1

Road Safety

Why think of road safety at all? It is because of the accidents that occur everyday on the road,
in which all sorts of vehicles and human beings and even animal are involved. These
accidents mean loss of life and loss of property and more often than not obstruction to traffic.
In this age of speed and fast moving vehicles and with the congestion on roads, these
accidents have became almost an everyday affair. So unless everybody is educated on the
importance of road safety, the loss and the sorry spectacles cannot be avoided.
Prevention is better than cure. This holds good even in the matter of road accidents. Accidents
are due to many causes and may occur under different circumstances. The simplest but at the
same time dangerous perhaps is people slipping down on the road caused by an orange or a
banana peel. Without meaning any harm, quite innocently a person may throw away the
orange peel or the banana skin on the road or the sidewalk. When a person, walking briskly,
steps on, it he or she will slip down ending in fracture of bones and sometimes even more
dangerous than that. So people must take care they do not throw the pealings on the road but
should deposit them in a dust-bin. In some countries the offenders are severely punished. The
second cause of accident is due to careless crossing in busy roads. While crossing one must
look to the right and left for moving vehicles and then cross.
Where there are Zebra crossings on the road for the pedestrians to cross, one should cross
along them. One should keep to the margin of the road while walking and the vehicles must
keep to their lanes in busy streets.
In the case of accidents involving vehicles there are many causes. One is trying to overtake
and very often taking risk. Another is wrong judgment in crossing. Sometimes it may be not
caring for the signals. In crowded streets accidents may take place in a snap second because
one does not care for the signal. "Stop, look and go" is the best precept; it will save vehicles
from accidents. But where one takes a foolish step, the result is the inevitable accident. Jay
riding may be another cause. Riding two or three abreast is always dangerous. Especially one
must be aware of this. Scooter riders become victims of road accidents. But if they just wear
the helmet as required by law they could easily avoid fracture and hence death.
Very often the cause of accidents is the failure of the brake system which means the owner of
the vehicle does not bother to keep the machine in good condition. By attending to the vehicle
regularly a lot of miseries could be avoided.
Road safety is a matter of education in which the school can play a significant role. Through
scouting, Red Cross and social education classes, children can be taught the importance of
observing the rules of the road. Children must be taught their limbs and lives are very
valuable and they must not take risk, especially when leaving the school. As soon as the bell
goes children rush out and accidents do happen. Under the circumstances the teachers must
feel it their duty to regulate the traffic near the school. The police can cooperate with the
school in this respect.

To make the people road conscious, the mass media can play a useful role. The newspaper, the
wall poster and the cinema and now the TV come in handy. Shots in the cinema or TV
emphasizing the importance of road safety can be highlighted. There may be speeches over
the radio by the police officials. During peak hours in crowded areas, the police may direct
the traffic and ask people to keep to their lanes.
The young and the reckless
Who or what make up for the highest number of road accidents on the roads ? What are the
contributory factors and what can be done to reduce road accidents ?
Statistics compiled by the Royal Malaysian Police revealed that the highest rate of deaths and
accidents are among those aged 16 and 25 followed closely by those between 26 and 35.
Together, they made up for 58.5% of deaths on the roads. The statistics covered the period of
three years from 2004 to 2006.
The majority of road accidents involved young adult motorcyclists. Motorcycles are
considered to be the most dangerous form of transport. It is often described as an unprotected
mode of transport. Young motorcyclists are therefore the most vulnerable on the roads.
Furthermore, it is also regarded as a relatively quicker and cheaper way of getting around. It
takes an average of 30 to 35 minutes to get from one point to another in the Klang Valley. In
terms of cost, motorcyclists spend less than RM18.00 a week. Besides, there is no need to pay
toll, an added bonus and savings.
Besides the factor of the motorcycle itself, there is the young blood factor to be considered.
They speed. They beat red lights. They overtake and performindiscriminate lane change. They
perform stunts on the roads. They get thrills from being macho and dare devils.
It is a common tendency for the young throughout the world to underestimate their road craft.
They think their reflex actions are quicker and their driving skills are better than most.
Some younger people think they are invincible. They think nothing will happen to them. It
can happen to others but not to them. Compared to the older people, the young are reckless,
impulsive, fearless and immature.
Another interesting aspect to note is that although there is a tendency for young road users
between 16 to 35 to show high-risk behavior, they also make up a high number of road users.
Naturally there is a higher representation of them in the overall statistics.
Another factor that is often ignored is the machine itself. The vehicles may not be road
worthy, being poorly maintained or of inferior quality. A further consideration is road and
weather conditions, quite beyond the control of mere mortals.
The introduction of a new driving curriculum by the Road Transport Department to include
defensive driving skills may help reduce accidents and bring about a breed of mature young
drivers by year end (2007).
Wikipedia defines defensive driving as a form of training for motor vehicle drivers that goes
beyond the mastery of the rules of the road and the basic mechanics of driving. It aims to
reduce the risk of accidents by anticipating dangerous situations despite adverse conditions or
the mistakes of others. Learners learn a variety of general rules as well as the practice of
specific driving techniques. Defensive driving skills are available for both motorists and
motorcyclists. It is hoped that defensive driving courses can help wipe out the fallacy that you
are king of the road, you rule the road once you are behind the wheel.
Overall, Malaysian road users do lack basic road courtesy. Changing the attitude and the
mindset may go a long way towards reducing fatal road accidents.

Success
Ask anyone young or old what he wants to achieve in his life. The answer is most likely
`success'. Everyone wants to reach what he or she aims for. Everyone wants to be recognized
for his or her talent or efforts, to win over others or overcome circumstances to attain this
precious thing called success. Unfortunately, some may focus so much on success, that they
do not care how they get it.
To me, success is not something I want so badly that I would want to achieve itby hook or by
crook. Some people desire success so badly that they use questionable means to achieve it. If
I were to do that, I would lose my integrityand self-respect in the end.
If success were to be my top priority in life, I might neglect other aspects of life that are
important. Focusing too much on achieving success would make me overly competitive. I
would become insensitive to others' feelings and not even regard people as people but only as
a means to my reaching my goal. I will lose people's friendship and respect which would
leave me lonely and unhappy.
If I allow success to be all-important to me, failure to achieve it will affect me deeply. It
would not be easy to deal with disappointment and dejection. Since my days and hours are
concentrated on achieving success in what I want, there would be a great sense of emptiness if
I do not achieve it. This is another reason why it is unwise to be too preoccupied with success.
I believe that success is not something we should think about too much. Rather, success is
something that comes naturally when we do our best in whatever we do. If we do our best and
fail, we still feel good
about ourselves. We then learn from our mistakes and try again. And that is how success will
come to us. I doubt we can avoid it when we try our best and use our past experience to help
us make better decisions.
Hence, my idea of success is that it should not be our main focus in life. We should not make
it so important that we do not care how we achieve it. We should not focus on it so much that
we forget other

by hook or by crook

in any way necessary whether right or wrong

integrity

moral uprightness

dejection

feeling of unhappiness and disappointment

Tomorrow
Tomorrow. What crosses your mind when you think of tomorrow? Some people think of the
future literally as the next day. To others, it means the unknown. To me, it signifies hope. Let
me tell you a story.
Every day, on the way to and from school I pass by a children's hospital. One morning, as I
was hurrying to school, I noticed a child staring out of a small window on the first floor. The
next minute I tripped and sprawled on the ground. As I slowly pulled myself up and dusted
myself off, I looked up again and saw the child laughing. In spite of my situation, I was
pleased to have made someone laugh. I bowed as though I were a performer. The child
clapped and waved at me. As I stepped closer, I saw that the girl's head was bald, a sign that
she was a cancer patient. I quickly waved one last time to her before hobblingoff towards the
school.
The next morning and the next, I looked out for the little girl and waved to her, doing a little
jig just to make her laugh. I thought about her and wondered what her life must be like.
'Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day.' Those
lines from a Shakespearean poem I had learnt in school came to my mind. Was that how the
child lived from day to day?
I felt the urge to visit the child. I went to the hospital and looked for the room facing the road.
I found the little girl. She was thin and pale. When she saw me, her eyes widened with
recognition and she welcomed me with a shy smile. I talked to her a bit and learnt her name,
Suki. The nurse who saw me talking to her later told me that Suki was a leukemia patient. Her
navy officer father was a widower and was on duty outside the country. The nurse encouraged
me to visit Suki so that she would not be so lonesome. As I was leaving, Suki called to me,
`Tomorrow?' I understood and said, 'Yes, tomorrow.'
After that, I popped in to visit Suki after school every day. We played card games, Scrabble
and read together. Even though, Suki was only ten, I found that I could get along with her
very well. I was not visiting her out of pity. I really looked forward to her company. At the
end of each visit, she always asked, `Tomorrow?' and my reply was always, 'Yes, tomorrow.'
Two months later, Suki told me the good news. She was well enough to be discharged from
hospital. On the day that was scheduled for her father to take her home, I visited her one last
time. She gave me an envelope and said that it contained her email address. I promised to
write. After Suki left, I opened the envelope. It was a short letter. Suki thanked me and told
me how my answer to her question 'Tomorrow?' had given her hope from day to day. She
believed that she recovered because of this. At the end of the letter, she wrote `Tomorrow?'
followed by her email address. I smiled and said to myself, 'Yes, Suki, tomorrow.'

sprawled

lying spread out in an untidy way

hobbling

walking with difficulty

popped in

went somewhere quickly for a short time

Memories
It is cold under the blanket. I am resting on a bed, I know. It is totally dark. Why? There is
nothing to do. I am left with just my thoughts and memories.
I remember when Father came home with a big box. Daniel and I were so excited as we
watched him open the box. He took out colorful bits and pieces which he assembled into a
ride-on car. Daniel and I fought to be first to try it out. Being the older and stronger one, I
won. I sat down and pushed with my feet and the car rolled forward. I remember laughing
with delight while Daniel wailed. Our father made sure Daniel had his turn. It was our
favorite toy for two years and the cause of many quarrels too.
Daniel. I wonder where he is, my brother who is just a year younger than I am. When we were
in primary school, Father bought us bicycles. We learnt to ride the bicycles quickly. Daniel's
sense of balance was not good so he fell off his bicycle twice as often as I did. I remember the
day when we could go cycling in the park together. Daniel was steady enough but he did not
like to go too fast as he could not stop properly. Sometimes I would race ahead and then
double back to let him catch up. It was fun for both of us.
Our old bicycles are still in our backyard. I have not used mine in the past two years. Not
since I got my motorcycle. I remember the day I became the owner of this powerful machine.
It was my seventeenth
birthday. Father took me to the motorcycle shop to pick the model I wanted. It was the most
exciting day of my life. I became independent. I could go anywhere I wanted. Daniel was
envious but did not fuss because I startedferrying him wherever he needed to go after I got
my license.
I remember when Daniel turned seventeen and became bolder. He wanted his own motorcycle
but he had to prove to Father that he was not afraid to ride on his own first, so he practiced on
my motorcycle. I watched him like a hawk, afraid that he would damage my precious
possession or injure himself. I remember the day we rode to the park for him to practice. The
ground was wet after a shower. I watched him from the pavement. I remember ... my phone
ringing ...I was taking it out of my pocket ...I heard Daniel's voice screaming, 'I can't stop!'.. .I
looked up ... and Daniel was heading straight at me on the motorcycle.
I cannot hear anything now. No, wait, I think I can hear someone weeping. It sounds like
Daniel or Father. I try to call out to him but my body will not respond. How long have I been
here? A long time, it seems. There is nothing to do, but to sift through my memories again.

assembled
ferrying
sift

to fit together the separate parts of something like a toy

taking someone from one place to another
to examine carefully

Happiness
The shiny big car stopped beside Ahmid's stall. A man dressed in designer clothes and
shoes got out and ordered a bowl of cendol. Ahmid expertly shaved some ice into a plastic
bowl and poured syrup and coconut milk over it. He handed it to the customer with a cheerful
smile and thanked him for the payment. After finishing the dessert, the man asked Ahmid,
'How's business?' Ahmid replied that business was slow because it was the rainy season. 'Then
why are you so happy?' asked the man.
With a wide smile, Ahmid said, `I'm happy because I'm alive and well.'
'But you might earn very little money today. How can you smile like that?'
Ahmid's smile widened, 'It's all right. When I think of my family waiting for me, I'm happy.'
The rich man replied sadly, 'I wish I could find happiness like you.' With a sigh, he got into
his car and drove away.
Like the rich man, everyone seems to be searching for happiness. They try to find it through
their achievements, material possessions, friends and entertainment. Some look for it by
taking drugs and getting involved in crime. But truly, the secret to happiness lies in
the cendol seller's reply.
If you enjoy each moment and each day as it comes, you will be happy. Focus on the present.
The past is over, so do not dwell on what might have been. Tomorrow is yet to be so there is
no point worrying
ahead of time. You are alive. Be thankful and enjoy the day. Smile often.
Ahmid the cendol seller did not have much money but he was contented with what he had. If
he compared himself to his customer who dressed so well and drove a luxury car, he would be
unhappy. So another secret to happiness is not to make money your goal in life if you want
happiness. Those who think that having more money will make them happy will find that
money is never enough. They look at what they have and they desire more. They focus all
their time and energy in gathering wealth and they never enjoy what they have. How can they
be happy then?
The other secret to happiness Ahmid shared with his customer is to treasure relationships.

Knowing that you are important to someone will make you feel happy. You should invest time
to build and strengthen relationships with family members and close friends if you want
happiness. If you neglect the people in your life, you will end up sad and lonely even if you
were to become a great success.
Happiness is not as difficult to find as some people think. All you need to do is to be thankful
for and to enjoy the present, to avoid making money the top priority in life, and to treasure
relationships.

designer clothes and shoes

clothes and shoes that have the logo or label of a wellknown fashion designer

dwell on

think a lot about something it would be better to forget

contented

satisfied

Colors
Imagine a world without colors. If you see only shades of grey around you, wouldn't you find
it dull and boring? Would it make you feel gloomy and that everything is ugly and
uninteresting? I am quite certain you would say yes to all these questions. We humans love
colors.
We love colors because colors make our world beautiful. All things on earth have their own
colors and hues. Even things of the same type may have many shades and colors. Flowers, for
example, come in many colors. Roses come in a variety of colors such as white, yellow, red,
pink, orange and even blue. The sky changes in color depending on the time and the season.
The contrast between the colors of things makes the world more visually interesting. Man
learnt from nature, and so the things that man make come in a variety of colors too. For
example, mobile phones today come with a selection of colored covers so that users can
choose the color they like best. They can also change the color of the phone whenever they
wish.
Colors can also convey meanings. Red is the color of blood. So it traditionally signals danger.
That is why danger signs are always red. However, red also represents energy and passion or
love. Yellow is the color of sunshine so yellow signifies happiness. Green is the color of
leaves and so it gives the impression of freshness, growth and safety. Blue is the color of the
sky and the sea. Blue represents calmness, wisdom and truth. Besides these four primary
colors, other colors and shades are also associated with specific meanings. Hence, colors are
carefully chosen when dressing or when coloring a design in order to convey anonverbal message.
Colors in fact have a strong effect on us. They can make us feel positive or negative. They can
affect our mood. They can change our feelings towards an object or place. Restaurants use
bright colors like red, yellow and orange to garnish their dishes because these colors increase
the appetite. Each of us may find that we like certain colors more than others from young
because the colors that attract us make us feel good. Once we recognize the colors that have a
positive effect on us, we should surround ourselves with those colors.
To end, we should be thankful that our world is so colorful. The variety of colors makes our
world beautiful. The different colors are associated with certain meanings and can convey an

unspoken message. Colors do have the power to influence our emotions so it is essential to
recognize which colors affect us positively.

hues
associated
non-verbal

My goal in life

shades of color
connected to
without words

10
A man who has no goal is like a ship without a rudder, so says Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish
author. I agree. Everyone needs to have a goal in life. Having a goal gives us a purpose and
focus in life. To set that goal, I asked myself what I want to do for myself, my family, and my
country. Finally, I have arrived at the answer. I want to make the world a better place by
giving off my time, my talent and my wealth.
There are many things in the world that need fixing. There are people dying of hunger. There
are people without homes. Our rivers are being poisoned. Global warming has made world
climates go haywire. Some countries are on the brinkof war. This is only the beginning of
the list. Is there anything an ordinary person like me can do? Yes. I can contribute my time by
joining organizations that champion worthy causes. Whatever I become in the future, I will
make sure I spend a portion of my time to volunteer for a cause.
To make the world a better place does not mean I have to be a king or a president. I can still
achieve my goal by using my talent to highlight things that need changing. I have a flair for
photography. I will use my skill to capture pictures that will send a powerful message to the
world to do something, to help, to change, or to correct. A picture paints a thousand words.
My photographs will promote awareness of issues and problems that need people's attention.
By creating this awareness, some of the problems may be solved.
I will work hard to gain wealth but not for wealth's sake. I am confident that I will do well
because of my determination and perseverance. The reality is that funding is important in any
effort to solve the problems facing the world. Not only will I work at raising funds for worthy
causes but I will contribute a portion of my wealth to support efforts to make life better for
others less fortunate than I.
Having this goal in life makes one thing clear to me. I will not live not only for myself but for
others. I must do my best in everything I do from now on starting with my studies. If I am
going to make the world
a better place, I have to work hard. I am a ship with a rudder and hard work is going to get me
to my destination.

go haywire
on the brink
flair

What does it mean to love ?

become disorderly
almost in a very new, dangerous or exciting situation
natural ability

11

Everybody wants be loved. Every child, woman and man longs for love. Knowing that
someone in the world loves you gives meaning to life, gives you strength to face troubles,
warms your heart and makes you feel you can achieve anything. Being loved is important.
Equally important is knowing what it means to love.
If you love someone, you would be willing to make sacrifices for that person. You would
always put that person first. Take for example a parent's love for a child. A loving mother
would make certain that the child is given the best even if it means that she has to sacrifice her
own needs and wishes. A child would be willing to sacrifice a job with good prospects in
order to stay near his parents and take care of them in their old age. Willingness to sacrifice
time, money, effort and personal dreams is an indication of true love.
If you love someone, you would believe in him or her. Even if everyone else doubts your
loved one, you would still have confidence in your beloved. For instance, the world may look
down on a child who has learning difficulties but his parents would continue to believe that he
will improve. They would encourage their child and help him to achieve his full potential.
One good example of such a case is the mother of Albert Einstein. Albert's schoolteacher said
he would never succeed in life because he is a slow learner. But Albert's mother did not stop
believing in her son. She took him out of school and taught him at home. Can you imagine
what would have happened if Albert's mother had listened to people and stopped believing in
her son?
If you love someone, you would be loyal to that person. You would not speak badly of your
beloved. You would not turn against him or her just because he or she made a mistake or hurt
you. In fact, you would defend and protect your beloved. You would not allow your loved one
to be hurt by others' words and criticism. You would stick by your loved one even if the whole
world were to abandon him or her.
Love is a funny thing. It is wonderful to be loved and it is even more wonderful to love
someone. If you have not truly loved someone before, your life would be incomplete. Love's
reward is happiness.

