Exercise Recount Text

10th Grade

I. Choose A, B, C, D, or E for the correct answer.

This text is for questions 1 to 3.

Last December it rained heavily all day long. Kamal’s house was near the river. The area around his house
was already flooded and the water was rising rapidly. Kamal and his family decided to go to the school nearby,
which was on higher ground. It would be safer there.
He waded through the waist-high water. He could see branches of trees, dead animals and even pots and
pans floating. Suddenly, he saw something moving in the swirling waters. It looked like a branch, but it was
much darker. As the object approached, Kamal realized it was a python. It was a large one and looked
dangerous.
Frightened, Kamal watched the reptile coming towards him. He had never seen a python swimming before,
let alone one as big as this. He looked around for something to hit it with, but there was nothing. Then he heard
shouts and the noise of a motor boat. It was a Red Crescent rescue boat. Just in the nick of time! The snake
swam away and Kamal was quickly pulled into the boat. Kamal heaved a sigh of relief. That was the most
frightening encounter of his life, and he was lucky to be rescued.
Source: Matilda Xavier, Khatija Tahir, Aznizah Abdul Rahman, Spot On Model Compositions & Summaries for PMR, Malaysia, Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd,
2009.

1. What is the purpose of the text?

A. To tell someone’s experience.
B. To describe someone.
C. To tell how to do something.
D. To review a work of art.
E. To tell something in general.
2. Which of the statements is TRUE about the text?
A. Kamal’s house wasn’t flooded.
B. A large python almost attacked Kamal.
C. Kamal was helping someone when he saw a large python.
D. A rescuer captured a large python during the flood.
E. Kamal’s house was submerged in water as high as 2 meters.
3. “. . . and the water was rising rapidly.” The underlined word can be best replaced by ________.
A. continuously
B. immediately
C. gradually
D. fiercely
E. fastly

This text is for questions 4 to 6.

I experienced this when my family and I visited Bandung last holiday. One afternoon, we visited Jalan Dago
which is very famous for shoppers. There are many shops selling their products at affordable prices. We entered
a large convenient store. Mother and I went to the ladies stands, while my father and brother proceeded to the
gents stands.
I was so excited that I didn’t realize I was separated from my family. I was so worried. I tried to call them
one by one, but no one heard me. Finally, I decided to go back to the car. It was parked not far from the store. I
immediately opened the door and sat on the back seat. But how shocked I was when a woman who greeted me,
“Hello, who are you?” When I looked at her, I did not know her. I was sitting in the wrong car! I jumped out of
the car and ran to the store. How embarrassing!

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4. How many people are there in the writer’s family?
A. Three. B. Four C. Five. D. Six. E. Seven.
5. Why did the speaker feel embarrassed?
A. She got in a wrong car.
B. She couldn’t find her car.
C. She didn’t know where to go.
D. She was separated with her mother.
E. None of her family answered her phone.
6. “It was parked not far from the store.” (Paragraph 2)
The word ‘it’ refers to ________.
A. a shop
B. Jalan Dago
C. the back seat
D. the writer’s car
E. a large and convenient store

7. Arrange the following sentences into a good paragraph.

(1) I was more scared than I had ever been.
(2) I decided to climb a tree to see better.
(3) I woke up. Oh, what a relief! It was just a dream.
(4) In my dream, I was going through a thick forest.
(5) I knew I was going to die.
(6) I had a dream last night.
(7) Finally, as I got close to the top of the tree, I slipped and fell down.
(8) There were so many trees that it was hard to see very far.
(9) It was difficult to climb, and I was going really slowly.
Adapted from: Pamela Hartman, Quest Reading and Writing, Second Edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2007.

A. 6–2–9–3–1–7–5–8–4
B. 6–4–8–2–9–7–1–5–3
C. 6–2–9–3–7–1–5–8–4
D. 6–4–5–2–8–7–1–9–3
E. 6–4–1–9–3–7–5–8–2

This text is for questions 8 to 10.

When supermodel Kate Moss moved into a 10 million house in St John’s Wood in London,
her neighbors were worried. They were expecting late-night partying and a rise in house prices. But what they
weren’t expecting was safer streets.
Before the model, 34, moved in, there was a lot of crime in the area. But now, the large number of paparazzi
in the area are helping to deter criminals.
“When she first moved in, it was a bit of a nuisance because you could hardly walk down the street without
bumping into photographers,” said Alan Lyndon, 55. “Now, though, we’re delighted they’re here. There were a
lot of dark, narrow streets, and it used to be very lonely and quiet by night. But now we’ve got clusters of
paparazzi everywhere, and quiet apart from the noise they make, all the flashing lights keep our streets well lit.”
Source: Hotenglishmagazine No. 81, “Cycling Record”, www.hotenglishmagazine.com

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

A. Kate Moss is a famous model.
B. Kate Moss moved in a very expensive house in London.
C. Kate Moss’ neighbors were happy when she just moved in.
D. People often met photographers around neighborhood.

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 E. The number of crimes dropped because of the presence of paparazzi.
9. “Now, though, we’re delighted they’re here.”
The word ‘they’ refers to ________.
A. Kate Moss and her family
B. Kate Moss’ neighbors
C. the photographers
D. the criminals
E. the dark streets
10. How was Kate Moss’ new neighborhood before she moved in?
A. It was crowded.
B. It was dark and quiet.
C. It was clean and quiet.
D. People were hanging out every night.
E. People often made party, especially at weekend.

This text is for questions 11 to 13.

