a. Synonym / Referent

Test your vocabulary and pronoun reference skills within context.

Mode Latihan

Text 1 for questions 1 - 3

The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace has sparked a contentious debate. While some argue that it will inevitably lead to mass unemployment, others contend that it will merely augment human capabilities, creating new avenues for innovation. In this context, it refers to the latter's potential to reshape industries rather than destroy them.

Question 1

The word "proliferation" in the text is closest in meaning to...

A. Reduction

B. Rapid increase

C. Stagnation

D. Investigation

E. Complication

Explanation:

"Proliferation" means rapid reproduction or a rapid increase in numbers. In the context of AI in the workplace, it refers to its fast-growing presence.

Question 2

The word "contentious" in the first sentence can be best replaced by...

A. Peaceful

B. Boring

C. Predictable

D. Controversial

E. Definite

Explanation:

"Contentious" describes something that causes or is likely to cause an argument or controversy. The debate around AI is heavily debated, hence controversial.

Question 3

The pronoun "it" in the last sentence refers to...

A. The workplace

B. The contentious debate

C. Mass unemployment

D. Artificial intelligence

E. Human capabilities

Explanation:

Look at the previous sentence: "...others contend that it will merely augment human capabilities...". The subject causing these effects (mass unemployment or augmenting capabilities) is Artificial Intelligence.

Text 2 for questions 4 - 6
Deforestation in the Amazon basin has reached alarming levels. The indigenous tribes, who have resided there for centuries, find their livelihoods threatened by illegal logging. Environmentalists are urging the government to curtail these illicit activities before they cause irreversible ecological damage.

Question 4

What is the synonym of the word "curtail" as used in the passage?

A. Encourage

B. Expand

C. Reduce

D. Ignore

E. Postpone

Explanation:

"Curtail" means to reduce in extent or quantity; to impose a restriction on. The environmentalists want the government to reduce/stop the illegal activities.

Question 5

The word "illicit" in the text is closest in meaning to...

A. Dangerous

B. Profitable

C. Approved

D. Complex

E. Illegal

Explanation:

"Illicit" means forbidden by law, rules, or custom. It is a direct synonym for "illegal", referring to the illegal logging mentioned earlier.

Question 6

What does the pronoun "they" in the last sentence refer to?

A. The indigenous tribes

B. Environmentalists

C. The government

D. Illicit activities

E. Alarm levels

Explanation:

The sentence reads: "...curtail these illicit activities before they cause irreversible ecological damage." The noun that is causing the damage is the "illicit activities" (illegal logging).

Text 3 for questions 7 - 8
Sleep deprivation is a pervasive issue among modern teenagers. Many adolescents consume excessive amounts of caffeine to stay awake, oblivious to its detrimental effects. Experts warn that this habit can lead to severe cognitive impairments over time.

Question 7

The word "pervasive" is closest in meaning to...

A. Rare

B. Widespread

C. Hidden

D. Temporary

E. Unknown

Explanation:

"Pervasive" means spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. Thus, "widespread" is the correct synonym.

Question 8

The phrase "this habit" in the text refers to...

A. Sleep deprivation

B. Warning experts

C. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine

D. Cognitive impairments

E. Being a modern teenager

Explanation:

"This habit" points back to the action described in the preceding sentence, which is the adolescents' action of "consuming excessive amounts of caffeine to stay awake".

Text 4 for questions 9 - 11

Despite the billions of dollars poured into the new public transportation system, the results have been laughably inadequate. Trains are perpetually late, stations remain dilapidated, and the ticketing software is a labyrinth of glitches. One must wonder if the city council even understands the concept of efficiency.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the author's tone in the passage?

A. Objective and informative

B. Enthusiastic and supportive

C. Critical and cynical

D. Apologetic and regretful

E. Indifferent and neutral

Explanation:

Words like "laughably inadequate," "perpetually late," "dilapidated," and the sarcastic final sentence ("One must wonder if the city council even understands...") strongly indicate a critical and cynical tone.

Question 10

The author's attitude towards the city council can best be described as...

A. Admiring

B. Sympathetic

C. Disapproving

D. Respectful

E. Ambivalent

Explanation:

The author questions the city council's understanding of efficiency due to the failure of the expensive transportation system. This shows strong disapproval.

Question 11

How does the author most likely feel about the money spent on the transportation system?

A. It was completely wasted.

B. It was well-invested for future generations.

C. It was not enough to fix the real problems.

D. It should have been given to private companies.

E. It will eventually yield positive results.

Explanation:

By contrasting "billions of dollars poured into" with "results have been laughably inadequate," the author implies that the massive investment yielded no good results, hence it was wasted.

Text 5 for questions 12 - 14
The recent discovery of the exoplanet Kepler-452b brings us one step closer to answering the age-old question: are we alone? This remarkable finding opens up a universe of possibilities for future astronomical research. The scientific community is buzzing with unprecedented excitement, hoping that this Earth-like planet might harbor the conditions necessary for life.

Question 12

What is the primary tone of the passage?

A. Pessimistic

B. Sarcastic

C. Optimistic and enthusiastic

D. Melancholic

E. Aggressive

Explanation:

Phrases like "remarkable finding," "universe of possibilities," and "unprecedented excitement" clearly convey a highly optimistic and enthusiastic tone about the discovery.

Question 13

The author’s attitude toward the discovery of Kepler-452b is...

