disease was relatively rare in America at the turn of the century, but it has risen dramatically since then, with a slight downturn in 1960. Heart disease is often viewed as a disease of modern living, spurred on by the habits and the stress of industrialized society. Evidence for this idea comes from the fact that non-Western societies have relatively low rates of heart disease. And there is a higher rate of heart disease among immigrants to America, such as Japanese Americans and ChineseAmericans, than among those who remain in their native country, suggesting that something about the Western environment promotes the development of the disease. Heart disease usually involves the formation of a fatty substance called plague in the walls of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. If the arteries become narrowed enough or blocked, the person may suffer a heart attack, that is death of a region of heart muscle tissue.
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Among the many factors that have been found to be related to the risk of developing heart disease are high blood pressure, a history of heart disease among one's close relatives, cigarette smoking, being relatively overweight, and a high level of a fatty substance called cholesterol in the blood. In addition to all of these well-established risk factors, it is now clear that stress can have a major impact on the development of heart disease. People who continually undergo a great deal of stressand who lack the ability to control itare at a significantly greater risk for disease than people who undergo less stress or who can manage stress successfully. Jobs that impose high psychological demands but they provide the worker with the little controlsuch as a cook, waiter, and hospital orderlyseem to be heart disease. 95. There is a higher number of heart patients among Japanese and Chinese immigrants in the U.S. because ____. (A) the U.S. has the highest rate of heart disease in the world (B) they might not have been able to cope with the stress of living in an industrialized society (C) the food in the U.S. contains too much cholesterol (D) they are often unjustly treated in their adopted home country (E) they work hard to create a better life for their children (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 51) 96. How serious is the prevalence of heart disease among people living in the U.S? (A) Fifty percent of the deaths is caused by heart disease deceased sharply (B) In 1960 the rate of death caused by heart disease decreased sharply (C) Thirty percent of the victims of heart disease were men (D) Heart disease has always been rare among American citizens (E) More than fifty percent of people in their 40s died of heart disease (SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 52) 97. A person gets a heart attack when ____. (A) plague is formed in the walls of the arteries (B) coronary arteries are blocked by a fatty substance (C) smoking cigarettes causes hypertension (D) a region of heart muscle tissue is dead (E) heart disease is genetic among dose relatives
(SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 53)

98. The third paragraph tells us about ____ a person can get a heart attack. (A) the process (C) the reason (E) how long (B) how much (D) what time 99. Well-established risk factors in line 17 are risk factors which ___ . (A) have been proved real (D) are formed by the disease (B) are related to the environment (E) create a belief among people (C) show a contagious disease

(SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 54)

(SPMB 2005 Regional 2 No. 55)

English for SPMB

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