APPENDICES

Appendix 1: TRY OUT READING COMPREHENSION

Name :

NIM :

(Multiple Choices) Choose the correct answer!

The following text is for questions 1 until 6
We believe the Earth is about 4.6 billion years old. At percent, we are forced to
look to other bodies in the solar system for hints as to what the early history of the
Earth was like. Studies of our moon, Mercury, Mars, and the large satellites of
Jupiter and Saturn have provided ample evidence that all these large celestial
bodies had formed. This same bombardment must have affected Earth as well.
The lunar record indicates that the rate of impacts decreased to its present low
level about 4 billion years ago. On Earth, subsequent erosion and crustal motions
have obliterated the craters that must have formed during this epoch. Scientists
estimate the Earth’s age by measuring the ratios of various radioactive elements in
rocks. The oldest Earth’s rocks tested thus far are about 3 1/3 billion years old, but
no one knows whether these are oldest rocks on Earth. Tests on rocks from the
moon and on meteorites show that these are about 4.6 billion years old. Scientists
believe that this is the true age of the solar system and probably the true age of the
Earth.

1. The word obliterated is closest in meaning to…

a. Created
b. Destroyed
c. Changed
d. Erosion

2. According to this passage, how do scientists estimate the age of the Earth?
a. By measuring the ratios of radioactive elements in rocks.
b. By studying sunspots
c. By examining fossils
d. By examining volcanic activity

3. In line 4, the word “bombardment” means…

a. An avoidance.
b. An assault.
c. An effect.
d. A cause.

4. Which of the following bodies was NOT studied to give evidence that the
Earth was bombarded in its early history?
 a. Mars
b. Mercury
c. Jupiter
d. Earth‟s moon

5. Every habitat in the world, from volcano tops to icebergs, can support some
sort of life. The word habitat means…
a. Nation
b. Environment
c. Practice
d. Housing

6. When preparing a diet, a person should be aware that vitamin D acts to

increase the amount of calcium absorbed by the body. What the Diet means…
a. schedule of exercise
b. nutritional plan
c. study of longevity
d. medicinal chart

The following text is for question 9

Before clocks were made, people kept track of time by other means. In ancient
Egypt, people used a water clock. Water dripped slowly from one clay pot into
another. People measured time according to how long it took one pot to empty
and the other one to fill. Candle clocks were common during the Middle Ages. As
such, when a candle burned, marks on its side showed about how much time had
passed. A final ancient way to measure time was the sundial, which used the
movement of the sun across the sky. The shadows moving across the face of the
sundial showed the current time.

7. What is the main Idea?

a. As such, when a candle burned, marks on its side showed about how
much time had passed.
b. Before clocks were made, people kept track by other means.
c. In ancient Egypt, people used a water clock.
d. All the above.

The following text is for questions 10 until 14

The locations of stars in the sky relative to one another do not appear to the naked
eye to change, and as a result stars are often considered to be fixed in position.
Many unaware stargazers falsely assume that each star has its own permanent
home in the nighttime sky. In reality, though, stars are always moving, but
because of the tremendous distances between stars themselves and from stars to
Earth, the changes are barely perceptible here. An example of a rather fast-moving
star demonstrates why this misconception prevails; it takes approximately 200
years for a relatively rapid star like Bernard's star to move a distance in the skies
equal to the diameter of the earth's moon. When the apparently negligible
movement of the stars is contrasted with the movement of the planets, the stars are
seemingly unmoving.

