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Soal Reading Bahasa Inggris Ujian Sekolah & VIERA / TOEIC Preparation - Volume 2

Direction: Choose the best answer to the questions Boy : What are you going to do after completing your study? Are you going to the unive...

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August 28, 2011

TOEIC® (Test of English For International Communication)

TOEIC® - Test of English For International CommunicationI. Apakah TOEIC® Test?
Sejak kira-kira tahun 2004-2005, dunia pendidikan SMK seolah mendapat orientasi baru dalam mempersiapkan lulusan SMK yang berbobot dan sanggup bersaing di percaturan dunia kerja global, khususnya di bidang pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. Kemampuan berbahasa Inggris lulusan SMK mulai diukur dengan menggunakan TOEIC® sebagai sebuah standar kriteria baru. Belakangan, dunia perguruan tinggi, yang selama ini hanya akrab dengan TOEFL, juga mulai memperkenalkan TOEIC® untuk mempersiapkan mahasiswa memasuki dunia kerja.

TOEIC® adalah singkatan dari Test of English For International Communication. TOEIC® dikembangkan oleh Educational Testing Service (ETS) yang bermarkas di Princeton, New Jersey. ETS adalah sebuah organisasi non-profit yang menyelenggarakan tes-tes seperti TOEFL dan GRE. TOEIC® dirancang secara khusus sebagai tes untuk mengukur kecakapan berbahasa Inggris dalam konteks dunia kerja internasional. Sejak tahun 1979, TOEIC® telah menjadi standar penilaian kemampuan berbahasa Inggris para pekerja yang menggunakan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing. Sekarang, lebih dari 1,5 juta tes TOEIC® diselenggarakan di berbagai penjuru dunia setiap tahunnya.

Materi tes TOEIC® dipersiapkan oleh para spesialis bahasa. Sedangkan panduan isi dan spesifikasi tes diatur oleh TOEIC® Committee of Examiners. Seluruh isi, pertanyaan/soal, spesifikasi, dan tes akhir dikaji untuk memastikan kelayakan isi tes TOEIC® dan menghindari adanya bias kultural dan ras, sesuai dengan prosedur ETS yang berlaku.

II. Bagaimanakah format TOEIC® Test?
Tes TOEIC® adalah tes tulis yang menggunakan kertas dan pensil dan terdiri dari 200 soal pilihan ganda yang terbagi menjadi 2 (dua) bagian (section), yaitu Listening Comprehension dan Reading. Setiap bagian memiliki alokasi waktu yang terpisah. Listening Comprehension selama 45 menit, dan Reading selama 75 menit.
  1. Listening Comprehension Section
    Listening Comprehension section adalah bagian pertama dalam tes TOEIC®, yang mengukur kemampuan memahami bahasa Inggris lisan sebagaimana yang digunakan di Amerika Utara. Materi dan pertanyaan (soal) direkam sesuai dengan standar Bahasa Inggris Amerika Utara, sedangkan pilihan jawaban tercetak di lembar tes. Listening Comprehension section terdiri dari 100 soal dengan menggunakan kaset audio. Ada 4 (empat) bagian dalam Listening Comprehension section:
    • Part I: Photographs - 20 soal - 4 pilihan jawaban.
    • Part II: Question-Response - 30 soal - 3 pilihan jawaban.
    • Part III: Short Conversations - 30 soal - 4 pilihan jawaban.
    • Part IV: Short Talks - 20 soal - 4 pilihan jawaban.
  2. Reading Section
    Reading section adalah bagian kedua dalam tes TOEIC®, terdiri dari 100 soal yang tercetak di lembar soal tes. Pada Reading section, peserta tes TOEIC® harus mencoba memahami berbagai macam bacaan atau teks sesuai dengan kemampuan dan kecepatan mereka. Reading section memiliki alokasi waktu 75 menit, dan terbagi ke dalam bagian-bagian sebagai berikut:
    • Part V: Incomplete Sentences - 40 soal - 4 pilihan jawaban.
    • Part VI: Error Recognition - 20 soal - 4 pilihan jawaban.
    • Part VII: Reading Comprehension - 40 soal - 4 pilihan jawaban.

III. Apa isi TOEIC® Test?
Sesuai dengan peruntukan tes TOEIC® yang dirancang untuk memenuhi kebutuhan dunia kerja, maka soal tes TOEIC® dikembangkan dari bahasa lisan dan tertulis dari berbagai negara di seluruh dunia dimana bahasa Inggris dipakai di tempat kerja. Soal tes TOEIC® meliputi berbagai macam suasana dan situasi tempat kerja, seperti:
  • General business - kontrak, perjanjian, pemasaran, penjualan, perencanaan bisnis, konferensi.
  • Manufacturing - manajemen pabrik, lini perakitan, kendali mutu.
  • Finance and budgeting - perbankan, penanaman modal, perpajakan, akunting, penagihan.
  • Corporate development - penelitian, pengembangan produk.
  • Offices - pertemuan, komite, surat-menyurat, memorandum, telefon, faks, pesan e-mail, peralatan dan perabotan kantor, prosedur perkantoran.
  • Personnel - penerimaan pegawai, penugasan, pensiun, gaji, promosi, lamaran kerja, periklanan.
  • Purchasing - pembelanjaan, pemesanan, pengiriman, penagihan.
  • Technical areas - elektronik, teknologi, spesifikasi, perawatan mesin, penyewaan, layanan listrik dan gas.
  • Travel - kereta api, pesawat terbang, taksi, bus, kapal, feri, tiket, jadwal, pengumuman stasiun dan lapangan terbang, penyewaan mobil, hotel, reservasi, keterlambatan dan penundaan.
  • Dining out - makan siang bisnis dan informal, banquets, resepsi, reservasi restoran.
  • Entertainment- bioskop, theater, musik, seni, media.
  • Health- asuransi kesehatan, mengunjungi dokter, dokter gigi, klinik, rumah sakit.
Meskipun bahasa dalam tes TOEIC® berkisar pada konteks dunia kerja, peserta tes TOEIC® tidak diharuskan mengetahui kosa-kata bisnis maupun pengetahuan teknis yang khusus untuk dapat mengerjakan tes TOEIC® dengan baik. Test TOEIC® cocok digunakan di semua lingkungan di mana bahasa Inggris digunakan sebagai bahasa kedua/bahasa asing.

