A Big Hope

when the wind blows smooth, we can't see but just feel it. Therefore we must thank to GOD at this m'ning for his kindness so we still can feel it blows.





A Big Hope



permulaan yang indah

permulaan yang manis

berharap akan terus begitu

proses awal pendekatan yang indah

proses awal pendekatan yang manis

berharap akan terus begitu

apakah tujuan akhir indah?

apakah tujuan akhir manis?

entahlah

berharap akan seperti itu

Senyumlah..........

Barusan mv mo searching blog temen, eh g tahunya nyasar ke milis temen, trus nemu artikel seru and inspiratif. Gak ada salahnya khan mv forward ke teman2 yg lain. Smoga bermanfaat dan happy Reading..........

Smile........
SENYUMLAH...

Kisah di bawah ini adalah kisah yang saya dapat dari milis alumni Jerman, atau
warga Indonesia yg bermukim atau pernah bermukim di sana. Demikian layak untuk
dibaca beberapa menit, dan direnungkan seumur hidup.

Saya adalah ibu dari tiga orang anak dan baru saja menyelesaikan kuliah saya.
Kelas terakhir yang harus saya ambil adalah Sosiologi. Sang Dosen sangat
inspiratif, dengan kualitas yang saya harapkan setiap orang memilikinya.

Tugas terakhir yang diberikan ke para siswanya diberi nama "Smiling." Seluruh
siswa diminta untuk pergi keluar dan memberikan senyumnya kepada tiga orang
asing yang ditemuinya dan mendokumentasikan reaksi mereka. Setelah itu setiap
siswa diminta untuk mempresentasikan di depan kelas. Saya adalah seorang yang
periang, mudah bersahabat dan selalu tersenyum pada setiap orang. Jadi, saya
pikir, tugas ini sangatlah mudah.

Setelah menerima tugas tsb, saya bergegas menemui suami saya dan anak bungsu
saya yang menunggu di taman di halaman kampus, untuk pergi ke restoran
McDonald's yang berada di sekitar kampus. Pagi itu udaranya sangat dingin dan
kering. Sewaktu suami saya akan masuk dalam antrian, saya menyela dan meminta
agar dia saja yang menemani si Bungsu sambil mencari tempat duduk yang masih
kosong.

Ketika saya sedang dalam antrian, menunggu untuk dilayani, mendadak setiap orang
di sekitar kami bergerak menyingkir, dan bahkan orang yang semula antri di
belakang saya ikut menyingkir keluar dari antrian.

Suatu perasaan panik menguasai diri saya, ketika berbalik dan melihat mengapa
mereka semua pada menyingkir? Saat berbalik itulah saya membaui suatu "bau badan
kotor" yang cukup menyengat, ternyata tepat di belakang saya berdiri dua orang
lelaki tunawisma yang sangat dekil! Saya bingung, dan tidak mampu bergerak sama
sekali.

Ketika saya menunduk, tanpa sengaja mata saya menatap laki-laki yang lebih
pendek, yang berdiri lebih dekat dengan saya, dan ia sedang "tersenyum" ke arah
saya. Lelaki ini bermata biru, sorot matanya tajam, tapi juga memancarkan kasih
sayang. Ia menatap ke arah saya, seolah ia meminta agar saya dapat menerima
'kehadirannya' di tempat itu.

Ia menyapa "Good day!" sambil tetap tersenyum dan sembari menghitung beberapa
koin yang disiapkan untuk membayar makanan yang akan dipesan. Secara spontan
saya membalas senyumnya, dan seketika teringat oleh saya 'tugas' yang diberikan
oleh dosen saya. Lelaki kedua sedang memainkan tangannya dengan gerakan aneh
berdiri di belakang temannya.

Saya segera menyadari bahwa lelaki kedua itu menderita defisiensi mental, dan
lelaki dengan mata biru itu adalah "penolong"nya. Saya merasa sangat prihatin
setelah mengetahui bahwa ternyata dalam antrian itu kini hanya tinggal saya
bersama mereka,dan kami bertiga tiba2 saja sudah sampai di depan counter.

Ketika wanita muda di counter menanyakan kepada saya apa yang ingin saya pesan,
saya persilahkan kedua lelaki ini untuk memesan duluan. Lelaki bermata biru
segera memesan "Kopi saja, satu cangkir Nona." Ternyata dari koin yang terkumpul
hanya itulah yang mampu dibeli oleh mereka (sudah menjadi aturan di restoran
disini, jika ingin duduk di dalam restoran dan menghangatkan tubuh, maka orang
harus membeli sesuatu). Dan tampaknya kedua orang ini hanya ingin menghangatkan
badan.

Tiba2 saja saya diserang oleh rasa iba yang membuat saya sempat terpaku beberapa
saat, sambil mata saya mengikuti langkah mereka mencari tempat duduk yang jauh
terpisah dari tamu2 lainnya, yang hampir semuanya sedang mengamati mereka...

Pada saat yang bersamaan, saya baru menyadari bahwa saat itu semua mata di
restoran itu juga sedang tertuju ke diri saya, dan pasti juga melihat semua
'tindakan' saya.

Saya baru tersadar setelah petugas di counter itu menyapa saya untuk ketiga
kalinya menanyakan apa yang ingin saya pesan. Saya tersenyum dan minta diberikan
dua paket makan pagi (di luar pesanan saya) dalam nampan terpisah.

Setelah membayar semua pesanan, saya minta bantuan petugas lain yang ada di
counter itu untuk mengantarkan nampan pesanan saya ke meja/tempat duduk suami
dan anak saya. Sementara saya membawa nampan lainnya berjalan melingkari sudut
ke arah meja yang telah dipilih kedua lelaki itu untuk beristirahat. Saya
letakkan nampan berisi makanan itu di atas mejanya, dan meletakkan tangan saya
di atas punggung telapak tangan dingin lelaki bemata biru itu, sambil saya
berucap "makanan ini telah saya pesan untuk kalian berdua."

Kembali mata biru itu menatap dalam ke arah saya, kini mata itu mulai basah
berkaca2 dan dia hanya mampu berkata "Terima kasih banyak, nyonya."

Saya mencoba tetap menguasai diri saya, sambil menepuk bahunya saya berkata
"Sesungguhnya bukan saya yang melakukan ini untuk kalian,Tuhan juga berada di
sekitar sini dan telah membisikkan sesuatu ke telinga saya untuk menyampaikan
makanan ini kepada kalian."

Mendengar ucapan saya, si Mata Biru tidak kuasa menahan haru dan memeluk lelaki
kedua sambil terisak-isak. Saat itu ingin sekali saya merengkuh kedua lelaki
itu.

Saya sudah tidak dapat menahan tangis ketika saya berjalan meninggalkan mereka
dan bergabung dengan suami dan anak saya, yang tidak jauh dari tempat duduk
mereka. Ketika saya duduk suami saya mencoba meredakan tangis saya sambil
tersenyum dan berkata "Sekarang saya tahu, kenapa Tuhan mengirimkan dirimu
menjadi istriku, yang pasti, untuk memberikan 'keteduhan' bagi diriku dan
anak2ku!"

Kami saling berpegangan tangan beberapa saat dan saat itu kami benar2 bersyukur
dan menyadari, bahwa hanya karena 'bisikanNYA' lah kami telah mampu memanfaatkan
'kesempatan' untuk dapat berbuat sesuatu bagi orang lain yang sedang sangat
membutuhkan.

Ketika kami sedang menyantap makanan, dimulai dari tamu yang akan meninggalkan
restoran dan disusul oleh beberapa tamu lainnya, mereka satu persatu menghampiri
meja kami, untuk sekedar ingin 'berjabat tangan' dengan kami. Salah satu di
antaranya, seorang bapak, memegangi tangan saya, dan berucap "Tanganmu ini telah
memberikan pelajaran yang mahal bagi kami semua yang berada disini, jika suatu
saat saya diberi kesempatan olehNYA, saya akan lakukan seperti yang telah kamu
contohkan tadi kepada kami."

Saya hanya bisa berucap "terimakasih" sambil tersenyum. Sebelum beranjak
meninggalkan restoran saya sempatkan untuk melihat ke arah kedua lelaki itu, dan
seolah ada 'magnit' yang menghubungkan bathin kami, mereka langsung menoleh ke
arah kami sambil tersenyum, lalu melambai2kan tangannya ke arah kami. Dalam
perjalanan pulang saya merenungkan kembali apa yang telah saya lakukan terhadap
kedua orang tunawisma tadi, itu benar2 'tindakan' yang tidak pernah terpikir
oleh saya.