make sacrifices

Beauty

give up something important for someone

prospects

chances of future success

indication

sign

12

`Beauty is only skin deep' it is said. This means that a person's appearance is not as important
as his character. Yet it is strange why people and especially women are willing to spend a
fortune on making themselves more attractive physically. The cosmetics and skincare industry
is a multi-billion dollar business. This is true across the world. The reason can only be one,
and it is that beauty has its advantages.
Attractive people are more popular generally. Beauty draws a positive response from
the beholder. This is obvious with children. For example, based on observation, there is a
tendency for adults to treat good-looking children better. This favorable treatment continues
into adulthood, as attractive people are more likely to be chosen for leadership positions and
given more opportunities. Being well-treated gives attractive people more confidence and
they perform better. It is found that tall, slim and handsome or beautiful people get promoted
more easily and get better paid too.
Another important benefit that good-looking people enjoy is that they find a husband or wife
more easily. It is a fact that people are first attracted to outward appearance. This initial
attraction may then develop into romantic feelings and a serious relationship if the couple find
that they are compatible with each other. Beauty, then, attracts more suitors, leading to more
choices for a life partner.
On the other hand, beauty has a number of disadvantages as well. Firstly, a good-looking
person tends to attract unwanted attention from all kinds of people. The admirer may have bad
intentions and cause problems for the target. There is also unwanted attention in the form of
jealous peers. Another problem faced by good-looking people is that they may not be taken
seriously. It is thought that beauty and brains do not go together. Hence, attractive people may
not command respect even when they deserve it because of this prejudiceagainst them.
Besides, good-looking people may rely too much on outward beauty and neglect character
building. Life for them has always been easy, so they may not learn to be independent and
strong.
While every individual should take care of their outward appearance and look their best, they
should not neglect their inner beauty or character. They should not place such importance on
beauty that they become proud and arrogant, forgetting that physical beauty is indeed, only
skin deep and will not last.

beholder
compatible
prejudice

My ideal life partner

person looking at you

suit each other, have similar ideas and interests
a dislike of a person, group or custom especially when it is
based on their race, religion and gender

13

I am only seventeen. I doubt I will need to think about marriage in the near future. However,
that does not mean I have not thought about the person I would like to marry one day. The
person whom I think is fit to be my life partner would have some very important qualities.
Firstly, he would be faithful and loyal to me. A person who is faithful is trustworthy and
dependable. He will not cheat on his loved ones. He will be protective, and he will not do
anything that will make his partner feel insecure. This is very important in a relationship. A
wife must be able to have full confidence in her husband or else she would become suspicious
and jealous. A marriage cannot survive under such circumstances. Hence, faithfulness is an
essential quality in a husband.
Almost as important as faithfulness is patience. My ideal husband would be very patient. He
would not lose his temper if I kept him waiting for an hour. If I cannot keep up with him, he
will slow down for my sake. If I were to lose my cool, he would remain calm. This is an
important trait because I am an impatient person. If both of us were impatient types, we would
end up quarrelling all the tune. An impatient man is rude and inconsiderate and I would not be
able to respect him, much less be attracted to him.
My ideal husband would have a good sense of humor. People with a good sense of humor are
fun to be around. They do not look at life so seriously nor do they get weighed down by
troubles. Instead, they have a positive outlook on life. They are able to laugh at themselves
and they are sporting. I love being withjovial people like that. So the man I would want to
marry would be able to see the funny side of things. He would be able to comfort me when I
am feeling down and make me laugh.
In a nutshell, the three qualities of faithfulness, patience and having a good sense of humor
are essential for a relationship to last. Too often, young ladies are attracted to good looks and
great wealth. Physical
beauty will not last and wealth can be lost. It is the three qualities described here that will help
us weather the storms in life. I am not sure if my ideal man exists but I hope he is
somewhere on this earth and that we will meet one day.

lose my cool
jovial

become upset and angry

jolly

14

My favorite day of the week

Everyone looks forward to the weekend. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is no school and
people do not have to go to school or go to work. Of the two days, I love Saturdays better.
Saturdays are magical days, full of promise from the moment you open your eyes in the
morning and realize that there is no reason to rush. You have the luxury of lazing in bed a bit
longer, and even snoozing
for another hour. Or you can jump out of bed and get started on a day of total freedom.
Basically, it is a day where you get to choose what to do, unless you are one of those
unfortunate souls whose weekends are packed from dawn to dusk with activities ranging from
tuition to archery lessons. Fortunately, my parents are not fanatical about achievements so I
get to spend the day as I wish. Most of the time, I would decide how to fill the hours only
after I wake up. My decision is largely dependent on my mood. It is not all play though. I
would spend a couple of hours on household chores to help my mother out. After that, I would
just recline on the sofa and read, or lie on my bed and listen to music.
I love Saturdays also because that is the day I get to meet up with my friends who are not
from the same school. They would be my primary schoolmates and childhood friends.
Usually, we would do some window shopping and then go to a mamak stall to have tea and
chat. It is because we are able to meet on Saturdays that our friendship remains strong. Since
we are all from different schools, it is fun to share about school life. This is something I look
forward to every week.
Saturdays are better than Sundays for me because it is also a family day for us. On Sundays,
we have to visit our grandparents or visit relatives which can be a little boring for me. But
Saturdays are reserved
for just my family. We go to the supermarket together to shop for groceries. Mother makes a
point of cooking dinner for us on Saturdays because she gets home too late on weekdays to
cook a full meal. Sitting together for a meal is a special time for us to catch up with one
another. Besides, mother's cooking is far better than any restaurant food, and she goes out of
her way to make us our favorite dishes. It is something that makes my Saturdays so much
more special.
There is no doubt that my favorite day of the week is Saturday. It is a day that is free of stress
and allows me to do anything I wish. It is a day for meeting up with friends and it is a day
when my family gets to spend some precious time together.

fanatical
recline
goes out of her way

overly fixed on something

lie down
makes extra effort

15
Write story ending with : ' ... They never expected to be so richly rewarded."
Der Lun followed his mother to the market as usual. It was a chore he enjoyed because the
market was such a vibrant place. There was always something interesting to see.
That day, Der Lun caught sight of a middle-aged man with unkempt hair and old clothes. He
was a beggar. He held out a wooden bowl and passers-by dropped in coins. Der Lun's mother
put a small coin into the bowl as she passed him by. His eyes followed the mother and son as
they set off for home. As Der Lun and his mother turned into the narrow path that led to their
house, he suddenly realized that the beggar was following them. Der Lun told his mother
about it. Alarmed, she quickened her steps and as soon as they got inside their house, she
locked it. Der Lun peered out the window and saw the beggar sitting on the ground near the
gate. Why did the beggar follow them? Der Lun wished he knew.
After a couple of hours, Der Lun's mother became concerned for the poor beggar. He had not
moved from his spot. She gathered up her courage and went to ask the beggar to leave. But
the beggar merely looked at her with a gentle smile. Worried that he would fall ill with no
food and water, she sent Der Lun to give him a bowl of rice and vegetables and some tea. The
beggar ate and drank. Then he lay down
under a tree to sleep. Der Lun's mother was at a loss as to what else to do. She was just a poor
widow with a young son. Since the beggar refused to leave, she and Der Lun built a little
shelter for him. He seemed content with whatever they gave him.
A week passed and one day, Der Lun found the beggar gone. Der Lun and his mother
searched for him but he was nowhere to be found. Not long after that, a car stopped outside
Der Lun's house and two well-dressed men got out. Der Lun and his mother wondered who
they were. The men introduced themselves as lawyers representing a Mr Cheong. They
explained that Mr Cheong wanted to repay Der Lun and his mother for taking care of him. Mr
Cheong was a millionaire who had once been homeless. Now that he was rich, he liked to
look for deserving people to help. He would disguise himself as a beggar and when he met
someone who was kind to him, he would give that person a sum of money.
The sum of money Mr Cheong gave to Der Lun's mother was enough to make their life more
comfortable and to give Der Lun a university education. Der Lun and his mother could not
believe their good fortune. They treated the beggar well out of compassion. They never
expected to be so richly rewarded.

unkempt

uncombed and untidy

at a loss

puzzled

disguise

to change one's appearance so as to hide one's identity

16
Write story ending with : ' ... They winked at each other secretly.'
The twins rubbed their hands with glee as they thought of the surprise they were planning for
Mother's Day. How pleased and proud Mother would be when they brought her breakfast in
bed. They planned to make French toast and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother
in the kitchen. There was nothing to it. Jenna and Jeff knew exactly what to do.
The big day dawned at last. The alarm rang at 6 a.m. The pair crept down the stairs to the
kitchen. They decided to boil the porridge first. They put some rice into a pot of water and left
it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some
milk. Jenna found the bread and put two slices into the egg mixture. Next, Jeff turned on the
second stove burner to heat up the frying pan. Everything was going smoothly until Jeff
started frying the bread. The pan was too hot and the bread turned black within minutes. Jenna
threw the burnt piece into the sink and put in the other slice of bread. This time, she turned
down the fire so it cooked nicely.
Then Jeff noticed the pot cover starting to move. The next minute, the porridge boiled over
and put out the fire. Jenna panicked. Thankfully, Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas. But
the stove was a mess now. Jenna told Jeff to wipe up the sticky stuff so they could continue to
cook the rest of the porridge. But Jeff's hand touched the hot burner and he gave a yelp of
pain. Jenna made him put his hand under the tap. Then she caught the smell of burning. Oh
dear! The piece of bread in the pan had turned black as well.
As the twins looked around them in dismay, their father appeared in the doorway. One look
and he knew what they were up to. Seeing their crestfallenfaces, he told them to clean up the
kitchen while he helped them make breakfast for Mother. The twins cheered up and did as
told. Within an hour, the kitchen was cleaned, and Father had made some egg sandwiches and
cooked some oat porridge. Then he sneaked back to bed. The twins prepared the breakfast
tray, adding a card they had made, and then carried the tray upstairs to their parents' bedroom.
The twins woke their mother up by hugging her and yelling 'Happy Mother's Day, darling
Mummy!' Mother hugged the twins. Her eyes widened at the sight of the breakfast tray. She
shook Father who was pretending to snore. He feignedastonishment when he saw the
breakfast. Mother bit into a sandwich and said it was the best she had ever tasted. Jeff
immediately wanted to have a bite. Jenna caught her father's eye and they winked at each
other secretly.

dismay

crestfallen
feigned

worried, sad feeling when things don't turn out the way you
want them to
downhearted
pretended to feel

17

Write a story ending with 'My first day at school was truly unforgettable'
I am really dumb. I have never thought that about myself, but after what I have just done, no
other description fits. How could I have messed up my first day at the school, my first job, so
completely ?
Just half an hour ago, the sun was shining, the birds were singing. I stood by the side of the
hall to help keep an eye on the Year One pupils. How can helping teachers to fetch and carry
and keeping an eye on such cute seven-year-old children be difficult? I could see quivering
lips and some tears rolling down fat cheeks. I would think the doting parents standing outside
the hall, trying to control their feelings as their beloved children trotted into their classes,
would be the real problem.
The morning passed swiftly. All I had to do was to bring the pupils to the toilet a couple of
times. Then the bell rang for recess for the Year One pupils. A teacher and I led the little ones
to the canteen. After every child had settled down to their meal, I moved to the back of the
canteen. Suddenly, a half-eaten sandwich went hurtling across a table. It went smack on to a
boy. Face red with anger, he hurled his bun across. It hit another boy. A war was declared. It
waspandemonium.
The food went flying. The boys screamed. The parents shrieked. The teachers yelled. There
was utter chaos. The principal came running. Mr. Tan ducked as a blob came in his direction.
He slipped on the mess and knocked into the two cleaners who came running to the scene
with their brooms, mops and pails. I could not control myself. I laughed and laughed. Even
when Mr. Tan was sitting on the floor glaring at me, I laughed so hard that tears rolled down
my cheeks.
Of course, I was punished. I was told to clean up all the mess. First, I had to helpdisperse the
children who were sniveling and bawling. After that, I had to clean up the canteen. The reason
given was the two cleaners were injured in the fall. There was food splattered on the walls, the
ceilings and the floor. I only finished scraping every bit of mess at 6.00 p.m. Finally, the
principal was waiting for me. `I'm afraid you don't have to come back tomorrow. You did not
supervise the children sufficiently, causing distress to all.' A letter of immediate dismissal was
then given to me.
My back was aching. My hands were stiff with all the detergent I had to use. My head was
spinning. I was traumatized by all the mess, some of which was still stuck to my hands and
legs. My first day at the school was truly unforgettable.

doting
pandemonium

disperse

showing that you love someone so much

a situation in which there is a lot of noise and confusion
because people are excited, angry, or frightened
to spread across or move away over a large area

18

Write a story based on the line 'If only she had listened to me.'
'The air is so polluted. Moreover, you have just recovered from that dreadfulfever. Make sure
you stay at home.
'Yes, added Grandmother. 'We'll just hop out for a minute. Your aunt and uncle are feeling
poorly. And your young cousins are critically ill. It's an epidemic that we are having.
'The scorching heat is unbearable, warned Mother. 'Stay home. It's cooler. Obey!' frowned
Mother as she glared at her youngest daughter.
'Don't do this. Don't do that. Don't go there. Don't go out. I am suffocated in this dark damp
corner. I can scream: And scream she did.
'What's the row?' asked Hermit as he popped his head into the room.
`I'm so bored. There's nothing to do.
`Well, young girls are not supposed to be gallivanting around. You are supposed to stay home
and..:
`One more word and I'll shriek!' screeched Jeanie.
`Please! Enough!' Hermit was heading off when Jeanie ran after him.
`Hey! Where are you going? Take me with you. 'To the city, of course.
`I want to go. I have been like a prisoner in the house. All because of a little fever. I am
suffocated by all the constraints and the dos and don'ts and ..:
`Enough! Enough! Stop whining.'
`I heard so much of the new development in the neighborhood - the gigantic new factory that
has just been opened. Could you ..:
`No. Sorry! I'm not going there. Anyway, your mum would kill me if I were to take you
anywhere near there. Bye. Be good.'
Jeanie screamed until her voice came out in a croak. However, she was determined to have
her way. She walked as fast as her short legs could carry her. Looking left and right, she
trotted towards the direction of the spewing smoke.
It was sweltering. But her eyes glistened excitedly when she caught sight of the towering
chimneys and then the factory itself. Jeanie went further down the road, keeping to the grass
verge. She was determined to go and have a look at the factory as her family members had
forbade her to do so. `This will show them not to treat me like an infant!' she thought to
herself.

19

Before long she could feel herself getting dehydrated. Her skin seemed so hot, as though it
was on fire. Jean started panting. Gasping for breath, Jeanie felt faint and lost consciousness.
It was evening when Jeanie was found. 'There are so few of us black-eyed litter frogs left.
Another tragedy. We will be extinct soon, sighed Granddad wearily.
'If only she had listened to me, sobbed Mother. 'I repeatedly warned her contaminants enter
our body easily. The pesticides and pollution will kill us. Humans destroy us.

dreadful
gallivanting

sweltering

very bad, shocking

enjoying yourself and not worrying about other things you
should be doing
extremely and uncomfortably hot

20

A blessing in disguise
My fists were clenched. Hurt and angry, I glared at my mother. She whispered softly, 'This is
the best chance for an education, Dear. Behave yourself.' I did, not because of my mother or
any need for studying or the threat that I might have to be fostered out like my two younger
siblings. It was the promise of food in my stomach that stopped me from fleeing the House of
Sunlight.
My father had died of a heart attack two years ago. The once comfortable life that we -- my
two younger sisters and I -- had became a thing of the past. My mother barely made enough as
a cleaner to pay the bills left behind by my father and to put food on the table. Then, her
diabetes worsened and she had to go on dialysis.
I was accepted into the welfare home. I hated it. It was a torture having to live with eight
others in a dormitory. There was absolutely no privacy. My space was invaded by seven
strangers who seemed oblivious that I needed to be alone. My mother's words 'Get an
education and we will have a chance to be a family again. You are our only hope' kept me
from shattering the early months.
I detested the rigid and structured hours. We all had to be up by 5.00 am. Prayers, cleaning,
washing. Off to school. Then back to the prison. Prayers, washing, preparation for school,
exercise, cleaning the compound. Prayers, cleaning, more study time. It was a nightmare.
One day, feeling especially sorry for myself, I huddled in my corner and refused to help clean
the compound. After a while, my dormitory mate, Leela, gave me a shove and arms akimbo,
muttered, 'Stop wallowing in self-pity.'
When I refused to answer her, she reminded me of all we have learnt at the House of Sunlight.
Having to do things on our own has taught us to be independent. Why, we would survive
anywhere. `Where else, Joey, could we get free tuition, free clothes, free accommodation, free
lessons in life, free...'
'Food, I smiled.
Leela is right. The House of Sunlight has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I have learnt
the value of discipline and education. It is indeed a house of hope for me.

a blessing in disguise

oblivious

huddled

something that seems bad or unlucky at first, but results in

something good happening later
not conscious of something, especially what is happening
around you
to hold your arms and legs close to your body

21

Describe a frightening experience in your life

It was one of those days, humid and sweltering. I looked behind me, there were dark
menacing-looking clouds and a stillness that preceded a storm. I looked at the swirling leaves
on the roads and in the gutters and quickened my step home. Rain fell in big fat drops.
When I ran into the house, the wind was rattling the window frames and battering the roof.
As I hastened to close the windows, I shivered at the sound of the howling wind. Suddenly,
there was a loud crash. I jumped with fright as the front windowpanes were shattered. Rain
lashed in. I quickly pushed the furniture next to the window to the other corner of the room.
Across the street, I saw rain coming down like a great sheet and flinging itself upon the town.
I stood dumbstruck and looked out at the street. Water was rising so fast and poured out of
the drains into the street. Cars broke down and stalled, and, honking and hooting went on
without stopping. A massive traffic jam would build up in just minutes.
Before I could close my ears to the ceaseless noise, there came a great din. The giant tembusu
tree in front of my house had snapped. Another flash of lightning showed the angsana trees by
the side of the street were uprooted. I was speechless with terror.
I raced upstairs to my room. It was in the nick of time. Thunder roared and lightning flashed
and there was an outage. 'Oh no!' I wailed as I huddled under the blanket in total darkness,
trembling with fear and cold, and waited for my parents to get home. I always had a horror of
storms and this one showed Nature's wrath.
As abruptly as it began, the freak storm ended. I crept out of bed and looked out of the
window. The sight left me as shattered as the landscape. Branches and tree trunks were
scattered to the left and right of the streets. There were giant craters where the trees were
wrenched whole from the sidewalks.
The whole scene reminded me of one of those disaster movies. It would take all of us forever
to clear the streets, the debris and the trees. It had been a most frightening experience.