August 27, 2011

Vocabulary Exercise: How Much Do You Know About Computer?

Vocabulary Exercise: How Much Do You Know About Computer?Type of Test: Matching Vocabulary Test
Subject: Computer Vocabulary
No. of Test Items: 15 (Fifteen)
Directions: How Much Do You Know About Computer?" Match each word on the left column to the correct definition on the right. Good luck.

English for Computer Students
NameDescription
ComputerA semiconductor device used to build the hardware of a computer
HardwareThe part of a visual display unit (VDU) on which the program, data, and graphics may be seen
Input DeviceA device which transmits or displays processed data, e.g. a printer, disk drive, or VDU screen
MicrochipA list of instructions used by the computer to perform user’s requirements
Program A device that allows data to be passed into the computer
Mouse An automatic electronic medium to store, collect and process data
Central Processing UnitInformation that has been prepared for a specific purpose
DataA memory device consisting of a flat disk covered with a magnetic coating on which information is stored
MonitorA system of interconnected components or circuits
Output DeviceMain component of a computer, that executes individual program instructions and controls the operation of other parts
ExtensionA device moved by hand used to point at a location on a computer screen
NetworkThe computer equipment and its peripherals (the physical components of a computer system)
MenuA worldwide network of computer networks using the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
DiskA string of characters beginning with a period and followed by one or more letters which is a part of a computer filename
InternetA list of options available to a computer user

Contrasting The Simple Past VS The Present Perfect Simple

KOMPETENSI DASAR
3.6Menganalisis fungsi sosial, struktur teks, dan unsur kebahasaan teks interaksi transaksional lisan dan tulis yang melibatkan tindakan memberi dan meminta informasi terkait keadaan / tindakan / kegiatan / kejadian yang dilakukan/terjadi di waktu lampau yang merujuk waktu terjadinya dan kesudahannya, sesuai dengan konteks penggunaannya. (Perhatikan unsur kebahasaan simple past tense vs present perfect tense)
4.6Menyusun teks interaksi transaksional, lisan dan tulis, pendek dan sederhana, yang melibatkan tindakan unsur dan meminta informasi terkait keadaan/tindakan/kegiatan/kejadian yang dilakukan/terjadi di waktu lampau yang merujuk waktu terjadinya dan kesudahannya, dengan memperhatikan fungsi sosial, struktur teks, dan unsur kebahasaan yang benar dan sesuai konteks.
Contrasting The Simple Past VS The Present Perfect SimpleIt gets a bit tricky for English learners when they want to talk about past events. They have to consider whether the time of the event/action is known or not, and whether the action or situation is continuing up to the present or has finished. Based on my teaching experience, English learners often have difficulties in using the Simple Past and the Present Perfect correctly. The students are not accustomed to using different forms of verbs in relation with the time of event. Now let's take a look at the form of verbs in the Simple Past tense and the Present Perfect Tense.
The Simple Past (Verb 2)The Present Perfect Simple (Have/has + V3)
Affirmative / positive
  • I went to the museum last Sunday.
  • He visited us two weeks ago.
Negative
  • I didn't go to the museum last Saturday.
  • He didn't visit us last week.
Interrogative / Question
  • Did you go to the museum last Saturday?
  • Did he visit you last week?
Affirmative / positive
  • I have visited the museum twice this week.
  • He has visited us a few times.
Negative
  • I haven't visited the museum for ages.
  • He hasn't visited us this week.
Interrogative / Question
  • Have you visited the museum?
  • Has he visited you this week?
To decide whether we should use the Simple Past tense or the Present Perfect Simple tense, look at the following guidelines.
1. Do we know when the event or situation happened? Which is important to talk about, the time of the event or the event itself?
The Simple PastThe Present Perfect Simple
To talk or ask about an event or situation which occurred at a specified time in the past. The time of event is important to talk about.
Untuk membicarakan atau menanyakan kejadian atau situasi yang terjadi pada waktu lampau tertentu. Waktu kejadian penting untuk dibicarakan.
  • When did you meet him? ~ I met him this morning.
  • Where did you learn French? ~ I learnt French when I was at college.
To talk about events or situations which occurred at an unspecified time in the past. The event or situation is more important to talk about than the time of event.
Untuk kegiatan atau kejadian yang terjadi di masa lampau dan waktu kejadian tidak diketahui secara pasti. Kejadian lebih penting untuk dibicarakan daripada waktu kejadian itu sendiri.
  • Have you met him? ~ Yes, I have.
  • I have finished reading the book.
2. Is the event or situation continuing up to the present time, or has it finished?
The Simple PastThe Present Perfect Simple
To indicate an event/situation which occurred in a period of time or at a moment in a period of time now terminated. The time of event is known and may be omitted from the sentence.
Menggambarkan kejadian/situasi yang terjadi pada waktu atau suatu jangka waktu yang sekarang sudah berakhir. Waktu kejadian sudah diketahui dan tidak perlu disebutkan.
  • He lived in Surabaya for six years. (He doesn't live there now)
  • Andi Meriem Matalatta, who died in 2010, released at least twenty-six hit songs.
  • Did she call you yesterday? ~ Yes, she called me three times yesterday.
  • How long did you stay in Jakarta? ~ I stayed there for a week.
To indicate events or situations which began in the past, and have continued up to (or just before) the moment of speaking.
Untuk kegiatan atau kejadian yang dimulai di masa lampau dan berlanjut hingga (tepat sebelum) saat berbicara.
  • He has worked here for two years. (She has worked here since 2009, and is still working here.)
  • Wali Band has released several hit songs so far. (They still exist.)
  • Has she called you? ~ Yes, she has rang me up twice today.
  • How long have you lived here? ~ I've lived here all my life.
3. Does the event or situation still have results in the present or not?
The Simple PastThe Present Perfect Simple
To indicate a past event/situation which no longer has results in the present.
Menggambarkan kejadian/situasi lampau yang tidak lagi berdampak pada masa sekarang.
  • The computer broke down. (but it's working again now)
  • The students cleaned their classroom. (but it's probably dirty again now)
  • He broke his right leg in the accident. (but he has recovered)
To indicate a recent event or situation which still has results in the present.
Untuk kegiatan atau situasi yang baru saja terjadi dan masih berdampak pada masa sekarang.
  • The computer has broken down. (We cannot use it now)
  • The students have cleaned their classroom. (It's clean now)
  • He has broken his right leg in the accident. (He is still in the hospital)
4. Just or Just now? British or American English?
The Simple PastThe Present Perfect Simple

