not.
Some people claim that children do enough work in school already. They also
argue that children have hobbies that they want to do after school, such as sports or
music. A further point they make is that a lot of homework is pointless and doesn’t help
the children learn at all.
However, there are also strong arguments against this point of view. Parents and
teachers argue that it is important to find out whether children can work on their own
without the support from the teacher. They say that the evening is a good time for
children to sit down and think about what they have learned in school.
Furthermore they claim that the school day is too short to get anything done that
needs doing and it makes sense to send home tasks like independent reading or further
writing tasks that don’t need teacher’s support.
On balance, I think that some homework is a good idea but that it should only
given at the weekend when children have more time.
6. From the passage we can assume that, children should be … by their parents while they
are using internet.
A. taught
B. watched
C. seen
D. accompanied
E. observed
DISCUSSION TEXT
There are many reasons for both sides of the questions, “Should we have printed advertisement?”
Many people have strong views and feel that ads are nothing more than useless junk mail, while
other people feel it is an important source information.
There are some reasons why we should have advertisement in newspaper and magazines. One
reason is ads give us information about what is available. Looking at ads we can find out what is
on sale and what is new in the market. This is an easy way of shopping. Another reason is that
advertisement promotes business. When shop owners compete against each other the buyer saves
money, more people come to their shops and they sell more goods.
On the other hand, some people argue that ads should not be put in newspapers and magazines
for theses various reasons. Firstly, ads cost the shopkeepers a lot of money to print onto paper.
Also some people don’t like finding junk mail in their letter boxes. Ads also influence people to
buy items they don’t need and can’t really afford. Ads use up a lot of space and a lot of effort has
to be made to make the ads eyecatching.
After looking at both sides of issue, I think we should not have advertisements because they cost
a lot of money and take up a lot of room in the papers. I don’t think I find some of them
interesting. I mainly disagree because it’s junk mail.
9. “Ads use up a lot of space and a lot of effort has to be made to make the ads
eyecatching.” The underlined word is closest in meaning to ….
A. Newsworthy
B. Subtle
C. Plain
D. Impressive
E. Delicate
Low-Cost Airlines
Before 1999, flying was too expensive for many Indonesian people. Buses, ships,
and trains were much cheaper. In 1999 the first Indonesia’s low-cost airline was
introduced. The low-cost (or no frills or budget) airlines began in the early 1990’s in the
USA. The term-cost doesn’t always refer to the price of the ticket, but to the operating
costs. These airlines can operate more cheaply than regular airlines because the reduced
quality of the service can reduce the cost of training the staff. Employees sometimes have
to work in two jobs-the flight attendants sometimes clean inside the aircraft after each
flight. Since 1999 several budget airlines have been operating in Indonesia.
As a matter of fact, the emergence of discount carries has enormous benefits for
travelers. Middle class-people, who could not afford full fare, would pay for cheaper
seats. It’s not surprising that many people prefer taking these no-frills airlines than
spending more money to travel on regular planes. Moreover, early ticket booking allows
people to get lower ticket price. Budget regular flights are cheaper because they do not
give free in-flight food or drinks.
However, bad safety records have been showed by plane crashes that have mostly
happened to low-cost airlines. An Indonesian low-cost airline vanished without a trace;
another plane cracked open upon landing; a flight overran the runway in Yogyakarta and
caught fire, and another discount aircraft went off the runway in Java.
Budgets flights may be less time ned energy consuming, but safety is surely not
less important.
11. The text argues that for many customers of budget flights, ….
A. safety is to be improved in budget airplanes
B. low cost is more important safety
C. the highest demands for budget flights are in Indonesia
D. safety is still well guaranteed in budget flights
E. many low-cost airlines operating in Indonesia are not safe
12. “An Indonesian low-cost airline vanished without a trace …” (Paragraph 3)
The closest meaning to the underlined word is ….
