KUmpulan Soal AcEPT [PDF]

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Kumpulan Soal Latihan AcEPT UGM



Belong to: Uswah



“Reaching a dream is the studying’s process, and it is not easy at all, But if you struggle, you can pass it.”



PART I Soal AcEPT UGM Listening Comprehension PART 1 1. Sebelum anda mendengarkan pernyataan dari tape recorder/suara narator, sebaiknya anda melihat terlebih dahulu jawaban/pilihan A,B,C,D pada lembar soal. 2. Bacalah sepintas lalu (scanning) setiap kalimat pada pilihan A,B,C,D. 3. Perhatikan secara seksama, ada beberapa kata dari setiap pilihan A,B,C,D yang tulisannya sama/diulang lebih dari satu kali. 4. Kata – kata yang diulang itu merupakan TOPIK PEMBICARAAN. 5. Arahkan/fokus pikiran anda pada topik itu. 6. Dengarkan pernyataan pada tape recorder/narator. 7. Ada kata/kelompok kata yg merupakan KATA KUNCI dari pernyataan narator. 8. Buatlah KESIMPULAN dari kata kunci itu/CARI KATA LAIN/PENRNYATAAN LAIN yg mempunyai makna yang mirip/sama dengan kata kunci itu. 9. Kesimpulan/kata lain/pernyataan lain/sinonim dari kata kunci itu merupakan jawaban yg benar. Perhatikan contoh berikut: Anda akan mendengarkan pernyataan dari narrator/tape recorder sbb: 1. The assignment is due the day after tomorrow. No extension will be given for this. A. Simon is doing his job well, and they mentioned it. B. You must do the assignment the day after tomorrow. C. No sanction is given if you do the assignment the day after tomorrow. D. It’s better for you to complete the task right away. Dari contoh di atas, dapat kita simpulkan bahwa topik dari pernyataan narrator adalah tentang ASSIGNMENT. Perhatikan kata assignment pada pilihan B dan C diulang dua kali. KATA KUNCI pada pernyataan narrator adalah assignment (tugas), due (jatuh tempo) the day after tomorrow, No extension (tdk ada perpanjangan waktu). Maka pilihan yang paling tepat adalah (D) It’s better for you to complete the task right away. Alasannya, kata “assignment” (tugas) pada pernyataan narrator mempunyai makna yg sama dengan “task” (tugas) pada pilihan (D). Selain itu, kelompok kata “due the day after



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tomorrow” dan “No extension” dapat kita simpulkan dgn pernyataan lain yakni “It’s better for you to complete the task right away” (sebaiknya dikerjakan sekarang). Tips ini berlaku untuk Tes AcEPT Part 1 Listening Comprehension (NOMOR 1 – 10). Mudah – mudahan tips saya ini dapat bermanfaat bagi teman – teman semua. Tips yang lain akan saya bahas dilain kesempatan.



Section A Directions : In this section, you will hear 10 short statements. The statements will be spoken just once. They will not be written out for you, and you must listen carefully in order to understand what the speaker says. When you hear a statement, you will have a period of 15 to 20 seconds to read the four sentences in your test book and decide which one is closest in meaning to the statement you have heard. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the problem and mark your answer by drawing with a pencil a short bar across the corresponding letter in the brackets. Listen to the following example: You will hear: “He is no longer living in Beijing.” You will read: [A] He’s been living in Beijing for a long time. [B] He used to live in Beijing. [C] He’s gone to Beijing for a short visit. [D] He should stay longer in Beijing, Sentence [B] “He used to live in Beijing” is closest in meaning to the statement “He is no longer living in Beijing.” Therefore you should choose answer [B]. Tips menjawab pertanyaan Listening AcEPT bagian pertama. Soal no 1 – 10 menguji kemampuan Anda memahami pernyataan pendek dalam bahasa Inggris. Masing-masing pernyataan akan dibacakan sekali saja. Pernyataan yang Anda dengar tidak akan ditulis dalam tes. Anda tidak diperkenankan membuat catatan apapun dalam buku tes.



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LANGKAH – LANGKAHNYA: 



Lihatlah secara sepintas pernyataan yang ada pada pilihan A, B, C, dan D.







Arahkan pikiran Anda pada topik pembicaraan yang akan disampaikan pada pernyataan pendek.







Pahami makna/maksud yang tersirat pada pernyataan pendek tersebut.







Pilihlah jawaban yang memiliki makna yang sama/mirip dengan pernyataan tersebut.



Pada contoh di atas kita mendengarkan sebuah pernyataan pendek yakni “He is no longer living in Beijing (Dia tidak lagi tinggal di Beijing). Pada pilihannya terdapat hanya satu pernyataan yang memiliki makna yang sama dengan pernyataan pada soal yakni [B] He used to live in Beijing (yang artinya, dulu dia tinggal di Beijing dan sekarang tidak). Kunci untuk memilih jawaban yang tepat pada Listening bagian pertama adalah memilih sinonim/memilih pernyataan yang memiliki makna yang sama/mirip dengan pernyataan pada soal. 1. [A] Tom is riding a bike. [B] The bike is upside down. [C] Tom is repairing the bike. [D] Tom is cleaning his bike. 2. [A] Professor Graff doesn’t usually write on the blackboard. [B] Students are rarely bored in Professor Grafts class. [C] The professor uses graphs when she lectures. [D] Students in the graphic arts course don’t take notes. 3. [A] They are with them. [B] It is with them. [C] They are with her. 3



[D] He is with her. 4. [A] I passed the test because I studied hard. [B] I won’t do well on the test if I don’t study. [C] I failed the test because I didn’t study enough. [D] I’ll study hard so I can pass the test. 5. [A] How long is the school term? [B] Why did you turn over the stool? [C] I wish I know how to get to the dormitory. [D] I want the term to end soon. 6. [A] The boat owner must be rich. [B] This man must be the owner. [C] Those men are both rich. [D] The boat has a monkey on it. 7. [A] Alice answered Jean’s question. [B] Alice allowed Jean to respond. [C] Jean’s response was questionable. [D] Alice accepted the answer. 8. [A] Bob bought a new pair of sandals. [B] Bob’s sandals were fixed. [C] The shoemaker only made sandals. 4



[D] The shoemaker wore sandals. 9. [A] We have to go to a party after work. [B] We are going to have a party when the house has been painted. [C] We went to a huge party after the house was painted. [D] We’ll go to the party if the house is painted. 10. [A] They read about the invention in the news report. [B] The inventor wrote an interesting news report. [C] A reporter asked the inventor some questions. [D] The reporter was watching the news.



