Reading Comprehension-2

Vern Rosalin / 125180127
Fiona / 125180141
Winny Wijayanti / 125180143
Natalia Ervina / 125180160
Text 3
Although stage plays have been set to music since the ancient Greeks, when the dramas of
Sophocles and Aeschylus were accompanied by lyres and flutes, the usually accepted date for the
beginning of opera as we know it is 1600. As part of the celebration of the marriage of King Henry
IV of France to the Italian aristocrat Maria de Medici, the Florentine composer Jacopo Perí
produced his famous Euridice, generally considered to be the first opera. Following his example,
a group of Italian musicians, poets, and noblemen called the Camerata began to revive the style of
musical story that had been used in Greek tragedy. The Camerata took most of the plots for their
operas from Greek and Roman history and mythology, writing librettos or dramas for music. They
called their compositions opera in musica or musical works. It is from this phrase that the word
“opera” is borrowed.
For several years, the center of opera was Florence, but gradually, during the baroque period, it
spread throughout Italy. By the late 1600s, operas were being written and performed in Europe,
especially in England, France, and Germany. But, for many years, the Italian opera was considered
the ideal, and many non-Italian composers continued to use Italian librettos. The European form
de-emphasized the dramatic aspect. New orchestral effects and even ballet were introduced under
the guise of opera. Composers gave in to the demands of singers, writing many operas that were
nothing more than a succession of brilliant tricks for the voice. Complicated arias, recitatives, and
duets evolved. The aria, which is a long solo, may be compared to a song in which the characters
express their thoughts and feelings. The recitative, which is also a solo, is a recitation set to music
whose purpose is to continue the story line. The duet is a musical piece written for two voices
which may serve the function of either an aria or a recitative.
1. This passage is a summary of

A. opera in Italy B. the Camerata C. the development of opera D. Euridice.
Answer : C
2. According to this passage, when did modern opera begin?
A. in the time of the ancient Greeks. C. At the beginning of the sixteenth century
B. in the Fifteenth century D. at the beginning of the seventeenth century.
Answer : D
3. The word “it” in line 3 refers to
A. opera B date C. era D. music
Answer : A
4. According to the author, what did Jacopo Perí write?

A. Greek tragedy C. The opera Maria de Medici
B. The first opera D. The opera The Camerata
Answer : B
5. The author suggests that Euridice was produced

A. in France C. without much success.
B. originally by Sophocles and Aeschylus D. for the wedding of King Henry IV
Answer :D
6. What was the Camerata?

A. A group of Greek musicians
B. Musicians who developed a new musical drama based upon Greek drama.
C. A style of music not known in Italy.
D. The name given to the court of King Henry IV.
Answer : B
7. The word “revive” in line 7 could best be replaced by

A. appreciate B. resume C. modify D. investigate
Answer : B
8. The word “plots” in line 8 is closest in meaning to

A. locations B. instruments C. stories D. inspiration
Answer : C
9. From what did the term “opera” derive?

A. Greek and Roman history and mythology.
B. Non-Italian composers
C. The Italian phrase the means “musical works”
D. The idea of composer Jacopo Peri.
Answer : C
10. Which of the following is an example of a solo?

A. A recitative B. a duet C. An opera D. A lyre
Answer: A
Text 4
According to the controversial sunspot theory, great storms on the surface of the sun hurt stream
of solar particles into the atmosphere, causing a shift in the weather on earth.
A typical sunspot consists of a dark central umbra surrounded by a lighter penumbra of light and
dark threads extending out from the center like the spokes of a wheel. Actually, the sunspots are
cooler than the rest of the photosphere, which may account for their color. Typically, the
temperature in a sunspot umbra is about 4000 K, whereas the temperature in a penumbra registers
5500 K, and the granules outside the spot are 6000 K.
Sunspot range in size from tiny granules to complex structures with areas stretching for billions
of square miles. About 5 percent of the spots are large enough so that they can be seen without
instruments; consequently, observations of sunspots have been recorded for several thousand
years.
Sunspot have been observed in arrangement of one to more than one hundred spot, but they tend
to occur in pairs. There is also a marked tendency for the two spots of a pair to have opposite
magnetic polarities. Furthermore, the strength of the magnetic field associated with any given
sunspot is closely related to the spot’s size.
Although there is no theory that completely explains the nature and function of sunspots, several
models attempt to relate the phenomenon to magnetic fields along the lines of longitude from the
north and south poles of the sun.
1. What is the author’s main purpose in the passage?

A. to propose a theory to explain sunspots.
B. To describe the nature of sunspots
C. To compare the umbra and the penumbra in sunspots
D. To argue for the existence of magnetic fields in sunspots
Answer : B
2. The word “controversial” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
A. widely accepted C. just introduced
B. open to debate D. very complicated
Answer : B
3. Solar particles are hurled into space by

A. undetermined caused C. small rivers on the surface of the sun
B. disturbances of wind D. changes in the earth’s atmosphere.
Answer : B
4. The word “particles” in line 2 refers to

A. gas explosion in the atmosphere C. liquid streams from the sun
B. light rays from the sun D. small pieces of matter from the sun.
Answer : D
5. How can we describe matter from the sun that enters the earth’s atmosphere?
A. very small B. very hot C. very bright D. very hard
Answer : A
6. The sunspot theory is
A. not considered very important C. subject to disagreement
B. widely accepted D. relatively new
Answer : C
7. The word “they” in line 12 refers to

A. structures B. spots C. miles D, granules
Answer : B
8. The word “consequently” in line 12 could best be replaced by
A.as a result B. nevertheless C. without doubt D. in this way.
Answer : A
9. In which configuration do sunspots usually occur?
A. in one spot of varying size .
B.in a configuration of two spots
C.in arrangement of one hundred or more spot
D.In groups of several thousand spots.
Answer : B
10. How are sunspots explained?

A. Sunspots appear to be related to magnetic fields on the earth.
B. Sunspots may be related to magnetic fields that follow longitudinal lines on the sun.
C. sunspots are explained by storm that occur on the earth.
D. Sunspots have no theory or model to explain them.
Answer : B

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Vern Rosalin / 125180127

1. This passage is a summary of

4. According to the author, what did Jacopo Perí write?

5. The author suggests that Euridice was produced

6. What was the Camerata?

7. The word “revive” in line 7 could best be replaced by

8. The word “plots” in line 8 is closest in meaning to

9. From what did the term “opera” derive?

10. Which of the following is an example of a solo?

1. What is the author’s main purpose in the passage?

3. Solar particles are hurled into space by

4. The word “particles” in line 2 refers to

7. The word “they” in line 12 refers to

10. How are sunspots explained?

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