rattling
dumbstruck
in the nick of time

cause something to make a noise like a series of knocks

so shocked that you cannot speak
at the last possible moment

22

Write a story beginning with: 'I could hear footsteps following me...'
I could hear footsteps following me. I stopped and turned to see who it was. The dim street
lamp did not allow me to see far and it looked like I was alone. I could not hear anything other
than my heart thudding away. Was it my imagination?
I was returning home after a late music lesson. My parents were attending a neighborhood
watch meeting so I had to get home on my own. The distance from my music teacher's house
to my home was just
500 meters. The street was darker than I had expected but I was not very worried about the
short walk home. I was busy thinking about my upcoming music exam when I became aware
that I was being followed.
I continued on my way, alert for any sound. There it was again, the sound of someone walking
behind me. Fear gripped me and I hurried on. My house was just around the corner. I decided
to run. To my horror, whoever was following me began to run too. I glanced behind me and
saw a dark figure catching up with me. The next instant, I ran into a dustbin by the road and
fell flat on my front. I felt a hand grip my arm and I screamed in panic. The hand released my
arm and I pushed myself off the ground, getting ready to run again. I found myself looking at
a startled young lady dressed in a dark tracksuit.
Next moment, there was a rush of footsteps and someone calling my name. To my
astonishment, my parents appeared together with a few people I recognized as our neighbors.
The young lady who looked anxious at first now seemed as relieved as me. We were
all shepherded to our house which was just two doors away. As my mother put ointment on
the bruises on my arms and legs, I was asked to explain why I ran away from Jagdeesh, the
young lady. After listening to me, Jagdeesh laughed. She told us that she was new to the
neighborhood. She had gone jogging that evening. On the way home, she was walking behind
me when she heard footsteps followingher and she decided to run when she saw me run. It
turned out that what she had heard was the neighborhood watch grouppatrolling the street.
When I fell, she went to help me up, which unfortunately led to my screaming out in fear.
The night ended with us having supper together. Indeed, it was a strange introduction to the
neighborhood for Jagdeesh. However, after that, we became firm friends.

thudding
shepherded
patrolling

beating hard
guided
going around an area or a building at regular times to check
that it is safe and there is no trouble

23

Write a story beginning with : "The old man turned away sadly ..."
The old man turned away sadly as his eyes filled with tears. Poor Mr Dev, thought Indra
sympathetically. Another day went past and there was still no sign of his family. Indra
wondered how children could be so heartless as to abandon a parent like this.
Indra recalled the day the old man was admitted to her ward. He was thin and frail. He could
not produce his identity card but he could remember the number. The hospital tried to contact
his family using the phone number he gave them but it was in vain. He was treated for a lung
infection and was now recovering. Soon, it would be time for him to be discharged. Where
would he go then? He did not look strong enough to fend for himself. Indra threw down the
file she was holding as anger rose within her.
`What's the matter?' asked Poh, Indra's colleague.
`I'm just upset about old Mr Dev,' she replied. Poh nodded with understanding. She had been a
nurse much longer than Indra. She had seen many cases of abandoned old people and she had
learned to control her feelings.
'Don't worry too much, the hospital will contact the welfare department. Mr Dev will be
placed in an old folks' home,' Poh said, and patted Indra's arm comfortingly.
Indra sighed. 'I know. It's just that the old chap really longs for his family to visit him. He
cleans and tidies himself every morning and sits up to wait expectantly. You can see the
eagerness in his eyes whenever the door opens. At the end of the day, he goes to sleep with
tears in his eyes. It makes me cry inside.'
Poh shook her head sadly. `He needs a miracle.'
Two days later, the doctor confirmed that Mr Dev was fit enough to be discharged. Indra was
informed that the welfare officer would come to take Mr Dev to an old folks' home the next
day. With a heavy heart, Indra helped Mr Dev to get ready. He was still a bit weak, so she
put him in a wheelchair to take him down to the hospital lobby where the welfare officer was
waiting. Her eyes were misty when she saw how sad the old man looked as they got into the
lift. The lift doors opened at the ground level and she pushed the wheelchair out carefully.
'Appa!' a voice cried out. A middle-aged woman rushed forward and embraced the old man in
the wheelchair. Both of them began to weep. India smiled through her tears. It was the miracle
she had prayed for.
Indra left the scene of the reunion and went to look for the welfare officer. She was eager to
tell him the `bad' news that his trip to collect Mr Dev was a wasted one.

24

in vain
discharged
with a heavy heart

without success
allowed to leave the hospital
sadly

Write story beginning with : 'By morning, Afiq knew what he had to do ...'
By morning, Afiq knew what he had to do. He had not slept a wink but had sat in the
verandah all night thinking. He stretched his stiff body and went back to his room. His brother
Affin was still asleep.
It was Saturday and there was no school. Afiq's mother asked him to run some errands for her.
On his way out, he glanced at his motorcycle which was parked at the side of the house. There
was no hiding the broken front lamp and the dent and scratches on the side. Afiz squared his
shoulders and went to complete his errands.
It was late morning before Afiq was free to carry out his plan. He marched down the road to
Than Haji Osman's house. When he arrived and called out the customary greeting, Hajjah
Aniya appeared at the
doorway and greeted him warmly. She invited him in and served him tea and some cakes.
Afiq nervously asked to speak to Tuan Haji Osman. She told him that Tuan Haji was out but
would be home very soon. Sure enough, the elderly man returned in ten minutes.
Afiq cleared his throat a few times while his host waited patiently. Finally, he blurted out that
he had come to own up. 'I'm so sorry. I was careless yesterday and knocked into your parked
car in front of the post office,' Afiq said.
Tuan Haji Osman looked at the 17-year-old youth, surprised. 'So, you are saying that you are
the culprit who dented my car and then ran away?'
Afiq went red. He nodded. 'I'm sorry for not telling you earlier. I was too frightened.'
The elderly man smiled and said, 'But you're not too frightened to confess now?'
Afiq said uncertainly, 'I could not sleep last night thinking about it. I knew I had to do the
right thing.'
Tuan Haji Osman was silent for a minute before saying in a kind voice, `You think that it is
the right thing to cover up for your brother?'
Afiq went pale. `I ...I...you know the truth?' he stammered.
Tuan Haji Osman smiled, `Yes, Affin told me himself just half an hour ago.'
The elderly man explained that Affn had met him at the tea stall and told him everything, how
he had ridden his elder brother's motorcycle without permission and lost control of it,

25

resulting in the minor accident that dented Tuan Haji Osman's new car.
Afiq now looked beseechingly at his host, `Will my brother be arrested?'
'Ah, I see, you are trying to protect your brother. No, I will not be reporting the accident. It's
just a small dent.' Seeing Afiq's relieved expression, he went on, `However, I hope that your
brother will learn from this. As for you, remember that it is unwise to hide the truth.'
Afiq thanked Tuan Haji Osman for his kindness and then set off home happily. He was glad
the truth was known. His brother's courage in making a clean breast of everything made him
happy and proud. He knew he could look forward to a good night's sleep.

had not slept a wink

squared his shoulders

making a clean breast of

had not slept at all

made his back and shoulders straight to show you are ready
or determined
admitting to wrongdoing

26

Write a story ending with : '... We shook hands and became friends.'
The house next door had been empty for more than a year. Then one day, workmen arrived
and started to clean and paint the place. My siblings and I were curious about who would be
moving in.
We did not have long to wait. A week after the house was spruced up, a lorry arrived. We
watched with interest as the movers carried the furniture into the house. The furniture looked
expensive. Our new
neighbours must be wealthy people. However, it never occurred to us four children that rich
people may not be interested in befriending us. Our house badly needed a new coat of paint.
We were clean and tidy - most of the time - but our clothes were clearly old and worn. Father
drove an old car that we could hear coming down the road long before it was in sight. We
were simple, ordinary people.
When the new occupants arrived in a big and shiny car, we jostled one another to get a good
look at them from our bedroom window. Mother had forbidden us from hanging around our
gate. She said our
new neighbours needed privacy, whatever that was. A beautifully dressed lady got out of the
car. To our delight, we saw a boy and a girl about our age following her into the house. They
did not look excited to move into their new home though. That did not deter us from wanting
to get to know them.
The next evening, we were playing hide-and-seek in the garden when we spotted the boy and
the girl watching us. My siblings and I went to the fence that separated our gardens. My eldest
brother Kian called to the pair. They looked at us unsmilingly. Their mother appeared next,
took one look at us and shooed the two into the house. We were disappointed to have
such snooty neighbours. We decided to leave them alone after that.
It was two weeks later that we heard screams coming from next door late one night. Father
picked up a stick and ran over to the house. Man followed suit. They found the boy and the
girl weeping beside their mother who was lying at the bottom of the staircase where she had
fallen. She was unconscious. Father called for an ambulance which arrived within minutes
and took the patient to the hospital. Father brought the children back to our house. Mother fed
them some hot soup to calm their nerves. The children, whose names were Vin and Nora, told
us that they had just returned from Indonesia. Their father was still there. Father helped them
to contact their father who assured them he would catch a plane and join them as soon as
possible.
Vin and Nora stayed the night with us. My sister and I had to give up our room to them but we

27

did not mind. Before they went to bed, we shook hands and became friends.

spruced up

to make neat and attractive

jostled

pushed and elbowed to get into position

snooty

snobbish or proud

Write a story ending with : '.. I wished I had not got out of bed that morning.'
It was a day that began like any other day. If it had not, I would have stayed in bed and the
rest of the day would not have happened.
I reached school at the usual time. The first lesson was in the science laboratory. Mr Kannan,
our chemistry teacher, marched in and explained about the experiment we were to carry out.
My partner Ru Em and I set to work. Halfway through, we noticed a couple of mosquitoes
flying around us. This was the first time we noticed insects in the lab. One of the mosquitoes
landed on my arm. Instinctively, Ru Em smacked my arm hard to kill it. It made me drop the
bottle of ammonia I was holding. The bottle broke and the pungent smell of the ammonia
spread all around us, making us choke. Everyone dashed out of the lab coughing and gagging.
The lab assistant had to clean up the mess. Mr Kannan was quite angry at our carelessness. He
gave the entire class demerit points. Ru Ern and I wished the ground would open up and
swallow us. To make matters worse, we had to suffer the killer looks directed at us the rest of
the day.
By recess, I was beginning to forget the unpleasant incident and was just enjoying my food.
Then the boy next to me stumbled as he was getting up and spilled his bowl of leftover curry
noodles all over me. I picked bits of noodles and beansprouts off my clothes while he
apologized over and over. I went to the toilet and tried to wash the curry out of my clothes and
my hair. The bright orange stain refused to come off my white shirt and the smell was still
quite strong. The only consolation was that I could change into my sports clothes.
With the two disasters keeping me preoccupied, I almost forgot about the inter-house
basketball semi-final in the afternoon. We played against Red House which was a strong
opponent. We were neck and neck right till the final minute and then the golden opportunity
to win was given to my team because of a foul. Everyone watched eagerly as I took the free
throw. As the ball flew towards the hoop, I held my breath. The ball hit the metal ring and
bounced away. Red house yelled with joy as my team groaned. It could not be happening, I
thought. How could I have missed? But I did. My team members' disappointment was
unbearable to me. That was the final straw.
I slunk home as quickly as I could. I avoided my family members, got cleaned up and went
straight to bed. I wished I had not got out of bed that morning.

28

pungent
neck and neck
slunk

having a strong smell

even or very close in a competition
to move without wanting to be noticed out of fear or shame

Write a story beginning with : 'The whole class burst out laughing ...'
The whole class burst out laughing as Mohi rushed into the classroom. He was a strange sight.
His half-buttoned white shirt revealed a red striped pyjama top underneath, and instead of
white school shoes, he had on a pair of bright green sandals that were two sizes too big. The
physics teacher's hand froze in the middle of writing a formula on the blackboard.
Mohi mumbled, Sorry, teacher,' and scuttled to his seat. Mr Tan glared at the rest of the
students. The chuckles quickly subsided. Mohi's classmates always looked forward to
Mondays. Nine times out of ten, they would be entertained by Mohi's late arrival and his odd
appearance which usually included inappropriate clothing. That day, it was the pyjama top
and the green sandals.
Mohi lived just a street away from the school. He walked to school daily. Students passing by
in buses would yell his name in unison just to see him jump and stop in his tracks. When he
spotted the merry bunch in the bus, he would wave good-naturedly. Although Mohi was
likeable, he was too lost in his own thoughts to make friends. His classmates found him
amusing but they ignored him most of the time. Only Hamed, who sat next to Mohi, tried to
be his friend.
The following Monday, Mohi did not turn up at school. His classmates were a little
disappointed but quickly forgot about him. After school, Hamed decided to walk over to
Mohi's house to check on him. As he approached the gate, he could hear violin music. Mohi
must be listening to music, he thought. The gate was not locked. Hamed let himself in. He
called Mohi's name a few times but there was no response. The music played on. Hamed
peered in through a window. His eyes widened in surprise. In the middle of the living room,
Mohi was playing the violin. His eyes were closed in concentration as he drew the bow over
the strings expertly. He played flawlessly, so much so that it sounded like a recording. Hamed
left quietly.
When Teacher's Day came around, Hamed had a plan. It was the tradition of the school to
have a concert for the teachers. Every class had to contribute an item. Hamed convinced the
class to let Mohi perform. Short of ideas, the class agreed. On the day of the concert, both the
teachers and students were surprised to see the school's clumsiest student walking on stage
with a violin. When he started to play, the audience fell silent. Jaws dropped. As the last note
ended, there was a moment of silence. Then the audience erupted into thunderous applause.

29

Mohi became a sensation and had many fans in his final year of school.
Today, Mohi and Hamed are the best of friends. Mohi is on a scholarship pursuing music in
Austria. Some days, he still arrives to class wearing an inside-out shirt or a pair of
mismatched shoes.

subsided
stop in his tracks
flawlessly

became less loud

stop moving suddenly
without a mistake, perfectly

The pros and cons of watching television

One topic that has always been controversial is whether television is good or bad for us. Many
parents have condemned television as being nothing more than an `idiot box', while others
have spoken much about the benefits of television. I believe that the truth lies somewhere in
between. While watching television does have many benefits, it also has some drawbacks.
The main benefit of watching television is that it enables us to learn new things. Programs
such as National Geographic supply us with a lot of information about nature, history, culture
and science, while others, like CNN, provide us with news of what is happening around the
world. Watching drama series is actually quite educational too as it shows us human behavior,
the effects of common social problems such as family breakups, alcoholism and racial
discrimination and how to deal with such issues. Besides educational value, television also
provides us with entertainment right in our homes. It is a convenient and an inexpensive way
to spend some of our leisure time.
Although television can be beneficial, watching television also has its drawbacks. One of
these drawbacks is that watching television makes us less healthy if we spend too many hours
on it. While watching television, most people are sitting down or otherwise relaxing.
Furthermore, people tend to snack when they watch television. The lack of exercise and
additional calories from unhealthy snacks can lead to weight gain and even obesity.
Another problem with television is that not all the programs are good for the viewers and
especially young viewers. Some of the modern shows portraynegative values like selfishness,
cruelty, vanity, jealousy, dishonesty and evenvengefulness and hatred. Desperate Housewives
and Mean Girls are two examples of such shows. These shows seem to say that gossiping,
taking revenge and having extramarital affairs are normal and acceptable. They may influence
young people who watch them to do the same. That is why parents and adults should ensure
that children only watch programs with positive values.
To conclude, watching television does have both pros and cons. It is up to us to choose what
we watch carefully and only watch in moderation, so that we may enjoy the benefits without
risking the drawbacks.

30

portray
vengefulness
in moderation

present
the desire to harm someone who has harmed us
within reasonable limits

Having too much money is a bad thing

Most, if not all, people would love to have a large amount of money dropped into their laps.
They say this because they feel that money can solve almost all their problems and worries.
However, while it may be true that having money can take care of your basic needs like food
and a place to stay, having too much money is bad for your body and your soul.
Firstly, having too much money can lead to a deterioration of values. Becoming rich can
make a person proud and arrogant. The rich can afford flashy cars, branded clothing, and
jewellery. They always look well-groomed and so they become vain and proud. Putting too
much value on material things makes a person shallow and uninteresting. They think highly of
themselves and look down on others who struggle to make ends meet. In addition, the rich
are used to solving their problems with money and they can no longer tell right from wrong.
They begin to think that whatever they do is right. Hence, having too much money can change
your personality, destroy your moral values and make you an unlikeable person.
Secondly, being very wealthy can affect relationships. A wealthy man will attract insincere
people who try to befriend them for personal gain. This leads to suspicion and mistrust of
others which can affect relationships with family and friends. A rich man can end up being
quite lonely as he does not know who his true friends are. Having too much money can
destroy relationships and lead to loneliness. In other words, too much wealth may lead to
unhappiness.
Besides that, having too much money can lead to poor health and an early grave. We know
that the wealthy can afford to eat good food regularly. There is nothing to stop someone who
has the means from indulging in whatever he likes, be it exotic meats or expensive sweets.
Unless he is disciplined and health-conscious, a rich man is likely to eat too much rich food
which may harm his body. Coupled with lack of exercise due to his being driven everywhere
and having everything done for him, he is likely to develop some critical illnesses such as
heart problems and high blood pressure.
In conclusion, since having too much money has such serious negative effects, it is quite
obvious that having too much money is a bad thing. Nevertheless, the same is true of having
too little money, which is the reason why we should aim to simply have enough, and be

31

thankful for what we have.

deterioration
indulging
make ends meet

weakening
allowing oneself the pleasure of doing something
have enough money for one's needs

A frightening experience
It was an unusually hot day. Exhausted after football practice, I headed to the bus stop to wait
for Bus 112 which would take me home. I was beginning to drift off to sleep when I saw the
bus arriving. The sun was in my eyes and that was probably the reason why I got onto Bus
113.
I was glad to get a seat. Within minutes, I was slumped against the window, fast asleep. When
I opened my eyes, it was dark outside. I was the only passenger left on the bus. I could not
recognize the part of
town we were passing through. I pressed the bell and the bus stopped. I planned to hop across
the road and catch a bus going the opposite direction. However, I found myself on a quiet
street with a row of shops that were all shuttered. Ikicked myself for not asking the driver for
directions.
As I was wondering what to do, a motorcycle came down the road. The rider looked at me as
he passed and then stopped a short distance away. I went to him and asked him how to get
back to Taman Klang Utama. He smiled and nodded. He patted the back seat and said that he
would send me home. Without a second thought, I climbed up behind the rider. He turned the
motorcycle around and headed in the direction I wanted. We travelled for about 15 minutes
and the surroundings still looked unfamiliar to me. The rider made a few turns and I knew I
was hopelessly lost. I asked him where we were going. He did not answer but increased his
speed. Alarm bells started to ring in my head.
I tapped the man on the shoulder and told him to stop. He leant forward and went at high
speed now. Then he slowed down to turn into a dark and narrow road that led into an oil palm
plantation. I had had enough. I jumped off the vehicle and fell onto the ground. The man
turned around and rode towards me. I swung my school bag at him and he lost his balance and
fell off his motorcycle. Without looking back, I just ran and ran. When I dared to stop, I found
that I was on a properly tarred road. Cars were passing by. I was relieved to see a taxi and
waved frantically, praying that it would stop. It did. I got in and gave the driver my house
address. I was shaking uncontrollably.

