g-Cakna JPN Kelantan

ANSWERS

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INFORMATION TRANSFER
Set 1 1 visit the tea factories Interchangeable 2 enjoy a cup of tea at the cafe 3 pluck strawberries 4 buy locally grown strawberries Choose any two. buy homemade strawberry jams 5 buy cheap flowers 6 see a butterfly / many different species of butterflies 7 Strawberry Farms 8 Butterfly Centres 9 Flower Nurseries 10 Tea Plantations Set 2 1 Winning Ways 2 Dick Lyles 3 The Berkeley Publishing Group 4 Albert 5 smart, talented, ambitious 6 (college) football coach 7 America 8 team player 9 (college) football coach 10 (the) secrets Set 3 1 Accounts Clerk 2 QA Engineer 3 General Clerk 4 Sales Executive 5 Operations Manager 6 call Jenny at 013-9389819 7 good interpersonal and communication skills 8 SijilPelajaran Malaysia qualification / a good command of English 9 able to work independently 10 a curriculum vitae (to gaco@yahoo.com)

Set 4 1 Sunday 2 23 September 2012 3 Klang Valley 4 New Sunday Times 5 RM200 per team 6 RM5 000 7 (worth) RM60 000 8 15 years 9 cars or vans 10 call 03-2056 7107

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Set 5 1 GunungLedang 2 mount climbing / picnicking / jungle trekking 3 Desaru Beach 4 Rawa Island 5 snorkelling / scuba diving 6 PulauKukup 7 white coral sand / tall palm trees / offshore coral reefs 8 The depth is approximately 4 feet deep. 9 27 March 1997 10 Mount Ophir

READING COMPREHENSION
SET 1 (GOLD) 1) DIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, why is gold so popular? Because of its beauty, usefulness and rareness (lines 2-3) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 3, give one advantage of gold. it does not tarnish / remains bright and shining indefinitely / is also one of the least chemically active metals (lines 8-11) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 3, why is gold one of the least chemically active metals? because it reacts only with a few acids (lines 12-13)[1 mark] (d) From paragraph 4, what was the use of gold to the people in the olden days? as money / currency (lines 13-15) [1 mark] 2) VOCABULARY (a) Which word in paragraph 1 gives the meaning of not easy to find? rareness / scarce (line 3) [1 mark] (b) Which word in paragraph 2 suggests that gold is a decorative item? ornament (line 6) [1 mark] (c) What is the meaning of indefinitely in line 10? permanently / forever ( [1 mark] (d) The word crucial in line 13 can best be replaced with important [1 mark] 3) REFERENTIAL (a) From paragraph 1, what does the word itsin line 3 refer to? iron (line 3) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, what does the word It in line 4 refer to? gold (line 4) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 3, what does the word thisin line 10 refer to? gold remains bright and shining (lines 9-10)[1 mark] (d) From paragraph 4, what does the word theyin line 14 refer to? gold coins (line 13) [1 mark] 67
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4) INFERENTIAL / INDIRECT (a) Based on the comparison between gold and silver in paragraph 3, what can you conclude about gold? Example : Gold is more valuable / precious than silver and it lasts longer [2 marks] (b) What do you understand by the statement Although coins were also made from other metals, their values were often questioned in lines 16 17? Example : The quality of other metals is not very good. [2 marks] 5) EXPRESSING VIEWPOINT (a) Is gold important to you? In your own words, give two reasons. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks] (b) In your opinion, what can replace gold as a popular ornament? Suggest two items. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks]

SET 2 (INFLUENZA) 1) DIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, what will happen if a person is infected with the virus? suffer an attack of influenza. (line 4)[1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, name one symptom of getting the attack of influenza. a running nose /sore throat /a headache /strange sensation known as feeling hot-andcold (lines 6-7) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 2, how long will the infected person be resting in bed? 3 or 4 days (line8) [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 3, when does the victim feel like eating normally again? When the recovery begins / temperature subsides /the pains go (lines 10-11) [1 mark] 2) VOCABULARY (a) What word can best replace subsequently in line 4? then / later / consequently [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, which phrase suggests that a person is getting a fever? feeling hot-and-cold (line 7) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 2, which phrase suggests that the victim does not have the appetite to eat anything? a marked distaste for food(line 9) [1 mark] (d) Which word in paragraph 3 tells us that the victim is getting better? recovery (line 10 / 13) [1 mark] 3) REFERENTIAL (a) From paragraph 1, what does the word theirin line 1 refer to? infected people (line 1) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, what does the phrase this stagein lines 7 - 8 refer to? the incubation period (line 5-6) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 2, what does the word hisin line 9 refer to? thevicitim (line 8) [1 mark]

