DISCUSSION TEXT

XII BAHASA PEMINATAN

TEXT 1 is for no 1 to 3
There are many arguments in favor of a boarding school education. Nevertheless, the
boarding school is not always the best education institution for everyone.
At an early age interacting and communicating with people is very important for a
child's personal life and can be especially helpful for his/her future. In a boarding school,
shy children can take advantage of interaction through communal activities. The boarding
school also offers a great variety of activities such as arts, sports, and music that allow
children to demonstrate and develop specialized skills in their free time.
Furthermore, the structured way of life and strict rules at the boarding school may
helps students to get used to a well ordered way of life. The manners and social skills will
help them to become more responsible and confident, and to develop their talents in
leadership. Professionally trained teachers and educators in the boarding school can offer
excellent education without the parents' constant supervision.
In spite of these good points, it is not advisable to send a child to a boarding
school if he/she is a dependent learner. A boarding school usually demands that student
learn independently. In addition, the boarding school should not be seen as a measure to
solve inappropriate behaviour or unsatisfactory study performance. Instead of improving,
problematic children may close off their relationship with their peers and teachers.
In conclusion, although a boarding school may provide good education to many
children, it is not recommended for those who are strongly attached to their families. They
may become frustrated and socially isolated.

1. According to the writer, children in a boarding school can develop specialized skills in....
A. entrepreneurship C. drama E. music
B. community service D. reading

2. Why does parents send their children Boarding School? Because....

A. it is good for shy children
B. it gives good education for adults
C. interacting and communicating with people is very important
D. it does not allow children demonstrate excellence and develop their skills
E. It is safe and makes children become responsible and develop talents in
leadership.

3. From the text, we can conclude that....

A. the boarding school can be very expensive
B. There are good and bad boarding schools
C. the boarding school is the solution to our educational problems
D. it's not necessary to send children to a boarding school because the students can
live independently
E. not everyone thinks that the boarding school is the best educational institution for
children
TEXT 2 is for question no. 4 to 7
Beggars have become a big problem for us today. They come as street musicians,
street boys, "sick" people, "lost" people, or just beggars. As their number is getting
bigger, the municipal government feels the need to set a regulation to ban beggars. Many
people support this.
They say that begging makes people lazy and bad survivors. They are like
parasites. Criminals take advantage of their existence. Car drivers are strong-armed in
crossroads, motorbikes are seized, trucks are hijacked, etc. A man in a rural area takes them
to the city with his truck in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. They have made
an agreement to share what they get. Some children are reported to have been kidnapped not
for ransom. They are forced to be beggars.
Some people, however, say that we must help beggars. They become beggars
because they have no choice. What they get every day is only enough for buying food. Being
a beggar is better than being a thief or a robber. So it is a high time to apply their religious
teaching to care for others. In addition, what they do is to help the government to check
crime-rates.
Despite the controversy of their existence, beggars continue to color the life of
urban people.
4. Where are beggars mostly found?
A. In cities. C. In rural areas. E. In small towns.
B. In country sides. D. In small villages.

5. Why do some people disagree to help beggars?

A. They are rich.
B. They are not criminals.
C. They are mostly villagers.
D. They are lazy and bad survivors.
E. They only make use of their time.

6. What does the writer think about the man who transports beggars from their villages to the
city?
A. He is generous. C. He is very helpful E. He is doing business
B. He is exploitative. D. He is their protector.
.

TEXT 3 is for question no 7 to 9

Nature vs. Nurture
People wondered for a long time how their personalities and behaviors are
formed. Two distinct schools of thought on the matter have developed. The two
approaches are very different from one another. The controversy is often referred to as
nature and nurture.
Those who support the nature and nurture side of the conflict believe that our
personalities and behavior patterns are largely determined by biological and genetic
factors. That our environment has little to do with our abilities, characteristics and
behavior is central to this theory.
Proponents of the nurture theory claim that our environment is more important
than our biologically based instinct in determining how we will act. They see humans
as beings whose behavior is almost completely shaped by their surroundings.
 Neither of these theories can yet fully explain human behavior. In fact, it is quite
likely that the key to our behavior lies somewhere between these two extremes. That
the controversy will continue for a long time is certain

7      What do the nurture supporters think about human personality?

A.      Human personalities are developed for a long time
B      Generic factors play big roles in a person behavior
C.       Our abilities are determined by our biological parents
D      Our environment plays an important role in our personalities
E.       Our behavior isn’t determined by our surrounding

8.      The main idea of the first paragraph is...

A      There are two opinions about what determines our personalities
B.      Personalities and behavior are formed by nature and environment
C.       The nature and nurture are two matters that determine our personalities
D.      The environment has no influence on the formation of our personalities
E.       There is conflict between nature supporters and environment supporters

9.      What does the writer think about the controversy above?
A.      It is over now
B.      It has really ended
C.       It will end soon
D      It is  easily solved now
E.       It will be confusing

TEXT 4
There are a lot of discussions as to whether children should be given homework or not.
Some people claim that children do enough work in school already. They also argue
that children have hobbies that they want to do after school, such as sports or music. A
further point they make is that a lot of homework is pointless and doesn't help the child
learn at all.
However, there are also strong arguments against this point of view. Parents and
teachers argue that it is important to find out whether children can work on their own
without the support from the teacher. They say that the evening is a good time for children to
sit down and think about what they have learned in school.
Furthermore they claim that the school day is too short to get anything done that
needs doing and it makes sense to send home tasks like independent reading or further
writing tasks that don't need teacher's support.
On balance, I think that some homework is a good idea but that it should only given
at the weekend when children have more time.

