Letter (October/November 2011) Paper 1 (3)

Section Two [30 marks] Begin your answer on a fresh page You are advised to write between 250 and 350 words for this section. You should read the information carefully and plan your answer before beginning to write. Anne and John, two representatives of the World Student Council, are visiting your school as part of a study focused on 'Teenagers Worldwide'. They want to know more about typical Singaporean teenagers and are interested in their ambitions, beliefs, interests, hobbies and social lives. The Principal has asked the students for suggestions on how such information can best be given in the one day visit. Some suggestions are: Select two students to take Anne and John to some interesting places in the city and explain the significance of these places to teenagers. Have a Question and Answer session for Anne and John with a group of senior students to find out details of their lives. Ask a few specially chosen students to write detailed accounts of their ambitions, beliefs, interests, hobbies and social lives, which can be discussed with Anne and John on the day of their visit. Decide which one of these suggestions you think will give the visitiors the most appropriate information. Write a letter to the Principal stating which suggestion has your support. Give details of which students may be involved, and how the day's visit can be organised to provide the most useful response for the study. Set out your letter correctly in clear, accurate English and in a confident,

persuasive tone, to convince the Principal that this suggestion will be the best to provide Anne and John with the information they require. 48 Kings Road Singapore 54395 June 24, 2012 Mr. Rodney Taylor Rockville High School 205 Queens Road Singapore 54396 Dear Mr Taylor, To Aid in the Study Focused on 'Teenagers Worldwide' It is an honour to have the two representatives of the World Student Council to visit our school as part of a study focused on 'Teenagers Worldwide'. After much consideration, I think it will fulfil the objectives of their visit if we can select two students to take Anne and John to some interesting places in the city and explain the significance of these places to teenagers. This will enable them to learn more about typical Singaporean teenagers in a less mundane way and they will get to see for themselves firsthand a microcosm (a small place,society or situation which has the same characteristics as something much larger) of how Singaporean teenagers live their lives. I feel that it is imperative to have the two prefects from the express stream and normal academic stream respectively in order that the two representatives will be expose to a greater range of teenage behaviour. The prefects will also be bringing Anne and John to 'J- Cube' and Sentosa where they get to see how teenagers spend their leisure time. At the same time, the two prefects will be able to answer any queries that Anne and John have and even share their ambitions, beliefs, interests, hobbies and social lives. During their visit to 'J-Cube' and Sentosa, the two prefects will also be to introduce Anne and John to some of their friends and thus will enable them to have a group chat about their ambitions, beliefs, interests, hobbies and social lives and thus ensuring a more macroscopic view of teenagers in Singapore.

'J-Cube' is a popular mall with teenagers since it is the only mall with an indoor ice-skating rink. In fact a lot of our students like to spend their free time ice skating. Thus, when it is time for lunch, friends of the two prefects can join in and they can have a meaningful discussion at 'McDonalds' where many teenagers like to hang out to chit-chat and do homework while eating. After the meal, they will then proceed to other levels of the shopping mall and be briefed on the fashion styles of teenagers and how shopping is a national past-time for the young and old. At Sentosa, the two prefects will bring Anne and John to Siloso beach where they will be able to play beach volleyball and surf on artificial waves at the Wave House. It will be a novel experience for them since they came from temperate countries. Moreover, they will be able to witness how some teenagers, especially those with a passion for sports, spend their free time and their relationships that they form under play under such sports. They can also have a break at the Malaysian-themed food court found in Sentosa and take the opportunity to show them the culinary differences between us and our neighbours. Lastly, the prefects will bring them to *Scape Park which is another popular hangout with teenagers who are into cosplay, rollerblading, skateboarding and video games. The cafes and restaurants which dotted *Scape Park are what teenagers like and they tend to have a youthful vibe about them. While introducing these hobbies to Anne and John, they can also interview random teenagers to ask about their beliefs and interests. I think that bringing the two representatives out to explore some interesting places in the city is much better than having a Question and Answer session and writing detailed accounts which may be too boring Anne and John and they are not able to see for themselves and experience firsthand the typical day of a Singaporean teenager. Hence, I think bringing the two representatives out is the best choice among the three choices. Yours Sincerely, Meng Hong