PASSIVE VOICE

Read the following texts and find out the passive sentences in them. Try to understand the passive sentences by translating into Indonesian.

e.g. Metals can be recycled = Logam dapat di daur ulang

distinguish it with : People can recycle metals. = Orang dapat mendaur ulang logam.

Please pay attention to the construction of the sentences.

Text 1.

Much of what we throw away could be used again. Recycling puts "garbage" to good use. Recycling helps preserve precious resources because it saves on the use of raw materials and energy. It also reduces the pollution caused when the waste is dumped.

Glass can be remelted. This is better than making fresh glass from raw materials, but it is even better to reuse the bottle whole. Metals can be recycled by being remelted and then used to make other new items. The metals to recycle from an ordinary household are aluminium and steel from cans. Scrap from cars gives several different metals for recycling.

Text 2.

The Importance of Rainforests

Rainforests are one of the most complicated environments on Earth. They are recognized worldwide as containing the richest source of plants and animals and are believed to contain nearly three-quarters of all the varieties of life on Earth. This is remarkable because rainforests cover only about six per cent of the Earth's land surface.

 Rainforest are the oldest major ecosystem, having survived climate changes for more than one million years. They provide habitats for more species of plants, animals, insects and birds than any other environment found on our planet. Scientists estimate that between 60 and 90 per cent of all species of life are to be found in rain forests. Unfortunately, the widespread destruction of many of the world's rainforests has caused a significant decline in the number of plant and animal species on Earth.

  Rainforests are major producers of the Earth's oxygen. In fact, scientists believe that nearly 50 per cent of the Earth's oxygen is produced by  rainforest in the Amazon region alone. Nearly 40 per cent of the world's carbon is contained in the trees of the rainforests. As rainforests are cut down and burned, carbon dioxide is released into the Earth's atmosphere. Eventually, as this gas builds up the atmosphere, leading to what scientists call the enhanced greenhouse effect.

To sum up, the role of the rainforest is essential for human life. It creates equilibrium in our environment and its resources are significant for human beings survival.

Text 3

In any community the various organisms are linked in a complicated web of relationships. These are usually in balance with one another. If the natural web is disturbed, the result may be disastrous. As a rule, the various populations of organisms tend to adjust to seasonal and other changes, and the whole community stays in balance. Ironically, most disturbances come from man's activities.

In an undisturbed forest, white-tailed deer feed on plants of various kinds. Wolves and mountain lions prey on the deer. When deer are very numerous, their enemies become numerous too, because there is so much to feed upon. The deer and their enemies stay in balance with one another.

The man enters the scene. He considers animals such as wolves and mountain lions harmful. He kills as many animals as possible. When the animals that feed on deer are killed; the deer multiply, without check. Soon the large deer population has eaten nearly all the plants available for food. Then the deer begin to starve.

Another example of man's interference with natural communities is the Use of chemical insecticides. Grass in the sprayed areas may be eaten by cows. As a result, the milk of some cows has been found to contain too much DDT. The insecticides also collect in the tissues of birds that eat the sprayed insects. Some of the affected birds produce eggs that do not hatch, the number of birds decreases, cutting down the food supply of other animal.

To sum up, the nature web of various organism usually stays in balance and if it is disturbed, the natural balance may be disturbed too. So, it may cause disaster. Man’s interference is the major disturbances.

Text 4.

The Kraton (also spelled keraton or karaton) or the Palace of Yogyakarta, is a grand complex that was meticulously planned to reflect the Javanese cosmos. This elegant complex of pavilions was constructed based on ancient beliefs, of the connection between the God, human and the natural realms. Each feature holds a special symbolic meaning related to the Javanese worldview, who consider the importance of Mount Merapi and The Indian Ocean.

The Kraton was built in the centre, facing directly north towards the majestic Mount Merapi. Its south side was built facing the Indian Ocean, believed to be the abode of Kanjeng Ratu Loro Kidul, the Queen of the South Seas and the mystical consort of the Sultan. This splendid example of traditional Javanese architecture has no equal. The basic and original layout of the main building of The Kraton began its construction during the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwono I, in 1755 - 1756.

Text 5.

Plastic is everywhere nowadays. People are using it endlessly in daily basis. However, no one realizes how it is harming our planet. We need to become aware of the consequences so that we can stop plastic pollution. Kids should be taught from their childhood to avoid using plastic. Similarly, adults must check each other on the same. In addition, the government must take stringent measures to stop plastic pollution before it gets too late.

Plastic has become one of the most used substances. It is seen everywhere these days, from supermarkets to common households. Why is that? Why is the use of plastic on the rise instead of diminishing? The main reason is that plastic is very cheap. It costs lesser than other alternatives like paper and cloth. This is why it is so common.

