About Listening Comprehension Section of the TOEFL Test

DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST
READING INTRODUCTION
Questions about the Ideas of the Passage
SKILL 1: Answer main idea questions correctly
SKILL 2: Recognize the organization of ideas
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 1-2)
Directly Answered Questions
SKILL 3: Answer stated detail questions correctly (Factual Information Question)
SKILL 4: Find "unstated" details (Factual Information Question)
SKILL 5: Find pronoun referents
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 3-5)
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-5)
Indirectly Answered Questions
SKILL 6: Answer implied detail questions correctly
SKILL 7: Answer transition questions correctly
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 6-7)
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-7)
Vocabulary Questions
SKILL 8: Find definitions from structural clues
SKILL 9: Determine meanings from word parts
SKILL 10: Use context to determine meanings of difficult words
SKILL 11: Use context to determine meanings of simple words
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 8-11)
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-11)
Overall Review Questions
SKILL 12: Determine where specific information is found 431
SKILL 13: Determine the tone, purpose, or course 435
SKILL 14: Determine where to insert a piece of information 441
TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 12-14) 445
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-14) 448
READING POST-TEST (Paper) 452
POST-TEST

Tips Menjawab Soal Reading TOEFL: Main Idea Question

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M Ahkam A

Tips Menjawab Soal Reading TOEFL: Main Idea Question

Pada sesi reading comprehension tes TOEFL Anda akan dihadapkan 5 text bacaan diikuti
beberapa pertanyaan yang keseluruhan soalnya sebanyak 50 jumlah soal. Sementara
waktu untuk mengerjakan soal reading ini hanyalah 45 menit. Di bawah ini kami berikan
beberapa Tips Menjawab Soal Reading TOEFL: Main Idea Question. Tingkat
frequensi kemunculan soal ide pokok pada tes TOEFL mencapai 3 sampai 4 nomor.
1. Cara Mengidentifikasi Bentuk-bentuk Pertanyaan ide pokok (Main Idea)

Dalam tes TOEFL, ada beberapa kata kunci (key word) dalam mengidentifikasi bentuk
pertanyaan ide pokok. Kata-kata tersebut termasuk: topic, subject, title, primary idea,
atau main idea. Ide pokok ini menguji kemampuan Anda dalam memahami informasi
utama yang ingin disampaikan oleh si penulis.
Untuk lebih jelasnya berikut bentuk-bentuk pertanyaan ide pokok:
1. What is the subject of the passage?
2. What is the main idea of the passage?
3. What is the author's main point in the passage?
4. With what is the author primarily concerned?
5. Which of the following would be the best title?
2. Cara Menjawab Soal Reading TOEFL: Main Idea Question
1. Bacalah baris atau kalimat pertama pada setiap paragraf.
Menjawab soal ide pokok pada tes TOEFL cukup dengan memahami permulaan setiap
paragraf; hal ini dikarenakan text bacaan TOEFL mengikuti pola penulisan imiah
tradisional bahasa Inggris.
2. Temukan tema atau ide utama pada baris atau kalimat pertama setiap paragraf.
3. Eliminasilah soal jawaban yang jelas salah dan pilihlah jawaban yang paling sesuai.
4. PENGECUALIAN: Kadang ide pokok juga berada pada kalimat atau baris terakhir pada
paragraf pertama sementara pada paragraf lain tetap terdapat pada baris pertama.
Misal: jika ada 3 paragraf maka ide pokoknya bisa jadi pada kalimat akhir untuk paragraf
pertama dan kalimat awal untuk paragraf 2 dan 3.
Contoh Soal 1

Nitrogen fixation is a process by which nitrogen is continuously fed into biological

