Little was understood about earthquakes until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century. Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing questions as why and how earthquakes occur. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to produce substantial damage if their centers are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property.

What is the author’s attitude towards the topic of the passage?

Jawaban: Informative

Soal 17

Feline chlamydial conjunctivitis is an infection caused by a bacterial organism (called Chlamydophila felis). The most common signs of chlamydia in cats involve the eyes or the upper respiratory tract (nose or throat), and only when infection is not treated does it spread to the lungs. Because chlamydia lives inside cells of the body and is not able to survive for long in the environment, spread of infection relies on direct or close contact with an infected cat. Following infection, the incubation period (the time between infection and development of clinical signs of disease) is between three and ten days.

The bacteria primarily infects the conjunctiva, which are the delicate membranes lining the eyelids and covering the edges of the eyeballs. The infection causes inflammation known as conjunctivitis. In normal cats, the conjunctiva is not readily visible and has a pale, salmon pink color. In cats with conjunctivitis, the conjunctiva becomes swollen and red, making it more visible. The nictitating membrane or third eyelid in the inner corner of the eye may protrude partially across the eye. One or both eyes may be involved.

Affected cats initially develop a watery discharge from the eyes that quickly becomes thicker and is usually a yellow or greenish color. The eyes are uncomfortable and cats often keep the affected eye(s) closed. Many cats remain bright and otherwise appear normal, but some may develop a fever or lose their appetite. After one or two days, sniffles and sneezing may also occur. In kittens, the infection may spread to the lungs and cause fatal pneumonia.

What does the text mainly deal with?

Jawaban: An overview of feline chlamydial conjunctivitis 

Read the following paragraphs to answer questions number 18-20

TEXT 1

In 2010, researchers estimated that 8 billion kg of plastic entered the ocean in a single year, and that number would sharply increase by 2025. When it enters the ocean, plastic waste disrupts marine ecosystems, travels to central locations, and forms a trash island which can cover an area of more than 1.6 million square km. These plastics never degrade, but rather break up into smaller sizes. They eventually become microplastics that stay in the environment for hundreds of years.

Scientists at the University of California San Diego have invented a new biodegradable material that is designed to replace the commonly used plastics. The material started to biodegrade in seawater within four weeks. The team found that various marine organisms colonize the material and break it into nutrients for their consumption.

The research of this new plastic is joined by experts in biology, chemistry, and marine science. They have shown that it is possible to make durable plastics that also can degrade in the ocean. Plastics should not be going into the ocean in the first place. But now, if they do, this new plastic can become food for microorganisms and not harmful trash.

TEXT 2

Plastic is everywhere and important to the growth of many industries, such as packaging, building, and automotive. About 83.5 percent of consumer products rely on plastic in some ways. Food without plastic packaging would spoil long before it reaches consumers’ fridges. PVC pipes made of plastic are an essential building part that reduce leakage and corrosion to conserve water and energy. Plastics make cars dramatically lighter, which increases fuel efficiency.

Researchers have been working to improve the plastic recycling process since it was realized that plastic was harming the environment. Recycling plastic not only helps the environment and reduces trash, but it also creates more jobs. The recycling sector generates up to 30 times more jobs than the common disposal sector. In fact, Tellus Institute reports that over 1.5 million new jobs would be created if the national recycling rate could be increased to 75 percent.

Modern recycling techniques can transform plastic into more useful products. Some experts have seen the opportunity to make jet fuel from plastic. However, even a simple recycling strategy has commercial benefits. Over 3 million plastic bottles have already been converted into pillow fillers by IHG Hotels & Resorts. Customers are happy to sleep well and use a product that benefits the environment, according to IHG. And it is all thanks to plastic.

Soal 18

Which of the following statements is an opinion from Text 1?

• These plastics never degrade, but rather break up into smaller sizes.
• Recycling plastic not only helps the environment and reduces trash, but it also creates more jobs.
• Plastics should not be going into the ocean in the first place.
• They eventually become microplastics that stay in the environment for hundreds of years.
• Customers are happy to sleep well and use a product that benefits the environment.