Pengalaman hari itu menunjukkan kepada saya betapa 'kasih sayang' Tuhan itu
sangat HANGAT dan INDAH sekali!

Saya kembali ke college, pada hari terakhir kuliah dengan 'cerita' ini di tangan
saya. Saya menyerahkan 'paper' saya kepada dosen saya. Dan keesokan harinya,
sebelum memulai kuliahnya saya dipanggil dosen saya ke depan kelas, ia melihat
kepada saya dan berkata, "Bolehkah saya membagikan ceritamu ini kepada yang
lain?" dengan senang hati saya mengiyakan.

Ketika akan memulai kuliahnya dia meminta perhatian dari kelas untuk membacakan
paper saya. Ia mulai membaca, para siswapun mendengarkan dengan seksama cerita
sang dosen, dan ruangan kuliah menjadi sunyi. Dengan cara dan gaya yang dimiliki
sang dosen dalam membawakan ceritanya, membuat para siswa yang hadir di ruang
kuliah itu seolah ikut melihat bagaimana sesungguhnya kejadian itu berlangsung,
sehingga para siswi yang duduk di deretan belakang di dekat saya di antaranya
datang memeluk saya untuk mengungkapkan perasaan harunya.

Di akhir pembacaan paper tersebut, sang dosen sengaja menutup ceritanya dengan
mengutip salah satu kalimat yang saya tulis di akhir paper saya. "Tersenyumlah
dengan 'HATImu', dan kau akan mengetahui betapa 'dahsyat' dampak yang
ditimbulkan oleh senyummu itu."

Dengan caraNYA sendiri, Tuhan telah 'menggunakan' diri saya untuk menyentuh
orang-orang yang ada di McDonald's, suamiku, anakku, guruku, dan setiap siswa
yang menghadiri kuliah di malam terakhir saya sebagai mahasiswi. Saya lulus
dengan 1 pelajaran terbesar yang tidak pernah saya dapatkan di bangku kuliah
manapun, yaitu: "PENERIMAAN TANPA SYARAT."

Banyak cerita tentang kasih sayang yang ditulis untuk bisa diresapi oleh para
pembacanya, namun bagi siapa saja yang sempat membaca dan memaknai cerita ini
diharapkan dapat mengambil pelajaran bagaimana cara MENCINTAI SESAMA, DENGAN
MEMANFAATKAN SEDIKIT HARTA-BENDA YANG KITA MILIKI, dan bukannya MENCINTAI
HARTA-BENDA YANG BUKAN MILIK KITA, DENGAN MEMANFAATKAN SESAMA!

Jika anda berpikir bahwa cerita ini telah menyentuh hati anda, teruskan cerita
ini kepada orang2 terdekat anda. Disini ada 'malaikat' yang akan menyertai anda,
agar setidaknya orang yang membaca cerita ini akan tergerak hatinya untuk bisa
berbuat sesuatu (sekecil apapun) bagi sesama yang sedang membutuhkan uluran
tangannya!

Orang bijak mengatakan: Banyak orang yang datang dan pergi dari kehidupanmu,
tetapi hanya 'sahabat yang bijak' yang akan meninggalkan JEJAK di dalam hatimu.

Untuk berinteraksi dengan dirimu, gunakan nalarmu. Tetapi untuk berinteraksi
dengan orang lain, gunakan HATImu! Orang yang kehilangan uang, akan kehilangan
banyak, orang yang kehilangan teman, akan kehilangan lebih banyak! Tapi orang
yang kehilangan keyakinan, akan kehilangan semuanya! Tuhan menjamin akan
memberikan kepada setiap hewan makanan bagi mereka, tetapi DIA tidak melemparkan
makanan itu ke dalam sarang mereka, hewan itu tetap harus BERIKHTIAR untuk bisa
mendapatkannya.

Orang-orang muda yang 'cantik' adalah hasil kerja alam, tetapi orang-orang tua
yang 'cantik' adalah hasil karya seni. Belajarlah dari PENGALAMAN MEREKA, karena
engkau tidak dapat hidup cukup lama untuk bisa mendapatkan semua itu dari
pengalaman dirimu sendiri

What is Love?

Book Review: Chapter 5, Life University, Menjadi Mahasiswa Abadi dalam Kampus Tanpa Batas. Section B, The Power of Love.

The Power of Love (Part 1)

Reza M. Syarief dalam bukunya “Life Excellent, Menuju Hidup Lebih Baik” mengatakan bahwa kita sering mendengar istilah kekuatan cinta. Bahkan ada sebuah film yang menggambarkan tentang cinta yang cukup monumental dan kabarnya menembus box office di Hollywod. Namun apa yang beliau bicarakan di sini adalah The Power of Love yang sesungguhnya, The Power of Love yang riil, yang sejati.

Apa sesungguhnya yang disebut dengan LOVE. What is Love? Love is give more, get even more. Sesuatu akan dikatakan cinta apabila kita menuntut sesuatu. Cinta tidak disebut cinta sejati apabila kita tidak memiliki satu unsur ketulusan. Cinta tidak dikatakan cinta apabila tidak ada satu kejujuran disana. Maka ketika kita bicara cinta, kata kuncinya adalah give more, bukan get, tapi give lebih dulu. Bukan what can I get from you justru yang harus kita kembangkan adalah satu pola pikir what can I do for you. Apa yang bisa saya berikan buat anda? Give more ‘berikan lebih’, bukan sekedar memberikan secara standar, give more ‘lebih dari standar’. Kemudian dilanjutkan get even more, ini adalah konsekuensi logis sebagai satu akibat dari give more Anda. Reza menjelaskan, pada saat kita memberikan lebih tadi, kita tidak berpikir untuk mendapatkan balasan. Kita sekadar memberikan saja tanpa ada satu keinginan, tanpa ada satu tendensi tertentu. Give more get even more. Itu yang dikatakan Allah didalam Al-Qur’an.

“ Sesungguhnya jika kamu bersyukur, pasti kami akan menambah nikmat kepadamu. Jika kamu mengingkari nikmat-Ku, maka sesungguhnya azab-Ku sangat pedih.” (Ibrahim: 7).

Sangat jelas maksud perkataan Allah diatas. Ketika Anda give more, Anda akan mendapatkan multiplier effect, benefit, keuntungan yang berlipat ganda, bukan hanya sekedar deret hitung tapi bahkan deret ukur.

Selain membahas apa yang disebut dengan LOVE Reza juga memaparkan dengan jelas bahwa sebenarnya kata LOVE ini merupakan sebuah singkatan. Kalau diperpanjang dari 4 huruf ini, 4 huruf yang luar biasa yang bisa membuat orang menjadi memiliki satu kekuatan.

L adalah Loyal to the principal. Kesetiaan terhadap sebuah prinsip. Orang yang cinta adalah dia komitmen pada prinsip, bukan komitmen pada yang diluar prinsip. Principle Center, berpusat pada prinsip. Kalau kita berpusat pada prinsip, kita tidak akan mengalahkan yang satu demi memenangkan yang lain. Kita akan mendapatkan kemenangan disemua pihak karena, kita berpusat pada prinsip.

O adalah Obey your deep heart feeling. Taati hati nurani yang paling dalam. Cinta tidak bisa dilogikan. Kalau kita bicara cinta, kita harus menaati apa yang ada dalam hati nurani. Dalam Islam hal ini disebut sebagai ”Fitrah”. Dalam satu masalah tidak selalu kita kita harus bertanya pada otak. Kadang-kadang kita harus bertanya kepada hati nurani kita. Tidak jarang kita akan mengalami suatu perasaan kontradiktif antara apa yang dipikirkan dengan apa yang kita rasakan didalam hati nurani. Jika itu terjadi, hal pertama yang dibereskan adalah menenangkan hati nurani dulu dibandingkan otak. Kalau bicara otak, akal manusia maka kita bicara tentang egoisme. Sebaliknya jika bicara tentang hati nurani, maka kita bicara tentang kerendahan hati, kelembutan.

V adalah Victory. Seorang yang cinta, dia akan mendapatkan sebuah kemenangan baik secara fisik, touchable victory mahupun nonfisik, untouchable victory. Apa yang disebut kemenangan yang tidak nyata atau kemenangan yang tidak bisa disentuh? Jawabannya adalah apa yang dikatakan Allah di dalam Al-Qur’an. Untouchable victory, invisble benefit, keuntungan yang tidak terlihat.