circulation. In this process, certain algae and bacteria convert nitrogen into ammonia
(NH3).This newly-created ammonia is then for the most part absorbed by plants.
The opposite process of denitrification returns nitrogen to the air. During the
process of denitrification, bacteria cause some of the nitrates from the soil to convert into
gaseous nitrogen or nitrous oxide (N20). In this gaseous form, the nitrogen returns to the
atmosphere.
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage ?
A. The Process of Nitrogen Fixation
B. Two Nitrogen Processes
C. The Return of Nitrogen to the Air
D. The Effect of Nitrogen on Plant Life
Penjelasan: Untuk menjawab soal ini (main idea question) cukup dengan melihat kalimat
pertama pada setiap paragraf. Dan memahami makna kalimat dengan berfokus pada
kata kunci (key word). Kata kunci telah kami bold.
Contoh Soal 2
Vaccines are prepared from harmful viruses or bacteria and administered to patients to
provide immunity to specific diseases. The various types of vaccines are classified
according to the method by which they are derived.
The most basic class of vaccines actually contains disease-causing microorganisms
that have been killed with a solution containing formaldehyde. In this type of vaccine, the
microorganisms are dead and therefore cannot cause disease; however, the antigens
found in and on the microorganisms can still stimulate the formation of antibodies.
Examples of this type of vaccine are the ones that fight influenza, typhoid fever, and
cholera.
A second type of vaccine contains the toxins produced by the microorganisms rather
than the microorganisms themselves. This type of vaccine is prepared when the
microorganism itself does little damage but the toxin within the microorganism is

extremely harmful. For example, the bacteria that cause diphtheria can thrive in the
throat without much harm, but when toxins are released from the bacteria, muscles can
become paralyzed and death can ensue.
A final type of vaccine contains living microorganisms that have been rendered
harmless. With this type of vaccine, a large number of antigen molecules are produced
and the immunity that results is generally longer lasting than the immunity from other
types of vaccines. The Sabin oral antipolio vaccine and the BCG vaccine against
tuberculosis are examples of this type of vaccine.
Which of the following expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Vaccines provide immunity to specific diseases.
B. Vaccines contain disease-causing microorganisms.
C. Vaccines are derived in different ways.
D. New approaches in administering vaccines are being developed.

Contoh:

Pertanyaan ini tentang bagaimana informasi diususun dalam bacaan. Untuk menjawab
petanyaan jenis ini, hal yang perlu dilakukan ialah dengan melihat ide pokok pada setiap
paragraf di atas.
Ide paragraf pertama:
if asked who invented the game of baseball, most Americans would probably reply that it
was their belief that Abner Doubleday did
Ide paragraf ke dua:
Doubleday was given credit for this invention
Ide paragraf ke tiga:
most sports historians are in agreement that Doubleday really did not have much to do
with the development of baseball.
Jika Anda mempelajari ide pokok dari paragraf pertama, Anda bisa mengetahui bahwa
paragraf ke tiga menyangkal (refute) informasi yang dihadirkan (presented) pada
paragraf ke dua dan pertama.
Olehnya, jawaban paling tepat ialah pilihan jawaban (A).
Jika masih kesulitan dalam mencari ide pokok silahkan klik Tips Menjawab Soal Reading
TOEFL: Main Idea Question.
Tabel di bawah ini menguraikan informasi-informasi penting yang perlu anda ingat terkait
pertanyaan yang menanyakan tentang penyusunan ide (Organization of Ideas in a
Passage).

TOEFL EXERCISE 2: Study each of the passages and choose the best answers to the
ques tions that follow.
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-2)
Conflict within an organization is not always viewed as undesirable. In fact,
various managers have widely divergent ideas on the value that conflict can have.
According to the traditional view of conflict, conflict is harmful to an
organization. Managers with this traditional view of conflict see it as their role in an
organization to rid the organization of any possible sources of conflict.
The interactionist view of conflict, on the other hand, holds that conflict can
serve an important function in an organization by reducing complacency among workers
and causing positive changes to occur. Managers who hold an interactionist view of
conflict may actually take steps to stimulate conflict within the organization.
1. How is the information in the passage organized?
(A) The origin of ideas about conflict is presented.
(B) Contrasting views of conflict are presented.
(C) Two theorists discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their views on conflict.
(D) Examples of conflict within organizations are presented.
2. What type of information is included in the third paragraph?
(A) A comparison of the interactionist and traditional views of conflict
(B) A discussion of the weakness of the interactionist view of conflict
(C) An outline of the type of manager who prefers the interactionist view of conflict
(D) A description of one of the opposing views of conflict
Kunci & Pembahasan:
Pembahasan Jawaban
Main Idea paragraf pertama:
various managers have widely divergent ideas on the value that conflict can have.
Main Idea paragraf ke dua:
According to the traditional view of conflict, conflict is harmful to an organization.
Main Idea paragraf ke tiga:
The interactionist view of conflict, on the other hand, holds that conflict can serve an
important function in an organization by reducing complacency among workers and
causing positive changes to occur.

