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The following text is for questions 35 to 39.

The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year’s Day. It is celebrated from \(13\) to \(15\) April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asian countries. It is believed to have been adapted from the Sankranti Hindu festival. It is now observed nationwide even in the far south.

However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it lasts for six days and even longer. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for tourists to visit Thailand. The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water to other people. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns. In addition, many Thais will have small bowls of cheap beige coloured talc mixed with water which is then smeared on the faces and bodies of random passersby as a blessing for the new year. City officials close off many sections of the street for the festival.

Besides the throwing of water, people celebrate Songkran by going to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They also cleanse Buddha images in the household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha images from all of the city’s important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at them, ritually “bathing” the images as they pass by.


35. The suitable title for the text above is ....

A. New year celebration
B. The Songkran Festival
C. Sankranti Hindu festival
D. Southeast Asia’s water festival
Jawaban & Analisis

Jawaban: B. The Songkran Festival

Alasan utama: Seluruh teks membahas Songkran: pengertian, waktu pelaksanaan, lokasi terkenal (Chiang Mai), serta tradisinya (siram air, ritual Buddha). Jadi judul paling tepat adalah “The Songkran Festival”.

Analisis tiap opsi:

A. New year celebration → terlalu umum; teks spesifik tentang Songkran, bukan perayaan tahun baru secara umum.

B. The Songkran Festival → paling tepat karena topik inti teks adalah Songkran.

C. Sankranti Hindu festival → hanya disebut sebagai asal-usul/adaptasi, bukan fokus utama.

D. Southeast Asia’s water festival → masih terlalu luas; teks menekankan Songkran di Thailand (meski disebut berhubungan dengan negara lain).


36. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?

A. The celebration is longer than a week.
B. People come to Thailand for the festival.
C. People sell special talc for Songkran festival.
D. The most famous Songkran Celebration is in Chiang Mai.
Jawaban & Analisis

Jawaban: D. The most famous Songkran Celebration is in Chiang Mai.

Alasan utama: Paragraf 2 dibuka dengan ide utama: “the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai,” lalu diikuti rincian pendukung (durasi lebih lama, jadi pesta untuk turis, tradisi siram air dan talc, jalan ditutup). Jadi pusat paragraf adalah ketenaran perayaan di Chiang Mai.

Analisis tiap opsi:

A. The celebration is longer than a week. → teks menyebut “six days and even longer”, tidak menyatakan lebih dari seminggu; ini detail durasi, bukan gagasan utama.

B. People come to Thailand for the festival. → disebut sebagai alasan turis berkunjung, tetapi itu detail pendukung.

C. People sell special talc for Songkran festival. → teks hanya menyebut penggunaan talc, tidak membahas penjualan; juga bukan ide utama.

D. The most famous Songkran Celebration is in Chiang Mai. → tepat dan menjadi kalimat pengendali paragraf.


37. Where do people celebrate Songkran?

A. In Southeast Asia.
B. In Chiang Mai.
C. In South Asia.
D. In Thailand.
Jawaban & Analisis

Jawaban: D. In Thailand.

Alasan utama: Kalimat awal menyebut jelas: “The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand...” dan juga “observed nationwide” (di seluruh Thailand). Jadi lokasi perayaannya (sesuai fokus teks) adalah Thailand.

Analisis tiap opsi:

A. In Southeast Asia. → teks menyebut bertepatan dengan tahun baru di beberapa negara, tetapi pembahasan perayaan Songkran difokuskan di Thailand.

B. In Chiang Mai. → Chiang Mai disebut sebagai yang paling terkenal, tetapi Songkran dirayakan nationwide, bukan hanya di Chiang Mai.

C. In South Asia. → tidak menyatakan Songkran dirayakan di South Asia; yang disebut adalah kalender wilayah itu bertepatan.

D. In Thailand. → tepat.


38. Why do they pour fragrant water over the Buddha images?

A. Because they are in the party mood.
B. Because the officials close the street.
C. Because it will bring them good luck.
D. Because the images need some cleansing.
Jawaban & Analisis

Jawaban: C. Because it will bring them good luck.

Alasan utama: Teks menyatakan langsung: “It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year.” Jadi alasan utamanya adalah keyakinan membawa keberuntungan.

Analisis tiap opsi:

A. Because they are in the party mood. → “party” disebut, tetapi bukan alasan ritual pada Buddha images.

B. Because the officials close the street. → penutupan jalan tidak berkaitan dengan ritual menyiram Buddha images.

C. Because it will bring them good luck. → tepat, sesuai keyakinan yang tertulis.

D. Because the images need some cleansing. → teks menyebut “cleanse”, tetapi alasan yang ditegaskan adalah keyakinan membawa good luck dan prosperity; opsi D kurang tepat sebagai tujuan utama menurut teks.


39. The purpose of the text is ....

A. to retell about an experience in Thailand
B. to inform readers about a celebration
C. to advertise a cultural event
D. to entertain the readers
Jawaban & Analisis

Jawaban: B. to inform readers about a celebration

Alasan utama: Teks menjelaskan fakta-fakta tentang Songkran (waktu, tempat, aktivitas, makna ritual). Itu ciri teks informatif, bukan cerita pengalaman pribadi atau iklan.

Analisis tiap opsi:

A. to retell about an experience in Thailand → tidak memakai sudut pandang “I/we”; isinya paparan umum, bukan pengalaman pribadi.

B. to inform readers about a celebration → tepat, karena menjelaskan perayaan Songkran secara informatif.

C. to advertise a cultural event → tidak ada ajakan, waktu tempat khusus untuk datang, atau promosi; hanya penjelasan.

D. to entertain the readers → tujuan utama bukan hiburan, melainkan informasi.