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PART II Soal AcEPT UGM Vocabulary Test Bagian kedua tes AcEPT, yakni Vocabulary menguji pengetahuan Anda tentang kosakata bahasa Inggris yang lazim digunakan dalam dunia akademik. Bagian tes yang diberi label nama Vocabulary ini dibagi ke dalam dua bagian, yakni Bagian A dan Bagian B. Bagian A menguji kemampuan Anda menggunakan kosakata dalam konteks bacaan, berupa Cloze Test; sementara Bagian B menguji kemampuan Anda tentang pasangan kata dalam konteks kalimat (ko-lokasi). Pada tes bagian A Anda akan diberi paparan teks bacaan yang di dalamnya terdapat bagian yang dihilangkan, dan tugas Anda adalah memilih opsi yang paling tepat (A, B,C, atau D) untuk bisa mengisi bagian kosong dalam bacaan tersebut. Sementara pada bagian B Anda akan diuji memilih kata yang secara tepat mengisi pasangan kata lainnya yang telah diberi garis bawah. Perhatikan contoh berikut: Contoh soal VOCABULARY (Bag A) For questions 1 – 15, choose the word or phrase in A, B, C, or D which best completes each blank space in the text. This research aims at (1) ——- the correlation between the time spent between children and parents and the choice of the language made by the children in their daily interaction with the neighboring children in a multicultural community. The major source of (2) ———– is the longitudinal report of the language use between the family in their daily interaction from 2005 – 2010. Etc 1. A. knowing B.comprehending C.admitting D. investigating



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2. A. knowledge B. supply C. data D. entry Contoh soal VOCABULARY (Bag B) Choose the word or phrase in A, B, C, or D that best collocates (combines) with each of the underlined words or phrases in the following sentences. 1. Mr. Young looked at my first two printouts and ———– to the conclusion that I was arguing for Method A. In reality though, I think Method B is better. A. jumped B. ran C. drew D. pulled 2. Almost everybody takes a very strong interest —— her method of raising her rowdy children. A. in B. with C. on D. at



CARA YANG LAZIM DIGUNAKAN UNTUK MENGERJAKAN SOAL BAGIAN A Perhatikan bahwa semua kata yang disediakan sebagai pilihan jawaban pada contoh soal nomor 1, merupakan kata kerja berbentuk –ing. Ini berarti, dari segi gramatika, semua pilihan ini tidak perlu dipersoalkan. Artinya, untuk mengerjakan soal jenis ini, Anda tidak dapat menggunakan analisis gramatika sebagai strategi Anda untuk mengatasi persoalan ini. Yang harus Anda lakukan untuk mengatasi soal-soal seperti ini adalah analisis ‘semantik’ (analisis makna) dengan membaca teks secara cepat tapi hati-hati, dan mempertimbangkan konteks yang ada. Amat disarankan, Anda seintensif mungkin membaca artikel-artikel ilmiah yang ditulis dalam jurnal internasional berbahasa Inggris seraya mempelajari kata-kata yang biasa digunakan dalam penulisan tersebut. Pertimbangannya adalah karena materi tes ini amat bernuansa akademik dan lebih banyak berkiblat ke artikel-artikel jurnal seperti itu sehingga 7



peserta yang terbiasa dengan bacaan jurnal-jurnal internasional kemungkinan besar akan terbantu dengan ‘famililiaritas’ yang bersangkutan dengan kata-kata yang lazim dipakai dalam penulisan jurnal. Dalam contoh latihan di atas, nuansa ilmiah tergambar dalam pilihan-pilihan kata yang digunakan dalam teks tersebut. Perhatikan bagian berikut: This research aims at (1) ——Kata-kata yang mengawali teks di atas, yakni mengarahkan pembaca pada pilihan katakata tertentu lainnya yang lazim digunakan dalam laporan penelitian. Dengan melihat bagian lanjutan dari kalimat tersebut, yakni : seorang peserta tes akan dapat memilih kata yang secara tepat konteks mengisi kekosongan yang ada pada bagian kalimat tersebut. Tentu, bagi yang terbiasa menulis atau membaca laporan penelitian atau jurnal ilmiah internasional, kata-kata yang dapat masuk dalam slot kalimat di atas sudah dapat diprediksi. Bagi peserta tes yang tidak memiliki pengalaman sama sekali dalam hal membaca jurnal-jurnal berbahasa Inggris, disarankan untuk mempelajari karakter penulisan jurnal ilmiah berbahasa Inggris. Ini adalah sisi positif dari tes ini; kita dapat belajar untuk persiapan tes AcEPT sekaligus belajar mengenal atau bahkan



menulis



teks-teks



ilmiah



berbahasa



Inggris.



Untuk contoh soal nomor 1, pilihan yang secara tepat mengisi bagian kosong pada soal nomor 1 adalah D. investigating. Alasannya pilihan kata ini secara kontekstual paling tepat mengisi bagian yang kosong tersebut. Agar kita mampu secara tepat memilih opsi, kita harus mengenal betul kata-kata yang lazim digunakan dalam konteks bernuansa akademik. Peserta tes dapat pula mencermati hubungan antar kata dalam kalimat yang didalamnya terkandung kata yang dipersoalkan, seraya memastikan maksud penulis teks tersebut. Dari konteks yang ada, jika kita menghubungkan bagian-bagian yang bergaris bawah, yakni source dan the longitudinal report, kita dapat meyakini bahwa kata yang tepat mengisi bagian kosong tersebut adalah kata data. Kata-kata (pilihan) yang lain seperti (A) knowledge, (B) supply, dan (D) entry tidak memenuhi keserasian konteks.