Ekspresi "on the other hand" pada paragraf ke tiga menandakan adanya perbedaan ide
atau pandangan yang kontrast (contrasting views atau oppsing views). Olehnya kunci
jawabannya ialah:
1. (B) Contrasting views of conflict are presented.
2. (D) A description of one of the opposing views of conflict.
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 3-4)
IQ or intelligence quotient, is defined as the ratio of a person's mental age to
chronological age, with the ratio multiplied by 100 to remove the decimal. Chronological
age is easily determined; mental age is generally measured by some kind of standard
test and is not so simple to define.

In theory, a standardized IQ test is set up to measure an individual's ability to

perform intellectual operations such as reasoning and problem solving. These intellectual
operations are considered to represent intelligence.
In practice, it has been impossible to arrive at consensus as to which types of
intellectual operations demonstrate intelligence. Furthermore, it has been impossible to
devise a test without cultural bias, which is to say that any IQ tests so far proposed have
been shown to reflect the culture of the test makers. Test takers from that culture would,
it follows, score higher on such a test than test takers from a different culture with equal
intelligence.
3. What type of information is included in the first paragraph?
(A) An argument
(B) A definition
(C) An opinion
(D) A theory
4. How does the information in third paragraph differ from that in the second paragraph?
(A) It represents a contrasting point of view
(B) It follows chronologically from the ideas in the second paragraph
(C) It represents real information rather than a premise
(D) It represents an example of the ideas in the second paragraph
Kunci & Pembahasan:
Pembahasan Jawaban
Main Idea paragraf pertama:
IQ or intelligence quotient, is defined as the ratio of a person's mental age to
chronological age, with the ratio multiplied by 100 to remove the decimal.
Main Idea paragraf ke dua:
In theory, a standardized IQ test is set up to measure an individual's ability to perform
intellectual operations such as reasoning and problem solving.
Main Idea paragraf ke tiga:
In practice, it has been impossible to arrive at consensus as to which types of intellectual
operations demonstrate intelligence.
Kunci Jawaban
3. (B) A definition
Pada paragraf pertama memberi definisi (definition) terkait topik yang dibahas.
4. (A) It represents a contrasting point of view
Kita lihat pada paragraf pertama "in practice" dan pada paragraf pertama "in theory".
Dapat diketahui bahwa paragraf ke tiga berlawanan (contrasting) dengan paragraf ke
dua.
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 5-6)
The largest lake in the western United States is the Great Salt Lake, an inland
saltwater lake in northwestern Utah, just outside the state capital of Salt Lake City. Rivers
and streams feed into the Great Salt Lake, but none drain out of it; this has a major
influence on both the salt content and the size of the lake.
Although the Great Salt Lake is fed by freshwater streams, it is actually saltier
than the oceans of the world. The salt comes from the more than two million tons of
minerals that flow into the lake each year from the rivers and creeks that feed it. Sodium
and chloridethe components of saltcomprise the large majority of the lake's mineral
content.
The Great Salt Lake can vary tremendously from its normal size of 1,700 square
miles, depending on long-term weather conditions. During periods of heavy rains, the
size of the lake can swell tremendously from the huge amounts of water flowing into the
lake from its feeder rivers and streams; in 1980 the lake even reached a size of 2,400
square miles. During periods of dry weather, the size of the lake decreases, sometimes
drastically, due to evaporation.
5. How is the information in the passage organized?
(A) Two unusual characteristics of the Great Salt Lake are discussed.

(B) Contrasting theories about the Great Salt Lake's salt levels are presented.
(C) The process by which the Great Salt Lake gets its salt is outlined.
(D) The reasons for the variations in the Great Salt Lake's size are given.
6. The third paragraph contains information on
(A) How the size of the lake affects weather conditions.
(B) The effects of contrasting weather conditions on the size of the lake.
(C) The effects of changes in the size of the lake.
(D) The causes of the varied weather conditions in the area of the lake.
Kunci & Pembahasan:
Pembahasan Jawaban
Main Idea paragraf pertama:
Rivers and streams feed into the Great Salt Lake, but none drain out of it; this has a
major influence on both the salt content and the size of the lake.
Main Idea paragraf ke dua:
Although the Great Salt Lake is fed by freshwater streams, it is actually saltier than the
oceans of the world.
Main Idea paragraf ke tiga:
The Great Salt Lake can vary tremendously from its normal size of 1,700 square miles,
depending on long-term weather conditions.
Kunci Jawaban
5. (A) Two unusual characteristics of the Great Salt Lake are discussed.
Pada paragraf pertama memberi dua poin atau dua karakteristik (two characteristics)
terkait Great Salt Lake yang akan dibahas yaitu the salt content and the size of the lake.
6. (A) How the size of the lake affects weather conditions.
Pada paragraf ke tiga membahas terkait ukuran Great Salt Lake.

