English Literacy

EXERCISE 5
Text 1
Read the text below to answer question 1-3
The living brain is constantly producing regular rhythmic patterns of activity, which can
be compared to musical notes. Scientists at the University of Birmingham in the UK, and the
University of Maryland School of Dentistry in the US, have successfully demonstrated that
one particularly prevalent pattern of brain activity, called alpha waves, strongly relates to
the body’s susceptibility or resilience to pain.
Alpha waves oscillate between 8-14 Hz, with the peak frequency varying across
individuals. The researchers demonstrated how a measurement of an individual’s alpha
wave frequency can be used as a reliable pain indicator.
The study, led by graduate student Andrew Furman and published in the journal
Cerebral Cortex, suggests that these alpha waves could be used to help clinicians understand
how susceptible a patient to experience severe pain post-surgery.
Dr David Seminowicz of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry is co-author of
the study. He explains: “Understanding a patient’s pain sensitivity could be really important
in, for example, deciding whether an elective procedure is the best option or planning pst-
surgery rehabilitation. Pain management drugs or techniques such as mindfulness
meditation can also be used before surgery to help minimize pain.”
Dr Ali Mazaheri, from the University of Birmingham’s School of Psychology and Centre
for Human Brain Health and also co-author of the study, adds: “Severe pain following
surgery is often also a good indicator of whether or not a patient is likely to go on to
develop chronic pain. Understanding whether or not a person is at high risk of developing
these symptoms will help patients and clinicians make better informed choices about the
best course of treatment.”

1. How can brain detect the body’s susceptibility?

A. Through the constant of brain living
B. Through the constant of human being’s activities
C. Through the influence of music in life
D. Through the alpha waves in music
E. Through the brain activity in parallelly
2. How can the alpha frequency indicate the pain?
A. It has different peak frequency
B. It is caused from a brain activity
C. It has 8-14 Hz
D. It is softer and more sensitive to touch
E. It can be demonstrated by the researchers
3. This is a fact about Dr David Seminowicz …
A. He is the co-writer in one of science-journal publishers
B. He schools in University of Maryland School of Dentistry
C. He understand a lot about the brain waves articles
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D. He is a friend of Dr Ali Mazaheri from the University of Birmingham