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CARA YANG LAZIM DIGUNAKAN UNTUK MENGERJAKAN SOAL BAGIAN B Apabila dicermati, soal Vocabulary bagian B tampak jelas menguji kemampuan peserta tes menghubungkan satu kata yang tersedia dalam pilihan A, B, C, atau D dengan kata yang bergaris bawah. Inilah yang disebut COLLOCATION atau kolokasi. Kolokasi adalah sepasang kata atau kelompok kata yang saling sesuai satu sama lain karena kecocokan kata dengan pasangan kata tersebut. Beberapa kolokasi merupakan pasangan kata yang ‘fixed’ tak bisa diganggu gugat; beberapa lainnya terbuka dengan pasangan lain yang jumlahnya terbatas. Contoh pasangan yang ‘fixed’: Satu-satunya kata kerja yang dapat mendampingi kata ‘photo’ adalah kata ‘take’. Kita bisa mengatakan bahwa kata ‘photo’ berkolokasi dengan kata ‘take’. Tidak ada kata lain yang bisa masuk mengganti sebuah kata dalam ‘hubungan intim’ kedua kata tersebut (lihat McCharty and O’Dell, 2000). Contoh pasangan yang ‘terbuka’ dengan kata (terbatas) lain: Contoh di atas menunjukkan bahwa frasa the rule dapat berkolokasi dengan kata keep atau stick. Kata-kata yang berkolokasi tidak dapat dipaksa untuk bisa dipasangkan dengan kata-kata lain yang tidak berkolokasi. Perhatikan bahwa kata ‘fast’ dalam frasa “fast food” tidak bisa diganti dengan kata ‘quick’ untuk membentuk frasa “quick food”. Frasa ‘quick food’ tidak bisa diterima dalam kontruksi frasa bahasa Inggris karena kedua kata yang membangun frasa tersebut tidak berkolokasi. Sebaliknya, kata ‘quick’ dalam frasa ‘quick glance’ tidak bisa diganti dengan kata ‘fast’ untuk membentuk frasa ‘fast glance’. Frasa ‘fast glance tidak dapat diterima dalam konsttruksi frasa bahasa Inggris karena kedua kata yang membangun frasa tersebut tidak berkolokasi. Perhatikan kembali contoh soal nomor 1 di atas: 1. Mr. Young looked at my first two printouts and ———– to the conclusion that I was arguing for Method A. In reality though, I think Method B is better. A. jumped 9



B. ran C. drew D. pulled Yang diberi garis bawah dalam kalimat soal adalah frasa to the conclusion. Kata yang berkolokasi dengan frasa tersebut adalah (A). jumped, sehingga keduanya jika dihubungkan akan membentuk frasa jumped to the conclusion. Kata-kata yang lain seperti (B) ran, (C) drew, atau (D) pulled tidak ada yang berkolokasi dengan frasa to the conclusion. Kita tidak bisa mengatakan (B) ran to the conclusion, (C) drew to the conclusion, atau pun (D) pulled to the conclusion. Perhatikan juga contoh soal nomor 2 di atas. 2. Almost everybody takes a very strong interest —— her method of raising her rowdy children. A. in B. with C. on D. at



Kata yang bergaris bawah dalam kalimat tersebut adalah interest. Kata tersebut berkolokasi dengan kata in. Jadi jawaban yang terpat untuk contoh soal nomor 2 adalah (A) in. Dalam bahasa Indonesia orang bisa mengatakan “Saya tertarik dengan pilihannya. Sekalipun demikian, saat kita menterjemahkan kaliamat tersebut ke dalam bahasa Inggris, kita tidak bisa mengatakan I am interested with her choice karena kata interested tidak berkolokasi dengan kata with. Kalimat di atas bisa kita terjemahkan menjadi I am interested in her choice. Untuk meningkatkan kemampuan memasangkan kata dalam ‘kolokasi’ diperlukan pengetahuan memadai tentang kata-kata yang berkolokasi. Cara yang dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan kolokasi ini adalah dengan cara (1) membaca teks berbahasa Inggris seintensif mungkin, yakni dengan memperhatikan kata-kata yang digunakan dalam teks bacaan; atau (2) mempelajari/menghafal kata-kata yang berkolokasi dalam buku-buku Vocabulary yang membahas kolokasi.



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Latihan Soal AcEPT UGM (Part II. Vocabulary) A. For questions 1 – 15, choose the word or phrase in A, B, C, or D which best completes each blank space in the text.



Text 1



The shark has senses specially (1)_____ the animal's life underwater. Smell is a shark's most acute sense. Approximately 70 percent of the shark's brain is used for smelling functions. Experiments have shown that sharks can detect prey (2)_____ by smell, and the hungrier the shark, the less stimulant needed to elicit a reaction. Sharks are sensitive to light and can detect certain objects even in murky water. Some have a mirror-like layer under the retina that reflects incoming light and increases the (3)_____ light available to the eye. Sharks can also sense electric and magnetic fields. Sensory pores located on the shark's head can detect a prey's bioelectric field (4)_____ if the prey is buried in sand. A shark can also detect the Earth's magnetic field. Open-ocean sharks may use this information to (5)_____ and orient themselves. 1. A. appointed by



C. figured out



B. invented for



D. designed for



2. A. timidly



C. solely



B. hardly



D. disorderly



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3. A. prominence of



C. odor of



B. disposal of



D. amount of



4. A. even



C. however



B. as



D. even though



5. A.sink



C. crawl



B. navigate



D. thrust



Kunci Jawaban: 1.D, 2.C, 3.D, 4.A, 5.B



B. Choose the word or phrase in A, B, C, or D that best collocates (combines) with each of the underlined words or phrases in the following sentences.



1. In medieval days, entire communities united to build churches that would not only glorify religion but that would also be a credit ........ their cities. A. for



C. to



B. on



D. in



2. Accounting information can be classified ........ two categories: financial accounting and managerial accounting. A. to



C. by



B. into



D. on



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3. Amelia Earhart was greatly interested ........ the development of commercial aviation and took an active role in opening the field to women. A. in



C. with



B. at



D. about



4. Since independence, African governments have tried to diversify their exports so their income does not depend ........ just one item. A. in



C. at



B. with



D. on



5. Physical anthropologists often rely ........ rigorous medical scientific methods for their research, in addition to more general observational methods. A. above



C. on



B. under



D. with



Kunci Jawaban: 1.A, 2.B, 3.A, 4.D, 5.C



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PART III Soal AcEPT UGM Grammar and Structure: Cloze Test Untuk soal nomor 16 – 25, pilihlah kata atau frasa pada pilihan A, B, C, dan D yang secara tepat melengkapi bagian-bagian yang kosong dalam teks bacaan. A cloze test (also cloze deletion test) is an exercise, test, or assessment consisting of a portion of text with certain words removed (cloze text), where the participant is asked to replace the missing words. Cloze tests require the ability to understand context and vocabulary in order to identify the correct words or type of words that belong in the deleted passages of a text. This exercise is commonly administered for the assessment of native and second language learning and instruction. Here’s an example, using a paragraph from Facebook’s privacy policy: Site activity information. We keep {1}______ of some of the actions {2}______ take on Facebook, such as {3}______ connections (including joining a group {4}______ adding a friend), creating a {5}______ album, sending a gift, poking {6}______ user, indicating you “like” a {7}______, attending an event, or connecting {8}______ an application. In some cases {9}______ are also taking an action {10}______ you provide information or content {11}______ us. For example, if you {12}______ a video, in addition to {13}______ the actual content you uploaded, {14}______ might log the fact that {15}______ shared it. Here are the missing words from the sample paragraph: {1} track



