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2. The question is based on the following passage.
Inflation and deflation are two important economic concepts that describe changes in the value of money over time. Inflation occurs when the general level of prices for goods and services rises. This means that over time, money loses some of its purchasing power, you need more money to buy the same things. Inflation is often caused by strong consumer demand, rising production costs, or increases in the supply of money.
On the other hand, deflation is the opposite: it happens when the general level of prices falls. While lower prices might sound like a good thing, deflation can be harmful to the economy. It often signals weak demand for goods and services, which can lead to reduced business profits, job losses, and slower economic activity.
Both inflation and deflation significantly impact consumers, businesses, and governments by influencing financial behavior and economic stability. When inflation rises, consumers face higher prices, reducing their ability to afford goods and services. This can especially strain low- and middle-income households. In contrast, deflation may lead people to delay purchases, expecting prices to fall further, which can slow economic activity. For businesses, inflation increases the cost of materials, wages, and transportation.
If they raise prices to cope, they risk losing customers. During deflation, companies may be forced to lower prices, which can reduce profits and lead to job cuts or investment delays. Governments also face challenges. Inflation can increase tax revenues but also raises the cost of public programs and may trigger social unrest if wages lag behind prices. Deflation, however, increases the real value of existing government debt, raising the burden of repayment. This heightened debt obligation can constrain fiscal capacity, limiting the government’s ability to allocate funds for public services or economic investment. Because of these broad effects, central banks and policymakers closely monitor inflation and deflation to keep economies stable.
The text mainly talks about ….
A. How inflation and deflation influence government tax policies
B. The role of central banks in controlling inflation and deflationThe concepts of inflation and deflation and their effects
C. The effects of inflation and deflation consumers
D. The historical causes of inflation and deflation
Jawaban: C
Pembahasan:
Soal meminta kita mengidentifikasi gagasan utama teks.
Pada kalimat 1 paragraf 1 diperkenalkan konsep inflasi dan deflasi. Di kalimat 2-4 dijelaskan lebih lanjut definisi dari inflasi dan penyebabnya. Selanjutnya di kalimat 5 (ditandai on the other hand)-akhir paragraf 1 dijelaskan definisi deflasi dan penyebabnya. Dari sini cukup jelas bahwa teks membahas definisi dan penyebab dari inflasi dan deflasi.
Pada kalimat 1 paragraf 2 disebutkan bahwa inflasi dan deflasi memiliki dampak signifikan terhadap konsumen, pengusaha dan pemerintah. Di kalimat 2-akhir dijelaskan lebih lanjut dampak inflasi dan deflasi yang dimaksud. Pilihan yang mencakup gagasan utama kedua paragraf adalah C.
Pilihan A dan D tidak tepat karena hanya mencakup sebagian kecil informasi di paragraf 2.
Pilihan B tidak tepat karena informasi tentang bank sentral hanya muncul di akhir sebagai penutup bahwa mereka memantau inflasi dan deflasi. Ini bukan topik utama teks.
Pilihan E tidak tepat karena teks tidak membahas penyebab inflasi dan deflasi dari sudut pandang sejarah. Teks hanya menyebutkan penyebab umum seperti permintaan tinggi, biaya produksi naik, atau suplai uang meningkat, bukan penjelasan tentang kejadian historis tertentu atau bagaimana inflasi dan deflasi berkembang dari masa ke masa.
Jadi, pilihan jawaban yang paling tepat adalah C.