E. He can predict the future pain sensitivity from the researcher
Text 2
Read the text below to answer question 4-7
Human brain structure is composed of three main parts: the forebrain, midbrain, and
hindbrain, each with multiple parts.
The Cerebrum: Also known as the cerebral cortex, the cerebrum is the largest part of
the human brain, and it is associated with higher brain function such as thought and action.
Nerve cells make up the gray surface, which is a little thicker than our thumb. White nerve
fibers beneath the surface carry signals between nerve cells in other parts of the brain and
body. Its wrinkled surface increases the surface area, and is a six-layered structure found in
mammals, called neocortex. It is divided into four sections, called “lobes”. They are; the
frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe.
Frontal Lobe – The frontal lobe lies just beneath our forehead and is associated with
our brain’s ability to reason, organize, plan, speak, move, make facial expressions, serial
task, problem solve, control inhibition, spontaneity, initiate and self-regulate behaviors, pay
attention, remember and control emotions.
Parietal Lobe – The parietal lobe is located at the upper rear of our brain, and controls
our complex behaviors, including senses such as vision, touch, body awareness and spatial
orientation. It plays important roles in integrating sensory information from various parts of
our body, knowledge of numbers and their relations, and in the manipulation of objects.
Portions are involved with our visuospatial processing, language comprehension, the ability
to construct, body positioning and movement, neglect/inattention, left-right differentiation
and self-awareness/insight.
Occipital Lobe – The occipital lobe is located at the back of our brain and is associated
with our visual processing, such as visual recognition, visual attention, spatial analysis
(moving in a 3-D world) and visual perception of body language; such as postures,
expressions and gestures.
Temporal Lobe – The temporal lobe is located near our ears, and is associated with
processing our perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (including our ability to focus
on one sound among many, like listening to one voice among many at a party),
comprehending spoken language, verbal memory, visual memory and language production
(including fluency and word finding), general knowledge and autobiographical memories.
A deep furrow divides the cerebrum into two halves, known as the left and right
hemispheres. And, while the two hemispheres look almost symmetrical, each side seems to
function differently. The right hemisphere is considered our creative side, and the left
hemisphere is considered our logical side. A bundle of axons, called the corpus callosum,
connects the two hemispheres.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The description of surface carry signals between nerve cells in other parts of the brain
and body
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B. The explanation about A bundle of axons, called the corpus callosum, connects the two
hemispheres
C. The overview about the structure and function of the human brain
D. The findings of the important roles of parietal lobe in integrating sensory information
from various parts of our body
E. The argument of the perception and recognition of auditory stimuli in human brain
5. The sentence ‘The parietal lobe is located at the upper rear of our brain, and controls our
complex behaviors, including senses such as vision, touch, body awareness and spatial
orientation’ in paragraph 5 can be restated as …
A. The parietal lobe can be in at the upper rear of our brain, and controls our complex
behaviors, excluding senses such as vision, touch, body awareness, and spatial
orientation
B. The parietal lobe is located near the upper rear of our brain, and controls our complex
behaviors, senses such as vision, touch, body awareness and spatial orientation
C. The parietal lobe is located far from the upper rear of our brain, and controls our
complex behaviors, a part of senses such as vision, touch, body awareness and spatial
orientation
D. The location of parietal lobe is at the upper rear of our brain, and controls our complex
behaviors, that is senses such as vision, touch, body awareness and spatial orientation
E. The upper rear of our brain is at the parietal lobe and controls our complex behaviors,
including senses such as vision, touch, body awareness and spatial orientation.
6. It can be concluded from the passage that …
A. Three main parts of human brain, the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, each with
multiple parts have significant roles in controlling human activity
B. The frontal lobe lies just beneath our forehead and is associated with our brain’s ability
to visual recognition, such as visual recognition, visual attention, spatial analysis
C. The right hemisphere is considered our creative side, and the left hemisphere is
considered human mental activity
D. A deep furrow has functions to comprehend spoken language, verbal memory, visual
memory, and language production
E. Frontal lobes are involved with our visuospatial processing, language comprehension,
body positioning and movement
7. What most likely motivates the writer in writing the passage?
A. Not many people have much information about the functions of parts of human brain
B. There is a mystery about what functions of human brain
C. People’s information about human brain is sufficient
D. Many people have known about the functions of the brain
E. The information about functions about human brain is not available

Questions number 8-12 are based on the following text

Text 3
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano keeps erupting with syrupy lava flows, serving as a fiery
reminder of nature’s destructive power. There are two contents flow out as a molten rock
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and they both have to do with volcanoes. But as the ongoing eruption captures headlines, a
question might occur to the readers: What’s the difference between magma and lava?
The distinction between magma and lava is all about location. When geologists refer
to magma, they’re talking about molten rock that’s still trapped underground. If this molten
rock makes it to the surface and keeps flowing like a liquid, it’s called lave. Lava is molten
rock generated by geothermal energy and expelled through fractures in planetary crust or in
an eruption, usually at temperatures from 700 to 1,200oC (1,292 to 2,192oF). The structures
resulting from subsequent solidification and cooling are also sometimes described as lava.
The molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their
satellites, though such material located below the crust is referred to by other terms.
Magmas vary in their chemical composition, which gives them – and the volcanoes
that contain them – different properties. Mafic magmas like those in Hawaii tend to form
when the heavier crust that forms the ocean floor melts. They contain between 47 to 63
percent silica, the mineral that makes up glass and quarts. Silicic magmas, on the other
hand, tend to form when the lighter continental crust melts. These magmas are more than
63 percent silica, which makes them more viscous: At their runniest, silicic magmas flow
about as well as lard orcaulk – which is to say not well at all. They’re also cooler than mafic
magmas. Rhyolite, an especially silica-rich type of lava, hits temperatures between only
1,200 degrees to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
When silicic magmas are no longer confined under sufficiently high pressure, the gases
dissolved within them come out of solution and from bubbles. And just like opening a
shaken-up can of soda, the resulting rush of vapor called stratovolcanoes, such as Mount
Pinatubo, are loaded with silicic magmas. Hawaii’s volcanoes, on the other hand, contain
especially low-silica magmas made of basalt, which means they have much less explosive
oomph. Instead, they ooze and spatter, creating shield volcanoes – gently sloped formations
that have become the islands’ signature geologic silhouette.