1. Used with just now, meaning a moment ago, both in British and American English.
  • She left just now. (She left a moment ago)
  • The school bell rang just now. (It rang a moment ago)
2. Used wih just, meaning a moment ago, in American English.
  • She just left. (She left a moment ago)
  • The school bell just rang. (It rang a moment ago)
Used wih just, meaning a moment ago, in British English.
  • She has just left. (She left a moment ago)
  • The school bell has just rang. (It rang a moment ago)
  • It has just stopped raining. (It stopped raining a few minutes ago)
  • Has he just arrived?
5. Delivering news in British or American English?
The Simple PastThe Present Perfect Simple
To report news in American English.
  • Did you hear the news? The Police arrested Nazaruddin.
  • The government announced a new tax regulation.
To report news in British English.
  • Have you heard the news? The Police have arrested Nazaruddin.
  • The government has announced a new tax regulation.
Now practice what you've just learned and do the exercise on the link below.
Grammar Quiz: Contrasting The Simple Past With The Present Perfect Simple
Reference:
  1. Thomson & Martinet. A Practical English Grammar (4th Ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986
  2. Swan, M. Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980

August 26, 2011

Mudik: Haruskah Tujuan Mulia Membahayakan Jiwa?

Mudik - Haruskah Tujuan Mulia Membahayakan Jiwa?
Bagi mereka yang beragama Islam dan dibesarkan di Indonesia, lebaran pasti menyisakan sederet kenangan indah masa kecil. Keceriaan dan kegembiraan sebagai anak-anak dalam menyambut Idul Fitri bersama teman-teman sebaya dan keluarga di kampung halaman cenderung akan membekas sepanjang hidup. Sehingga tidak afdol rasanya jika lebaran harus berlalu di tanah rantau jauh dari orang-tua dan sanak-saudara.

Rasa inilah yang mendorong para perantau untuk pulang-kampung, mudik, atau ber-holiday travel ke kota kelahiran setiap lebaran Idul Fitri tiba. Niatan mulia untuk sungkem di pangkuan ayah dan ibu, atau sekedar berziarah ke makam mereka bila mereka telah meninggal, lalu bersilaturrahim dengan sanak-saudara, telah menjadi motivator handal yang mampu menggerakkan jutaan manusia meninggalkan kota tempatnya bekerja, pulang ke kampung halaman. Hampir semua orang, apapun statusnya, seolah tidak ingin melewatkan lebaran tanpa mudik. Mudik, sebagai sebuah proses untuk menelusuri dan mengikatkan diri kepada akar sosial kita, mungkin telah mencapai makna terluasnya, dan menjadi kebutuhan jiwa yang harus dipenuhi setiap tahun.

Budaya Mudik, yang telah menjadi ritual unik di Indonesia, bukanlah tanpa pengorbanan. Dana yang relatif besar harus dikeluarkan. Jarak ratusan bahkan ribuan kilometer harus ditempuh. Bahaya dan resiko kecelakaan pun mengintai di balik kelelahan fisik dan kelalaian di sepanjang perjalanan. Berdasarkan data yang dihimpun oleh Masyarakat Transportasi Indonesia (MTI), sebanyak 702 orang meninggal, 1.646 luka berat, dan 1.697 orang luka ringan dalam kecelakaan lalu-lintas selama arus lebaran 2009. Sementara, pada tahun 2010, jumlah korban kecelakaan menurun secara signifikan menjadi 328 korban tewas, 438 luka berat, dan 892 korban luka ringan.

Mudik - Haruskah Tujuan Mulia Membahayakan Jiwa?Mudik - Haruskah Tujuan Mulia Membahayakan Jiwa?

Menyedihkan bukan? Harus sedemikian banyakkah kerugian serta nyawa yang terenggut sia-sia demi niatan mulia untuk berkumpul bersama keluarga? Alangkah bijaksananya jika kita selalu mengutamakan keselamatan dalam perjalanan dan selama mudik, ketimbang harus membahayakan nyawa diri sendiri serta orang-orang yang kita cintai.

