Floods
are second only to fire as the most common of all natural disasters. They occur
almost everywhere in the world, resulting in widespread damage and even death.
Consequently, scientists have long tried to perfect their ability to predict
floods. So far, the best that scientists can do is to recognize the potential
for flooding in certain conditions. There are a number of conditions, from deep
snow on the ground to human error, that cause flooding.
When
deep snow melts, it creates a large amount of water. Although deep snow alone
rarely causes floods, when it occurs together with heavy rain and sudden warmer
weather, it can lead to serious flooding. If there is a fast snow melt on top
of frozen or very wet ground, flooding is more likely to occur than when the
ground is not frozen. Frozen ground or ground that is very wet and already
saturated with water cannot absorb the additional water created by the melting
snow. Melting snow also contributes to high water levels in rivers and streams.
Whenever rivers are already at their full capacity of water, heavy rains will
result in the rivers overflowing and flooding the surrounding land.
Rivers
that are covered in ice can also lead to flooding. When ice begins to melt, the
surface of the ice cracks and breaks into large pieces. These pieces of ice
move and float down the river. They can form a dam in the river, causing the water
behind the dam to rise and flood the land upstream. If the dam breaks suddenly,
then the large amount of water held behind the dam can flood the areas
downstream too.
Broken
ice dams are not the only dam problems that can cause flooding. When a large
human-made dam breaks or fails to hold the water collected behind it, the
results can be devastating. Dams contain such huge amounts of water behind them
that when sudden breaks occur, the destructive force of the water is like a
great tidal wave. Unleashed dam waters can travel tens of kilometers, cover the
ground in meters of mud and debris, and drown and crush every thing and
creature in their path.
Although
scientists cannot always predict exactly when floods will occur, they do know a
great deal about when floods are likely, or probably, going to occur. Deep
snow, ice-covered rivers, and weak dams are all strong conditions for potential
flooding. Hopefully, this knowledge of why floods happen can help us reduce the
damage they cause. (418)
Gunakan Petunjuk A dalam
menjawab soal nomor 41 sampai nomor 45.
41. The word “ debris
” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to _____.
(A) residue
(B) leftovers
(C) wreckage
(D) leavings
(E) garbage
42. The best title of
the passage is _____.
(A) The Most Common
Natural Disaster
(B) Potential
Circumstances for Flooding
(C) Scientists’
Ability to Predict Floods
(D) Damages Caused by
Flood
(E) Prevention of
Potential Flooding
43. The purpose of the
writer is _____.
(A) to criticize the
scientists
(B) to ask for actions
to help flooding victims
(C) to inform the readers
on how to stop flooding
(D) to clarify the
impacts of flooding
(E) to explain the
conditions that can cause flooding
44. The following
statement is TRUE according to the 2nd paragraph _____
(A) Flooding occurs
when melting snow makes the level of a river rise.
(B) Melting deep snow
together with heavy rain rarely cause flooding.
(C) Melting snow
causes pieces of ice to block the river, which causes flooding.
(D) Pieces of ice move
and float down the river, making the water too cold.
(E)
Ground saturated by water will easily absorb melting snow.
45. It can be
concluded from the text that the scientists _____.
(A) have come very
close to knowing when floods will occur
(B) are required to
provide some help when flooding occurs
(C) believe that
flooding is the most common natural disaster
(D) have sufficient
knowledge to recognize potential flooding conditions
(E) are trying to
reduce damage caused by floods
Refugees
are obviously not a new phenomenon. It has been said that Adam and Eve share
the dubious honor of being the first refugees. In biblical times the Hebrews,
to escape from slavery under the pharaos, fled from Egypt in one of the first
recorded collective migrations. Throughout history, wars, invasions, and
religious and political persecutions have left a trail of refugees and a
concomitant acceptance of the right in churches, mosques, and other holy
places. The 17th century Dutch jurist Hugo Grotius, himself a refugee, declared
that “permanent residence ought not to be denied to foreigners who, expelled
from their homes, are seeking a refuge, provided that they submit themselves to
the established government and observe any regulations which are necessary to
avoid strifes.” However, until the 20th century, there were no international
agreements covering the right of asylum. Only in a few instances appropriate national
legislation was enacted.