” Hai jiwa yang tenang, kembalilah kepada Tuhanmu denag hati yang puas lagi diridhai-Nya. Maka masuklah kedalam jamaah hamba-hamba-Ku, dan masuklah kedalam surga-Ku.” (al-fajr:27-30).

E adalah Enlighment, pencerahan. Orang tidak akan merasakan nikmatnya sebuah cinta sebelum mengalami proses pencerahan. Apa yang disebut proses pencerahan? Proses pencerahan akan terjadi apabila antara nilai-nilai agama itu sudah tidak bisa dipisahkan dari kehidupan kita. Dengan kata lain sudah mengalami proses internalisasi diri. Pencerahan akan terjadi manakala kita melakukan proses internalisasi.Tentu saja karena kita sudah mendapatkan pencerahan sehingga mudah bagi kita untuk memberikan CINTA kepada siapa pun.

It’s my Party and I’ll buy it if I want to

Article Review: It’s my Party and I’ll buy it if I want to

Mutsuko Murakami in her article “It’s my party and I’ll buy it if I want to” says that Japanese women today prefer to have fun and they are happy to pay for it. Akiko Matsunnobu, a woman who has a good career and high income spend her money to buy some luxurious things and do some exclusive activities. Not only Akiko do this, but also other women. They are young women who are leaving with their parents, with a yen for fun, working women with good salaries and older women with grown children who now have the time and money to look to their own needs. They are spending money more active than Japanese men.
Commonly Japanese women demand for products and services that fit their particular desires. It inspires the company to produce exclusive product for women. For instance, Vitz car, one of unconventional cars that suitable for women, and the sale records of it is very amazing after launching in first six months. Besides car, women in Japan intend to buy real estate and delay their marriage today. In addition Japanese women today are no longer willing to submerge their identities into their families.
Therefore, women in Japan want to control their own life. Attending self improvement class is one of the effective ways to develop their abilities and acquire professional skills in the hope of getting jobs of their choice.

Cina Item

Cina Item

“Cina Item” adalah julukan/ejekan teman-teman kepadaku ketika duduk di bangku Sekolah Dasar. Cina Item, begitulah biasanya mereka memanggil ketika kesal padaku (emangsih, dulu rada berani alias berjiwa sedikit tomboy). Cukup beralasan sich, mereka memanggilku seperti itu. Katanya mataku sipit, tidak memiliki kelopak mata, tapi kulitku tidak putih seperti cina biasanya, melainkan coklat terang. Walhasil teman-teman mengejekku cina item. Terkadang keluar juga julukan lain, seperti Cina Bagan atau Cina Pulau. Kenapa Cina Bagan? Karena di daerah Bagan Siapi-api (Kabupaten Rokan Hilir) banyak terdapat komunitas cina yang berkulit gelap. Keseharian mereka melaut mencari ikan. Pada saat itu, aku tidak menganggap ejekan tersebut hal yang serius, alias cuek aja.

Seingatku pada saat itu juga lagi ngetop2nya penyanyi anak MELISA dengan judul lagu hitsnya ”Abang Tukang Bakso”. Kebetulan banget model rambutnya sama persis dengan model rambutku saat itu. Model petak dengan potongan poni lurus diatas alis cukup memperjelas dan semakin menampakkan mataku yang sipit itu. Lucu dan menyenangkan jika mengingat masa-masa itu.

Bukan hanya teman-teman disekolah saja yang memberiku julukan Cina, tapi juga keluarga dan beberapa sodara. Mereka bilang mataku cipit mirip Edang (buyut). Emang sih,nenek-nenek dari belah papa, pada bermata sipit, tapi kulitnya putih-putih, persis kayak orang cina. Sejarahnya, mereka khan tinggal diwilayah pegunungan, so gak terkena sinar matahari langsung. Beda banget dengan iklim kota Pekanbaru yang panas menyengat.

Dibalik ini semua, aku bersyukur banget dengan nikmat yang Allah SWT berikan kepadaku. Allah menciptaku dengan sempurna, He is the great creator. Dia berikan aku dua mata yang berfungsi dengan baik hingga detik ini. Hanya saja sebagai hambanya, terkadang aku terlupa untuk memperlakukan dua mata ini dengan baik. Thank you Allah.

Pencerahan : Permata

Wanita Sholehah: Bidadari Syurga Terindah

Ia mutiara terindah dunia
Bunga terharum sepanjang masa
Ada cahaya di wajahnya
Betapa indah pesonanya
Bidadari bermata jeli pun cemburu padanya
Kelak, ia menjadi bidadari surga
Terindah dari yang ada
(hanan)

Pernahkah saudara-saudara melihat seorang bidadari? Bidadari yang bermata jeli. Yang kabarnya sangat indah dan jelita. Saya yakin kita semua belum pernah melihatnya. Kalau begitu mari kita ikuti percakapan antara Rasulullah sallallahu’alaihi wa sallam dan Ummu Salamah radhiyallahu ‘anha tentang sifat-sifat bidadari yang bermata jeli.
—-
Imam Ath-Thabrany mengisahkan dalam sebuah hadist, dari Ummu Salamah radhiyallahu ‘anha, dia berkata, “Saya berkata, ‘Wahai Rasulullah, jelaskanlah kepadaku firman Allah tentang bidadari-bidadari yang bermata jeli’.”

Beliau menjawab, “Bidadari yang kulitnya putih, matanya jeli dan lebar, rambutnya berkilai seperti sayap burung nasar.”

Saya berkata lagi, “Jelaskan kepadaku tentang firman Allah, ‘Laksana mutiara yang tersimpan baik’.” (Al-waqi’ah : 23)

Beliau menjawab, “Kebeningannya seperti kebeningan mutiara di kedalaman lautan, tidak pernah tersentuh tangan manusia.”
Saya berkata lagi, “Wahai Rasulullah, jelaskan kepadaku firman Allah, ‘Di dalam surga-surga itu ada bidadari-bidadari yang baik-baik lagi cantik-cantik’.” (Ar-Rahman : 70)

Beliau menjawab, “Akhlaknya baik dan wajahnya cantik jelita”

Saya berkata lagi, Jelaskan kepadaku firman Allah, ‘Seakan-akan mereka adalah telur (burung onta) yang tersimpan dengan baik’.” (Ash-Shaffat : 49)

Beliau menjawab, “Kelembutannya seperti kelembutan kulit yang ada di bagian dalam telur dan terlindung kulit telur bagian luar, atau yang biasa disebut putih telur.”

Saya berkata lagi, “Wahai Rasulullah, jelaskan kepadaku firman Allah, ‘Penuh cinta lagi sebaya umurnya’.” (Al-Waqi’ah : 37)

Beliau menjawab, “Mereka adalah wanita-wanita yang meninggal di dunia pada usia lanjut, dalam keadaan rabun dan beruban. Itulah yang dijadikan Allah tatkala mereka sudah tahu, lalu Dia menjadikan mereka sebagai wanita-wanita gadis, penuh cinta, bergairah, mengasihi dan umurnya sebaya.”

Saya bertanya, “Wahai Rasulullah, manakah yang lebih utama, wanita dunia ataukah bidadari yang bermata jeli?”

Beliau menjawab, “Wanita-wanita dunia lebih utama daripada bidadari-bidadari yang bermata jeli, seperti kelebihan apa yang tampak daripada apa yang tidak tampak.”

Saya bertanya, “Karena apa wanita dunia lebih utama daripada mereka?”

Beliau menjawab, “Karena shalat mereka, puasa dan ibadah mereka kepada Allah. Allah meletakkan cahaya di wajah mereka, tubuh mereka adalah kain sutera, kulitnya putih bersih, pakaiannya berwarna hijau, perhiasannya kekuning-kuningan, sanggulnya mutiara dan sisirnya terbuat dari emas. Mereka berkata, ‘Kami hidup abadi dan tidak mati, kami lemah lembut dan tidak jahat sama sekali, kami selalu mendampingi dan tidak beranjak sama sekali, kami ridha dan tidak pernah bersungut-sungut sama sekali. Berbahagialah orang yang memiliki kami dan kami memilikinya.’.”

Saya berkata, “Wahai Rasulullah, salah seorang wanita di antara kami pernah menikah dengan dua, tiga, atau empat laki-laki lalu meninggal dunia. Dia masuk surga dan mereka pun masuk surga pula. Siapakah di antara laki-laki itu yang akan menjadi suaminya di surga?”

