TES POTENSI SKOLASTIK

Read the following passages and select the best answer to each main idea question.

1. The United States has given the free world the concept of “the American Dream,” and thousands from all over the earth immigrate to America to pursue it. If one works hard, educates oneself and one’s children, obeys the laws, and executes the responsibilities of a citizen, one can expect prosperity. One’s children can only do better.

The main idea of this passage is that

• a) Hard work reaps rewards all over the earth.

• b) Only the children profit from their parents’ efforts.

• c) “The American Dream” is only a dream.

• d) “The American Dream” promises earthly rewards for productive behaviors.

2. Working on a computer can be very frustrating if you don’t follow the rules. Rule Number One for word processing is “Save your work frequently.” You can sit and yell at the machine when your stuff disappears. You can bang the keyboard. You can even cry. The fact remains, had you saved frequently, a lot more than nothing would still be there!

Which sentence best expresses the main idea?

• a) Even modern computers are not truly user friendly.

• b) Word processing has lots of bugs, and the industry should be ashamed.

• c) When the computer wins and you lose, get angry.

• d) The wise typist “saves” often.

3. Sam shivered as he passed from the bright sunlight into the gloom of the alley on that brilliant January day. As he pulled his jacket collar closer to his neck, feeling miserable about his mission, the eternally childish shouts from the end of the alley echoed familiarly. He could make out his parents’ silhouettes, posed like old-fashioned boxers, ahead of him in the gloom, and wondered anew at how they could always make him feel like he was the forever big brother, the forever responsible party.

The paragraph could be entitled

• a) “A Cold January Day”

• b) “The Battered Wife”

• c) “The Child as Parent”

• d) “Alleys”

4. The parents frantically gathered in the school yard, some panic stricken at the possibility that their children might be among the injured. The construction workers stood in a group to one side, knowing that they had perfectly secured their operation the night before, that access to the explosives was limited to a crowbarwielding thief. Sheriff’s deputies approached both groups, knowing they had to soothe as well as question. The man in camouflage watched the proceedings through binoculars from the top of a distant tree. A hunter, he’d seen what had happened but could not decide whether to tell the tale.

The point of the paragraph is that

• a) an explosion has ripped through a school.

• b) Construction workers aren’t necessarily careless.

• c) Parents may panic understandably.

• d) The hunter faces a dilemma.

5. The complexities of being an adult who attends school are manifold. Home, work, and school compete. Parenting responsibilities remain in full force, no matter what other activities an adult pursues. Job demands are incessant and presume one’s constant alertness and availability during working hours. School requires not only attendance but also the execution of a multitude of homework assignments. Only those who are strong, disciplined, flexible, and committed survive and thrive.

What idea does the paragraph develop?

• a) To succeed, an adult must be mature in many ways.

• b) Employers assume one has no life outside the job.

• c) No matter what other demands may come and go, children are always there.

• d) College studies are not simply a matter of going to class.

6. Pizza is a favorite food in the United States. Pizza is from Italy in the late 1800s. It became popular in the United States after World War II. People like to add toppings.Some toppings are pepperoni, sausage, and vegetables. These toppings give pizza more flavor. Pepperoni is America’s favorite topping.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• a) Pizza is made from flour.

• b) Pizza was first made in Italy

• c) You should eat the delicious pizza.

• d) Pizza is a popular meal in the United States.

7. Have you ever seen a giraffe at the zoo? Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. The average height of a giraffe is 16-18 feet tall. This animal has a very long neck and legs. Giraffes eat the leaves from tall trees. Other animals cannot reach that high. Male giraffes are even taller than female giraffes.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• a) Giraffes are extremely tall animals.

• b) Giraffes don’t sleep very much.

• c) Giraffes are unique animals.

• d) Giraffes eat leaves.

Fill in the blank by best anwer

When you __(8)__ at an airport, you should go straight to the checkin desk where your ticket and luggage __(9)__. You __(10)__ your hand luggage with you but your suitcases __(11)__ to the plane on a conveyor belt. You can now go to the departure lounge. If you are on an international flight, your passport __(12)__, and then you and your bags __(13)__ by security cameras; sometimes you __(14)__ a body search and your luggage __(15)__ by a security officer. You __(16)__ in the departure lounge until your flight __(17)__ and you __(18)__ which gate number to go. Finally you __(19)__ your plane and you __(20)__ your seat by a flight attendant.

• a) start

• b) started

• c) arrive

• d) are arrived

Fill in the blank by best anwer

When you __(8)__ at an airport, you should go straight to the checkin desk where your ticket and luggage __(9)__. You __(10)__ your hand luggage with you but your suitcases __(11)__ to the plane on a conveyor belt. You can now go to the departure lounge. If you are on an international flight, your passport __(12)__, and then you and your bags __(13)__ by security cameras; sometimes you __(14)__ a body search and your luggage __(15)__ by a security officer. You __(16)__ in the departure lounge until your flight __(17)__ and you __(18)__ which gate number to go. Finally you __(19)__ your plane and you __(20)__ your seat by a flight attendant.

• a) are checked

• b) control

• c) check

• d) is changed

Fill in the blank by best anwer

When you __(8)__ at an airport, you should go straight to the checkin desk where your ticket and luggage __(9)__. You __(10)__ your hand luggage with you but your suitcases __(11)__ to the plane on a conveyor belt. You can now go to the departure lounge. If you are on an international flight, your passport __(12)__, and then you and your bags __(13)__ by security cameras; sometimes you __(14)__ a body search and your luggage __(15)__ by a security officer. You __(16)__ in the departure lounge until your flight __(17)__ and you __(18)__ which gate number to go. Finally you __(19)__ your plane and you __(20)__ your seat by a flight attendant.

• a) kept

• b) keeping

• c) wait

• d) keep