8. What is the appropriate title of the text above?

A. The Explosive power of a volcano
B. The Characteristic of Magma and Lava
C. The Distinction of Magma and Lava
D. The Pressure of Silicic Magma as a Composition of a Volcano
E. The Composition of Magma and Lava Based on a Volcano Structure
9. What is the motive of the writer to present the passage?
A. To raise people awareness about the danger of volcano eruption
B. To persuade the readers not to live nearby the area of volcano eruption
C. To describe the danger of volcano eruption through the composition of magmas
D. To straighten people’s misconception about the difference of magma and lava
E. To expose people’s lack of understanding about the terms of lava and magma
10. ‘Magmas vary in their chemical composition…’ The sentence can be best restated with…
A. The composition of magma can be differentiated through their chemical compound
B. The chemical structure of magma is different based on their composition
C. The component of magma is made of chemical element
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D. The basic structure of magma can be seen from its chemical component
E. The nature of chemical composition is based on magma variation
11. What is the difference of volcanoes in Hawaii from that of Mount Pinatubo
A. Mount Pinatubo is more destructive than Hawaii
B. Volcanoes in Hawaii are less explosive power than that of Pinatubo
C. Hawaii’s volcanoes are highly explosive than those of Mount Pinatubo
D. Hawaii’s volcanoes are loaded with silicic magmas
E. Mount Pinatubo is the islands who has signature geologic silhouette.
12. In which paragraph does the author elaborate what imposes low or high explosion of a
volcano?
A. Paragraph 2
B. Paragraph 3
C. Paragraph 4
D. Paragraph 2 and 3
E. Paragraph 3 and 4
Questions number 13-15 are based on the following text
Text 4
Non-verbal communication is defined as communication between people by means
other than speech. Non-verbal communication (NVC) derives from one following major
sources: (1) eye contact (amount of looking at another person’s body and face); (2) mouth
(especially smiling or grimacing in relation to eye contact); (3) posture (for example, sitting
forwards or backwards); (4) gesture (as with the use of arm movements when talking); (5)
orientation of the body to the addressee; (6) body distance (as when we stand too close or
too far away from others); (7) smell (including perfumes); (8) skin (including pigmentation,
blushing and texture); (9) hair (including length, texture, and style); (10) clothes (with
particular reference to fashion).
Non-verbal communication is not quite the same as the body language because any
claim about the language must refer to an agreed and identifiable grammar and syntax. NVC
is not always so precise or advanced; the vocabulary or non-verbal sign is more limited than
speech. Even so, it is a mistake to consider NVC as isolated from speech. Instead, some
complex interaction is envisaged between word and body signal and one that is not always
complementary. Imagine yourself interviewing job applicant. You might not offer
employment to a candidate who refuses to look at you, always frowns, hunches both
shoulders, sweats a lot and has a Mohican haircut – despite the fact that he or she gives
thoughtful and interesting replies to your questions.
Take eye contact as an example for discussion. Mutual eye contact (where both people
look into each other’s eyes) can be a sign of liking but prolonged gaze leads to discomfort.
The directed eye contact violates a code of looking, where eye contact is frequently broken
but returned to and leads to depersonalization of the victim because an aggressor
deliberately breaks the rules which the victim adheres to. Eye contact is often enhanced by
size of pupils, eyebrow inflection and movement, and smiling.
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13. The author organizes the ideas in the text by …

