DEFINITION AND EXAMPLE OF BIOGRAPHICAL RECOUNT

1. BIOGRAPHICAL RECOUNT TEXT

17. 1. Soekarno, born as Kusno Sosrodiharjo, was the first President of Indonesia. He was the
leader of his country’s struggle for independence from the Nederland and was Indonesia’s
first president from 1945-1967. He was prominent leader of Indonesia’s nationalist movement
during the Dutch colonial period, and spent over a decade under Dutch detention until
released by the invading Japanese forces.
Sukarno and his fellow nationalists collaborated to garner support for the Japanese war effort
from the population, in exchange for Japanese aid in spreading nationalist ideas. Upon
Japanese surrender, Sukarno and Hatta declared Indonesian independence on 17 August
1945, whereby Sukarno was appointed as first president. Sukarno led Indonesians in resisting
Dutch re-colonization efforts via diplomatic and military means until the Dutch acknowledge of
Indonesian independence in 1949.
The communicative purpose of the text is … in Indonesia’s independence
a) describing Soekarno’s role
b) informing who was Soekarno
c) explaining Soekarno’s struggle
d) presenting the effort of Soekarno
e) retelling the historical life of Soekarno

18. 2. Soekarno, born as Kusno Sosrodiharjo, was the first President of Indonesia. He was the leader
of his country’s struggle for independence from the Nederland and was Indonesia’s first
president from 1945-1967. He was prominent leader of Indonesia’s nationalist movement during
the Dutch colonial period, and spent over a decade under Dutch detention until released by the
invading Japanese forces.
Sukarno and his fellow nationalists collaborated to garner support for the Japanese war effort
from the population, in exchange for Japanese aid in spreading nationalist ideas. Upon Japanese
surrender, Sukarno and Hatta declared Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945, whereby
Sukarno was appointed as first president. Sukarno led Indonesians in resisting Dutch re-
colonization efforts via diplomatic and military means until the Dutch acknowledge of Indonesian
independence in 1949.
The text mainly discusses …
a) Important leader
b) a democratic leader
c) A. the founding father
d) the first Indonesian president
e) the most charismatic leader

19. 3. Soekarno, born as Kusno Sosrodiharjo, was the first President of Indonesia. He was the
leader of his country’s struggle for independence from the Nederland and was Indonesia’s first
president from 1945-1967. He was prominent leader of Indonesia’s nationalist movement during
the Dutch colonial period, and spent over a decade under Dutch detention until released by the
invading Japanese forces.
Soekarno’s young name is…
a) Susno Sosrodiharjo
b) Guntur Soekarno Putro
c) Kusno Sosroraharjo
d) Kusno Soekardiharjo
e) Kusno Sosrodiharjo

20. 4. Sukarno led Indonesians in resisting Dutch re-colonization efforts via diplomatic and
military means until the Dutch acknowledge of Indonesian independence in 1949.
The Dutch tried to reinvande Indonesia after the declaration of independence for ...
years.
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
e) 6

21. “Sukarno and his fellow nationalists collaborated to garner support...” (line 5)
The underlined word has similar meaning with ...
a) employee
b) supporter
c) colleague
d) friend
e) enemy

22. 6. Soekarno, born as Kusno Sosrodiharjo, was the first President of Indonesia. He was the leader of his
country’s struggle for independence from the Nederland and was Indonesia’s first president from 1945-
1967. He was prominent leader of Indonesia’s nationalist movement during the Dutch colonial period,
and spent over a decade under Dutch detention until released by the invading Japanese forces.
Sukarno and his fellow nationalists collaborated to garner support for the Japanese war effort from the
population, in exchange for Japanese aid in spreading nationalist ideas. Upon Japanese surrender,
Sukarno and Hatta declared Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945, whereby Sukarno was
appointed as first president. Sukarno led Indonesians in resisting Dutch re-colonization efforts via
diplomatic and military means until the Dutch acknowledge of Indonesian independence in 1949.
Which one is NOT mentioned about Soekarno?
a) He had very important role in declaring Indonesian’s Independence
b) He was jailed for a long time under the Dutch government.
c) He appointed himself as the first president
d) He led Indonesian to defend from the Dutch re-colonization
e) He and his fellows supported Japanese war

23. Maria Sklodowska, better known as Marie Curie, was born in Warsawa in modern-day Poland on
November 7, 1867. Her parents were both teachers. She was the youngest of five children. As a
child, Currie took after her father, Ladislas, a math and physics instructor. She had a bright and
curious mind and excellent at school. In her 11 years old, Curie lost her mother, Bronsitwa, to
tuberculosis.
A top student in her secondary school, Curie could not attend the men-only University of
Warsawa. She instead continued her education in Warsawa’s “Floating University”, a set of
underground, informal classes held in secret. Both Curie and her sister, Bronya, dreamed of
going abroad to earn official degree, but they lacked the financial resources to pay for more
schooling. Undetered, Curie worked out a deal with her sister. She would work to support Bronya
while she was in school. Bronya would return the favor after she completed her studies.
For roughly five years, Curie worked as a tutor and a governess. She used her spare time to
study, reading about physics, chemistry and math. In 1891, Curie finally made her way to Paris
where she enrolled at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Curie completed her master degree in
physics in 1893 and earned another degree in mathematics the following year. Around this time,
she received a commision to carry out a study on different types of steel and their magnetic
properties.
The social function is … of Marie Curie
a) to inform the works
b) to retell the life story
c) to explain the history
d) to communicate the events
e) to describe the past experience

