Contoh Soal reading Comprehension dan pembahasannya
READING COMPREHENSION 2: SOLAR ROAD
Latihan reading comprehension berikutnya mengangkat tema tentang “solar road”. Mari
kita mulai:
Solar is popping up just about everywhere, even landfills and parka pockets. So why not
roads? The Netherlands built the first solar road, a bike path, in 2014.
France announced a bolder move in January—over the next five years, it plans to install 1,000
kilometers of solar roads, designed to supply power to five million people.
That’s not all. Idaho-based Solar Roadways has received three rounds of U.S. government
funding with an additional $2 million in venture capital to test its technology.
The tempered-glass panels offer asphalt-like traction, support the weight of semi-trucks,
include LEDs for signage, and contain heating elements to melt snow and ice.
Could solar panels really pave the roads of the future? Proponents see endless possibilities, but
others raise questions about cost, efficiency, and durability.
The sheer amount of surfaces each country devotes to roadways is enormous.
Allowing this space to double as a solar farm could have very positive implications in the
battle to put a halt to climate change.
They estimate that their panels, if used in lieu of existing U.S. roads and walkways, could
produce more than three times the electricity used in the United States.
Besides, they say their panels could charge electric vehicles, first on solar parking lots.
With enough solar highways and cars with the right equipment (to pick up energy from
induction plates in the road) they might even be able to charge vehicles while moving.
“Aside from road dust, particularly black tire dust and diesel exhaust, which will quickly cover
a portion of each panel, the continuous traffic covering panels will reduce their solar output,”
says Jacobson, adding they’ll likely suffer more wear and tear and need more repairs than
other solar panels.
Despite high costs, company chairman Peter Harrop says solar roads might work in places
that are putting down roads for the first time. “They need early technology adopters like
China that want to leapfrog in development.”
1. What is the main subject of the passage?
Pilihan jawaban:
a. bike paths
b. solar panels
c. solar roads
d. chinese interstate systems
Sejak awal paragraf hingga akhir, bahasan yang selalu menjadi fokus adalah tentang “solar
roads”, sementara pilihan jawaban lain tidak disebutkan dalam bacaan, sehingga jawaban
yang tepat adalah (C).
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2. In line 2, the author uses the expression “That’s not all” to indicate that?
Pilihan jawaban:
a. The Netherlands was the only country involved
b. France and the Netherlands worked together
c. He has no futher examples
d. France and the Netherlands aren’t the only ones who have integrated solar roads
Jawaban yang tepat adalah (D) karena disebutkan bahwa negara yang terintegrasi
dengan solar roads bukan hanya Perancis dan Belanda saja.
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3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “rounds” in line 3?
Pilihan jawaban:
a. ammunition
b. times
c. circles
d. praise
Jawaban yang tepat adalah (B) karena mengacu pada kalimat 3 putaran pendanaan pada
momen yang berbeda-beda.
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4. The word “proponents” in line 5 refers to:
Pilihan jawaban:
a. foe
b. detractor
c. enemies
d. advocates
Jawaban yang paling tepat adalah (D) karena “proponents” adalah pihak yang berdebat
untuk memperjuangkan sebuah kasus layaknya seorang advokat.
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5. According to the passage, what would happen if all US roadways and sidewalks
became solar?
Pilihan jawaban:
a. The US would triple its electricity production
b. Americans would use three times as much electricity as they do today
c. American electricity companies would lose 33% of their profits
d. The US would charge customers triple to use the road systems
(A) merupakan jawaban yang paling tepat karena berdasarkan estimasi, jika panel solar
digunakan di jalanan AS, maka kelistrikan yang diperlukan mencapai tiga kali lipat.