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(d) From paragraph 3, what does the word hisin line 11 refer to? the patient (line 11) [1 mark] (b) INFERENTIAL / INDIRECT (a) Based on the information in paragraph 2, describe the feelings of the victim. Example : He feels weak and tired / uneasy and restless. [2 marks] (b) In your own words, explain the seriousness of the influenza infection. Example : it can be very serious because it makes the victim very weak and with no appetite. [2 marks] (c) EXPRESSING VIEWPOINT (a) Suggest two ways of taking care of an influenza victim. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks] (b) Have you ever had influenza? Describe how you felt at that time. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks] SET 3 (TRAVELLING) 1) DIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, what was the problem faced by the writer? He did not get to Bukit Tinggi until one week later. (lines 2-3) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, how did the writer get to Lubuklinggau? By train (line 7) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 3, why didnt the train arrive in Tanjungkarang? A railroad bridge had been washed out during the rainy season (lines 12-13)[1 mark] (d) From paragraph 4, give the reason for the breakdown of the bus. It was a dilapidated old junk(line 14) [1 mark]

2) VOCABULARY (a) From paragraph 2, the word splits in line 6 can best replaced with divides [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 3, which word has the same meaning as came? arrived (line 10) [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 3, what phrase gives the same meaning as people travelling with the writer? fellow train passengers (line 11)[1 mark] (d) From paragraph 4, what is the meaning of on schedulein line 16? on time [1 mark]

3) REFERENTIAL (a) From paragraph 1, what does the phrase the placein line 2 refer to? Bukit Tinggi (line 2) [1 mark]

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(b) From paragraph 2, what does the word Iin line 5 refer to? The writer / narrator [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 3, what does the phrase the next big townin line 11 refer to? Kota Bumi [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 4, what does the word itin line 14 refer to? The bus [1 mark]

4) INFERENTIAL / INDIRECT (a) Based on paragraph 3, describe how the writer felt while waiting for the train. Example : He felt frustrated / angry / annoyed because of the waiting. [2 marks]

(b) Based on the passage, explain about the transport system in Sumatra. Example : It is not efficient because the trains and buses are not reliable. [2 marks]

5) EXPRESSING VIEWPOINT (a) In your opinion, is the train the best mode of transport in travelling? Give two reasons. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks] (b) In your own words, give two advantages of travelling. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks]

SET 4 (MYSTERY) 1) DIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, why did the Egyptians entomb their Pharoahs in pyramids? The spirit would stay in the body, or return to it(lines 1-2) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, what is the evidence to show that the treasure-hunters had entered the tombs? Every tomb in the valley had been found in a disturbed state (lines 7-8)[1 mark] (c) From paragraph 2, how did the diggers enter the long passage? They cut their way through the wall (line 12) [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 3, what did Carter find in the room? Treasure (line 16) [1 mark]

2) VOCABULARY (a) From paragraph 1, which word has the same meaning asstayed? remained (line 2) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph2, which word has the same meaning as victim? prey (line 7) [1 mark]

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(c) In your own words, give the meaning of the word astonished in line 10. surprised / shocked [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 3, which phrase tells us that Carter was shocked? could hardly believe his eyes (line 15)[1 mark]

3) REFERENTIAL (a) From paragraph 1, what does the word theyin line 3 refer to? The ancient Egyptians[1 mark] (b) From paragraph 1, what does the phrase the dead bodiesin line 5 refer to? The kings / Pharoahs [1 mark] (c) From paragraph 2, what does the word he in line 11 refer to? (Howard) Carter [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 3, what does the word itin line 16 refer to? Treasure [1 mark]

4) INFERENTIAL / INDIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, what does it tell us about the Egyptians attitude towards their kings? Example : They loved / respected their kings very much / They were very loyal to their kings [2 marks]

(b) Based on paragraph 3, describe Carters personality. Example : He was adventurous but not selfish / more curious about history than being rich [2 marks]

5) EXPRESSING VIEWPOINT (a) If you found a treasure, what would you do with it? Give two ways. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks] (b) In your opinion, is it good to be an archeologist? Give two reasons. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks]

SET 5 (THE KERIS) 1) DIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, why is the keris an interesting subject for study? Because of the legendary tales and magical exploits attached to the keris(lines 4-5) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 2, what could the keris give to a family? It provides the family with wisdom, prosperity, fame and protection (lines 9-10)[1 mark] 71
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(c) From paragraph 2, who was Hang Tuah? He wasthe legendary Malay hero who lived in the time of Malacca Sultanate (lines 10-11) [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 3, what would happen if the keris was not suitable to a man? Misfortune is said to strike (line 16)[1 mark]

