SOAL LATIHAN SNBT-UTBK 2024

Harley Bear What are some of your great frugal hacks that helped you a lot?
August 5, 2023
Breanna Shaw Pack your lunch for school or work instead of eating out. Make your coffee at
August 17, 2023 home to prevent stopping on the way somewhere to buy some. Anytime something
needs repaired, watch a YouTube video first before calling a technician.
Sometimes it can be an easy fix that you can do yourself to save money. I have
more tips, but I think I have made this answer long enough.
Yaseer Said Always ask yourself this question before buying anything: “Do I need it? What if
September 3, 2023 I don’t buy this one, and save the money for any other need?”
Kerry Baldwin You know what is pathetic? Being poor when you're old, and you will be old
September 4, 2023 someday. Learn to live within your means and put your money back for retirement.
Caleb Beers Most of the “frugal hacks” you hear will be about ways to buy things cheaply.
October 15, 2023 Those are great, but I’ve found that much of frugality comes down to self-control,
i.e. not buying stuff you don’t need. Also, self-control is a lot harder than just
looking for cheap stuff. For example, I want the latest smart phone, but my phone
is still working very well. So, I don’t buy a new one.
Daniel Tay Frugality means different things to different people. To me, it means not wasting
October 25, 2023 something that can be reused or repurposed. I’ve taken this to a level that some
people may consider extreme:
I don’t buy anything.
(Adapted from https://www.quora.com)
1. Who explicitly suggests to live frugally by not purchasing any stuff?
A. Breanna Shaw
B. Yaseer Said
C. Kerry Baldwin
D. Caleb Beers
E. Daniel Tay
2. The word “frugality” in Daniel Tay’s post is closest in meaning to ….
A. modesty
B. simplicity
C. thriftiness
D. strictness
E. cheapness
3. Who posted the least relevant answer to Harley Bear’s question?
A. Breanna Shaw
B. Yaseer Said
C. Kerry Baldwin
D. Caleb Beers
E. Daniel Tay
4. Who disapproved that being frugal is being cheap by giving evidence?
A. Breanna Shaw
B. Yaseer Said
C. Kerry Baldwin
D. Caleb Beers
E. Daniel Tay
5. What is the tone of the thread regarding useful frugal hacks?
A. Supportive
B. Respectful
C. Indifferent
D. Judgmental
E. Contradictory
TEXT 1
An actor creates and performs a character by using cognitive empathy or Theory of Mind (ToM). It is
the ability to represent others’ mental states. ToM plays a critical role in understanding and navigating social
situations. Reflection into the character's mental life depends on the actor’s approach to character
performance. This may be an important part of the character-creation process. This process involves the
exploration of the history, motivations, beliefs, and values of the character. This exploration often goes well
beyond the information contained within the script. In other words, for many actors, creating a character
involves a complex application of ToM, which includes several brain regions such as the temporoparietal
junction and posterior cingulate/precuneus.
The temporoparietal junction works in processing and judgments of self and others. According to
some studies, overcoming self–other interference and ToM is a deeply integrated process. Findings show
that simulating others has been shown to influence self-knowledge. In this simulation, trait and memory
measures become similar to a simulated other after adopting their perspective. Some brain regions are
deactivated when trained actors use the first-person fictional perspective of a character to answer questions.
This is in contrast to a situation when actors answered questions from their own perspective. It suggests that
acting may involve the suppression of self-processing.
(Adapted from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

TEXT 2
According to a recent study, when actors take on a new character, they may be able to suppress their
everyday self. This implies that theatre training may have a big impact on the fundamental mechanisms of
the human brain. Researchers in this study worked in collaboration with Flute Theatre. They created and
delivered interactive productions of Shakespeare for autistic individuals and their families. They used a series
of sensory drama games, known as the Hunter Heartbeat Method.
The team used wearable brain imaging technologies and physiological measurement devices. They
were first introduced at UCL's Department of Biomedical Engineering. Both devices were used to evaluate
the brain activity of actors as they rehearsed scenes from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The findings showed that when the actors heard their own name during the performance, their
response was suppressed in the left anterior prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is usually associated with
self-awareness. The same result was witnessed consistently in six actors who were tested when rehearsing
several times over a week. Meanwhile, when the performers were not in acting conditions, they responded
normally to hearing their own name.
According to the lead researcher, this is the first time that neuroscientists have been able to record
brain activity in actors as they perform a role. We hope that this study will help us understand what theatre
training does to the brain and to build new connections between neuroscientists and theatre professionals.
(Adapted from https://www.sciencedaily.com)