{9} you



{2} you



{10} when



{3} adding



{11} to



{4} or



{12} share



{5} photo



{13} storing



{6} another



{14} we



{7} post



{15} you



{8} with



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Exercise: The strict version of the test requires that students provide the correct term for each blank, while a looser version has also been used that accepts “partially correct” answers, such as those that are the correct part of speech (verb, noun, pronoun, etc.). These answers indicate that students are learning the syntactic rules of language, but are as yet unable to translate these into a semantic comprehension of the text. The answers for the spaces are as follows: To jump to a scene, click __on__ Henry’s shirt pocket. The note pad appears. Then, click on the options tab. The options page appears. Then, click on the arrows on the right and left side of the scene pictured near the bottom of the page to flip through the scenes. When you find the scene you want, click the picture to go there. Henry’s friend Ginger has a useful item that will help you pinpoint the number of jellybeans in Mr. Sherman’s jar. It is called the solution tester, and Ginger will let you use it whenever you would like. You have to find some clues to put into the solution tester before you use it. Ginger hangs out in Henry’s tree house, where she works on her own guesses for the Jellybean Contest. You can get to the tree house using Henry’s note pad. Go to the options page and click on the tree house. Soal AcEPT, Part III Grammar and Structure (Sentence Completion). Bentuk soal seperti ini artinya peserta disuruh/diminta untuk melengkapi kalimat selanjutnya yang sesuai atau cocok dengan konteks kalimat yang berada pada soal. Atau denga kata lain, peserta diminta untuk melengkapi kalimat pada soal tes dengan pilihan kata atau frasa (A,B,C,D) yang nyambung dengan kalimat asli pada soal. Bentuk soal seperti ini pada umumnya sulit karena peserta harus mempunyai perbendaharaan kata/vocabulary yang cukup banyak. Namun peserta bisa menebak kata atau frasa (yang paling relevan maknanya) yang berada pada pilihan A, B, C, D. Misalnya: A person who feels persecuted in his/her home country may apply for political_________ . A.appellation B.appraisal 15



C.asylum D. ascendance Artinya: Seseorang yang merasa dianiaya dinegara asalnya dapat meminta/mengajukan ……. politik A. panggilan B. penilaian C. suaka D. kenaikan Jawaban yang tepat adalah “C” yakni “asylum” atau “suaka“. Kata asylum memiliki makna yag sangat relevan dengan kalimat pada soal yaitu political asylum (suaka politik).



Latihan Soal AcEPT UGM (Part III. Grammar and Structure) A. Sentence Completion Choose the word or phrase in A, B, C, or D which best completes each of the following sentences.



1. Traditionally, __________in New England on Thanksgiving Day. (A) when served is sweet cider (B) when sweet cider is served (C) is served sweet cider (D) sweet cider is served



2. Lillian D. Wald, public health nurse and __________, was born in Cincinnati Ohio, in 1867. (A) reforming society



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(B) social reformer (C) who reformed society (D) her social reform



3. In 1964__________of Henry Ossawa Tanner's paintings was shown at the Smithsonian Institution. (A) was a major collection (B) that a major collection (C) a collection was major (D) a major collection



4. __________irritating effect on humans, the use of phenol as a general antiseptic has been largely discontinued. (A) Its (B) Where its (C) Since its (D) Because of its



5. In order to remain in existence,__________must produce something consumers consider useful or desirable. (A) a profit-making organization



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(B) a profit-making organization which (C) therefore a profit-making organization (D) whichever a profit-making organization



Kunci Jawaban (Part A) 1.D, 2.B, 3.D, 4.D, 5.A



B. Cloze Test Choose the word or phrase in A, B, C, or D which best completes each blank space in the text.



Text 1



When he was 21 years old, Thomas Edison (1)_____ his first patent. It was for an electric vote counter (2)_____ in the United States House of Representatives. The machine worked perfectly, but the congressmen (3)_____ it. They did not want vote counting to be done quickly. This experience (4)_____ the young inventor a lesson. He decided to follow a simple rule: “First, be sure a thing (5)_____ or needed, then go ahead.”



1. A. take out



C. was taken out



B. took out



D. had taken out



2. A. used to be



C. had used



B. used



D. to be used 18



3. A. not buy



C. had not buy



B. would not buy



D. was not bought



4. A. were teaching



C. taught



B. has taught



D. was taught



5. A. is wanted



C. wanted



B. wants it



D. had wanted



Kunci Jawaban (Part B) 1.D, 2.D, 3.B, 4.C, 5.A



C. Error Identification Choose the word or phrase A, B, C, or D which is wrong.



1. It is supposed [A] that early people got fire accidentally [B] from trees set ablaze by lightning or from spouting volcanoes. Then they [C] carefully kept them [D] burning in huts or caves.



2. Too much [A] electric current may flow [B] into a circuit as a result either of a fault [C] in the circuit and [D] of an outside event such as lightning.



3. The Appalachian Trail, extending [A] approximately 2,020 miles [B] from Maine to Georgia, is



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the longer [C] continuous [D]marked footpath in the world.



4. In his speech, Abraham Lincoln spoke [A] about “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” This [B] phrases imply [C] that government was operated for the good of [D] all citizens. 5. For years, elephants were hunted [A] for food and ivory, and as a result theirs [B] numbers [C] have been greatly [D] reduced.