A. Appreciative

B. Doubtful

C. Indifferent

D. Fearful

E. Mocking

Explanation:

The author appreciates the discovery, calling it a "remarkable finding" that brings humanity closer to answering a profound question.

Question 14

Which word best captures the mood of the scientific community as described in the text?

A. Anxious

B. Thrilled

C. Exhausted

D. Confused

E. Skeptical

Explanation:

The text states that the scientific community is "buzzing with unprecedented excitement," which is synonymous with being thrilled.

Text 6 for questions 15 - 16
While the new policy aims to reduce plastic waste, its implementation has been confusing and burdensome for small business owners. The lack of clear guidelines leaves many struggling to comply without incurring massive costs. It is a well-intentioned rule, but poorly executed.

Question 15

The author's attitude toward the execution of the policy is...

A. Highly supportive

B. Completely neutral

C. Mildly amused

D. Disappointed and critical

E. Aggressively hostile

Explanation:

The author explicitly states the policy is "poorly executed" and describes the implementation as "confusing and burdensome," showing disappointment and critique toward how it was handled.

Question 16

How does the author view the intention behind the policy?

A. It was a malicious attempt to harm businesses.

B. It was unnecessary.

C. It was good and well-meaning.

D. It was scientifically flawed.

E. It was meant to confuse the public.

Explanation:

The author writes, "It is a well-intentioned rule," meaning the core motive (reducing plastic waste) is seen as positive or good.

Text 7 for questions 17 - 19

Pompeii, an ancient Roman city, was buried under meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Ironically, the deadly ash acted as a miraculous preservative, freezing the city in time. Today, archaeologists use plaster casts to reveal the exact postures of the victims, providing unparalleled insights into daily Roman life.

Question 17

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Mount Vesuvius is the most dangerous volcano in the world.

B. The eruption that destroyed Pompeii also preserved it, allowing modern study of Roman life.

C. Archaeologists use plaster casts to create modern art.

D. Ancient Romans did not know how to escape volcanic eruptions.

E. Volcanic ash is a great material for preserving ancient buildings.

Explanation:

The paragraph revolves around the paradox that the eruption destroyed Pompeii but the ash preserved it, giving us a unique window into ancient Roman history.

Question 18

According to the passage, what specific material helped "freeze the city in time"?

A. Plaster casts

B. Roman architecture

C. Hot lava

D. Ash and pumice

E. Seawater

Explanation:

The text explicitly states: "...buried under meters of ash and pumice... the deadly ash acted as a miraculous preservative, freezing the city in time."

Question 19

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

A. To argue against living near volcanoes.

B. To persuade people to visit Italy.

C. To inform readers about how Pompeii was preserved and studied.

D. To criticize the Roman government of 79 AD.

E. To explain the chemical composition of volcanic ash.

Explanation:

The passage provides historical and scientific facts about Pompeii and its preservation. Its main goal is to inform the reader.

Text 8 for questions 20 - 22
Coral reefs are often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea" due to their immense biodiversity. However, they are highly sensitive to temperature changes. When ocean waters become too warm, corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. This phenomenon, known as coral bleaching, can be fatal if the temperature does not normalize quickly.

Question 20

The passage primarily discusses...

A. The similarities between rainforests and oceans.

B. How to protect symbiotic algae.

C. Coral bleaching and its primary cause.

D. The discovery of new species in coral reefs.

E. The cooling of ocean temperatures.

Explanation:

The text focuses on introducing coral reefs and then heavily details the process and danger of "coral bleaching" caused by warm ocean waters.

Question 21

According to the passage, what directly causes the coral to turn white?

A. High levels of ocean pollution.

B. The expulsion of symbiotic algae.

C. A sudden drop in water temperature.

D. Too much biodiversity in the reef.

E. Lack of sunlight reaching the ocean floor.

Explanation:

The text states: "...corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white." Therefore, expelling the algae is the direct cause of the whitening.

Question 22

It can be inferred from the passage that...

A. Coral reefs can survive indefinitely without algae.

B. Coral bleaching only happens in rainforests.

C. Coral reefs require a stable temperature range to survive.

D. White corals are healthier than colored ones.

E. Global warming has no effect on marine life.

Explanation:

Because the text states that corals are "highly sensitive to temperature changes" and that warm water causes fatal bleaching, we can logically infer that they need stable temperatures to survive.

Text 9 for questions 23 - 25
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros, the plural in English of the Italian word pomodoro (tomato), after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student.

Question 23

What is the main topic of the text?

A. The history of Italian kitchen timers.

B. How to study effectively at a university.

C. A time management method called the Pomodoro Technique.

D. The life of Francesco Cirillo.

E. The benefits of eating tomatoes while working.

Explanation:

The entire text defines and explains the origin of a specific time management tool known as the Pomodoro Technique.

Question 24

According to the text, a "pomodoro" is defined as...

A. A 25-minute work interval.

B. A short break.

C. A type of Italian food.

D. A university student.

E. An alarm clock app.

Explanation:

The text says the method breaks work into intervals (25 minutes long), and "These intervals are named pomodoros."

Question 25

Why is the technique named after a tomato?

A. Because tomatoes help boost brain function.

B. Because the creator loved eating tomatoes.

C. Because the creator used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer.

D. Because "tomato" means "time" in Italian.

E. Because the intervals last as long as it takes to cook a tomato.

Explanation:

The last sentence clearly states the method is named "after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student."