READING COMPREHENSION PACKAGE 8

This text is for questions number 1 to 2

The white pelicans is one the most successful fish eating birds. The success is largely due
its command hunting behavior. A group, perhaps two dozen birds, will gather in a curved are
some distance offshore. The birds then begin to move forwards towards the shore, healing the
water furiously with their wings, driving the fish before them.
When the water is shallow enough for the birds to reach the fish, the formation breaks up as
each bird dips its bill into the water to scoop up its meal. As the birds lift their lead, the water
drains from its bill leaving the fish that are then swallowed.
Pelicans are among the oldest group of birds. Fossils of this genus have been found dating
back 400 millions years.

6. It can be concluded that ....

A. pelican dives the sea for the fish
B. pelican can live for very long time
C. pelican hunts by itself
D. pelican hunts by its wings
E. pelicans hunt in a formation

7. “..., beating the water furiously with their wings, ..." (Paragraph 1)
The underlined word is closest in meaning to ....
A. repeating
B. hitting
C. mixing
D. stirring
E. meaning

This text is for questions 3 to 4

We all know that exercise is good for our bodies as well as for our brain. Just like any other
muscle, the brain can get in shape, be strengthened and developed in use. We have understood
how important exercises for our body is, but we rarely think about the exercises which help us to
maintain our brain. These are some ways to maintain our valuable brain.
The first simple thing we can do is don't be isolated. Get involved in groups or social
organizations, and participate in stimulating conversation that strengthens family and friendship.
Make friends with people around us and get benefits from the conversation we made.
Participating in regular physical activities can also a good to maintain our-brain. We can just
walk, ride a bicycle, dance, do aerobic exercises. Challenge your brain by challenging your body.
Then learning something new will help us to maintain our brain.
Try to take a class in something that interest you, read and write every day, learn a second
language, learn sign language, or learn to play a musical instrument.
Playing games is another good alternative. There are many games around us: on magazines, in
out cellphones, on television, in our computer,through internet and many other gadgets. We may
choose to play board games or brain exercise-based videos games, do crossword puzzles or
challenging word and number games. In addition, some activities can help
to maintain the brain such as activities which stimulate the senses like travelling learning to relax
with music, meditating, and, doing yoga or tai chi.
The food we eat also has great effect on our brain. For this reason, we should feed
our brain wisely. Eat more salmon, sardines, herring, walnuts and unsalted nuts, increase
your intake of vitamins C and E, fruits and vegetables, decrease your intake of processed
food and fast food; make it a priority to sit-down with others for at least one meal a day.
The last, don't forget to get enough sleep. A well-rested brain is a healthy brain.

3. What is the topic of the text?

A. Some benefits of making conversation with others.
B. Some reasons of a good exercise for our bodies.
C. Some effects of healthy food for our brain.
D. Some ways to maintain our brain.
 E. Some games stimulating the senses.

4. The brain should exercise in order to ....

A. have a well balanced function.
B. be strong, well-shaped, and developed.
C. be able to learn something new and interest us.
D. understand knowledge and skills.
E. explore and do various ways to maintain it.

5. What is the main idea of paragraph 4?

A. Playing games is a challenging activity.
B. Games can be found on many kinds of gadgets.
C. Our brain needs activities which stimulate the senses.
D. Game provide good activities for the brain to exercise
E. Not all games are good for our brain.

The text is for questions 6 to 8

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Manchester
United paid £12 million to sign him in 2003 - a record fee for a player of his age. In the 2004 FA
Cup Final, he scored Manchester's first three goals and helped them capture the championship. In
2008, he set a franchise record for goals scored. In 2009, Real Madrid paid a record $131 million
for his service.
It was through his dad's work as an equipment manager at a boy's club that Ronaldo was first
introduced to the game of soccer. By the time he was 10 years old, he was already recognized as a
phenomenon - a kid who ate, slept and drank the game. "All he wanted to do as a boy was playing
football," his godfather, Fernao Sousa, recalled for British reporters, adding, "He loved the game so
much that he'd miss meals or escape out his bedroom window with a ball when he was supposed to
be doing his homework."
By his early teens, Ronaldo's talent and legend had grown considerably. After a stint with
Nacional da liha da Madeira, he signed with Sporting Portugal in 2001. That same year, at the
tender age of 16, Ronaldo turned heads with a mesmerizing performance against Manchester
United, wowing even his opponents with his footwork and deft skill. He made such an impression
that a number of United players asked their manager to try and sign the young player. It wasn't long
before the club paid Ronaldo's team more than £12 million for his services - a record fee for a
player of his age.