Kunci Jawaban (Part C) 1.D, 2.D, 3.C, 4.B, 5.B



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PART IV Soal AcEPT UGM Reading Comprehension Test READING COMPREHENSION TEST Tes Reading Comprehension dalam tes AcEPT memiliki kesamaan dengan tes TOEFL sekaligus juga perbedaan. Kesamaan kedua tes ini terletak pada tren soal dan tingkat kesulitannya; sementara perbedaannya terletak pada orientasi bacaan. Jika teks bacaan dalam tes TOEFL lebih menitikberatkan pada informasi yang condong ke Amerika dan Kanada, maka AcEPT lebih bersifat global, yakni dapat berisi informasi tentang hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan Amerika, Kanada, Inggris, Australia, Asia, ataupun Afrika. Tes Reading Comprehension dalam AcEPT berisi 40 butir pertanyaan dengan waktu pengerjaan 40 menit. Waktu yang terbatas ini harus digunakan untuk membaca empat buah teks akademik dari disiplin ilmu yang berbeda-beda yang masing-masing tersusun atas 400 – 500 kata. Setiap teks bacaan diikuti oleh 10 butir pertanyaan. Gambaran ini menunjukkan betapa perlunya seorang calon peserta tes mempersiapkan langkah-langkah taktis untuk mengerjakan Reading Comprehension ini. Rahasia Reading Comprehension Jika Anda ingin sukses mengerjakan bagian ini maka Anda harus mengetahui ‘Rahasia’ Reading Comprehension. Pada bagian ini anda akan ditunjukkan rahasianya, yakni ‘apa yang diujikan’ dan ‘bagaimana mempersiapkan diri menghadapi tes ini’. Tidak banyak orang tahu bahwa tes Reading Comprehension, entah itu tes TOEFL, EPT, ataupun AcEPT sebenarnya mengujikan hal yang tidak jauh berbeda, yakni tentang simpulsimpul penting dalam sebuah teks bacaan. Jadi sekalipun teks bacaan yang harus Anda hadapi tidak sesuai dengan bidang Anda, tidak ada alasan bagi Anda untuk menyerah saat menghadapi tes ini. Yang Anda perlukan adalah mengetahui simpul-simpul bacaan. Materi Uji Reading Comprehension No. Soal-Soal Diujikan: 1



Main Idea Questions



2



Vocabulary Questions



3



Factual Questions 21



4



Inference Questions



5



Reference Questions



6



Paragraph Organizations Questions



7



Analogy Questions



8



Viewpoint Questions



Sebelum Anda mengikuti tes AcEPT yang sebenarnya alangkah baiknya Anda mempersiapkan diri dengan sebaik-baiknya karena tes AcEPT ini memiliki tingkat kesulitan tinggi. Persiapan yang terlalu singkat tidak akan membuahkan hasil optimal. Saran ini tidak hanya berlaku untuk tes AcEPT tapi untuk semua tes bahasa Inggris yang Anda hadapi. LATIHAN-1 READING



READING TEXT Choose the best answer to each question based on the information which is stated or implied in the text. No student of a foreign language needs to be told that grammar is complex. By changing word sequences and by adding a range of auxiliary verbs and suffixes, we are able to communicate tiny variations in meaning. We can turn a statement into a question, state whether an action has taken place or is soon to take place, and perform many other word tricks to convey subtle differences in meaning. Nor is this complexity inherent to the English language. All languages, even those of so-called ‘primitive’ tribes have clever grammatical components. The Cherokee pronoun system, for example, can distinguish between ‘you and I’, ‘several other people and I’ and ‘you, another person and I’. In English, all these meanings are summed up in the one, crude pronoun ‘we’. Grammar is universal and plays a part in every language, no matter how widespread it is. So the question which has baffled many linguists is – who created grammar? At first, it would appear that this question is impossible to answer. To find out how grammar is created, someone needs to be present at the time of a language’s creation, documenting its emergence. Many historical linguists are able to trace modern complex languages back to earlier languages, but in order to answer the question of how complex languages are actually formed, the researcher needs to observe how languages are started from scratch. Amazingly, however, this is possible. Some of the most recent languages evolved due to the Atlantic slave trade. At that time, slaves from a number of different ethnicities were forced to work together under colonizer’s rule. Since they had no opportunity to learn each other’s languages, they developed a makeshift language called a pidgin. Pidgins are strings of words copied from the language of the 22



landowner. They have little in the way of grammar, and in many cases it is difficult for a listener to deduce when an event happened, and who did what to whom. [A] Speakers need to use circumlocution in order to make their meaning understood. [B] Interestingly, however, all it takes for a pidgin to become a complex language is for a group of children to be exposed to it at the time when they learn their mother tongue. [C] Slave children did not simply copy the strings of words uttered by their elders, they adapted their words to create a new, expressive language. [D] Complex grammar systems which emerge from pidgins are termed creoles, and they are invented by children. Further evidence of this can be seen in studying sign languages for the deaf. Sign languages are not simply a series of gestures; they utilise the same grammatical machinery that is found in spoken languages. Moreover, there are many different languages used worldwide. The creation of one such language was documented quite recently in Nicaragua. Previously, all deaf people were isolated from each other, but in 1979 a new government introduced schools for the deaf. Although children were taught speech and lip reading in the classroom, in the playgrounds they began to invent their own sign system, using the gestures that they used at home. It was basically a pidgin. Each child used the signs differently, and there was no consistent grammar. However, children who joined the school later, when this inventive sign system was already around, developed a quite different sign language. Although it was based on the signs of the older children, the younger children’s language was more fluid and compact, and it utilised a large range of grammatical devices to clarify meaning. What is more, all the children used the signs in the same way. A new creole was born. Some linguists believe that many of the world’s most established languages were creoles at first. The English past tense –ed ending may have evolved from the verb ‘do’. ‘It ended’mayonce have been’It end-did’. Therefore it would appear that even the most widespread languages were partly created by children. Children appear to have innate grammatical machinery in their brains, which springs to life when they are first trying to make sense of the world around them. Their minds can serve to create logical, complex structures, even when there is no grammar present for them to copy. 1 In paragraph 1, why does the writer include information about the Cherokee language? (A) To show how simple, traditional cultures can have complicated grammar structures. (B)



To



show



how



English



grammar



differs



from



Cherokee



grammar.



(C) To prove that complex grammar structures were invented by the Cherokees. (D) To demonstrate how difficult it is to learn the Cherokee language. 2 What can be inferred about the slaves’ pidgin language? (A) It contained complex grammar. (B) It was based on many different languages.



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(C) It was difficult to understand, even among slaves. (D) It was created by the land-owners. 3 All the following sentences about Nicaraguan sign language are true EXCEPT: (A) The language has been created since 1979. (B) The language is based on speech and lip reading. (C) The language incorporates signs which children used at home. (D) The language was perfected by younger children.



