I. READING
Read the text carefully, and then answer the comprehension
questions.
Psychologists
have found a battery of scientifically based strategies
that
could help improve ss’ scores if they are practiced in examinations.
Some
of them are presented below.
Test
yourself: Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis report
that
testing yourself on what you’ve just learnt helps embed it in your
brain.
In the journal Psychological Science, the scientists describe how
they
took two groups of ss and asked one to read a prose passage once,
then
test their knowledge of it up to three times. The other group was
asked
to re-read the passage up to three times. In an exam a week later,
the
self-testers recalled 61 per cent of the passage, compared with 40 per
cent
by the re-readers.
Use
your imaginations: While revising, try to remember the classroom
scene
when you were taught a topic. This engages other parts of the brain
–
your imagination and visual sense – which can come to your exam when
you’re
trying to recall facts. It also adds a bit of fun. You can even try
emulating
your teacher’s movements. It sounds mad, but ss who mimic
the
gestures of teachers while learning maths learn new strategies more
quickly
than those who don’t.
Listen
to music: University of California psychologists have found
that
listening to music can improve academic performance. In one study,
university
ss scored higher marks after listening to a Mozart piano sonata
than
they did when they were tested after sitting in silence. Investigators
believe
that the complex structure and rhythms of classical music can
also
help by coordinating the parts of the brain that control rational
and
creative thought. But rock music may have a similar effect, say the
researchers.
Night
Nerves: The night before an exam can be hard. Don’t start
revising
completely new areas – it will just make you panic. Instead, stick
to
key points and summaries. Actually, it’s far more important to go to bed
at
a decent hour and get some sleep; you will perform better. Keep nerves
and
insomnia at bay by reminding yourself that you know the material.
Say
“stop” to yourself at the onset of any negative thoughts.
1.
What is the text mainly about?
2.
How many tips are offered by psychologists? What are they?
3.
What is the evidence about the need practicing before examinations?
4.
How can remembering classroom scene help ss perform better?
5.
Why can listening to music help prepare for examinations?
6.
What kinds of music might help?
7.
What should be done the night before examinations?
8.
What is the social function of the text?
9.
Where can you probably find this kind of text?
10.
Do you think that the author might discuss other tips? Why do you
think
so?
II. VOCABULARY TEST
Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks.
1.
The ss were very ___________________ when the teacher announced
that
they were going to have an excursion to the local public library.
a.
nervous b. excited c. friendly d. upset
2.
I ___________ the money I got from my parents wisely. I only bought
things
that I needed not things that I wanted.
a.
used b. asked for c. spent d. gave
3.
I think all babies in the world have an _______________ look. That’s
what
makes people fall in love with them every time they look at
babies.
a.
amazing b. honest c. amusing d. innocent
4.
She is coming here on a _________. She will come back to the company
when
she is recovered.
a.
sick leave b. resignation c. retirement d. break
5.
Bali is __________ for its beauty. It is called the Goddess Island.
a.
reminded c. renown
b.
considered d. understood
6.
The newly-married __________ have just moved into the new house.
a.
persons b. people c. couple d. spouse
7.
This is the most precious __________ that Nina has ever received from
her
parents.
a.
prize b. thing c. reward d. gift
8.
In the past, only children from ___________ families could get proper
education,
while the poor were uneducated.
a.
wealthy b. happy c. healthy d. weary
9.
When the ____________________ begins to take off, its tires fold up
into
their compartment.
a.
train b. bus c. car d. airplane
10.
If you put one more lamp in the corner, it will ___________ the room.
a.
brighten up c. highlight
b.
decorate d. check
III. GRAMMAR TEST
Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks.
1.
“Where ______ the ladies?” “I don’t know. They _______ in the living
room
five minutes ago.”
a.
are – are c. were – are
b.
are – were d. were – were
2.
Having finished doing her homework yesterday, Siti ________ to the
gym.
a.
goes b. is going c. went d. had gone
3.
After Andrea knows that her friends do not trust her anymore, she
__________
to move to another town.
a.
decides c. had decided
b.
is deciding d. decided
4.
Issumboshi said that he ________ to meet the feudal lord.
a.
wants c. was wanting
b.
wanted d. had wanted
5.
When Malin Kundang __________ on his trading journey, his ship
landed
on a coast near a small village
a.
sailed c. had been sailing b. was sailing
d.
sailing
6.
Susan __________ for her friend Rina since an hour ago.
a.
was waiting c. is waiting
b.
waits d. has been waiting
7.
John ________ many cars before he received his mechanic’s license.
a.
repairs c. had repaired
b.
was repairing d. had been repairing
8.
I did not have any money to buy food because
I
________ my wallet.
a.was
lost c. was losing
b.
is lost d. had lost
IV. WRITING
Tell your friends about your favorite teacher. Use the
following
questions to help you.
-
What is your teacher’s name?
-
What subject does he/she teach?
-
Why do you like his/her teaching best?
Jawab
I. READING
1.
How to prepare for an examination
2.
Four tips: test yourself; use your imaginations; listen to music; night nerves.
3.
In an exam a week, the subjects who were asked to practice recalled 61 per
cent
of the passage, compared with 40 per cent by the re-readers.
4.
Remembering engages other parts of the brain – our imagination and visual
sense
– which can come to our exam when we’re trying to recall facts
5.
Because the complex structure and rhythms of music can also help by
coordinating
the parts of the brain that control rational and creative thought
6.
All kinds of music
7.
Stick to key points and summaries; go to bed at a decent hour; and get some
sleep
8.
To give (explain) some tips for how to prepare for an exam.
9.
In a magazine
10.
Yes. Because in the first paragraph it is stated that the four are just some of
the
tips.
II. VOCABULARY TEST
1.
b
2.
c
3.
d
4.
a
5.
c
6.
c
7.
d
8.
a
9.
d
10.
a
III. GRAMMAR TEST
1.
b
2.
c
3.
a
4.
b
5.
b
6.
d
7.
c
8.
d
IV. WRITING
Various possible pieces
of writing.
0 comments