READING COMPREHENSION 2

Text 1

The world was gaslit by misreporting about George Floyd’s initial autopsy report. As concerned
physicians, we write to deconstruct the misinformation and condemn the ways this weaponization of medical
language reinforced white supremacy at the torment of Black Americans. Gaslighting is a method of psychological
manipulation employed to make a victim question their own sanity, particularly in scenarios where they are
mistreated. The term comes from a 1938 play and, later, a popular film, wherein a predatory husband abuses his wife
in a plot to have her committed to a mental institution. He dims the gas lights in their home; then, when she
comments on the darkness, knowingly rejects her observation and uses it as evidence that she’s gone insane. It’s a
torturous tactic employed to destroy a person’s trust in their own perception of reality. It’s a devastating distraction
from oppression. It’s insidious. And it happened recently when millions of people who had seen nine agonizing
minutes of murder were told by an autopsy report that they hadn’t.
In America, widespread anti-Black violence is often paired with structural gaslighting. Racism, after all,
thrives when blame for its outcomes are misattributed. When Black families are refused loans in criminally
discriminatory housing schemes, their credit is blamed. When youth of color are disproportionately stopped and
frisked, they are told the process is random, and for their safety. And when Black people are killed by police, their
character and even their anatomy is turned into justification for their killer’s exoneration. It’s a well-honed tactic.
One analysis of the national database of state-level death certificate data found that fewer than half of law
enforcement–related deaths were reported. In addition to this undercounting, police actions were further minimized
by the use of diagnostic codes that incorrectly labeled the cause of death as “accidental” or “undetermined” rather
than police-related. For centuries, our systems have relied on this psychological torture—a host of mental
gymnastics—to deny the truth of what Black people have always known. The cause of death is racism.
On May 29, the country was told that the autopsy of George Floyd “revealed no physical findings that
support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxiation,” and that “potential intoxicants” and preexisting cardiovascular
disease “likely contributed to his death.” This requires clarification. Importantly, these commonly quoted phrases
did not come from a physician, but were taken from a charging document that utilized politicized interpretations of
medical information. As doctors, we wish to highlight for the public that this framing of the circumstances
surrounding Floyd’s death was at best, a misinterpretation, and at worst, a deliberate obfuscation. A timeline of
events illustrates how a series of omissions and commissions regarding Mr. Floyd’s initial autopsy results
deceptively fractured the truth. On May 28, a statement released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office
reported ongoing investigations and acknowledgement from the forensic pathologist that an “autopsy must be
interpreted in the context of the pertinent investigative information.” As per standardized medical examination,
Floyd’s underlying health conditions and toxicology screen were documented. These are ordinary findings that do
not suggest causation of death, yet headlines and the May 29 charging document falsely overstated the role of
Floyd’s coronary artery disease and hypertension, which increase the risk of stroke and heart attack over years, not
minutes. Asphyxia—suffocation—does not always demonstrate physical signs, as other physician groups have
noted.
Ultimately, the initial report overstated and misrepresented the role of chronic medical conditions,
inappropriately alluded to intoxicants, and failed to acknowledge the stark reality that but for the defendant’s knee
on George Floyd’s neck, he would not be dead today. By Monday, June 1, in the context of widespread political
pressure, the public received two reports: the preliminary autopsy report commissioned by Floyd’s family by private
doctors, and—shortly thereafter—a summary of the preliminary autopsy from the Hennepin County Medical
Examiner’s Office. Both reports stated that the cause of Floyd’s death was homicide: death at the hands of another.

01. Which of the following can be categorized as
gaslighting?
(A) Arresting a murderer after weeks of
thorough investigations
(B) Convicting a defendant on a felony charge
(C) Smartly playing victim despite his/her
brazen violations
(D) Postponing a court hearing
(E) Intentionally occupying land to prevent the
rightful owner or tenant from using it
02. The author elaborates examples in paragraph 2 04. The author’s tone could best be described as
[When Black families … killer’s exoneration]
(A) derisive
(i) to emphasize the accumulating agony Black (B) gullible
Americans might have sufferred from (C) concerned
(ii) to give evidence on racism toward Black (D) satirical
people in the US preceding Floyd’s case (E) detached
(iii) to illustrate how people of color in the US
often fall victim to gaslighting 05. The sentence Without this important medical
context, however, the public was left to reconcile
Which could be the best answer? manipulated medical language with the evidence
they had personally witnessed should be in the
(A) Only (i)
(B) Only (ii) (A) First sentence of paragraph 1
(C) Only (iii) (B) First sentence of paragraph 2
(D) (ii) and (iii) (C) First sentence of paragraph 3
(E) (i), (ii) and (iii) (D) First sentence of paragraph 4
(E) Last sentence of paragraph 2
03. The word “obfuscation” as used in the third
paragraph would most nearly mean the action of
making something