Beliau menjawab, “Wahai Ummu Salamah, wanita itu disuruh memilih, lalu dia pun memilih siapa di antara mereka yang akhlaknya paling bagus, lalu dia berkata, ‘Wahai Rabb-ku, sesungguhnya lelaki inilah yang paling baik akhlaknya tatkala hidup bersamaku di dunia. Maka nikahkanlah aku dengannya’. Wahai Ummu Salamah, akhlak yang baik itu akan pergi membawa dua kebaikan, dunia dan akhirat.”
—-
Sungguh indah perkataan Rasulullah sallallahu’alaihi wa sallam yang menggambarkan tentang bidadari bermata jeli. Namun betapa lebih indah lagi dikala beliau mengatakan bahwa wanita dunia yang taat kepada Allah lebih utama dibandingkan seorang bidadari. Ya, bidadari saudaraku.

Sungguh betapa mulianya seorang muslimah yang kaffah diin islamnya. Mereka yang senantiasa menjaga ibadah dan akhlaknya, senantiasa menjaga keimanan dan ketaqwaannya kepada Allah. Sungguh, betapa indah gambaran Allah kepada wanita shalehah, yang menjaga kehormatan diri dan suaminya. Yang tatkala cobaan dan ujian menimpa, hanya kesabaran dan keikhlasan yang ia tunjukkan. Di saat gemerlap dunia kian dahsyat menerpa, ia tetap teguh mempertahankan keimanannya.

Sebaik-baik perhiasan ialah wanita salehah. Dan wanita salehah adalah mereka yang menerapkan islam secara menyeluruh di dalam dirinya, sehingga kelak ia menjadi penyejuk mata bagi orang-orang di sekitarnya. Senantiasa merasakan kebaikan di manapun ia berada. Bahkan seorang “Aidh Al-Qarni menggambarkan wanita sebagai batu-batu indah seperti zamrud, berlian, intan, permata, dan sebagainya di dalam bukunya yang berjudul “Menjadi wanita paling bahagia”.

Subhanallah. Tak ada kemuliaan lain ketika Allah menyebutkan di dalam al-quran surat an-nisa ayat 34, bahwa wanita salehah adalah yang tunduk kepada Allah dan menaati suaminya, yang sangat menjaga di saat ia tak hadir sebagaimana yang diajarkan oleh Allah.

Dan bidadari pun cemburu kepada mereka karena keimanan dan kemuliaannya. Bagaimana caranya agar menjadi wanita salehah? Tentu saja dengan melakukan apa yang diperintahkan Allah dan menjauhi segala laranganNya. Senantiasa meningkatkan kualitas diri dan menularkannya kepada orang lain. Wanita dunia yang salehah kelak akan menjadi bidadari-bidadari surga yang begitu indah.

Duhai saudariku muslimah, maukah engkau menjadi wanita yang lebih utama dibanding bidadari? Allah meletakkan cahaya di atas wajahmu dan memuliakanmu di surga menjadi bidadari-bidadari surga. Maka, berlajarlah dan tingkatkanlah kualitas dirimu, agar Allah ridha kepadamu

subhanallah, sukup lama aku terdiam dan terpekur ketika membaca tulisan ini. Ya Allah aku malu pada diriku, masih sangat jauh rasanya untuk menjadi ataupun mendekati pribadi wanita sholehah yang engkau inginkan...
Namun,tidak ada kata terlambat untuk memperbaiki dan meningkatkan kualitas diri.
Ya Rabb, berikanlah aku kemuliaan....Amin.

Pencerahan....Manikam

* Sabda Rasul:
Barang siapa merasa lelah karena bekerja sehari untuk mencari rizki yang halal,
niscaya diampuni segala dosanya.
Siapa yang pada sore hari diliputi kepenatan karena bekerja, maka pada sore itu ia
termasuk orang yang diampuni ALLAH

Wanita adalah Bintang di Langit dan Menerangi Kegelapan

Wanita muslimah yang sholehah adalah yang baik perilakunya pada suaminya dan menaatinya setelah taat kepada Allah. Sungguh Rasulullah saw telah menyanjung wanita itu dan menjadikannya sebagai wanita ideal yang harus dipilih oleh lelaki. Ketika Rasulullah ditanya: "istri yang bagaimanakah yang paling baik?" Beliau menjawab:"Istri yang menyenangkan suami ketika melihatnya, yang taat pada suami ketika memerintah, dan yang tidak membantah dan tidak membelanjakan harta suaminya untuk hal-hal yang disukai suaminya."

Ketika turun ayat Allah yang berbunyi: "Mereka yang menimbun emas dan perak." (QS. At-Taubah:34), umar ra berangkat dan diikuti oleh Tsauban ra Ia kemudian bertanya kepada Rasulullah: "Wahai Rasulullah, sesungguhnya ayat ini begitu agung bagi sahabat-sahabatmu. Rasulullah menjawab:" Maukah engkau aku beritahukan tentang sebaik-baik harta simpanan seseorang? Yaitu instri shalehah yang menyenangkan suami jika melihatnya, yang taat jika suami memerintahnya, yang menjaga dirinya jika suami tidak berada di tempat."

Rasulullah saw juga memberi kabar tentang masuknya seorang wanita ke dalam surga tergantung ridha suaminya. Dari Ummi Salamah ra: Rasulullah saw bersabda, "siapapun wanita yang meninggal dunia dan suaminya meridhainya, maka ia akan masuk surga." Jadilah engkau wanita seperti itu, niscaya engkau bahagia.(DR.Aidh bin Abdullah Al Qarni.)

*bahan kultum to weekly meeting next week, smoga teman2 pengajiankua yg dh jadi ibu2 g ngerasa di ceramahin olehku....*

Introduction to Literature

INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE


• Literature is the art of written works.
• Literature refers to the language deliberately structured in such a way to have identifiable artistic qualities.
• Literature is a special kind of language that differs from the ordinary discourse with which we conduct our daily affair.
• Literature serves as a social document, giving us insight into the law customs, institutions, attitudes, and values of the age in which it was written or in which it is set.


Definition

Literature has different meanings depending on who is using it. It could be any symbolic record, encompassing everything from images and sculptures to letters.

In a narrow sense literature could mean only text composed of letters or other examples of symbolic written language (Egyptian Hieroglyphs).

An even more narrow interpretation is that text has a physical form such as on paper or some other portable form, to the exclusion of inscription or digital media.


History of Literature


One of the earliest known literary works is the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem dated around 2700 B.C, which deals with themes of heroism, friendship, loss, and the quest for eternal life. Different historical periods have emphasized various characteristics of literature. Early works often had an overt or covert religious or didactic purpose. Moralizing or prescriptive literature stems from such sources. The exotic nature of romance flourished from the Middle Ages onwards, whereas the Age of Reason manufactured nationalistic epics and philosophical tracts. Romanticism emphasized the popular folk literature and emotive involvement, but gave way in the 19th-century West to a phase of realism and naturalism, investigations into what is real. The 20th century brought demands for symbolism or psychological insight in the delineation and development of character.


Forms of Literature

Poetry Drama/a play
Prose Essay



• Poetry
A poem is a composition written in verse. Poems rely heavily on imagery, precise word choice, and metaphor; they may take the form of measures consisting of patterns of stresses (metric feet) or of patterns of different- length syllables, and they may or may not utilize rhyme.

Some poetry uses specific forms: the haiku, the limerick, or the sonnet, for example. A traditional haiku written in Japanese must have something to do with nature, contain seventeen onji (syllables), distributed over three lines in groups of five, seven, and five, and should also have a kigo, a specific word indicating a season. A limerick has five lines, with a rhyme scheme of AABBA, and line lengths of 3, 3,2,2,3 stressed syllables. It traditionally has a less reverent attitude towards nature. Poetry not adhering to a formal poetic structure is called "free verse"


• Prose
Consists of writing that does not adhere to any particular formal structures (other than simple grammar); "non-poetic" writing, perhaps. The term sometimes appears pejoratively, but prosaic writing simply says something without necessarily trying to say it in a beautiful way, or using beautiful words. Prose writing can of course take beautiful form; but less by virtue of the formal features of words (rhymes, alliteration, metre) but rather by style, placement, or inclusion of graphics. But one need not mark the distinction precisely, and perhaps cannot do so. One area of overlap is "prose poetry", which attempts to convey using only prose, the aesthetic richness typical of poetry.


• Essays
An essay consists of a discussion of a topic from an author's personal point of view, exemplified by works by Michel de Montaigne or by Charles Lamb.
'Essay' in English derives from the French 'essai', meaning 'attempt'. Thus one can find open-ended, provocative and/or inconclusive essays. The term "essays" first applied to the self-reflective musings of Michel de Montaigne, and even today he has a reputation as the father of this literary form.
Genres related to the essay may include:
• the memoir, telling the story of an author's life from the author's personal point of view
• the epistle: usually a formal, didactic, or elegant letter.