4. In paragraph 3, where can the following sentence be placed? It included standardised word orders and grammatical markers that existed in neither the pidgin language, nor the language of the colonizers. (A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D 5 ’From scratch’ in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to: (A) from the very beginning (B) in simple cultures (C) by copying something else (D) by using written information 6 ’Make-shift’ in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to: (A) complicated and expressive (B) simple and temporary (C) extensive and diverse (D) private and personal 7 Which sentence is closest in meaning to the highlighted sentence? Grammar is universal and plays a part in every language, no matter how widespread it is. (A) All languages, whether they are spoken by a few people or a lot of people, contain grammar. (B) Some languages include a lot of grammar, whereas other languages contain a little. 24



(C) Languages which contain a lot of grammar are more common that languages that contain a little. (D) The grammar of all languages is the same, no matter where the languages evolved. 8 All of the following are features of the new Nicaraguan sign language EXCEPT: (A) All children used the same gestures to show meaning. (B) The meaning was clearer than the previous sign language. (C) The hand movements were smoother and smaller. (D) New gestures were created for everyday objects and activities. 9 Which idea is presented in the final paragraph? (A) English was probably once a creole. (B) The English past tense system is inaccurate. (C) Linguists have proven that English was created by children. (D) Children say English past tenses differently from adults. 10 Look at the word ‘consistent’ in paragraph 4. This word could best be replaced by which of the following? (A) natural (B) predictable (C) imaginable (D) uniform



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Latihan Soal AcEPT UGM (Part IV. Reading Comprehension) The planet Mars has always captured the human imagination. There is its redness. We know now that the color comes from chemical reactions that long ago locked up Mars's oxygen in reddish minerals on its surface, causing the "rusting" of the planet. To the ancient people, the red color meant only one thing: blood. From the earliest times, Mars has been associated with bloodshed. Even the astronomical symbol for Mars, a circle with an arrow pointing at 2 o'clock, is supposed to represent a shield and a spears. As astronomers used telescopes, Mars mythology grew. It was the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli who, in 1877, produced the most lasting bit of Martian folklore. He saw what he took to be long, thin, unnaturally straight lines on the Martian surface. He called them canali, a word that can translate into English either as "channels" or "canals." Unfortunately, the latter translation was used, and the canals of Mars were born. Of course, if there were canals, there had to be canal builders, so once more Mars was peopled with all manner of intelligent life forms! In 1965 Mariner 4 sent back first close-up pictures of the Martian surface. Not only were there no canals, but Mariner 4 and the spacecraft that followed revealed a planet that was a cratered, lifeless desert. We have subsequently learned that Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the entire solar system, and to a canyon system stretching for almost 3,000 miles around the Martian equator. The atmosphere is extremely thin (equivalent to that at 130,000 feet above Earth) and made up almost entirely of carbon dioxide. The surface is cold, almost never getting above freezing even at the summertime equator. Perhaps the greatest surprise were the photographs from Mariner 9 in 1971 and 1972 that showed channels on the surface. Now these were not Schiaparelli's canali there's, no way



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these channels could be seen by even the most powerful earthbound telescope. They are unmistakable water courses, however. There is no water in them now, but they trace out the path of water that flowed in the past. They are like the dry river of the American West, through which water from rain flows, but which are dry most of the time. Water once ran on the surface of Mars. New explorations on Mars by the spacecraft Pathfinder, due to arrive on the planet's surface in 1997, are planned to give scientists more information about possible past life on Mars. One of Pathfinder's missions will be to lay the foundation for future efforts to find fossil remains of living things. The landing site for the Mars Pathfinder is going to be the mouth of a flood channel called Ares Vallis.



1. It can be inferred from the passage that myths about Mars (A) are widely believed today (B) have been dispelled by current space exploration (C) are based on scientific facts (D) depict it as a lifeless planet



2. Which of the following have NOT been a source of information about Mars? (A) Spacecraft (B) Telescopes (C) Conjecture (D) Astronauts



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3. The phrase "the latter" in line 21 refers to (A) canals (B) canali (C) channels (D) unusual straight lines



4. Where in the passage does the author give information about the topography of Mars? (A) Lines 2-6 (B) Lines 26-32 (C) Lines 38-46 (D) Lines 58-62



5. The word "powerful" in line 46 is closest in meaning to (A) expensive (B) dominant (C) influential (D) strong



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6. According to the passage, the redness of Mars is a result of (A) a chemical reaction on the planet surface (B) the old age of the planet (C) the reflection of the Sun (D) an abundance of oxygen in the planet's atmosphere



7. Why do scientists think that the channels of Mars were waterways? (A) Bones have been found there. (B) They still have a little water in them. (C) They resemble a similar system on Earth. (D) They are straight and narrow.



8. According to the passage, Pathfinder's mission to Mars includes (A) preparing for future fossil-finding expeditions (B) placing specialized equipment on the planet's surface (C) checking for flood damage (D) bringing back fossils for further study



Kunci Jawaban 1.B, 2.D, 3.A, 4.B, 5.D, 6.B, 7.C, 8.D



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PART V Soal AcEPT UGM Composing Skill Composing Skills merupakan salah satu bagian penting tes AcEPT karena kemampuan mengerjakan bagian ini akan memberikan gambaran kepada peserta tes tentang potensi kemampuan menulis dalam bahasa Inggris, dan secara pragmatis, kemampuan mengerjakan bagian ini akan memberikan kontribusi signifikan dalam scoring. Agar peserta tes dapat mengantisipasi soal Composing Skills, berikut digambarkan tentang apa yang diujikan dalam Composing Skill dan bagaimana mempersiapkan diri menghadapi tes ini. Rahasia Composing Skills Composing Skills mengujikan kemampuan menyusun kalimat dalam bahasa Inggris. Yang harus diperhatikan peserta tes dalam uji kemampuan ini adalah: (1) bagaimana kalimat itu tersusun, dan (2) bagaimana kalimat-kalimat itu disusun menjadi sebuah paragraf. Secara kongkrit, Composing Skills mengujikan hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan: [A] kemampuan me-rekomposisi atau memparafrasa kalimat (Paraphrasing sentences), [B] membetulkan atau mengedit bagian yang secara gramatik dianggap error (editing), [C] menentukan konstruksi kalimat yang berterima (correct sentences), [D] menyusun kalimat secara logis (logical order), dan [E] menyusun paragraf dengan cara mengurutkan kalimat-kalimat yang disediakan secara acak (jumbled sentences). Agar Anda tahu apa yang harus Anda lakuka untuk soal jenis ini, pelajari instruksi soal untuk bagian A ini sebagaimana tertulis berikut ini: Bagian A – Paraphrasing Sentences Numbers 1 – 10 contain complete and correct sentences. For each number, you are required to choose the most appropriate paraphrased sentence closest in meaning to the original one. Soal nomor 1 – 10 berisi kalimat yang telah lengkap dan benar. Untuk masing-masing nomor Anda diminta memilih parafrasa kalimat A, B, C, dan D yang paling dekat artinya dengan kalimat asal.