32

When my family learnt what had happened, they were horrified. My parents told me that I
should have just looked for a public phone and called home when I was lost. I knew I had
been foolish. It was a frightening experience which I hoped would never happen to me
again. It's better to be safe than sorry!

kicked myself
alarm bells started to ring
better to be safe than sorry

wished I had or had not done something

when you realize something is wrong
it is wise to be careful and protect yourself from risk rather
than to suffer afterwards

An embarrassing experience
I knew this dreaded day would come sooner or later. It came too fast and there I was, in the
sterile waiting room of the dental clinic, miserable with butterflies in my stomach.
My parents told me to sit up, stop wringing my hands and to take deep breaths to keep calm.
It worked. I was calm for maybe two seconds when I heard my name being called. I pretended
to be deaf but my mother nudged me to get up. I forced myself to step forward and promptly
stumbled over a toy left lying around by some kid. My clumsiness got me the attention of
everyone in the room. Being scrutinized by that many pairs of eyes was too much and I
scuttled towards the consultation room as fast as I could.
I had refused my parents' offer to accompany me. I meant to show them that I was brave
enough to face the ordeal on my own. I regretted it. Thankfully, I forgot my anxiety as I
looked around the dentist's room. Tools of different sizes were arranged neatly in a tray on the
tiny table which was connected to a chair with buttons and a light hanging right over it. I
avoided looking at my dentist in the eye as I took my spot on the chair shakily. I almost
jumped out of the seat when all of a sudden the chair moved and I was lying down facing the
bright yellow light.
The dentist spoke in a soothing voice behind her mask. Everything was going smoothly and I
was quite proud of myself. Then disaster struck. I was picking up the cup of water placed next
to the chair for patients to rinse their mouths when I caught sight of the dental drill. Panic
related to a bad childhood experience involving the drill kicked into me and on reflex, I spat
out the rinsing water, right into the surprised dentist's face.
I apologized profusely as I tried desperately to wipe away the water with a tissue, only to
knock down the tray of instruments. The sharp instruments went flying and something that
looked like it could have poked a hole in my eye flew past centimetres from my face. The
dentist tried her best to disguise her annoyance with a very fake smile. I pulled off the tissue
napkin around my neck and bent over to pick up an instrument. Somehow, my head bumped

33

the overhead light in the process, sending it swinging directly at the dentist's head. It knocked
her off her chair and she ended up half-conscious on the floor.
As the dentist's assistants went to her aid, I retreated from the room. My parents were standing
near the door, alarmed by the commotion. Without a word, I dragged them to the exit. I knew
they would find it hard to believe what just happened. It was the most embarrassing
experience I ever had.

wringing

pressing and twisting

ordeal

a difficult experience

profusely

in plentiful amount

A day I wish to forget

A day I wish to forget. That would be the day when everything that could go wrong did go
wrong. It was a day that began like any other day. If it had not, I would have stayed in bed and
the rest of the day would not have happened.
I reached school at the usual time. The first lesson was in the science laboratory. Mr Kanan
our chemistry teacher marched in and explained the experiment we were to carry out. My
partner Ru Ern and I set to work. Halfway, we noticed a couple of mosquitoes flying around
us. This was the first time we noticed insects in the lab. One of the mosquitoes landed on my
arm. Instinctively, Ru Ern smacked my arm hard to kill it. It made me drop the bottle of
ammonia I was holding. The bottle broke and the pungent smell of the ammonia spread all
around us making us choke. Everyone dashed out of the lab coughing and gagging. The lab
assistant had to clean up the mess. Mr Kanan was quite angry at our carelessness. He gave the
entire class demerit points. Ru Ern and I wished the ground would open up and swallow us.
But no, we had to suffer the killer looks directed at us the rest of the day.
By recess, I was beginning to forget the unpleasant incident and was just enjoying my food.
Then the boy next to me stumbled as he was getting up and spilled his bowl of leftover curry
noodles all over me. I picked bits of noodles and beansprouts off my clothes while he
apologized over and over. I went to the toilet and tried to wash the curry out of my clothes and
my hair. The bright orange stain refused to come off my white shirt and the smell was still
quite strong. The only consolation was that I could change to my sports clothes.
With the two disasters keeping me preoccupied, I almost forgot about the inter-house
basketball semi-final in the afternoon. We played against Red House which was a strong
opponent. We were neck to neck right till the final minute and then the golden opportunity to
win was given to my team because of a foul. Everyone watched eagerly as I took the free
throw. As the ball flew towards the hoop, I held my breath. The ball hit the metal ring and

34

bounced away. Red House yelled with joy as my team groaned. It could not be happening, I
thought. How could I have missed? But I did. My team members' disappointment was
unbearable to me. That was the final straw.
I slunk home as quickly as I could. I avoided my family members, got cleaned up and went
straight to bed. I wanted to forget that day. I wanted to go to sleep and wake up to a new day,
hopefully a day when everything would go right.

slunk
killer looks
the final straw

to move without wanting to be noticed out of fear of shame

looks that show strong anger
the lat of a series of unpleasant incidents that makes you
feel you cannot take anymore

A narrow escape
A holiday in Penang was an annual affair for my family. My parents grew up in Penang and
are very fond of Penang food. In December every year, we would drive up to the island to
spend three days visiting their favourite food haunts.
This year, we started our journey up north on a Friday morning. The drive up was punctuated
by stops at Bidor town and Kampar so it took us six hours to reach our destination. We always
stayed at one of the hotels in Batu Ferringhi. The beach is just a short walk from the hotel
entrance and our rooms have a lovely view of the sea. We spent our first evening playing on
the beach. After dinner, we returned to our rooms to play monopoly. My parents have a rule
for our holidays which is that we were to spend time doing things together. There was to be no
TV and no Internet.
The next morning, we went to Bukit Bendera and then spent the rest of the afternoon in town
visiting our favourite hawker stalls. As we were having tea at a coffee shop, we overheard
people talking about an earthquake near Sumatera, an island in Indonesia. We headed back to
the hotel and then went to the beach. We took a walk along the beach, picking up seashells
along the way. Suddenly, I noticed a strange thing. The sea seemed to be retreating from the
shore. I called my father to look at the curious occurrence. My father took one look and went
pale. We saw a grey line in the distance moving towards the shore. It seemed to grow taller by
the second.
My father shouted at us to run back to the hotel. He grabbed my hand and pulled me with him.
Other people on the beach also began to shout and run. As we reached the hotel lobby, we
heard a roaring sound behind us. My father pushed us towards the stairs. We reached the first
floor when we heard the roar of rushing water and glass breaking. I screamed when I saw
water rising just below us. My father yelled at us to keep climbing. The water level rose so

35

fast that it wet my feet as I ran the last few steps to the third floor. We stopped on the fourth
floor and looked down at the swirling water below us. It had stopped rising. After some
minutes, it began to drop.
We waited a long time before going downstairs. The hotel lobby was unrecognizable. There
was dirt and broken furniture scattered everywhere. Some people who were caught in the
tsunami were either unconscious or groaning with pain. I realized then what a narrow escape
we had had.

retreating
lobby
swirling

withdrawing or moving back

a hall at the entrance of a building
moving in a spinning motion

My hero
We had gathered at Lina's house to watch the greatest race of the century - Michael Phelps
versus Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly. It was to us the greatest event in the Beijing Olympics
2008 as we were all in the school swimming team, our forte - the butterfly stroke.
Half of us were for Cavic, the other half, Phelps. Me - my hero of course. One who is
courageous, persistent, not one to cave in under pressure. Being tall and good-looking is a
plus point of course.
'Looks like Phleps will not be getting his seventh medal, I muttered to Dayang as I chomped
on my popcorn. Phelps was the seventh slowest of eight swimmers.
'I told you, Rajamoni continued happily, 'that man is not a machine. 50 meters mark. How can
he...'
'Be quiet. Look, he's picking up! He has another 50 meters more to go.
'Come on Cavic; yelled June. `Come on man. You can do it.
'Look at Phelps! Gosh, he's pushing himself so furiously!'
We started shouting to encourage our heroes. My admiration for Phelps grew. He had not
given up. It was a race to the last. It was unbelievable. They wereabreast. The crowd in the
National Aquatic Centre started shouting 'Phelps! Phelps! Phelps!'

36

'Phelps! Phelps!' I yelled. Cavic lunged for the wall underwater. Phelps swung his arms and
seemed to be making a half stroke. 'Phelps touched first!' I shrieked excitedly.
We saw both swimmers spin around and stare at the video screen. There was a minute
of palpable tension as the electronic numbers rolled. There was one second of absolute
silence at the Centre and in the room. My heart was racing and thumping so hard. The results
flashed across the screen.
Phelps had won by 0.01 second at 50.58 seconds! He did the impossible! I danced round the
room, pounded the table and jumped for joy. I screamed and screamed. What a feat! He had
won by a hair's breadth. A fingertip.
That man is a machine. Look at the breadth of his chest and the length of his arms. The
greatest of swimmers. The one without parallel. My hero.

cave in

to agree something that you were against before

abreast

two or more people who are next to each other and moving
in the same direction

palpable

so obvious that it can be seen or known

Describe the most enjoyable weekend you have experienced

Tina and I had a fabulous time in Terengganu last weekend. Accommodation was free - we
stayed in a relative's house - and we had the sun, the sand and the sea.
Tina's aunt's house was a stone's throw from the beach. The moment we reached the house,
we flung our bags down and headed for the beach.
It was spectacular. The sea seemed luminous. It was so early in the morning that there was no
one else there. The beach seemed to have been washed clean by the tide and no one had
walked on it except the little crabs and the gulls.
After the incessant noise of the city and the overnight trip on the train, the silence was utter
bliss. Enjoying the warmth of the sun, both of us just sat on the sand and watched the waves
roll gently on the shore. Far out on the distant horizon were some fishing boats. It really was
the perfect start for the weekend. Tina waded into the shimmering blue and green sea,
jumping to avoid the foam breaking on to the shore. I ran on the wet sand, enjoying the feel of
it under my bare feet. 'Coee!' I answered the gulls and gave a cartwheel in sheer joy.
Auntie Lis was waiting for us with freshly cooked nasi dagang. The aroma welcomed us as
we stepped into the house. After the scrumptious brunch, Auntie Lis said it was time to paint
the town red. The first stop was the Kuala Terengganu market. It was fun exploring floor
after floor of local delicacies and crafts. There was keropok lekor that we sampled at the food
court. We drooled over the hand-painted batik fabric and bought colorful batik pants and T-

37

shirts. Of course Aunt Lis bought packets and packets of dried fish and keropok for us to
bring home with. The wet market on the ground floor had an intriguing array of fruits and
vegetables in all shapes and colors that we had never seen before. The best part was the duku
langsat. There were mountains of them and I had never tasted such big succulent and
sweet duku langsat before. Auntie Lis had to put a stop to our fruit tasting. `Enough! Your
stomachs will burst soon. Keep some place for other local delicacies.
Our next stop was Kak Yah's where we sat down for plates of their famouskeropok and tea. It
was wonderful. Auntie Lis had to drag us out of the shop to a batik factory. There we tried our
hands at batik painting and created our own masterpieces. We also saw songket weaving and
appreciated the fine craftsmanship.
We went home for dinner after that. Aunty Lis reminded us we would celebrate Earth Hour
'09 by having a barbeque dinner under the stars. It was truly a memorable experience having
dinner underneath thousands of stars, listening to the lapping of the waves and Uncle Shah's
stories of old Terengganu.
The next morning we set off to the turtle hatchery near Kuantan. We were beside ourselves
with excitement when we were allowed to release little turtle hatchlings into the sea. It was an
incredible experience to watch the week-old hatchlings waddle into the sea. I held my breath
when a huge wave swept the little ones into the sea and whispered a prayer for their safety.
All too soon it was time to take the train home. On the way home we talked and talked of our
unforgettable weekend in Kuala Terengganu. We had left for Kuala Terengganu exhausted and
burnt-out. Now, we left it refreshed and filled with a quiet joy.

scrumptious
paint the town red
drooled over

tasting extremely good

go out and enjoy oneself
to show extreme and sometimes silly pleasure while looking
at someone or something

38

What can you do to save the environment ?

The world around us is in danger. The Earth faces problems of global warming and massive
pollution. Our rainforests are disappearing. Animals in the rainforests are in danger of
extinction. So are our natural resources. How can one person save the environment?
There are many things that we as individuals can do to stop the destruction of the
environment. We should take green steps, that is, change our habits and lifestyles to stop
polluting and harming the world around us. After some contemplation, I know what I can do
to contribute towards saving our environment. I will practise the 3Rs - reduce, recycle and
reuse - my dictum in life. I will not be part of the use-and-throw society.
Firstly, I can reduce consumption of paper by using handkerchiefs. This will definitely save
many trees. Every kilogram of paper I do not use can save 2.5 kg of greenhouse gases. I will
also say 'No' to plastic bags. Plastic is not biodegradable. How many times have we read from
the newspapers of fish being choked to death because of plastic bags? I will instead carry a
cloth bag with me to carry all my shopping.
As a result, there will be less littering and pollution. Moreover, I will add to my 'No' list of
disposables, especially Styrofoam and polystyrene containers. Again, I will go everywhere
prepared. For my takeaways, I will bring my own tiffin carriers and containers.

39

This will definitely reduce the amount of rubbish I throw away. Of course, it can be quite
inconvenient but 'little drops of water make the mighty ocean'.
Another example of what I can do is to reuse. I will use paper on both sides, reuse any paper
and cards. I will creatively reuse wrapping paper, ribbons, birthday cards. Every ton of paper I
reuse will save seventeen trees.
I can also do a compost from my kitchen and garden. All the leftover food and garden
trimmings can form mulch and enrich the soil. Old toothbrushes can be used for cleaning
shoes and walls and a hundred other things. To do this alone is difficult, so I will get the help
of my mother and the rest of the family.
Instead of an individual effort, it becomes a family or class effort. It is more effective this
way. For example, if I can convince my 'gang' to separate paper, plastic, glass and metals for
recycling, it will really help to reduce the emission of methane. Still another example is
computer recycling. As we change our computers and other related electronic products quite
quickly, we should send them to recycling companies that specialize in such work. Just
throwing them away will cause a major problem of disposal.
There seems a lot to be done. I will start today. I will get my family and my friends to
participate in Earth Hour. One small step toward saving the environment.

dictum

compost

mulch

a short statement, especially one expressing advice or a

general truth
decaying plant material that is added to soil to improve its
quality
a covering of decaying leaves that is spread over the soil in
order to keep water in it or to improve it

40

Health is more important than wealth

If you were to ask people what they needed to be happy, two of the most common answers
would be health and wealth. Both are definitely necessary for happiness. However, if you
could only have one, which is more important? It is my opinion, health wins hands down.
Firstly, health is more important than wealth because if you are physically fit, you will have a
sense of well-being. That means that you will feel happy. Wealth does not necessarily do the
same. Many people mistakenly think that they would be happy if they had a million ringgit.
They think that having more money will solve all their problems. On the contrary, it has been
found that being wealthy can actually rob you of your peace of mind. Rich people suffer from
more stress, anxiety, suspicion and unhappiness.
Besides that, wealth is of no use without health. To understand this, we must look at why we
gather wealth. The purpose of doing so is to be able to supply our daily needs and make
ourselves happy by spending on luxuries. Without good health, no matter how much one
spends on material things, that person will not be able to enjoy them to the fullest. For
example, a person who is unwell would not be able to eat everything he wants to even though
he could afford to buy the most expensive food. A person who is bedridden will not be able
to enjoy vacations in exotic places even if he owned a private plane. Therefore, health is more
important than wealth as wealth is useless without health.
Another point in favour of health is that if you were healthy, you would be able to gain
wealth. The reverse is not possible. If a person is healthy, he would be able to find work or

41

carry out investments that could eventually make him wealthy. However, for a person who is
wealthy but ill, even the best medical care that money can buy may not guarantee the return of
that person's health. This fact alone is sufficient to support the view that wealth is less
important than health.
In a nutshell, health is indeed more important than wealth for the reasons explained above. Of
course, the ideal situation would be to have both health and wealth. But if you had to choose,
pick the one that gives you the greatest amount of happiness.

wins hands down

bedridden
reverse

wins easily
unable to leave one's bed because of illness
the other way around

Should school uniforms be banned ?

One of the many complaints students in our country have about school is having to wear
uniforms. Some parents share this view, and thus have campaigned for school uniforms to be
banned. However, I disagree, as school uniforms serve many useful purposes that make them
an important part of our education system.
One reason why school uniforms should not be banned is because they
preventdiscrimination and bullying based on economic status. Without uniforms, the rich
would dress better than the poorer students
making the difference in their economic status clear. This could lead to discrimination. It
would encourage undesirable attitudes such as pride and arrogance, envy and jealousy, and
also bullying. Uniforms help make all students appear equal.
Besides this, school uniforms help schools avoid the problem of inappropriatedressing.
Modern fashions include clothing that is revealing. Such clothing is unsuitable for a school
environment. It would be difficult for the school authorities to enforce rules of dressing
without school uniforms. Even in countries where dress codes are enforced in the place of
school uniforms, such as the USA, teachers face many problems with students wearing
inappropriate clothing to school. School uniforms are the best solution to this problem, and
thus should not be banned.