2) VOCABULARY (a) From paragraph 1, which word has the same meaning asdangerous? deadly (line 1) [1 mark] (b) From paragraph 1, what is the meaning of the word vital in line 3? important [1 mark] (c) In your own words, give the meaning of the phrase still cling on in line 8. believe [1 mark] (d) From paragraph 3, what is the meaning of the word contented in line 16? satisfactory / satisfying [1 mark]

3) REFERENTIAL (e) From paragraph 1, what does the word itin line 1 refer to? The keris [1 mark] (f) From paragraph 2, what does the word whoin line 8 refer to? The Malays [1 mark] (g) From paragraph 2, what does the word itsin line 12 refer to? The keris [1 mark] (h) From paragraph 3, what does the word hein line 15 refer to? A man [1 mark]

4) INFERENTIAL / INDIRECT (a) From paragraph 1, why was the keris used in most bloodthirsty and supernatural incidents? Example : To kill enemies / To defend own self / It was the only type of weapon in the past [2 marks]

(b) What do you understand from paragraph 3? Example : A mans happiness in life is determined by the right choice of keris / Choosing the right type of keris is as important as choosing a wife/bride. [2 marks]

5) EXPRESSING VIEWPOINT (a) How can we promote the keris, as part of our tradition, at an international level? Suggest two ways. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks] 72
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(b) In your opinion, is thekeris still important nowadays? Give two reasons. Note : Accept any reasonable / logical answers [2 marks]

SUMMARY WRITING
SET 1 1. Based on the Malay Annals, Malacca was first discovered by Parameswara. 2. In the early 1400s, Malacca began to flourish due to three distinctive factors; Malacca rulers conversion to Islam, close relationship between the Malaccan Sultanate and the Chinese, particularly with Admiral Cheng Ho. 3. The most important factor was the Undang-undangLaut Melaka which was created by the rulers. 4. The policy managed to attract merchants from around the world to trade in Malacca. 5. In 1511, Malacca was colonised by the Portuguese. 6. The Malaccan government had to move to Johor to re-establish itself while fending off Aceh, another commercial rival. 7. In 1641, the Dutch attacked the Portuguese and finally captured Malacca, hoping they can monopolise the maritime trade in the region. SET 2 1. Mike was about nine years old when he and Greg had their first lit up and he looked like one of the guys in the movie. At 12 Mike made a new body who smoke like adult. 2. At the end, that disgusted him even more than the hacking, the stink of smoke on his clothes, the globs of phlegm he coughed every morning. Cannot comprehend the agony of withdrawal.

SET 3 In order to produce an ice sculpture, Harun first preparestools like different sized chisels and hammer. After imagining the picture, Harun makes an outline of his chosen subject onto block of ice using small chisels. Next, he chips away and the object takes on a three-dimensional appearance. To saw off huge chunk of ice, he uses the chainsaws. Then, using a flat chisel, he makes the sculpture smooth and holds and moves the ice using his bare hands. After that, he uses his chisels to fine tune the pieces and create other unique feature. Lastly, he places the sculpture on a small flat tray. SET 4 Below are the sentences taken from the passage; the summary points are in italics and have been numbered. These magnificent creatures have been hunted for hundreds of years for sport as proof of ones strength and manliness (point 1) and for their skin (point 2). They have also been trapped and poisoned by farmers to protect their livestock (point 3). In many Asian countries, tigers are killed for their precious claws. It is believed that wearing a talisman made of a tigers claw can protect its wearer (point 4). Other than that, tigers have been hunted for their body organs which are believed to be a cure for many ailments (point 5). The hunting of these animals (tiger prey) by human beings has caused tigers to starve to death (point 6). To ensure the survival of the tiger, conservation efforts need to be improved to reduce threats to tigers (point 7). Efforts must also be made to improve tiger habitats (point 8) and to increase tiger prey populations so that they will not starve to death in the wild (point 9). There must be more stringent controls on the demand for tiger parts (point 10). To drive the message home, poachers should be punished severely (point 11).