• Fiction
Narrative fiction (narrative prose) generally favors prose for the writing of novels, short stories, graphic novels, and the like. Singular examples of these exist throughout history, but they did not develop into systematic and discrete literary forms until relatively recent centuries. Length often serves to categorize works of prose fiction. Although limits remain somewhat arbitrary, modern publishing conventions dictate the following:
• A Mini Saga is a short story of exactly 50 words
• A Flash fiction is generally defined as a piece of prose under a thousand words.
• A short story comprises prose writing of between 1000 and 20,000 words (but typically more than 5000 words), which may or may not have a narrative arc.
• A story containing between 20,000 and 50,000 words falls into the novella category.
• A work of fiction containing more than 50,000 words falls squarely into the realm of the novel.
A novel consists simply of a long story written in prose, yet the form developed comparatively recently


• Drama/a play
A play or drama offers another classical literary form that has continued to evolve over the years. It generally comprises chiefly dialogue between characters, and usually aims at dramatic / theatrical performance rather than at reading. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, opera developed as a combination of poetry, drama, and music. Nearly all drama took verse form until comparatively recently. Shakespeare could be considered drama. Romeo and Juliet, for example, is a classic romantic drama generally accepted as literature.
Greek drama exemplifies the earliest form of drama of which we have substantial knowledge. Tragedy, as a dramatic genre, developed as a performance associated with religious and civic festivals, typically enacting or developing upon well-known historical or mythological themes. Tragedies generally presented very serious themes. With the advent of newer technologies, scripts written for non-stage media have been added to this form. War of the Worlds (radio) in 1938 saw the advent of literature written for radio broadcast, and many works of Drama have been adapted for film or television. Conversely, television, film, and radio literature have been adapted to printed or electronic media. From Wikipedia.

Free TOEFL practice tests Listening and Reading online

Check your TOEFL level www.examenglish.com
http://www.examenglish.com/TOEFL/index.php

FREE READING COMPREHENSION TEST: Reading Comprehension Test

FREE READING COMPREHENSION TEST: Reading Comprehension Test

TOEFL PRACTICE TEST

TOEFL Practice Test
Table of Contents
Section 1: Listening.......................................................................
Listening: Part A.........................................................................
Listening: Part B.........................................................................
Section 2: Structure .....................................................................
Section 3: Reading.......................................................................

Section 1: Listening
The Listening section of the test measures the ability to understand conversations and
talks in English. Answer all the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied by the
speakers you hear. Do not take notes.

Listening: Part A
In this part you will see short conversations between two people. Choose the best answer
to each question. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied by the
speakers.

1. Woman: Pardon me. Do you know what time that this store opens?
Man: I do not, but I believe that it is written on the door.
Narrator: What does the man imply that the woman should do?
a. Look on the door
b. Open the door
c. Ask someone else
d. Come back later

2. Woman: I am going to buy Johnny a toy train for his birthday.
Man: Are you sure he’d like one?
Narrator: What does the man imply?
a. Johnny loves toy trains
b. Johnny already has too many toy trains
c. Johnny said he wants a toy train
d. Johnny may prefer something else

3. Man: I need some shampoo for my hair.
Woman: All of the shampoo is in the back of the store on the third shelf.
Narrator: What will the man probably do?
a. Walk out of the store
b. Buy the shampoo
c. Come back later
d. Go to another store

4. Man: Are you going to go to the University of Texas to get your Doctorate?
Woman: I don’t think so.
Man: Why, have you been accepted to any other schools?
Woman: Yes, I have received news of acceptance from LSU, University of
Tennessee, and Harvard.
Narrator: What are the speakers discussing?
a. The University of Texas
b. Schools with Doctorate programs
c. Where the woman will go to school
d. Who can get accepted to the most schools

5. Man: I’m really tired on studying for economics every weekend.
Woman: I hear you.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. She has excellent hearing
b. She has heard the man talk about this frequently
c. She understands his point of view
d. She needs to have her ears checked

6. Man: We are going to get ice cream. Would you like to come with us?
Woman: I am waiting for a package to be delivered.
Narrator: What does the woman imply?
a. She does not eat ice cream
b. She has no money
c. She does not like packages
d. She will not be going

7. Woman: Are you going to go to the ball game?
Man: You bet!
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a. He will place a wager on the ball game
b. He will definitely go to the ball game
c. He likes to gamble
d. He does not like ball games

8. Man: That’s a nice car.
Woman: I got it almost four years ago.
Man. It looks brand new.
Woman: Yes, it’s in good shape.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. The woman needs a new car
b. She likes to exercise
c. She has a new car
d. The car is in good condition

9. Man: Did you get you movie passes?
Woman: I spoke to your secretary about it, and she took care of it for me.
Narrator: What does the man mean?
a. The secretary was responsible for getting the movie passes
b. The are no movie passes
c. He has the movie passes
d. The movie passes are in the mail

10. Man: How do you like living in America?
Woman: I am used to it know.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. She has always liked living in America
b. She hates living in America
c. She is accustomed to living in America
d. She would rather live in America

11. Woman: Marie sure likes shopping.
Man: If only she liked doing homework as well!
Narrator: What does the man imply about Marie?
a. She is very likeable
b. She does not put much effort into her homework
c. She goes to the mall everyday
d. She has a lot of homework

12. Man: I thought I was supposed to perform the experiment in Room 45.
Woman: No. Ticket 45 is in Room 54.
Narrator: What will the man probably do?
a. Go to Room 54
b. Go to Room 45
c. Buy a ticket
d. Go home

13. Man: Did you know that Tracey and Bob are back from their honeymoon to Las
Vegas?
Woman: So they did get married after all.
Narrator: What had the woman assumed about Tracey and Bob?
a. They were still in Las Vegas
b. They would not get married
c. They had a spectacular wedding
d. They hate Las Vegas

14. Man: Do you usually take a nap?
Woman: I do now and then.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. She occasionally takes a nap
b. She always takes a nap
c. She never takes a nap
d. She used to take a nap

15. Man: Can you believe it? I got an A on my Finance exam
Woman: Way to go!
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. She is asking where to go
b. She wants him to leave her alone
c. She is congratulating him
d. She thinks he is a liar

16. Man: How did the job interview go?
Woman: I could not have been more pleased.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. The interview went very well
b. The woman did not like the interview
c. The interview was cancelled
d. The interview went terrible

17. Man: Do you mind if I turn on some music for a while?
Woman: No, I don’t mind.
Narrator: What does the woman mean?
a. Music will not bother her
b. She hates listening to music
c. She wants to think harder
d. She does not have any music

Listening: Part B
In this part you will see several longer conversations and talks. You should answer each
question on the basis of what is stated or implied by the speakers in the conversation or
talks.

Narrator: Listen to a lecture by a biology instructor.

Many people think of gorillas as dangerous killers. One reason for this is that
television and movies often show these animals this way. But gorillas are really gentle
animals.
The gorilla is a vegetarian. It lives in the African rain forests where it finds the
fruits and plants it needs to survive. A large, wild gorilla might eat over 40 pounds of
leaves and fruit in one day.
Unfortunately, these peaceful creatures are in danger of becoming extinct. Each
year, large areas of the rain forests are being cut down. Because there is less and less
food from these forests, the number of wild gorillas is becoming smaller and smaller.

18. The passage describes gorillas as being:
a. Dangerous killers
b. Carnivores
c. TV and movie stars
d. Gentle animals

19. According to the passage, why are gorillas in danger?
a. Because people keep hunting them.
b. Because they eat too much.
c. Because forests get too much rain.
d. Because their food supply is being destroyed.

20. If something is becoming extinct, it is:
a. Becoming lively.
b. Dying out.
c. Growing wild.
d. Getting sick.

Narrator: Listen to the conversation between two graduate students.

Woman: What did you think about the assignment we were supposed to complete for our
statistics class?
Man: I haven’t done mine yet. Is it difficult?
Woman: Kind of. It was full of problems.
Man: Derivative problems?
Woman: Not really, More a review of the whole semester.
Man: Oh.
Woman: It was time consuming.
Man: Really?
Woman. Yes. I started it at about lunch time and didn’t finish it until supper.
Man: I’m surprised at that.
Woman: I was too, I did not expect our professor would give us so much.
Man: He usually doesn’t.
Woman: I know. That is why I was surprised.
Man: Well, I do have some free time this afternoon. Do you know when it is due?
Woman: Tomorrow.
Man: Well, I better get moving.