A. tell
B. sank
C. disappeared
D. dropped
E. damaged
Gene Splicing
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.
The ability to create life in the laboratory could greatly benefit mankind. For example,
as it is very expensive to obtain insulin from natural sources, scientists have developed a
method to manufacture insulin inexpensively in the laboratory.
On the contrary, no one agree on gene splicing. Some people think that it has terrible
consequences. A laboratory accident, for example, might cause an epidemic of an unknown
disease that could wipe out humanity.
Lots of tourists visit our town, but many people argue whether this is good or bad
for the community. Each side has their own viewpoints.
Those in favor of the tourist industry argue that tourism brings money to the town
and creates employment. Business owners also supports this saying that tourism
promotes development in town. Moreover, everyone benefits from having better facilities
and more shops. Other also argue that tourism develops a better understanding of other
cultures so people become more tolerant.
People against tourism, however, say that most of tourist’s dollars are spent in
international hotels owned by foreign interest groups. Consequently, the town receives
little financial benefit. In addition, they point out that the new developments have caused
traffic and water supply problems. They argue that several unpleasant incidents in the
community indicate that the local community resentment towards tourists.
Undoubtedly, the local council should please both sides. Not only should it
promote tourism, but also restrict new development that would cause traffic and water
supply problems.
16. From the viewpoints of those who disagree with tourist industry, who will likely receive
the most financial benefit?
A. business owners
B. the local people
C. the local community
D. the local government
E. international hotel owners
17. What are the factors that make the people agree to the tourist industry?
A. Business, finance, culture and infrastructure
B. Investment, community building, cultural understanding
C. Business, development, investment and social
D. Public facilities, development, finance, social
E. Finance, infrastructure, cultural understanding, community development
18. “Not only should it promote tourism, but also restrict new development…” (Paragraph 4)
The underlined word is closets in meaning to ….
A. ban
B. open
C. curb
D. limit
E. prohibit
At an early age interacting and communicating with people is very important for
a child’s personal life and can be especially helpful for his/her future. In a boarding
school, shy children can take advantage of interaction through communal activities. The
boarding school also offers a great variety of activities such as arts, sports, and music
that allow children to demonstrate and develop specialized skills in their free time.
Furthermore, the structured way of life and strict rules at the boarding school may helps
students to get used to a well ordered way of life. The manners and social skills will help
them to become more responsible and confident, and to develop their talents in
leadership. Professionally trained teachers and educators in the boarding school can other
excellent education without the parents’ constant supervision.
19. According to the writer, children in a boarding school can develop specialized skills in….
A. entrepreneurship
B. community service
C. reading
D. drama
E. music
Study groups are commonly utilized by many students to prepare themselves for
class discussion, examinations, or class presentation. They can also make use of it to
review their weak points and learn new ideas. I myself find that we can learn more
effectively in a study group. However, I can’t deny that study groups have also some
disadvantages.
On the positive side a study group gives the students motivation to study and
update their readings because the other members likely give them encouragement. It also
helps them to learn new ideas as well as important points they missed on their readings.
Most of the members in my study group are very open in sharing what they know. These
alert me that I should update my readings so I could also share something.
On the other hand, the disadvantage of a study group is the part of compelling the
students to attend it after class or during their free time. Commitment among each
member is also an important aspect in a study group. Hence the members of a study
group have to set aside other activities to study together.
To join a study group or not is the student’s own choice, because there are other
students who learn better when they do it on their own. If a student thinks he/she will be
learning effectively in group, he/she had better go on and enjoy the fun way of learning.
22. Some students are motivated to study in a study group because the other members
likely….
A. give them better ideas
B. come up with important ideas
C. are clever than them
D. solve the problem
E. encourage them to study
The answer
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. A
5. B
6. D
7. D
8. A
9. D
10. C
11. B
12. C
13. C
14. D
15. C
16. E
17. E
18. D
19. E
20. E
21. E
22. E
23. B
24. B