Soal Reading III TOEFL, Jawaban dan Pembahasan

Questions 11 through 18 are based on the following passage.

In 1920, after some thirty-nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and politics, the Panama Canal was officially opened, finally linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by allowing ships to pass thorough the fifty-mile canal zone instead of travelling some seven thousand miles around Cape Horn. It takes a ship approximately eight hours to complete the trip through the canal and costs an average of fifteen thousand dollars, one tenth of what it would cost an average ship to round the Horn. More than fifteen thousand ships pass through its locks each year.

The French initiated the project but sold their rights to the United States, which actually began the construction of the project. The latter will control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama takes its duties.

11. Who currently controls the Panama Canal?

A. France B. United States C. Panama D. Canal Zone

12. The word ‘locks’ in line 6 is closest in meaning to

A. Securities B. latches C. lakes D. canal gates

13. On the average, how much would it cost a ship to travel around Cape Horn?

A. $1,500 B. $15,000 C. $150,000 D. $1,500,000

14. In what year was construction begun on the canal?

A. 1881 B. 1920 C. 1939 D. 1999

15. It can be inferred from this passage that

A. The canal is costly project which should be reevaluated

B. Despite all the problems involved, the project is beneficial

C. Many captains prefer to sail around Cape Horn because it is less expensive

D. Problems have made it necessary for these governments to control the canal over the years

16. In line 2, the word ‘linking’ is closest in meaning to

A. Controlling B. dispersing C. detaching D. joining

17. In paragraph 2, ‘initiated’ is nearest in meaning to

A. Purchased B. Launched C. forfeited D. forced

8. All of the following are true EXCEPT

A. it cost so much to pass through the locks because very few ships use them

B. the United State received the rights to the canal from the French

C. ship can pass through the canal in only eight hours

D. passing through the canal saves thousands of miles of travel time around Cape Horn.

Pembahasan SOAL TOEFL Reading

11. Soal ini mempertanyakan siapa yang mengontrol Panamal Canal untuk sekarang saat ini. Hal ini dibahas pada paragraf dua, pada kalimat: The latter will control it until the end of the twentieth century .... Kata the latter merujuk kepada subject "united states." Jadi jawaban yang tepat yaitu jawaban B (united States). Anda perlu mengetahui terkait kata the latter. Pasangan kata the latter yaitu the former. The latter bermkana the second sementara teh former bermakna the first. Dalam paragraf dua kita lihat bahwa ada dua subjek yang disebutkan di awal kalimat yaitu the french dan the uinted stated. Jadi the former mengarah ke the french sementara the latter mengarah ke the united states.

12. Lock bisa bermakna pintu jadi dalam kalimat ini yang dikatkan sebagai pintu yaitu canal gates.

13. Paragraf pertama pada reading di atas menjelaskan bahwa untuk complete the trip through the canal menghabiskan biaya sebanyak fifteen thousand dollars ($15, 000) dan untuk trip hanya di Horn berbiaya one tenth (1/10) dari biaya untuk complete the trip through the canal ($15, 000).$15, 000 X 1/10 = $1, 500. Jadi jawaban yang benar yaitu jawaban A ($1, 500).

14. Soal ini menanyakan kapan dimulainya pembangunan canal yang dimkasud dalam bacaan. Kita lihat bahwa canal itu resmi dibuka pada tahun 1920 stelah 39 tahun lamanya. Jadi 1920-39 = 1881. Jawaban yang benar yaitu jawaban A 1881.

15. Di antara pilihan jawaban, hanya pilihan jawaban B yang agaks sesuai dengan bacaan.

16. Linking merupakan sinonim dari joining.

17. Initiated bermakna commenced / launched.

18. Pilihan jawaban yang tidak sesuai bacaan yaitu jawaban A. Jawaban A mengatakan bahwa very few use them (locks). Very few bermkana jampir tidak ada atau sangat sedikit .Sementara pada bacaa menagtakan bahwa fifteen thousan ships melewati locks.

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