Lompat ke konten utama
Kembali ke halaman topik

UTBKGratis · UTBK-SNBT · Literasi Bahasa Inggris

Soal Literasi dalam Bahasa Inggris (LBE) UTBK-SNBT

12 contoh soal dengan kunci dan pembahasan · diperbarui 12 November 2026 · utbkgratis.com/soal/literasi-bahasa-inggris

  1. Bacaan

    Sleeping With One Eye Open

    (1) For most mammals, sleep is an all-or-nothing state: the whole brain slows down together, and the body becomes still and largely unaware of its surroundings. A number of animals, however, have found a way around this risky arrangement. They can let one half of the brain sink into deep sleep while the other half stays awake. Scientists call this unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.

    (2) Bottlenose dolphins are the best-known example. A dolphin has to swim up to the surface for every breath, so it cannot simply drift off for hours the way a person does in bed. By resting one half of the brain at a time, a dolphin can keep swimming, surfacing, and watching for danger while still getting the sleep it needs.

    (3) Birds use the same trick. In a well-known experiment published in 1999, researchers filmed mallard ducks sleeping side by side in a row and recorded their brain activity. The ducks at the two ends of the row, which were the most exposed, spent much more time sleeping with one half of the brain than the ducks in the middle. They also tended to keep open the eye facing away from the group, the direction from which a predator would most likely come. Each open eye was linked to the half of the brain that was still awake.

    (4) Some birds even sleep in the air. In 2016, scientists who recorded the brain activity of great frigatebirds during long flights over the ocean found that the birds slept mostly while circling upward in rising air, often with only one half of the brain at a time. In flight, however, they slept for less than an hour a day in total, compared with more than twelve hours a day once they were back on land.

    (5) Humans cannot do anything as dramatic, but traces of the same idea may exist in us. A 2016 study of people sleeping in a laboratory for the first time found that, on the first night, the left half of the brain slept less deeply than the right and responded more strongly to unusual sounds. On the second night, the difference disappeared. The researchers suggested that this "night watch" may help explain why many people sleep poorly in a new place.

    Soal 1 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

    Kunci: C

    Kenapa benar

    Gagasan utama teks: beberapa hewan dapat mengistirahatkan separuh otak sementara separuh lainnya tetap terjaga (lumba-lumba, bebek, burung frigata), dan manusia mungkin menunjukkan bentuk lemahnya (efek malam pertama). Pilihan ini mencakup paragraf (1) sampai (5), bukan hanya satu contoh.

    Langkah

    1. Baca kalimat kunci paragraf (1): sebagian hewan dapat membiarkan separuh otak tidur nyenyak sementara separuh lainnya terjaga.

    2. Lihat peran paragraf (2)–(4): contoh lumba-lumba, bebek mallard, dan burung frigata. Paragraf (5): jejak gagasan yang sama pada manusia.

    3. Pilih pernyataan yang merangkum semua bagian itu, bukan hanya satu contoh atau detail.

    4. Tips: gagasan utama harus "memayungi" semua paragraf. Pilihan yang hanya cocok dengan satu paragraf biasanya terlalu sempit.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Teks tidak menyebut lumba-lumba butuh tidur lebih sedikit. Lumba-lumba tetap tidur, hanya separuh otak bergantian. Pilihan ini juga terlalu sempit karena hanya membahas paragraf (2).

    • B.

      Teks mengaitkan mata yang terbuka dengan kewaspadaan terhadap pemangsa (paragraf 3), bukan dengan penghematan energi. Pilihan ini juga hanya menyentuh sebagian teks.

    • D.

      Paragraf (5) memakai kata suggested dan may help explain. Itu dugaan peneliti, bukan kepastian, sehingga know exactly melebihi isi teks.

    • E.

      Teks tidak membandingkan tidur berkelompok dengan tidur separuh otak. Bebek dalam percobaan justru melakukan keduanya sekaligus.

    Konsep

    Gagasan utama teks eksposisi adalah pernyataan umum yang didukung oleh semua paragraf penjelas; contoh dan detail bukan gagasan utama.

    Jebakan umum

    • Memilih detail menarik dari satu paragraf (misalnya lumba-lumba) sebagai gagasan utama seluruh teks.

    • Tidak memperhatikan kata pelunak seperti may dan suggested sehingga menerima pilihan yang terlalu pasti.

    Referensi

  2. Bacaan

    Sleeping With One Eye Open

    (1) For most mammals, sleep is an all-or-nothing state: the whole brain slows down together, and the body becomes still and largely unaware of its surroundings. A number of animals, however, have found a way around this risky arrangement. They can let one half of the brain sink into deep sleep while the other half stays awake. Scientists call this unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.

    (2) Bottlenose dolphins are the best-known example. A dolphin has to swim up to the surface for every breath, so it cannot simply drift off for hours the way a person does in bed. By resting one half of the brain at a time, a dolphin can keep swimming, surfacing, and watching for danger while still getting the sleep it needs.

