The following text is for questions 1 to 3.

Harry Potter and Philosopher’s Stones

Judged by this first volume, the Harry Potter books are a fine addition to English children’s
fantasy literature. Harry Potter, orphaned when his parents are killed by the evil wizard
Voldemort, is taken in by his aunt and uncle, who are Muggles – ordinary, non-magical people.
Harry is rather out of place there, but things improve greatly for him when goes to the Hogwarts
School of  Witchcraft and Wizardry – except that one of  the staff is in league with Voldemort.

Part of  the attention of  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone comes from the familiar but at
the same time exotic setting of  an English public school, complete with houses and schoolboy
adventures, in which Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione struggle to save the world and win
the house cup.

So Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be a great Christmas present for kids who haven’t
read it yet – and it is a book that adults (at least those without stunted imaginations) can read as
well.
                                                                        A book review by Danny Yee @ 2000
                                                                        http://dannyreviews.com/

1. The story of Harry Potter began when ....

A.    he became an orphan
B.     his uncle and aunt adopted him
C.     Voldemort was killed
D.    his parents killed Voldemort
E.     his uncle and aunt killed Voldemort

2. When Harry Potter lived with his uncle and aunt, ....
A.    he felt uncomfortable
B.     he befriended Voldemort
C.     things improved in his life
D.    he had fantasy about magic
E.     he became ordinary people

3. We can conclude from the first paragraph that ....

A.    Harry Potter’s parents were muggle
B.     Harry Potter lived in a magical place
C.     Harry Potter is a relative of  Voldemort
D.    Harry Potter’s parents adopted him as an orphan
E.     Harry Potter enjoyed his life with his uncle and aunt

The following text is for questions 23 to 25. 

Reading the three plots of Marry Higgins Clark in All Through the Night concern a stolen gold
ornamental cup, a missing baby, and a will which seems to be deceitful. To solve the mystery, she
revives her beloved characters; Alvirah, the former cleaning woman; and Willy Meeham, the
plumber who won the lottery. They left their life in Jackson Heights, Queens, for an apartment on
Central Park. The two have fun along the way solving the puzzle.
The pace is swift and the story is pure escape - totally fun Mary Higgins Clark. I admit, however,
that l am still trying to know what melody of the song "All Through the Night" sounds like.

This holiday season, put aside your chores and curl up on couch with All Through the Night.
When you close it you will be relaxed and more ready to enjoy the festivities. And then you might
just want to tuck a copy into someone's stocking or gift bag, as well.

23. What is the writer's suggestion for the holiday season?

A. Left your life for an apartment in Central Park.
B. Put aside your chores and read the novel. 
C. Tuck a stocking into someone's gift bag.
D. Stole a gold ornament and he deceitful.
E. Have fun and solve some puzzles. 

24. What intrigues the writer about All Through the Night?

A. lt made her curl up on couch all day.
B. It made her ready for any festivities during holiday.
C. She didn”t know the melody of the song in the book.
D. She wanted to escape every time she read the book.
E. She closed it and got relax.

25. In the first paragraph, the reviewer ....

A. introduces the Marry Higgins Clark
B. analyzes the three plots in the story 
C. mainly discusses about Alvirah
D. is solving all of the mystery
E. summarizes the characters

The following passage is for questions 1 to 3.

2012 Film
2012 is Roland Emmerich's film which uses the Mayan calendar and other endof-days prophecies
for their doomsday scenario. It images the world coming to an end in 2012.

2012 film brings off a series of wonders. The movie hits its peak early on. It starts when Cussack
drives a limo through the streets of Los Angeles as freeways and skyscrapers crumble all round
him from the shock of a 10.5 R.S. earthquake. The preposterous flying sequence is equally
thrilling. The climax occurs aboard the giant ark, when an equipment malfunction threatens
almost the entire mission.

Unfortunately, the crucial sequence is not filmed or edited with the necessary clarity. In 2012 film,
Emmerich leaves us confused as to exactly what is happening to whom. However, Emmerich' 2012
deserves credit for casting Cussack.

McCarthy has perhaps his best role ever as Peet's cocky. Danny Glover lends dignity to the role of
the president. Chiwetel Ejiofor, as the chief scientist, brings a moving sense of anguish to a stock
role. Piatt has fun playing the villain of the piece, and Woody Harrelson also chews the scenery as
a bugeyed radio prophet trying to warm his listeners about Armagedon.

All in one, 2012's cinematography, production design and visual effects are awards-worthy. Music
also propels the movie. It presents American Idol runner-up. Adam Lambert, who provides a
rousing anthem over the end credits.