8. The expression "naked eye" in line 1 most probably refers to…

a. a telescope
b. a scientific method for observing stars
c. unassisted vision
d. a camera with a powerful lens
9. According to the passage, the distances between the stars and Earth are…
a. barely perceptible
b. huge
c. fixed
d. moderate

10. The word "negligible" in line 8 could most easily be replaced by…
a. Negative
b. Insignificant
c. Rapid
d. Distant

11. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

a. Stars do not appear to the eye to move.
b. the large distances between stars and the earth tend to magnify movement
to the eye
c. Bernard's star moves quickly in comparison with other stars
d. although stars move, they seem to be fixed

12. When the Pilgrims landed in what is now Massachusetts, they were afraid
that the Indians would attack them. However, the Indians that they
encountered were a peaceful and generous tribe. What does "encountered"
mean?
a. Met
b. Fought
c. hid from
d. ignored

The following text is for question 17

The railroad was not the first institution to impose regularity on society, or to
draw attention to the importance of precise timekeeping. For as long as merchants
have set out their wares at daybreak and communal festivities have been
celebrated, people have been in rough agreement with their neighbors as to the
time of day. The value of this tradition is today more apparent than ever. Were it
not for public acceptance of a single yardstick of time, social life would be
unbearably chaotic: the massive daily transfers of goods, services, and
information would proceed in fits and starts; the very fabric of modern society
would begin to unravel.

13. What is the main idea of the passage?

a. In modern society we must make more time for our neighbors.
b. The traditions of society are timeless.
c. An accepted way of measuring time is essential for the smooth functioning
of society.
d. Society judges people by the times at which they conduct certain activities.

The following text is for question 18

Though fun to watch, chimpanzees should not be kept as pets. They are
dangerously stronger that any NFL lineman. Adult chimps weigh only 100 to 160
pounds, but have been measured pulling six to nine times their own weight with
one hand. Thus, to match the strength of an average chimp, a human being would
have to be able to register a two-handed pull of about a ton it takes a very strong
man to pull a quarter of that. Combined with this strength is the fact that a chimp
is capable of losing its temper for reasons known only to the chimp. Chimps
signal their feelings with subtle cues of behavior that aren't apparent to most
humans. It is quite possible for a chimp to be on the verge of violence while its
owner sits unaware or even unknowingly continuous to provoke. Furthermore, it's
not wise to keep a cute young chimp and release it into the wild when it becomes
dangerous. Wild-raised chimps will routinely gang up on and kill those raised in
captivity.

14. The main idea of this passage is that….

a. Chimpanzees are not as reliable as dogs.
b. Chimpanzees should not be kept as pets for a variety of reasons.
c. Keeping chimpanzees as pets and then releasing them into the wild is a
danger to the pet chimpanzee.
d. No man is as strong as a chimpanzee.

15. I'm in a quandary about which friend's birthday party to attend this weekend.
What does the word "quandary" mean?
a. Dilemma
 b. Anxiety
c. Surprise
d. Superiority

The following passage refers to questions 21-25.

Conflict had existed between Spain and England since the 1570s. England
wanted a share of the wealth that Spain had been taking from the lands it had
claimed in the Americas.
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, encouraged her staunch admiral of the navy,
Sir Francis Drake, to raid Spanish ships and towns. Though these raids were on a
small scale, Drake achieved dramatic success, adding gold and silver to England’s
treasury and diminishing Spain’s supremacy.
Religious differences also caused conflict between the two countries.
Whereas Spain was Roman Catholic, most of England had become Protestant.
King Philip II of Spain wanted to claim the throne and make England a Catholic
country again. To satisfy his ambition and also to retaliate against England’s theft
of his gold and silver, King Philip began to build his fleet of warships, the Spanish
Armada, in January 1586.
Philip intended his fleet to be indestructible. In addition to building new
warships, he marshaled 130 sailing vessels of all types and recruited more than
19,000 robust soldiers and 8,000 sailors. Although some of his ships lacked guns
and others lacked ammunition, Philip was convinced that his Armada could
withstand any battle with England.
The martial Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on May 9, 1588, but bad
weather forced it back to port. The voyage resumed on July 22 after the weather
became more stable.
The Spanish fleet met the smaller, faster, and more maneuverable English
ships in battle off the coast of Plymouth, England, first on July 31 and again on
August 2. The two battles left Spain vulnerable, having lost several ships and with
its ammunition depleted. On August 7, while the Armada lay at anchor on the
French side of the Strait of Dover, England sent eight burning ships into the midst
of the Spanish fleet to set it on fire. Blocked on one side, the Spanish ships could
only drift away, their crews in panic and disorder. Before the Armada could
regroup, the English attacked again on August 8.
Although the Spaniards made a valiant effort to fight back, the fleet suffered
extensive damage. During the eight hours of battle, the Armada drifted perilously
close to the rocky coastline. At the moment when it seemed that the Spanish ships
would be driven onto the English shore, the wind shifted, and the Armada drifted
out into the North Sea. The Spaniards recognized the superiority of the English
fleet and returned home, defeated.