Jika menggunakan kendaraan pribadi, kita harus memeriksa kondisi kendaraan kita sebelum memulai perjalanan. Sudah layak dan amankah kendaraan kita untuk menempuh perjalanan jauh? Pastikan bahwa ban, lampu-lampu, aki, hingga mesin dalam kondisi baik. Setelah itu, periksalah kelengkapan berkendara, mulai dari SIM, STNK, sepatu, jaket, dan helm bagi pengendara motor. Hindarilah mengangkut beban atau penumpang yang berlebihan hingga melampaui batas keamanan. Terlebih lagi jika kita membonceng anak kecil. Pastikan bahwa anak anda berada dalam posisi yang terlindung dan aman. Sedapat mungkin, hindarilah meletakkan anak di depan pengemudi motor. Dalam posisi begitu, tanpa disadari, anak seolah-olah menjadi "tameng" atau "perisai" yang melindungi sang ayah dari terjangan angin, atau jika terjadi sesuatu yang tidak diinginkan.

Saat berkendara, tetaplah waspada dengan memperhatikan kondisi jalan, lalu-lintas, serta rambu-rambu lalu-lintas. Jagalah selalu etika dan kesopanan dalam berkendara, dan jangan mudah terpancing oleh pengendara yang agresif atau provokatif. Ingat. sebagian besar kecelakaan terjadi akibat kelalaian dan kecerobohan para pemakai jalan.

Yang tidak kalah pentingnya, perhatikan kondisi tubuh kita. Berkendaralah jika tubuh memang fit untuk berkendara. Berhentilah untuk beristirahat di tengah perjalanan jika tubuh sudah menunjukkan gejala kelelahan atau mengantuk. Sebagaimana kendaraan kita, tubuh juga memiliki hak untuk beristirahat. Jagalah shalat dan jangan tinggalkan doa. Saat shalat, kita memberikan kesempatan bagi syaraf dan otot tubuh untuk kembali rileks. Doa juga terbukti ampuh untuk mendinginkan pikiran yang tegang.
Doa Rasulullah SAW sebelum melakukan perjalanan:
Allaahumma innii as'aluka fi safarii hadzaa minal birri wat-taqwaa, wa minal amali wa tardhaa. Allaahumma hawwin alainaal masiira wathwi annaa bu'dal ardhi. Allaahumma antash-shaahibu fis-safar wal khaliifatu fil ahli. Allaahummash-habnaa fi safarinaa wahlufnaa fi ahlinaa.
Yaa Allah. Sesungguhnya kami memohon kepadamu kebaikan dan ketakwaan dalam perjalanan ini, dan dari segala perilakuku di bawah keridhaan-Mu. Yaa Allah, tuntunlah dan mudahkanlah perjalanan kami ini, dan singkatkanlah perjalanan kami yang jauh. Yaa Allah, Engkaulah pemilik perjalanan kami, dan penguasa di bumi ini. Yaa Allah, aku memohon perlindungan-Mu dari bencana dan kesusahan perjalanan, dan dari pandangan yang tercela, serta dari segala bencana dalam keluargaku.
Mudik adalah tentang sebuah budaya mulia, niat sederhana untuk kembali kepada "jati diri" asli kita. Selamat mudik. Semoga selamat sampai tujuan, dan semoga Allah selalu melindungi kita. Amin.

August 24, 2011

TOEFL® Preparation 1: Written Expression - Error Recognition

TOEFL® Practice Test - Written Expression: TOEFL® Written Expression test is designed to measure your ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard written English. Let's do this preparation exercise and prepare for the TOEFL® by practicing your error identification skill.

Type: Error recognition
No. of items: 25 items
Time Allocation: 20 minutes

Directions: In this TOEFL® Practice Test, each sentence has four underlined words or phrases. Identify the one underlined word or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct. Start of TOEFL® Practice Test - Written Expression
  1. Since erect in 1886, the Statue of Liberty has served as a symbol of freedom.
  2. A traveler can reach some of the village along th Amazon only by riverboat.
  3. Natural predators, disturbing from tourists, and pollution have all contributed to the decline of the California condor.
  4. Today the number of people which enjoy winter sports is almost double that of twenty years ago.
  5. The Soay sheep, the old breed of sheep in existence, has changed little since 3500 B.C.
  6. Voyager 2 is a spacecraft which has greatly expanded us knowledge of the solar system.
  7. Dolphins, whales, and many other sea creatures use high sophisticated navigation systems.
  8. The smallest things in the universe are, paradoxically, be explored by the largest machines.
  9. Fiber is important element in nutrition, and it aids in protecting the digestive tract as well.
  10. Copper is a metal which is easy worked and which mixes well with other metals to form alloys.
  11. An exchange rate is the price of one currencies in terms of another.
  12. The Bactrian, or Asian, camel can be identified by their two humps.
  13. The first European settlement of Australia left the city of Portsmouth in May 1787.
  14. Scurvy, caused by the lack of vitamin C, could kill the most of a ship's crew on a long voyage.
  15. The term "Punchinello" refer to a clown in Italian puppet shows.
  16. Symptoms of multiple selerosis may be eased by injecting a solution consisted of snake venom.
  17. The rupture of the Mareb Dam in ancient Yemen brought it about the collapse of many small kingdoms.
  18. The tiger's cunning, strength, and agile have earned it a legendary reputation.
  19. Uranus is the alone planet in the solar system which is tipped on its side
  20. Most critics agree that William Shakespeare was the greater writer in the English language.
  21. Much nutritionists argue that people's intake of fat should be reduced.
  22. The refracting telescope contains lenses that magnification the image which reaches it.
  23. In some societies hired people cook, clean, take care after the children, and do the yard work.
  24. Many American novelists, such as Gore Vidal, resides in other countries.
  25. Some paper dolls, which were once relatively cheap, are previously considered valuable collectors' items.