10. How many reasons are presented by those who are against homework?
A. 1 B. 2 C.3 D. 4 E.5

11. Those who are pro homework think that the students can ... in the evening.
A. prepare for the next lesson
B. review their lessons
C. enjoy their pastime
D. do their hobbies
 E. test themselves

12. "A further point they make is that a lot of homework is pointless and doesn't help the
child learn at all." (Paragraph 2)
The underlined word is synonymous with....
A. .terrible C. difficult E. unimportant
B. .careless D. uninteresting

13. What is the writer's suggestion about homework?

A. Homework is pointless.
B. Homework is badly needed.
C. Homework should be given at weekend.
D. Student should not be given any homework.
E. Student must frequently have homework.

TEXT 5

The Death Penalty

The death penalty for serious criminals has become a long discussion
among experts. Those who agree say that the death penalty will scare the
criminals off. However, those who disagree say that the death penalty is inhuman,
not an effective way to stop them from doing another crime.
In Switzerland, there is no death penalty. Most people argue that the
possibility of making the wrong decision is always there; although, it is true that
spending life behind bars is bad enough. Every person should have a chance for
rehabilitation so that he or she can start all over again his/her life ina better way.
Those who agree argue that there is no use to give serious criminals
another chance to live. When they get out, they will create a lot of trouble such as
black mailing and killing people. So, who says that jails will prevent them from
being bad guys?
My own opinion is divided. On the one hand, disagree for the death penalty
is against the human right to live. But on the other hand, whether serious criminals
are worthy to live since no one can guarantee they will never do the bad things in
the future.
14. What is the purpose of the text?
A. To present the pro and con of a certain topic.
B. To amuse or entertain the readers.
C. To describe a particular event.
D. To explain how something happens.
E. To report something in general.

15. What is the argument which supports the death penalty?

A. The possibility of making the wrong decision is always there.
B. Spending life behind bars is bad enough.
C. There is no use give criminals another chance for they will create another
trouble.
D. Every person can start all dyer again his her life in a better way.
E. Every person should have chance for rehabilitation
16. What is the main idea of paragraph 4?
A. Death penalty in Switzerland
B. The topic of the death penalty among someexperts.
C. The arguments which are against the death penalty.
D The arguments which support the death"penalty.
E. The writer's opinion.
17. "Every personshould have a chance for rehabilitation..." (Paragraph 2)
What is the synonym of the underlined word?
A. Opportunity. B. Improvisation.
C. Change. D. Development.
E. Vacation.
18. "So, who says that jails will prevent them from being bad guys?"(Paragraph 3)
The underlined word refers to....
A. serious criminals
B. people who disagree with the death penalty
C. most people in Switzerland
D. the terrorists in prison
E. people who agree with the death penalty

TEXT 6
Competition at Workplace
Competition is inevitable at workplace,. Each employee is trying to outdo another
employee in his or her performance level. An employer appreciatesan employee who
performs well or rather excellently.
What is a competition at workplace like? An employer judges an employee on the
basis of his or her performance level. An employee is evaluated in comparison with other
employees. In order to go upthe ladder of success, the employee has to show better
result than his or her co-employee. His or her output at work has to be of higher level
than others' in order to get a promotion or a good salary. If he or she performs well, then
he or she is monetarilycompensated well.
Management encourages a competition in order to motivate employees and get
better results from them in work matters. Even in sports, one athlete is competing with
another athlete to win the race.The same principle applies at workplace.
As a matter of fact, a competition at workplace provides some benefits. First, it will
motivate the people to work hard so it will result in greaterproductivity and better quality
of work. It will create work-oriented staff.Then, the process of a whole production will
meet the deadlines. At last, it will result in higher profits.
However, there are also some disadvantages caused by competition at
workplace. First, the competition may cause too much stress and work pressure on
employees which further may affect their physical and mental health. In addition, an
employer may not be toosympathetic towards his or her employees as he or she may be
interested only in results. Then, the competition may become unhealthy. One
employee may bring down another employee through malpractice in order to supercede
the person.
What I can summarize here is that a healthy competition is good for a company,
while an unhealthy competition can lead to frictions among employees.The most
important thing is cooperative spirit among employees is essential to make profits.

19. "... and get better results from them in work matters." (Paragraph 3)
The word 'them' refers to ...
A. Employers
B.competitions
C. employees
 D. workplaces
E. results

20 The following are the advantages of competitions at work, except ....

A. it will create work-oriented staff
B. it will decrease^ company's profit
C it will motivate the people to work hard
D. the process of a Whole production will meetthe deadlines
E. it will result in greater productivity and better quality of work

21. What is the writer's opinion about the topic?

A. A competition at workplace4s harmless/
B. Employees should create a heavy competition.
C. There shouldn't be any competitions at workplace.
D. The most important thing is making higher profits.
E. Employers should develop an unhealthycompetition.

For questions 22 and 23, choose the correct words to complete the dialog.
Kayla : Hendi, (22).……... the fact that you areangry with me, don't disturb me
anymore.
Hendi : Hey, what do you mean by disturbing you? Kayla : You miscalled me last night,
right? Mymobile phone rang several times. When received the calls, the calls were off.
Of course, it disturbed my sleep.
Hendi: I really didn't do it. (23)...... I like miscalling others, I won't do it at night.
Kayla : So, who miscalled me?
Hendi: I don't know

22. A. in spite of
B. although
C. even though
D. however
E. nevertheless
23. A. Because
B. Although
C. In spite of
D. Despite
E. Moreover

24. In spite of the high price of fuel, ....

A. but people still keep buying it because of their need.
B. but people keep buying it anyway because of their need
C. people keep buying it though because of their need
D. despite the fact that people keep buying it because of their need
E. people keep buying it because of their need

25. He decided to go, ...

A. in spite of begged him not to go
B. nevertheless I begged him not to go
C. but I begged him not to go anyway
D. even though I begged him not to go
E. despite I begged him not to go