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Here is a sample summary using phrases and sentences from the passage. The tiger population has suffered a serious declinebecause tigers have been hunted for sport as proof of ones strength and manliness and for their skin. Besides, tigers have been killed by farmers to protect their livestock. These beasts have also been killed for their claws which are believed to protect the wearer. Worse still, tigers are killed for their body organs, which are believed to cure many ailments. Moreover, hunting of tiger prey has caused tigers to starve to death. Stern measures must be taken to protect them. For instance, conservation efforts and tiger habitats must be improved. To prevent tigers from starving, tiger prey populations must be increased. Most importantly, there must be more stringent controls on the demand. (121words) SET 5 Summary Points What Dr Yunus has done to help the poor set up Grameen Bank which provides small loans to poor Bangladeshis to help them start their own businesses set up Grameen Phone rural population of Bangladesh are now able to enjoy phone connectivity. provides rural women with business opportunities How his ideas have helped change the lives of women the women have proven to the men that they too are capable of taking care of their families and supporting them financially their self-esteem has also improved active financial contributors they are active contributors to the family with more money in hand they are able to provide better nutrition for their children improved social status of women as men show them more respect Dr.Yunus mission to help the poor people began when he set up Grameen Bank. Grameen provides small loans to poor Bangladeshis to enable them to start their own businesses. Besides Grameen Bank, Dr Yunus also set up Grameen Phone, which enables the rural population of Bangladesh to enjoy phone connectivity. This venture also provides rural women with business opportunities. Dr Yunus ideas have helped change the lives of women for the better. They are now capable of taking care of their families and supporting them financially. Their self-esteem has improved as they now take an active role contributing financially. With more financial control, they are able to provide better nutrition for their children. Most importantly, men show them more respect now than they did earlier. (126 words) Note: This summary has deliberately not been paraphrased to show you that you can actually lift ideas/sentences from the passage to write a coherent piece.

WRITING FOR THE NOVEL SET 2 Question : Write about a character you sympathize with/admire. Give reasons for your choice. Suggested Answer: From the novel Catch Us If You Can written by Catherine MacPhail, the character I sympathize with/admire is Rory. There are many reasons why I choose him.

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The first reason I choose Rory is because he was a loving grandson. Ever since his grandfather had not been well, Rory took care of almost everything. He would make sure that Granda took his medicine every day. He would also buy food for Granda during his school lunch break. To Rory, Granda was everything and he loved his grandfather very much because after his mother died, Granda was the only person who brought him up. Another reason is because Rory was a brave boy and acted like a savior to his grandfather. First, when he knew that his grandfather would not last long at Rachnadar, the resting home, he planned an escape for both f them. He ran away from the orphanage in Castle Street and saved his grandfather from Rachnadar. This shows that Rory is brave and cared very much of his grandfather. In addition, Rory is also a high risk taker because he ran away with an old and sick grandfather. His plan almost cost him his grandfathers life when at one point, his grandfather collapsed and fainted while they were escaping from a house of Rabs friend, Norma. He received the news from Nicola, Normas daughter that her mother had gone to the police to report their where about. Therefore, Rory and Granda ran away again. He planned to take his grandfather to Liverpool with an intention to reunite with his long lost father. Based on the reasons and evidence from the novel, I really sympathize with/admire Rory. From the beginning until the end of the story, he had to face so many problems. However, in the end he managed to save both himself and his beloved Granda. He was also united with his own father and his family. SET 3 Question : Choose an event in the novel you have studied which you find to be the most memorable. Give reasons for your choice and with close reference to the text, discuss the event. Suggested Answer: The novel I have studied is Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail and I find the most memorable event is when Rory and his Granda had to go away from Darrens mothers caravan after Darren sent him a message telling him that the authority had known where Rory and his Granda were. It is a memorable event because from there Rory and Granda started to have more interesting adventures. For instance, Rory had to urge his grandfather to move faster and in doing so, he could see it was very funny because Granda was trying hard not to show his panic. Granda was also forgetting his shoes which Rory had to shove the shoes to his feet while wrapping his coat and scarf around him and also buttoning his jacket as well. Rory had also not forgotten his grandfathers things including the food and warm clothes. The event is also memorable because Rory and Granda were always alert for the authority not to get them. He was careful not to let his grandfather lose the way by taking and pulling his grandfathers hand at him. He also flung his hand phone into the bushes because it would be useless to him since the phone had run out of battery and there was no way for him to charge it. It is a memorable event because from there Rory and Granda met more kindhearted people who jumped in to give them a helping hand. For instance, the man and his son, Sammy and Tyrone whom Rory and Granda met at the loch while they were fishing the other day helped them by giving them a ride in their caravan to get away from the camp site which was full of police and their search party. Sammys wife Ruby gave Rory and Granda food and drinks in the journey. This also tells us that not all strangers that we meet are bad people or unkind. We should learn to respect people in 75
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order for people to respect us. In conclusion, the most memorable event from this novel is the part when Rory and Granda got away from the caravan because this has caused them to face more interesting adventures and encountered with some kind-hearted people like Sammy, Ruby and Tyrone. SET 4 Question Using the details from the novel that you have studied, write about some instances that show the character is a determined person and how the determination affects the people in his/her life. Suggested Answer: From the novel I have studied, Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail, there are some instances which show that Rory is a determined person and his determination affects some people in his life. Being determined, from the beginning, Rory made sure that his grandfather was taken to the doctor for medical checkups and made certain that Granda took his pills because his grandfather was having pneumonia and lapses of memory which caused Granda to forget things at times. Rory had also made sure that Granda had his meals on time which he bought from the baker every day during his lunch time. His care and determination had caused his grandfather to love, appreciate and adore him. Rory is also very determined when he did not compromise his grandfathers welfare with anything else by taking him out of Rachnadar, an infirmary which his grandfather hated to be placed. He ran away from an orphanage in the Castle Street and had a great escape with his grandfather. He was very determined to make their escape a success by planning it with his good friend, Darren. Darren gave Rory the key to his mothers caravan and let Rory and Granda stay in the caravan after they fled away. Rory had also made friends with many people in his journey and those people could see his determination to always be together with his grandfather. Therefore, those kind hearted friends helped both of them in many ways. As a result of his determination too, in the end, Rory could meet with his father and saved his grandfather from a tragic situation. To sum up, Rorys determination has affected many people surrounding him in a good way especially his grandfather, his friends and his own father who finally came to his rescue and took him and Granda into a new promising life. SET 5 Question :Describe what happens at the end of the novel. Explain how you find the ending of the story. Support your answer with close reference to the text. Suggested Answer: Based on the novel that I have studied, Catch Us if You Can by Catherine MacPhail, I find the ending the ending of the story very interesting. At the end of this novel, Rory had a great shock in his life when he thought that his grandfather was dead before he at last met his biological father and together with his grandfather, they both reconciled with Jeff McIntosh, Rorys father, his stepmother and his two sisters. Rory then 76
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had a happy time with his newfound family. I consider this ending wonderful because it shows family reunion. When Granda fainted at the bus shelter while on their run, Rory ran away to get help, leaving Granda at the shelter. He received a help from a stranger who recognised him from the news on the television. He and his grandfather were taken to the hospital but on their way, a man whom Rory thought a policeman in plain clothes sat beside him in the patrol car and he later found out that the man was his father. This is interesting because it united a father and his son at the end of the story. Rory spent the next few days with his new found family while at times visiting his grandfather who was recovering at the hospital. His fathers wife, Karen was kind as she came and asked Rory to go and stay with them while Granda was hospitalised. He also found out that he got two little sisters, Ronda 5, and Ava, 3. Granda loved the granddaughters soon as he saw them even though he was still mad at his son. I like this part because it shows that Rory was not alone anymore. Rorys dad was an apologetic man. He asked for forgiveness from Rory and Granda every now and then. He was sorry about leaving his son away with his father because he could not accept the insults from his father. He asked Rory to give him a chance to be a good father and a good son to his ailing father. Jeff came around every day to their flat which was close to his house. This ending is great because it shows to me that all is well that ends well. In conclusion, I find that the ending of the novel is very joyful. This is because Rory had found what he had been looking for, a family of his own and a comfortable life for his grandfather. I am also happy to cherish the friendships built by Rory with the people he met along his journey: Ruby, Sammy and Tyrone; Norma, Nicola, Annie, Rab; not forgetting his ever good buddy, Darren.