    (3) Birds use the same trick. In a well-known experiment published in 1999, researchers filmed mallard ducks sleeping side by side in a row and recorded their brain activity. The ducks at the two ends of the row, which were the most exposed, spent much more time sleeping with one half of the brain than the ducks in the middle. They also tended to keep open the eye facing away from the group, the direction from which a predator would most likely come. Each open eye was linked to the half of the brain that was still awake.

    (4) Some birds even sleep in the air. In 2016, scientists who recorded the brain activity of great frigatebirds during long flights over the ocean found that the birds slept mostly while circling upward in rising air, often with only one half of the brain at a time. In flight, however, they slept for less than an hour a day in total, compared with more than twelve hours a day once they were back on land.

    (5) Humans cannot do anything as dramatic, but traces of the same idea may exist in us. A 2016 study of people sleeping in a laboratory for the first time found that, on the first night, the left half of the brain slept less deeply than the right and responded more strongly to unusual sounds. On the second night, the difference disappeared. The researchers suggested that this "night watch" may help explain why many people sleep poorly in a new place.

    Soal 2 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    According to the passage, what did the ducks at the ends of the row do?

    Kunci: E

    Kenapa benar

    Paragraf (3) menyatakan bebek di kedua ujung barisan lebih sering tidur dengan separuh otak dan cenderung membuka mata yang menghadap ke luar kelompok, yaitu arah datangnya pemangsa. Jadi jawabannya adalah mata yang menghadap menjauhi kelompok tetap terbuka.

    Langkah

    1. Cari frasa ends of the row di teks: ada di paragraf (3).

    2. Baca kalimat sesudahnya: "They also tended to keep open the eye facing away from the group".

    3. Cocokkan dengan pilihan yang memuat informasi yang sama dengan kata lain.

    4. Tips: untuk soal according to the passage, jawaban harus tertulis di teks. Jangan menambahkan dugaan sendiri.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Teks tidak membandingkan lama tidur total bebek di ujung dan di tengah. Yang dibandingkan adalah seberapa sering mereka tidur dengan separuh otak.

    • B.

      Bergantian berjaga terdengar masuk akal, tetapi tidak disebut sama sekali dalam teks.

    • C.

      Ini kebalikan isi teks. Bebek di ujung justru lebih sering tidur dengan satu separuh otak dibanding bebek di tengah.

    • D.

      Teks tidak menyebut kedua mata terbuka atau suara pemangsa. Yang disebut hanya satu mata yang menghadap ke luar.

    Konsep

    Menemukan informasi tersurat dengan memindai kata kunci soal di teks, lalu mencocokkan parafrasenya di pilihan jawaban.

    Jebakan umum

    • Memilih pernyataan yang logis menurut pengetahuan umum padahal tidak tertulis di teks.

    Referensi

  3. Bacaan

    Sleeping With One Eye Open

    (1) For most mammals, sleep is an all-or-nothing state: the whole brain slows down together, and the body becomes still and largely unaware of its surroundings. A number of animals, however, have found a way around this risky arrangement. They can let one half of the brain sink into deep sleep while the other half stays awake. Scientists call this unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.

    (2) Bottlenose dolphins are the best-known example. A dolphin has to swim up to the surface for every breath, so it cannot simply drift off for hours the way a person does in bed. By resting one half of the brain at a time, a dolphin can keep swimming, surfacing, and watching for danger while still getting the sleep it needs.

    (3) Birds use the same trick. In a well-known experiment published in 1999, researchers filmed mallard ducks sleeping side by side in a row and recorded their brain activity. The ducks at the two ends of the row, which were the most exposed, spent much more time sleeping with one half of the brain than the ducks in the middle. They also tended to keep open the eye facing away from the group, the direction from which a predator would most likely come. Each open eye was linked to the half of the brain that was still awake.

    (4) Some birds even sleep in the air. In 2016, scientists who recorded the brain activity of great frigatebirds during long flights over the ocean found that the birds slept mostly while circling upward in rising air, often with only one half of the brain at a time. In flight, however, they slept for less than an hour a day in total, compared with more than twelve hours a day once they were back on land.

    (5) Humans cannot do anything as dramatic, but traces of the same idea may exist in us. A 2016 study of people sleeping in a laboratory for the first time found that, on the first night, the left half of the brain slept less deeply than the right and responded more strongly to unusual sounds. On the second night, the difference disappeared. The researchers suggested that this "night watch" may help explain why many people sleep poorly in a new place.

    Soal 3 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    Based on the passage, it can be inferred that sleeping with half of the brain is most useful to an animal when

    Kunci: A

    Kenapa benar

    Semua contoh di teks memperlihatkan pola yang sama: separuh otak tidur ketika hewan tetap harus bergerak atau berjaga. Lumba-lumba harus terus berenang ke permukaan, bebek di ujung barisan harus mewaspadai pemangsa, burung frigata harus terus terbang, dan otak manusia lebih waspada di tempat baru. Simpulannya, tidur separuh otak paling berguna saat hewan perlu istirahat sambil tetap bergerak atau waspada.

    Langkah

    1. Kumpulkan keadaan setiap contoh: lumba-lumba (harus berenang ke permukaan untuk bernapas), bebek di ujung (paling terbuka terhadap pemangsa), frigata (sedang terbang jauh), manusia (malam pertama di tempat baru).