(A) right
(B) complicated
(C) frustrating
(D) misleading
(E) unclear

Text 2

Vaccines may soon make their film debut. Led by pharmaceutics expert Maria A. Croyle, researchers at the
University of Texas at Austin have developed a thin sheet that preserves vaccines and other biological medicines for
long periods without refrigeration. This means the carefully cooled vials now used to ship vaccines could potentially
be replaced by lightweight, peelable films that can be mailed in an envelope and stored on a shelf. Croyle's
laboratory began developing the technology in 2007. Inspired by amber's ability to preserve the DNA of insects and
other living things, the researchers set out to create their own version of the substance by mixing together “a lot of
sugar and a little bit of salt, much like hard candy,” Croyle explains. The vaccine-containing film is administered by
mouth—sweet news for many who dislike needles. The film's components are tailored to suit each specific vaccine
candidate and provide a protective coating. “We've learned over time that the key to really stabilizing whatever the
film holds is to have it intermixed with all the ingredients,” Croyle says, adding that the process is quick and uses
affordable, standard benchtop equipment. “We really wanted to come up with something that would be transferable
to developing countries.”
Immunization programs depend heavily on keeping vaccines cold (two to eight degrees Celsius) as they are
transported, sometimes over thousands of kilometers to remote locations. Delivery can be difficult and costly, and
transport disruptions can render the vaccines ineffective. But this new formulation can store live viruses, bacteria
and antibodies for several months at ambient temperatures (20 degrees C). In a new paper, published in March in
Science Advances, the scientists show that the live viruses in one vaccine were preserved in the film even after 36
months. They also find that a flu vaccine suspended in their film compares favorably with a traditional flu shot. “The
study demonstrates early proof of concept for an exciting platform for vaccine product development,” says Lisa
Rohan, a pharmacologist at the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the study. She notes that each
vaccine type would need a custom formulation for future stages of development. Finding partners to scale up
manufacturing for clinical trials is the researchers' most pressing hurdle, Croyle says. They are also exploring
packaging methods to keep their films stable up to 40 degrees C.
 Size is a major advantage of this platform—a letter-sized sheet of the film can carry more than 500 doses of
vaccine, about 1⁄900 the weight of equivalent traditional doses. By making it easier and cheaper to ship and store
vaccines efficiently, Croyle says, the technology could vastly improve immunization rates the world over,
particularly in middle- to low-income countries.

06. The author implies that modern storage of 09. 40 degrees C (paragraph 2) is mentioned
vaccine using films
(i) to indicate the weakness of the new storage
(i) would outweigh the storage system using system in terms of its stability
conventional vials in terms of effectiveness (ii) to show a possibility for further development
(ii) would potentially increase the use of amber, of the research
which is the main ingredient of the films (iii) as an indication of the maximum
(iii) would face trouble binding vaccines in the temperature the films can hold
films, since it requires elaborate process and Which option is correct?
equipment
(A) Only (i)
Which option is correct?
(B) Only (ii)
(A) Only (i) (C) Only (iii)
(B) Only (ii)
(D) (i) and (ii)
(C) Only (iii)
(D) (i) and (ii) (E) (ii) and (iii)
(E) (ii) and (iii)

07. Croyle’s attitude toward the current 10. All of the following can be inferred from the
immunization rate in the last paragraph could be text, except
described as
(A) The film can preserve the vaccines even for
(A) Hopeful years
(B) Scientific
(B) The new method of vaccine storage can
(C) Neutral
bypass the delivery cost
(D) Optimistic
(E) Concerned (C) The new storage system is proven to be
environmentally friendly
(D) The storage system is highly effective and
08. From paragraph 2: They also find that a flu
found no significant obstacle during
vaccine suspended in their film compares
research
favorably with a traditional flu shot.
(E) Conventional storage system using vials still
The word shot most nearly means resorts to needles and syringes