DIRECTED WRITING
Formal Letter ( Job Application )

1. advertisement 2. send 3. post 4. citizen 5. passed 6. obtained 7. credits 8. command 9. write 10. working

11. working 12. requires 13. salary 14. consider 15. call 16. get 17. enclosed 18. passport sized 19. thank you 20. faithfully

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CONTINUOUS WRITING (SAMPLE ESSAYS)

1. Describe a recreational event in conjunction with Mothers Day celebration you and your friends have taken part in your area. The Telematch Charity begins at home is a well-known saying in our life. This honourable act is not only called for the rich and famous but also ordinary people like you and me. We should be grateful with our life since we have our parents beside us to take care of us every day. For the unfortunate orphans, they will not have the opportunity to get care and love from their parents. So, we should be caring enough to help them in any way we can. Last week, members from the Sports and Recreational Club of our school took part in the Telematch 2012 on 13 May 2012, organised by Tanah Merah Orienteering Club or TMOC in conjunction with Mothers Day Celebration to raise funds for the orphans in our state. It was a very interesting day for all of us because we won many prizes by taking part in many competitions held that day. It was early in the morning when our teachers, Mr. Menon, Ms. Amida and eighteen of us went to Tanah Merah Town Field in our school bus to participate in the event. Upon reaching, we saw many other participants from the schools and organizations from Tanah Merah and those from other districts as well. We were wearing our sports attire and felt very glad to take part. Then, we collected our number tags from the organisers counter and got our free T-shirts, caps, mugs and book markers because we had registered before the closing date , 10 May 2012. The first competition was the three-legged racing. Our group members Rosli and Mamat, with Tajul and Qayyum won the first and the second places defeating twenty other groups who some of them fell down along the way to the finishing line. A few couples of racers from Tanah Merah Youth Club, Nandos Pizza and Ah Hong Engineering toppled on each other and it was a very funny and enjoyable moment to see such a scene. In a gunny-sack racing, we won the third place but it was not a surprise as we competed with other contestants who were much older and more competitive like the sportsmen from the army and police teams. There were also contestants from the industrial area workers who were tougher than us but we fought them with all our might. Most of them could not believe their fate when they lost to us whom they first thought as too young to be their opponents in the event. We also won the first place in a treasure hunt competition when Asiah, Shazni, Dahlia and Emilda had managed to complete their hunting all over the town. It took them nearly twenty-five minutes to accomplish their task. They had broken the previous record held by the team from the Police Recreational Club by four minutes. Beating the hard-hitting record was very satisfying for us. We also took part in four more competitions and won the consolation prizes. Lastly in the final event in the tug-of-war for students category, we won against the students from SMK Batu Lima who had given us a tough time and the best part was,MrMenon and Ms. Fazlina treated us with tom-yam noodles and fruit juice at a famous restaurant in town before coming home. It was really a happy time for all of us and we were glad at the same time because we had also contributed to the benefits of the orphans and the needy. Hopefully we will be able to participate more in such event in the future.