    2. Cari kesamaan keempatnya: istirahat yang harus dibarengi gerakan atau kewaspadaan.

    3. Uji setiap pilihan dengan semua contoh. Pilihan yang hanya cocok dengan satu contoh, atau bertentangan dengan salah satunya, gugur.

    4. Tips: simpulan yang kuat dari teks eksposisi biasanya menggeneralisasi semua contoh, bukan satu contoh saja.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • B.

      Kebalikan dari teks. Efek "night watch" justru muncul di tempat baru, dan bebek yang lebih aman di tengah barisan lebih jarang tidur separuh otak.

    • C.

      Burung frigata yang tidur separuh otak saat terbang justru tidur kurang dari satu jam sehari, jauh lebih sedikit daripada di darat.

    • D.

      Lumba-lumba memang hidup di air, tetapi bebek dan burung frigata juga memakai cara ini. Jadi hidup di air bukan syaratnya.

    • E.

      Teks sama sekali tidak menyebut makan atau pencernaan.

    Konsep

    Inferensi dari beberapa contoh: mencari kesamaan keadaan pada semua contoh, lalu menarik simpulan yang tidak bertentangan dengan satu pun contoh.

    Jebakan umum

    • Menyimpulkan dari satu contoh saja (lumba-lumba) sehingga memilih "hidup di air".

    • Mengira tidur separuh otak membuat hewan tidur lebih lama, padahal data frigata menunjukkan sebaliknya.

    Referensi

  4. Bacaan

    Protect the Lane, and They Will Ride? (fictional report)

    KOTA LARASATI (fictional) — In October 2025, the city council of Kota Larasati replaced the painted bicycle lane on Jalan Melati with a lane separated from traffic by a low concrete kerb. To see what changed, council staff counted the traffic passing one point on the street between 06.00 and 09.00 on five weekday mornings in September 2025, before the work began, and again on five weekday mornings in March 2026. The table shows the average count per morning.

    Road user September 2025 March 2026
    Bicycles 180 420
    Motorcycles 2,400 2,150
    Cars 900 880

    In March, the staff also interviewed 150 cyclists on Jalan Melati who said they had not cycled on the street before the new lane opened. Of these, 84 said they used to make the same trip by motorcycle, 39 by shared minibus (angkot), and 27 by car.

    "The numbers speak for themselves," said council member Dewi Anggraini (fictional). "Protect the lane, and people will ride. We should build the same kind of lane on every major street in the city."

    Soal 4 dari 12

    Tentukan tiap pernyataan

    Based on the text and the table, decide whether each statement is True or False.

    PernyataanTrueFalse
    1. The average number of bicycles counted each morning more than doubled.
    2. The number of cars fell by more than the number of motorcycles did.
    3. More than half of the new cyclists who were interviewed used to make the trip by motorcycle.
    4. Counting bicycles, motorcycles, and cars together, the average total per morning was lower in March 2026 than in September 2025.

    Kenapa benar

    Tiga pernyataan benar (True): sepeda naik dari 180 menjadi 420 (lebih dari dua kali lipat), 84 dari 150 pesepeda baru (56%) dulu bermotor, dan total ketiga jenis turun dari 3.480 menjadi 3.450. Satu pernyataan salah (False): mobil hanya turun 20, sedangkan sepeda motor turun 250.

    Langkah

    1. s1: dua kali 180 = 360, sedangkan hitungan Maret 420 > 360 → True.

    2. s2: penurunan mobil 900 − 880 = 20; penurunan sepeda motor 2.400 − 2.150 = 250. 20 < 250 → False.

    3. s3: setengah dari 150 = 75, dan 84 > 75 (84/150 = 56%) → True.

    4. s4: September 180 + 2.400 + 900 = 3.480; Maret 420 + 2.150 + 880 = 3.450. 3.450 < 3.480 → True.

    5. Tips: untuk tabel, tulis selisih atau total di kertas buram dulu, baru bandingkan dengan pernyataan. Jangan menilai dari kesan sekilas.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • s1.

      True. 420 lebih besar daripada 2 × 180 = 360, jadi jumlah sepeda lebih dari dua kali lipat.

    • s2.

      False. Mobil hanya turun 20 (900 → 880), sedangkan sepeda motor turun 250 (2.400 → 2.150). Kesalahan umum adalah membandingkan angka akhirnya, bukan selisihnya.

    • s3.

      True. 84 dari 150 orang sama dengan 56%, lebih dari separuh.

    • s4.

      True. Total turun tipis dari 3.480 menjadi 3.450. Kenaikan sepeda (+240) lebih kecil daripada gabungan penurunan sepeda motor dan mobil (−270).

    Konsep

    Membaca teks bertabel: menghitung selisih, total, dan proporsi dari data, lalu mencocokkannya dengan pernyataan.

    Jebakan umum

    • Membandingkan nilai akhir (880 dan 2.150) padahal yang ditanya adalah besar penurunannya.

    • Mengira total pasti naik karena jumlah sepeda naik tajam.

