DISCUSSION TEXT

The following text is for questions 1 to 5.

A few years ago, distance learning was seen as an inferior way but nowadays even famous and
established traditional colleges and universities are providing distance learning courses and it is
generally considered a way to improve one's life.

However, people still argue whether distance learning give more advantage or disadvantage. Some of them
who see the benefit of distance learning will say that distance learning needs no commuting. Of course it
saves money and time that students would take. Furthermore, distance learning can be done at any student’s
convenience. Mostly of the classes of distance learning are asynchronous. It means that students do not have
to attend a lecture at a fixed particular time and place. Students can review the assignments and do their
homework during off-hours or from home. Additionally, distance learning gives more accessibility. No one
can deny it. People with limited mobility may encounter the problem when they take traditional class. With
the online class system, the problem is absent.

Despite the many advantages, the other people will see that distance learning is costly and needs complex
technology. To attend online learning, student must have a computer with possibly access to the internet.
Admitted or not, such technology devices are not always available for common students. Another
disadvantage of distance learning is that it does not provide immediate feedback. Unlikely traditional
classroom, students have to wait for the feedback and comment until the instructor has review the works and
sent response to them. Most of the time students will study alone. Distance learners may feel isolated or
miss that social physical interaction that comes with attending a traditional classroom.

Regarding the individual’s learning style, some students are able to learn when there is a live interaction
between them and the available of accompanying teacher while others don’t really need it. So before
deciding a choice of attending distance learning or not, each student needs to do a fair analysis regarding the
kind of person he/she is.

1. One of the advantages of distance learning is

….
A. each learner needs to conduct a fair
analysis
B. the distance learners do not need
commuting
C. the distance learners miss the social physical interaction
D. technology devices are not always available for common students
E. the distance learning does not need to provide immediate feedback

2 What is the text mainly talks about ?

A. the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning
B. the benefit of distance learning for the learners
C. more advantages of distance learning given to the learners
D. providing distance learning courses for the learners
E. increasing the learners’ achievement through the distance learning

3. Why must each student have a computer with access internet to attend the distance learning?
A. To avoid commuting
B. In order to follow online learning
C. In order to communicate easily
D. To build the communicative interaction
E. To create the classroom activity

4. The excess of the distance learning is ….

A. the students are easy to have social physical interaction
B. the students will spend a lot of money for it
 C. the students are easy to obtain science and knowledge
D. the students will not become autonomous learners
E. each student does not need to conduct a fair analysis
5 “People with limited mobility may encounter the problem when they take traditional class.”
(Paragraph 2)
The underlined word is similar to ….
A. meet
B. count
C. create
D. induce
E. increase
This text is for questions 6 to 9.
Studying in a foreign country is becoming more and more popular. The experience is valued by students
and potential employers. However, there are positive and negative points to be taken into account.

On the positive side, studying abroad has many advantages. By studying abroad, a student will
acquire advanced language skills. This can of course, enrich his/her knowledge, which can be a
valuable asset for the student’s future. The student will also experience a different educational
system which is instructive and insightful. And the interesting thing about studying abroad is that the
student can make friends from all over the world. Besides making new friends, the student also has an
opportunity to travel around the country.

On the negative side, the travel and living costs of studying abroad may be higher than if the student studies
in his/her own country. And if the student’s command of the foreign language is not good enough, he/she
will learn only a little and their academic performance in that language may be limited. He/she may also find
the type of teaching unproductive, with less teacher/student contact and larger classes than in the student’s
homecountry. Moreover, having many friends from different cultures can be troublesome because
sometimes the student has difficulty adapting to a different social environment.

Therefore, to study abroad, a student should be mentally prepared and get as much information about the
destination country as possible, so that he/she will be able to take advantage of the opportunity.

6. What is the main idea of paragraph two?

A. The living costs of studying abroad
B. The negative sides of studying abroad
C. The popularity of studying abroad.
D. The positive sides of studying abroad.
E. What a student should prepare before studying abroad.

7. Why having many friends from different cultures can be troublesome for a student who studies abroad ?
A. because the cultures are different
B. because he/she lives far from his/her family
C. because sometimes they don’t care about cultures
D. because living in another country needs hard efforts
E. because sometimes he/she has difficulty adapting to a different social environment

8. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the text?