1. The film 2012 comes to the climax when ....

A. the skyscrapers were crumbling
B. the entire mission was threatened
C. a shocking 10.5 R.S. earthquake happened
D. the preposterous flying sequence is equally thrilling
E. an equipment malfunction threatens the mission 

2. The Maya calendar predicts that ....

A. the doomsday will happen in 2072 
B. Roland Emmerich will make a 2012 film
C. the end of the day will happen in Los Angeles
D. a 10.5 RS earthquake will happen in Los Angeles only
E. the giant ark will save some people from the earthquake

3. Based on the text, we know that ....

A. Cussack plays a character in 2012 film. 
B. 2012 film is based on Cussack's true experience.
C. a series of wonders happened in the Mayan calendar.
D. Adam Lambert stars 2012 movie.
E. in this film, doomsday happens before 10.5 R.S. earthquake occurs.

Soal UN SMA/MA 2011

The following text is for questions 1 to 5.

It was the dawn of science and technology. Anything seemed possible –even the creation of life itself.
Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with this idea and works relentlessly to prove his theories; but
the glory he imagined becomes a living nightmare –not only for him, but for his friends and family too.

Mary Shelley’s gothic horror story- Frankenstein-was first published in 1818 and has been the
inspiration behind numerous stage productions and films – many of which strayed a long way away
from her original masterpiece. Classical Comics presenting a full-colour graphic novel remains true to
this classic tale, bringing the original story to life which has never been created before.

This graphic novel is available in two versions: Original Text and Quick Text editions.  The Original
Text stays faithful to Shelley’s original text, while the Quick Text brings the story up to date by
presenting the text into a more simplified style so that the tale is accessible to all readers.
The Quick Text edition will allow you to soak up a general feeling for the characters and locations,
while the Original Text version will help you easily slip into the language in which the novel was
written.

Even if you’re not studying the original, this graphic novel is worth buying. It’s a great story, and
should be one that everyone has the chance to read. Now, thanks to this release, even those who don’t
particularly like to read too much are given the chance to find this tale and hopefully it may encourage
them to search out the original book too.

As with previous Classical Comics, the presentation is first class. The best grade glossy paper really
helps to set this graphic novel head and shoulders above the usual comic book releases on the market.
Not only that, you also get a pretty comprehensive biography of Shelley; Mary Shelley’s Family Tree;
a feature that explains what life was like in the year of the book’s release; and a brief look on how
Frankenstein has been adapted to many different formats over the years.

1. The text is about ….

A. the quick text and original text of Frankenstein story
B. the simplified text of the up dated horror story
C. the horror story written by Frankenstein
D. the original text of the author’s novel
E. the updated of classical horror story

2. The simple way to understand the story is to read ….

A. the original text
B. classic comics
C. the quick text
D. the original book
E. the author’s biography

3. The main idea of the third paragraph is ….

A. Victor Frankenstein wrote his story with gothic horror style
B. there are two versions of the graphic novel to enjoy        
C. recognize the different life of Frankenstein story
D. have the inspiration to put the story to a film and drama products
E. remind the life of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein        

4. The original text of Frankenstein graphic story makes the readers ….

A. understand the style of writing in its era
B. curious about the historical background of story
C. recognize the different life of Frankenstein story
D. have the inspiration to put the story to a film and drama products
E. remind the life of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein

5. “ … many of which strayed a long way away from …” (Paragraph 2).

The underlined word can be replaced with ….
A. Wandered
B. Changed
C. Directed
D. Pointed
E. Avoided

 Breaking and Entering is an unusual film. Will and Sandy are two architects working on a major
urban renewal project in the King's Cross section in London. The area is unsafe and ready for such a
project. Will and Sandy move their offices into a nearby vacant warehouse.

        Will has to deal with constant burglaries at his new office. One night, he saw Miro trying to break
into the building. He chased Miro to his run down apartment block and watched him return home to his
mother, Amira, a Bosnian immigrant who makes a living tailoring clothes. Soon, Will 'meet' Amira and
they begin an affair. And Amira learns that Will holds the key of her son's future. How far will this
mother go to protect her son? Breaking and Entering is a very interesting film, it is almost entirely
character driven. Tis is not a bad thing although in the film we are exposed to a story or action driven.

        Anthony Minghella, the director, creates some of the most believable, interesting characters these
actors have ever played. It is almost painful to watch them on their journey. Each of the characters
makes decisions affecting how their lives will play out, or change and these decisions and actions affect
the story. The characters aren't reacting to the story. They are changing it.

1.  The text is mainly about ....

a.  a review of a new film, Breaking and Entering.
b.  the process in making the new film, Breaking and Entering.
c.  an amusing story dealing with experi-ence in different ways.
d.  an account of an unusual or amusing incident retold by the film.
e.  the description how the film is accom-plished through a series of steps

2.   "Will and Sandy move their offices into a nearby vacant warehouse." (Paragraph 1)
The antonym of the underlined word is ....
a.  empty
b.  fulfilled
c.  covered
d.  occupied
e.  luxurious
3.  Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the text?
a.  Miro is one of the burglars who tried to break into Will's new office.
b.  Will has to deal with constant burglaries at his new office.
c.  Miro is Amira's son, a Bosnian immi-grant who makes living by tailoring clothes.
d.  The area where the two architects work is unsafe and ready for a renewal pro-ject.
e.  Minghella, the critic, creates some of the most interesting character the actors have ever played