  5. Bacaan

    Protect the Lane, and They Will Ride? (fictional report)

    KOTA LARASATI (fictional) — In October 2025, the city council of Kota Larasati replaced the painted bicycle lane on Jalan Melati with a lane separated from traffic by a low concrete kerb. To see what changed, council staff counted the traffic passing one point on the street between 06.00 and 09.00 on five weekday mornings in September 2025, before the work began, and again on five weekday mornings in March 2026. The table shows the average count per morning.

    Road user September 2025 March 2026
    Bicycles 180 420
    Motorcycles 2,400 2,150
    Cars 900 880

    In March, the staff also interviewed 150 cyclists on Jalan Melati who said they had not cycled on the street before the new lane opened. Of these, 84 said they used to make the same trip by motorcycle, 39 by shared minibus (angkot), and 27 by car.

    "The numbers speak for themselves," said council member Dewi Anggraini (fictional). "Protect the lane, and people will ride. We should build the same kind of lane on every major street in the city."

    Soal 5 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    By about what percentage did the average number of motorcycles counted per morning fall between September 2025 and March 2026?

    Kunci: B

    Kenapa benar

    Jumlah sepeda motor turun 2.400 − 2.150 = 250. Persentase penurunan dihitung terhadap nilai awal: 250 ÷ 2.400 ≈ 0,104, yaitu sekitar 10%.

    Langkah

    1. Diketahui: sepeda motor September 2025 = 2.400, Maret 2026 = 2.150.

    2. Ditanya: persentase penurunan.

    3. Metode: persentase perubahan = selisih ÷ nilai awal × 100%.

    4. Hitung: selisih = 250; 250 ÷ 2.400 × 100% ≈ 10,4%, dibulatkan sekitar 10%.

    5. Cek: 10% dari 2.400 = 240, dekat dengan 250. Masuk akal.

    6. Tips: pembagi persentase perubahan selalu nilai awal (sebelum perubahan).

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Angka 7% muncul bila 250 dibagi total semua kendaraan bulan September (3.480). Pertanyaan meminta penurunan sepeda motor terhadap jumlah sepeda motor sendiri.

    • C.

      Angka 12% muncul bila 250 dibagi nilai akhir (2.150 → 11,6%). Pembagi yang benar adalah nilai awal 2.400.

    • D.

      Angka 90% adalah perbandingan 2.150 ÷ 2.400 (≈ 89,6%), yaitu jumlah yang tersisa, bukan besar penurunannya.

    • E.

      Angka 133% adalah kenaikan jumlah sepeda (240 ÷ 180), bukan perubahan jumlah sepeda motor. Kemungkinan baris tabel tertukar.

    Konsep

    Persentase perubahan dihitung sebagai selisih dibagi nilai awal; nilai akhir dibagi nilai awal menghasilkan proporsi yang tersisa, bukan perubahan.

    Jebakan umum

    • Membagi selisih dengan nilai akhir.

    • Membaca baris tabel yang salah (sepeda, bukan sepeda motor).

  6. Bacaan

    Protect the Lane, and They Will Ride? (fictional report)

    KOTA LARASATI (fictional) — In October 2025, the city council of Kota Larasati replaced the painted bicycle lane on Jalan Melati with a lane separated from traffic by a low concrete kerb. To see what changed, council staff counted the traffic passing one point on the street between 06.00 and 09.00 on five weekday mornings in September 2025, before the work began, and again on five weekday mornings in March 2026. The table shows the average count per morning.

    Road user September 2025 March 2026
    Bicycles 180 420
    Motorcycles 2,400 2,150
    Cars 900 880

    In March, the staff also interviewed 150 cyclists on Jalan Melati who said they had not cycled on the street before the new lane opened. Of these, 84 said they used to make the same trip by motorcycle, 39 by shared minibus (angkot), and 27 by car.

    "The numbers speak for themselves," said council member Dewi Anggraini (fictional). "Protect the lane, and people will ride. We should build the same kind of lane on every major street in the city."

    Soal 6 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    Which of the following findings, if true, would most seriously weaken Dewi Anggraini's claim that the protected lane is the reason more people now cycle on Jalan Melati?

    Kunci: D

    Kenapa benar

    Klaim Dewi: lajur terlindung adalah penyebab naiknya jumlah pesepeda. Bila di jalan lain yang lajurnya tidak diubah jumlah pesepeda juga naik dengan proporsi serupa, kenaikan itu kemungkinan disebabkan faktor lain (misalnya musim, harga BBM, atau tren umum). Temuan ini paling melemahkan hubungan sebab-akibat yang diklaim.

    Langkah

    1. Rumuskan klaimnya: lajur terlindung → lebih banyak orang bersepeda di Jalan Melati.

    2. Cara melemahkan klaim sebab-akibat: tunjukkan bahwa akibat yang sama terjadi tanpa sebab itu, atau ada penyebab lain.

    3. Uji setiap pilihan: apakah ia mendukung, tidak relevan, atau memutus hubungan sebab-akibat?

    4. Hanya pembanding di jalan tanpa perubahan lajur yang memutus hubungan itu.

    5. Tips: untuk klaim "X menyebabkan Y", cari kelompok pembanding. Bila Y juga terjadi tanpa X, klaimnya melemah.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Rasa aman karena pembatas beton justru mendukung klaim bahwa lajur terlindunglah yang mendorong orang bersepeda.

