Soal TOEFL Structure dan Kunci Jawaban: PRACTICE TOEFL 1

Beowulf

Historical Background 

--> The epic poem Beowulf, written in Old English, is the earliest existing Germanic epic and one of four surviving Anglo-Saxon manuscripts. Although Beowulf was written by an anonymous Englishman in Old English, the tale takes place in that part of Scandinavia from which Germanic tribes emigrated to England. Beowulf comes from Geatland, the southeastern part of what is now Sweden. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, lives near what is now Leire, on Zealand, Denmark’s largest island. The Beowulf epic contains three major tales about Beowulf and several minor tales that reflect a rich Germanic oral tradition of myths, legends, and folklore.

--> The Beowulf warriors have a foot in both the Bronze and Iron Ages. Their mead-halls reflect the wealthy living of the Bronze Age Northmen, and their wooden shields, wood-shafted spears, and bronze-hilted swords are those of the Bronze Age warrior. However, they carry iron-tipped spears, and their best swords have iron or iron-edged blades. Beowulf also orders an iron shield for his fight with a dragon. Iron replaced bronze because it produced a blade with a cutting edge that was stronger and sharper. The Northmen learned how to forge iron in about 500 B.C. Although they had been superior to the European Celts in bronze work, it was the Celts who taught them how to make and design iron work. Iron was accessible everywhere in Scandinavia, usually in the form of “bog-iron” found in the layers of peat in peat bogs.

　　The Beowulf epic also reveals interesting aspects of the lives of the Anglo-Saxons who lived in England at the time of the anonymous Beowulf poet. The Germanic tribes, including the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, invaded England from about A.D. 450 to 600. By the time of the Beowulf poet, Anglo-Saxon in English was neither primitive nor uncultured. [A]

--> Although the Beowulf manuscript was written in about A.D. 1000, it was not discovered until the seventeenth century. [B] Scholars do not know whether Beowulf is the sole surviving epic from a flourishing Anglo-Saxon literary period that produced other great epics or whether it was unique even in its own time. [C] Many scholars think that the epic was probably written sometime between the late seventh century and the early ninth century. If they are correct, the original manuscript was probably lost during the ninth-century Viking invasions of Anglia, in which the Danes destroyed the Anglo-Saxon monasteries and their great libraries. However, other scholars think that the poet’s favorable attitude toward the Danes must place the epic’s composition after the Viking invasions and at the start of the eleventh century, when this Beowulf manuscript was written.

--> The identity of the Beowulf poet is also uncertain. [D] He apparently was a Christian who loved the pagan heroic tradition of his ancestors and blended the values of the pagan hero with the Christian values of his own country and time. Because he wrote in the Anglian dialect, he probably was either a monk in a monastery or a poet in an Anglo-Saxon court located north of the Thames River.

Appeal and Value

　　Beowulf interests contemporary readers for many reasons. First, it is an outstanding adventure story. Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are marvelous characters, and each fight is unique, action-packed, and exciting. Second, Beowulf is a very appealing hero. He is the perfect warrior, combining extraordinary strength, skill, courage, and loyalty. Like Hercules, he devotes his life to making the world a safer place. He chooses to risk death in order to help other people, and he faces his inevitable death with heroism and dignity. Third, the Beowulf poet is interested in the psychological aspects of human behavior. For example, the Danish hero’s welcoming speech illustrates his jealousy of Beowulf. The behavior of Beowulf’s warriors in the dragon fight reveals their cowardice. Beowulf’s attitudes toward heroism reflect his maturity and experience, while King Hrothgar’s attitudes toward life show the experiences of an aged nobleman.

　　Finally, the Beowulf poet exhibits a mature appreciation of the transitory nature of human life and achievement. In Beowulf, as in the major epics of other cultures, the hero must create a meaningful life in a world that is often dangerous and uncaring. He must accept the inevitability of death. He chooses to reject despair; instead, he takes pride in himself and in his accomplishments, and he values human relationships.

1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true about Beowulf?

A. It is the only manuscript from the Anglo-Saxon period.

B. The original story was written in a Germanic dialect.

C. The author did not sign his name to the poem.

D. It is one of the several epics from the first century.

2. The word which in the passage refers to

A. Tale

B. Scandinavia

C. Manuscripts

D. Old English

3. Why does the author mention “bog-iron” in paragraph 2?

A. To demonstrate the availability of iron in Scandinavia

B. To prove that iron was better than Bronze for weapons

C. To argue that the Celts provided the materials to make iron

D. To suggest that 500 B.C. was the date that the Iron Age began

4. Which of the sentences below best expresses the information in the underlined statement in the paragraph 3? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information.

A. Society in Anglo-Saxon England was both advanced and cultured.

B. The society of the Anglo-Saxons was not primitive or cultured.

C. The Anglo-Saxons had a society that was primitive, not cultured.

D. England during the Anglo-Saxon society was advanced, not cultured.

5. The word unique in the passage is closet is meaning to :

A. Old

B. Rare

C Perfect

D. weak

6. According to paragraph 4, why do many scholars believe that the original manuscript for Beowulf was lost?

A. Because it is not like other manuscripts

B. Because many libraries were burned

C. Because the Danes were allies of the Anglo-Saxons.

D. Because no copies were found in monastaries

7. According to paragraph 4, why do many scholars believe that the original manuscript for Beowulf was lost?

A Because it is not like other manuscripts

B. Because many libraries were burned

C. Because the Danes were allies of the Anglo-Saxons

D. Because no copies were found in monasteries

8. Why does the author of this passage use the word “apparently” in paragraph 4?

A. He is not certain that the author of Beowulf was a Christian.

B. He is mentioning facts that are obvious to the readers.

C. He is giving an example from a historical reference.

D. He is introducing evidence about the author of Beowulf.

9. The author compared the Beowulf character to Hercules because

A. They are both examples of the ideal hero

B. Their adventure with a dragon are very similar

C. The speeches that they make are inspiring

D. They lived at about the same time

10. The word exhibits in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. Creates

B. Demonstrates

C. Assumes

D. Terminates

11. The word reject in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. Manage

B. Evaluate

C. Refuse

D. Confront

12. Look at the four squares [ ] that show where the following sentence could be inserted in

the passage.