16. Sir Francis Drake added wealth to the treasury and diminished Spain’s
.
a. unlimited power
b. unrestricted growth
c. territory
d. treaties

17. King Philip recruited many soldiers and sailors.

a. Warlike
b. Strong
c. Timid
d. Inexperienced

18. The two battles left the Spanish fleet .

a. open to change
b. triumphant
c. open to attack
d. discouraged

19. The Armada was on one side.

a. closed off
b. damaged
c. alone
d. circled
 The following passage refers to questions 26-30.
The victory of the small Greek democracy of Athens over the mighty
Persian Empire in 490 B.C. is one of the most famous events in history. Darius,
king of the Persian Empire, was furious because Athens had interceded for the
other Greek city-states in revolt against Persian domination. In anger the king sent
an enormous army to defeat Athens. He thought it would take drastic steps to
pacify the rebellious part of the empire.
Persia was ruled by one man. In Athens, however, all citizens helped to rule.
Ennobled by this participation, Athenians were prepared to die for their city-state.
Perhaps this was the secret of the remarkable victory at Marathon, which freed
them from Persian rule. On their way to Marathon, the Persians tried to fool some
Greek city-states by claiming to have come in peace. The frightened citizens of
Delos refused to believe this. Not wanting to abet the conquest of Greece, they
fled from their city and did not return until the Persians had left. They were wise,
for the Persians next conquered the city of Eritrea and captured its people.
Tiny Athens stood alone against Persia. The Athenian people went to their
sanctuaries. There they prayed for deliverance. They asked their gods to expedite
their victory. The Athenians refurbished their weapons and moved to the plain of
Marathon, where their little band would meet the Persians. At the last moment,
soldiers from Plataea reinforced the Athenian troops.
The Athenian army attacked, and Greek citizens fought bravely. The power
of the mighty Persians was offset by the love that the Athenians had for their city.
Athenians defeated the Persians in both archery and hand combat. Greek soldiers
seized Persian ships and burned them, and the Persians fled in terror. Herodotus, a
famous historian, reports that 6,400 Persians died, compared to only 192
Athenians.

20. Darius took drastic steps to the rebellious Athenians.

a. weaken
b. destroy
c. calm
d. irritate
21. Their participation to the Athenians.
a. gave comfort
b. gave honor
c. gave strength
d. gave fear
e. gave hope

22. The Athenians were by some soldiers who arrived from Plataea.
a. welcomed
b. strengthened
c. held
d. Answer not available

Refer to the following passage for questions 31-35.