21. What was on the assignment?
a. Derivative problems
b. A review of the whole semester
c. What was for lunch
d. A surprise

22. What did the students find surprising?
a. The length of the assignment
b. The problems
c. Lunch
d. The professor

23. What did the woman start at lunchtime?
a. The assignment
b. Derivative problems
c. Eating
d. A surprise

24. What will the man probably do next?
a. Eat supper
b. Move out
c. Complete the assignment
d. Ask the woman to supper

Narrator: Listen to part of a conversation between a student and a clerk in a college
bookstore.

Man: I need to buy an basic English textbook.
Woman: Okay. What is the course number?
Man: You mean there is more than one
Woman: Sure. We offer Poetry, Writing, and Literature.
Man. If I take Poetry will we write sonnets?
Woman: Not really. The Poetry class is very basic rhyming.
Man: Great. That is what I wanted to hear. How much is that one?
Woman: It’s twenty-nine dollars, plus a ten-dollar notebook fee.
Man: Wait a minute, can’t I just use my own notebook.
Woman: Most students prefer the special poetry notebook, so we made it a requirement.
Man: Okay. I’ll take one Poetry book and notebook. Do you take credit cards?
Woman: Yes, but you don’t have to pay now. Just fill out this form and we will bill you.
Man: Sounds great.

25. What kind of English textbook does the man decide to buy?
a. Writing
b. Literature
c. Poetry
d. Sonnets

26. How much does the Poetry book cost?
a. Twenty-nine dollars
b. Ten-dollars dollars
c. Thirty-nine dollars
d. Twenty-eight dollars

27. Why do the students purchase a poetry notebook?
a. Because they like poetry
b. They are out of paper
c. It is required
d. It makes them feel special

28. How will the man pay for the textbook?
a. With a check
b. With cash
c. With a credit card
d. With an exchange

29. What will the man probably do?
a. Pay now
b. Pay with a bill
c. Go to another store
d. Buy another textbook

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a wetlands ecology class. The professor is talking
about sanderlings.

Urbanization and coastal development has dramatically reduced the beach habitat
available for foraging shorebirds worldwide. This study tested the general hypothesis that
recreational use of shorebird foraging areas adversely affects the foraging behavior of
sanderlings Calidris alba. Observations conducted on two central California beaches from
January through May and September through December of 1999 showed that number and
activity of people significantly reduced the amount of time sanderlings spent foraging.
Although the sample size was low, the most significant negative factor was the presence
of free running dogs on the beach. The experimentally determined minimal approach
distance did not vary significantly with the type of human activities tested. Based on
these results, policy recommendations for minimizing the impact of human beach
activities on foraging shorebirds include: (1) people maintain a minimum distance of 30
m from areas where shorebirds concentrate and (2) strict enforcement of leash laws
Fig. 1

A total of 492 focal birds were observed, of which a sanderling was disturbed by
passing humans on an average of one every 15 min with 96% of those sanderlings
responding to humans at a distance of 30 m or less (Fig. 1). Sanderlings responded to
human activity by either running (42%) or flying (58%). Within the 1-min sampling time,
the disturbed sanderling generally moved once (58%), with 42% moving more than once
due to human disturbance.

30. What hypothesis did this study test?
a. People maintain a minimum distance from where shorebirds congregate.
b. Recreational use of shorebird foraging areas conversely affects the foraging
behavior of sanderlings.
c. Recreational use of shorebird foraging areas adversely affects the foraging
behavior of sanderlings.
d. Recreational use of shorebird foraging areas adversely affects the foraging
behavior of sanderlings. 42% of shorebirds move due to human disturbance.

31. What percent of responding sanderlings were disturbed by passing humans at a
distance of 10 meters or less?
a. More than 70 percent
b. More than 80 percent
c. Less than 60 percent
d. Less than 0 percent

32. What are some environmentally sound results to come from this study?
a. Enforcement of leash laws would be effective.
b. Observe Calidris Alba daily.
c. People should maintain a minimum distance of 30 meters from shorebirds.
d. Coastal development has dramatically reduced the beach.

33. This experiment determined that the most significant negative factor to reduce the
amount of time that sanderlings spent foraging was:
a. Humans passing once every 15 minutes.
b. Humans disturbing the sand
c. Sanderlings running or flying
d. Free running dogs

Narrator: Listen to a conversation between a student and a graduate assistant in the
marketing department.

Man: May I help you?
Woman: Hello, My name is Rebecca Smith and I have an appointment Monday at ten
o’clock with Dr. Cudd.
Man: Yes, ten on Monday. I see it here on his planner.
Woman: Well, I was wondering if it would be possible to move my appointment until
later in the afternoon on Monday.
Man: I’m sorry, but Dr. Cudd is tied up in meetings all afternoon.
Woman: Oh.
Man: There is an appointment earlier that morning, if that would help you. Or you could
see him Tuesday afternoon at two.
Woman. No thanks. I’ll just rearrange my schedule.

34. Why did the woman go to the marketing department?
a. To change her appointment time
b. To schedule her appointment
c. To cancel her appointment
d. To rearrange her class schedule

35. What does the man say about Dr. Cudd?
a. He will be out of town Monday
b. He will be rescheduling all Monday appointments for Tuesday
c. He is busy Monday afternoon
d. He is available Monday afternoon

36. What did the graduate assistant offer?
a. To give her an appointment Monday afternoon
b. To give her an appointment Tuesday at two, or earlier Monday
c. To cancel her appointment
d. To give her an appointment next week

37. What did the woman decide to do?
a. Make a new appointment
b. Keep the original appointment
c. Go to the meeting with Dr. Cudd
d. Go to another department

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a macroeconomics class. The professor will be
taking about the indicators business cycle.

Because the business cycle is related to aggregate economic activity, a popular
indicator of the business cycle in the U.S. is the Gross Domestic Product or GDP. The
financial media generally considers two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth to
indicate a recession. Used as such, the GDP is a quick and simple indicator of economic
contractions. However, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) weighs
GDP relatively low as a primary business cycle indicator because GDP is subject to
frequent revision and it is reported only on a quarterly basis (the business cycle is tracked
on a monthly basis). The NBER relies primarily on indicators such as the following:
• employment
• personal income
• industrial production
Additionally, indicators such as manufacturing and trade sales are used as
measures of economic activity.

38. What is the main topic of this lecture?
a. Gross Domestic Product
b. Indicators of the business cycle
c. National Bureau of Economic Research
d. Employment

39. Which of the following is used as a quick and simple indicator of economic
contractions?
a. Gross Domestic Product
b. Employment
c. Personal Income
d. Industrial Production

40. What is used to indicate a recession?
a. two consecutive quarters of negative growth
b. two consecutive quarters of positive growth
c. four nonconsecutive quarters of negative growth
d. four nonconsecutive quarters of positive growth

41. What is an indicator that the NBER relies upon? Please choose two answers.
a. growth
b. employment
c. product movement
d. personal income

Narrator: Listen to part of a conversation between a student and her professor.

Emily: Thank you for letting me speak with you today, Dr. Miller. I would like to talk
with you about my semester average.
Dr. Miller: I see.
Emily: Well to be honest with you, I was upset when I saw my grade. I thought that it
would have been better.
Dr. Miller: Why is that?
Emily: I got an A on my midterm project.
Dr. Miller: I remember how good yours was.
Emily: I received an A on my final exam, but I still received a B in your class.
Dr. Miller: Your grades were very good according to my grade book.
Emily: Can you explain why I received a B instead of an A?
Dr. Miller: Twenty percent of you grade was based on your participation in the class
discussions. Even though you always did well on you assignments, you never added your
opinions or volunteered in class.
Emily: But I tried, I am just shy.
Dr. Miller: I am sorry Emily the syllabus states that everyone must participate in order to
receive there full grade for the class.

42. What event prompted this discussion?
a. Emily’s semester average
b. Emily’s midterm project
c. Emily’s final exam
d. Emily’s participation

43. Where is the conversation most likely occurring?
a. Grocery store
b. Dr. Miller’s office
c. Emily’s office
d. Swimming pool

44. What is the grade that Emily received on her final exam?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D

45. Why did Emily receive that grade in the course?
a. Dr. Miller did not like her
b. She was late to class
c. She never did her assignments
d. She did not participate in the class discussions

Section 2: Structure
This section is designed to measure your ability to recognize language that is appropriate
for standard written English.