24. A top student in her secondary school, Curie could not attend the men-only University of Warsawa. She
instead continued her education in Warsawa’s “Floating University”, a set of underground, informal classes
held in secret. Both Curie and her sister, Bronya, dreamed of going abroad to earn official degree, but they
lacked the financial resources to pay for more schooling. Undetered, Curie worked out a deal with her sister.
She would work to support Bronya while she was in school. Bronya would return the favor after she completed
her studies.
Curie could not attend the University of Warsawa because ...
a) The cost was expensive.
b) The university was just for men.
c) She had to work to support sister.
d) She failed to apply in that university.
e) She continued her study in other university.

25. A top student in her secondary school, Curie could not attend the men-only University of Warsawa.
She instead continued her education in Warsawa’s “Floating University”, a set of underground,
informal classes held in secret. Both Curie and her sister, Bronya, dreamed of going abroad to earn
official degree, but they lacked the financial resources to pay for more schooling. Undetered, Curie
worked out a deal with her sister. She would work to support Bronya while she was in school. Bronya
would return the favor after she completed her studies.
What you can infer from Curie’s personality?
She was a ... woman
a) strict
b) perfect
c) generous
d) hard worker
e) diligent

26. In 1891, Curie finally made her way to Paris where she enrolled at the Sorbonne
University in Paris.
the underlined word has the same meaning with ...
a) paid
b) applied
c) studied
d) spent
e) went

27. 11. Both Curie and her sister, Bronya, dreamed of going abroad to earn official degree, but they
lacked the financial resources to pay for more schooling.
The underlined sentence means that they ...
a) did not have enough money.
b) did not have financial problem.
c) did not need to work for money.
d) had to work to find resources.
e) had to save their financial saving.

28. 12. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was born on 25 June 1936 in Parepare, South Sulawesi Province to
Alwi Abdul Jalil Habibie and R. A. Tuti Marini Puspowardojo. His father was an agriculturist from
Gorontalo descent and his mother was a Javanese noblewoman from Yogyakarta. His parents met
while studying in Bogor. Habibie's father died when he was 14 years old.
Habibie is an Indonesian engineer who became the President
of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999. He succeeded Suharto who resigned in 1998. His presidency is seen
as transition to the post-Suharto era. Upon becoming president, he liberalized Indonesia's press and
political party laws, and held an early
democratic election in 1999, which resulted in the end of his presidency. His presidency was the third,
and the shortest, after independence.
The second paragraph tells about Habibie's ...
a) family
b) early life
c) career
d) education
e) presidency

29. 14. Habibie is an Indonesian engineer who became the President
of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999. He succeeded Suharto who resigned in 1998. His presidency is seen as
transition to the post-Suharto era. Upon becoming president, he liberalized Indonesia's press and
political party laws, and held an early
democratic election in 1999, which resulted in the end of his presidency. His presidency was the third,
and the shortest, after independence.
Habibie’s presidency was … year(s).
a) one
b) two
c) three
d) four
e) five

30. 15. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie was born on 25 June 1930 in Parepare, South Sulawesi Province to
Alwi Abdul Jalil Habibie and R. A. Tuti Marini Puspowardojo. His father was an agriculturist from
Gorontalo descent and his mother was a Javanese noblewoman from Yogyakarta.
"descent" means ...
a) colleague
b) grandparents
c) old generation
d) ancestor
e) parent

31. He succeeded Suharto who resigned in 1998.
The underlined word means ...
a) exchanged
b) removed
c) resigned
d) replaced
e) took over

32. Pierre Andries Tendean was born in Batavia, February 21, 1939 . He died in Jakarta,
October 1, 1965. he was was a victim of the 30th September Movement (G30S) and is an
Indonesian national hero. Tendean was the only son of A.L. Tendean from Minahasa and
Indo (Eurasian) mother Cornet M.E. of Dutch and French descent. He … an older sister,
Mitze Farre, and younger sister, Rooswidiati.
a) was
b) has
c) had
d) have
e) was had
HIDE ANSWER

33. Tendean’s father … a doctor and held posts in hospitals in Jakarta, Tasikmalaya, Cisarua,
Magelang, and Semarang.
a) is
b) was
c) were
d) be
e) been

34. Tendean receivedbattlefield experience while in the academy when he ... to West Sumatra
with his fellow cadets to participate in a military operation named "Sapta Marga".
a) send
b) sent
c) is sent
d) was sent
e) was sending