6. What was Ronaldo action for MU in year 2004?

A. Signed new contract.
B. Scored goals to Real Madrid.
C. Won FA Cup Championship.
D. Got payment of $ 131 million for his service.
E. Paid $ 12 million.

7. We can learn from paragraph 2 that ....

A. Ronaldo was a talented football player
B. Ronaldo was a very energetic football player
C. Ronaldo gained his success by his early teens
D. Ronaldo was a legendary young football player
E. Ronaldo became the youngest player in Manchester

8. "After a stint with Nacional da liha da Madeira, he signed with Sporting Portugal in 2001." (Par 3)
The underlined word can be replaced by ....
A. participated
B. followed
C. joined
D. wrote
E. went

The following text is for questions 9 to 10

Dear Mr Jenkins

I am writing to complain about my recent holydays in Sydney which was organized by your
company. My wife and I selected a two-weeks Women Weekly Tour starting on 29 December. Your
agency claimed we would be picked up at the airport and that the hotel was three-star quality. The all-
inclusive price we paid included breakfast and dinner and two excursions
On arrival at the airport, there was no one to meet us. We were waiting for half an hour and then had
no choice except to take a taxi. This cost $30. The receipt is enclosed.
The hotel was not what I would consider three-stars. The room was dirty: the beds were small and
uncomfortable. The breakfast portions were very small, and the hotel refused to provide us with dinner.
We had to spend some more $500 for extra meals. Again I enclose our restaurant receipts.
I found it dishonest and unacceptable that your company offered us a tour which doesn't resemble the
description; I expect to be compensated for all of my extra expenses. The receipts enclosed worth for a
total of $530. In addition, we claim a refund of $100 because the room was not up to the promised
standard.
We expect real action to be done very soon.

Yours sincerely

Mr. Imron

9 The letter tells us about ....

A. the happy holiday in Sydney
B. the service's reservation at the hotel
C. the satisfied services from the travel agency
D. the complaint of the travel service in Sydney
E. the impression of holidays in Sydney

10. Who did Mr. Imron write his letter to?

A. His wife.
B. Hotel Manager.
C. Taxi driver.
D. Travel Agency
E. Restaurant Staff.

This text is for questions 11 to 14

Biodiesel is a clean burning substitute for petroleum based diesel fuel. Biodiesel is made of vegetable
oil.
To make or manufacture Biodiesel, you must first start with raw materials. The raw materials needed
in the production of Biodiesel are a small amount of methanol and a ready supply of vegetable
product. One of the most common vegetables used in the production of Biodiesel is corn, although
depending on the geographic location of the manufacturing facility many other plants are used as well
(rapeseed, soybeans, flaxseed, etc.). The first step is to use the raw vegetable product to make vegetable
oil. Vegetable oil by itself will not be what you need to power a car, from here it has to be processed into
Biodiesel.
The process for converting vegetable oil into Biodiesel is sometimes called ester interchange. To
complete this process the vegetable oil has to be combined with a smaller amount of methanol and then
put in the presence of a small quantity of an alkaline catalyst (for example, 5% to 1% sodium
hydroxide). Vegetable oil is made up of so-called triglycerides, which is a compound of the trivalent
alcohol glycerin with three fatty acids. The goal of ester interchange is to separate the glycerin molecule
from the three fatty acids and replace it with three methanol molecules. This process then yields
roughly 90% Biodiesel and 10% of a glycerin byproduct. The glycerin byproduct can be used in a
number of other chemical processes for different industries.

11. What is the text about?

A. The process of making Biodiesel.
B. The use of the Biodiesel.
C. The advantage of using the Biodiesel.
 D. The benefit of producing the Biodiesel.
E. The development of the Biodiesel products.