42

A section of people argue that school uniforms make the school boring due to lack of variety.
However this is not a good argument. When there is too much variety, it can lead
to distraction. Not only will students be spending too much time decking themselves out for
school every day but they will also be distracted by what their friends wear. This will take
their attention away from what is important, that is, their studies. Therefore, having school
uniforms would be beneficial to students' performance in school, as it would enable them to
better focus their attention on studying.
To conclude, school uniforms should not be banned as they serve a number of important
functions in schools. However, given the fact that they are an additional cost to students'
families, care should be taken
that the purchase and upkeep of uniforms is not an undue burden to less fortunate students.

discrimination

unfair treatment of people

inappropriate

not suitable

distraction

lack of attention

Playing electronic games is a waste of time

Electronic games include video games and computer games that are played on special devices
like the well-known Playstation or a computer. Games like Angry Birds and highly detailed
simulations such as Modern Warfare are very popular with youngsters. Some of these games
are so entertaining that even adults play for hours on end. Hence, many people view
electronic games negatively and claim that they are a waste of time. However, I think that
electronic games are not a complete waste of time.
Firstly, electronic games actually help develop some important skills from fine motor skills to
critical thinking skills. Have you seen how good children are at manipulating the controls on
their keyboards and game consoles? Research has shown that playing these games improves
hand-eye coordination. On top of that, many of the electronic games are mentally challenging.
They require quick thinking to resolve problems, and clever strategizing to win against other
players or the computer itself. Playing these games therefore has intellectual benefits.
Secondly, playing the right kind of computer and video games can be educational. It improves
the players' skills and knowledge in various subjects. Playing a game that is based on
historical events leads to the player learning dates and names without even realizing it. There
are many simulation games involving role playing that allow the player to gain some

43

valuable experience in handling real life and work situations. For example, there are games
where the player runs a restaurant or a hospital. This sort of activity helps enrich knowledge
and skills. Hence, playing electronic games is certainly not a waste of time.
Thirdly, everyone needs some form of entertainment for relaxation. Playing electronic games
is just another form of recreation which helps the players relieve stress. It is similar to playing
a board game or cooking. The time spent is rewarded with a sense of well-being. In fact, it is a
cheap and convenient way to keep oneself entertained. Players can choose to play on their
own or play with friends. They can play in their own homes so no extra cost for transportation
or rental of space or equipment is necessary.
On the other hand, it cannot be denied that electronic games can be addictive leading to
players spending too much time playing and neglecting their work, studies and relationships.
Too much time spent on anything is not good. There are some games which teach negative
values such as violence and dishonesty. Playing such games would be a waste of time. Players
need to choose games that have educational value so that the time they spend on those games
benefits them.
In conclusion, playing electronic games has many benefits and so, cannot be regarded as a
waste of time. However, to benefit from playing such games, one must be disciplined and not
spend too much time on this pastime as well as pick games that have educational value.

for hours on end

for many hours or a long time

fine motor skills

ability to use the small muscles especially on the hand

together with the eyes

simulation

imitation of the real situation

Sports should be compulsory in school

Physical education and sports activities are part and parcel of the Malaysian school
curriculum. However, sports is not compulsory for all students. Normally, only students who
are exceptionally good in certain sports will receive training and participate in competitions.
In my opinion, sports should be made compulsory in school because participation in sports
activities has many benefits for students.
The first thing that comes to most people's minds when they hear the word 'sports' is exercise.
Sports provides students with exercise that leads to good physical health. A recent news report
said that obesity among Malaysians is on the rise. It is commonly known that the best way to
avoid becoming obese is to exercise regularly. Nevertheless, there are some students who do
not like exercising. For this group, making sports mandatory in schools would be an ideal way
of making sure that they get the exercise needed to stay healthy.
Besides improving physical health, participating in sports also teaches students important soft
skills and values. Leadership skills, discipline and perseverance can all be learnt through
sports. Teamwork is also a valuable thing to learn through sports. In team sports such as
football, basketball or volleyball, players must learn to work together and cooperate with one

44

another in order to succeed. These important

lessons that can be learnt through sports lead to the well-rounded development of children and
teenagers.
On the other hand, some people feel that making sports compulsory in school would lead to
some negative consequences. Sports is mostly about competition. This might make youngsters
focus too much on winning and become overly competitive. However, in my opinion, this
provides a good opportunity for young people to be taught how to compete in a fair and
honest manner. They should also be taught that it is not winning but trying one's best that
matters. Experiencing healthy competition in school will help prepare young people for the
working world which is a competitive place after all.
In conclusion, sports has many benefits for students. Taking part in sports promotes good
health, develops soft skills encourages good values and prepares young people for the
competitive environment they will face when they leave school. Hence, it only makes sense to
make sports compulsory in school.

part and parcel of

compulsory
soft skills

an important part of
must be done by rule
good qualities that are not related to knowledge

The chief forms of leisure in your community

I live in a kampung near Mersing on the east coast of Johor. There are some very beautiful
beaches. The people in the kampung are very friendly and closely knit.
I would like to tell you about our favorite pastime, kite flying. In fact, the whole community
loves kite flying. My father used to take part in international kite flying contests. Kite flying is
purely for fun nowadays.
We make everything from scratch. The whole family is involved and it is the work of the
men in the family. Usually one of us together with our neighbors will get together to make the
'wau'. We first start with the frame. It is made of a special bamboo. After the bamboo is cut
into lengths carefully, the strips are tied into position. My job is usually to help my brothers
cut out and paste the paper. When we have pasted the third layer of paper, we will usually
compare our kites with the others in the neighborhood. We love Pak Abu's decorations and
ornaments of mythical birds.
Then it is time to fly the kites. Everyone would gather along the beach or the football field in

45

front of the community hall. During weekends and school holidays, we will fly our kites. It is
exciting to see gigantic kites soaring in the sky.
These days, we watch a lot of television for relaxation. The womenfolk particularly enjoy
soap operas. They love Korean drama serials the most. They will talk about the stories and
characters whenever they meet. The grannies will warn the young girls about the danger of
going to such dangerous places as pubs, quoting the serials they are presently watching. 'Don't
be like...' is something we hear all the time. In fact, our dinners are timed in such a way that
their view time is not interrupted and not a single part of any episode is missed.
The menfolk will not mumble too much for they have the football fever. The English Premier
league, the FA Cup, the Champions league, just to mention a few. They will gather in a few
houses to watch matches. They will cheer and shout encouragement and boo! The next few
days they will discuss the performance of their favorite teams at mamak stalls.
The one time that the menfolk and womenfolk watched television together was the Beijing
Olympics. Even until today, an unintentional mention of Usain Bolt will make most people
including my mother beam and talk about the amazing athlete.
A lot of people in our community also like to do gardening. In fact, Kampung Suria is famous
for its herbs. Selasih, mint, kunyit, misai kuching - you name it, we have it. Early morning
and evening you will see us in our little plots of land. We will be weeding, trimming, putting
fertiliser, watering the herbs and vegetables that we grow for our own consumption. We are
the organic pioneers. We even have a contest annually. It could be the biggest pumpkin or the
most bountiful bitter gourd harvest. It is all in good fun.
Times had once been difficult for the residents of Kampung Suria. Learning from the past
experience, being self-sufficient, taking delight in living a simple lifestyle and enjoying one's
pastimes have long been most people's philosophy of life. This is why the senior citizens of
Kampung Suria are always in good mood and health.

from scratch

from the beginning, without using anything that already

exists

mumble

to speak quietly and in a way that is not clear so that the

words are difficult to understand

beam

to smile with obvious pleasure

46

Why we should exercise ?

A healthy person is a wealthy person. Wealth is here measured in terms of the person's
physical well-being so that he or she is able to go about and carry out day-to-day tasks easily.
He or she will look good and feel good. To attain this, physical exercise is a must.
Firstly, exercise ensures our good health. Modern-day chronic diseases like heart problems,
diabetes and certain cancers are all caused by the lack of exercise. Conversely, any one having
these ailments will recover better if they include exercise as part of their daily routine.
Another instance why we need to exercise is doctors link the lack of exercise to many people
having one form or another of insomnia. Moreover, when we sleep better, we have better
resistance, to infections. This has been proven by astronauts. During missions, their bodies
physically deteriorate.
Their bones, internal organs, and cardiovascular system are all negatively affected. However,

47

it has been found that exercise reduces the changes significantly.

Another example of how exercise helps us to feel better is it gets rid of obesity. It burns off
the calories. In our push-button lifestyle, we have become quitesedentary. 'Why walk when
we can take the car' seems to be the way of life for all of us. Nowadays, even shopping is
done online. Moreover, we seem to be only exercising our fingers as we play computer
games, surf the Net and press the control button
to change the channel to our favorite television program. Add that to the Malaysian favorite
pastime of eating, it is no wonder that our young have bellies and double chins.
Lastly, students should exercise at least three times a week for at least twenty minutes per
session, as exercise is a good stress buster. Exercise stimulates different brain chemicals. One
of those chemicals is endorphin which makes a person become less stressed and more
cheerful. Students preparing for their examinations are therefore able to concentrate better. As
a result, they will do better in their examinations.
In conclusion, regular exercise is an effective way by which we can not only feel younger, but
look younger.

insomnia
deteriorate
sedentary

the condition of being unable to sleep, over a period of time

to become worse
little exercise or physical activity

Today's youths have more freedom than before

A common complaint among teenagers today is about having too little freedom. The usual
response from their parents is that they had even less freedom when they were young.
Unfortunately for the average teenager, their parents are usually right. Today's youths do have
more freedom than before, especially in the three areas of knowledge, communication and
money.
Today's youths have more freedom to find and exchange information. The main reason for
this is, of course, the invention of the Internet and other forms of information technology.
Youths are free to obtain information from websites like Wikipedia and HowStuffWorks. They
are also able to share information with one another easily through blogs and other wikis. This
new information freedom was not available to most of the previous generation. Therefore,

48

youths today definitely are freer to get and share information than before.
Besides that, youths today have more social freedom than before. Social networks like
Facebook, Whatsapp and Skype running over the Internet allow young people to make new
friends and communicate with friends more easily than ever before. While the previous
generation did have access to telephones, today's youths often own mobile phones, which
gives them not only the ability to speak with friends wherever they are, but also share
pictures, music and videos with them easily. This has enabled today's youths to have more
freedom in their social life.
Finally, youths today have more freedom with their money. In the olden days, children had to
ask their parents for money whenever they needed to buy something. Modern parents are
more likely to give their children a lump summonthly for their pocket money. Parents today
are more educated and believe in teaching their children how to manage money from a young
age. Once they have decided on a reasonable amount of allowance for their child, they leave it
to their child to decide on how to spend that money. Hence, modern parenting allows youths
more say in managing their money.
In conclusion, youths today do have more freedom than before. This is clearly seen in their
increased freedom to access information, along with more social and economic freedom.
Indeed, youths have little to complain about if they compare the level of freedom they enjoy
to the restricted lifestyle of their parents' teenage years.

lump sum

an amount of money given in one payment

restricted

limited

City life is better than country life

In almost every country, more and more people have migrated from the country to the cities.
People seem to think that living in the city is better than living in the country. Given a choice,
I would choose to live in the city too and I have strong reasons for this.
One advantage of living in the city is that life is more convenient. Getting around the city with
public transportation is easy. Some complain about the traffic jams in the city but I think that a
little delay is better than having to walk or cycle for long distances as people do in the
country. Schools in the city are generally better equipped. The choices for furthering our

49

studies after secondary school are aplenty with the large number of colleges in the city.
Getting medical attention is easy as the big hospitals are located in the cities. In addition,
gettingprovisions is convenient with shops at every corner where you can buy just about
anything.
Living in the city is definitely more exciting than living in the country. Within the city, there
are all sorts of places to visit, including shopping malls, theme parks, museums and cinemas.
Although some of these may also be available in some parts of the countryside, it is
commonly known that the best ones with the best facilities are located in the city. Those living
in the city have easy access to and a wide variety of ways to entertain themselves.
One main reason why people leave the country to start a new life in the city is because it is
easier to find jobs in the city. In the country, economic activity is limited to agriculture and
cottage industries. In the city, there are opportunities to build a career in a wide range of fields
such as the services industry, management, sales and marketing. Large international
companies set up their offices in the cities, which provide city people with more employment
opportunities. Earnings are also higher in the city and people can enjoy a better lifestyle.
Of course, living in the city has its downside as well. People earn more here but they also
have to spend more because everything from rental to food is more expensive in the city. The
environment is noisier and more polluted than in the country. The crime rate is higher in the
city. The busy lifestyle of city dwellers also leads to more stress. But then, living in the
country has its share of problems too. In my opinion, the advantages of city living outweigh
the disadvantages.
In summary, city life is more convenient and exciting than country life. Also, there are more
career opportunities in the city. These advantages are sufficient to persuade me to spend the
rest of my life in the city.

aplenty
provisions
downside

more than enough

food supplies
negative aspect

To cane or not to cane

We have often heard of the adage 'Spare the rod and spoil the child. 'Giving six of the best' has
been accepted as a way of instilling discipline in schools. I do not agree.
Some so-called experts claim corporal punishment is a good way to prevent students from
breaking rules and committing offences, especially repeat offenders. Seeing their schoolmates
getting the cane will deter others from smoking or any wrongdoing.

50

However, how physically punishing a student can help correct undesirable behavior is beyond
me. It will make problematic students become more aggressive and violent. It merely
reinforces the notion that violence is the way to solve problems.
A few educationalists say that corporal punishment in schools is a form of preparation for real
life. Wrongdoing has to be punished. Students have to be taught to be responsible for their
actions. In my opinion, caning would only affect the child's ego and self-confidence. Students
who have problems learning will withdraw into their shells and lose whatever little selfconfidence they have. They will live in an environment of fear. How often have we heard of
children pretending to be sick to avoid school? The humiliation and shame of being caned,
especially if in front of your friends will result in psychological scars. They will become more
resentful and delinquent.
A caning schedule is part of the school regulation - what warrants one stroke of the cane, what
offence gets two and so on.
On the other hand, there is no guarantee that caning can be imposed properly. It can be
abused. There has been little research done on the effectiveness of corporal punishment in
schools. A better alternative is counseling. Removal of privileges is another way. School
authorities and teachers have to be firm with their dos and don'ts.
In conclusion, the American Academy of Paediatrics urges parents, educators, school
administrators, school board members, legislators, and others to seek the legal prohibition of
corporal punishment in schools and to encourage the use of alternative methods of managing
student behavior. I agree.

instilling

corporal punishment
delinquent

to put a feeling, idea or principle gradually into someone's

mind, so that it has a strong influence on the way they think
or behave
the physical punishment of children
behave in a way that is not acceptable by other people

How to deal with stress

Have you ever felt stressed? Well, you are not alone, as every person in the world has to face
stress at one time or another. Since stress is a part of life, it is essential to learn how to deal
with it. Here are some strategies for dealing with stress and pressure.
Most of the time, stress is a result of feeling overwhelmed. To get rid of this feeling, keep

51

yourself organized. For example, you could keep a daily organizer and plan your activities.
Get your priorities straight and focus on things that are really important. Do not get caught up
in minor issues that only create additional work for you. Break tasks down into manageable
bits and tackle them one by one or step by step. Proper planning also helps you avoid the
stress of doing things at the eleventh hour.
Besides that, taking time to relax can help you ease stress. Doing things that you like such as
listening to music, taking a walk or reading a book can take your mind off things that bother
you. Even doing nothing at all can be beneficial. After a short break, you will feel refreshed
and more able to tackle a problem or a piece of work. Of course, make sure that taking a break
is not an excuse for putting off your work. This would only cause you more stress when you
have to rush to finish your work in the end.
Finally, do not set such high standards for yourself and others that it leads to dissatisfaction
and pressure. If you aim for perfection all the time, you will end up frustrated and stressed
out. Learn to slow down, let go and look at the positive side of things. If you are
too uptight about something, you will not be able to think clearly and make good decisions.
In addition, you could hurt the people around you. Focus on what has already been done and
what is good. Then, negative stressful feelings will disappear.
In conclusion, stress may be unavoidable but it need not make life miserable for you. There
are many ways to reduce and deal with stress such as the three strategies shared here. Life
gets better once stress is controlled.

overwhelmed
at the eleventh hour
uptight

strong feeling of being unable to cope

at the last possible moment
tense, irritated

Drug abuse
According to the World Health Organization, almost 6 percent of the world's population has
abused drugs. Although this percentage seems small, it actually represents millions of people
who have abused drugs. This statistic is very worrying because of the harmful effects of drug

52
abuse. We need to find effective ways to fight this problem.
Drugs like heroin and cocaine have destructive effects on a person's health. The drug user may
face heart disease, liver and brain damage, and kidney failure. Drug users who share needles
to inject themselves with drugs face a high risk of being infected with AIDS. Also, the brain
damage caused by drugs is known to cause mental problems such as paranoia
and hallucination. Furthermore, the negative health effects of drugs are not only limited to
the drug user. If the drug addict is pregnant, there is a high chance that the unborn child will
suffer mental and growth retardation.
Drug also has an adverse effect on society. A drug addict will do anything to get more drugs.
The addict often commits crimes to get enough money to sustain his habit. The money spent
on drugs may then be channeled to crime syndicates, which could use the money to fund other
illegal activities. Unfortunately, drug abuse creates a group of people who are unable to work
or study, and thus unable to benefit society.
Clearly, solutions must be found to resolve the issue of drug abuse. Firstly, the young must be
educated on the dangers of drug abuse to prevent them from experimenting with dangerous
substances. Secondly, there needs to be more effective law enforcement to stop the
distribution of drugs. Drug pushers must be caught and severely punished. In addition, drug
addicts need to be given help to get rid of their addiction. Better ways need to be found to
rehabilitate them so that they can keep away from drugs and become useful citizens again.
To conclude, it is a sad fact that drug abuse is a serious problem in many countries around the
world. More efforts are needed to stamp out this problem. The individual, the public and the
authorities must work hand in hand in order to rid society of the terrible effects of drug
abuse.

hallucination
stamp out
hand in hand

seeing or hearing things that are not there

stop in a forceful way
closely together

Problems youths face today

It is not easy to be a youth living in the 21st century. Why do I say so? Life cannot be so
different from our parents' time, can it? But it is. The new challenges facing youths today are

53
brought about by the changes in society and the modern lifestyle.
A major problem youths face today is linked to today's competitive education system. From a
young age, we have to spend hours of our day studying first at school, then at tuition classes
leaving us little time to relax and play. The exam-oriented school environment gives us no
space to pursue our interests. We are constantly reminded that we have to perform well in
order to compete for a place in a good university. Trying to meet the expectations of teachers
and parents causes us great stress.
Another serious problem facing young people today has to do with the electronic media.
Firstly, there are plenty of addictive computer and digital games that vie for our attention.
Many youths have given in to temptation and find that they are unable to stop playing late into
the night. Similarly, youths get addicted to social networking on sites like Facebook and
Twitter. The result is difficulty juggling their online social activity and other important tasks
such as studying.
These modern times have also created major problems for youths in the area of moral values.
Young people these days are confused about what is right and wrong. Our parents and
teachers may teach us traditional values. But in reality, society's moral standards have dropped
drastically. This is reflected in television reality shows that encourage selfishness and
backstabbing. No one bats an eyelid nowadays at the increasing violence and loose morals
shown in movies. People live together before marriage. Divorce and abortion is no
longerfrowned upon. Criminal actions are glamorized. It is no wonder that we are confused.
Making decisions has become a big problem for us.
All in all, life for the youth of today is more challenging than before. Some of the main
problems we face are the competitive education system, the allure of the electronic media and
the confusing moral standards. When we make mistakes, parents and teachers have to guide
us, not scold and punish us. Patience and understanding will ease our burden and encourage
us to communicate more meaningfully with the adults who care about us.

bats an eyelid

shows surprise or shock

frowned upon

thought to be bad or wrong

allure

attraction, temptation

Are small families better than large families ?