A. classifying types of non-verbal communication
B. differentiating non-verbal communication from body language
C. defining non-verbal communication and giving examples
D. exploring problems in defining non-verbal communication
E. ordering sources of non-verbal communication chronologically
14. It can be inferred from the text that verbal and non-verbal communication …
A. never matched
B. use the same grammar
C. always support each other
D. need learning and practice
E. sometimes show striking contrast
15. The word “code” in the second sentence of the last paragraph is closest in meaning to …
A. sign
B. program
C. symbol
D. rule
E. instruction
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EXERCISE 6
Text 1
Read the text below to answer question 1-4
From savoring a piece of cake to hugging a friend, many of life’s pleasures trigger a
similar reaction in the brain – a surge of dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical. Recent
research suggests this reward circuit may do much more than make us smile.
Researchers implanted skin and lung cancer cells in mice, then stimulated the
dopamine-releasing neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of their brains. The rush of
dopamine disabled a group of cells that promote tumor growth. That allowed the immune
system to respond more effectively to the tumors, which were 40 to 52 percent smaller and
lower in weight in mice that received VTA stimulation than in those that didn’t. “By
artificially activating the VTA,” says the study’s co-author, Asya Rolls of Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology, “we can affect the nervous system and, in turn, the immune
system.”
Moreover, the researchers explain, once the immune system is activated in this way, it
appears to create a “memory” of the foreign agents to which it has been exposed, allowing
it to respond more efficiently to them in the future.
Rolls doesn’t believe that positive thinking alone can cure cancer, but the study’s
author hope that cancer patients might someday receive brain stimulation as an add-on
therapy that could, in turn, reduce the need for traditional treatments such as
chemotherapy and radiation.

1. In which paragraph does the author discuss about immune reaction to the tumors?
A. 4 B. 3 C. 2 D. 1 E. None of the paragraphs above

2. Paragraph 1 and 2 are related that paragraph 1 …

A. argues for the dopamine’s effect to our body of which facts are put in paragraph 2
B. explores the effect of life’s pleasures of which facts are then provided in paragraph 2
C. presents problems of skin and lung cancer which are exemplified in paragraph 2
D. states problems of the “feel-good” chemical of which answer is given in paragraph 2
E. provides detailed ideas for information described in paragraph 2
3. What is the writer trying to inform the readers …
A. The impact of tumors
B. The effect of feeling good to our health
C. The cause of dopamine stimulation
D. The issues of tumor responses
E. The research on mice
4. The word that in the passage refers to …
A. the growth of tumor
B. the rush of cells
C. the response of immune system
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D. the disability of cells that promote tumor growth