End of TOEFL® Practice Test - Written Expression

Note: The actual time allocation to do this TOEFL® Practice Test - Written Expression is 20 minutes. Please set your clock for 20 minutes.
TOEFL® is a registered trademark of ETS.
Source: Gear J & Gear R. Cambridge Preparation for the TOEFL® Test 2nd Ed. Cambridge, Cambridge UP, 1996, p. 18-19.

Perbedaan Tanda Kutip atau Tanda Petik Tunggal '...' dan Ganda "..." Dalam Bahasa Inggris

Perbedaan Tanda Kutip atau Tanda Petik Tunggal dan Ganda Dalam Bahasa Inggris
M
embedakan kapan kita harus menggunakan tanda kutip atau tanda petik (quotation marks) tunggal '...' atau ganda "..." dalam Bahasa Inggris seringkali terasa "ngeri-ngeri sedap", Guys :D. Terkadang keduanya memang dianggap tidak berbeda, tapi kadang juga cukup membingungkan. Misalnya, untuk mengutip kalimat langsung (direct speech), kita bisa menggunakan tanda kutip atau tanda petik tunggal (single quotation marks) '...' atau ganda (double quotation marks) "..." tanpa ada perbedaan sama sekali. Misal: "Good morning," she said. Atau 'Good morning,' she said.

Kecuali pada kalimat langsung seperti yang sudah disebutkan di atas, tanda kutip atau tanda petik tunggal dan ganda memiliki perbedaan yang sangat besar sehingga kesalahan penulisannya dapat menimbulkan kesalahan pemahaman. Bahkan, di negara-negara yang menggunakan bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa ibu (native language) pun masih banyak terdapat kesalahan penggunaan tanda kutip atau tanda petik (lihat contoh-contoh kesalahan penggunaan tanda kutip atau tanda petik dalam foto-foto di bawah). Apalagi ada beberapa aturan berbeda yang diterapkan oleh beberapa institusi di dunia internasional dalam menggunakan tanda kutip atau tanda petik. Artikel ini diharapkan dapat memberi kita pengetahuan dan panduan dalam membedakan penggunaan tanda kutip atau tanda petik (quotation marks) tunggal '...' atau ganda "...".

Tanda Kutip atau Tanda Petik Tunggal (Single Quotation Marks) '...'


  1. Seringkali digunakan dalam membicarakan suatu kata secara spesifik, atau kata yang memiliki makna yang tidak seperti biasanya. Biasanya dijumpai dalam pembahasan ilmu filsafat, teologi, dan linguistik. Contoh:
    1. English can be a 'bridge' between one country and its neighbor.
    2. The word 'disinterested' is sometimes used to mean 'uninterested'.
  2. Digunakan dalam kutipan pada headline surat kabar.
  3. Untuk mengutip kalimat langsung (direct speech) dalam kalimat langsung, atau kutipan di dalam kutipan, maka harus ada perbedaan antara kutipan pertama dengan kutipan kedua. Contoh:
    1. I asked him, "What will you say if she says 'I love you' to you?"
    2. I asked him, 'What will you say if she says "I love you" to you?'

Tanda Kutip atau Tanda Petik Ganda (Double Quotation Marks) "..."


  1. Digunakan dalam mengutip judul karya-karya tulis pendek* seperti artikel majalah atau suatu episode pertunjukan TV. Contoh:
    1. The “Here Come the Suns” episode of Eureka was hilarious.
  2. Digunakan dalam scare quotes/sneer quotes (kata yang memiliki makna tersirat yang berlawanan dengan makna kata yang sebenarnya). scare quotes/sneer quotes biasanya dipakai dalam dunia politik dan bisa menyiratkan ironi, sindiran, ejekan, gaya pengucapan secara tidak langsung (circumlocution), apophasis, atau insinuasi. Contoh (sindiran antara partai Liberal dengan partai Conservative di A.S.):
    1. Liberal: We've heard about these conservatives and their tax "relief".
    2. Conservative: The liberals have proposed yet another form of "common-sense" gun control.
  3. Untuk mengutip kalimat yang berfungsi sebagai contoh dalam membahas suatu kata. Cara lain yang juga bisa diterima adalah dengan menggunakan cetak miring (italics), tergantung selera kita. Contoh:
    1. A sentence in future continuous tense is "We will be arriving on Monday morning".

Kesalahan Fatal Penggunaan Tanda Kutip atau Tanda Petik.


Kesalahan fatal dalam penulisan tanda kutip atau tanda petik adalah jika kita ingin memprioritaskan suatu kata dengan menggunakan tanda kutip. Gunakan cetak miring atau garis bawah untuk kata-kata yang memiliki makna penting dalam suatu pemberitahuan atau iklan. Contoh:
  1. Teks yang salah "ATTENTION! This door must remain "closed"." bisa berarti bahwa "We can open this door".
Beberapa contoh yang saya ambil dari berbagai situs web tentang penggunaan tanda kutip atau tanda petik yang salah, yang bisa menjadikan kata bermakna berlawanan dari yang tertulis:

Make sure you eat it
Did you say brown "eggs"?
Don't wait
There's no dog, but be careful.
We may be in an airport.
Cars Not Parked at Owners Risk.
None is going to lock the door. So, remember the rule.
Gunakan garis bawah (underline) atau cetak miring (italics) untuk memprioritaskan suatu kata.