Large families were normal many years ago. It is no longer so. Today's families usually

54
consist of only two or three children. There are many reasons why people have chosen to have
less children and smaller families today. Small families definitely have several advantages
over large families.
Firstly, small families can have more comfortable lives. With fewer people living under one
roof, there is more space for everyone. Children in large families often have to share rooms
while those in small families can have their own rooms. There is also more peace and quiet in
the home of a small family with less people competing over space, privacy and which TV
channel to watch. Moreover, with less members in the family, less money is needed for basic
necessities such as food and clothing. There is more money for better quality
furniture, gadgets, bigger cars and holidays.
A second reason why small families are better than large families is that the children will get
more attention from their parents. This means that their emotional needs are more easily met.
They feel loved and are happier and closer to their parents. Furthermore, parents with two
children would have more time to guide and teach each child compared to parents with half a
dozen kids. As a result, the children will be more mature and disciplined. Such children also
do better in their studies.
In addition, the children in small families have equal opportunities compared to those in large
families. Money and other resources are shared out among fewer children. Each of the
children will probably have the chance to go to university. In large families, it is usually only
the eldest or the smartest who will get such opportunities.
Therefore, there is no doubt in my mind that small families are better than large families. I
think small families enjoy a better quality of life. Not only that but each child will benefit
from the loving guidance of the parents and have equal opportunities in life. That is why I
personally prefer a small family.

basic necessities

food, water, clothing

gadgets

small mechanical devices

mature

like an adult

Everyone should learn a foreign language

Not many people are interested in spending time, money and effort to learn a foreign language

55
these days. They think that knowing their mother tongue and English Language is good
enough. This is a pity because there are many benefits in learning a foreign language. I feel
strongly that everyone should learn at least one other foreign language in their lifetime.
The most obvious benefit of knowing another language is that you can communicate more
easily with people from different parts of the world. You will be able to learn more about
another culture and form new friendships. Traveling to other countries would be easy. For
example, if you know French, you will be able to communicate with people in most European
countries, Canada, Africa and even Vietnam. In addition, you will be able to enjoy more
variety in entertainment and reading material. Imagine being able to read and understand
Japanese comics or to watch Korean drama without reading the subtitles.
Learning a foreign language can also help you improve your studies. Students who learn an
additional language besides English are known to do better in English and Mathematics. This
is because the skills involved in learning a new language such as analytical skills are equally
important in learning other things. As you learn a new language, you practise these skills and
become even better. This will help you when you study school subjects. So, learning a new
language for children could be as important as learning music or ballet.
Finally, the ability to communicate in another language is valuable when you want to get a
job. You will have the edge over those who know fewer languages because you will be able
to deal with people from other parts of the world. Being multilingual does not only make it
easier for you to find a job, but also makes you more valuable to your employer. This means
that your salary and your job prospects will be better too.
In conclusion, there are many benefits that come from learning a foreign language. Hence, I
strongly recommend that everyone learn an additional language. The benefits gained are
worth the time and effort spent.

mother tongue
have the edge over
multilingual

Man's best friend

the language you first learnt

be a bit better than
knowing more than two languages

56

Dogs have always been considered as man's best friend since the beginning of time. In fact,
archaeologists have found remains of dogs that are 10,000 years old.
Firstly, dogs are companions and friends to man. They are well known for their loyalty and
unconditional love. Note what President Obama chose for his daughters. It was not an election
promise that made him get a dog for his daughters. President Obama got them a Portuguese
waterdog. This breed is well known for being loyal and protective.
Another instance of why dogs are man's best friend is dogs are invaluable to man in their
work. Working dogs like the Siberian huskies and collies pull heavy loads across tracts of ice
and snow. Sheep dogs such as border collies move sheep away from danger. Similarly,
without the Anatolian shepherd, many sheep would be destroyed by wolves and feral
domestic dogs. Herding dogs are used by stockmen in sheep and cattle farms around the
world for mustering.
Furthermore, police dogs, sometimes called K9 Units, are great assistants. They help track
or immobilize possible criminals while officers arrest or investigate the scene of a crime.
Some are even specially trained for anti-terrorist units, as in Austria.
In addition, some dogs help find lost people and animals. The St. Bernard is an example of a
search dog. It was historically used in Europe in the case of avalanches and lost travelers.
Search dogs are used in lost person searches each year and have helped save human lives.
Thirdly, dogs help the sick and disabled. These therapy dogs visit people in hospitals and
nursing homes and provide cheer and entertainment. A wag and a lick on their hands brings a
smile to the elderly in retirement facilities, the ill and injured in hospitals.
Assistance or service dogs help people with various disabilities in everyday tasks. A
newspaper columnist, Anthony Thanasayan, in his column 'Wheel Power' has been writing
about how his friends have made significant changes in his life as a person born with a
disability. His dogs help him to open and shut doors, push his wheelchair for him. Most
importantly, they keep him from being depressed.
Intelligent, loyal and loving, dogs really do live up to their reputation as man's best friend.
Many of us would be lost without our faithful companions.

mustering
immobilize
live up to

come together
to stop someone from moving
to be as good as something

57

The Earth in danger

In 2012, some people believed the world would end according to an ancient Mayan
prediction. Thankfully, nothing happened. However, we must realize that the Earth is, in fact,
in danger. This danger is not from asteroids or rogue planets, but from our actions and how
they affect the environment. There are three main threats to Earth and they are global
warming, loss of biodiversity, water and air pollution.
Global warming is caused by the release of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon
dioxide into the air when coal and oil are burnt. These gases trap heat from the sun in the
earth's atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise around the world and changing climate
patterns. In recent years, global warming has worsened. Many parts of the world have
experienced unusual and extreme weather resulting in drought, floods and dangerous
hurricanes.
Another problem Earth faces is the extinction of plants and animals. In the past century, over
10,000 plant and animal species have died out, and about 25 percent of all remaining species
is already in danger of disappearing. This can cause ecosystems to collapse. As part of the
ecosystem, we humans would be severely affected as well. For example, the extinction of
certain species of wild corn has created a loss of genetic diversity, making corn grown in
farms especially vulnerable to diseases and pests, affecting our food supply. Because of this, it
is important that we recognize the danger of the extinction of plants and animals.
Yet another danger that we face is pollution of air and water. Everyone knows the importance
of having clean water to drink and clean air to breathe. However, many cities around the globe
are facing problems with dirty air. For example, in Beijing, China, air pollution grew to
such hazardous levels at one point that it was unsafe for people to go outdoors. As for water,
many people assume that there is plenty of water around, more than enough to replace the
polluted water. However, few realize that only 3 percent of the Earth's water is actually usable
without extensive processing. Thus, any water pollution at all is dangerous, and can have a
tremendously negative impact on our water supply.
To conclude, Earth is under serious threat from environmental damage. It is our responsibility
to take action to protect the environment. Otherwise, the destruction of Earth is certain.

rogue planets

planets that float freely in space

extinction

ending of life, destruction

hazardous

dangerous, harmful

58

Deforestation
It is reported that half the world's forests have already been destroyed. This widespread
destruction is due to deforestation. Deforestation is the removal of a forest or group of trees
where the land is later converted to a non-forest use. Cutting down trees is necessary for
man's survival. However, deforestation has a number of adverse effects on the environment
and needs to be controlled.
There are two main purposes for cutting down trees and one of them is to use the trees as
resources. Essential items like paper, furniture and charcoal are all made from trees.
Deforestation is also carried out to clear land for farming and to make room for roads and
houses. As the population grows, more of the forest has to be cleared.
Although deforestation is necessary up to a point, it has some negative effects on the
environment. Firstly, cutting down forests destroys animal habitats, leaving them with no
place to live. Deforestation also allows erosion to occur which leaves the land vulnerable to
landslides and makes it difficult for plants to grow there. Finally, the removal of trees also
worsens air pollution. Trees act as natural air filters that change carbon dioxide into oxygen.
When they are removed, carbon dioxide can build up and pollute the atmosphere. Hence, it is
obvious that deforestation harms the environment.
Due to the harm deforestation causes, it is necessary to control it. There are a number of ways
to do this. One of them is to make better use of farming land. This is so that we do not need as
much land for farming, and hence do not need to cut down so many trees. There must also be
laws to limit deforestation and these laws must be enforced strictly. On top of that,
reforestation must be carried out systematically. This method involves planting new trees and
plants in areas where deforestation has occurred to replace what was destroyed.
To sum up, although deforestation must be carried out, it can harm the environment and must
be controlled. Beyond a certain point, this damage to the environment cannot be fixed. Hence,
we should do our
best to make sure that the damage is never too great to fix.

converted

changed

adverse

harmful

vulnerable

open to harm

59

The importance of a healthy lifestyle

Recently, it was reported that Malaysia has the highest number of overweight people in
Southeast Asia. This tells us that Malaysians have an unhealthy lifestyle. The Ministry of
Health is trying to educate people about the importance of eating healthily and exercising
regularly. A healthy lifestyle leads to good health. There are strong reasons why good health is
important.
Firstly, good health makes it possible for us to lead a normal life and to work, study and play
freely. A healthy body is essential for the physical activity involved in working or playing
with our friends. For example, to play football with your friends without easily getting tired,
you need to be healthy. Also, scientists have found that healthy people concentrate better and
remember things better. This means that we actually study and work better if we have good
health.
Leading a healthy lifestyle will also help us to live longer. An unhealthy lifestyle that involves
eating too much or too little, having insufficient sleep, not exercising, smoking and drinking
alcohol is a one-way ticket to ill health and life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes,
stroke and heart disease. These diseases are also known as lifestyle diseases because they are
often the result of the unhealthy way we live. Needless to say, these diseases would send us to
an early grave. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is essential to a long life.
In addition, good health makes us feel good. Some may think that not being able to eat all the
food we like or having to exercise is too troublesome, and will cause us to suffer. This is not
true, as exercise and a healthy diet have both been shown to improve mood, and raise selfesteem. For example, in the case of exercise, your brain releases natural painkilling chemicals
called endorphins during your workout which work to improve mood and relieve stress.
Furthermore, being in good health helps us to feel happier about ourselves.
In conclusion, a healthy lifestyle is important as it helps us to lead full and normal lives, live
longer and feel happier. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is something that everyone should take
care to practise.

one-way ticket
to an early grave
relieve

that which will surely cause to happen

cause to die before the expected time
ease, make less severe

60

Experiences that have changed my life

Life-changing experiences? After some hard consideration, three stand out. They have the
most impact on me.
The happiest day of my life was my tenth birthday. All my friends had been up 'Top Buz: It
was a ride I had begged, pleaded and cajoled my mum to let me go. Her reply was, 'You are
too young to go alone. On my tenth birthday, my sister said she would accompany me. It was
a great sacrifice on her part as Irin had a fear of heights. Looking down a three-storey building
would make her retch. I was too giddy with happiness to realize what a great sacrifice my
sister was making.
I screamed and screamed with excitement as we were thrown up and down, left and right,
round and round. It was utterly exhilarating. I did not notice that my sister was utterly quiet.
When the ride stopped, I turned round to see my sister rigid with terror. That experience stood
out in two ways. One, I loved the ride. It started my love affair with all rides. Two, I will not
forget that my sister would (and still does) do everything for me.
I was still as giddy when I was in the last year of primary school. I was impressed with a girl
who claimed to be everything. I would hang at her very word and believe her utterly. One day
Molly claimed that she just walked through the graveyard alone in the middle of the night.
And that it was not the first time! Why, just recently she ... I was her slave.
The scales fell from my eyes when we were trapped in a lift. We both lived on the thirteenth
floor. We were going home after tuition and I was listening to Molly, entranced, when the lift
gave a sudden jerk. It creaked and plunged. Then all at once it stopped. The lights went off
and we were in total darkness. Before I could utter a sound, I felt Molly clawing my arm. She
was screaming hysterically. 'I can't breathe! There is no air! We are trapped!' Molly began to
wail and howl.
I was dumbstruck. Suddenly, the lights came on and the door opened. As I moved to the door,
Molly pushed me away and dashed out of the lift. It was the most terrifying experience of my
life. When the lift started falling, I could feel my hands going clammy and my heart
hammering. I hate confined spaces. What was more frightening was Molly's behavior. I could
forgive her panicking at being trapped in the lift and that the stories of her courage were mere
stories. I cannot forget how she shoved me out of the way to get to the door, or, that she
boasted to the world afterwards how cool and collected she was. I have since learnt to be
more discerning and not to be so gullible.
Recently I had a more traumatic experience that left me with nightmares. My cat was missing.
I went round the apartment looking for Sheba. I could not find her. The whole family split up
to go to look for her. She had been missing for three days.
I was downstairs, heading to the rubbish collection area when I thought I heard a faint
mewing sound. I hurried over. There was a huge carton. I peered into it and saw some
movement. 'Sheba! You poor dear! Is it you?'
Then I saw it. Lying partially covered by the papers was a newborn infant. There were ants
crawling over it. I quickly called my parents. Its eyes were close. Was it dead?

61

By the time the police and the ambulance left, I was bawling. The baby had died. The poor
baby. The poor mother! To have to abandon her child! Why? I kept asking the question.
These experiences have left an indelible mark on me. Life's lessons have taught me to value
my family and to be responsible for my actions.

cajoled
exhilarating
gullible

to persuade someone to do something

making you feel very excited and happy
easily deceived or tricked and too willing to believe
everything that other people say

62

What changes would you like to see in your town or city in the next ten years ?
Declared a city in 1994, Johor Bahru is a rapidly growing city. My wish list for Johor Bahru
in ten years' time is simple - a city that is improved and developed based on the existing one. I
think Johoreans do not need a 'megapolis' but changes that benefit the ordinary man and
woman in the street.
Firstly, priority must be given to better planned roads and drainage. Floods occur every time
there is a heavy downpour. It has been flooding in Jalan Air Molek and Jalan Yahya Awal
ever since I can remember. Recently housing estates like Taman Johor Jaya were also flooded.
In fact, before the city grows more organically, there should be an improvement of the present
infrastructure.
Secondly, we need a garden city. We should 'green' the city. There are some parts of Johor
Bahru that are lined with the trumpet flower trees. They are beautiful when the flowers bloom.
This is a fine example that should bereplicated elsewhere. Local species like
the tembusu should be more widely planted. In fact many flowering plants thrive in our
climate. An example is the bougainvillea. Otherwise we will really become an urban jungle pavements and more pavements.
The present parks should also be improved upon. Set up public sports and fitness grounds and
facilities for the young and elderly. Outdoor exercise equipment should be put up in all these
parks for the senior citizens to exercise and enjoy the fresh air.
In addition, there should be better public transport. I think there are enough cars on the roads.
In fact, cars should be banned from the city centre itself. Of course then, there should be more
public buses that provide regular and efficient service. There should also be underground train
services that link the people from one part of the city to the other. This will cut the massive
traffic jams that plague Johor Bahru. Furthermore, there should be pedestrian walkways and
bicycle lanes all over the city. This is one way to save the environment.
To ensure that Johor Bahru moves with the other major cities in Malaysia, we should build
more facilities for the people. An example is libraries. The latestcensus figures indicate that
Johor Bahru is fast becoming Malaysias second largest city, with a population of over one
million. How many good libraries are there in Johor Bahru? There should be a library in every
large residential area. Let the children, even the toddlers, make the library their second home.
There is also urgent need to have public health centers. Public health care supported by stateof-the-art equipment should be one of the first priorities of the city. What is available now is
too insufficient.
Let's begin the work of 'remaking' Johor Bahru into a city where gracious living is a reality
now.