1. The Eiffel Tower ___________ Paris, France.
a. landmarks
b. is landmarked in
c. is a landmark in
d. is in a landmark

2. Young deer _________.
a. are called fawns
b. be fawns
c. is fawns
d. are fawns called

3. Not until a dog is several months old does it begin to exhibit signs of
independence ___________.
a. its mother from
b. from mother
c. to mother
d. from its mother

4. The Treasury Department a.is take a new look at regulations limiting the b.number
of interest that bank and c.savings, and loan associations d.can pay on deposits.

5.a.Him should b.be careful with that vase because c.it is very old d.and extremely fragile.
6. The repair shop a.keep my cassette player for six weeks before b.returning it,
c.nevertheless, d.it still does not work properly.

7. To score a goal in soccer you ________.
a. must kick the ball
b. must kicks the ball
c. may kick them ball
d. must kick them balls

8. The observation deck at the Sears Tower _________ in Chicago.
a. is highest than any other one
b. is highest than any other one
c. is higher than any other one
d. is higher that any other one

9. If it _________ so cloudy, we would plan on having the fair outside.
a. was
b. was not
c. weren’t
d. had not

10. At the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, Geraldine Ferraro
became the first woman _________ for the vice presidency.
a. to being nominated
b. to has been nominated
c. to have been nominated
d. to will be nominated

11. Pearl Buck, a.a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize b.for Literature in 1938 c.strove to bring understanding and peace d.on everyone.
12. In most circumstances a.the person that owns the property b.can claim the rights
c.as money made d.from drilling oil on their property.

13. _______ chocolate will give you a tummy ache.
a. Eat too much
b. Eating to much
c. Eating too much
d. Eating too many

14. If she ____________ to advance her clock one hour, she wouldn’t have been late
for work.
a. should have remembered
b. could remembered
c. remembered
d. would have remembered

15. It a.was obvious from his response in the press conference b.that the candidate
c.prepare his answers d.well.

16. A dream about falling _________.
a. scary is
b. is scary
c. are scary
d. very scary is

17. George Washington _________first U.S. President.
a. was the
b. became
c. were the
d. are the

18. Amelia Earhart was _______________ to pilot her plane across the Atlantic
Ocean.
a. the first and a woman
b. the first woman
c. who the first woman
d. the woman who first

19. a.Crawfish farming b.have been practiced in south Louisiana c.for many d.years.

20. The main purpose a.of this class is to b.help you better understand the c.history of
there country, and how d.it came to be.
21. ____________ a tree can be grown from a seedling.
a. That is generally believed
b. Believed generally is
c. Generally believed it is
d. It is generally believed that

22. The White Rose Bridge, a.which close today, for b.resurfacing will not be c.open
for d.two months.

23. a.When I joined the staff b.of the newspaper, I c.were taught to write short,
powerful d.headlines.

24. a.Since the official school colors b.are red and white, c.all of us d.has worn red and
white to the championship game.

25. The poverty level in the United State is currently set __________________.
a. at 12,000 dollars or less.
b. as 12,000 dollars or less.
c. at 12,000 dollars as less
d. at 12,000 dollar or less.

Section 3: Reading
This section is designed to measure your ability to read and understand short passages
similar in topic and style to those that students are likely to encounter in North American
universities and colleges. This section contains reading passages and questions about the
passages.

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. He was the
illegitimate son of Ser Piero, a Florentine notary and landlord, but lived on the estate and
was treated as a legitimate son.

In 1483, Leonardo da Vinci drew the first model of a helicopter. It did not look
very much like our modern day “copter,” but the idea of what it could do was about the
same.

Leonardo was an artist and sculptor. He was very interested in motion and
movement and tried to show it in his art. In order to show movement, he found it helpful
to study the way things moved. One subject he liked to study was birds and how they
flew. He spent many hours watching the birds and examining the structure of their
wings. He noticed how they cupped air with their wings and how the feathers helped
hold the air. Through these studies, Leonardo began to understand how birds were able
to fly.

Like many other men, Leonardo began to dream of the day when people would be
able to fly. He designed a machine that used all the things he had learned about flight,
and thus became the first model of a helicopter.

Poor Leonardo had only one problem, however. He had no way to give the
necessary speed to his invention. You see, motors had not yet been invented and speed
was an important part of the flying process. It would be another four hundred years
before the engine was invented and another fifty years before it was put to the test in an
airplane. Leonardo’s dream of a helicopter finally came to pass in 1936.

The Italian painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and scientist, Leonardo died on
May 2, 1519, and was buried in the cloister of San Fiorentino in Amboise.

1. What is the author’s main point?
a. The invention of the helicopter.
b. Birds cup air with their wings and use feathers to help hold the air.
c. An overview of one of Leonardo da Vinci’s many skills.
d. Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 and died in 1519.

2. The word problem in paragraph five could best be replaced by the word:
a. dilemma
b. mistake
c. danger
d. pain

3. The word it in paragraph two refers to:
a. Leonardo da Vinci
b. The first model helicopter
c. 1483
d. motion and movement

4. Which paragraph explains why Leonardo’s helicopter was not successful in his
lifetime:
a. paragraph 1
b. paragraph 2
c. paragraph 4
d. paragraph 5

5. The word illegitimate in paragraph one is closest in meaning to:
a. against the law or illegal
b. not in correct usage
c. incorrectly deduced; illogical
d. born out of wedlock

6. The following sentence would best complete which paragraph? “Since then
people have been living out Leonardo’s dream of flying.”
a. paragraph 3
b. paragraph 4
c. paragraph 5
d. paragraph 2

7. What was the main problem with Leonardo’s invention?
a. motors were not yet invented
b. the birds lost their feathers
c. he was illegitimate
d. he couldn’t draw

8. The word they in the third paragraph refers to:
a. the feathers
b. the birds
c. the studies
d. the wings

9. In what year was the first helicopter flown
a. 1483
b. 1452
c. 1519
d. 1936

10. What two things did birds have that Leonardo da Vinci noticed helped them to
fly?
a. wings and beaks
b. feathers and talons
c. wings and feathers
d. cups and feathers

11. The word thus in the fourth paragraph could best be replaced by:
a. Hence
b. After
c. Unsuitably
d. Inappropriately

Glass fibers are extremely strong; for their weight, they are stronger than steel.
They are made by forcing molten glass through tiny holes called spinnerets. As many as
four hundred spinnerets are placed together, and threads of glass much thinner than
human hairs are drawn off at great speed-miles of thread per minute. As they speed
along, the threads are coated thinly with a type of glue and twisted into a yarn.
The glass fibers are used with plastics to make boats and car bodies. They are also
woven into heavy cloth for window draperies and into strong belts for making tires
stronger.

A special kind of glass fiber is causing a revolution in communications. A signal
of light can be made to travel along the fiber for very long distances. By changing the
quality of the light, many messages can be sent at once along one strand of glass. New
office buildings are being “wired” with glass fibers as they are built. The glass fibers will
be used to connect telephones and computers in ways that not long ago were either
impossible or too expensive.

Glass wool traps air in a thick, light blanket of fibers. This blanket is then put
into walls and ceilings to keep warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the
summer.

To make glass wool, molten glass is fed into a spinning drum with many holes in
it. As the glass threads stream out of the holes, they are forced downward by a blast of
hot air and through a spray of glues. The threads are then further blown about to mix
them up as they fall in a thick mat on a moving belt.
The glass we see through and drink out of has many, many other uses besides the ones
described here.

12. What was the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
a. To inform you how special kinds of glass are made and used
b. To persuade you to investigate the many uses of glass beyond those
mentioned in the article
c. To inform you about the strength of glass fibers
d. To inform you that glue is used to hold strands of glass together

13. The word special in the second paragraph is closets in meaning to:
a. Distinct among others of a kind
b. Additional
c. Common
d. Species

14. Glass fibers are made by forcing molten glass through:
a. Spinners
b. Spiderets
c. Spinnerets
d. Spinets

15. The word changing in the second paragraph could best be replaced by the word:
a. Altering
b. Boring
c. Bringing
d. Doing

16. What are glass fibers woven into cloth for?
a. Draperies
b. Cars and boats
c. Glasses
d. Glue

17. The word fed in the fourth paragraph means:
a. To give food to
b. To minister to
c. To support
d. To supply

18. The word they in the second sentence of the first paragraph refers to:
a. Human hair
b. Weight
c. Glass fibers
d. Yarn

19. The word it in the fourth paragraph refers to:
a. Molten glass
b. Glass wool
c. Spinning drum
d. Holes

20. The following sentence would best complete which paragraph? “This
improvement in technology is expected to continue.”
a. Paragraph 1
b. Paragraph 2
c. Paragraph 3
d. Paragraph 4

21. A signal of what can be made to travel along fiber for very long distances?
a. Heat
b. Wave
c. Wool
d. Light

22. The word spray in the fourth paragraph could best be replaced by the word:
a. Shower
b. Blow
c. Spit
d. Force

For centuries, people have searched for a way to replace dead and decaying teeth
with comfortable false teeth. Many materials have been used to make a set of false teeth.
The teeth themselves should be made from a hard and durable material. They should be
secured to a soft material, making them easy to wear. In the last two decades, dentists
succeeded in making durable false teeth that are comfortable, too.