Secondly, it is very easy to use. Plastic can be used for almost anything either liquid or solid. Furthermore, we see that plastic is a non-biodegradable material. It does not leave the surface of the Earth. We cannot dissolve plastic in land or water, it remains forever. Thus, more and more use of plastic means more plastic which won’t get dissolved. Thus, the uprise of plastic pollution is happening at a very rapid rate.

Plastic pollutes our water. Each year, tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean. As plastic does not dissolve, it remains in the water thereby hampering its purity. This means we won’t be left with clean water in the coming years. Furthermore, plastic pollutes our land as well. When humans dump plastic waste into landfills, the soil gets damaged. It ruins the fertility of the soil. In addition to this, various disease-carrying insects collect in that area, causing deadly illnesses.

Most importantly, plastic pollution harms the Marine life. The plastic litter in the water is mistaken for food by the aquatic animals. They eat it and die eventually. For instance, a dolphin died due to a plastic ring stuck in its mouth. It couldn’t open its mouth and died of starvation. Thus, we see how innocent animals are dying because of us.

In short, we see how plastic pollution is ruining everyone’s life on earth. We must take major steps to prevent it. We must use alternatives like cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic bags. If we are purchasing plastic, we must reuse it. We must avoid drinking bottled water which contributes largely to plastic pollution. The government must put a plastic ban on the use of plastic. All this can prevent plastic pollution to a large extent.

39. What is being discussed by the author in the passage above?

(A) The plastic pollution in the ocean

(B) The plastic pollution in the ocean and on landfill.

(C) How plastic pollution harms the sea animals.

(D) The ways to prevent plastic pollution.

(E) How to stop plastic pollution.

40. What is the importance of paragraph 5 in the passage above?

(A) To give an example how plastic pollution harm sea animals.

(B) To give an example how plastic pollution harm humans.

(C) To argue that the use of plastics by humans is undeniable.

(D) To inform the amount of plastic waste which gets into the sea.

(E) To give recommendations how to stop plastic pollution.

41. It remains in the water thereby hampering its purity (p.4). The underlined word refers to

(A) The plastic

(B) The ocean

(C) The water

(D) The animals

(E) The pollution

42. What is the author’s attitude according to the passage?

(A) Sensitive

(B) Cynical

(C) Disappointed

(D) Concerned

(E) Pleased

Exercise.

Try again to understand passive sentences. After you read the text and analyze the passive sentences, to measure your understanding, please, rewrite the sentences which are taken from the texts on your note book and put the right construction for the following sentences. You don’t need to submit the exercise. Try to understand in Indpnesian.

e.g. This elegant complex of pavilions ...... based on ancient beliefs, of the connection between the God, human and the natural realms. (construct)

= This elegant complex of pavilions was constructed based on ancient beliefs, of the connection between the God, human and the natural realms.

1.    Much of what we throw away could ..... again. (use)

2.    Grass in the sprayed areas may ..... by cows. (eat)

3.    Thus, more and more use of plastic means more plastic which won’t get ..... (dissolve)

4.    Glass can...... (remelt)

5.    Each year, tons of plastic .... into the ocean. (dump)

6.    Metals can ..... by being remelted and then used to make other new items. (recycle)

7.    When the animals that feed on deer.... ; the deer multiply, without check. (kill)

8.    Plastic can  .....  for almost anything either liquid or solid. (use)

9.    They ..... worldwide as containing the richest source of plants and animals and are believed to contain nearly three-quarters of all the varieties of life on Earth. (recognize)

10. In any community the various organisms ..... in a complicated web of relationships. (link)

11. If the natural web ......, the result may be disastrous. (disturb)

12. As a result, the milk of some cows has ..... to contain too much DDT. (find)

13.  Kids should ..... from their childhood to avoid using plastic. (teach)

14. This means we won’t .... with clean water in the coming years. (leave)

15. When humans dump plastic waste into landfills, the soil gets ...... (damage)

Compare :

1.    Scrap from cars gives several different metals for recycling.

2.    They provide habitats for more species of plants, animals, insects and birds.

3.    Unfortunately, the widespread destruction of many of the world's rainforests has caused a significant decline in the number of plant and animal species on Earth.

4.    It creates equilibrium in our environment and its resources are significant for human beings survival.

5.    White-tailed deer feed on plants of various kinds. Wolves and mountain lions prey on the deer.

6.    He kills as many animals as possible.

7.    In addition, the government must take stringent measures to stop plastic pollution before it gets too late.

8.    We cannot dissolve plastic in land or water, it remains forever.

9.    People can .... glass. (remelt)

10. When man .... the animal that feed on deer, the deer multiply, without check. (kill)

11. People ... tons of plastic into the ocean. (dump)

12. People should ... kids from their childhood to avoid using plastic. (teach)

13. Often man ... the natural web and the result may be disastrous. (disturb)

14. Cows may ... grass in the sprayed areas. (eat)

15. People can ... metals can by being remelted and then used to make other new items. (recycle)

Thank you