Soal review

This text is for questions 1, 2 and 3

Stephen King’s new ‘Joyland’ Mixes Chills With Amusement Park Thrills
Set in a small town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, Joyland tells the story of the summer in
which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carrier and confronts the legacy of a vicious
murder, the fate of a dying child, which will change his life forever.
Joyland has a patina of the supernatural; There is the ghost as well as Devin’s friendship with a 10-
years-old disabled boy named Mike, who is gifted with an “authentic psychic ability” that is “like
touching another world.” Still, for all that this helps drive the narrative, it ultimately brings us back to
Devin, to the novel’s human heart.
The newest novel from the prolific Stephen King, Joyland is not what I was expecting. We often talk
about the reader’s expectation here in the book Smugglers, usually in the context of the hype preceding a
book, or the marketing campaign around said book. In the case of Joyland, from the vague synopsis and
pulpy cover, I confess that I was expecting something gloriously ostentatious, something excessive. A
horror story about a haunted carnival ground in which Evil itself has manifested in the murder of
unsuspecting pretty young things, perhaps. Imagine my delight then, when I discovered this most
certainly was not the case.
But ultimately, Joyland isn’t about ghosts of murders or unmasking a killer. A heart, it’s a book
about maturing and moving on. It’s a bittersweet tale of love and heartbreak, sadness and healing. Aren’t
those the best kind of stories? One of the best Stephen King novel’s I’ve read in years. I thoroughly
enjoyed Joyland and it’s in the running for one of my notable books for coming out in paperback and
folks who want to read it will have to buy the actual book.

1. The reviewer judges that the novel ….

A. clearly illustrates the supernatural life of Devin Jones
B. is not about a horror but an enjoyable love story
C. tells the smugglers something glorious and excessive Vicious = cruel, brutal
D. meets the reviewer’s expectation Fate = destiny, fortune
Patina=shine
E. doesn’t describe one’s fight against the problem Prolific=productive
Hype=publicity, promotion
Vague=unclear
2. What is the name of the author? Pulpy=soft
A. David Ulin Confess=admit
B. Devin Jones Ostentatious=affected
Excessive=extreme, too much
C. Stephen King Manifested=obvious, clear
D. Annie Rogers
E. Mike Hoffman

3. “The newest novel from the prolific Stephen King…”

The underlined word is closest in meaning to….
A. interesting
B. productive
C. worthwhile
D. important
E. valuable
This text is for questions 4, 5 and 6
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is directed by Andrew Adamson. Four
kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it from the guidance of a
mystical lion.
When the Pevensie family are evacuated out to the country, they are unaware of the adventure they will
encounter. During a game of hide and seek, the youngest daughter, Lucy (Georgie Henley) discovers a
wardrobe which transport her to the land of Narnia. Covered in snow, Narnia is full of weird and wonderful
creatures, but is watched over by the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton). When all four Pevensie children
end up through the wardrobe, they discover that it was meant to be, as two daughters of Eve and two sons of
Adam must join with the mighty lion, Aslan (Neeson) to defeat the evil White Witch.
The visuals of this film are absolutely stunning. Just breathtaking. The acting is excellent, the voice-overs
included. The CG animations on the creatures are marvelous. It will make you feel like staying at the theatre to
see it a few more times on the big screen.

Stunning = dramatic
4. The film arrives at a solution when ….
A. the Penvensie family came to the country.
B. Lucy found the land of Narnia.
C. the evil White Witch met Aslan
D. the creatures were watched by White Witch
E. Pevensie children and Aslan defeated White Witch

5. What is the reviewer’s opinion about the film?

A. The acting is boring
B. The voice is horrible
C. The visuals are fascinating
D. The movie is bothersome
E. The CG animation is imperfect

6. In the second paragraph, the reviewer ….

A. analyzes the film
B. introduces the character
C. summarizes the story
D. discusses the film
E. gives his opinion about the film
text for number 7 and 8

This text is: Leslie

Artist for questions
Feist 10 and 11
Album : Let It Die

In the age of excess, it takes more than just courage to embrace simplicity and a stripped
down approach to music. For a Canadian indie pop singer, Leslie Feist, a minimalist approach are
warmth and excellent. With a touch of jazz and trip-hop around the edges, her music really kicks
off.
Armed only with an acoustic guitar, drum loops, thin-sounding keyboards and jazz-tinged
vocals, Feist triumphantly assembled a record of 13 flawlessly sunny pop songs beaming with
simple beauty.
Over thin layer of ethereal soundscape, Feist croons fluid vocals that feel like droops in the
morning dew falling from a pine tree, as in Now at Last and Lover’s Spit. In fact, Feist’s vocal
alone could send listeners swooning.
Feist’s craft here hides a more wild past. She was a member of a punk outfit in Calgary
called Placebo that once opened for the Ramones. The only elements of punk that still remain are
her spontaneity and naturalness.
-M Taufiqurrahman-
7. The reviewer comments that ‘Let It Die’ by Feist is ….
A. great
B. awful Embrace = hold
Loop = ring
C. boring Triumphantly = successfully
D. natural Assembled = collect
Croon = sing
E. uninteresting Ethereal = ghost
Outfit = team

8. Which statement is correct according to the text?

A. It is easy to embrace a simple idea and stripped down approach to music.
B. In her new album, Leslie Feist only plays an acoustic guitar
C. It is a sophisticated album armed with an acoustic guitar, drum loops and thin-sounding
keyboard.
D. ‘Let It Die’ is an album with 13 pop songs sung by a Canadian indie pop singer, Leslie Feist.
E. Lover’s Spit was a punk band in Calgary that once opened for the Ramones.