6. According to Text 1, cognitive empathy or ToM ….

A. is an important skill for actors to supress themselves to create a new character
B. explores history, motivations, beliefs and values of a new character
C. enables actors to use several brain regions to be professional acting coaches
D. is a simulation implemented by actors to answer questions from others’ perspectives
E. deactivates an actor’s brain regions to process information contained within a script

7. The italicized word “They” in Text 2 Paragraph 1 refers to ….

A. actors
B. the fundamental mechanisms
C. researchers
D. interactive productions
E. autistic individuals
8. Which of the following sentences from Text 2 is an opinion?
A. According to a recent study, when actors take on a new character, they may be able to suppress their
everyday self.
B. They used a series of sensory drama games, known as the Hunter Heartbeat Method.
C. The findings showed that when the actors heard their own name during the performance, their
response was suppressed in the left anterior prefrontal cortex of the brain.
D. The same result was witnessed consistently in six actors who were tested when rehearsing several
times over a week.
E. We hope that this study will help us understand what theatre training does to the brain and to build
new connections between neuroscientists and theatre professionals.

9. The results of the evaluation of actors’ brain activity when performing a character can be found in ….
A. Text 1 Paragraph 1 and Text 2 Paragraph 1
B. Text 1 Paragraph 2 and Text 2 Paragraph 3
C. Text 1 Paragraph 1 and Text 2 Paragraph 3
D. Text 1 Paragraph 2 and Text 2 Paragraph 4
E. Text 1 Paragraph 1 and Text 2 Paragraph 2

10. What is the relationship between Texts 1 and 2?

A. Text 1 argues the importance of using cognitive empathy for acting, which is criticized by Text 2.
B. Text 1 explains how the brain works when an actor performs a character and Text 2 compares the
devices used in the study.
C. Both texts explain the mechanisms of the human brain, but they focus on different participants.
D. Text 1 explains that in the character-creation process, an actor suppresses their self-processing, and
Text 2 further elaborates the brain mechanisms.
E. Texts 1 and 2 explain how creating and performing a new character using cognitive empathy can
help actors to be more professional.

Text for number 11-17

Everyone has it tough during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are all in the same boat – this has been
a common refrain throughout the crisis. It is true that we are all onboard the Titanic together. However, some
are riding first class, some are riding third class, and others are in the galley below rowing... Oh, and there
are not enough lifeboats to go round.
In reality, the super-rich are not only shielded from this crisis by their wealth, which enables them to
shelter from the virus on superyachts or escape it on private jets, some are even enjoying an unprecedented
bounty during these difficult times. This is especially the case in the United States.
During the coronavirus crisis, US billionaires accrued a huge windfall of more than 434 dollar bn in
the two months between mid-March and mid-May. This comes at a time when at least 40 million Americans
are out of work, struggling to get by, and 256 million people around the world are at risk of dying of hunger.
while front-line workers risk their health hand lives to keep society functioning and care for the sick, the
biggest financial winner by far is the world's richest man, Jeff Bezos, who has seen his fortune expand by
nearly 35 dollar bn thanks to the surge in the value of his company Amazon, as people trapped in lockdown
have turned to online shopping.
Whenever anyone, including myself, criticizes the obscene wealth of billionaires, there are those who
rush in to defend them, arguing that critics are just envious and that billionaires deserve this success and
earned their vast fortunes.
Like a superhero origin myth, there is a typical narrative that surrounds billionaires, especially those
in the tech industry. It goes something like this: X, working in their bedroom/garage/dorm, came up with a
brilliant idea, against the odds, brought it to market and is now enjoying the fruits of their brilliance.
However, is the acumen of these entrepreneurs really worth so much more than everyone else’s labor –
combined?
11. What does the expression “... others are in the galley below rowing” in paragraph 1 mean?
A. The ship is going to sink sooner than expected.
B. The lower class of society are preparing to riot and disrupt the situation.
C. The lower class of society are gravely struggling to get by.
D. The upper class is safe because society will eventually survive the crisis.
E. The upper class should support the lower class in the middle of crisis.
12. What is the purpose of paragraph 2 and 3?
A. To justify the sacrifices made by the lower class with economic growth
B. To show the indistinguishable situations between lower and upper class
C. To provide context of why the elites need to be protected for the economy
D. To exhibit the earnings of billionaires in the United States
E. To contrast the divergent situation between the elite class and everyone else
13. What can be inferred from the text above?
A. The socioeconomic inequality in the US is atrocious.
B. Billionaires are heartless sociopaths that leech off society, especially in the US.
C. The current economic system is detrimental to the upper class.
D. Socioeconomic inequality has slightly improved during the crisis.
E. During the crisis, the US economy came crumbling down.
14. Which paragraph shows the best evidence for the answer in the previous question?
A. Paragraph 1
B. Paragraph 2
C. Paragraph 3
D. Paragraph 4
E. Paragraph 5
15. What is the writer’s stance regarding billionaires?
A. Billionaires should not exist to equalize society.
B. Billionaires should redistribute their huge wealth to society.
C. The elites do not deserve any of their wealth.
D. In the middle of crisis, they should stop gaining more profits.
E. The worthiness of their ridiculous wealth needs to be challenged.
16. The word ‘acumen’ in the last paragraph most nearly means....
A. Belligerence
B. Intelligence
C. Immorality
D. Ineptness
E. Guile
17. According to the text, a part of the rich is reveling in even more wealth than any time before the
pandemic. Is this statement true? Which part supports this statement?
A. Yes, it’s mentioned that they’re shielded from the pandemic effect by their wealth.
B. No, it’s mentioned that more than 40 million people in the US are losing their jobs.
C. Yes, it’s mentioned that Jeff Bezos even added 35 billion dollar to his wealth during the pandemic.
D. No, it’s not mentioned nor implied anywhere in the text that the rich are gaining more than before.
E. Yes, it’s mentioned that some of the rich are even enjoying an unprecedented bounty.