12. What are interchanged in the process of ester interchange?

A. The three fatty acids with the glyserin molecules.
B. The glyserin molecule with three methanol molecules.
C. Methanol with the tree fatty acids.
D. Vegetable oil with methanol.
E. Methanol and alkalin catalyst.

13. According to the text, one of the advantages in using biodiesel is ....
A. it is cheap
B. it only uses vegetable oil
C. it uses replaceable materials
D. it can be done in small industry
E. it gives less pollution than petroleum

14. "The process for converting vegetable oil .. ." (Paragraph 3)

The underlined word is closest in meaning to ...
A. producing
B. separating
C. attaching
D. processing
E. changing

Questions 15 to 17 based on the following cloze test.

Octopuses are mollusks, a kind of animal with a soft body. Unlike other mollusks, such as
clams and oysters, octopuses and squid have no hard ... (31) to protect them. An octopus is an
animal without any bones. Surrounding the main portion of its body is a fleshy covering, called a
mantle. Most of the internal organs of an octopus are inside the mantle. An octopus has two big .. .
(32), so it has very good vision. Seals, eels, and other sea animals prey on octopuses. An octopus'
main method of defense is to shoot a cloud of dark ink into the water. The ink cloud confuses the
attacker, and the octopus jets away. Octopuses can also ... (33) color rapidly when they are in
danger. They change color to fit in with their surroundings. This helps them to hide from prey.

15 A. skin 16. A. eyes 17 A. complain

B. scales B. bones B. wonder
C. seals C. fingers C. deliver
D. shells D. thumbs D. change
E. skull E. shoulders E. breathe

The text is for numbers 18 to 19

Beggars have become a big problem for us today. They come as street musicians, street boys,
"sick" people, "lost" people, or just beggars. As their number is getting bigger, the municipal
government feels the need to set a regulation to ban beggars. Many people support this.
They say that begging makes people lazy and bad survivors. They are like parasites. Criminals
take advantage of their existence. Car drivers are strong-armed in crossroads, motorbikes are seized,
trucks are hijacked, etc. A man in a rural area takes them to the city with his truck in the morning and
pick them up in the afternoon. They have made an agreement to share what they get. Some children are
reported to have been kidnapped not for ransom. They are forced to be beggars.
Some people, however, say that we must help beggars. They become beggars because they have
no choice. What they get everyday is only enough for buying food. Being a beggar is better than being a
thief or a robber. So it is a high time to apply their religious teaching to care for others. In addition, what
they do is to help the government to check crime-rates.
Despite the controversy of their existence, beggars continue to color the life of urban people.
18. What do you think about the man who transports beggars from their villages to the city?
A. He is generous.
B. He is exploitative.
C. He is a travel agent.
D. He is their protector.
E. He is doing business.

19. "Car drivers are strong-armed in crossroads". (Paragraph 2).The underlined words is closest in
meaning to ....
A. forced to give money or other valuables.
B. helped to overcome traffic problems .
C. suggested to always be careful
D. demanded to obey traffic rules
E. directed to the correct paths

The text is for questions 20 to 22

What is the benefit of tourism for local people? Well, tourism is now a huge
contributer to economics of most countries. Tourism industries can bring money, job vacancy
and advancement especially to developing regions. However, this money often goes into the
pockets of foreign investors, and only benefits for local people.
Tourism industries will not give much benefit to local people if, for example, multinational
chains don't care about the surrounding nature when they build new hotels this can cause many
social, culture and geographical problems. Some local people may get job and money from that
international hotel chain.
However, in case of missing that opportunity, some of them still have their own environment.
Moreover, some facts show that tourists tend to go, visit and spend their money in restaurant,
bars and even luxury hotels of that multinational chains, they less go to such places; restaurant,
bars, hotel, which are owned by local people. This can prevent the local people's business from
become even larger.
Most important thing, tours or excursions of tourism have little effect on nature, even it
can disrupt or destroy ecosystems, and environment, and if it does the local people will get the
risk.
So the local government policies should be put in place to ensure that tourism will make the
benefit spreading widely, the policies should guarantee that tourism will not cause any harm to any
local people or places.

20. What is the topic of the text?

A. Tourism is a huge contributor to economics of most countries.
B. Job vacancy derived from the tourism industry.
C. Benefits obtained by foreign investor from tourism industry.
D. Money from tourism industry in many countries.
E. The benefit of tourism for foreigners.