Jawaban: Plastics should not be going into the ocean in the first place.

Soal 19

What is the relationship between Texts 1 and 2?

Jawaban: Both texts explain what scientists have done to provide plastics which do not harm the environment.

Soal 20

Based on information from the two texts, which of the following will most likely happen in the future?

Jawaban: There is no need to completely ban plastic usage from this world.

Soal 21

Earthquake is any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through Earth’s rocks. Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy stored in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, usually when masses of rock straining against one another suddenly fracture and “slip.” Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults, narrow zones where rock masses move in relation to one another. The major fault lines of the world are located at the fringes of the huge tectonic plates that make up Earth’s crust.

Little was understood about earthquakes until the emergence of seismology at the beginning of the 20th century. Seismology, which involves the scientific study of all aspects of earthquakes, has yielded answers to such long-standing questions as why and how earthquakes occur. About 50,000 earthquakes large enough to be noticed without the aid of instruments occur annually over the entire Earth. Of these, approximately 100 are of sufficient size to produce substantial damage if their centers are near areas of habitation. Very great earthquakes occur on average about once per year. Over the centuries they have been responsible for millions of deaths and an incalculable amount of damage to property.

The paragraph following the passage most likely discusses...

Jawaban: Examples of the substantial damage that caused by the earthquake

Soal 22

Supply chain weaknesses were brought to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for industries relying on electronics, as the flow of raw materials slowed or sometimes stopped. On top of that, shifting consumer values and tougher environmental regulations have resulted in more people buying hybrid vehicles. The batteries in these cars require rare metals that, depending on their supplies, can have volatile and unpredictable prices. However, there are other scarce elements and materials that may be used in smaller amounts in hybrid models versus conventional gas vehicles, raising the question of how these vehicles really compare with regard to supply chain vulnerabilities. Randolph Kirchain and colleagues wanted to develop a comprehensive comparison of the elements and compounds that go into all the parts in gas-powered, self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, calculating each of the three vehicles' materials cost vulnerability.

The researchers collected information on the compounds in the more than 350,000 parts used to build seven vehicles from the same manufacturer with different levels of electrification, including four sedans and three sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Then, they calculated the amount of the 76 chemical elements present, as well as a few other materials, in each car type. To develop a monetary metric for vulnerability, the team considered the weight of each component, along with its average price and price volatility between 1998 and 2015. The results showed that self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles have twice the raw material cost risks. The largest contributors to the increase in cost risks were battery-related elements, such as cobalt, nickel, graphite and neodymium. The researchers say that as manufacturers ramp up electric vehicle production to meet demand, reducing raw material cost risks with long-term supplier contracts, substituting some materials or recycling others will be a good idea.

According to the passage, due to the raw components, the buyers will find a hybrid vehicle…

Jawaban: Pricey

Read the following paragraphs to answer questions number 23-25

TEXT 2

You’ve been working and saving for decades for just this moment: retirement. Even though you may be ready to stop working full-time, now comes the hard part: letting yourself use your savings, since you no longer will be bringing in that paycheck, which until now has covered your monthly expenses. Making the psychological shift from saver to spender is no small effort for most people.

“Now you have this lump sum and have to draw it down. For some it’s almost physically painful,” said David John, a senior strategic policy advisor. Unpredictable factors like market performance, life expectancy and health issues make spending your money easier said than done. That’s why people may be hesitant to tap their savings because they think, “I have X dollars and it has to last me my whole life, but I have a very uncertain future. So, if I touch that I’m putting myself at risk.”

Research shows that among retirees with savings, many do not draw down very much, choosing instead to live off fixed sources of funds, such as Social Security or pensions or income from part-time work they take up. A study found that the vast majority of retirees in America still have at least 80 percent of their savings after two decades in retirement. No doubt this is partly because they are among the last generation of workers to benefit from corporate pensions.

