Pertanyaan tentang hypothesis di dalam reading comprehension test meminta kita untuk membuat hipotesis atau prediksi dari suatu informasi. Berikut beberapa contoh pertanyaan hypothesis atau prediction:
- What can be hypothesized about “X”?
- From paragraph 3, it can be hypothesized that ….
- From the sentence “X”, it can be predicted that ….
- By looking at the trend in graphs, it can be predicted that …
HOW TO SOLVE:
- Temukan kalimat yang mengandung informasi yang menjadi rujukan hipotesis/prediksi pada teks. Manfaatkan teknik scanning.
- Pahami informasi yang dimaksud dengan tepat. Perhatikan konteks kalimat tersebut supaya tidak menimbulkan kesalahpahaman.
- Pilih pilihan dengan hipotesis/prediksi yang ditarik secara logis dari informasi di dalam teks.
EXAMPLE
In the US, consumers spend around $700 million a year keeping their fabrics soft. In the UK people spend £200 million a year on fabric softener. A giant manufacturer even claims a massive 50 percent share of the market. Despite the popularity, fabric softeners can be harmful to both the people who use them and the marine life that ends up swimming in them.
Fabric softening surfactants can be derived from animals, plants or minerals, as in the case of newer, silicone-based formulations. There is little difference between the chemicals used in fabric softeners and those used in hair conditioners. Whatever they are based on, all fabric softeners work in pretty much the same way, by depositing these surfactants onto the fabric to make it feel softer, reduce static cling, and impart a fresh fragrance.
Special fixatives in the mix of both standard and luxury conditioners mean that the fragrance can last for days, permeating wardrobes and drawers. The regular off-gassing of perfume chemicals from fabric softeners can be a significant trigger for asthma and other breathing problems. In the US, chemically sensitive individuals complain that, even after several washes, they cannot get the smell of fabric softeners out of their washing machines and dryers.
If you are a fabric softener addict, there are now a number of companies that provide alternative and ‘green’ fabric softeners. However, essentially, these are unnecessary products that can trigger health problems and can interfere with the functional aspect of some textiles. For instance, when used on towels and nappies, some fabric softeners can reduce absorbency, which is why it’s generally recommended that reusable nappies aren’t washed with them. Once they are washed down the drain they can become highly toxic to aquatic life. Given this, maybe it’s worth asking yourself whether the time has come to break the fabric softener habit completely.
Thomas, P. (2009). Behind the Label: Comfort Fabric Softener. Taken on 20 September 2021 from https://theecologist.org/2009/feb/12/behind-label-comfort-fabric-softener.
Based on the passage, it can be hypothesized that …
a. ‘Green’ softeners are developed in response to the needs of fabric softener addicts.
b. Manufacturers will shift to producing ‘green’ fabric softener products.
c. A small amount of fabric softener chemicals in the water will not harm aquatic life.
d. The absorbency in some textiles will be reduced if they are washed with fabric softeners.
e. People with breathing problems will feel safer using fabric softener if it contains fewer perfume chemicals.
Jawaban: E
Pembahasan:
Soal tersebut menanyakan hipotesis atau kesimpulan sementara yang bisa dibuat berdasarkan teks tersebut. Kesimpulan tersebut masih perlu dibuktikan kebenarannya melalui penelitian.
Pilihan E (Orang dengan masalah pernapasan akan merasa lebih aman menggunakan pelembut kain jika mengandung lebih sedikit bahan kimia parfum.) tepat. Pada paragraf 3 dijelaskan bahwa bahan kimia parfum dari pelembut kain dapat menjadi pemicu asma dan masalah pernafasan lainnya. Dari pernyataan ini dapat dibuat hipotesis (kesimpulan sementara), yaitu jika pelembut kain mengandung lebih sedikit bahan kimia parfum, maka akan memperkecil kemungkinan timbulnya masalah pernafasan sehingga membuat mereka yang memiliki masalah pernafasan akan merasa lebih aman menggunakannya.