    • B.

      Penurunan sepeda motor cocok dengan cerita bahwa sebagian pengendara pindah ke sepeda, jadi tidak melemahkan klaim.

    • C.

      Biaya pembangunan tidak berhubungan dengan apakah lajur itu menyebabkan kenaikan jumlah pesepeda.

    • E.

      Keluhan soal parkir adalah dampak lain dari lajur, bukan bukti bahwa lajur tidak menyebabkan kenaikan pesepeda.

    Konsep

    Melemahkan klaim sebab-akibat dengan pembanding: bila akibat yang sama muncul tanpa sebab yang diklaim, kemungkinan ada penyebab lain.

    Jebakan umum

    • Memilih pernyataan yang bernada negatif terhadap kebijakan (keluhan pemilik toko) padahal tidak menyentuh hubungan sebab-akibat.

    • Tidak membedakan pernyataan yang memperkuat dengan yang melemahkan.

  7. Bacaan

    Let's Retire the "Digital Native"

    (1) In 2001, the writer Marc Prensky described young people who had grown up surrounded by computers, video games, and the internet as "digital natives." The phrase caught on quickly, and more than two decades later it is still heard in school meetings, job advertisements, and newspaper columns. It is time we stopped using it.

    (2) The problem is not that the label is unkind. It is that it quietly turns a fact about age into a claim about skill. Growing up with a smartphone makes a teenager comfortable with apps and quick at typing. It does not, by itself, teach anyone how to check whether a viral video is real, how a search engine ranks its results, or why a free app might be collecting their data. Being familiar with a tool is not the same as understanding it, in the same way that riding in cars every day does not turn someone into a mechanic.

    (3) This confusion has real consequences. If teachers assume that their students already know how to judge online sources, they may never teach them to do so. In a survey of 300 first-year students at a university in Kota Rembulan (fictional), most rated their own ability to spot false news as "good" or "very good," yet fewer than a third correctly identified a sponsored article in a short test.

    (4) The belief that young people are naturally skilled with technology is, in short, unwarranted. Digital skills are learned, just like reading and arithmetic, and someone has to teach them. Instead of calling students natives, we should treat them as what they are: learners.

    Soal 7 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    What is the writer's main purpose in the passage?

    Kunci: A

    Kenapa benar

    Penulis ingin meyakinkan pembaca agar berhenti memakai label digital native ("It is time we stopped using it"), karena label itu mengubah fakta usia menjadi klaim keterampilan dan membuat keterampilan digital tidak diajarkan. Tujuan utamanya berargumen bahwa label populer itu menyesatkan.

    Langkah

    1. Cari kalimat sikap penulis: akhir paragraf (1) "It is time we stopped using it" dan paragraf (4) "is, in short, unwarranted".

    2. Lihat peran paragraf lain: (2) alasan, (3) akibat dan bukti, (4) simpulan dan usul.

    3. Pilih tujuan yang mencakup sikap itu, bukan detail pendukung.

    4. Tips: kata seperti It is time we…, we should… menandai teks argumentatif. Tujuannya meyakinkan, bukan sekadar menjelaskan atau melaporkan.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • B.

      Prensky hanya disebut di kalimat pembuka sebagai latar asal istilah. Teks tidak menjelaskan bagaimana ia menciptakannya.

    • C.

      Teks tidak membandingkan anak muda dengan orang yang lebih tua. Penulis hanya menyatakan bahwa keterampilan digital harus diajarkan.

    • D.

      Survei di paragraf (3) adalah bukti pendukung argumen, bukan tujuan utama teks.

    • E.

      Penulis tidak meminta remaja mengurangi pemakaian ponsel. Usulnya ditujukan pada cara orang dewasa dan sekolah memandang serta mengajar siswa.

    Konsep

    Tujuan penulis teks argumentatif ditentukan dari tesis dan simpulannya; latar, contoh, dan data hanyalah pendukung.

    Jebakan umum

    • Menganggap detail yang menonjol (survei, nama Prensky) sebagai tujuan teks.

    • Mengira penulis menentang teknologi, padahal yang ditentang adalah labelnya.

    Referensi

  8. Bacaan

    Let's Retire the "Digital Native"

    (1) In 2001, the writer Marc Prensky described young people who had grown up surrounded by computers, video games, and the internet as "digital natives." The phrase caught on quickly, and more than two decades later it is still heard in school meetings, job advertisements, and newspaper columns. It is time we stopped using it.

    (2) The problem is not that the label is unkind. It is that it quietly turns a fact about age into a claim about skill. Growing up with a smartphone makes a teenager comfortable with apps and quick at typing. It does not, by itself, teach anyone how to check whether a viral video is real, how a search engine ranks its results, or why a free app might be collecting their data. Being familiar with a tool is not the same as understanding it, in the same way that riding in cars every day does not turn someone into a mechanic.

