Comprehension: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that…
2025
Comprehension:
Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Globalisation affects local cultural traditions in various ways in different societies. The case of Jalawastu in West Java, Indonesia, exemplifies the harmonious interaction between Islam and indigenous customs, demonstrating the delicate balance between the two. Globalisation can have a positive influence on local cultural customs by encouraging the conservation and modification of traditional principles amidst world influences. Behind the positive influence of globalisation, globalisation has adversely affected local cultural traditions through its challenges to the preservation of traditional values and customs. Globalisation has indeed brought about a significant transformation in local cultural traditions. The involvement of the younger generation is very important in maintaining local cultural traditions amid the phenomenon of globalisation. The historical development of globalisation can be traced back to ancient times, where traders engaged in transnational trade, advancing through various stages from the colonial period to the digital age. Initially, globalisation was primarily driven by long-distance trade, but gained momentum during the industrial revolution with advances in transportation and communication. Globalisation has accelerated the spread of global culture through mass media, communication technologies, and human mobility. This has led to cultures from different parts of the world becoming more accessible and adopted by local people. Globalisation brings a number of positive impacts to local cultures, including wider access to global information and knowledge, opportunities for enriching cultural exchange, and new economic opportunities through cultural tourism. Despite the positive impacts, globalisation also has a significant negative impact on local culture. The loss of local languages and traditions, the commercialisation of culture, and the domination of foreign cultures are some of them. Despite challenges from globalisation, many local communities show strong resilience and adaptation. They seek to preserve and revive their traditions and values through cultural education, cultural festivals, and legal protection of cultural heritage.
Identify the tone of the passage.
- A.
Unduly critical.
- B.
Objective and balanced.
- C.
Optimistic.
- D.
Casual and informative.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
The tone of a passage is the author's implicit attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice, sentence register, and how evenly different sides of an issue are treated. A passage that lays out both the benefits and the drawbacks of a subject in formal, even-handed language, without dwelling only on one side or using informal diction, reflects an objective and balanced tone.
This passage first describes how globalisation encourages the conservation and modification of local traditions, then explicitly states that globalisation has adversely affected local cultural traditions, and later lists concrete positive impacts, such as wider access to information, cultural exchange, and economic opportunities through tourism, alongside concrete negative impacts, such as loss of local languages, commercialisation of culture, and domination of foreign cultures. The final section notes community resilience through cultural education, festivals, and legal protection. Every claim is phrased in a neutral, expository register with no exclamatory or emotionally charged language.
Checking this reading against each possible description of tone:
A tone that dwells only on negative consequences using disapproving language would foreground the drawbacks alone, but this passage devotes equal space to positive impacts described in neutral terms.
A tone that emphasises hopeful outcomes while downplaying drawbacks would omit or minimise adverse effects, but this passage explicitly names several adverse effects of globalisation.
A tone using informal, conversational phrasing would read like casual conversation, but this passage is written throughout in a formal, academic register.
A tone that presents favourable and unfavourable aspects with equal weight, in formal, non-partisan register, matches the passage's structure and diction.
The passage's even treatment of both positive and negative effects of globalisation, expressed in formal expository language, therefore identifies its tone as objective and balanced.