21. Based on the text, the benefits for local people will be obtained if....
A. multinational hotel chains care about the surrounding nature when building new hotels
B. local people must attract the foreign tourist by building the luxurious restaurants, bars, hotel,
and shops
C. local people must work hard to get money from tourism industry.
D. multinational hotel chains ignore the local people in making money.
E. local people must have money to build luxurious hotels

22 What is the main idea of paragraph two?

A. Things can give the benefit to local people.
B. Things do not give the benefit for local people.
C. Missing the opportunity to get job from the international problem.
D. Tourism industries cause many social, cultural and geographical problem.
E. The tourists do not want to visit local hotels, restaurants and bars.

The following text is for questions 23 to 24

 Ragunan Zoo : Not yet a world class attraction
The city administration offered Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta the financial support it needed to
become a world-class tourist destination, but the offer was refused by the management.
Governor Joko " Jokowi" Widodo offered to disburse up to Rp 500 billion (US$45,5 million) for
the project, with the only requirement being a master plan that would be valid for a century.
"The preparation to make the blueprint and macro design for the zoo should start now. The
administration is ready to release the funds as long as there is a clear program," he said on the
sidelines of the public dialogue at the zoo on Tuesday.
The newly installed zoo supervisor, business tycoon Hashim Djojohadikusumo, declined the
offer, saying that blueprint could only be formulated next year.
Fie further insisted "we can request budget funds the following year once we finish collecting
public feed back."
Zoo director Marsawitri Gumay said that the zoo was in dire need of more funds to improve
infrastructure, such as animal enclosures.
On regular days, the 147-hectare zoo is visited by around 3,000 people, this number rises to
20,000 people on weekends and can reach 60,000 during school holidays. During peak seasons, such
as Idul Fitri, visitors can number over 140,000 each day.
"With such a tight budget, we cannot make infrastructure improvements. Most of enclousures
need to be replaced, not to mention street vendors who enter the zoo and littering visitors,"
Marsawitri said.

23. What is the text about?

A. The world class attraction.
B. Ragunan zoo master plan.
C. The world class tourist destination.
D. More fund to improve its infrastructure.
E. Refusal fund by Ragunan Zoo management.

24. What happens at Ragunan Zoo on regular days?

A. It replaces most of the enclousures.
B. It is visited by around 3,000 people.
C. It covers its attractions operational costs.
D. More attractions are shown.
E. It makes the blueprint and macro design.

25. "Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo offered to disburse up to Rp 500 billion ..." (par 2)
The underlined word is closest in meaning to ....
A. pay
B. return
C. repay
D. distribute
E. compensate

This text is for question 26 and 29

Once a memory is created, it must be stored (no matter how briefly). Many experts think there are
three ways we store memories: first in the sensory stage; then in short-term memory; and ultimately,
for some memories, in long-term memory. Because there is no need for us to maintain everything in
our brain, the different stages of human memory function as a sort of filter that helps to protect us
from the flood of information that we're confronted with on a daily basis.
The creation of a memory begins with its perception: The registration of information during
perception occurs in the brief sensory stage that usually lasts only a fraction of a second. It's your
sensory memory that allows a perception such as a visual pattern, a sound, or a touch to linger for a
brief moment after the stimulation is over.
After the first flicker, the sensation is stored in short-term memory. Short-term memory has a
fairly limited capacity; it can hold about seven items for no more than 20 or 30 seconds at a time.
Important information is gradually transfered from short-term memory into long-term memory.
The more the information is repeated or used, the more likely it is to eventually end up in long-term
memory, or to be "retained." Unlike sensory and short-term memory, which are limited and decay
rapidly, long-term memory can store unlimited amounts of information idenfinitely.
 People tend to more easily store material on subjects that they already know something about,
since the information has more meaning to them and can be mentally connected to related information
that is already stored in their long-term memory. That's why someone who has an average memory may
be able to remember a greater depth of information about one particular subject.