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Contoh soal: 1. Fredy has decided to quit her job. I have to turn in his room key. (A) Fredy, who turned in his room key, has decided to quit his job. (B) Fredy, whose room key I have to turn in, has decided to quit her job. (C) Fredy, who had turned in his room key, decided to quit his job. (D) Fredy, whose room key I have to turn it, he has decided to quit his job.



2. The snapping turtle is actually quite docile. It is believed by many to be an aggressive animal. (A) The snapping turtle, is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite docile. (B) The snapping turtle, which is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, which is actually quite docile. (C) The snapping turtle, believed by many to be an aggressive animal, is actually quite docile. (D) The snapping turtle, which is believed by many to be an aggressive animal, actually quite docile. Yang harus Anda lakukan untuk mengerjakan soal jenis ini adalah dengan mengubah kalimat sedemikian rupa (dalam pikiran Anda) sehingga kalimat itu dapat berubah menjadi kalimat lain yang susunan katanya berbeda tetapi memiliki makna yang sama. Itu tugas berat yang harus dilakukan peserta tes; namun tugas berat ini telah diperingan dengan adanya pilihan-pilihan jawaban yang sudah disediakan, sehingga Anda cukup melihat mana kalimat yang ditawarkan dalam opsi jawaban itu yang memiliki makna sama dengan kalimat soal, dengan struktur gramatika yang berterima dalam bahasa Inggris.



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Latihan Soal AcEPT UGM (Part V. Composing Skills) In this section of the test, you are required to demonstrate your ability to paraphrase sentences and to recognize language that is not appropriate for standard written English. There are five parts to this section, with special direction for each part. A. Numbers 1 – 10 contain complete and correct sentences. For each number, you are required to choose the most appropriate paraphrased sentence closest in meaning to the original one.



1. There are probably more than 10 billion trees under cultivation on the coffee plantations of the world. (A) More than 10 billion people cultivated coffee in plantation around the world. (B) May be more than 10 billion trees are cultivated on the coffee plantations in the world. (C) More than 10 billion coffee trees in the world are planted under supervision. (D) Cultivating more than 10 billion trees on the coffee plantation is probably not an easy thing to do.



2. Some 20 years after the end of World War I, lingering disputes erupted in an even larger and bloodier conflict—World War II. (A) 20 years since the end of World War I, a volcano erupted and became an even larger and bloodier disaster like the World War II. (B) New disputes erupted in an even larger and bloodier conflict during World War I although the World War II also broke for 20 years. (C) Many 20-year conflicts may cause lingering disputes that will erupt in an even larger and bloodier war such as World War I. (D) Around 20 years after World War I ended, the remaining conflict became an even more massive and worse war, namely World War II.



3. Representative democracy was practiced in the countries in Europe, where the great number of citizens made it impossible for all of them to meet in one place. (A) Because the great number of citizens made it impossible for all of them to gather in a single area, then Representative democracy is neither a practical nor best choice for countries in Europe. (B) Because the great number of citizens made it impossible for all of them to meet in one place, Representative democracy was only suitable for the countries in Europe. (C) Because the large number of people in the countries made it impossible for the entire of them to gather in an area, Representative democracy was adopted in the countries in Europe. (D) Representative democracy was practical for the European countries because the great number of citizens made it possible for all of them to meet in one place.



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Soal-soal nomor lainnya ada disini! B. Numbers 11 – 20 contain incorrect sentences. The incorrect part of the sentence has been identified for you. You are required to find the correct option to replace the underlined part. 4. Warner Brothers became knows for its tightly budgeted, technically competent entertainment films. A. was knowing



C. to knowing



B. known



D. had known



5. A vaccine is a substance administered to humans or animals protect them from serious diseases. A. to protect



C. protected



B. protects



D. which protecting



6. The size of Tyrannosaurus’ forelimbs have puzzling paleontologists, who have tried to determine their use for such a powerful animal. A. puzzle



C. has puzzled



B. had been puzzling



D. puzzled



Soal-soal nomor lainnya ada disini! C. Numbers 21 – 30, Choose the most appropriate and correct sentence.



7. A. The first scientist to recognize and use the power of the lever was Archimedes. B. The first scientist to recognized and used the power of the lever was Archimedes. C. The first scientist recognized and used the power of the lever were Archimedes. D. The first scientist recognizes and uses the power of the lever was Archimedes.



8. A. The most used system commonly of writing by and for blind persons is Braille called. B. The most commonly used system of writing by and for persons blind is called Braille. C. The most used system commonly of is writing by and for persons blind is called Braille. D. The most commonly used system of writing by and for blind persons is called Braille.



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9. A. Although cholera is usually not life-threatening, the symptoms produces it can extremely uncomfortable. B. Although cholera is usually not life-threatening, the symptoms it produces can be extreme uncomfortable. C. Although cholera is usually not life-threatening, the symptoms it produces can be extremely uncomfortable. D. Although cholera is usually not life-threatening, the symptoms produces it can be extremely uncomfortable.



Soal-soal nomor lainnya ada disini! D. Numbers 31 – 36 contain jumbled sentences. One of the sentences has been underlined. You are required to choose the next sentence which logically follows the underlined one.