One of the most intriguing stories of the Russian Revolution concerns the
identity of Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II. During his reign
over Russia, the czar had planned to revoke many of the harsh laws established by
previous czars. Some workers and peasants, however, clamored for more rapid
social reform. In 1918, a group of these people known as Bolsheviks overthrew
the government. On July 17 or 18, they murdered the czar and what was thought
to be his entire family.
Although witnesses vouched that all the members of the czar’s family had
been executed, there were rumors suggesting that Anastasia had survived. Over
the years, a number of women claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia. Perhaps
the most famous claimant was Anastasia Tschaikovsky, who was also known as
Anna Anderson.
In 1920, 18 months after the czar’s execution, this terrified young woman
was rescued from drowning in a Berlin river. She spent two years in a hospital,
where she attempted to reclaim her health and shattered mind. The doctors and
nurses thought that she resembled Anastasia and questioned her about her
background. She disclaimed any connection with the czar’s family. Eight years
later, however, she claimed that she was Anastasia. She said that she had been
rescued by two Russian soldiers after the czar and the rest of her family had been
killed. Two brothers named Tschaikovsky had carried her into Romania. She had
married one of the brothers, who had taken her to Berlin and left her there,
penniless and without a vocation. Unable to invoke the aid of her mother’s family
in Germany, she had tried to drown herself.
During the next few years, scores of the czar’s relatives, ex-servants, and
acquaintances interviewed her. Many of these people said that her looks and
mannerisms were evocative of the Anastasia that they had known. Her
grandmother and other relatives denied that she was the real Anastasia, however.
Tired of being accused of fraud, Anastasia immigrated to the United States
in 1928 and took the name Anna Anderson. She still wished to prove that she was
Anastasia, though, and returned to Germany in 1933 to bring suit against her
mother’s family. There she declaimed to the court, asserting that she was indeed
Anastasia and deserved her inheritance.
In 1957, the court decided that it could neither confirm nor deny Anastasia’s
identity. Although it will probably never be known whether this woman was the
Grand Duchess Anastasia, her search to establish her identity has been the subject
of numerous books, plays, and movies.

23. Some Russian peasants and workers for social reform.

a. Longed
b. cried out
c. hoped
d. thought much

24. Tschaikovsky initially any connection with the czar’s family.

a. Denied
b. Stopped
c. Noted
d. Answer not available

25. She was unable to _ the aid of her relatives.

a. Locate
b. speak about
c. call upon
d. know
26. In court she maintaining that she was Anastasia and deserved her
inheritance.
a. finally appeared
b. spoke forcefully
c. gave evidence
d. Answer not available

Refer to the following passage for questions 36-40.

Many great inventions are initially greeted with ridicule and disbelief. The
invention of the airplane was no exception. Although many people who heard
about the first powered flight on December 17, 1903 were excited and impressed,
others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea of flying an aircraft was repulsive
to some people. Such people called Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of
the first flying machine, impulsive fools. Negative reactions, however, did not
stop the Wrights. Impelled by their desire to succeed, they continued their
experiments in aviation.
Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in
aeronautics and mechanics. As young boys they earned money by making and
selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they designed a newspaper-folding
machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop. In 1896, when
they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brothers’ interest in flight grew
into a compulsion.
Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting
his body in the desired direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers,
however, and they searched for more efficient methods to control the balance of
airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights tested numerous gliders and
developed control techniques. The brothers’ inability to obtain enough lift power
for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts.
After further study, the Wright brothers concluded that the published tables
of air pressure on curved surfaces must be wrong. They set up a wind tunnel and
began a series of experiments with model wings. Because of their efforts, the old
tables were repealed in time and replaced by the first reliable figures for air
pressure on curved surfaces. This work, in turn, made it possible for the brothers
to design a machine that would fly. In 1903 the Wrights built their first airplane,
which cost less than $1,000. They even designed and built their own source of
propulsion-a lightweight gasoline engine. When they started the engine on
December 17, the airplane pulsated wildly before taking off. The plane managed
to stay aloft for 12 seconds, however, and it flew 120 feet.
 By 1905, the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and
remain airborne for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons and hang
gliders, but the Wright brothers were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly
under its own power. As the contributors of one of the most outstanding engineering
achievements in history, the Wright brothers are accurately called the fathers of
aviation.

27. The idea of flying an aircraft was to some people.

a. Boring
b. Distasteful
c. Needless
d. Answer not available

28. People thought that the Wright brothers had .

a. acted without thinking
b. been negatively influenced
c. been too cautious
d. acted in a negative way

29. The Wrights’ interest in flight grew into a .

a. financial empire
b. plan
c. need to act
d. Answer not available

30. The old tables were and replaced by the first reliable figures for air
pressure on curved surfaces.
a. Destroyed
b. Invalidated
c. Approved
d. not used