2.

End your story with: I had never thought it would end that way.

At first, I could not believe what my mom was telling me. A reversible belt. My voice was deadpan. Sure, Grandpa could be pretty weird, but this was going too far. I know it sounds like a stupid Christmas present, but Grandma said your grandpa would really like it, and . And? I prompted. Even though I had a fairly good idea where this was heading, I wanted to see if she would really have the guts to mention our latest falling out, as I like to think of them. 78
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Mom sighed. He'd really appreciate it, Lya. You know he would. It's not like we all don't love how creative you are with your Christmas gifts Ha! Lie! but I think it's time you thought of other people when giving gifts, instead of just making things to satisfy your curiosity. Could I help it if Grandpa was particularly hard to please? So what if I don't give people what they ask for? I, personally, would much rather have something handmade than some some belt that's brown on one side and black on the other! I know you would, but Grandpa obviously really wants this, so . I heaved a dramatic sigh. Fine. I'll get the belt. The next day as I drove to Grandma and Grandpa's, I reviewed my situation. As soon as I'd agreed to the gift choice, my mom suggested I talk to Grandma, because she apparently knew the low-down on belts and I'm not even joking. Those were her exact words. The snowflakes falling gently reminded me of the gift I'd constructed for my fashion-conscious mom last Christmas: a dress made of construction paper in the shape of a snowflake. A tremendously funny joke and very stylish. She, of course, didn't think so, however much she tried to conceal it. Ah well. My unique presents can only be appreciated by some, I guess. Ringing the doorbell, I braced myself. The crimson door was drawn aside to reveal Lya! So nice of you to drop by. Come in. Where's Grandpa? For a moment, Grandma looked confused. Oh, he's taking his afternoon nap. Sure enough, a fuzzy gray head could just be seen over the side of the leather couch. A chorus of snores radiated from the area. Sighing, I turned to find Grandma bustling off into the kitchen. What can I get you, dear? she called. Tea?Coffee? I knew exactly what was coming next. How about some Fig Newtons? Ha! The famous Fig Newton siege! No grandma can resist pushing those hideous cookies on their grandkids! No thanks, I said. Actually, I need to ask you something. She smiled wickedly at me. What is it, dear? A rough day at school? Need advice on how to dump your boyfriend? Grandma! Shocked, I tried to compose myself. No, that's not it. My mom said that you knew where I could get a belt for Grandpa. Suddenly, she was all business. Oh yes! They're on sale at Kohl's for $11.95. Can't find a better deal. I'd go there immediately, though. I'm sure they'll sell out. For some reason, I was actually surprised to find the belt. It's difficult to take Grandma seriously. The belt was well, a belt. Black on one side, brown on the other. Nothing fancy, nothing special. It seemed ridiculous that this was something Grandpa wanted so badly, but my mom was sure it would make or break my relationship with him.My plan was to drop it off inconspicuously under the tree tonight. Our family tradition was that we always opened one gift each on Christmas Eve. It would be a blessing if Grandpa chose mine and got it over with it. 79
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g-Cakna JPN Kelantan