Moreover, they disagree as to whether this Beowulf is a copy of an earlier manuscript. 

Where could the sentence be added?

Click on a square [ ] to insert the sentence in the passage.

13. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.  Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage.  Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage.  This question is worth 2 points.

 Beowulf is the oldest Anglo-Saxon epic poem that has survived to the present day. 

Answer Key with Explanation for the TOEFL iBT Reading (Beowulf) 

(A) The Northmen were adept in crafting tools and weapons made of bronze, but the Celts were superior in designing and working in iron.

(B) In the Viking invasions of England, the Danish armies destroyed monasteries, some of which contained extensive libraries.

(C) King Hrothgar and Beowulf become friends at the end of their lives, after having spent decades opposing each other on the battlefield.

(D) The poem chronicles life in Anglo-Saxon society during the Bronze and Iron Ages when Germanic tribes were invading England.

(E) Although Beowulf was written by an anonymous poet, probably a Christian, about 1000 A.D., it was not found until the seventeenth century.

(F) Beowulf is still interesting because it has engaging characters, an adventurous plot, and an appreciation for human behavior and relationships.

1. C Beowulf was written by an anonymous [author unknown] Englishman in Old English." Choice A is not correct because it is one of lour surviving manuscripts. Choice B is not correct because it was written in old English about Germanic characters. Choice 0 Is not correct because scholars do not know it it is the sole surviving epic: from about A.O. 1000.

 2. B ''Although Beowulf was written by an anonymous Englishman in Old English, the tale takes place in that part of Scandinavia from which [that part of Scandinavia] Germanic tribes emigrated to England." 

3. A "Iron was accessible everywhere in Scandinavia, usually in the form of 'bog iron' found in the layers of peat In peat bogs.' Choice B Is not correct because the author had already stated that the best swords had iron or Iron-edged blades. Choice C Is not correct because the Celts taught the Northmen how to use the materials, but they did not provide the bog iron. Choice D is not correct because the bog iron does not relate to the date. although 500 B.C. is mentioned as the time when the Northmen learned how to forge Iron. 

4. A Society in Anglo-Saxon England paraphrases 'Anglo-Saxon society.' . .. both advanced paraphrases '"neither primitive,' and cultured paraphrases"nor "nor uncultured." Two negatives [Nor and -un] produce an affirmative meaning. 

5. B In this passage, rare is a synonym for 'unique.' Context comes from the reference 10 the "sole surviving epic" in the beginning of the same sentence. 

6. B ' . .. the original manuscript was probably lost during the ninth century .. . , in which the Danes destroyed the Anglo-Saxon monasteries and their great libraries.' Choice A is true but it Is not the reason that scholars believe the original manuscript was lost. Choice C is not correct because the Danes were Invaders. not poets. Choice D is not correct because the location of the discovery is not mentioned, although the author may have been a monk. 

7. D Although the Beowulf manuscript was written In about A.D. 1000, it was not discovered until the seventeenth century.' Choice A is not correct because the first century was the data the manuscript as written. not discovered. Choice B Is not correct because the ninth century was the date when the original manuscript may have been lost. Choice C is not correct because some scholars think that the manuscript was written in the eleventh century. 

8. A Because the word "apparently" means "appearing to be so,' the author is expressing doubt about the information that follows, ' . .. [the BeowuIf poet] was a Christian.' Choice B is not correct because the word "obviously" would be used. Choice C is not correct because the phrases "for example" or for Instance' would Signal an example. Choice D Is not correct because evidence would not be presented as "appearing to be so.' 

9. A ' ... Beowulf is a very appealing hero . . . Like Hercules.' Choice B is not correct because a light with a dragon is mentioned in reference to Beowulf but not to Hercules. Choice C Is not correct because the Danish hero's welcome is the only reference to a speech, and It was jealous, not Inspiring. Choice D is not correct because the lime period for the of Hercules is not mentioned. 

10. B In this passage, demonstrates is a synonym for "exhibits.' 

11 . C In this passage, refuse Is a synonym for 'reject: Context comes from the contrast with "accept" in the previous sentence. 

12. B Addition Is a transitional device that connects the Insert sentence with the previous sentence. Moreover signals that additional, related Information will follow. " ... they (scholars) disagree" refers to "Scholars do not know" In the previous sentence. 

13. E, D, F summarize the passage. Choice A Is true, but it Is a minor point that establishes the time period for the poem and refers to major point D. Choice B is true, but it is a detail that refers to major point E and explains why there may be only one manuscript. Choice C is not clear from the Information In the passage. 

Reference: Barron's TOEFL IBT: Internet-based Test - Pamela J. Sharpe, Ph.D. -