Descriptive Text - Lake Toba

Lake Toba

There are many tourist resorts in Indonesia. One of them is Lake Toba in North Sumatra. It is the largest lake in the country, about 75 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide, with a large island in it, the island of Samosir. It is not too difficult to get to the lake. An excellent road, partly winding through the mountains, links it with Medan the capital of the province. A taxi will easily cover the distance in three and half hours. Medan it self only two hours flying time from Jakarta.
Lake Toba is situated in a mountainous area, 900 meters above sea level. Thus it has a pleasant climate. A hotel of international standard found at Prapat, is on the east bank. People who wish to get away from modern comforts Western ways can find accommodation at more modest places.

What has Lake Toba to offer to the traveler from distant places? It is really worth visiting? First of all, there is the beautiful grandeur of nature. The mountains around the Lake, the mountain streams, the forests, and the island in the lake, all possess a beauty which is a challenge to imagination. Relaxing on boat, watching the tops of the mountains or the clouds above, creates sensations of contentment rarely felt before. Those who are more actively may find enjoyment in water-skiing, rowing, or exploring the island.
Ethnologist may care to study the people and their customs, language, social culture, and so on. The large family houses have always been one of the greatest attractions for visitors to this region.

Answer these questions based on the text above.
1. What does the text describe about?
2. Where is Lake Toba located?
3. Do you think that reaching the lake is difficult?
Why/why not?
4. What does lake Toba give the visitors?
5. What may the Ethnologists care about?

News Item Text - David Beckham

David Beckham

England, The soccer star David Beckham and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, are going to court to defend their image and marriage. The Beckhams are angry that a British tabloid newspaper printed a story that their “happy marriage” was a lie. The News of the World wrote an article saying the Beckhams are just pretending to be happily married to make more money from their “Beckham brand”. The newspaper said the marriage was really “on the rocks” because of a relationship David had with another woman. He strongly denies this.

The newspaper article suggested that the Beckhams’ huge income depended on their public image. It said the couple tried to convince the public that their marriage was happy to get more advertising contracts. The article also said David almost had a nervous breakdown because of arguments with his wife. A lawyer for the newspaper commented on the high profile marriage, asking: “Is it unhappy. Full of rows and tensions because of david Beckham’s infidelity, or is it happy? We say unhappy.” The Beckhams, meanwhile, insist they are a happily married couple.

Answer the questions below based on the text above.
1. Why did Beckham and his wife plan to go to the court?
2. What did a British tabloid newspaper report about?
3. Did Beckham feel happy about what it had reported?
4. Beckham and Victoria really a happy couple according to the article of the news of the world?
Clarify your answer!
5. Why was Beckham’s marriage in problem?
6. How did Beckham get mostly his income?
7. What did Beckham and his wife convince the public about their marriage for?
8. What did a lawyer comment on the high profile marriage?

News Item Text - A Terrible Accident

A Terrible Accident

Surabaya (JP).

A bad accident happened on Jalan Pahlawan last night. A motor cycle which was traveling south was hit by a large truck. The motor cycle rider was killed, including a pedestrian walking on the pavement. The victims were taken to the nearest hospital. The driver of the truck was drunk. He was taken to the police station to be interrogated.
Mr. Sardono, the truck driver said, “I am not drunk”. The accident caused by the carelessness of the rider. He drove his motor cycle so fast that he couldn’t control his steering wheel safely.

Answer these questions based on the text.
1. What is the text about?
2. Where and when did the accident take place?
3. What mostly caused the accident happen last night?
4. Do you think that the truck driver was really drunk?
Why or why not?
5. How did the accident happen?
6. Why was the truck driver taken to the police station?
7. What did he explain about the accident?

Narrative Text - A Monkey and A Crocodile

A Monkey and A Crocodile

One day a monkey wanted to cross a river he saw a crocodile in the river so he asked the crocodile to help him. Crocodile told the monkey to jump onto its back. Then the crocodile swam down the river.
Now the crocodile was very hungry so when it was in the middle of the river it stopped and said to the monkey “my father is very sick he must eat the heart of a monkey the he will be strong again”.
The monkey thought for a while then he told the crocodile to swim back to the river bank.
What for? Asked the crocodile because I didn’t bring my heart with me. I left it under the tree near some coconuts.
So the crocodile turned around and swam back to the bank of the river as soon as they reached the river bank the monkey jumped off the crocodiles back and climbed up to the top of a tree.
“Where is your heart asked the crocodile.”
“You are foolish” the monkey said to the crocodile. “Now I am free and you have nothing” the monkey told the crocodile not to try to trick him again the crocodile swam away hungry.

Answer these questions based on the text above.
1. What is the story about?
2. What did the Monkey want to do one day?
3. What did the Monkey do in order that he could cross the river?
4. What happened to The crocodile’s father?
5. Was the crocodile’s father really sick? Clarify your answer!
6. Why did the Monkey ask the Crocodile to return to the river bank?
7..Did the Crocodile succeed to trick the monkey?