    (3) This confusion has real consequences. If teachers assume that their students already know how to judge online sources, they may never teach them to do so. In a survey of 300 first-year students at a university in Kota Rembulan (fictional), most rated their own ability to spot false news as "good" or "very good," yet fewer than a third correctly identified a sponsored article in a short test.

    (4) The belief that young people are naturally skilled with technology is, in short, unwarranted. Digital skills are learned, just like reading and arithmetic, and someone has to teach them. Instead of calling students natives, we should treat them as what they are: learners.

    Soal 8 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    The word "unwarranted" in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to

    Kunci: D

    Kenapa benar

    Unwarranted berarti tidak beralasan atau tidak dibenarkan oleh bukti. Konteksnya cocok: paragraf (2) dan (3) menunjukkan bahwa anggapan "anak muda otomatis mahir teknologi" tidak didukung bukti, sehingga paragraf (4) menyimpulkan anggapan itu unwarranted.

    Langkah

    1. Baca kalimatnya: "The belief that young people are naturally skilled with technology is, in short, unwarranted."

    2. Frasa in short menandai ringkasan dari paragraf sebelumnya, yang berisi alasan dan bukti bahwa anggapan itu keliru.

    3. Jadi unwarranted harus bermakna "tidak didukung alasan yang kuat".

    4. Tips: pecah kata menjadi un- (tidak) + warrant (dasar, pembenaran), lalu cek dengan konteks.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Teks justru menyebut anggapan dan label ini masih banyak dipakai, jadi "tidak banyak dianut" tidak cocok.

    • B.

      Kata quietly di paragraf (2) bisa memancing makna "tidak dinyatakan terang-terangan", tetapi unwarranted di paragraf (4) menilai dasar anggapan, bukan cara menyampaikannya.

    • C.

      Paragraf (3) menunjukkan anggapan ini berakibat nyata (keterampilan tidak diajarkan), jadi bertentangan dengan "tidak merugikan".

    • E.

      Penulis tidak mempersoalkan apakah anggapan itu baru atau mengejutkan.

    Konsep

    Menebak makna kata dari konteks: penanda ringkasan (in short) menghubungkan kata sulit dengan alasan di paragraf sebelumnya; imbuhan un- memberi petunjuk makna negasi.

    Jebakan umum

    • Memilih makna yang terpengaruh kata lain di teks (quietly) tanpa mengecek kalimat tempat kata itu muncul.

  9. Bacaan

    Let's Retire the "Digital Native"

    (1) In 2001, the writer Marc Prensky described young people who had grown up surrounded by computers, video games, and the internet as "digital natives." The phrase caught on quickly, and more than two decades later it is still heard in school meetings, job advertisements, and newspaper columns. It is time we stopped using it.

    (2) The problem is not that the label is unkind. It is that it quietly turns a fact about age into a claim about skill. Growing up with a smartphone makes a teenager comfortable with apps and quick at typing. It does not, by itself, teach anyone how to check whether a viral video is real, how a search engine ranks its results, or why a free app might be collecting their data. Being familiar with a tool is not the same as understanding it, in the same way that riding in cars every day does not turn someone into a mechanic.

    (3) This confusion has real consequences. If teachers assume that their students already know how to judge online sources, they may never teach them to do so. In a survey of 300 first-year students at a university in Kota Rembulan (fictional), most rated their own ability to spot false news as "good" or "very good," yet fewer than a third correctly identified a sponsored article in a short test.

    (4) The belief that young people are naturally skilled with technology is, in short, unwarranted. Digital skills are learned, just like reading and arithmetic, and someone has to teach them. Instead of calling students natives, we should treat them as what they are: learners.

    Soal 9 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    Which of the following best describes how paragraph 3 relates to paragraph 2?

    Kunci: E

    Kenapa benar

    Paragraf (2) menjelaskan masalahnya: label itu mengubah fakta usia menjadi klaim keterampilan. Paragraf (3) dibuka dengan "This confusion has real consequences", menyebut akibatnya (guru tidak mengajarkan cara menilai sumber daring), lalu memberi bukti survei mahasiswa. Jadi paragraf (3) menunjukkan akibat masalah itu sekaligus memberi bukti.

    Langkah

    1. Ringkas paragraf (2): label digital native menyamakan terbiasa dengan memahami.

    2. Baca kalimat pertama paragraf (3): This confusion merujuk ke masalah paragraf (2), dan has real consequences menandai akibat.

    3. Lihat isi paragraf (3) selanjutnya: akibat (tidak diajarkan) + data survei sebagai bukti.

    4. Tips: kalimat pertama paragraf sering memuat penanda hubungan (This confusion…, However…, As a result…). Baca kalimat itu dulu.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Paragraf (3) tidak memuat pandangan lawan. Survei di dalamnya justru mendukung argumen penulis.

    • B.

      Usulan solusi (keterampilan digital harus diajarkan, siswa diperlakukan sebagai pembelajar) baru muncul di paragraf (4).

    • C.