10. 1. If an object held near the surface of the earth is released, it will fall and accelerate, or pick up speed, as it descends. 2. The weight of an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity. 3. The force of gravity on an object is also called the object's weight. 4. This acceleration is caused by gravity, the force of attraction between the object and the earth. 5. This force depends on the object's mass, or the amount of matter in the object. A. 2



C. 4



B. 3



D. 5



11. 1. Internet is composed of many interconnected computer networks. 2.Instead, an individual who has Internet access can communicate directly with anyone else on the Internet, post information for general consumption or retrieve information. 3. Each network may link tens, hundreds, or even thousands of computers, enabling them to share information and processing power. 4. The Internet has made it possible for people all over the world to communicate with one another effectively and inexpensively. 5. Unlike traditional broadcasting media, such as radio and television, the Internet does not have a centralized distribution system. A. 2



B. 3



C. 4



D. 5



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12. 1. Pregnancy starts when a male’s sperm fertilizes a female’s ovum, and the fertilized ovum implants in the lining of the uterus. 2. By the 12th week of pregnancy many of these symptoms have subsided, but others appear. 3. Some women also experience cravings for unusual substances such as ice, clay, or cornstarch; this condition, called pica, can indicate a dietary deficiency in iron or other nutrients. 4. Other symptoms include breast tenderness and swelling, fatigue, nausea or sensitivity to smells, increased frequency of urination, mood swings, and weight gain. 5. Because pregnancy changes a woman’s normal hormone patterns, one of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed menstrual period. A. 2



C. 4



B. 3



D. 5



Soal-soal nomor lainnya ada disini! E. Numbers 37 – 40 contain jumbled sentences. You are required to identify the correct order to form a good paragraph.



13. 1. Thorough chewing cuts food into small pieces that are more easily attacked by the saliva, which moistens the food so it can be swallowed easily. 2. Digestion begins in the mouth, where the food is cut and chopped by the teeth. 3. From the mouth the food is swallowed into the tubelike esophagus, or gullet. 4. The saliva also contains the enzyme amylase, which changes some starches into simple sugars . 5. The tongue helps mix the food particles with a digestive juice called saliva, which is secreted by glands in the mouth. A. 2-3-1-4-5



C. 2-5-1-4-3



B. 2-5-4-3-1



D. 2-3-5-1-4



14. 1. As it lays the eggs, it may or may not fertilize them with sperm from its sperm sac. 2. The female eggs develop into fertile queens, sterile workers, or soldiers. 3. Most of the ants in a colony are workers. 4. A queen ant digs a hole where it lays its eggs and waits until the first ants emerge. 5. Fertilized eggs result in females, while unfertilized eggs produce males. A. 4-1-5-2-3



C. 4-5-2-3-1



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B. 4-3-5-2-1



D. 4-2-1-5-3



15. 1. The exercise which involve physical effort such as walking, swimming, bicycling, and jogging is known as active exercise. 2. It includes many physical therapy techniques. 3. Physical training of the human body to improve the way it functions is known as exercise. 4. On the other hand, the exercise which involves a machine or the action of other people is called passive exercise. 5. The exercise can be categorized as either active or passive. A. 3-2-1-4-5



C. 3-1-4-2-5



B. 3-5-2-4-1



D. 3-5-1-4-2



Soal-soal nomor lainnya ada disini!



Kunci Jawaban: 1.B



9.B



2.D



10.B



3.C



11.D



4.B



12.A



5.A



13.A



6.C



14.D



7.D



15.B



8.C



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Soal ACEPT UGM Composing Skill Jumbled Sentences Soal nomor 37 – 40 berisi kalimat-kalimat yang tidak disusun dengan urutan yang logis. Anda diminta untuk memilih opsi yang menujukkan urutan kalimat logis yang membentuk paragraph. Exercise 1 Look at the following text about growing cotton in India. The paragraphs have not been printed in the correct order. Arrange the paragraphs in the correct order. Remember that the topic of one paragraph should follow logically from the topic of the last paragraph and should lead on to the topic of the next paragraph. (A) Most of the farmers are extremely poor. Attracted by cheap loans from pesticides traders and the prospect of a quick buck, they borrowed heavily to raise cotton on small plots of land. (B) According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the crop losses and destruction in Andhra Pradesh arose from the repeated application of excessive amounts of chemicals – a practice actively encouraged by pesticides traders. (C) The suicide of Samala Mallaiah in Nagara village grabbed media headlines. He owned one acre of land, leased two more and grew cotton on all three. After making a loss in the first year, he leased yet more land in an attempt to recover. Confronted with falling prices, mounting debts and pest attacks, he committed harakiri. ‘Cotton has given us shattered dreams,’ said one old farmer in Nagara village. (D) As many as 60,000 small farmers in the region of Andhra Pradesh, southern India, have taken to farming cotton instead of food crops. Some 20 of them have recently committed suicide by eating lethal doses of pesticide. (E) Whitefly, boll weevils and caterpillars multiplied and destroyed their crops, despite the constant application of pesticides. The average yield of cotton fields in Andhra Pradesh fell by more than half in just one year. Now the farmers are in no position to repay the loans or feed their families. (F) Nearly half the pesticides used in India go into protecting cotton, the most important commercial crop in the country. However, pests have shown increased immunity to a range of pesticides. Last year there were heavy crop losses due to leaf-curl, which is caused by the dreaded whitefly. This nondescript, milky-white fly sucks sap from the cotton leaves, making them curl and dry up. The fly struck first in Pakistan and north-western India. Then it turned south. (New Internationalist, June 1998, p. 13) A) A C F E B D B) D A E C F B C) E A C F B D D) C D A E F B E) B D A C F E



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Paragraphs – answers (berikut adalah urutan kronologis bacaan yang benar) Jawaban yang benar adalah (B) D A E C F B As many as 60,000 small farmers in the region of Andhra Pradesh, southern India, have taken to farming cotton instead of food crops. Some 20 of them have recently committed suicide by eating lethal doses of pesticide. Most of the farmers are extremely poor. Attracted by cheap loans from pesticides traders and the prospect of a quick buck, they borrowed heavily to raise cotton on small plots of land. Whitefly, boll weevils and caterpillars multiplied and destroyed their crops, despite the constant application of pesticides. The average yield of cotton fields in Andhra Pradesh fell by more than half in just one year. Now the farmers are in no position to repay the loans or feed their families. The suicide of Samala Mallaiah in Nagara village grabbed media headlines. He owned one acre of land, leased two more and grew cotton on all three. After making a loss in the first year, he leased yet more land in an attempt to recover. Confronted with falling prices, mounting debts and pest attacks, he committed harakiri. ‘Cotton has given us shattered dreams,’ said one old farmer in Nagara village. Nearly half the pesticides used in India go into protecting cotton, the most important commercial crop in the country. However, pests have shown increased immunity to a range of pesticides. Last year there were heavy crop losses due to leaf-curl, which is caused by the dreaded whitefly. This nondescript, milky-white fly sucks sap from the cotton leaves, making them curl and dry up. The fly struck first in Pakistan and north-western India. Then it turned south. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the crop losses and destruction in Andhra Padresh arose from the repeated application of excessive amounts of chemicals – a practice actively encouraged by pesticides traders.



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