Exam info
- Subject
- English Reading
- Exam type
- Languages
- Questions
- 20
- Duration
- 60 min
- Answers
- ✓ With explanations
Questions (20)
- Q 1.
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
For many people, a quiet hour may seem like empty time. When there are no messages to answer, no tasks to complete, and no noise in the background, they may feel uncomfortable or even guilty. Yet researchers have found that periods of quiet can be surprisingly valuable. Like sleep, quiet gives the mind an opportunity to organize memories, process emotions, and notice ideas that are usually hidden by constant activity.
The first benefit of quiet time is improved concentration. During a busy day, the brain is repeatedly interrupted by conversations, notifications, and decisions. Even brief interruptions can make it harder to focus on a difficult task. By contrast, a short period of silence allows the brain to slow down and return to a problem with fresh attention. Writers, scientists, and students often report that they make important discoveries when they step away from their work and allow their thoughts to settle.
Quiet time also supports emotional well-being. When people constantly move from one activity to another, they may not have enough time to understand what they are feeling. Silence creates a pause in which they can reflect on their experiences and recognize sources of stress. This does not mean that every quiet moment is peaceful. Some people become anxious when their minds are not occupied. However, regularly scheduling periods of stillness can help people learn to tolerate uncertainty and respond more calmly to difficult situations.
In addition, quiet time can strengthen creativity. Many useful ideas appear gradually rather than arriving in a sudden flash. A walk without a podcast or a morning without a phone can allow the brain to combine memories and observations in new ways. Importantly, this process does not require a special place or expensive equipment. A person can sit beside a window, take a walk in the neighborhood, or simply close their eyes for a few minutes.
Although quiet time is useful, the goal is not to avoid noise and activity forever. Most people need periods of silence alongside periods of social interaction and purposeful work. The most effective approach is to make room for both. A deliberate pause in the middle of a noisy day can restore attention, reduce stress, and help a person return to the world with greater clarity and purpose.
- A.
The passage suggests that quiet time can support mental, emotional, and creative well-being.
- B.
The passage argues that people should eliminate all noise and social interaction from their lives.
- C.
The passage claims that quiet time is valuable only for people who work in creative professions.
- D.
The passage states that expensive equipment is necessary to develop new ideas.
- A.
- Q 2.
Which sentence best expresses the topic sentence of the first paragraph?
- A.
Researchers have found that periods of quiet can be surprisingly valuable.
- B.
Many people may feel guilty when they have nothing to do.
- C.
The brain organizes memories and notices hidden ideas during quiet periods.
- D.
People should schedule time for silence during the day.
- A.
- Q 3.
Which sentence is the topic sentence of the second paragraph?
- A.
Brief interruptions can make it harder to focus on a difficult task.
- B.
The first benefit of quiet time is improved concentration.
- C.
Writers and scientists often discover important ideas when they step away from their work.
- D.
A quiet period allows the brain to return to a problem with fresh attention.
- A.
- Q 4.
What is the main idea of the paragraph about emotional well-being?
- A.
Constant activity can prevent people from understanding their feelings.
- B.
Silence always produces feelings of anxiety and stress.
- C.
Emotional well-being depends entirely on having a quiet place.
- D.
Scheduled stillness can help people tolerate uncertainty and remain calm.
- A.
- Q 5.
In the passage, the word "valuable" most nearly means:
- A.
expensive
- B.
useful or beneficial
- C.
rare
- D.
difficult to understand
- A.
- Q 6.
The word "interruptions" in the second paragraph refers to:
- A.
the final conclusions of scientific studies
- B.
moments when an activity is disrupted by something else
- C.
conversations, notifications, and decisions that disrupt attention
- D.
planned breaks between work tasks
- A.
- Q 7.
The word "settle" in the phrase "allow their thoughts to settle" means:
- A.
to become calm and less confused
- B.
to agree on a decision
- C.
to fall down onto a surface
- D.
to remain unchanged
- A.
- Q 8.
The word "scheduling" in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to:
- A.
planning a time for something
- B.
avoiding a particular activity
- C.
measuring the length of a day
- D.
discovering a new method
- A.
- Q 9.
In the phrase "arrive in a sudden flash," the word "flash" refers to:
- A.
a brief moment of sudden insight
- B.
a camera
- C.
a long period of reflection
- D.
a loud noise
- A.
- Q 10.
The word "deliberate" in the final paragraph means:
- A.
careful and intentional
- B.
sudden and accidental
- C.
extremely tiring
- D.
doubtful and uncertain
- A.
- Q 11.
Why might a person feel uncomfortable during a quiet hour?
- A.
The person may interpret the lack of activity as wasted time.
- B.
The person may be physically unable to hear.
- C.
The person may have forgotten how to sleep.
- D.
The person may need a special machine to remain still.
- A.
- Q 12.
According to the passage, what does the brain do during quiet time?
- A.
It stops processing information completely.
- B.
It organizes memories, processes emotions, and notices hidden ideas.
- C.
It makes people forget their daily responsibilities.
- D.
It performs exactly the same functions as sleep.
- A.
- Q 13.
What effect do brief interruptions have, according to the second paragraph?
- A.
They make difficult tasks feel easier.
- B.
They guarantee that people solve problems more quickly.
- C.
They can weaken a person's ability to concentrate.
- D.
They improve emotional well-being.
- A.
- Q 14.
Which group of people is specifically mentioned as benefiting from stepping away from their work?
- A.
Engineers, doctors, and lawyers
- B.
Writers, scientists, and students
- C.
Musicians, athletes, and travelers
- D.
Parents, shopkeepers, and managers
- A.
- Q 15.
Why can silence help people understand their emotions?
- A.
It creates a pause in which they can reflect on their experiences.
- B.
It removes every source of stress from a person's life.
- C.
It forces people to communicate with others.
- D.
It makes every difficult situation appear unimportant.
- A.
- Q 16.
Which statement about anxiety in quiet time is accurate?
- A.
Everyone becomes anxious whenever they stop working.
- B.
Anxiety during silence means that quiet time is always harmful.
- C.
Some people may feel anxious, but regular quiet periods can help them respond more calmly.
- D.
Anxiety can be completely eliminated by listening to music.
- A.
- Q 17.
What can happen when the brain combines memories and observations during a quiet walk?
- A.
It can produce useful ideas in new ways.
- B.
It can remove the need for sleep.
- C.
It can make a person forget where the walk began.
- D.
It can guarantee that every new idea will be successful.
- A.
- Q 18.
Which inference is best supported by the passage?
- A.
A quiet period is most beneficial when it is intentionally included in a busy schedule.
- B.
People who do creative work should avoid all quiet periods.
- C.
The benefits of silence depend on having a completely silent neighborhood.
- D.
Long periods of silence are always better than short ones.
- A.
- Q 19.
Why does the author include the sentence "A person can sit beside a window, take a walk in the neighborhood, or simply close their eyes for a few minutes"?
- A.
To show that quiet time can be created in ordinary ways.
- B.
To prove that walking is more effective than sitting.
- C.
To encourage people to spend more time outdoors.
- D.
To argue that closing the eyes is dangerous.
- A.
- Q 20.
Which choice best represents the main idea of the entire passage?
- A.
Quiet time is most effective as a balanced and intentional part of everyday life.
- B.
Busy people are generally less responsible than people who take breaks.
- C.
Modern technology is the main cause of every problem discussed.
- D.
The best way to improve creativity is to work continuously without stopping.
- A.
Answers and explanations are in mode.