Dalam postingan ini, akan dibahas salah satu jenis pertanyaan TOEFL ITP untuk sesi
reading comprehension. Anda akan mengenal bentuk soalnya, contoh bentuk pertanyaan
dalam soal yang biasa diujikan, serta beberapa tips atau langkah dalam menjawab soalsoal yg masuk dalam kategori ini.

Factual information question merupakan salah satu bentuk pertanyaan yang digunakan
dalam sesi reading comprehension TOEFL ITP. Jika menggunakan buku panduan
Longman TOEFL Preparation Course, Anda akan menemukan skill 3: Answer Detail
Questions Correctly dan skill 4: Find "Unstated" Details. Istilah factual information
question yang dimaksudkan dalam postingan ini telah mencakup skill 3 an 4 pada
handbook Longman.

Factual information question meminta Anda untuk mengidentifikasi factual information

yang secara eksplisit (tegas/tersurat/jelas) dinyatakan dalam passage. Factual
information fokus terhadap fakta, informasi rinci (detail), definisi, atau informasi lainnya
yang dihadirkan oleh penulis. Jenis soal ini meminta Anda untuk mengidentifikasi
informasi spesifik yang umumnya hanya disebutkan pada bagian tertentu pada passage
(tidak menanyakan tentang tema yang passage secara keseluruhan paragraf bahas).
Seringkali jawabannya ditemukan pada 1 atau dua kalimat yang berdekatan.
Cara mengenali jenis soal Factual Information Questions
Factual information question sering ditemukan berbentuk seperti di bawah ini:
1. According to the passage, ...
2. It is stated in the passage ....

3. The passage indicates that ....

4. Which of the following is true ...?
5. The passage mentions that ....
6. The author's description of X mentions which of the following?
7. Which of the following is not stated...?
8. Which of the following is not mentioned...?
9. Which of the following is not discussed...?
10. All of the following are true except...
Tips Menjawab Factual Information Question
1. Identifikasi keyword pada pertanyaan.
2. Carilah di passage kalimat di mana kata kunci itu berada. Anda tidak perlu membaca
semua passage; cukup mencari keyword saja.
3. Bacalah (pahami) ide-ide kalimat di mana kata kunci terletak. Anda MUNGKIN juga
perlu untuk membaca kalimat sebelum dan sesudah kalimat di mana kata kunci terletak.
4. Dengan membandingkan (mencocokkan) 4 pilihan-pilihan jawaban dengan informasi
yang disediakan dalam passage (kalimat di mana letak keyword berada), pilihlah
jawaban yang betul (ide yang sama dengan yg di passage).
5. KADANG untuk lebih memastikan pilihan jawaban, Anda perlu mengeliminasi pilihan
jawaban yang salah, biasanya berbentuk kontradiksi dengan ide yang di passage.

Contoh Soal Factual Information Question dalam soal TOEFL ITP

By far the most important United States export product in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries was cotton, favored by the European textile industry over flax or wool because
it was easy to process and soft to tile touch. Mechanization of spinning Line and weaving
allowed significant centralization and expansion in the textile industry during this period,
and at the same time the demand for cotton increased dramatically. American producers
were able to meet this demand largely because of tile invention of the cotton gin by Eli
Whitney in 1793. Cotton could be grown throughout the South, but separating the fiber
or lint from the seed was a laborious process. Sea island cotton was relatively easy to
process by hand, because its fibers were long and seeds were concentrated at the base
of the flower, but it demanded a long growing season, available only along the nation's
eastern seacoast. Short-staple cotton required a much shorter growing season, but the
shortness of the fibers and their mixture with seeds meant that a worker could handprocess only about one pound per day. Whitney's gin was a hand-powered machine with
revolving drums and metal teeth to pull cotton fibers away from seeds. Using the gin, a
worker could produce up to 50 pounds of lint a day. The later development of larger gins,
powered by horses, water, or steam, multiplied productivity further.