      Sejarah istilah (Prensky, 2001) ada di paragraf (1), bukan paragraf (3).

    • D.

      Perbandingan dengan mobil hanya ada di paragraf (2). Paragraf (3) beralih ke akibat dan data survei.

    Konsep

    Organisasi teks argumentatif: masalah → akibat dan bukti → simpulan atau solusi, dikenali lewat penanda kohesi di awal paragraf.

    Jebakan umum

    • Mengira setiap paragraf yang memuat data adalah pandangan lawan.

    • Mengabaikan kata rujukan This confusion yang mengikat paragraf (3) ke paragraf (2).

  10. Bacaan

    The Second Row (a short story)

    Sari (fictional) had the strongest voice in the school choir, and everyone knew it, including Sari. During rehearsals she sang a little louder than the others, and she liked the way the conductor, Mr. Hendra (fictional), sometimes smiled when her voice rose above the rest.

    Two weeks before the regional competition, he moved her from the front row to the second.

    "Your voice isn't the problem," he said when she asked why. "Your ears are."

    Sari spent the rest of the rehearsal sulking. She sang every note correctly but without feeling, and she did not look at him once.

    That evening, she played the recording her friend Nia had made of the rehearsal on her phone. At first she listened only for herself. Then, on the third time through, she noticed something else. In the quiet passage near the end, the altos were singing softly together, almost like one voice, and her own voice cut through them like a car horn.

    She listened to the passage twice more before she put the phone away.

    At the next rehearsal, Sari stood in the second row and sang the quiet passage so softly that she could hear Nia breathing beside her. When the piece ended, Mr. Hendra said nothing to her. Before the choir left, he wrote something on the seating chart. Sari did not even try to read it.

    Soal 10 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    In the sentence "her own voice cut through them like a car horn," the word "them" refers to

    Kunci: B

    Kenapa benar

    Kata them merujuk ke the altos. Kalimat lengkapnya: "the altos were singing softly together, almost like one voice, and her own voice cut through them like a car horn". Suara Sari menerobos suara para alto yang bernyanyi pelan bersama.

    Langkah

    1. Cari kata benda jamak terdekat sebelum them dalam kalimat yang sama: the altos.

    2. Uji dengan mengganti: "her own voice cut through the altos like a car horn". Kalimatnya tetap masuk akal dan sesuai cerita.

    3. Tips: kata ganti biasanya merujuk ke kata benda yang cocok jumlahnya (jamak/tunggal) dan paling dekat sebelumnya.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Ears memang muncul dalam ucapan Mr. Hendra, tetapi letaknya jauh sebelumnya dan tidak masuk akal bila disisipkan: suara Sari tidak "menerobos telinganya sendiri".

    • C.

      Not yang dinyanyikan Sari disebut di paragraf lain (every note correctly). Dalam kalimat ini, yang diterobos suara Sari adalah suara penyanyi lain.

    • D.

      Nia dan Mr. Hendra tidak disebut dalam kalimat itu dan tidak sedang bernyanyi bersama di bagian lagu itu.

    • E.

      Barisan paduan suara (row) adalah tempat berdiri, bukan suara yang bisa diterobos oleh suara Sari.

    Konsep

    Rujukan kata ganti (reference): mencocokkan kata ganti dengan kata benda sebelumnya yang sesuai jumlah dan masuk akal bila disubstitusikan.

    Jebakan umum

    • Memilih kata benda yang menonjol di cerita, bukan yang berada dalam kalimat yang sama.

  11. Bacaan

    The Second Row (a short story)

    Sari (fictional) had the strongest voice in the school choir, and everyone knew it, including Sari. During rehearsals she sang a little louder than the others, and she liked the way the conductor, Mr. Hendra (fictional), sometimes smiled when her voice rose above the rest.

    Two weeks before the regional competition, he moved her from the front row to the second.

    "Your voice isn't the problem," he said when she asked why. "Your ears are."

    Sari spent the rest of the rehearsal sulking. She sang every note correctly but without feeling, and she did not look at him once.

    That evening, she played the recording her friend Nia had made of the rehearsal on her phone. At first she listened only for herself. Then, on the third time through, she noticed something else. In the quiet passage near the end, the altos were singing softly together, almost like one voice, and her own voice cut through them like a car horn.

    She listened to the passage twice more before she put the phone away.

    At the next rehearsal, Sari stood in the second row and sang the quiet passage so softly that she could hear Nia breathing beside her. When the piece ended, Mr. Hendra said nothing to her. Before the choir left, he wrote something on the seating chart. Sari did not even try to read it.

    Soal 11 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    What did Mr. Hendra most likely mean when he said, "Your voice isn't the problem. Your ears are"?

    Kunci: C

    Kenapa benar

    Mr. Hendra memakai kata ears secara kiasan: suara Sari bagus, tetapi ia kurang mendengarkan penyanyi lain. Ini terbukti ketika Sari mendengarkan rekaman: suaranya sendiri "cut through them like a car horn" di bagian yang seharusnya pelan dan menyatu. Maksudnya, Sari perlu mendengarkan kelompoknya, bukan hanya dirinya.

