This text is for questions 22 to 26
Capital punishment is one of the most controversial subjects to be discussed today. This controversy is caused by so many things all over the world having so many different view about it. Capital punishment happens when someone is put to death for a crime, for example murder or drug trafficking. Many people think capital punishment should be reinstated in Britain, but there are just as many people who think that the criminal system is better the way it is.
One important argument against the death penalty is that sometimes an innocent person is put to death. If capital punishment is used, the authorities must therefore have evidence beyond the shadow of any doubt that they have accused the correct person. Furthermore, capital punishment removes all possibility for a person who has done something seriously wrong to be able to change and to be rehabilitated.
Another strong point against capital punishment is that two wrongs do not make a right. Killing a victim, for instance, and then being sentenced to death does not suddenly make everything all right or make things better. A poor, helpless victim’s life has been stolen from him, but killing the murderer will not bring the victim back.
Nevertheless, those who are in favor of the death penalty have many points with which to justify their stance. Most importantly it punishes the criminal by doing to him what he did to others. It acts as a form of revenge for the victim’s family by letting them know that the criminal has felt some of the pain he inflicted on another.
Furthermore, capital punishment could act as a deterrent to anyone whoever thought about committing certain crimes, because he would know that when he was found guilty, the death penalty awaited him. It can also save money because, instead of the criminal being kept in person for the rest of his life, he is killed.
After weighing up the arguments for and against capital punishment, I have come to the conclusion that I am for it, and that it is a pity it was abolished in Britain thirty or so years ago.
soal 22.
What is the subject of this text?
| A | Controversy over death penalty. |
| B | Some benefits of capital punishment. |
| C | Abolishing death penalty. |
| D | Pros and cons over Britain legal system. |
| E | Some justification to support death penalty. |
Jawaban & Analisis
Kunci: A
Alasan inti: Paragraf pertama menyatakan “Capital punishment is one of the most controversial subjects…”, lalu memaparkan ada banyak pihak pro dan kontra. Jadi topik utamanya adalah kontroversi seputar hukuman mati.
A. Tepat karena merangkum keseluruhan isi: perbedaan pandangan (pro-kontra) tentang death penalty/capital punishment.
B. Teks memang menyebut manfaat (deterrent, save money), tetapi juga memuat argumen kontra. Jadi B terlalu sempit; \(A \gt B\).
C. Pembahasan penghapusan di Inggris hanya muncul di bagian akhir sebagai komentar penulis, bukan inti keseluruhan.
D. Fokus teks bukan “sistem hukum Inggris” secara umum, tetapi khusus pada capital punishment. Jadi D menyimpang.
E. Ada bagian pembenaran pihak pro, tetapi teks juga memuat argumen kuat pihak kontra. Jadi E kurang lengkap dibanding A; \(A \gt E\).
soal 23.
According to the text, capital punishment …
| A | has good points. |
| B | raises different opinions among people. |
| C | exists in the legal system of all countries. |
| D | gives more benefits than the bad impacts. |
| E | has been proved to be the most effective punishment. |
Jawaban & Analisis
Kunci: B
Alasan inti: Teks menekankan kontroversi: ada banyak orang yang setuju dan banyak juga yang tidak setuju (“Many people think… but there are just as many people who think…”). Itu berarti memunculkan perbedaan pendapat.
A. Benar bahwa ada “good points” (deterrent, save money), tetapi pernyataan ini tidak sekuat B karena B merangkum inti paragraf pembuka tentang kontroversi. Jadi \(B \gt A\).
B. Tepat: “controversial” + pro-kontra menunjukkan munculnya opini yang berbeda-beda.
C. Salah: tidak disebut “all countries”. Bahkan disebut Inggris pernah menghapusnya.
D. Teks tidak menyatakan manfaat lebih besar daripada dampak buruk; justru menimbang argumen pro dan kontra.
E. Tidak ada bukti “proved to be the most effective”. Teks hanya memaparkan argumen dan opini, bukan pembuktian ilmiah.
soal 24.
From the text, we know that some people disagree with capital punishment because …
| A | killing should be punished with killing |
| B | it can prevent people from committing a murder |
| C | innocent people might be put to death |
| D | more people will be killed |
| E | killing is not always considered a crime |
Jawaban & Analisis
Kunci: C
Bukti teks: “One important argument against the death penalty is that sometimes an innocent person is put to death.” Ini persis alasan penolakan.
A. Ini justru argumen pihak pro (“punishes the criminal by doing to him what he did to others”), bukan alasan menolak.
B. Ini argumen pro (deterrent), bukan kontra.
C. Tepat karena disebut eksplisit sebagai “argument against”.
D. Tidak disebut sebagai alasan langsung dalam teks. Teks tidak mengatakan “lebih banyak orang akan terbunuh”.
E. Tidak dibahas. Teks menyebut “put to death for a crime” seperti murder/drug trafficking.
soal 25.
It is implied in the passage that …
| A | no one agrees with capital punishment |
| B | the author disagrees with capital punishment |
| C | capital punishment has both good and bad impacts |
| D | capital punishment will never prevent people from doing a crime |
| E | Britain will never abolish capital punishment from its legal system |
Jawaban & Analisis
Kunci: C
Alasan inti: Teks memuat argumen kontra (innocent person, two wrongs do not make a right, no rehabilitation) dan argumen pro (revenge/justice for family, deterrent, save money). Jadi tersirat bahwa ada dampak/argumen baik dan buruk.
A. Salah: teks mengatakan banyak yang setuju dan banyak yang tidak setuju.
B. Salah: penulis menyimpulkan “I am for it” (penulis mendukung), jadi B bertentangan.
C. Tepat karena rangkuman tersirat dari penyajian pro dan kontra; \(C \gt A\) dan \(C \gt D\).
D. Teks menyebut bisa menjadi deterrent (mencegah), jadi D tidak sesuai.
E. Salah: teks menyatakan hukuman mati sudah dihapus di Inggris “thirty or so years ago”. Jadi E jelas tidak benar.
soal 26.
“One important argument against the death penalty is that sometime an innocent person is put to death.” (Paragraph 2) The word underlined means …
| A | not fair |
| B | not care |
| C | not guilty |
| D | inhumane |
| E | not consistent |
Jawaban & Analisis
Kunci: C
Alasan inti: “innocent” berarti tidak bersalah (bukan pelaku kejahatan). Padanan paling tepat adalah “not guilty”.
A. “not fair” berarti tidak adil; itu dampak/penilaian, bukan arti kata “innocent”.
B. “not care” berarti tidak peduli; tidak terkait.
C. Tepat: “innocent” = “not guilty”.
D. “inhumane” berarti tidak manusiawi; itu penilaian terhadap hukuman, bukan arti “innocent”.
E. “not consistent” berarti tidak konsisten; tidak sesuai.
Catatan makna: “innocent” secara arti berada pada sisi \( \gt \) “not fair” dalam ketepatan sebagai sinonim, karena “not guilty” langsung menyamakan makna kata.
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