Gunakan Petunjuk A dalam
menjawab soal nomor 46 sampai nomor 47.
46. The topic of this
paragraph is ____.
(A) the predicament of
refugees
(B) the development of
refugees
(C) refugees’ right of
permanent residence
(D) solution for
refugees
(E) refugees over the
ages
47. The paragraph
following the passage most likely discusses _____.
(A) refugees’ loss of
freedom
(B) examples of proper
legislation regulating refugees
(C) the government’s
act to ban refugees
(D) the fight of
modern refugees
(E) new residence for
refugees
Gunakan Petunjuk A dalam
menjawab soal nomor 48 sampai nomor 55.
48. Having survived
the impact of the international financial crisis, the insurance industry
expects a steady growth in 2011. The italic phrase means _____ the insurance
industry has survived the impact of the international financial crisis.
(A) although
(B) while
(C) because
(D) in order that
(E) whenever
49. The term ’rock’,
____ a shortened form of ’rock-and-roll’, was coined by an American broadcaster
to replace ’rhythm-and-blues’.
(A) it is
(B) which is
(C) for which
(D) which it is
(E) is
50. _____ is known by
anyone rowing a boat in a strong wind.
(A) Whether it is
easier to go with the wind than against it
(B) When it is easier
to go with the wind than against it
(C) That it is easier
to go with the wind than against it
(D) It is easier to go
with the wind than against it
(E) Where it is easier
to go with the wind than against it
51. Which response is
NOT possible?
Rama: I finally
finished the project I was working on.
Kris: _____
(A) I couldn’t have
done better!
(B) What is your next
project?
(C) You’ve been
working very hard.
(D) Will you have
completed it by tomorrow?
(E) It’s about time
you finished it.
52. Renata: Do you
know why Indi wasn’t in class this morning?
Indra: She ____ sick.
She had a terrible headache last night.
(A) would rather be
(B) would have been
(C) must have been
(D) had better be
(E) should have been
53. Malnutrition among
children ____ not only in low-income families but also among high-income earners
is caused by economic factors as well as the habits and lifestyle of parents.
(A) occur
(B) occurred
(C) they occur
(D) occurring
(E) to occur
54. _____ students
studying in a foreign country are provided with information about literacy
practices and academic culture of that country, they will feel stranded in that
academic environment.
(A) As
(B) In order that
(C) Unless
(D) As soon as
(E) Where
55. Dani was extremely
tired when he arrived, because he _________ for his flight for three hours.
(A) waited
(B) was waiting
(C) had waited
(D) had been waiting
(E) had been waited
Research
has found that people sleep better at different times during their daily cycle.
For example, some people function better if they go to sleep early and rise
early, __ 56 __ others feel more rested if they stay up late and sleep in. Many
people don’t pay attention to the __ 57 __ of their sleep. Yet delaying or __
58 __ the time you go to sleep can have a major impact on how you feel when you
wake up. The __ 59 __ of sleep the average adult needs each night also varies. Some
people may be fine with six hours sleep, while others need up to nine hours per
night. A scientist points out that those who follow a __ 60 __ sleep schedule
are more apt to function better on fewer hours, but she adds that most adults need
at least six hours of sleep each night.
Gunakan Petunjuk A dalam
menjawab soal nomor 56 sampai nomor 60.
56. ...
(A) when
(B) although
(C) since
(D) so that
(E) while
57. ...
(A) timing
(B) way
(C) effects
(D) habit
(E) regularity
58. ...
(A) alter
(B) altered
(C) altering
(D) alteration
(E) alternative
59. ...
(A) number
(B) total
(C) sum
(D) whole
(E) amount
60. ...
(A) regular
(B) regulator
(C) regularly
(D) regularity
(E) regulation
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