(A) Syrup
(B) Injection
(C) Treatment
(D) Drug
(E) Herbs
Text 3
Obesity affects more than 40 percent of adults in the United States and 13 percent of the global population.
With obesity comes a variety of other interconnected diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fatty
liver disease, which makes the disease one of the most difficult -- and most crucial -- to treat. "Obesity is the biggest
health problem in the United States. But, it is hard for people to lose weight and keep it off; being on a diet can be so
difficult. So, a pharmacological approach, or a drug, could be beneficial for all of society," said Webster Santos,
professor of chemistry and the Cliff and Agnes Lilly Faculty Fellow of Drug Discovery in the College of Science at
Virginia Tech.
Santos and his colleagues have recently identified a small mitochondrial uncoupler, named BAM15, that
decreases the body fat mass of mice without affecting food intake and muscle mass or increasing body temperature.
Additionally, the molecule decreases insulin resistance and has beneficial effects on oxidative stress and
inflammation. The findings, published in Nature Communications on May 14, 2020, hold promise for future
treatment and prevention of obesity, diabetes, and especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a type of fatty
liver disease that is characterized by inflammation and fat accumulation in the liver. In the next few years, the
condition is expected to become the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.
The mitochondria are commonly referred to as the powerhouses of the cell. The organelle generates ATP, a
molecule that serves as the energy currency of the cell, which powers body movement and other biological
processes that help our body to function properly. In order to make ATP, nutrients need to be burned and a proton
motive force (PMF) needs to be established within the mitochondria. The PMF is generated from a proton gradient,
where there is a higher concentration of protons outside of the inner membrane and a lower concentration of protons
in the matrix, or the space within the inner membrane. The cell creates ATP whenever protons pass through an
enzyme called ATP synthase, which is embedded in the membrane. Hence, nutrient oxidation, or nutrient burning, is
coupled to ATP synthesis.
"So anything that decreases the PMF has the potential to increase respiration. Mitochondrial uncouplers are
small molecules that go to the mitochondria to help the cells respire more. Effectively, they change metabolism in
the cell so that we burn more calories without doing any exercise," said Santos, an affiliated member of the Fralin
Life Sciences Institute and the Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery. Mitochondrial uncouplers transport
protons into the matrix by bypassing ATP synthase, which throws off the PMF. To reestablish the gradient, protons
must be exported out of the mitochondrial matrix. As a result, the cell begins to burn fuel at higher than necessary
levels.
Knowing that these molecules can change a cell's metabolism, researchers wanted to be sure that the drug
was reaching its desired targets and that it was, above all, safe. Through a series of mouse studies, the researchers
found that BAM15 is neither toxic, even at high doses, nor does it affect the satiety center in the brain, which tells
our body if we are hungry or full. In the past, many anti-fat drugs would tell your body to stop eating. But as a
result, patients would rebound and eat more. In the BAM15 mouse studies, animals ate the same amount as the
control group -- and they still lost fat mass.

11. The author implies that the pharmacological 12. The relationship between mitochondrial
approach (paragraph 1) has uncouplers and PMF is analogous with
(A) fire and water
(A) to be examined thoroughly before it’s
(B) paracetamol and fever
applied to obese, especially those with
(C) a highly motivated student and good score
certain diseases
(D) speed limit and safety
(E) hi-carb meal and obesity
(B) drawbacks when performed too frequently
13. Which of the following is the closest meaning to
(C) to be applied soon, since its effectiveness
the word bypassing as used in the fourth
reduces with people’s age
paragraph?
(D) proved effective to reduce the obesity rate in (A) assembling
the US (B) resorting to
(C) involving
(E) the potential to help people lose weight (D) passing through
(E) excluding
14. The following are relevant questions whose
answers are implied in the passage, except Which would be the best answer?

(A) Has the method been applied to human? (A) Only (i)
(B) What will happen if the drug is taken at high (B) Only (ii)
doses?
(C) Only (iii)
(C) Which food causes NASH to human?
(D) (i) and (ii)
(D) How long does it take for the drug to prove (E) (ii) and (iii)
effective?
(E) Which role do the mitochondrial uncouplers
play in the method?

