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Latihan TOEFL Listening 8: Lecture: The History of the Compass

Ini transkrip percakapan atau kuliah untuk latihan listening. Coba pahami isinya, lalu jawab 10 soal di bawah.

The magnetic compass, one of the most influential navigational tools in history, is believed to have originated in China sometime during the Han dynasty, initially used not for navigation but for geomancy — the practice of arranging objects in harmony with the surrounding environment. Early versions consisted of a lodestone, a naturally magnetized mineral, carved into a spoon-like shape that would rotate on a smooth surface to align with Earth's magnetic field.

By the eleventh century, Chinese texts describe compasses being adapted for maritime navigation, allowing sailors to determine direction even when the sky was overcast and stars were not visible. This innovation gradually spread westward along trade routes, reaching the Islamic world and eventually Europe by the twelfth century, where it was refined into the needle-and-card design still recognizable in compasses today.

The compass's spread had a substantial effect on long-distance sea travel, reducing sailors' reliance on coastal landmarks and clear skies, and enabling the longer ocean voyages that would later support extensive maritime trade and exploration.

Soal

1. What is the main purpose of this lecture?

  1. Describing the invention and spread of the magnetic compass and its impact on navigation
  2. Arguing the compass is no longer useful
  3. Explaining how magnets are made
  4. Comparing Chinese and European trade goods
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: A. Describing the invention and spread of the magnetic compass and its impact on navigation

Lecture mengikuti alur: asal compass di Cina → penyebarannya ke barat → dampaknya pada pelayaran jarak jauh.

2. The word 'refined' in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

  1. destroyed
  2. ignored
  3. improved or perfected
  4. discovered
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: C. improved or perfected

'Refined into the needle-and-card design' berarti disempurnakan menjadi desain yang lebih baik.

3. According to paragraph 1, what were early compasses initially used for?

  1. Maritime navigation
  2. Predicting earthquakes
  3. Measuring time
  4. Geomancy, arranging objects in harmony with the environment
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: D. Geomancy, arranging objects in harmony with the environment

Disebutkan eksplisit compass awalnya dipakai untuk geomancy, bukan navigasi laut.

4. What can be inferred about sailors before compasses were used at sea?

  1. They used underwater cables
  2. They relied on satellite positioning
  3. They relied more heavily on coastal landmarks and clear skies
  4. They used modern radio signals
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: C. They relied more heavily on coastal landmarks and clear skies

Paragraf 3 menyebut compass 'reducing sailors' reliance on coastal landmarks and clear skies' — berarti sebelumnya mereka sangat bergantung pada itu.

5. Why does the author mention the compass spreading through the Islamic world to Europe?

  1. To argue Europe invented the compass independently
  2. To compare Islamic and European ship designs
  3. To explain a religious ceremony
  4. To trace how the technology diffused and was refined across regions
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: D. To trace how the technology diffused and was refined across regions

Ini menjelaskan jalur penyebaran dan penyempurnaan teknologi compass lintas wilayah.

6. According to paragraph 1, what material were early compasses made from?

  1. A naturally magnetized mineral called lodestone
  2. Iron ore mined in Europe
  3. Wood carved into a needle shape
  4. Glass and copper
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: A. A naturally magnetized mineral called lodestone

Disebutkan eksplisit early compasses terbuat dari 'a lodestone, a naturally magnetized mineral'.

7. The word 'overcast' in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

  1. covered with clouds
  2. completely dark at night
  3. extremely sunny
  4. unusually cold
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: A. covered with clouds

'Overcast' berarti langit tertutup awan sehingga bintang tidak terlihat.

8. According to paragraph 2, by what century had the compass reached Europe?

  1. The twentieth century
  2. The twelfth century
  3. It never reached Europe
  4. The fifth century
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: B. The twelfth century

Disebutkan eksplisit compass 'reaching... eventually Europe by the twelfth century'.

9. It can be inferred that before the compass was adapted for maritime use, long ocean voyages were

  1. Unaffected by weather conditions
  2. Completely impossible under any conditions
  3. More limited by dependence on clear skies and visible landmarks
  4. More common than after its adoption
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: C. More limited by dependence on clear skies and visible landmarks

Paragraf 3 menyebut compass 'reducing sailors' reliance on coastal landmarks and clear skies' — menyiratkan sebelumnya ketergantungan itu tinggi.

10. Why does the lecturer describe the compass's original use for geomancy before its navigational use?

  1. To show its purpose changed significantly over time
  2. To criticize ancient Chinese beliefs
  3. To explain a religious ceremony unrelated to the compass
  4. To argue geomancy was more important than navigation
Lihat jawaban dan pembahasan

Jawaban: A. To show its purpose changed significantly over time

Urutan ini menunjukkan pergeseran fungsi compass dari geomancy menuju navigasi maritim.

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