Text for number 18-24

Do you play video games? If so, you aren't alone. Video games are becoming more common and are
increasingly enjoyed by adults. The average age of gamers has been increasing. Changing technology also
means that more people are exposed to video games. Many committed gamers play on desktop computers
or consoles, but a new breed of casual gamers has emerged, who play on smartphones and tablets at spare
moments throughout the day, like their morning commute. So, we know that video games are an increasingly
common form of entertainment, but do they have any effect on our brains and behavior?
 Over the years, the media have made various sensationalist claims about video games and their effect
on our health and happiness. "Games have sometimes been praised or demonized, often without real data
backing up those claims. Moreover, gaming is a popular activity, so everyone seems to have strong opinions
on the topic," says Marc Palaus, first author on the review, recently published in Frontiers in Human
Neuroscience.
Palaus and his colleagues wanted to see if any trends had emerged from the research to date concerning
how video games affect the structure and activity of our brains. They collected the results from 116 scientific
studies, 22 of which looked at structural changes in the brain and 100 of which looked at changes in brain
functionality and/or behavior.
The studies show that playing video games can change how our brains perform, and even their structure.
For example, playing video games affects our attention, and some studies found that gamers show
improvements in several types of attention, such as sustained attention or selective attention. The brain
regions involved in attention are also more efficient in gamers and require less activation to sustain attention
on demanding tasks.

18. What can be inferred from the passage above?

A. Gamers are more likely to have brain damage due to the change in their brain structures.
B. Given its benefits, gaming will now be continuously praised on the media.
C. Gamers will find it easier to focus on tasks that require a lot of energy or attention.
D. Gaming will continue to become increasingly popular and will render other forms of entertainment
useless.
E. Gamers are healthier and happier compared to people who don’t play video games.

19. Why does the writer use the word "sensationalist" in paragraph 2?
A. Because video games are getting more popular among adults
B. Because games have been praised and demonized
C. Because games have been covered a lot by the media
D. Because video games are a sensational phenomenon
E. Because the media has made extreme claims, usually with no actual evidence

20. What can we say about the author’s objective in writing this article?
A. The writer denies any claims on the negative effects of games.
B. The writer agrees that games ruin our brain functions.
C. The writer proves the media’s claims on the negative effects of games.
D. The writer explains how video games change the brain’s performance.
E. The writer shows that video games alter the brain’s performance and structure.

21. Which of the following questions cannot be answered by the passage?

A. How did the media frame video games over the years?
B. What are video games criticized for?
C. Are video games gaining popularity among adults?
D. Why are video games so polarizing?
E. What are the advantages of playing video games?