63

downpour

a lot of rain in a short time

replicated

to make or do something again in exactly the same way

census

to count the number of people living in a country

Eating out and eating at home

Malaysians are a fortunate lot when it comes to food. Food is readily available especially in
towns and cities. There are hawker stalls along streets, restaurants, and food courts where a
great variety of delicious food is sold. People have the choice of eating out or cooking their
meals at home. Three factors that affect the choice of eating out and eating at home are cost,
convenience and quality.
In terms of cost, eating out is usually more expensive than cooking at home. For example,
buying the ingredients to cook a plate of fried noodles may cost less than half the price of a
plate of fried noodles at a restaurant. Restaurants and food stalls need to make a profit.
Therefore, they have to charge more than the actual cost of the food they serve.
The second factor that people consider when deciding to eat out or not is convenience. Having
someone cook for you, serve you and clean up after you, definitely makes eating out more
convenient than eating at home. This is one of the main reasons why people opt to eat out. It
saves them the trouble of having to shop for the ingredients, doing the actual cooking, and
washing up afterwards. Preparing a meal is also time consuming. So it is no wonder that busy
people prefer to eat out most of the time.
Quality is the third thing to consider when choosing between home-cooked food and outside
food. Naturally, food prepared at home use better quality ingredients and is
more hygienic generally. In contrast, food served at stalls and restaurants is often not prepared
with such good quality ingredients as this would reduce their profit margins. Very often,
flavour enhancers are also added to food along with too much oil and salt, which are not good
for health.
In a nutshell, eating out is more convenient while eating at home is less costly and much
healthier. Making the choice is really not that hard as it just depends on what is most
important to you. If you dislike cooking, eating out is the solution. If you do not want to spend
so much on food, then cooking your own meals is the better choice. Finally, if health is your
most important concern, it would be better to eat at home.

opt
hygienic
in a nutshell

choose
clean
summarized in a few words

64

Reading has many benefits

In recent times, reading as a hobby has taken a back seat to playing computer games and
watching television. This is especially true for teenagers today. Most of them find reading
books boring. In fact, young people should be encouraged to read more as reading has many
benefits that other hobbies may not have.
One benefit of reading is that it improves our language. Books are a great way to learn new
words and expand our vocabulary. When we read, we come across new words. The new
words become familiar as we encounter them repeatedly in our reading. We learn how to use
these words correctly and they become a part of our vocabulary. Having a good vocabulary
enables us to express ourselves better both in speaking and in writing.
In addition to language, reading also improves our general knowledge. Through reading, we
can learn a lot about people, places and events among other things. A person who reads a lot
may even know more about a country he has never set foot on compared to someone who has
actually visited the place. A lot of information can be discovered in reading materials like
newspapers, magazines, travel books, instructional manuals and story books. General
knowledge is useful. It helps us to write and speak better. We become more knowledgeable
and more interesting people.
Besides improving our language and general knowledge, reading is also an entertaining
pastime and helps reduce stress. Books are creative works. They can open up a new world to
us. They stimulate our imagination and draw us into the world created by the book. Many
readers find it hard to put down a book once they start reading. A well-written story
is suspenseful and exciting. The reader can hardly wait to get to the ending. This form of
entertainment is healthy and good for our minds.
In conclusion, reading is an entertaining hobby that holds many potential benefits for the
reader. Reading is especially beneficial for students as it improves their language and general
knowledge which will help them perform better in their examinations. Furthermore, reading
helps lessen stress. These are sufficient reasons to take up reading as a hobby.

taken a back seat

set foot on
suspenseful

become less important or popular than something else

gone to a place, visited
causing uncertainty and an eagerness to know what happens
next

65

The importance of homework

Homework is a major part of every student's life. However, many dislike homework, as it
keeps them from doing what they want at home. Often, students will make excuses to avoid
doing any homework. However, homework actually plays a very important role in education
for a number of reasons.
Firstly, homework gives students practice in what they have learnt in class. Without this
additional practice, students will usually forget what they have learnt. The extra work will
also enable students to find out if they have understood what was taught during the lesson.
When the teacher marks the homework, the teacher will also be able to check if a student
needs help with a certain topic or concept. If a student has difficulty with a subject, it will be
detected from his homework and the student can receive help before it is too late.
Another benefit of homework is that it keeps students occupied in a productive activity.
Without homework, students will have a lot of time on their hands after school. They would
most likely spend their time on things which they enjoy but are not beneficial, such as playing
computer games and watching television. Homework ensures that students do some studying,
which will help them do better in examinations. Otherwise, their time would be wasted on
unproductive and even unhealthy pastimes.
Besides, homework is important because it promotes self-discipline. Homework is usually
done at home where there is no supervision by teachers. Unless students have strict parents
who monitor what they do, it is up to the students to decide when to do the work or even
whether to complete the task or not. With this, students would slowly become more used to
the idea of doing independent work without someone breathing down their necks. This
value will serve them well in the future, especially during work, where the ability to do
independent work is a prized skill.
To conclude, homework plays a very important role in education, even though students like to
complain about it. It provides students with valuable practice in what they have learnt, it
provides students with a productive way to spend some of their time and it builds selfdiscipline. It is clear then that students should not be lazy and should do their
homework diligently.

66

breathing down their necks

diligently

watching very closely

done in a careful and detailed way

Colors and health

It is a known fact that colors have an impact on our health. We use colors to describe our wellbeing. We could be 'in the pink of health'. However, we could be 'off color' or we may be
'feeling blue': Sometimes, you may catch us in 'a black mood'.
Research has found that colors can affect how we feel emotionally. If you go to a room that is
painted just black, it can lead to depression. Experts have warned that we should avoid
decorating any room entirely in black, however much teenagers want to, especially during the
more troublesome years. A room that is painted totally white is also depressing as white is
associated with sterile environments like hospitals and bathrooms. It can make the room feel a
bit cold and clinical, and the mood of the person will be low.
Research into the physiological effects of color has shown our spirit is lifted by warm colors.
Red, orange and yellow are the colors that energize and exude warmth. People just feel
stimulated and better. Cool colors like blue and green are soothing and calming. Doctors often
use these colors to relieve tension and stress. Blue, for instance, is associated with tranquil
surroundings. Blue light is used for a calming effect in some mental hospitals. Other hospitals
are now using soft green, blue, peach and sunny yellow on walls and even sheets and gowns.
These colors seem to help patients to get well quicker.
Nutritionists and medical researchers have emphasized that we should imbibe `a rainbow of
colors, that is to include all colors of fruits and vegetables in our diet to stay healthy. We
should consume fruits and vegetables of five different colors in each meal. This is why we are
encouraged to take green vegetables, tomatoes, pumpkins. The stronger the colors of the fruits
or vegetables, the more power-packed they are with natural anti-cancer nutrients and
phytochemicals. Phytochemicals occur as color pigments in fruits and vegetables. They
contain antioxidants to help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of many diseases. So,
take your strawberries and bananas. They are excellent for our health.
So, don't wait. Look at your room and the clothes you wear and the food you eat. Are they the
right colors?

67

in the pink of health

off color
a black mood

in very good health

slight ill
a very unhappy feeling

Your younger sister who is studying in a college is sharing a house with three friends.
You decide tow rite a letter to remind her of ways to take care of herself and to save
electricity bill.
How are you getting on with your course? You have left us for just two weeks but it seems
like it has been a long time as we miss you very much. We are fine here but I feel a little bit
lonely. There is no younger sister for me to bully and to tell off about your untidy room or for
taking my things. Father and mother send their love. They want you to be independent but at
the same time they miss the little darling.
I may sound a bit nagging here but I feel that I should give you some tips on how to keep safe
and how to save your money. Though you are sharing a house with friends of the same age,
they may be more safety conscious than you. Since this is the first time you are staying away
from the family, maybe you need to know a few more safety tips, be it at home or outside.
Here are some ways of keeping safe. Make it a habit to switch off the lights and fans when
you go out of your room or when you leave the house. By doing this, you can save the
electricity bill and thus save your money. More importantly, you can avoid any incidence of
short circuit which can be very dangerous. Surely you are aware that short circuit is the main
reason for most houses caught on fire, right?
So, do not forget. Always switch off electrical appliances and lights when you do not need
them. Turn off the computer when not in use. By doing so, you can save the environment too
because electrical appliances emits heat when they are on.
Have some plants in the garden if you can. These plants can help to swallow up carbon
dioxide and dust while cooling the area around them. With a cooler environment, there is less
need for air-conditioning.
Use public transportation whenever you can. Less driving means less fuel and more savings.
Car pool helps you to save too because you share the traveling expenses. So you do not have
to pay everything all by yourself. Make sure to send your car for regular servicing as this will

68

keep your car more efficient so you do not need to consume much petrol.
Another way to save money is to plan before you shop. Make a list and check it twice to save
money and minimize food waste. Buy only what you need and avoid buying that extra packet
of snack or soft drink. Check the expiry date when buying packed or canned foods. The
longer the expiry date, the better as this means the food is fresher. Food with earlier expiry
date may be on offer but this may be a case of penny wise pound foolish as you might be
forced to consume the food at a time when you do not need to. One may even overlook and
end up throwing away the item.
Another tip which you, my younger sister needs is to keep healthy. I know you are lazy when
it comes to exercising. But, you need to exercise to have a good health. Try jogging and
swimming. As long as you do it regularly, you are on the road to good health. Eat well.
Follow a healthy diet like what you eat at home, whole-wheat grains, fruits, vegetable and fish
and you will stay healthy.
That is all for now. Do write to us when you have free time. Love from mum and dad.

Describe an outing with a friend

On Saturday morning, Hisham and I cycled to Kampung Nelayan for an outing in his uncle's
boat. Pak Man, Hisham's uncle had invited us to go on a fishing with him and his friends. This
was an outing I will never forget.
We cycled to Bukit Nelayan. It was a long and winding stretch to the top. A tiring
but exhilarating ride uphill and the view from the top was spectacular. We stopped to catch
our breath and to enjoy the view. Then, we cycled downhill. The ride was easier as it was
going downhill to Kampung Nelayan a few meters away from the foothill. The way down had
a few sharp bends but it did not put us off. In fact,
I got so excited that I challenged Hisham to a race. He protested and warned me about
slowing down.
I turned a deaf ear to his warning and filled with excitement, I zoomed down the hill and took
the sharp bends like a pro. Trees and open spaces whisked past and I felt on top of the world
without a care or thought for safety. Just as I turned a bend, a car appeared on the other side of
the road. I was shocked to reality andgingerly applied the brakes to slow down. But, the
brakes did not respond. I found myself spinning on and on down to the bottom of the hill.
Now, in front of me were a huge tree and a clump of bushes. I had to avoid hitting the tree or I
would end up with broken bones. I swerved and landed headlong into the bushes. Not exactly
a soft landing but a safer one!
Hisham caught up with me and hauled me up from the bushes. On learning that I was none the
worse from the fall, except shaken up, he gave me a hard glare and a good telling off. I
looked at him sheepishly and we had a good laugh at my foolishness. Luckily the bicycle was
not badly affected except for a bent fender. We cycled to Pak Man's house and this time at a
leisurely pace.

69

Pak Man took us to the beach. We were helped into his boat and told to sit quietly and do as
we were told. Pak Man said he did not want us to end up in the water. We were there to fish
not to swim. I smiled awkwardly recalling the mishap at the hill. Soon, we were a distance
away from the beach and the three men cast a net. They rowed the boat along dragging the net
behind the boat. As usual, impatient to see the fruits of our labor, I stood up excitedly asking
about the catch. Before I could get an answer, I found myself in the water. The boat had
rocked and I fell into the sea.
Fortunately, I had a safety jacket on and it kept me afloat. Pak Man and his friends extended
an oar and helped me back into the boat. Hisham did not say a word. He glared at me while
Pak Man told me off about being impulsive and endangering my life. A few minutes later they
pulled in the net and headed for the beach. They had a good catch. We had lunch at Pak Man's
house and then left for home.
Hisham warned that he would not have any more outings with me until and unless I promise
to behave.

exhilarating

making you feel excited and happy

gingerly

in a way that is careful or cautious

telling off

to speak angrily to someone because they have done

something wrong

70

Should parents allow their children to earn pocket money ? Discuss

Pocket money is money that we have and that we can spend on what we like without having
to account to someone. Usually, as far as children and teenagers are concerned, pocket money
is given by their parents to help them pay for necessities. The amount of pocket money one
requires depends on what one needs to pay for. It also depends on how much the parents can
fork out. It may be given on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. Some parents attach
conditions on what the money can be spent on.
Children can always ask their parents for money but there are limits. Parents will say that they
have very few needs, other than food they have to buy in the school canteen. However,
teenagers have more things to pay for like snacks, entertainment such as cinema tickets, DVD
rentals, books and magazines when they go on an outing with friends. Other items they need
to pay for may include mobile phones and phone credit, school supplies, public transport and
other travel expenses, birthday and holiday presents and savings.
So, some teenagers may help their parents with household chores to supplement their pocket
money. But, this is not advisable as it is wrong to attach a monetary value to tasks in the
household. They may however be able to look for some ways to earn extra pocket money. It is
more fun to earn your own money whatever the amount is. Parents should and can allow their
children to earn pocket money.
There are several ways to supplement pocket money. Consider taking on a steady part-time
job at a fast food outlet or a shop near your house. Helping your parents, neighbors or old
people in the neighborhood with their work, such as typing or running errands like doing
weekly shopping for them is another way of earning some pocket money. At, times, one can
also do some mowing of the grass for the neighbor or looking after their home when they are
away. These are good neighborly act and perfectly sensible ways of earning some extra

71

money.
Tutoring other students is a good way of supplementing your pocket money. Doing this helps
the students and in return you are indirectly doing revision. Babysitting for some neighbors is
another activity that is both useful where earning pocket money is concerned and developing
a sense of responsibility. In many countries teenagers earn quite a bit of money by offering to
babysit on weekends or for a couple of hours in the afternoon.
Ask your parents about joining a car boot sale, rummage sale or posting items on eBay or
another online auction site is another good way to earn some extra money. While you are
earning money, you are helping the family to clear theclutter in the house. Make sure
whatever you take to the sale is really not wanted by family members or you might end up
poorer and burn a hole in your pocket.
Allowing the teenagers to earn pocket money benefits both parents and the teenagers. The
latter learn to value money as they have to work hard to earn it. They learn to be independent
and may appreciate their parents as the breadwinners. They also learn the importance of being
responsible for their work, either at school or part-time work. The former or parents will
realize that teenagers need their space to mature with confidence.
Whether parents should allow teenagers to earn pocket money depends on the family
circumstances. Pocket money can be the bane of any teenager's existence. No matter how
much you get, it never seems enough. Of course this is the point of pocket money, to teach
you to budget and save and become responsible for your purchases. Prove to your parents that
you are equal to the task and you just might be pleasantly surprised by the results!

rummage sale

clutter
the bane of

a sale of a mixed collection of things that people no longer

want, especially in order to make money for an organization
( a lot of objects in ) a state of being untidy
a cause of continuous trouble or unhappiness

72

Write a story beginning with the sentence, 'I stood there dumbfounded and stared at her
...'
I stood there dumbfounded and stared at her with my mouth open and wondering if I had
heard correctly everything that she had said just now. Then, I fell back against the basin and
held my toothbrush tightly. What exactly happened just now? Did she really say all those
things? I was trying to understand what had just transpired.
Plop! Plop! The toothpaste dripped from my open mouth to my toes. That jolted me back to
where I was and what just happened. I was brushing my teeth and thinking of the test I had to
face in school when Rebecca barged into the bathroom. Without preamble, she looked at me
with such a look that if looks could kill, I would have died then. "Sister dearest, if you think
you can get away with what you have done, think again. You've always been my idol, my
know-all older sister. I've always looked up to you but now, you have dropped to zero. I will
never look up to you again. You .. you ... " She stormed out unable to finish her sentence.
I quickly cleaned up and rushed out of the room. Mum was at the top of the staircase looking
at Rebecca's retreating back. She turned and looked at me with question marks written all over
her face. I shook my head and rushed down the stairs. Rebecca had disappeared by then. I
would try and locate her in the school and talk to her. But, no. I couldn't because we might
end up having a shouting match in school. As the bus drew near the school, I still could not
make out the reason for Rebecca's behavior. I tried to recall but there was nothing in my
actions in the past week that I could pin down.
When I reached school, my good friend, Suzy was waiting for me. I told her what had
happened this morning between Rebecca and me. She let out a loud laugh and chuckled non-

73

stop until I told her to stop it. She put her hands on my shoulder and sat me down on the
canteen bench.
"You really cannot remember what you did to her?" Suzy asked shaking her head in disbelief.
"Either you have lost your memory or you are getting old!" Her words calmed me and then it
hit me. Rebecca was angry and she had the right to be. I had totally forgotten what I did five
days ago. I had submitted Rebecca's name for the Spelling Bee Contest. She had been
unwilling to do it when the contest forms were issued. I know that she was capable of doing
well in the contest and I had tried to persuade her. But, she had stubbornly resisted. So, I had
taken it on myself to submit her name and her name had been picked among all the entries to
represent the school. No wonder she was so upset.
I laughed heartily and did a little jig with Suzy. That settled, I went to look for Rebecca. She
was talking and laughing outside her classroom. She did an about turn and was silent when
she saw me coming. I went up to her. I apologized, congratulated and cajoled her until she
smiled and laughed at her unreasonable behavior in the morning.
She hugged me and apologized and said, "Thanks, sis, for having the confidence in me and
submitting my name. Sorry for behaving so badly this morning." Things went back to normal
between us.

transpired

preamble

cajoled

If it transpires that something has happened, this previously

secret or unknown fact becomes known
talk or activity not connected with the most important
matter
to persuade someone to do something they might not want
to do

74

Fire
I glanced at the TV screen and saw a burning house. The crowd was shouting and pointing to
the fire. I switched the channel and read a subtitle in Malay "Tembak! Tembak!" - the Malay
word for "Fire! Fire!" Before I could say anything, the imp of my brother called out, "Got you
there! Shoot!" Of course, "fire" could mean "shoot" in another context. Reading a dialogue in
the papers, this sentence popped out, "I will fire you if ...." Fire in this case means to be
sacked. The word fire has different meanings depending on the situation.
The history of fire will take us back to the days of the cavemen who lived in fear of wild
animals or who ate raw meat or uncooked plants. Later, they used "fire" to survive the dangers
of the wild and the cold. Heat from the sun was harnessed to make fire. From here, man
progressed to man-made fires. These were made from natural materials like wax, kerosene
and gas. With a mere flick of a switch we now get a lighted stove that burns from gas or
electricity.
Fire has made life more comfortable as the fireplace keeps the bones and body warm in
winter. Food can be cooked and need not be consumed raw. Strange that when man has
discovered the power of fires to cook food, some people have decided to revert to eating
"raw" food. The Japanese like to eat their seafood raw. We have the meat eaters who like their
steak to be cooked "rare" or "medium rare" or "well done".
Then there is the barbecue and satay or having food grilled on open charcoal fire. We can also
have baked or roasted meat by cooking over fire. Have you ever been to a campfire? Boy
Scouts, girl guides, cubs and rangers have wonderful memories of their camping days, sitting

75

around and singing and cooking over a campfire. Watching the logs crackling and the flinders
and ash flying into the air and the night filled with the happy chatter and laughter makes for
memorable school times.
Then what about the fires that are so huge that they destroy without mercy. A house on fire, a
building on fire or even forest fires lick and eat up everything in its path. No fire victim could
ever forget the uncontrollable fear of being caught in a fire and they will relive the nightmares
of a fire over and over again. We can tame fire to serve our human needs but a fire that is
allowed to blaze away, uncontrolled, heightened by the forces of nature like hurricanes,
tornados and whirlwinds can destroy precious lives and property.
Yet, knowing the force of fires, man has been known to play with fire. The ordinary
matchstick, the one touch lighter, the gas flame, the burning candle, the lighted cigarette when
used wisely, is man's friend but abused or misused can become man's worst enemy.