*Aturan tanda kutip untuk karya-karya seperti buku cukup memusingkan. The Associated Press menggunakan tanda kutip, tetapi the Chicago Manual of Style merekomendasikan cetak miring, dan the MLA Handbook pernah merekomendasikan garis-bawah, lalu menggantinya dengan cetak miring pada edisi 2009 mereka.

Referensi:
1. Swan, M. Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p. 510.
2. Fogarty, M. Single Quotation Marks Versus Double Quotation Marks, (https://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/single-quotes-versus-double-quotes.aspx, accessed 08/21/2011)

August 23, 2011

Vocabulary Exercise for Intermediate English Olympiads

English Vocabulary multiple choice exercise for Intermediate Level

Latihan soal ini bisa digunakan sebagai bahan pengayaan atau persiapan Olimpiade bahasa Inggris untuk siswa SMP/MTs, ditujukan untuk menambah kekayaan kosa kata (vocabulary) bahasa Inggris mereka. Mari kita coba mengerjakan quiz atau latihan soal Bahasa Inggris pilihan ganda ini.

Start of Vocabulary Quiz
  1. The animal is not tame, so don’t ... it.
    1. greet
    2. quicken
    3. operate
    4. provoke
  2. In some countries, employers are accused of ... their workers by paying them low wages.
    1. exploding
    2. exploiting
    3. exposing
    4. exploring
  3. Rupiah is Indonesian ....
    1. currency
    2. fund
    3. cash
    4. dollar
  4. The air was very hot and still, but then came a few gentle ... of wind, followed by a good breeze.
    1. gales
    2. blows
    3. puffs
    4. blasts
  5. It’s no good hiring someone who’s never taught in high school before. We need an ... teacher.
    1. experimented
    2. exploited
    3. experienced
    4. explored
  6. I am sure the debate contest can be held next month, but I can’t ... it yet.
    1. convey
    2. confine
    3. condemn
    4. confirm
  7. The weather forecast ... that it would rain this evening.
    1. asked
    2. spoke
    3. prevented
    4. predicted
  8. The house has become very cold. Maybe something’s wrong with the central ....
    1. heat
    2. heating
    3. hotter
    4. hot
  9. Microsoft is a huge, international ....
    1. competitor
    2. corporation
    3. conference
    4. companion
  10. Most cars are fitted with a ... for locking the steering-wheel to prevent theft.
    1. cable
    2. tool
    3. device
    4. window
  11. Remember this ... - “Think Before You Speak”.
    1. principle
    2. prejudice
    3. prospect
    4. principal
  12. The doctors didn’t know what was wrong with Dad, so they decided to do an ... of his blood.
    1. amendment
    2. artificial
    3. analysis
    4. acknowledgement
  13. There’s a lot of ... in the school laboratory.
    1. applicable
    2. apology
    3. apparatus
    4. apparel
  14. Please send that letter by express. It’s very ....
    1. urgent
    2. earnest
    3. great
    4. hurried
  15. Your heart makes your blood ... around your body.
    1. circumstance
    2. cynical
    3. cleared
    4. circulate
  16. Some people believe that if a person dies violently in a house, his ghost may come back to ... it.
    1. haunt
    2. bother
    3. visit
    4. disturb
  17. The ... of the examination depends on how many subjects you take.
    1. ticket
    2. fee
    3. coast
    4. salary
  18. Please don’t pass this information on to anyone else. It’s ....
    1. confidential
    2. secretion
    3. confident
    4. believable
  19. There’s a very interesting ... about Lapindo in today’s newspaper.
    1. annual
    2. appendix
    3. articulation
    4. article
  20. The rich lady owns a lot of ... in the middle of our town.
    1. prosperity
    2. preparation
    3. properly
    4. property
  21. The rooms on this floor connect.
    Which is closest in meaning to "connect"?
    1. beat
    2. fight
    3. persuade
    4. join
  22. She suffered from a deadly disease.
    Which is closest in meaning to "deadly"?
    1. fatal
    2. death
    3. alive
    4. hell
  23. Opportunity never knocks twice at any man's door.
    Which is closest in meaning to "opportunity"?
    1. chance
    2. entry
    3. change
    4. leave
  24. We must preserve our natural resources.
    Which is closest in meaning to "preserve"?
    1. keep
    2. serve
    3. offer
    4. prepare
  25. We refuse to talk to terrorists.
    Which is closest in meaning to "refuse"?
    1. reject
    2. fresh
    3. diffuse
    4. confuse
  26. Water can be made pure by distilling it.
    Which is the antonym of "pure"?
    1. empty
    2. true
    3. impure
    4. push
  27. The patient made a rapid recovery.
    Which is the antonym of "rapid"?
    1. hit
    2. smart
    3. slow
    4. jump
  28. His political ideas are rather extreme.
    Which is the antonym of "extreme"?
    1. extra
    2. terrible
    3. moderate
    4. horrific
  29. False friends are worse than open enemies.
    Which is the antonym of "false"?
    1. true
    2. rises
    3. wrong
    4. gentle
  30. A comfortable working environment will increase productivity.
    Which is the antonym of "increase"?
    1. include
    2. conclude
    3. reduce
    4. induce
  31. A: "Did Jenny say anything about her sister?"
    B: "No, she didn't ... her at all.
    1. mend
    2. amend
    3. remind
    4. mention
  32. Africa used to be called the Dark ... because so little of it was known to Europeans.
    1. Contingent
    2. Continent
    3. Container
    4. Country
  33. After eating all those green apples, Jim got a bad ....
    1. ache stomach
    2. stomachache
    3. middle pain
    4. stumble ache
  34. After Jane's wedding, her father made a few polite ... about her new husband's family.
    1. remarks
    2. marks
    3. repents
    4. remakes
  35. After the accident, the driver managed to ... to the nearest house and call an ambulance.
    1. flatter
    2. flutter
    3. stage
    4. stagger
  36. After no rain for several years, there was ... in parts of northeast India.
    1. fame
    2. famous
    3. famine
    4. former
  37. Keeping our hands clean helps us avoid getting sick and ... germs to other people.
    1. spreading
    2. staying
    3. standing
    4. spraying
  38. Antibodies help ... the body against infectious organisms such as bacteria and viruses .
    1. depend
    2. differ
    3. defy
    4. defend
  39. COVID-19 is a new, infectious ... caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
    1. decrease
    2. decease
    3. degrade
    4. disease
  40. If you’re going out in public, you have to wear a ... to protect you from breathing in or spreading germs to others.
    1. musk
    2. mask
    3. moustache
    4. mass
End of Vocabulary Quiz.