15. The satiety center in the brain (last paragraph) is

mentioned

(i) to exemplify the potential of BAM15 to

regulate dietary pattern
(ii) to differentiate BAM15 from the
conventional anti-fat one
(iii) to indicate that BAM15 still works
effectively without the need to reduce food
intake

Text 4

Some people are more sensitive than others -- and around half of these differences can be attributed to our
genes, new research has found. The study, led by Queen Mary University of London, compared pairs of identical
and non-identical 17-year-old twins to see how strongly they were affected by positive or negative experiences --
their 'sensitivity' level. The aim was to tease out how much of the differences in sensitivity could be explained by
either genetic or environmental factors during development: nature or nurture.
Twins who are brought up together will mostly experience the same environment. But only identical twins
share the same genes: non-identical twins are like any other sibling. If identical twins show no more similarity in
their levels of sensitivity than non-identical twins, then genes are unlikely to play a role. Using this type of analysis,
the team found that 47 percent of the differences in sensitivity between individuals were down to genetics, leaving
53 percent accounted for by environmental factors. The research, from Queen Mary University of London and Kings
College London, is the first to show this link conclusively in such a large study. The findings are published in
Molecular Psychiatry.
Michael Pluess, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Queen Mary University of London and study
lead, said: "We are all affected by what we experience -- sensitivity is something we all share as a basic human trait.
But we also differ in how much of an impact our experiences have on us. Scientists have always thought there was a
genetic basis for sensitivity, but this is the first time we've been able to actually quantify how much of these
differences in sensitivity are explained by genetic factors." Over 2800 twins were involved in the study, split
between around 1000 identical twins and 1800 non-identical twins, roughly half of whom were same sex. The twins
were asked to fill out a questionnaire, developed by Professor Pluess, which has been widely used to test an
individual's levels of sensitivity to their environment.
The questionnaire is also able to show different types of sensitivity -- whether someone is more sensitive to
negative experiences or positive experiences -- as well as general sensitivity. The analysis by the team suggested
that these different sensitivities also have a genetic basis. Co-researcher Dr Elham Assary said: "If a child is more
sensitive to negative experiences, it may be that they become more easily stressed and anxious in challenging
situations. On the other hand, if a child has a higher sensitivity to positive experiences, it may be that they are more
responsive to good parenting or benefit more from psychological interventions at school. What our study shows is
that these different aspects of sensitivity all have a genetic basis."
 Finally, the team explored about sensitivity to other common and established personality traits, known as
the 'Big Five': openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion and neuroticism. They found that there was
a shared genetic component between sensitivity, neuroticism and extraversion, but not with any of the other
personality traits. Professor Pluess believes the findings could help us in how we understand and handle sensitivity,
in ourselves and others. "We know from previous research that around a third of people are at the higher end of the
sensitivity spectrum. They are generally more strongly affected by their experiences," he said. "This can have both
advantages and disadvantages. Because we now know that this sensitivity is as much due to biology as environment,
it is important for people to accept their sensitivity as an important part of who they are and consider it as a strength
not just as a weakness."

16. The expression 'to tease out' (paragraph 1) is best 18. The preceding paragraph would probably talk
taken to mean about

(A) to phase out (A) How sensitivity varies among twins

(B) to find out (B) Factors contributing to one’s sensitivity
(C) to turn out (C) A counterstudy on sensitivity
(D) to roll out (D) A general definition of sensitivity
(E) to figure out (E) The latest finding on sensitivity

17. It can be inferred about the ‘Big five’ (in the last 19. The sentence “This test will be made available
paragraph), except online later this month so anyone can assess
their own sensitivity“ is best placed in
(i) The ‘Big five’ are similar with sensitivity in
terms of the genetic component (A) the last part of paragraph 1
(ii) The ‘Big five’ and our sensitivity affect each (B) the last part of paragraph 2
other (C) the last part of paragraph 3
(iii) Two of the ‘Big five’ share a genetic (D) the last part of paragraph 4
component with sensitivity (E) the last part of paragraph 5

Which is the best option? 20. Where in the last paragraph serves as the
takeaway?
(A) Only (i)
(A) First sentence
(B) Only (ii)
(B) Second sentence
(C) Only (iii)
(C) Fourth sentence
(D) (i) and (ii) (D) Sixth sentence
(E) (ii) and (iii) (E) Seventh sentence