The interaction of improved processing and high demand led to the rapid spread of the
cultivation of cotton and to a surge in production. It became the main American export,
dwarfing all others. In 1802, cotton composed 14 percent of total American exports by
value. Cotton had a 36 percent share by 1810 and over a 50 percent share in 1830. In
1860, 61 percent of the value of American exports was represented by cotton. In
contrast, wheat and wheat flour composed only 6 percent of the value of American
exports in that year. Clearly, cotton was king in the trade of the young republic. The

growing market for cotton and other American agricultural products led to an
unprecedented expansion of agricultural settlement, mostly in the eastern half of the
United States---west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River.

3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as reasons for the increased demand
for cotton EXCEPT
(A) cotton's softness
(B) cotton's ease of processing
(C) a shortage of flax and wool
(D) the growth that occurred in the textile industry.

5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island cotton was its
(A) abundance of seeds
(B) long fibers
(C) long growing season
(D) adaptability to different climates

10. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was

(A) one of the boundaries of a region where new agricultural settlement took place
(B) a major source of water for agricultural crops
(C) the primary route by which agricultural crops were transported
(D) a main source of power for most agricultural machinery

8. The author mentions "wheat and wheat flour" in line 22 in order to

(A) show that Americans exported more agricultural products than they imported.
(B) show the increase in the amount of wheat products exported.
(C) demonstrate the importance of cotton among American export products.
(D) demonstrate that wheat farming was becoming more profitable.
Kunci Jawaban dan Pembahasan
3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as reasons for the increased demand
for cotton EXCEPT
Penjelasan:
Keyword:

Kalimat letak keyword: By far the most important United States export product in the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was cotton, favored by the European textile
industry over flax or wool because it was easy to process and soft to tile touch.
Eliminasi:
(A) cotton's softness
Sesuai dengan passage --> cotton's softness = soft to tile touch
(B) cotton's ease of processing
Sesuai dengan passage --> cotton's ease of processing = easy to process
(C) a shortage of flax and wool
Di bacaan dikatakan bahwa cotton lebih dipilih dibanding flax dan wool karena mudah
diproses dan lembut disentuh tidak dikatakan secara eksplisit akan adanya
kekurangan/kelangkaan (shortage) dari flax dan wool.
(D) the growth that occurred in the textile industry.
Sesuai dengan passage --> the growth that occurred in the textile industry = favored
by the textile industry over flax or wool
favored ... over = preferred .. to

5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island cotton was its
Penjelasan:
Keywords: one advantage of sea island cotton
Kalimat letak keyword: Sea island cotton was relatively easy to process by hand,
because its fibers were long and seeds were concentrated at the base of the flower, but
it demanded a long growing season, available only along the nation's eastern seacoast.
Eliminasi satu persatu (untuk lebih memastikan benarnya jawaban):
1. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: fiber were long yang mana sesuai dengan kunci
jawaban B.
2. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: seeds were concentrated at the base of the flower
yang mana kontradiksi dengan pilihan jawaban A.
3. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa salah satu disadvantage (ditandai penggunaan kata
kontrast "but") dari sea island cotton ialah a long growing season yang kontradiksi
dengan pilihan jawaban C.
4. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa salah satu disadvantage (ditandai penggunaan kata
kontrast "but") dari sea island cotton ialah only along the nation's eastern seacoast yang
kontradiksi dengan pilihan jawaban D.
Jadi kunci jawaban yang tepat ialah pilihan B.

8. The author mentions "wheat and wheat flour" in line 22 in order to

Penjelasan:

Keywords: wheat and wheat flour (line 22)

Kalimat letak keywords: In 1860, 61 percent of the value of American exports was
represented by cotton. In contrast, wheat and wheat flour composed only 6 percent of
the value of American exports in that year.
Eliminasi satu persatu:
1. Dalam passage hanya dibahas terkait bahan yang di-export tidak dibahas bahan yang
di-import.
2. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: only 6 percent of the value of American
exports, penggunaan kata "only" menandakan tidak adanya peningkatan. Informasi ini
kontradiksi dengan pilihan B.
3. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: yang di-export ialah 61 percent cotton dan 6
percent wheat dan wheat flour. Informasi ini menandakan akan pentingnya produk
eksport cotton. Ini sesuai dengan pilihan jawaban C.
4. Ide ini mirip dengan pilihan B yang tidak sesuai dengan informasi dalam passage.
Jadi kunci jawaban yang tepat ialah pilihan C.

10. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was

Penjelasan:
Keywords: Mississipi River
Kalimat letak keywords: The growing market for cotton and other American
agricultural products led to an unprecedented expansion of agricultural settlement,
mostly in the eastern half of the United States---west of the Appalachian Mountains and
east of the Mississippi River.
Eliminasi satu persatu:
1. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa ada unprecedented expansion of agricultural
settlement yang salah satunya terletak di Mississipi River. Ide ini sesuai dengan pilihan
jawaban A.
2. Pilihan B terkait water source, tidak disebutkan.
3. Pilihan C tidak disebutkan.
4. Pilihan D tidak disebutkan.
Jadi kunci jawaban yang tepat ialah pilihan A.

Cara mengenali jenis soal Factual Information Questions

Factual information question sering ditemukan berbentuk seperti di bawah ini:
1. According to the passage, ...
2. It is stated in the passage ....
3. The passage indicates that ....
4. Which of the following is true ...?

5. The passage mentions that ....

6. The author's description of X mentions which of the following?
7. Which of the following is not stated...?
8. Which of the following is not mentioned...?
9. Which of the following is not discussed...?
10. All of the following are true except...
Tips Menjawab Factual Information Question
1. Identifikasi keyword pada pertanyaan.
2. Carilah di passage kalimat di mana kata kunci itu berada. Anda tidak perlu membaca
semua passage; cukup mencari keyword saja.
3. Bacalah (pahami) ide-ide kalimat di mana kata kunci terletak. Anda MUNGKIN juga
perlu untuk membaca kalimat sebelum dan sesudah kalimat di mana kata kunci terletak.
4. Dengan membandingkan (mencocokkan) 4 pilihan-pilihan jawaban dengan informasi
yang disediakan dalam passage (kalimat di mana letak keyword berada), pilihlah
jawaban yang betul (ide yang sama dengan yg di passage).
5. KADANG untuk lebih memastikan pilihan jawaban, Anda perlu mengeliminasi pilihan
jawaban yang salah, biasanya berbentuk kontradiksi dengan ide yang di passage.

Contoh Soal Factual Information Question dalam soal TOEFL ITP

By far the most important United States export product in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries was cotton, favored by the European textile industry over flax or wool because
it was easy to process and soft to tile touch. Mechanization of spinning Line and weaving
allowed significant centralization and expansion in the textile industry during this period,
and at the same time the demand for cotton increased dramatically. American producers
were able to meet this demand largely because of tile invention of the cotton gin by Eli
Whitney in 1793. Cotton could be grown throughout the South, but separating the fiber
or lint from the seed was a laborious process. Sea island cotton was relatively easy to
process by hand, because its fibers were long and seeds were concentrated at the base
of the flower, but it demanded a long growing season, available only along the nation's
eastern seacoast. Short-staple cotton required a much shorter growing season, but the
shortness of the fibers and their mixture with seeds meant that a worker could handprocess only about one pound per day. Whitney's gin was a hand-powered machine with
revolving drums and metal teeth to pull cotton fibers away from seeds. Using the gin, a
worker could produce up to 50 pounds of lint a day. The later development of larger gins,
powered by horses, water, or steam, multiplied productivity further.

The interaction of improved processing and high demand led to the rapid spread of the
cultivation of cotton and to a surge in production. It became the main American export,
dwarfing all others. In 1802, cotton composed 14 percent of total American exports by
value. Cotton had a 36 percent share by 1810 and over a 50 percent share in 1830. In
1860, 61 percent of the value of American exports was represented by cotton. In
contrast, wheat and wheat flour composed only 6 percent of the value of American
exports in that year. Clearly, cotton was king in the trade of the young republic. The
growing market for cotton and other American agricultural products led to an
unprecedented expansion of agricultural settlement, mostly in the eastern half of the
United States---west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River.

3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as reasons for the increased demand
for cotton EXCEPT
(A) cotton's softness
(B) cotton's ease of processing
(C) a shortage of flax and wool
(D) the growth that occurred in the textile industry.