August 20, 2011

Reading Cloze Text: Explanation Text about Global Warming

Cloze Text: Explanation Reading Text about Global Warming
Subject: Reading

Type of Text: Cloze Text

Level: Intermediate - Advanced

No. of Text Items: 15 items

GLOBAL WARMING

Explanation Text
Instructions :
Fill in all the gaps with the correct word provided below to complete the following passage. When you click the blank space, a drop-down menu containing answer choices will appear and you can choose the word that you think is correct.
   acting      affect      allow      alter      begin      consider      decrease      depend      keep      needs      produce      produced      risen      states      understand   
Did you ever wonder why the weather has been strangely in the past few years? One of the causes you may is global warming. Global warming is the increase in the temperature of the Earth's surface. It is by the emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halogenated fluorocarbons, ozone, and hydrocarbons incoming solar radiation to pass through the Earth's atmosphere but infrared radiation from leaving the atmosphere, thus causing the atmosphere to warm. Life on Earth the natural greenhouse effect, but excess greenhouse gases will retain excess heat and the normal atmospheric temperature of the Earth, causing global warming.

According to "Scientific Sleuths Track Climate Trends: Unraveling the mystery of global warming's cause and effect," by Alan Boyle, mean global temperatures have 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century. Boyle also that last year was declared to be one of the warmest in 120 years.

In order to what global warming really is one must look at the effects it will have in the future. Effects in the weather and climate would be one. Global warming could warmer and wetter climates for the North America, Europe and Asia. This may not be such a bad thing for these areas as it could the amount of frost that affects crops. Water problems, on the other hand, could be detrimental to life on earth. The melting of glaciers, ocean ice and ice shelves in the Arctic and Antarctic could be one of the clearest indicators of global warming. According to Janine Bloomfield, a staff scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, there are urban areas that on snow packs for their water supply. The increased melting of these packs along with summer droughts could cause water shortages for these areas. Another problem is rising sea levels due to melting glaciers and ice. This could cause shoreline erosion, and the oceans will slowly to consume coasts all over the world.
These may not be issues that will us tomorrow, but as humans we need to take the initiative to take care of the Earth. We need to take measures to prevent these problems from affecting generations to come, so they to can have bright and promising futures.
To do the computer-based version of this cloze text and find out your score, click the link below.

August 15, 2011

The Simple Past Tense VS The Past Continuous Tense

The Simple Past Tense VS The Past Continuous Tense

Students who learn English as a second or foreign language often have difficulties when they are working with Simple Past tense and Past Continuous tense. They often find it difficult to tell the difference in meaning between "He had breakfast at six" and "At six, he was having breakfast", or between "I talked to him several days ago" and "I was talking to him the other day", or between "She always watched TV" and "She was always watching TV". It is very likely that they confuse these two past tenses. As a matter of fact, incorrect use of simple past tense and past continuous tense may lead to misunderstanding.

The following list may help you understand how simple past tense and past continuous tense are different in meaning and usage.

SIMPLE PAST TENSEPAST CONTINUOUS
Used with an adverbial of time, to indicate a past action which probably started at the specified time.
Digunakan dengan keterangan waktu untuk menunjukkan kejadian yang berawal pada waktu tersebut.
E.g.: He had breakfast at six.
When she arrived, I called Lenny.		 Used with an adverbial of time, to indicate a past action which started before, was happening, and probably continued after the specified time.
Digunakan dengan keterangan waktu untuk menunjukkan kejadian yang sedang berlangsung pada saat itu (dimulai sebelumnya, dan mungkin berakhir sesudahnya).
E.g.: At six, he was having breakfast.
When she arrived, I was calling Lenny.
To indicate a more permanent past action.
Untuk kejadian lampau yang bersifat agak permanen.
E.g.: He lived in Malang for six years.
The old tree stood in the yard for more than a hundred years.		 To indicate a temporary past action.
Untuk kejadian lampau yang bersifat lebih sementara.
E.g. It happened while I was living in Malang ten years ago.
I was sitting at my table when the teacher came in.
To indicate an unusual or deliberate past action instead of normal occurence. Subject had the initiative.
Untuk kejadian lampau yang tidak biasa,  disengaja dan bukan hasil dari kejadian normal. Ada inisiatif dari Subyek untuk melakukannya.
E.g.: I talked to him on that matter.
He washed the car for about an hour.		 To indicate an usual or unintentional past action, or one which resulted from a normal occurrence. It is not clear who took the initiative.
Untuk kejadian lampau yang tidak disengaja, atau yang merupakan hasil dari kejadian normal/biasa. Tidak jelas siapa yang mengambil inisiatif.
E.g.: I was talking to him the other day.
She was walking home that evening.
To indicate a repeated past action which happened several times.
Untuk kejadian lampau yang berulang-ulang atau terjadi beberapa kali.
E.g.: I met him several times.
She sent me a few letters. 		To indicate parallel actions.
Untuk lebih dari satu kejadian lampau yang sedang terjadi secara bersamaan.
E.g.: Between one and two, I was doing the shopping and walking the dog.
Used with "always", to indicate a habitual past action.
Dengan "always", menceritakan kebiasaan waktu lampau.
E.g.: She always watched TV before going to bed.		 Used with "always", to indicate a repeated and annoying past action.
Dengan "always", menceritakan kejadian lampau yang berulang-ulang dan terasa mengganggu/menjengkelkan.
E.g.: They were always playing the music loudly.
In narratives, to indicate events or actions.
Dalam narasi, menggambarkan peristiwa atau kejadian.
E.g.: Suddenly, the door opened and a man stood at the door.		In narratives, to indicate background events or descriptions.
Dalam narasi, memberikan deskripsi atau latar belakang.
E.g.: The bride was wearing a white dress and carrying a bouquet of lilies. The bridegroom was trembling and looking pale. Suddenly, ....
Note:
We can use the Past Continuous in "I was wondering, I was hoping, and I was thinking" to make a request or suggestion sound more polite.
Kita bisa menggunakan bentuk Past Continuous dalam "I was wondering, I was hoping, and I was thinking" untuk membuat suatu permintaan atau saran terdengar lebih sopan.
Click here to do an exercise about the Simple Past and the Past Continuous tense.