Text 5
Fondue pots are the pitbulls of the kitchen appliance community. Misunderstood, cast out, villainized, they
stand accused of the most grievous of sins: taking up space and enabling kitsch. We don’t know where our fondue
pot came from—all we know is it ended up at Goodwill. Most likely it was dropped off there during a manic fit of
tidying up, or possibly purged in anticipation of a move. Regardless, it’s gone, and when it finally arrived in
Goodwill’s home goods department, it was likely not the only set available for purchase there. You can point to the
ever-growing number of abandoned fondue sets as evidence that the generations since the ’60s have turned their
backs on the once-loved Swiss dining tradition. The fondue kits that litter garage sales and thrift stores are trotted
out as confirmation that subsequent generations aren’t as much fun as our rollicking, absolutely liberated, free
cheese-dunking predecessors.
In reality, it’s not that younger generations hate fondue—although some individuals certainly take issue
with it. It’s more that we reject the idea that we need to store one more goddamned kitchen appliance in our homes
in order to enjoy it. Like many foods seized upon and elevated by American suburbia, fondue claims humble
beginnings. As the story goes, 17th-century Swiss peasants would dip stale bread into melted cheese, creating
enough of a culinary fuss that in the 1930s, the dish was awarded the ultimate distinction of serving as Switzerland’s
national food. In 1964, the Swiss introduced Americans to fondue by featuring it in their pavilion at the World’s Fair
in New York where it caught on, becoming one of the foods to define that American decade.
When people take issue with fondue, the problem is usually not the taste. Traditional fondue consists of
cheeses—usually varieties like Camembert, Taleggio, Beaufort, Fontina, and Emmental—combined with substances
such as white wine, garlic, and black pepper over very low heat. These are not ingredients most people would
protest. Rearrange the atoms and you have yourself a wine and cheese fête. Change them again and you have chips
and queso, fondue’s more casual, southern cousin.
The exact reason why modern Americans fail to embrace fondue is tough to pin down, but it usually comes
back to kitsch. The sentimentality of it all makes us uncomfortable. Fondue parties are too nostalgic, too innocent,
and too specific to one demographic, one type of experience. Even if we like fondue as a dish, the experience of
throwing the party feels like a novelty, a cute throwback. It feels a little like a performance. And there’s always a
small chance one of your guests might set your house on fire.
But food has never been more performative than the present. We make meals just to take pictures of them
and post them on Instagram. We freely share information about our diets, our cleanses, our meal prep. The Swiss
Cheese Union sold Americans on fondue by highlighting its aspirational qualities. “Eat fondue and you will be
popular, attractive, and athletic!” If ever there was a dish designed for social media, it’s fondue.
The last few years indicate that culturally speaking, the public is hungry for throwbacks. Anxiety levels are
mounting and we’re starving for entertainment that evokes old memories, that make us feel the way we did when we
were younger, more innocent, less exhausted. It’s why studios are rebooting shows like Charmed, Dynasty, Murphy
Brown, Will & Grace, and Roseanne. It’s why we keep watching The Office, even though we know every line by
heart. It’s comfort food for an uncomfortable time. Maybe now, during the era of reboots, it’s time to bring back
fondue.