Two thousand years ago, the Etruscans made teeth out of animal bone and gold.
These materials were used-with varying degrees of success-up to the 1700’s. When
George Washington was president, ivory from animals such as elephants became a
popular material for false teeth. Doctors and inventors also tried silver, peal, and agate,
but teeth made from these materials were very expensive. Perhaps the most successful
material was porcelain, invented by a Frenchman about two hundred years ago. White,
strong, and resistant to decay, porcelain is still used today for making single teeth.

Besides finding a material for the teeth, inventors also had to find a way to secure
them in a person’s mouth. People tried wire, springs, and many kinds of glue to
accomplish this. In most cases, however, discomfort and a likelihood of the teeth falling
out plagued the person who wore them.

Around 1844, an American dentist named Horace Wells used laughing gas to put
people to sleep before working on their teeth. This innovation made dental work a lot
less painful. Soon after, an inventor created the first form of rubber. This was important
to dentistry because teeth could be attached to the rubber, and the rubber could be molded
to fit the shape of the mouth. With these two developments, dentist could work without
causing pain and could fit teeth more carefully. False teeth have become more available
and comfortable since then, and dentists have continued to improve the making and use
of false teeth.

23. What is the main topic of this passage?
a. Horace Wells
b. False teeth
c. Gold and bone
d. The Etruscans

24. The word they in the first paragraph refers to:
a. Teeth
b. Materials
c. People
d. Dentists

25. The word varying in the second paragraph cold best be replaced by the word:
a. Constant
b. Changeless
c. Fluctuating
d. Stable

26. Porcelain was invented after the first use of:
a. Rubber for holding for holding teeth in place
b. Laughing gas
c. Ivory for making teeth
d. Electric drills

27. When did Horace Wells begin using laughing gas?
a. 1700
b. Two-thousand years ago
c. 1834
d. 1844

28. The word besides in the third paragraph means:
a. In addition to
b. Stand next to
c. Anyway
d. Together

29. The word them in the third paragraph refers to:
a. Teeth
b. Inventors
c. People
d. Wire

30. When was rubber found to be a useful material for false teeth?
a. After laughing gas was used to put patients to sleep
b. While George Washington was president
c. Before a Frenchman invented porcelain
d. While the Etruscans were making teeth of bone and gold

31. The following sentence would best complete which paragraph? “It is
unimaginable what will come next.”
a. Paragraph 1
b. Paragraph 2
c. Paragraph 3
d. Paragraph 4

32. The word molded in the fourth paragraph means:
a. Formed into a shape
b. To form an organic growth
c. To make an ornament
d. The fitting of a shoe

33. The word resistant in the second paragraph could best be replaced by the word:
a. Prone
b. Insusceptible
c. Hearty
d. Sassy

The lens on a camera has only two tasks. First, it must gather in as much light as
possible in order to activate the sensitive chemicals on the film. Second, it must organize
the light rays so that they form a sharp image on the film. These may sound like simple
tasks, but they are not.

One of the sharpest lenses is merely a pinhole in a sheet of cardboard, metal,
plastic, or a similar material. If the pinhole is tiny enough, the image can be quite sharp,
but then very little light is admitted. For most purposes, even the most sensitive film
would take too long to record an image.

A glass lens is much better because it lets in much more light and focuses it on the
film. Yet simple glass lenses are sharpest only in their centers. As more of the lens is
used, the image suffers in sharpness.

One reason a simple lens can cause problems is that it is shaped like a section of a
sphere. Spherical lenses do not focus perfectly on flat film, so the image is slightly
distorted, especially at the edges. Another reason is that the lens can act partly like a
prism. This means that some of the colors in the image will not focus properly, and the
image will be fuzzy.

One solution is to block off all but the sharp-focusing center of the lens. If you
block off the edges of the lens, however, less light will get to the film. Early lenses had
to compromise between sharpness and light-gathering power.

Very sharp lenses that admit as much light as possible can be built by making
them with several separate lenses, or elements. A multiple-element lens has from two to
nine separate lenses. Some elements are cemented together, and some have a gap
between them. Furthermore, the elements are often made of different kinds of glass, each
with a different ability to bend light rays. Some of the elements are there just for
correcting problems caused by the other elements! The results are worth it, though:
pictures can be taken in many different light conditions, and they have a sharpness you
can almost feel.

34. The word it in the first paragraph refers to:
a. Camera
b. Lens
c. Film
d. Chemicals

35. The word distorted in the fourth paragraph means:
a. Out of a proper or natural relation
b. Clean and in shape
c. Purified, as one
d. Proper

36. In what ways does an image suffer if too large an area of the spherical lens is
used?
a. The edges of the image become fuzzy
b. Too much light is admitted
c. Too little light is admitted
d. Colors change

37. What is the main disadvantage of a simple lens that is made sharp by using just
the center?
a. With less light-gathering power, the lens is utterly useless.
b. With less light-gathering power, the lens is useful only in bright light.
c. With more light-gathering power, the lens is useful only in dim light.
d. With more light-gathering power, the lens is utterly useless.

38. The word sharpest in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to:
a. Having clear form and detail
b. Terminating in an edge or a point
c. Intellectually penetrating; astute
d. Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or
piercing

39. The word it in the fourth paragraph refers to:
a. Glass lens
b. Prism
c. Simple lens
a. Flat film

40. The word sensitive in the second paragraph could best be replaced by the word:
a. Delicate
b. Irritable
c. Reactive
d. Psychic

41. The word ability in the sixth paragraph could best be replaced by the word:
a. Ignorance
b. Weakness
c. Ineptness
d. Capacity

42. The meaning of the word solution as used in the fifth paragraph is closest in
meaning to:
a. A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, which may be solids,
liquids, gases, or a combination of these
b. The answer to or disposition of a problem
c. The state of being dissolved
d. Release; deliverance; discharge

43. What is the minimum number of lenses in multiple-element lens?
a. Nine
b. Two
c. Ninety-two
d. Twenty-nine

44. The word fuzzy in the fourth paragraph means:
a. Clear
b. Unclear
c. Exact
d. Precise

45. The word admitted in the sixth paragraph is closest in meaning to:
a. To permit to enter
b. To have room for; accommodate
c. To grant to be real, valid, or true; acknowledge
d. To make acknowledgment

*****************************


Answer Key

Section 1: Listening Section 2: Structure Section 3: Reading

1. a. 1. c. 1. a.

2. d. 2. a. 2. a.

3. b. 3. d. 3. b.

4. c. 4. a. 4. d.

5. c. 5. a. 5. d.

6. d. 6. a. 6. c.

7. b. 7. a. 7. a.

8. d. 8. c. 8. b.

9. a. 9. b. 9. d.

10. c. 10. c. 10. c.

11. b. 11. d. 11. a.

12. a. 12. c. 12. a.

13. b. 13. c. 13. a.

14. a. 14. d. 14. c.

15. c. 15. c. 15. a.

16. a. 16. b. 16. a.

17. a. 17. a. 17. d.

Listening Part B 18. b. 18. c.

18. d. 19. b. 19. c.

19. d. 20. c. 20. b.

20. b. 21. d. 21. d.

21. b. 22. a. 22. a.

22. a. 23. c. 23. b.

23. a. 24. d. 24. a.

24. c. 25. a. 25. c.

25. c. 26. c.

26. a. 27. d.

27. c. 28. a.

28. c. 29. a.

29. b. 30. a.

30. a. 31. d.

31. c. 32. a.

32. a. 33. b.

33. d. 34. b.

34. a. 35. a.

35. c. 36. a.

36. b. 37. b.

37. b. 38. a.

38. b. 39. c.

39. a. 40. a.

40. a. 41. d.

41. b. and d. 42. b.

42. a. 43. b.

43. b. 44. b.

44. a. 45. a.

45. d.