Modul Ajar Bahasa Inggris SMP/MTs (Fase D); Reading Comprehension

Ratna terlahir dari keluarga mampu, punya pendidikan yang bagus, pekerjaan mapan, serta selalu peduli dengan sekitarnya. Adapun Janus menjadi orang mapan dan punya segalanya karena nasib. Mereka harus menjalani kebersamaan memasuki tempat-tempat kumuh hingga pedalaman Indonesia: Dayak di Kalimantan, Karimunjawa, Kota Tua, Bali, Toraja, dan Desa Rawa Sampih.

Novel ini banyak menceritakan detail pelosok-pelosok negeri kita. Salah satu keberhasilan penulis adalah mampu menggambarkan secara perinci tempat, lokasi, barang, bangunan, dan kejadian di novel tersebut. Ini memang novel fiksi, tetapi lingkungan yang dibentuk sangat nyata.

Terbuai, mungkin itu kata yang cocok ketika membaca novel Tenun Biru. Keindahan dalam negeri disajikan dalam satu karya yang sangat bagus. Membangun kisah romantis, penulis hadirkan Janus yang kurang mencintai Indonesia meskipun orang Indonesia.

Misi Ratna untuk membuat Janus cinta Indonesia merupakan kisah yang membuat pembaca terbawa. Penulis lebih senang menggambarkan tempat-tempat di Indonesia. Penulis ingin masyarakat Indonesia cinta terhadap negaranya sendiri karena begitu banyak keindahan dan keunikan di Indonesia.  Termasuk suku budaya yang beragam. Jadi, kita tidak perlu ke luar negeri bila ingin menikmati keindahan alam atau alasan ingin mengenal budaya lain.

Kelemahan dari novel ini adalah alur cerita yang kurang banyak dipahami oleh pembaca. Hal ini terlihat dari subbab "Kisah dari Gang Kumuh" yang menceritakan masa lalu Ratna dan Janus. Dari sana akan timbul pertanyaan bagi pembaca apakah maksud dari subbab tersebut.

Melihat dari judul, Tenun Biru, bukanlah menggambarkan isi novel ini, Judul ini membuat rasa ingin tahu pembaca menjadi muncul, apalagi membaca subjudul, seperti tidak nyambung dengan judul utama.

Dari sekian banyak cerita dalam novel ini, sajian cerita yang dipaparkan sangatlah menarik, mengundang tawa, sedih, haru, dan bahagia menjadi satu. Novel ini dapat dibaca dan menjadi motivasi bagi seluruh kalangan dan usia terutama yang kurang mencintai Indonesia dan haus akan ragam budaya dari berbagai pelosok negeri. 

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the key characteristics of Ratna as described in the text?
A) Born into a wealthy family, well-educated, and compassionate
B) Born into poverty, self-educated, and indifferent to surroundings
C) Born into a wealthy family, poorly-educated, and selfish
D) Born into poverty, well-educated, and compassionate

2. What is Janus' attitude towards Indonesia according to the text?
A) He deeply loves and appreciates Indonesia
B) He is indifferent towards Indonesia
C) He despises Indonesia
D) He is curious about Indonesia's culture

3. Which regions of Indonesia are mentioned in the text as places visited by Ratna and Janus?
A) Sumatra and Sulawesi
B) Java and Bali
C) Kalimantan, Karimunjawa, Bali, Toraja, and Rawa Sampih
D) Papua and Maluku

4. What is one of the strengths of the author's writing as mentioned in the text?
A) Detailed descriptions of fictional places
B) Superficial portrayal of characters
C) Lack of attention to setting
D) Inconsistent narrative style

5. What does the author emphasize about Indonesia in the novel?
A) Its political instability
B) Its cultural diversity and natural beauty
C) Its economic prosperity
D) Its technological advancements

6. What is a weakness mentioned regarding the novel's storyline?
A) Lack of character development
B) Lack of descriptive language
C) Unclear narrative structure
D) Overly predictable plot

7. How does the title "Tenun Biru" relate to the content of the novel?
A) It accurately reflects the novel's themes and motifs
B) It is completely unrelated to the novel's content
C) It confuses readers about the novel's genre
D) It arouses curiosity but doesn't align with the main storyline

8. What emotional responses does the novel evoke in readers according to the text?
A) Happiness only
B) Laughter, sadness, joy, and sorrow
C) Fear and anxiety
D) Apathy

9. What is the author's primary goal in depicting various Indonesian locations?
A) To discourage readers from exploring Indonesia
B) To highlight the country's flaws
C) To inspire love and appreciation for Indonesia
D) To promote tourism in other countries

10. What message does the author aim to convey through Ratna's mission?
A) To promote individualism
B) To discourage cultural exchange
C) To encourage readers to explore other cultures
D) To foster a deeper connection with one's own culture

True or False (T/F) Statements

1. Ratna comes from a privileged background. (True/False)
2. Janus is portrayed as deeply patriotic towards Indonesia. (True/False)
3. The novel extensively covers various regions of Indonesia. (True/False)
4. The author's detailed descriptions of places and events in the novel are considered a weakness. (True/False)
5. The author's main intention is to discourage readers from appreciating Indonesia. (True/False)
6. "Tenun Biru" accurately reflects the central theme of the novel. (True/False)
7. The novel only elicits positive emotions from readers. (True/False)
8. The author aims to promote tourism in Indonesia. (True/False)
9. Ratna's mission is to inspire love for other cultures. (True/False)
10. The novel's title fails to generate curiosity among readers. (True/False)

WH Questions:

1. Who are the main characters in the novel?
2. What regions of Indonesia do Ratna and Janus explore?
3. When does the story take place?
4. Where does most of the story occur?
5. Why is Ratna's mission significant?
6. How does the author portray Indonesia in the novel?
7. Who might enjoy reading this novel?
8. What elements of the storyline could be improved?
9. Where can readers find more information about the novel?
10. Why is the title "Tenun Biru" significant to the story?

Gap Fill:

1. Ratna is ___________ from a wealthy family, well-educated, and compassionate.
2. Janus becomes successful due to ___________.
3. Ratna and Janus travel to various regions in Indonesia such as ___________.
4. One of the author's strengths is the ___________ descriptions of places and events.
5. The novel aims to inspire love and appreciation for ___________.
6. A weakness of the novel is its ___________ storyline.
7. The title "Tenun Biru" does not fully ___________ the novel's content.
8. The novel evokes a range of emotions including laughter, sadness, joy, and ___________.
9. The author's goal in depicting Indonesian locations is to promote ___________ for the country.
10 Ratna's mission is to make Janus fall in love with ___________.

Bahan bacaan: https://www.ilmubindo.com/2017/02/langkah-langkah-mengamati-dan-membuat.html