22. Which option uses the word "committed" in the same way that it is used in sentence 6?
A. Ken committed a peculiar and uncharacteristic mistake.
B. After throwing a tantrum in public, Amber is finally committed to a psych ward.
C. Felix is committed to continuing his study in the education field.
D. Charlie has committed much of his career is the gaming industry.
E. My family has been committed members of the city council.
23. What can we say about the result of the study?
A. The researchers collected the results from previous studies examining brain structure and
functionality.
B. More than changing how our brains perform, playing games can also alter brain structure.
C. The study shows that gamers have better performance in conducting cognitive tasks compared to
non-gamers.
D. The number of gamers is increasing due to the inclusion of the new type of gamers who play on
mobile devices.
E. Playing video games on mobile devices can alter the functionality and structure of the brain.

24. What is the significance of the expression “...but a new breed of casual gamers has emerged...”?
A. To illustrate the important role of mobile gamers in the study
B. To introduce one of the types of gamers examined in the study
C. To introduce the group that promotes the expansion of video games
D. To specify which type of gamers is included in the study
E. To introduce the group of gamers that is on the rise in popularity

Text for number 25-30

Scientists from the Cetacean Ecology Group at the University of Queensland, and colleagues, studied
song patterns of humpback whales from various regions between 2009 and 2015 and found that not only do
they collaboratively create songs within a defined population, but they also share those songs over the ocean
waves, where they are picked up by disparate populations from other regions. Over the six years scientists
were observing whale populations, they identified six unique songs which were transmitted eastward
beginning with the west Australian population and traveling to east Australia.
The songs follow a complex, language-like structure. Individual animal’s kingdom positions consisting
of moans, cries, and other vocalizations called song units. Song units are composed into larger phrases,
which are repeated to form themes. Different themes are produced in a consistent sequence to form a song
cycle that are then repeated for hours, or even days. Over time, songs evolve through small changes which
are adopted by all singers in a population. As a result, songs change year over year and vary by population.
It was proposed that song transmission might occur as humpbacks leave their breeding grounds and
migrate to foraging grounds close to Antarctica. On that journey, a male humpback may end up swimming
alongside males from another population. When they hear his radically different song, they may borrow
some themes or steal the entire song. They will keep singing their new song when they return to their
breeding grounds.
Notably, no one is certain why the whales sing. Most research suggests a courtship display, a conclusion
supported at least partially by the fact that singing is the exclusive ability of male humpbacks. Embellishing
a song may be a way for him to stand out. “These big changes jump out of the water at us, to our ears,” Dr.
Garland said. “So I would assume they would be noticeable to females.”

25. Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Changes to humpback whale song may occur when males embellish their own song through
addition, substitution or deletion at any hierarchical level.
B. Humpback songs can morph and migrate within and between whale populations in a stepwise
fashion.
C. Underwater recordings have revealed that humpback males sing during migration between breeding
and feeding habitats.
D. Whale songs travel in a linear pattern with certain variances as some individuals are sung
differently with very minor differences.
E. When songs have significant changes performed by an individual whale, other pod members apply
the said changes.
26. All of the following can be inferred from the passage, except ...
A. Male humpback whales go through a cultural revolution by picking up new songs when sharing the
same space as other whales.
B. During the song, humpbacks produce an intricate series of sounds that can be deconstructed into
hierarchical elements.
C. Some song learning can occur between whale populations that are in close proximity and may be
able to hear the other population’s song.
D. Humpback whales can learn an entire song pattern from another population very quickly, without
leaving anything out.
E. One whale finds mating success by tinkering with the song style, the rest of the guys imitate it to
better their chances.
27. According to the passage, humpback songs have similar structure to that of a language because....
A. it is organized in a specific pattern using a clear set of rules
B. it displays variations among geographically separated populations
C. it can convey information and assert dominance with other males
D. it evolves and spreads across populations over course of years
E. it is made up of repeated phrases and themes
28. As used in the last paragraph, the word “embellishing” is closest in meaning to....
A. taking something without permission and without intending to return it
B. forming something by putting parts together or combining elements
C. creating something more difficult by causing it to be more complex
D. making something more interesting by adding extra features
E. representing something as being than it really is
29. It is most reasonable to conclude that the complexity of humpback songs can be analyzed by measuring:
I. the sound the whales make
II. the length of the sound patterns
III. the duration of a song session
IV. the distance of whale migratory route
A. I and II
B. II and III
C. III and IV
D. I, II, and III
E. All of the above
30. “When they hear his radically different song, they may borrow some themes or steal the entire song.”
What meaning does the modal ‘may’ carry in this context?
A. It shows permission.
B. It shows suggestion.
C. It shows possibility.
D. It shows polite offer.
E. It shows ability.