Text (for Questions 11–13)
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi (Luis Lionel Andres Messi) was born on June \( 24 \), \( 1987 \) in Rosario, Argentina. As a young boy, he tagged along when his two older brothers played soccer with his friends, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of \( 8 \), he was recruited to join the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a Rosario-based club. Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth.
Messi’s parents decided on a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it soon proved impossible to pay several hundreds dollars per month for the medication. So, at the age of \( 13 \), when Messi was offered the chance to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, and have his medical bills covered by the team, Messi’s family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain.
By the age of \( 16 \), Messi had made his first appearance for Barcelona. He put himself in the record books on May \( 1 \), \( 2005 \), as the youngest player ever to score a goal for the franchise. Messi steered Barcelona to a wealth of success, most notably in \( 2009 \). Amazingly, the diminutive soccer wizard continued to improve, discovering new ways to elude defenders while leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championship in \( 2010 \) and \( 2011 \), as well as the Champions League title. Messi embarked on an all-out assault on the record books in \( 2012 \). He became the first player to score five goals in a Champion League match in early March, and a few weeks later he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club-record \( 232 \) goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By the end of \( 2012 \), Messi had accumulated an astounding \( 91 \) goals in club and international play. Fittingly, he broke one more record when he was named the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner for the fourth time in January \( 2013 \).
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Soal 11
What is the text about?
A. FIFA Ballon d’Or Winner.
B. Lionel Messi’s life in brief.
C. Messi’s reputation in FC Barcelona.
D. Messi’s reputation in Football match.
E. The Messi’s recovery from his hormone deficiency.
Answer & Detailed Analysis
Key: B
Analysis: The passage summarizes Messi’s life journey: his birth in Argentina, early soccer experience, medical diagnosis, move to Spain, and major achievements with Barcelona and awards. This is a short biography (life in brief), not only about one award, one club aspect, or only his medical condition.
A. Incorrect: Ballon d’Or is mentioned only at the end as one achievement, not the full topic.
B. Correct: it is a brief life story with key events and achievements.
C. Incorrect: Barcelona success is included, but the text starts earlier with childhood and diagnosis, so it is broader than reputation at Barcelona.
D. Incorrect: it is not about one match; it is about his career progress and records.
E. Incorrect: hormone deficiency is mentioned, but the text does not focus on “recovery”; it focuses on his life and career.
Soal 12
Why did Messi leave for Spain?
A. The doctor diagnosing him was in Spain.
B. He had the manager pay the medical bills.
C. He wanted to perform his appearance in Barcelona.
D. He moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain.
E. He was given the opportunity to be trained at a soccer academy.
Answer & Detailed Analysis
Key: E
Analysis: The text says that at the age of \( 13 \), Messi was offered the chance to train at FC Barcelona’s youth academy (La Masia) and have his medical bills covered by the team; therefore, his family moved to Spain. The cause (reason) is the opportunity to train and get medical support.
A. Incorrect: the diagnosis happened, but the text does not say the doctor was in Spain.
B. Incorrect/unclear: the text says the team would cover medical bills, not “the manager.”
C. Incorrect: he did not move simply to “perform his appearance”; that came later after training.
D. This repeats an action, not the reason: moving across the Atlantic is what they did, not why they did it.
E. Correct: the offered training opportunity (and medical coverage) is the reason he left for Spain.
Soal 13
From the text, we conclude that Messi’s … will lead him to be one of the most famous soccer player in the world.
A. fortune
B. biography
C. personality
D. achievement
E. competition
Answer & Detailed Analysis
Key: D
Analysis: The text lists many records and successes: youngest scorer (May \( 1 \), \( 2005 \)), titles in \( 2009 \), \( 2010 \), \( 2011 \), record-breaking goals in \( 2012 \) (including \( 232 \) club record surpassed and \( 91 \) goals in a year), and multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or wins. These accomplishments (achievements) are what make someone widely famous.