26. The text is about....

A. how human brain works
B. how the long-term memory occurs
C. how to protect our memory from being lost
D. how to store information in our memory
E. how to maintain everything in our brain

27. According to the text, ...

A. not all information in short-term memory is stored in long-term memory.
B. the process of transfer from short-term to long-term memory is very fast.
C. the process of transfer from short-term to long-term memory is no more than seconds.
D. short-term memory have unlimited capacity.
E. the perception of information happens after the creation of memory.

28. We know from the text that....

A. we can store all information we get in our long-term memory.
B. the process of storing information is done in three stages.
C. the work of our memory depends on the capacity of it.
D. short-term memory is the most important memory.
E. information just stays for a while in our memory.

29. "... that helps to protect us from the flood of information that we're confronted with on a
daily basis." (Paragraph 1) The underlined word is closest in meaning to ....
A. encountered
B. compared
C. united
D. expressed
E. interpreted

This text is for question 30 and 32

The importance of reading to children is obvious to every parent. Reading to children is one of
the best ways to put them on success -academically and personally. The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends reading to children every day, starting after they are first
born, because reading stimulates the development of the brain, language and a closer emotional
relationship with a child.
You can start reading to children right from the moment they are born. Infants love to hear the
voices of their parents. It doesn't matter what you read. The most important thing is a
togetherness of you and your baby. As your child gets older and can understand the stories you read,
take time to ask questions, e.g. what do you think will happen next? Do you know what this word
means? Which character is your favorite? You can retell the story or make up a new one whim the
same characters.
Reading to children is so crucial that parents should find time to do it every_day._ You will be
surprised at how creative you are at finding time to read a story to your children. Read while waiting
to see the pediatrician, having a treat at a restaurant or waiting in line at the strore. You can read
aloud in the morning before school and, of course, at bedtime. Read a story while waiting for the bus
or train or once aboard. Make tapes of yourself or another family member reading stories and play
them in the car on the way to school or daycare.
Parents aren't alone in understanding the importance of reading to children. Good teachers read
aloud in the classroom. Talk to your child's teacher to get suggestions for books to read and observe
the class to get tips on reading aloud. Older siblings, relatives, and friends may also enjoy reading
aloud. When your child is ready, encourage her to read aloud to you and the rest of the family. This
will pave the way for a love of reading.
30. What is the text about?
A. Teaching reading to children.
B. How to teach children reading.
C. How reading stimulates the brain.
D. The importance of reading to children.
E. The effective way to teach reading.

31. The parents can begin teaching to read to children ....

A. very early childhood.
B. after they begin to school
C. when they can read aloud
D. after they get older
E. when they can talk

32. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A. Parents should find time to read to their children.
B. Reading aloud can be done before going to school.
C. Parents should encourage their children to read.
D. Parents can read a story before bedtime.
E. Reading is better than watching TV.
F.
This text is for question 33 and 35

NORWAY: The world's oceans are under greater threat than previously believed from a "deadly trio"
of global warming, declining oxygen levels and acidification, an international study said on
Thursday.
The oceans have continued to warm, pushing many commercial fish stocks towards the poles
and raising the risk of extinction for some marine species, despite a slower pace of temperature rises in
the atmosphere this century, it said.
"Risks to the ocean and the ecosystems it supports have been significantly underestimated,"
according to the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), a non-governmental group
of leading scientists.
"The scale and rate of the present day carbon perturbation, and resulting ocean acidification, is
unprecedented in Earth's known history," according to the report, made with the International Union for
Conservation of Nature.
The oceans are warming because of the heat from a build-up of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. Fertilizers and sewage that wash into the oceans can cause blooms of algae that reduce
oxygen levels in the waters. And carbon dioxide in the air can form a weak acid when it reacts with sea
water - R.

33. What is the topic of the text?

A. The green house effects.
B. The deadly trio of threats to the world.
C. The global warming and marine species.
D. The worst condition of the world's ocean.
E. The threat of global warming to the world's ocean.

34. According to the text, what makes the marine species possibly extinct?
A. The oxygen levels.
B. The ocean marine life.
C. The increasingly warming oceans.
D. The movement of fish stocks.
E. The slow pace of temperature rise.

35. The world's oceans are under greater threat than previously believed ..." (Paragraph 1)
The underlined word means ....
A. next B. after C. until D. while E. before