EXPLANATION TEXT – EXERCISES

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE

The following text is for questions 1 to 7

Solar Energy

Solar energy evaporates exposed water from seas, lakes, rivers, and wet soil, the majority of
this evaporation takes place over the seas. Water is also released into the atmosphere by the plants
through photosynthesis. During this process, known as evapotranspiration, water vapor rises into
the atmosphere. Clouds are formed when air becomes saturated with water vapor. The
two major types of cloud formation are stratified or layered grey clouds called "surutus" and
following white or dark grey cloud called cumulus clouds. Precipitation as rain or hail ensures the
healed water returns to Earth's surface in a fresh form. Some of this rain, however, falls into the
seas and is not accessible to humans. When rain falls, it either washes downhill slopes or seeps
underground, when snow and hail melt, this water may also shrink into the ground.
Rain fall also replenishes river water supplies so does underground water. Snow fall may
consolidate into glaciers and sheet which they melt, release their water into the ground, into

1. What is the main purpose of the text?

A. To persuade readers to save water
B. To explain how the water cycle works
C. To describe different types of clouds
D. To argue about climate change

2. Which statement best represents the general phenomenon discussed in the text?
A. Water evaporates only from rivers
B. Solar energy causes water to evaporate
C. Rain is dangerous for humans
D. Glaciers only exist in cold areas

3. The first paragraph mainly explains…

A. The impact of rain on humans
B. The role of plants in photosynthesis
C. The process of evaporation and evapotranspiration
D. The types of precipitation

4. What can be concluded from the whole text?

A. Water on Earth never changes form
B. The water cycle depends on human activity
C. The water cycle is a continuous natural process
D. Rain only comes from rivers

5. If the amount of solar energy decreased significantly, which stage of the water cycle would be
affected first?
A. Precipitation
B. Evaporation
C. Condensation
D. Runoff

6. The text states that most evaporation happens over the seas. What logical reason best supports
this statement?
A. Seas contain salt water
B. Seas cover most of Earth’s surface
C. Seas are closer to the sun
D. Seas receive more rain

7. Why is evapotranspiration considered an important part of the water cycle?

A. It increases ocean temperature
B. It helps plants grow taller
C. It adds water vapor from living organisms
D. It prevents cloud formation

The following text is for questions 8 – 10

Tornado

A tornado is a type of storm. It has powerful rotating winds, reaching from a cloud down
toward the ground. The winds of a tornado can reach speeds of up to 500 km/hour. Such violent
winds can flatten buildings and whip heavy objects, such as cars, into the air. However, most
tornadoes are short-lived and do not cause much damage.
Tornadoes usually develop during thunderstorms, mainly
in the spring and summer. Only a small portion of thunderstorms produce tornadoes, though.
8. What does the text mainly tell us about?
A. The types of storms.
B. The speed of tornado
C. The description of tornado
D. The impact of thunderstorm

9. The text informs us that ...

A. when there is a thunderstorm, there will be a tornado.
B. we can see a tornado when there are water droplets in the air.
C. tornadoes have different directions in the Southern Hemisphere.
D. during thunderstorms, tornadoes usually occur for a long time.

10. What is probably the best way to do when people are caught in a tornado in a building?
A. Running into a car and trying to outrun the tornado.
B. Taking shelter under a tree or a window of the building.
C. Going to the lowest floor, in a small, windowless room like a bathroom.
D. Finding large open areas with a wide roof span, such as auditoriums.

The following text is for questions 8 – 13

Floods

Floods are natural disasters that occur when water inundates land that is usually dry. They
can result from various factors, including heavy rainfall, snowmelt, storm surges, and the overflow
of rivers or dams. Floods can have devastating impacts on communities, including loss of life,
damage to property and infrastructure, and disruption of essential services.
Recently, Demak, a coastal regency in Central
Java, experienced severe flooding that submerged thousands of homes and displaced hundreds of
families. The flooding was caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and high tides, which
overwhelmed the region's drainage systems and caused rivers to overflow. The floodwaters
inundated vast areas of farmland, damaging crops and threatening the livelihoods of local farmers.
The flood in Demak underscores the vulnerability of coastal regions in Indonesia to the impacts of
climate change and the urgent need for improved flood management strategies.
The impacts of floods can be mitigated through various measures. These
include the construction of flood defences such as levees and dams, the implementation of early
warning systems, and land-use planning to avoid building in flood-prone areas. Additionally,
educating communities about flood risks and how to respond can help reduce the impact of floods.

11. The statements that are in line with the text are ….
I. floods can give some destructive effects on communities
II. floods are natural phenomena when water dampens land
III. levees and dams are two examples of flood protection structure
IV. Demak experienced severe flood because of its bad drainage system

A. I and II
B. I and III
C. II and III
D. II and IV

12. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

A. Flood in Demak highlights coastal vulnerability in Indonesia.
B. Flood management system in Demak needs improvement.
C. Flood in Demak submerged farmland and residence.
D. Flood in Demak resulted in devastating impacts.

13. The 4th paragraph might talk about ….

A. increasing awareness of flood risks and their mitigation
B. the efforts to maximize the function of levees and dams
C. reducing the risks and effects of floods to save the loses
D. the severe impacts of floods that emerge on communities

B. ESSAY

How a Volcano Erupts

A volcano is a natural phenomenon that occurs when molten rock, gas, and ash are released
from inside the Earth. Volcanoes are usually found along tectonic plate boundaries or weak zones in
the Earth’s crust. Deep inside the Earth, magma is formed due to extremely high temperatures
and pressure. The magma moves upward because it is lighter than the surrounding rock. As the
magma rises, gas bubbles are created inside it.
When the pressure becomes too strong, an
eruption happens. Lava, ash, and gases are expelled through the crater. During an eruption,
surrounding areas can be covered by volcanic ash, and buildings may be damaged. After the
eruption, the lava cools down and hardens into rock. Over time, new land can be formed by
repeated eruptions. Although volcanoes can cause destruction, fertile soil is also produced, which
Find 4 passive and active sentences from the text, then change it into passive or active
sentences.