Lya! Nancy, Scott! You're here! Grandma came whizzing around the corner. Giving us each a hug, she whisked away our coats and directed me toward the family room. I looked around at my cousins. The boys were sprawled on Grandma's lumpy sofas, watching TV. The girls waved me over to their huddle. So, Lya, Sarah said. Still into the crazy gifts? I told my dad he shouldn't get his hopes up for something as cool as that ice cream hat you made him last year, but he said he could always hope! I laughed. I often thought Sarah and I must have been switched at birth. Her dad owned an ice cream business and played drums in a rock band. Her mom painted exotic pictures and designed the ads for their business. I would fit right in with their craziness, while Sarah would mesh perfectly with my downto-earth marine biologist mom and engineer dad. Actually, I announced to the group, I restrained myself a bit this year. For Grandpa, I got I produced the wrapped bundle with a dramatic flourish. A reversible belt! Nine-year-old Jessica giggled. You're not serious. I am! Everyone was silent. Sarah was trying not to laugh. What? Oh, Lya, she replied, grinning and shaking her head, wait 'til you see. She motioned for me to follow her to the Christmas tree. Everything looked as usual. Then, my eyes fell on the presents. Something was definitely strange. Wait it was too insane to be true.There were a number of wrapped rectangular boxes done with ribbons and bows. But there were also far too many small circular packages that looked suspiciously like the one I was holding. I snatched one. Feeling it, there was no mistaking what was inside. Oh. My. God. What had Grandma done? I looked at Sarah. She was grinning from ear to ear. How funny is this? Not funny at all! When Grandpa sees that all he's gotten for Christmas are belts, he'll freak! Especially when he sees there's one from me! He'll probably think I'm trying to insult him! Sarah raised her eyebrows. Why would he think that? I don't know. Because he's like that. Look, I've gotta go home and figure something out. I scrambled toward the door, trying to find my coat. Where could Grandma have put it? Wait! What's the big deal? You can figure it out later. Grandpa might choose a different gift although, technically, they're all the same. How could I begin to explain my burning need to please my family and fit in? I'll be right back. Tell my mom and dad where I went, but not why. The construction of Grandpa's new present was completed in a frenzy. I must have gone through every cupboard in the basement before I found what I was looking for. Then came the part that's usually fun when I'm not under loads of stress and a time crunch. Out came glue, scissors, magazines. The scissors snapped, paper flew. I found some feathers in a box, and soon, those were flying too. And the glitter! Oh the glitter! By the end, I was filthy and likely to stick to anything I touched, but I had a gift that just might work.I walked through the door just as everyone was gathering around the tree to begin opening their one gift. I slipped the present under the tree and slid into a chair. My mom looked at me suspiciously, but all I could do was smile. No turning back now. Okay, Grandma exclaimed. Since Grandpa is the oldest, why doesn't he pick first? I drew in a breath. Here we go. Grandpa leaned forward in his chair, his lined face like a map I 80
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couldn't read. Let's see. I think I'll choose that one. He was pointing at my newly arrived gift, no doubt about it. Who could this be from? I hadn't had time to label it. Um my voice came out as a squeak. That's from me. Grandpa looked at me thoughtfully. Lya? Oh, I was going to faint. His hands were at the paper, ripping it away. And there it was. My belt. My glittering, magazine plastered, feather adorned, definitely reversible belt. There was silence in the room. Everyone was staring at my creation in Grandpa's gnarled hands. And then, to everyone's surprise, he began to laugh. It was a rich, colourful laugh that filled the empty spaces and seemed to warm the room by 20 degrees. It swept away the tension like a broom. And soon, everyone began to smile, and then they were laughing, and I was crying and laughing at the same time. I love it, Lya, my Grandpa said. I absolutely love it. I had never thought it would end that way.

3.

My ideal house.

There are many kinds of houses which differ in their looks, features and lots of other things. But no matter how much they look different, they all have the same definition, the place where you feel safe, comfortable and settled. As for me, I like modern houses. They are, in my opinion, more upto-date and more attractive. I live in a spacious modern house in the sub-urban area. When people look at my house from the street, they see, right away, the high trees around my house and the brickwork roof of it. There is also a small compound behind my house that has a wooden hut for resting in the afternoon. When you enter the front door you can see the beautiful chandelier in the top ceiling of the entrance hallway. Also, you will definitely notice the white marbled stairs up to the first floor. Beside the stairs are some low cabinets full of books and curiosities from all over the world which my parents had bought or given by their friends. In the first floor, there are two bedrooms, one bathroom and a large living room. The living room, which I really like in my house, has two big sofas and a very nice massage chair. And with an amazingly huge LCD screen in it, it is quite nice for watching movies and having some popcorn at night! My home, for me, is very important. Every day when I come back from school and close my front door, I have a nice feeling that my day was special. Without a house that you like, you can never go on with your life.