21. In the first paragraph it can be inferred that the 24. By mentioning “Camembert, Taleggio, Beaufort,
word “pitbulls” is used Fontina, and Emmental” in paragraph 3, the
author means
(A) to attract readers’ attention to fondue pots
(B) to represent public discomfort with fondue
(A) to simply inform the main ingredients in
pots
fondue
(C) to present his emotional experience in
fondue (B) to indicate the unpalatable material for
(D) to introduce the negative effect a fondue can fondue dip
have
(C) to emphasize the strength as well as the
(E) to quote important reviews about fondue
weakness of fondue ingredients
tradition
(D) to exemplify the kind of cheese commonly
22. According to the author, people’s perspective used in making fondue
about fondue has
(E) to tell readers the reason why people dislike
(i) degraded its popularity fondue
(ii) lessened its main function
(iii) contributed to its demise
25. Paragraph 6 primarily accounts for
(A) Only (i)
(A) a call for fondue as part of old tradition
(B) Only (ii)
(C) Only (iii) (B) the merit of reminiscence and melancholy
(D) (i) and (iii)
(E) (ii) and (iii) (C) the need to retrieve and feel nostalgic
(D) argument that peacetime conditions are
23. The 'goddamned kitchen appliance' (paragraph 2) irreplaceable
would imply a/an
(E) advice to get our childhood back in life
(A) satire
(B) abhorence
(C) concern
(D) honesty
(E) resentment
Text 6
Few things are as painless to prepare as cereal. Making it requires little more than pouring something (a
cereal of your choice) into a bowl and then pouring something else (a milk of your choice) into the same bowl.
Eating it requires little more than a spoon and your mouth. The food, which Americans still buy $10 billion of
annually, has thrived over the decades, at least in part, because of this very quality: its convenience.
And yet, for today's youth, cereal isn't easy enough. On Monday, the New York Times published a story
about the breakfast favorite, and the most disconcerting part was this: Almost 40 percent of the millennials surveyed
by Mintel for its 2015 report said cereal was an inconvenient breakfast choice because they had to clean up after
eating it.
The industry, the piece explained, is struggling — sales have tumbled by almost 30 percent over the past 15
years, and the future remains uncertain. And the reasons are largely those one would expect: Many people are eating
breakfast away from the home, choosing breakfast sandwiches and yogurt instead of more traditional morning
staples. Many others, meanwhile, too busy to pay attention to their stomachs, are eating breakfast not at all.
But there is another thing happening, which should scare cereal makers — and, really, anyone who has a
stake in this country's future — more: A large contingent of millennials are uninterested in breakfast cereal because
eating it means using a bowl, and bowls don't clean themselves (or get tossed in the garbage). Bowls, kids these days
groan, have to be cleaned.
Cereal isn't the only food suffering from a national trend toward laziness. Coffee has suffered a similar fate.
Despite talk of a third wave of coffee, which values quality above all else, and basks in artisanal rather than
effortless methods of preparation, Americans still covet convenience above all else. "Convenience is the one thing
that’s really changing trends these days," Howard Telford, an industry analyst at market research firm Euromonitor,
said last year. Less than 10 percent of the coffee beans Americans buy are fresh whole beans. And ground coffee
isn't just outpacing whole bean coffee — it's increasing its lead, each and every year.
The rise of coffee pods, which come pre-ground and produce a cup of brown caffeinated water with the
push of a button, is further evidence of the country's desire for convenience. Sales of coffee pods grew by 138,324
percent between 2004 and 2014, according to data from Euromonitor. The popularity of delivery, meanwhile, speaks
to the same tendency toward convenience. Roughly 15 percent of restaurant meals are delivered today, according to
data from Technomic. But among millennials the percentage is higher: more like 20 percent.
The reason why convenience is increasingly important isn't merely because people are lazy — many
actually need it. Families are working more than ever. Almost two-thirds of households are supported by two
working parents today, according to the latest government data, which is the highest reading on record. The less time
families have to prepare food or sit down at restaurants, the more convenience hovers over decisions about food,
especially when there is an option that is easier. Dinner, which isn't being cooked at home as often as it used to, is
among the trend's many casualties. Less than 60 percent of suppers served at home were actually cooked at home
last year. Only 30 years ago, the percentage was closer to 75 percent.
But there is something different about the backlash against cereal bowls, something more foundational
about it that seems to speak to a greater truth about American households today. A 2014 national survey, conducted
by Braun Research, found that 82 percent of parents said they were asked to do chores as children. But when they
were asked if they required their children to do chores, only 28 percent of them said yes. And this generational shift
in how families raise their kids seems to be turning even the most mundane of responsibilities, like doing the dishes,
into unthinkable nuisances.
Ultimately, cereal makers will settle on a strategy for reversing the industry's downward trend. Among the
likeliest routes are embracing the fact that many people are eating the food at times other than breakfast, often as a
snack, channeling the food's nostalgic quality, which helped buoy the industry for years, and shifting to portable
containers, which nearly half of millennials prefer, according to Mintel. No matter the result, America's youth might
have to reckon with the consequences of an age in which it's no longer worth eating a food when it means having to
clean a plate. Maybe Soylent is the future after all.

26. The significant reason why cereals hardly appeal (E) are considered old-school
to today’s youth is that, cereals 27. The word covet (paragraph 5) most nearly means
(A) are impractical (A) prioritize
(B) mostly appear dull and unappetizing (B) look for
(C) lack of nutrients needed for growth
(C) apply
(D) can’t be found in local fast-food restaurant
 (D) choose
(E) favor 30. The last two sentences of paragraph 9 relate the
28. It can be inferred from paragraph 5 that the author’s
author mentions “ground coffee”
(A) view of the upcoming trend
(A) to show its similarity with cereals as being
(B) resolution to a problem
less preferred among youngsters
(C) prediction of another new case
(B) to give a fact that it’s hard to meet
consumer’s need in culinary business (D) bias about the aformentioned topic
(C) to indicate people’s preference towards (E) opinions of what all youth are supposed to
convenience that cereals fail to offer do
(D) to give an example of a product declining
popularity as the time goes by
(E) to explain the reason why it attracts less than
whole bean coffee can do

29. Where in the passage does the author apply the

use of paradox?

