Practical Reading Strategies

Meeting 2

SOAL LATIHAN FINDING TONE, ATTITUDE,

ORGANIZATION, dan PREVIOUS OR FOLLOWING
PARAGRAPHS

Setelah Anda mengetahui bentuk soal dan bagaimana cara menentukan tone,
attitude, organization, dan previous or following paragraphs, saatnya kita coba
menjawab pertanyaan di bawah ini. Bacalah paragraf-paragraf berikut ini dan
jawablah sesuai dengan masing-masing paragraf. Jangan lupa untuk membaca
keseluruhan paragraf, dan memperhatikan penggunakan kosakata yang ada.

Paragraph 1:
Other major changes in journalism occurred around this time. In 1846,

Richard Hoe invented the steam cylinder rotary press, making it possible to print
newspapers faster and cheaper. The development of the telegraph made possible
much speedier collection and distribution of news. Also in 1846, the first wire service
was organized. A new type of newspaper appeared around this time, one that was

more attuned to the spirit and needs of the new America. Although newspapers
continued to cover polities, they came to report more human interest stories and to

record the most recent news, which they could not have done before the telegraph.
New York papers and those of other northern cities maintained corps of
correspondents to go into all parts of the country to cover newsworthy events.
1. The tone of the passage could best be described as
(A) objective
(B) optimistic
(C) angry
(D) humorous

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Paragraph 2
The dancer Isadora Duncan was a daring, dynamic innovator in dance. While
she was not very successful in teaching her highly personal style of dance to others,
she taught a generation of dancers to trust their own forms of expression. She
rebelled against the rigid, formal style of classical ballet. Inspired by the art of Greece,
she usually danced barefoot in a loose, flowing Greek tunic. She found further

inspiration in nature and used dance movements to mirror the waves of the sea and

passing clouds.
Isadora Duncan was born in San Francisco in 1878. She gave her first

performance in 1899. Early failures gave way to triumphant performances in

Budapest, Berlin, London, and finally, in 1908, back in the United States. She lived in
Europe most of her life, establishing dancing schools for children there. She died in

1927 near Nice, France, in a freak accident, her long scarf being caught in the wheel

of an open sports car in which she was riding.

2. The author's attitude toward Isadora Duncan could best be described as one of
(A) displeasure
(B) admiration
(C) compassion
(D) amazement
3. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
(A) The author first discusses Isadora Duncan's style of dance and then her life
history.
(B) The first paragraph deals with Isadora Duncan's role as a teacher, the
second her role as a performer.
(C) The author first discusses Isadora Duncan's shortcomings and then her
positive points.
(D) First there is an analysis of Isadora Duncan's influences and then of her
lasting contributions to dance.

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Paragraph 3
Through the centuries, the dream of medieval alchemists was to discover how
to turn lead and other "base" metals into gold. Some were fakes, but many were
learned men with philosophical goals. Their quest was based on the ancient idea that
all matter consists of different proportions of just four substances-earth, water, fire,
and air. They believed that it was possible to adjust the proportions of the elements

that made up lead by chemical means so that it turned into gold, a process called

transmutation. Their experiments were concerned with finding the substance-which

they called the philosopher's stone-that, when added to lead, would cause this

astonishing change to take place. Alchemists also searched for the elixir of life, a
substance that could cure diseases and prolong life. They failed on both counts.
However, their techniques for preparing and studying chemicals helped lay the

foundation for the modern science of chemistry.

4. Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's attitude

toward medieval alchemists?
(A) Although they were all fakes, they made important contributions to
science.
(B) Their discovery of the philosopher's stone was more important than the
achievements of modern chemists.
(C) Although their theories were sound, they lacked the equipment needed to
accomplish their goals.
(D) They were unable to realize their goals, but they helped prepare the way
for modern chemistry.

Paragraph 4:
About fifty years ago, plant physiologists set out to grow roots by themselves in

solutions in laboratory flasks. The scientists found that the nutrition of isolated roots
was quite simple. They required sugar and the usual minerals and vitamins.

However, they did not require organic nitrogen compounds. These roots got along
fine on mineral inorganic nitrogen. Roots are capable of making their own proteins

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and other organic compounds. These activities by roots require energy, of course.

The process of respiration uses sugar to make the high energy compound ATP,
which drives the biochemical reactions. Respiration also requires oxygen. Highly

active roots require a good deal of oxygen.

The study of isolated roots has provided an understanding of the relationship
between shoots and roots in intact plants. The leaves of the shoots provide the roots

with sugar and vitamins, and the roots provide the shoots with water and minerals. In

addition, roots can provide the shoots with organic nitrogen compounds. This comes
in handy for the growth of buds in the early spring when leaves are not yet

functioning. Once leaves begin photosynthesizing, they produce protein, but only

mature leaves can "export" protein to the rest of the plant in the form of amino acids.

5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(A) The results of two experiments are compared.
(B) A generalization is made, and several examples of it are given.
(C) The findings of an experiment are explained.
(D) A hypothesis is presented, and several means of proving it are suggested.

Paragraph 5:
The global need for weed control has been answered mainly by the chemical

industry. Its herbicides are effective and sometimes necessary, but some pose
serious problems, particularly if misused. Toxic compounds threaten animal and
public health when they accumulate in food plants, ground water, and drinking water.

They also harm workers who apply them.

In recent years, the chemical industry has introduced several herbicides that
are more ecologically sound. Yet new chemicals alone cannot solve the world's weed

problems. Hence, scientists are exploring the innate weed-killing powers of living

organisms, primarily insects and microorganisms.

The biological agents now in use are harmless to humans and are

environmentally benign. They can be chosen for their ability to attack selected targets

and leave crops and other plants untouched. In contrast, some of the most effective

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chemicals kill virtually all the plants they come in contact with, sparing only those that

are naturally resistant or have been genetically modified for resistance. Furthermore,
a number of biological agents can be administered only once, after which no added

applications are needed. Chemicals typically must be used several times per growing
season.

6. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(A) A general idea is introduced, and several specific examples are given.
(B) A recommendation is analyzed and rejected.
(C) A problem is described, and possible solutions are discussed.
(D) Two possible causes for a phenomenon are compared.

Paragraph 6:
The concepts of analogy and homology are probably easier to exemplify than
to define. When different species are structurally compared, certain features can be
described as either analogous or homologous. For example, flight requires certain
rigid aeronautical principles of design, yet birds, bats, and insects have all conquered

the air. The wings of all three types of animals derive from different embryological
structures, but they perform the same functions. In this case, the flight organs of
these creatures can be said to be analogous. In contrast, features that arise from the

same structures in the embryo but are used in different functions are said to be
homologous. The pectoral fins of a fish, the wings of a bird, and the forelimbs of a

mammal are all homologous structures. They are genetically related in the sense that

both the forelimb and the wing evolved from the fin.

7. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(A) A contrast is drawn between two concepts by means of examples.
(B) A general concept is introduced, examples are given, and a conclusion is
offered.
(C) Two definitions of the same concept are compared.
(D) Two proposals are suggested and support for both is offered.