    Langkah

    1. Pahami bahwa ears di sini kiasan: kemampuan mendengarkan, bukan organ telinga.

    2. Cari bukti di bagian akhir cerita: "At first she listened only for herself", lalu ia menyadari suaranya terlalu menonjol di antara para alto.

    3. Cocokkan dengan pilihan yang menjelaskan makna kiasan itu.

    4. Tips: ucapan tokoh yang terdengar aneh bila diartikan harfiah biasanya dijelaskan oleh kejadian sesudahnya dalam cerita.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Ini tafsiran harfiah. Cerita tidak menyinggung gangguan pendengaran. Sari justru bisa mendengar napas Nia di sampingnya.

    • B.

      Cerita menyebut Sari menyanyikan setiap not dengan benar (every note correctly). Masalahnya bukan nada yang salah.

    • D.

      Sari baru merajuk setelah dipindahkan, jadi rajukannya tidak mungkin menjadi alasan pemindahan.

    • E.

      Tidak ada petunjuk bahwa Nia akan menggantikan Sari. Nia hanya teman yang merekam latihan.

    Konsep

    Inferensi makna kiasan dalam ucapan tokoh dengan bukti dari rangkaian peristiwa dalam cerita.

    Jebakan umum

    • Mengartikan ucapan kiasan secara harfiah.

    • Tertukar urutan peristiwa sebab dan akibat dalam cerita.

  12. Bacaan

    The Second Row (a short story)

    Sari (fictional) had the strongest voice in the school choir, and everyone knew it, including Sari. During rehearsals she sang a little louder than the others, and she liked the way the conductor, Mr. Hendra (fictional), sometimes smiled when her voice rose above the rest.

    Two weeks before the regional competition, he moved her from the front row to the second.

    "Your voice isn't the problem," he said when she asked why. "Your ears are."

    Sari spent the rest of the rehearsal sulking. She sang every note correctly but without feeling, and she did not look at him once.

    That evening, she played the recording her friend Nia had made of the rehearsal on her phone. At first she listened only for herself. Then, on the third time through, she noticed something else. In the quiet passage near the end, the altos were singing softly together, almost like one voice, and her own voice cut through them like a car horn.

    She listened to the passage twice more before she put the phone away.

    At the next rehearsal, Sari stood in the second row and sang the quiet passage so softly that she could hear Nia breathing beside her. When the piece ended, Mr. Hendra said nothing to her. Before the choir left, he wrote something on the seating chart. Sari did not even try to read it.

    Soal 12 dari 12

    Pilih satu jawaban

    What does the final sentence of the story, "Sari did not even try to read it," most strongly suggest?

    Kunci: D

    Kenapa benar

    Di awal cerita Sari senang suaranya menonjol dan merajuk ketika dipindahkan ke baris kedua. Setelah mendengar rekaman, ia bernyanyi sangat pelan agar menyatu dengan kelompok. Kalimat terakhir menunjukkan perubahan itu: ia tidak lagi peduli posisinya di bagan tempat duduk, karena yang kini penting baginya adalah suara paduan suara secara keseluruhan.

    Langkah

    1. Bandingkan Sari di awal dan di akhir: awalnya ingin menonjol dan peduli posisi (merajuk saat dipindah); akhirnya bernyanyi pelan sampai mendengar napas Nia.

    2. Kaitkan dengan kalimat terakhir: bagan tempat duduk adalah lambang posisi, dan Sari tidak berusaha membacanya.

    3. Simpulkan perubahan sikapnya: posisi tidak lagi penting dibanding keselarasan kelompok.

    4. Uji pilihan lain dengan bukti: kemarahan sudah hilang (ia mengikuti arahan), dan tidak ada petunjuk ia tahu atau takut akan isi bagan.

    5. Tips: dalam cerita pendek, kalimat penutup sering menunjukkan perubahan tokoh. Bandingkan dengan sikap tokoh di awal cerita.

    Kenapa opsi lain salah

    • A.

      Kemarahan Sari ada di awal (ia merajuk dan tidak menatap Mr. Hendra). Pada latihan berikutnya ia justru mengikuti arahan dengan sungguh-sungguh, jadi ia tidak lagi digambarkan marah.

    • B.

      Tidak ada petunjuk bahwa Sari takut dikeluarkan. Bila ia takut, ia justru akan berusaha membaca bagan itu.

    • C.

      Cerita tidak memberi tahu apa yang ditulis Mr. Hendra. Menganggap Sari sudah tahu isinya adalah dugaan tanpa bukti.

    • E.

      Cerita tidak menyiratkan pendapat Sari tentang sikap Mr. Hendra terhadap bagan. Justru Mr. Hendra yang menulis di bagan itu.

    Konsep

    Inferensi perubahan tokoh: membandingkan sikap tokoh di awal dan akhir cerita, lalu menafsirkan tindakan simbolis di kalimat penutup.

    Jebakan umum

    • Menafsirkan tindakan tokoh dengan emosi di awal cerita, padahal tokohnya sudah berubah.

    • Menebak isi tulisan yang tidak diungkap cerita.