5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island cotton was its
(A) abundance of seeds
(B) long fibers
(C) long growing season
(D) adaptability to different climates

10. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was

(A) one of the boundaries of a region where new agricultural settlement took place
(B) a major source of water for agricultural crops
(C) the primary route by which agricultural crops were transported
(D) a main source of power for most agricultural machinery

8. The author mentions "wheat and wheat flour" in line 22 in order to

(A) show that Americans exported more agricultural products than they imported.
(B) show the increase in the amount of wheat products exported.
(C) demonstrate the importance of cotton among American export products.
(D) demonstrate that wheat farming was becoming more profitable.
Kunci Jawaban dan Pembahasan
3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as reasons for the increased demand
for cotton EXCEPT
Penjelasan:
Keyword:
Kalimat letak keyword: By far the most important United States export product in the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was cotton, favored by the European textile
industry over flax or wool because it was easy to process and soft to tile touch.
Eliminasi:

(A) cotton's softness

Sesuai dengan passage --> cotton's softness = soft to tile touch
(B) cotton's ease of processing
Sesuai dengan passage --> cotton's ease of processing = easy to process
(C) a shortage of flax and wool
Di bacaan dikatakan bahwa cotton lebih dipilih dibanding flax dan wool karena mudah
diproses dan lembut disentuh tidak dikatakan secara eksplisit akan adanya
kekurangan/kelangkaan (shortage) dari flax dan wool.
(D) the growth that occurred in the textile industry.
Sesuai dengan passage --> the growth that occurred in the textile industry = favored
by the textile industry over flax or wool
favored ... over = preferred .. to

5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island cotton was its
Penjelasan:
Keywords: one advantage of sea island cotton
Kalimat letak keyword: Sea island cotton was relatively easy to process by hand,
because its fibers were long and seeds were concentrated at the base of the flower, but
it demanded a long growing season, available only along the nation's eastern seacoast.
Eliminasi satu persatu (untuk lebih memastikan benarnya jawaban):
1. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: fiber were long yang mana sesuai dengan kunci
jawaban B.
2. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: seeds were concentrated at the base of the flower
yang mana kontradiksi dengan pilihan jawaban A.
3. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa salah satu disadvantage (ditandai penggunaan kata
kontrast "but") dari sea island cotton ialah a long growing season yang kontradiksi
dengan pilihan jawaban C.
4. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa salah satu disadvantage (ditandai penggunaan kata
kontrast "but") dari sea island cotton ialah only along the nation's eastern seacoast yang
kontradiksi dengan pilihan jawaban D.
Jadi kunci jawaban yang tepat ialah pilihan B.

8. The author mentions "wheat and wheat flour" in line 22 in order to

Penjelasan:
Keywords: wheat and wheat flour (line 22)
Kalimat letak keywords: In 1860, 61 percent of the value of American exports was
represented by cotton. In contrast, wheat and wheat flour composed only 6 percent of
the value of American exports in that year.

Eliminasi satu persatu:

1. Dalam passage hanya dibahas terkait bahan yang di-export tidak dibahas bahan yang
di-import.
2. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: only 6 percent of the value of American
exports, penggunaan kata "only" menandakan tidak adanya peningkatan. Informasi ini
kontradiksi dengan pilihan B.
3. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa: yang di-export ialah 61 percent cotton dan 6
percent wheat dan wheat flour. Informasi ini menandakan akan pentingnya produk
eksport cotton. Ini sesuai dengan pilihan jawaban C.
4. Ide ini mirip dengan pilihan B yang tidak sesuai dengan informasi dalam passage.
Jadi kunci jawaban yang tepat ialah pilihan C.

10. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was

Penjelasan:
Keywords: Mississipi River
Kalimat letak keywords: The growing market for cotton and other American
agricultural products led to an unprecedented expansion of agricultural settlement,
mostly in the eastern half of the United States---west of the Appalachian Mountains and
east of the Mississippi River.
Eliminasi satu persatu:
1. Dalam passage, dikatakan bahwa ada unprecedented expansion of agricultural
settlement yang salah satunya terletak di Mississipi River. Ide ini sesuai dengan pilihan
jawaban A.
2. Pilihan B terkait water source, tidak disebutkan.
3. Pilihan C tidak disebutkan.
4. Pilihan D tidak disebutkan.
Jadi kunci jawaban yang tepat ialah pilihan A.