The psychological reluctance to tap one’s savings is a factor for most people regardless of their financial condition. It may become more acute for soon-to-be retirees as they face inflation, unstable markets and a lack of pensions, John said. They’re trying to figure out who they are now that their primary career is over and figuring out what they can and can’t do financially

TEXT 2

It’s hard to manage your money well in retirement unless you’re realistic about what you have. The first thing to do is to make a budget and sketch out a plan to cover your expenses.

Before retiring, keep track of your spending and regular expenses, like housing, food, health care, etc. Then assess how those expenses might change in retirement (e.g., if you plan to move to a less expensive home or area; and if your insurance costs will be subsidized by your old employer).

You should also consider paying for a child’s wedding, buying a car, or taking a major vacation. Then assess what fixed income you will have come in (e.g., Social Security or pension payments). The difference between your expected spending and your fixed income is the amount you will need to draw from your savings.

It would also help to consult with a professional. A financial advisor can help you strategize how to manage and use your money in the years ahead. The one common feeling is that people say they are overwhelmed with all the choices they need to make to live off their savings in retirement. With the different types of accounts many have, the potential for penalties and higher taxes if withdrawals are taken incorrectly and sorting out how their investments may need to shift for retirement income, it can be a lot for a new retiree to get their head around.

Soal 23
What is the main idea of Text 1?

Jawaban: Most retirees in America do not use their savings a lot in retirement.

Soal 24

Which of the following best restates the second sentence in Paragraph 1 in Text 2?

• Covering all costs is the first thing to plan in relation to budget expenses.
• Preparing a budget and drafting a plan of your costs is the first thing you should carry out.
• Planning and calculating the budget expenses is the first thing to be carried out.
• Drafting your plan that includes your costs should be done first to prepare a good budget.
• Budgeting and planning should be prepared first to be able to pay your costs.

Jawaban: Preparing a budget and drafting a plan of your costs is the first thing you should carry out.
Soal 25

The purpose of Text 2 is to …

Jawaban: provide advice for newly retired people on how to manage their money in retirement.

Harley Bear August 5, 2023: What are some of your great frugal hacks that helped you a lot?

Breanna Shaw, August 17, 2023: Pack your lunch for school or work instead of eating out. Make your coffee at home to prevent stopping on the way somewhere to buy some. Anytime something needs repaired, watch a YouTube video first before calling a technician. Sometimes it can be an easy fix that you can do yourself to save money.I have more tips, but I think I have made this answer long enough.

Yaseer Said, September 3, 2023: Always ask yourself this question before buying anything: “Do I need it? What if I don’t buy this one, and save the money for any other need?”

Kerry Baldwin, September 4, 2023: You know what is pathetic? Being poor when you're old, and you will be old someday. Learn to live within your means and put your money back for retirement.

Caleb Beers, October 15, 2023: Most of the “frugal hacks” you hear will be about ways to buy things cheaply. Those are great, but I’ve found that much of frugality comes down to self-control, i.e.,not buying stuff you don’t need. Also, self-control is a lot harder than just looking for cheap stuff. For example, I want the latest smart phone, but my phone is still working very well. So, I don’t buy a new one.

Daniel Tay, October 25, 2023: Frugality means different things to different people. To me, it means not wasting something that can be reused or repurposed. I’ve taken this to a level that some people may consider extreme: I don’t buy anything.

Soal 26

Who explicitly suggests to live frugally by not purchasing any stuff?

Jawaban: Daniel Tay

Soal 27

The word “frugality” in Daniel Tay’s post is closest in meaning to ….

Jawaban: thriftiness

Soal 28

Who posted the least relevant answer to Harley Bear’s question?

Jawaban: Kerry Baldwin

Soal 29

Who disapproved that being frugal is being cheap by giving evidence?

Jawaban: Caleb Beers

Soal 30

What is the tone of the thread regarding useful frugal hacks?

Jawaban: Supportive

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