E. the response of the tumor
Text 2
Read the text below to answer question 5-8
Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to
heat buildings and generate electricity. The idea of harnessing Earth’s internal heat is not
new. As early as 1904, geothermal power was used in Italy. Today, Earth’s natural internal
heat us being used to generate electricity in 121 countries, including Russia, Japan, New
Zealand, Iceland, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, El Savador, the Philipines, and the United
States. Total worldwide production is approaching 9,000 MW (equivalent to nine large
modern coal-burning or nuclear power plants) – double the amount in 1980. Some 40
million people today receive their electricity from geothermal energy at a cost competitive
with that of other energy sources. In El Savador, geothermal energy is supplying 30% of the
total energy used. However, at the global level, geothermal energy supplies less than 0.15%
of the total energy supply.
Geothermal energy may be considered a non-renewable energy source when rates of
extraction are greater than the rates of natural replenishment. However, geothermal energy
has its origin in the natural heat production within Earth, and only a small fraction of the
vast total resource base is being utilized today. Although most geothermal energy
production involves tapping of high heat resources, people are also using the low-
temperature geothermal energy of groundwater in some applications.
5. In paragraph 1, the author introduces the concept of geothermal energy by …
A. explaining the history of this energy source worldwide
B. providing information about the large use of this energy
C. arguing that this energy source has been tried unsuccessfully
D. comparing the production with that of other energy sources
E. describing the alternatives for generating electric power
6. What is true about geothermal energy production worldwide …
A. Only countries in the Southern Hemisphere are using geothermal energy on a large scale
B. As it is a new idea, very few countries are developing geothermal energy sources
C. Geothermal energy is now used in a large scale in a global level
D. Geothermal energy is already being used in a number of nations, but it is not yet a major
source of power
E. Until the cost of geothermal energy becomes competitive, it will not be used globally
7. Which of the statements below best expresses the information in the italicized sentence …
A. High heat is the source of most of the geothermal energy but low heat groundwater is
also used sometimes
B. Even though low temperatures are possible, high heat is the best resource for energy
production for groundwater
C. Both high heat and low heat sources are used for the production of geothermal energy
from groundwater
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D. Most high heat sources for geothermal energy are trapped from applications that involve
low heat in groundwater
E. High heat geothermal energy is less used than low heat groundwater
8. In paragraph 2, the author states that geothermal energy is a non-renewable resource
because…
A. the production of geothermal energy is a natural process
B. geothermal energy comes from the Earth
C. we are not using very much geothermal energy now
D. the production of geothermal energy is not on Earth
E. The natural replenishment could be interrupted by the excessive use
Text 3
Read the text below to answer question 9-13
Technology is rapidly expanding the scope of capabilities for both professional and
personal use; such is the case with smart phones. Professionals now have devices available
to them capable of digital media, internet access, phone communication, multi-person
scheduling and office tools for documents and presentations. Businesspeople that are often
mobile may maximize the use of these critical features on smartphones. Individuals who
simply enjoy the luxury of multi-function devices often use these devices for frivolous
pursuits such as downloading catchy ring tones, instant messaging about the latest gossip
and looking up the world record for most cans crushed on one’s hand during the Superbowl.
This fusion of capabilities and increased availability of such devices could be a sign of a
growing blend in society between work and personal life, or individuals could simple be
taking a luxurious approach to their connectivity in personal lives.
9. The term “frivolous” implies that the author…
A. is fascinated by the endless capabilities on smart phones
B. hopes that technology ceases to expand its scopes
C. believes that the average individual does not need a smart phone
D. has a smart phone
E. wants to see more added to smart phone technology
10. What is the purpose of the conclusion sentence…
A. Draw a conclusion about what we know smart phones can do
B. Assumes where technology is headed and how it will affect society
C. Comment on human connectivity through the use of smart phones
D. Predict how the government will regulate and guide future technology
E. Presents two possible explanations for the growing popularity of smart phones
11. The word “capable” in the second sentence is closest in meaning to…
A. powerless
B. qualified
C. unskillful
D. inept
E. weak
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12. The main point from the author’s view is that…

A. man’s soul and spirit can not be destroyed by superpowers
B. Man’s destiny is not fully clear of visible
C. Man’s soul and spirit are immortal
D. Man’s safety is assured by the delicate balance of power in terms of nuclear weapons
E. Human society will survive despite the serious threat of total annihilation
13. The word “their” in the last sentence refers to…
A. society’s
B. approach’s
C. individuals’
D. work’s
E. fusion’s

Text 4
Read the text below to answer question 14-15
The Green Technology took place between 1967 and 1978 in India and other parts of
the developing world. It refers to improvements in agricultural practices that dramatically
increased food production, especially wheat and rice in India.
By the 1960s, India was growing so fast that it could not produce enough food to keep
up with the number of people. The government stepped in and began to develop more
farmland and introduced modern irrigation systems, making it possible for farmers to plant
two crops a year instead of one.
Indian farmers also planted genetically improved seeds that greatly increased crop
yields. Within a decade, India had become one of the world’s largest producers of farm
products. In some years, farmers produced more food grains than the Indian people
needed, so they sold the excess to other countries.
14. According to the passage, India became one of the world’s largest producers of farm
products because…
A. of its ability to plant genetically improved seeds
B. India was able to provide food for all of its people
C. of the improvements in agriculture
D. food grains were excessively produced
E. the farmers decided to plant twice as many crops as they did before
15. How does the idea in sentence 4 related to paragraph 3…
A. Sentence 4 is the result of paragraph 3
B. Sentence 4 provides another type of agricultural practice discussed in paragraph 3
C. Sentence 4 strongly contradicts paragraph 3
D. Sentence 4 elaborates paragraph 3
E. Sentence 4 is the cause of paragraph 3