A. Studying abroad can advance language skill.
B. Studying abroad can enrich the student’s knowledge.
C. Students must have enough information about the destination country.
D. Students can make many friends from all over the world by studying abroad.
E. Living cost of studying abroad is less than studying in the student’s home country.

9 “. . ., a student will acquire advanced language skills.” (Paragraph 2) What

 is the synonym of the word ‘acquire’?
A. Need.
B. Get.
C. Show.
D. Make
E. Describe
This text is for questions 10 to 13.
Television advertising is the most powerful form of advertising traditionally, as it is a combination of audio
and video advertising messages with unlimited varieties, unlike other means of advertising like newspapers,
magazines, radio stations and websites. Based on research reports, people spend four and half-hours
watching TV as it is the most common leisure activity. As a result, many times television is considered as
the ‘king’ of advertising media as it has so much impact on people. It is also considered as the ‘king’ of
advertising costs (expensive).

Though television advertising may not make an instant sale like search engine advertising, it strongly
influences customers and slowly persuades the target market. Television advertising enables the product to
hit large number of people (at regional and national level) in short span of time. Different segments of
people like children, house wives, young people are targeted by organization through different channels
(cartoon) at different timings (time at which many people watch TV). Creative television advertisements can
easily attract people and makes them to buy products. This is very advantageous for small businesses.

Further, television advertising also helps in conveying a message (advertisement) with visuals, sound and
action. It also provides flexibility and selectivity options for customers to choose a product offered by many
companies.

The negative sides of television advertising is that the costs involved in television advertising are very high
as it needs to be repeated for many times and so it costs more to air advertisements on television channels.
Television advertisements are short, so they do not convey more about the product.

If television advertisements are not creative, people do not show interest to see them and do not buy the
products. Also, sometimes television advertisements will be in such a way that people do not believe it, so
they do not buy the products.

Television advertisements have both advantages and disadvantages. When rightly chosen and right
presented based on the purpose helps businesses to reach their target customers flawlessly.

10. What is The text mainly discusses about pros and cons ?
A. television
B. advertising company
C. advertisements
D. products advertised on television
E. television advertising

[Link] is television called the king of advertising media?

A. Because it has great impacts on people
B. Because it always broadcasts advertisements
C. Because many people watch television
D. Because it attracts customers to buy some products
E. Because it advertises many products

12.“It also provides flexibility and selectivity options . . .” (Paragraph 3)

What does ‘ it ‘ refer to ?
A. .message
B. action
C. television
 D. television advertising
E. advertised product

13.“Creative television advertisements can easily attract people . . .” (Paragraph 2)

What does the opposite of “attract” ?
A. interest
B. .repel
C. persuade
D. convince
E. [Link]
The following text is for questions 14 to 17.
During the twentieth century the world has witnessed the inventions of many amazing things. Television is a
great invention, but there are arguments for and against whether it is the best invention of the twentieth century

Television was invented in the1920s and first came to Australia in 1956. It has played an important role in
communicating news. We can learn instantly about what is happening in the world because of television. Also,
television has provided people with entertainment in their own homes. People in isolated areas can still feel the
other part of the world because of television. For these reasons I feel that television could be considered the best
invention of the twentieth century.

On the other hand, there are other inventions that could be considered better than television. Some might argue
that computer should be awarded the distinction of being the best invention because computer has made life
easier. Others might argue that medical inventions such as heart pacemakers are best inventions because they
help to save live.

It can be seen that there are reasons for and against television being considered the best invention of the
twentieth century. After looking at both sides I still believe it is the best invention.

14. What does the text mainlydiscuss?

A. The role of television in communicatingnews
B. The best invention of the twentiethcentury
C. The positive and negative impacts oftelevision
D. Television is the invention of the twentieth century
E. An argument whether television is the best invention of the twentieth century.

15. We can learn instantly about….

A. withease
B. withoutdelay
C. without doubt
D. verysimply
E. ratherlately

16. Which of the following is NOT the benefit of atelevision?

A. It communicates news
B. It informs people instantly what is happening in the world
C. It makes people have easylife
D. It makes people in isolated areas can feel the other part of theworld
E. It provides people with entertainment

17 Which one is TRUE according to thetext?

A. Television is the only greatinvention
B. Television keeps amazing things from around the world
C. Television makes people feel isolated
D. The writer is sure that television is the greatest invention
E. Computers make people’s lives more difficult.