(A) Paragraph 6 and 7

(B) paragraphs 8 and 9
(C) paragraph 2 and 3
(D) paragraphs 1 and 2
(E) paragraphs 3 and 4

Text 7

In reality, a one-size-fits-all approach to evaluating the potential risks and benefits of nanotechnology for
human health is not possible because it is both impractical and would be misguided. There are many types of
engineered nanomaterials, and not all are alike or potential hazards. Many factors should be considered when
evaluating the potential risks associated with an engineered nanomaterial: the likelihood of being exposed to
nanoparticles (ranging in size from 1 to 100 nanometres, about one-thousandth of the width of a human hair) that
may be shed by the nanomaterial; whether there are any hotspots of potential exposure to shed nanoparticles over
the whole of the nanomaterial’s life cycle; identifying who or what may be exposed; the eventual fate of the shed
nanoparticles; and whether there is a likelihood of adverse biological effects arising from these exposure scenarios.
The intrinsic toxic properties of compounds contained in the nanoparticle are also important, as well as
particle size, shape, surface charge and physico-chemical characteristics, as these greatly influence their uptake by
cells and the potential for subsequent biological effects. In summary, nanoparticles are more likely to have higher
toxicity than bulk material if they are insoluble, penetrate biological membranes, persist in the body, or (where
exposure is by inhalation) are long and fibre-like. Ideally, nanomaterial development should incorporate a safety-by-
design approach, as there is a marketing edge for nano-enabled products with a reduced potential impact on health
and the environment.
Numerous prospective benefits for health and the environment are offered by nanotechnology, with
engineered nanomaterials being developed for renewable energy capture and battery storage, water purification,
food packaging, environmental sensors and remediation, as well as greener engineering and manufacturing
processes. Some examples of the latter include highly efficient, low energy lighting sources, and smart clothing
including a layer of piezo-electric crystals in nanomaterials for powering the wearer’s electronic devices.
The field of nanomedicine has also rapidly progressed from specialised drug delivery applications
deploying liposomes (while many are not strictly nanoparticle-sized by international standard definitions, they can
be engineered at the nano-scale) to nanoshells and transdermal patches, as well as the development of biocompatible
nanomaterial prosthetic implants, and the metal-containing functionalised nanoparticles used for both the imaging
and treatment of various cancers. Nanotechnology is also being used to develop point-of-care internet-linked
diagnostic devices (eg, “doctor-on-a-chip” diagnostic tools). Nanobionics has made advances in solving the
problems of interfacing between medical devices or bionic prosthetics and the nervous system; for example,
invasive cranial sensing electrodes made of traditional cytotoxic metals are being replaced by more biocompatible
surface transistors that can also be coupled with a dosing device.
Some common nano-enabled products currently available contain silver nanoparticles for their
antimicrobial effects, including clothing items that require less frequent washing. This was mainly because of the
ease of incorporating nanosilver into the surface of such products, but the quality of these products has unfortunately
been variable, with some rapidly leaching silver ions. Nanosilver should preferably be reserved for more important
applications, such as medical dressings for treating resistant infections that impair wound healing.

31. The author would probably have aggreed in the

first paragraph that it’d be easy to identify the 33. By the use of the phrase variable, with some
effects of nanotechnology for human health if rapidly leaching silver ions (last paragraph) the
author
(A) the likelihood of being exposed to
nanoparticles were still high (A) doubts the ease, quality and reliability of the
product
(B) there were hotspots of potential exposure to
(B) integrates his/her subjectivity to review the
shed nanoparticles
product quality
(C) nanomaterials were homogeneous (C) indicates that it’s hard to achieve a high-
quality product
(D) a one-size-fits-all approach were applied
(D) implies that the ease and the product quality
(E) the process were to include identifying who affect one another
or what may be exposed (E) contrasts the ease with no ideal quality of
the product
32. The phrases highly efficient, low energy lighting 34. In handling his/her material the author applies
sources, and smart clothing in paragraph 3 refer which of the following arrangements?
to
(A) spatial order
(i) the potential advantages offered by (B) compare-contrast
nanotechnology in general (C) problem-solution
(ii) several benefits of nanotechnology in (D) chronological order
renewable energy capture and battery storage, (E) sequence
water purification, food packaging,
environmental sensors and remediation, as well
as greener engineering and manufacturing 35. The paragraph succeeding the passage would
processes mostly talk about
(iii) the benefits of nanotechnology in greener
engineering and manufacturing processes (A) more explanation about the use of nanosilver
on medical dressing
The best answer is
(B) steps to treating resistant infections that
(A) Only (i) impair wound healing
(B) Only (ii) (C) medical doctors’ points of views on
nanosilver
(C) Only (iii)
(D) problem and solution with the application of
(D) (i) and (ii)
nanosilver on medical field
(E) (i), (ii) dan (iii)
(E) several important applications of nanosilver
in areas other than medicine
Text 8