A. Incorrect: “fortune” (money/luck) is not the emphasis of the text.
B. Incorrect: “biography” is the type of text, not a trait that leads to fame.
C. Incorrect: the passage does not describe his personality traits as the main factor.
D. Correct: fame is supported by the many achievements and records described.
E. Incorrect: “competition” is not presented as the key reason for fame in the passage.
Soal 14
Read the text for questions 14 and 15.
The Effects of Acid Soil
Soils with a pH of less than 7.0 are acid. The lower the pH, the more acid the soil. When soil pH falls below 5.5, plant growth is affected. Crop yields decrease, reducing productivity.
Soils provide water and nutrients for plant growth and development. Essential plant nutrients include phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur. Plants require other elements such as molybdenum, in smaller quantities. Some elements e.g. aluminium and manganese, are toxic to plants.
Nutrients become available to plants when they are dissolved in water. Plants are not able to take up phosphorus, nitrate, potassium, and sulfate ions in solution.
The solubility of nutrients changes with pH. In acid soils, (low pH), molybdenum becomes less soluble and aluminium becomes more soluble. Therefore, plant growth may be affected by either a deficiency of molybdenum or too much aluminium.
Both crop and pasture plants are affected by acid soils. There may be a range of symptoms. Crops and pastures may be poorly established resulting in patchy or uneven growth. Plant leaves may go yellow and die at the tips. The root system of the plant may be stunted. Crop may yield less.
Plant vary in their sensitivity to low pH. Canola and lucerne are very sensitive to acid soils so they do not grow well. Lupins and triticale are tolerant to soils of low pH so they still perform well.
Land can become unproductive if acid soil is left untreated. Incorporating lime into the soil raises the pH. Therefore liming soil can reverse the effects of acid soil on plants and return a paddock to productivity.
What is the advantage of soils with a pH of less than 7.0?
A. To reduce productivity of crop.
B. To increase the crop productivity.
C. To make the leaves yellow.
D. To be poorly established.
E. To cause the planet die
Answer & Detailed Analysis
Correct Answer: A
How to read the question carefully: The question uses the word “advantage,” but the passage explains that acid soil (pH less than 7.0) causes negative impacts such as decreased yields and reduced productivity. So the “advantage” here is likely intended as “effect/impact,” and the best match is the negative outcome stated early in the text.
Text evidence: “When soil pH falls below 5.5, plant growth is affected. Crop yields decrease, reducing productivity.” This supports that acid soil leads to reduced productivity.
A Correct (best match to the text’s stated effect). Acid soil leads to decreased yields and reduced productivity.
B Incorrect. The passage states the opposite: productivity decreases.
C Incorrect as the main “advantage/effect” asked. Yellow leaves are a symptom mentioned later, but the question asks more generally; the earliest and clearest general impact is reduced productivity.
D Incorrect as the best general answer. “Poorly established” is one possible symptom, but it is more specific than the broad productivity impact emphasized in paragraph 1.
E Incorrect and not supported by the passage. The text talks about plants/crops, not “the planet.”
Soal 15
What is the main idea of the fifth paragraph?
A. Acid soils affect crop and plants.
B. The root system of plant is stunted.
C. Plant leaves turn yellow and die at the tips.
D. Crop and pasture plants are not affected by acid soils.
E. Crops and pastures are established resulting in patchy.
Answer & Detailed Analysis
Correct Answer: A
Main idea strategy: The main idea is the broad statement that the rest of the paragraph explains with details.
What paragraph 5 says: It begins with a general claim: “Both crop and pasture plants are affected by acid soils.” Then it lists examples/symptoms (poor establishment, patchy growth, yellow leaves, stunted roots, lower yields). Therefore, the main idea is that acid soils affect crops and pasture plants.
A Correct. It summarizes the whole paragraph (general statement + supporting details).
B Incorrect as main idea. This is only one supporting detail (a symptom).
C Incorrect as main idea. This is also only one supporting detail.
D Incorrect. It contradicts the paragraph’s first sentence (“are affected”).
E Incorrect/illogical. The paragraph says “poorly established resulting in patchy,” not “established resulting in patchy.” This option does not correctly represent the paragraph.