It was 3 a.m. when four-year old Russell Brown woke up to go the toilet. His parents were fast asleep in
bed. But when he heard a noise in the living room and saw a light was on, he went downstairs.
There he found two men. They asked him his name, and told him they were friends of the family.
Unfortunately, Russel believed them. They asked him where the video recorder was. Russell showed them, and
said they had a stereo and CD player, too.
The two men carried these to the kitchen. Russell also told them that his mother kept her purse in a drawer
in the kitchen, so they took that. Russell even gave them his pocket money – 50p.
Source: John and Liz Soars, New Headway Pre-Intermediate Student’s Book, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

11. When did the story occur?

A. At night.
B. In the morning.
C. At dawn.
D. In the afternoon.
E. In the evening.
12. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the story?
A. Russell gave his money to the burglars.
B. Russell showed the burglars his mother’s purse.
C. Those two men met Russell in the living room.
D. Those two men took a video recorder and a stereo and CD player too.
E. Russell’s parents knew what had happened in their house.
13. “Russell also told them that his mother kept her purse in a drawer . . . .” (Last paragraph)
What does the underlined word refer to?
A. The burglars.
B. Russell and his parents.
C. Russell’s parents.
D. Russell’s mother and her purse.
E. Russell and the burglars.

This text is for questions 14 and 15.

Walter Elias Disney (5th December 1901–15th December 1966) was an American animated film
producer and animator. He was also the creator of an American-based theme park called Disneyland and the
founder of the highly profitable corporation, now known as The Walt Disney Company.
Disney was born in Chicago to Elias Disney and Flora Call. He was named after his father and after his
father’s close friend Walter Parr, the minister at St. Paul Congregational Church. In 1906, his family moved to a

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farm near Marceline, Missouri. The family sold the farm in 1909 and lived in a rented house until 1910 when
they moved to Kansas City. Disney was nine years old at the time.
According to the Kansas City, Missouri, Public School District records, Disney began attending the
Benton Grammar School in 1911, and continued his formal education there until he graduated on 8th June 1917.
During this time, Disney also enrolled in classes at the Kansas City Art Institute. In the fall of 1917, Disney
rejoined his family. He left school at the age of sixteen and became a volunteer ambulance driver in World War
I, after he changed his birth certificate to show his year of birth as 1900 in order to be able to enlist in the
service. He served as a member of the American Red Cross Ambulance Force in France till 1919.
14. The second paragraph mainly discusses about ________.
A. Disney’s farm
B. Disney’s life in Chicago
C. Disney’s religious affairs
D. Disney’s childhood
E. Disney’s father’s friend

15. What did Disney do to become an ambulance driver?

A. He rejoined his family.
B. He took a driver’s license.
C. He changed his birth certificate.
D. He reduced the year of his birth.
E. He left the Benton Grammar School.

II. Answer the questions below based on the text !

On 10 November, Indonesia celebrates Hari Pahlawan or Heroes Day in remembrance of the Battle of Surabaya
which started on that very date in the year 1945. The bloody battle took place because Indonesians refused
to surrender their weaponry to British army. British Army at that time was part of the Allied Forces.
The defiant Bung Tomo is the well-known revolutionary leader who played a very important role in this battle.

It all started because of a misunderstanding between British troops in Jakarta and those in Surabaya, under the
command of Brigadier A.W.WS. Mallaby. Brigadier Mallaby already had an agreement with Governor of East
Java Mr. Surya. The agreement stated that British would not ask Indonesian troops and militia to surrender their
weapons.

However, a British plane from Jakarta dropped leaflets all over Surabaya. The leaflet told Indonesians to do
otherwise on 27 October 1945. This action angered the Indonesian troops and militia leaders because they felt
betrayed.

On 30 October 1945, Brigadier Mallaby was killed as he was approaching the British troops’ post near Jembatan
Merah or Red Bridge, Surabaya. There were many reports about the death, but it was widely believed that the
Brigadier was murdered by Indonesian militia. Looking at this situation, Lieutenant General Sir Philip Christison
brought in reinforcements to siege the city.

In the early morning of 10 November 1945, British troops began to advance into Surabaya with cover from both
naval and air bombardment. Although the Indonesians defended the city heroically, the city was conquered
within 3 days and the whole battle lasted for 3 weeks. In total, between 6,000 and 16,000 Indonesians died while
casualties on the British side were about 600 to 2000.

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Battle of Surabaya caused Indonesia to lose weaponry which hampered the country’s independence struggle.
However, the battle provoked Indonesian and international mass to rally for the country’s independence which
made this battle especially important for Indonesian national revolution.

Questions :

1. What is the passage about ?

The passage is about the battle of Surabaya.

2. When did the battle take place ?

10 November 1945.

3. Where did it happen ?

It happened in Surabaya.

4. What caused the battle?

Indonesians refused to surrender their weaponry to British army.

5. What do you think about the Indonesian military power compared to the British army at that time ?
The British Army was more powerful and modern, and had more complete weaponry. Surabaya was
attacked from the sea, land, and air.

6. Did the Indonesian lose or win the battle? Give your reason.
Indonesia lost the battle because the number of victims or casualties in Indonesian side is bigger, and
Surabaya was finally occupied by the British Army

7. How did the battle influence the national revolution at that time?
The battle provoked Indonesian and international community to rally to support the independence
movement of Indonesia.

8. Who was the prominent figure in the battle?

Bung Tomo was the prominent figure in the battle.

9. Find the references of the underlined words below:

a. ........ as he was approaching ......(par. 4) Brigadier Mallaby
b. ........ but it was widely believed ...... (par. 4) many reports about the death of Brigadier Mallaby

10. Find the synonim of the words below in the text above :
a. give up surrender (p.1)
b. deceited betrayed (p.3)

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