For several decades, submarine power cables have carried electric power across short distances under
bodies of water within the same nation. Some examples include the cable from mainland Italy to the offshore
Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia. Similar cables were installed in Sweden, Denmark and Japan while
international submarine cables have been installed between Spain and Morocco as well as between Southern Italy
and Northwestern Greece. For a brief period, the longest submarine cable in the world connected across Bass Strait
between mainland Australia and Tasmania. A more ambitious submarine cable of 450-miles length is being installed
across the South China Sea to carry power from a recently completed 2400MW hydroelectric power dam in Sarawak
province to mainland Malaysia. That development renews interest in a research project that dates from 1989 and
pertains to a submarine cable between Scotland and Iceland.
The projected power output exceeds Iceland’s domestic needs and opens the door to explore means by
which to market Iceland’s renewable energy internationally. Following initial research into installing a submarine
undersea power cable between Iceland and Scotland, some follow-up research explored a possible connection
between Iceland and Germany where there is a market for clean renewable energy. As of January 2009, Ambata
Capital indicated an interest in investing in the development of geothermal resources in Iceland. Iceland also offers
potential for future hydroelectric development and ocean tidal energy development. The comparatively shallow
ocean depth from Iceland to the Faroe Islands and on to Northern Scotland and to Northwestern Germany presents
little difficulty to installing an undersea power cable between Iceland and Germany. The proximity of Greenland to
the geothermal energy of Iceland can inevitably be a good news.
Like Iceland, Greenland is sparsely populated with potential to generate electric power from renewable
energy that far exceed the needs of the local population. The comparatively short distance of shallow ocean water
across the Greenland Sea between Iceland and Greenland offers the potential to extend a submarine power cable to
include Greenland. Greenland and Faroe Islands are both provinces of Denmark that have potential to develop
renewable energy resources. In 1998, a research team from the Technical University of Denmark measured wind
velocities at an elevation of 10-metres (30-feet) at numerous locations around Greenland, with average wind
velocities of over 5.44m/s (17.84-ft/sec) at several locations. Wind charts from the Canada wind atlas extend over
Davis Strait to include a portion of the Greenland coast and indicated wind velocities of some 10m/s (33-ft/sec) at
80m or 260-ft elevation. Wind research conducted in California indicates wind velocities at elevations of 1000-
metres can be up to 5-times the velocities at 100m elevation.

36. The examples mentioned in paragraph 1 (from

mainland Italy … between Scotland and Iceland)
are used to illustrate which of the following
ideas?
(i) Submarine power cables are the greatest
invention over the course of human history
(ii) Submarine power cables have been a
breakthrough in transferring electrical energy
from nation to nation
(iii) Submarine power cables have shown
significant improvement over time
Which one is the correct option?
(A) Only (i)
(B) Only (ii)
(C) Only (iii)
(D) (i) and (ii)
(E) (ii) and (iii)
37. The last sentence of paragraph 2 (The proximity
of Greenland to the geothermal energy of
Iceland can inevitably be a good news) indicates
that
(A) transferring geothermal electricity from
Iceland to Greenland requires relatively low
budget, since both are located close to each
other
(B) coorporation between Iceland and Greenland
can make more promising markets for
geothermal energy
(C) Greenland can help distribute Iceland’s
geothermal electricity to other countries
more efficiently
(D) maximum profit can be obtained by Iceland
and Greenland through the development of
geothermal energy
(E) there may be a hidden geothermal potential
in Greenland
38. t can be correctly inferred about wind velocity
and elevation as explained in the last paragraph
that
(i) higher elevation is inclined to lessen the wind
velocity
(ii) there is a great wind energy potential at high
elevation
(iii) higher elevation translates to more wind
speed
Which one is the correct option?
40. The sentence Iceland has an abundance of as yet
undeveloped potential for geothermal energy,
hydroelectricity and ocean tidal energy should
be placed in
(A) the first sentence of paragraph 1
(B) the last sentence of paragraph 1
(C) the first sentence of paragraph 2
(D) the last sentence of paragraph 2
(E) the first sentence of paragraph 3

(A) Only (i)

(B) Only (ii)
(C) Only (iii)
(D) (i) and (ii)
(E) (ii) and (iii)

39. The word conducted from the phrase “Wind

research conducted in California” (paragraph 3)
can be replaced with

(A) undertaken
(B) observed
(C) committed
(D) examined
(E) experienced