4. People should sometimes do things that they donot enjoy doing. Do you agree or disagree with the statement.

Life is challenging. In order to be happy and successful, we need to prepare ourselves on many fronts. Although participating in enjoyable activities is always desirable, in my view it is also necessary at times to do things we do not enjoy. The bases for my view are personal, social and financial. Personally, doing things we dont care for builds character and helps us mature. For instance, when parents have their first baby they are forced to give up their freedom in order to look after the child. There are times when parents barely get enough sleep and still have to get up and go to work in the morning. Similarly, when students are in school and university, they need to spend a lot of time studying. In spite of being tempted to go out with friends and attend parties, those who have self81
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g-Cakna JPN Kelantan

control and keep their priorities straight are the ones who get high grades. Through such life experiences people become stronger, wiser and more responsible. From a social perspective, we live in an interdependent world which imposes its obligations on us. Each person belongs to diverse social groups and plays various social roles. Each of us has to attend birthday parties, weddings and funerals to show we care about our fellow human beings. Participating in events for the sake of others teaches us to go beyond our own selfish needs and to share in the joys and sorrows of others. Financially-speaking, people need to work - and spend - to keep the local, national and international economy growing. We need to support our own family in particular and our community in general. In fact, most of us work many more hours than we would like to work. What propels us to continue working is our financial needs, commitments and obligations. Only in this way are we able to live comfortable lifestyles and save for our retirement days. In conclusion, life places huge demands on us. By participating in a wide variety of activities, both pleasant and unpleasant, we can discover more about our unique selves and live fuller lives.

5.

Rich and Dangerous.

They say that in the end we are all the same. You can have money and fame, but in the end you still have to do the same kinds of things as everyone else sleep, eat, fall in and out of love, and, apparently, commit crimes! Yes, when you look at the world of celebrities, it is amazing how many have had trouble with the law. Here is just a few of the ones we could remember, but the Internet has a lot more! O.J. Simpson was involved in perhaps the most famous celebrity trial of them all. He was accused of killing his ex-wife, Nicole brown, and her lover, Ronald Goldman, and he was allegedly filmed driving away from the scene in a truck. At first, the evidence suggesting he was guilty seemed too many people to be very clear, but the trial, which was televised around the world, found him innocent. Lots of people think the jury got it wrong and that he was lucky to get away with it. He had to pay several million dollars in damages to the victims relatives when they took him to court afterward. However, as one American comedian said, have you ever heard of a millionaire murdering someone with their own hands? These people employ someone just to answer the telephone! Johnny Depp may look sweet and innocent, but he has been found guilty of vandalism more than once in his life. On one occasion, he smashed up a hotel room in New York. He was charged, but it did not go to the court because he agreed to pay $2,000 to the hotel to repair the damage. The famous Mike Tyson continued to earn millions of dollars as a boxer even after he had been to prison for rape. He took a nineteen-year-old contestant in the Miss America beauty contest to his room. He was later found guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison, but got out just three years later for good behaviour. He has not exactly shown much good behaviour since then, though! However, latest news tells us that he has converted to Islam and went to Mecca to repent! This well-known actor, Jean-Claude van Damme was ordered to pay a $1,200 fine after admitting he had been drink-driving, and was banned from driving for ninety days, and was forced to go to an anti drink-driving course. We could hope that the course was more effective than the acting lesson he took! Another bad driver was David Beckham. He was convicted driving at ninety miles an hour when he was on his way to a training session for his former football club, Manchester United. His excuse was that he was being chased by a photographer. He was also banned from driving, but shortly afterwards the judge agreed to give him back his driving licence, because he said that, as a celebrity, it was safer for Beckham to travel in his own car than on public transport. Safer for David, perhaps, but not for everyone else on the road. 82 g-Cakna JPN Kelantan

g-Cakna JPN Kelantan

Apparently, Pavarotti has about $300 million. Probably one of the reasons he has so much is that he did not pay any tax to the Italian government for quite a long time. He said he did not realised he had to! He was arrested and taken to court for tax evasion before he finally agreed to pay around $4.5million. Jeffrey Archer is a millionaire author. He was a very successful politician and one of Margaret Thatchers favourite people. At the same time as being highly successful, he was being unfaithful to his wife. When this story appeared in a newspaper, he denied it, and took the paper to the court and won! He was awarded 500,000 in damages. But the truth came out eventually and he ended up in prison for four years for lying in court. Obviously, Archers story-telling had got a bit out of control! Even the Queen likes Paul McCartney, but thirty years ago, he was arrested in Japan for possession of marijuana. He spent nine days in jail, and could have got seven years and a twothousand-dollar fine if it had gone to court, but in the end, the police released him and he was sent back to Britain. McCartney said he had no idea why they decided to release him. Helmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. The fact that a politician was found guilty of accepting illegal donations to his party is perhaps not that surprising. What is amazing is that, in this case, the politician paid a one-hundred-and-forty-thousand-dollar fine. He also apologised, which is something most of these other celebrities did not do!!

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