Reference:
  1. Thomson & Martinet. A Practical English Grammar (4th Ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 164-165.
  2. Swan, M. Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p. 468-470.

August 07, 2011

Conjunctions and Participles Exercise

Conjunctions and Participles Exercise
Subject: Conjunctions and Participles
Level: Intermediate
Type of Test: Multiple Choice
No. of Test Items: 25 items.
Start of English Test
  1. ... Ted knew the material, he failed the exam.
    1. Nevertheless
    2. Because
    3. Provided that
    4. Even though
  2. Jim goes hiking, ... he has asthma.
    1. otherwise
    2. despite the fact that
    3. because
    4. provided that
  3. Jenny’s smile is an important aspect to her personality. ..., she doesn’t realize it.
    1. Consequently
    2. Nevertheless
    3. Because
    4. Since
  4. She got ... a shock ... she dropped the tray
    1. so - that
    2. such - that
    3. really - then
    4. very - so that
  5. We can go camping with him ... we bring our own equipment.
    1. unless
    2. otherwise
    3. consequently
    4. provided
  6. Lucy can’t attend the meeting ... she finds a baby-sitter.
    1. provided
    2. unless
    3. now that
    4. otherwise
  7. ..., the best car to buy is a BMW.
    1. Because of its durability
    2. Because of it lasts a long time
    3. Because of it is durable
    4. Because its durability
  8. The region is referred to as the “Land of Fruit” ... it yields a bountiful harvest of oranges and apples.
    1. because
    2. such as
    3. although
    4. so that
  9. Seat belt laws were introduced ... traffic fatalities would be reduced.
    1. when
    2. as if
    3. so that
    4. after
  10. The great stone city Angkon flourished for six centuries ... it fell in 1431 and lay prey to the jungle for four long centuries.
    1. until
    2. as soon as
    3. so that
    4. because
  11. While attempting to reach his home before the storm, ....
    1. the storm caught John.
    2. John's bicycle broke down.
    3. it happened that John's bicycle broke down.
    4. John had an accident on his bicycle.
  12. Our flight from Amsterdam to London was delayed ... the heavy fog.
    1. on account
    2. because
    3. consequently
    4. due to
  13. ..., the travelers found that their flight had been canceled because of the severe snowstorm.
    1. They arrived at the airport
    2. When arrived at the airport
    3. Arriving at the airport
    4. That they arrived at the airport
  14. ... in a debate contest, participants must try their best to convince the juries.
    1. They compete
    2. When competing
    3. When competed
    4. When compete
  15. ..., tobacco farmers had not yet felt its effect.
    1. Even though there was a campaign against smoking
    2. There was a campaign against smoking
    3. That there was a campaign against smoking
    4. Though a campaign against smoking
  16. ... the finish line first, the runner gave up.
    1. He failed to reach
    2. Having failed to reach
    3. That he failed reaching
    4. Having failed reaching
  17. Having been served lunch, ....
    1. it was discussed by the committee members the problem.
    2. a discussion of the problem was made by the members of the committee.
    3. the committee members discussed the problems.
    4. the problem was discussed by the members of the committee.
  18. ... he began to make friends more easily.
    1. Having entered school in the new city, it was found that.
    2. He entered the new school
    3. After entering the new school
    4. When entered the new school
  19. The weather was ... cold that I didn’t like to leave my apartment.
    1. very
    2. such
    3. really
    4. so
  20. ... he is not a superstitious person, he believes in spiritual life.
    1. However
    2. Unless
    3. Although
    4. As
  21. ... the rain, fans started lining up outside the studios, hoping to catch a glimpse of the teen idols.
    1. When
    2. Despite
    3. Although
    4. Unless
  22. I need to work hard ... I can support my family.
    1. but
    2. so that
    3. if
    4. however
  23. We must work quickly. ..., we will be late.
    1. If
    2. Otherwise
    3. Unless
    4. However
  24. She has invited me to her party. ..., I may not be able to come.
    1. However
    2. So
    3. Therefore
    4. In spite
  25. The boy had a big breakfast this morning. ..., he said he was still hungry.
    1. Consequently
    2. Nevertheless
    3. Otherwise
    4. Eventhough
End of English Test
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