You attended a talk on road safety for cyclists and motorcyclists at the Road Transport
department. The teacher in charge of the Safety Cub asked you to give a talk to
members of the club. Write out the speech.
Good morning to Puan Hamidah, teacher-in-charge and friends. Thank you for giving me the
opportunity to talk on road safety for cyclists and motorcyclists. As you know, I attended a
talk of the topic last Friday at the Road Transport Department. So I hope I can pass on the
message about road safety to all of you.
Cyclists and motorcyclists are the main victims in road accidents. You are more exposed to
dangers than car drivers. So, it is important that you take precautions and observe road safety.
Let's start with the cyclists. First, allow me to tell you what you should do before you go off
on your bicycle. Wear crash helmets and knee pads to protect your head and your knees.
Fasten them properly for if you don't they might come off and your head or knees will be
exposed in case of an accident. Wear proper shoes instead of slippers as the latter can
get entangled with the pedals and your feet may slip as you cycle along.
The same advice goes to motorcyclists. Your crash helmet is your first defence against head
injuries. Make sure you buy the approved crash helmets. Unlike cyclists, motorcyclist are
more likely to travel a longer distance and so face more potential dangers. Wear appropriate
attire like gloves and proper shoes. When you place your feet on the ground to stop at a
junction, compared to slippers, the shoes can give you better protection from the heat. If you

76

are wearing a jacket, button up properly as you do not want your jacket to flap in the wind or
be caught in any passing vehicle.
Both cyclist and motorcyclist should check their vehicles before leaving the house. Check the
back light, tyres and brakes to make sure they are in good working condition. Motorcyclists
should check their engines and fuel to make sure they have enough fuel for their journey. All
motorcyclists should switch on their headlights the minute they start their journey.
Finally, don't speed on the road. Speed kills. Don't overtake recklessly. Make sure the road is
clear if you want to overtake. Cyclists should not cycle two or three abreast. This applies to
motorcyclists too. Have both hands on the bicycle or motorcycle and don't use any handphone
while on the road. Motorcyclists should use the motorcycle lanes along the major highways.
Observe all traffic rules and regulations.
I sincerely hope I have convinced you to be careful while cycling or motorcycling on the road.
Your life and that of other road users are too valuable for you to be careless.
Thank you for your attention and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

entangled

being caught in something such as a net or ropes

recklessly

doing something dangerous and not worrying about the

risks and the possible results

abreast

two or more people who are next to each other and moving
in the same direction

Write about a person you admire.

My grandma used to live in a small farm 20 kilometers from the town where we stay.
Grandma planted vegetables and flowers for sale. In addition she had a small fish pond where
she reared several species of fishes for her and the neighbors' consumption.
Grandma left a mark on my life for what she was and what she did. You know you love and
care for a person when you look at her and feel your heart brimming with a special kind of
feeling. That is love and that is what I feel when I looked at Grandma. She was a superb
grandmother. She was so adorable and every one of my friends loved her.
She would give us pocket money and fresh fruits whenever we visited her. Every holiday I
went and stayed with Grandma. Sometimes a few friends came along. The minute I get to the
farm, Grandma would make me forget all my worries and make sure I enjoy myself.
I learned to appreciate nature up close as Grandma taught me to fix a fishing line to catch
fish, identify bird calls and animal and insect sounds. She always said that there was no better
place for her than nature in the raw. She would wade into the river and even caught fish with
her bare hands. Then she would let it go. I discovered the intricacies and techniques of
vegetable planting and floral cultivation. Grandma can even predict the weather just by

77

smelling the air and looking at the clouds. The best times I have spent with Grandma were
when we sat on the beach to observe the sunrise and sunset. The splendor of the sun made me
realize how lucky I was to have such a lovely lady by my side.
I always thought Grandma was the one and only and different from other grandmothers I had
seen. For her age and generation, she understood all of her grandchildren and listened to us
even when we grumbled about out parents. She was open-minded and I want to be like her
when I grow old. She was very supportive of whatever we, her grandchildren wanted to do.
She had even gone with us on some
of our nature hikes and adventures to isolated places. She always encouraged us to believe in
ourselves.
I remember clearly the times when Grandma and I sat on the beach at midnight to wait for the
turtles to come up and lay their eggs. We kept very quiet and as the turtles shed tears as they
did their egg laying, Grandma shed silent tears too. She said that she felt sad when she
thought of the fate of those young turtles after the eggs hatched. Most of them never made it
to adulthood.
The next morning, as we were playing in the sea, something dark floated up to where I was. I
screamed but Grandma silenced me and bent to scoop it up. It was a young turtle which must
have got detached from its family. One of its legs had a small cut. Grandma took it home and
looked after it. When the cut healed, I wanted to keep it as a pet but Grandma advised against
it. It was better for the turtle to have a normal life in the sea. So we went to the beach and let it
swim away. That day, I learned to appreciate the creatures of nature.
Then, all of a sudden, Grandma's health deteriorated. It was heartbreaking to see her lying in
the hospital bed. Two months down the road, she breathed her last with a smile on her face.
My Grandma was definitely one of a kind and one I would change for all the money in the
world.

up close
scoop

deteriorated

at close range
to move something with a scoop or with something used as
a scoop
to become worse

78

Parents and children should spend more time together. Discuss.

The family unit of parents and children is the most important aspect of our life. Some families
are big with at least four children while others opt for smaller family units of one or two
children. Nowadays, it is unusual for families to have more than three children especially
urban families. Whatever the number, a common complaint nowadays is 'my parents have no
time for me' or 'my children prefer to spend time with their friends'. This begs the question
why or what is the reason for such complaints.
A very basic rule of parenting is that parents should spend time with their children. This is the
time when parents can show their love and care for their children, physically and emotionally.
Similarly, the children can show that they appreciate their parents' love and this brings about a
strong parent-child relationship. Both parties benefit.
Work commitment is one reason why parents do not spend time with their children. They are
the bread winners and always want their children to have the best. Often both parents work to
support the family especially because of the high cost of living. Sometimes, mothers opt for a
career outside the home as they find the role of a homemaker too restricting.

79

This preoccupation with their careers means less time with their children. Consequently, the
children turn to their friends who are there to offer a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on as
and when it is necessary. They confide and open up to their friends more than their parents.
Another substitute for their parents is the maid who is always there.
When parents get home from the office and the children from school, it does not mean that
they gravitate to each other with their problems. Most of the time, it is just a gruff, "How was
your day?" and a mumbled answer. Then, they are on their own - mother prepares a meal,
father and children either in front of the computer or their iPhones. They spend time together
at a meal but each is more absorbed in his or her own thoughts rather than what the others are
thinking about.
This scenario is inevitable and common and it is a disturbing aspect of our so-called
progressive society. What can both parties do to correct the situation? Parents can reschedule
their activities with the aim of spending more time with their children. Plan for holidays, real
holidays together. Children can also do some rescheduling and spend less time with their
friends. Have quality time together doing the same things. Have common interests like
watching a game of football or badminton together. Ask about each other's day sincerely and
listen to the replies attentively. This will help forge a close and healthy relationship and is a
good and effective example of spending time together.
Spending time together whether as parents and children or among friends take effort and time.
Stay focused and you will reap the harvest of your efforts.

opt

to make a choice, especially of one thing or possibility

instead of others

preoccupation

an idea or subject that someone thinks about most of the

time

confide

to tell something secret or personal to someone who you

trust not to tell anyone else

We eat to live.
Food is any substance that we eat to provide nutritional support for our body. It usually
consists of plant or animal origin, that contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats,
proteins, vitamins, or minerals. We take them as sources of energy, to stimulate growth, and
maintain life.
It has been said that man does not die but that he kills himself by overeating. It is puzzling
that food which sustains life can also kill life. What it means is that if we are given to
overeating over a period of time, our arteries can be clogged up with fats and we can die of
coronary diseases. What is true of the world is that some die of overeating while some others
die of starvation.
Historically, people obtained food from hunting and gathering, farming, ranching, and fishing,
known as agriculture. Today, most of the food energy consumed by the world population is
supplied by the food industry operated by multinational corporations using intensive farming

80

and industrial agriculture methods.

Food sustains life. It is indispensable for life. If you go without food for a couple of days,
you will be like an invalid, immobile and incapable of doing anything. Yet, there are people
who go on hunger strike and risk death to plead a cause. Ladies who want to lose weight will
cut down on their necessary food intake and suffer side effects. Some even have problems of
malnutrition. Fasting or abstaining from food is practised for religious reasons.
The type of food that people take depends on the climatic conditions they live in and the type
of soil in the country. People who live in the tropics and equatorial countries take rice as
their staple while people in temperate countries take wheat and potatoes for carbohydrates
and meat for protein. Meat gives them the protein to withstand the cold weather. Religion
also determines the type of food people take. Muslims do not take pork while Hindus do not
take beef. Some people follow a vegetarian diet due to their religion. Still others will eat
anything and there are those who go to the extreme of eating what they call exotic meat, that
is, the flesh of rare and wild animals.
Some food has more nutritional value than others. While meat provides lots of protein,
vegetables contain a lot of minerals and vitamins. It is always advisable to follow a balanced
diet. Food can be cooked in a number of ways - fried, steamed, baked or grilled. The way
food is prepared depends on one's taste and interest. While meat has to be cooked properly,
vegetables can be eaten raw or cooked.
Food serves two main purposes - it satisfies hunger and provides nutritional requirements for
the body. It can provide pleasure and there are people who eat out of boredom. A normal
healthy man will not reject food. The desire for food can be psychological and there are many
among us who become frantic when food is not easily available. To them, eating has become a
habit and they believe that without food at frequent intervals, they will lack energy and cannot
carry on with their work.
Food is indispensable to life. We eat to live not live to eat.

indispensable

staple
withstand

something so important that we cannot manage without

them
a main part of something
to bear or not to be changed by something

81

Write a story with the concluding line'.... I'm glad we did not turn my back on a fellow
man. One day he might do the same for us.'
Roland and I were participating in the Sabah Adventure Challenge, a 150 km race. This was
the final leg of the challenge - hill trekking. The past two days had been hectic and physically
challenging and we had covered mountain-biking, orienteering, paddling and tubing. We had
come through the other activities in either the first place or second place. On this last leg we
had to do jungle trekking, followed by hill trekking.
The race had attracted us the minute we saw the advertisement. It would be like going into the
unknown where we would not know what lay ahead. We knew we would be challenged
mentally and physically. After signing up, we launched into a training program to be wellprepared. Of course we hope to win. There was no let up in our training for the two months
prior to the challenge. Every day we start our training with a hike up and down Gasing Hill,

82

cycling in the park and swimming. We have even attempted paddling and tubing in Kota
Tinggi river and waterfalls. We have a good relationship and understand each other well.
On the last day, we were going uphill and as we went higher we could hear the sounds of
falling rocks and earth. We had outpaced the other pairs of competitors and were feeling a bit
high. As we climbed higher, we saw a lone climber standing precariously on a ledge. We
signaled to him to be careful as we feared for his safety. He waved back and continued on his
climb. Rolandmuttered under his breath about some people not knowing their limit. I
understood what he was trying to say as I had been foolhardy at times before this too.
We pushed on but I felt a bit uneasy about the lone climber. Then, we heard a rumble, a
thundering cacophony of the sound of rocks, earth and trees. I looked back and the scene that
greeted my eyes stopped me in my tracks. We were just a few meters from the peak and I did
not want us to lose that advantage. Even if I was willing to stop, I had to think of Roland. We
had to reach the end as a pair or we would be disqualified. As I hesitated, Roland urged me to
move on. In that second, we heard a voice calling for help. Should we or shouldn't we?
Roland also hesitated. I could see questions and doubts in his eyes. The picture of victory
played in front of us. But, conscience overcame us and both of us, as one, turned back. We
could not leave a fellow man knowing he was hurt and that we might be the only people who
could help him.
When we reached the spot, we saw the man was badly hurt. His ankle was turning blue-black
and his hands were bleeding from a nasty gash. His forehead had a nasty cut and he was
almost unconscious. Together Roland and I pulled him clear from the rock fall and as he could
not walk on his own, Roland being the bigger of us two, said that he would carry the man. We
made our way downhill slowly to the finishing point. The crowd cheered us as we touch the
finishing line. We were still the first pair in, in spite of our delay! Roland and I exchanged
grins and I told myself 'I'm glad we did not turn our back on a fellow man. One day he might
do the same for us.'

hectic

full of activity, very busy

muttered

to speak quietly in a low voice

foolhardy

brave in a silly way, taking unnecessary risks

Beauty
What we define as beautiful depends on who sees it - the young or the old, through the Asian
or Western eyes or the beauty gurus.
Let me give an illustration. The Kayans are a tribe living near Thailand and Myanmar. The
women wear brass neck rings. The longer the neck rings, the more beautiful they are regarded.
On the other hand, the Asian world regards fair porcelain skin as the ultimate definition of
beauty. We are also influenced by the Hollywood idea of beauty. Look at Angelina Jolie,
Jessica Alba or Salma Hayek. All have fantastic skin, long silky hair and huge sparkling eyes.
This can also be used to describe Aishwarya Rai, the reigning Bollywood queen. This glazed

83

blue-green-eyed beauty was once a Miss World.

Another criterion is she must be slim. An example is Keira Knightley. This beauty has become
very slim. The idea of a beautiful person as slim is especially so in the world of fashion. Many
models are slim to the point of being skinny. However, they have eating disorders. As a result,
some countries have tried to put a stop to this. In 2006, Spain was the first country to ban
models below a certain weight from Madrid's Fashion Week. Italy has recently decided to
keep models who are sickly thin off the catwalk.
This is done not just for the health of the models. Teenagers and young adults look to the
models not just for fashion advice, but rather as the rules as to what fashion is. These young
adults notice how all of the models are skinny and therefore try to follow them. They think
that to be accepted and regarded as looking good, they too must be skinny. This may
inadvertently cause health problems for young women and men around the world as they
attempt to follow in the models' footsteps. This leads to poor diet, poor self-esteem and poor
health.
Beauty is also related to youth or looking young. This has given rise to aesthetic therapy. All
kinds of beauty treatments and miracle creams are in the market. Recently New Yorkers
looking for a quick beauty fix risk death from unlicenced practitioners offering oil injections.
We have forgotten what Confucius said 'Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it. A
good example is the anecdote of clay balls. A man found many clay balls in a cave. He just
threw them into the sea. Eventually, he found out that there was a precious stone inside the
hardened clay ball, but had thrown away many. Inner beauty is something that we seem to
forget - because we do not see it.
The recent singing sensation who was dismissed by the audience and the judges before she
could open her mouth is one such case. Susan Boyle is frumpy-looking, has bushy eyebrows
and frizzy hair. In short she is 'ugly' compared to the other young and beautiful participants.
However, she has a beautiful and fabulous voice. When she sang, she was given a standing
ovation by the audience and the judges.
Of course, looks should have absolutely nothing to do with talent. But people's perception is
such. We have placed so much importance on looks than character or qualities of compassion
and kindness that are so important in our daily lives. One of the most beautiful persons in the
world is Mother Teresa. She spent her life in the slums of India to take care of the sick and
dying. There are many like her, going around helping the destitute and sick and needy their
quiet little ways.
In short, we should open our eyes to the inner beauty of a person, and remember the story of
the clay balls.

84

frumpy old fashioned, not attractive

standin
an occasion when the people in an audience stand up to clap at the end of a
g
performance or speech because they liked it very much
ovation
destitute without money, food, a home, or possessions

Hobbies

85
'Look at this, my father called me over.
'Hey, it's our hornbill! It's so beautifully drawn. On such a tiny piece of paper!' I
was hooked.
I was six years old when my father gave me my first stamp. Now I have three
albums. Most of my stamps were given by my parents and relatives. I also
exchanged some with my friends. I am especially proud of my album on
Malaysian wildlife. I remember waiting eagerly for the postman to come, hoping
to get a new stamp - one that was not in my collection.
The artwork had drawn me to collecting stamps when I was six years old. Then I
started to look out for important personalities. I have stamps of our first prime
minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Queen Elizabeth, my favorite actors and actresses.
I collect stamps from all around the world. Whenever an important event is going
to take place, I will rush to buy the first day covers. My most prized possession is
the stamp commemorating our country's independence. Stamp collecting is a
wonderful hobby. I can learn about the history, socio-economics and important
personalities of a country.
I would not consider myself a philatelist; merely an avid collector of stamps.
When I am feeling down, a quick flip through the pages of my album will cheer
me up. The stamps have sparked my interest in my other hobby, postcard
collecting. Many of my friends sent postcards to me. I found the postcards as
fascinating as the stamps.
My first postcard was one of the funicular train in Penang Hill. My brother had
gone on a school trip to Penang and had written home to tell us about his trip.
From then on, I would coax or badger anyone who is traveling to get me a
postcard.
I have been lucky. Many of my cousins travel widely. I have postcards of the seven
wonders of the world. They are now vintage postcards. Like the stamps, these
postcards are windows to the past. I have a postcard of a rural scene of Malacca - a
farmer and a bullock pulling a plough. Another is of a tin mine in Perak. They are
all part of a vanishing landscape. Such postcards give an insight to what was life
then. I once went to a postcard and stamp exhibition. There was a collection of
postcards by German photographer A. Kaulfuss who was based in Penang in 1900.
It was a time of horse-drawn carriages and bullock carts and ladies holding
parasols. I would not have guessed it - if not for the postcards.
What is required of a good collector is some creativity and an orderly system. My
hobbies have definitely made me neat and systematic. I learnt the hard way as
many of my stamps were torn because I was too impatient and careless.
My hobbies have given me much pleasure. Nowadays my family and friends do
not ask me what I would like when they are traveling. They know the answer - 'Get
me a postcard, please. And get it stamped, if you can.

Laughter

86

I was watching the crowd going 'Ho ho ha ha' in a laughter yoga activity rather
sceptically. I was not in the mood to laugh, especially with a crowd of strangers.
But soon I was joining them in doing the one-metre laughter and the lion laughter,
and from mere grimacing, I was genuinely laughing. At the end of the 30-minute
session, I was perspiring. Best of all I felt good.
One of the earliest proponents of therapeutic laughter is Dr. William Fry, a
psychiatrist. One of his studies confirmed that 20 seconds of intense laughter, even
if faked, can double the heart rate for three to five minutes. Dr. Fry proved
that mirthful laughter provides good physical exercise and can reduce our chances
of respiratory infections.
In addition, he showed that laughter causes our body to produce endorphins that
are natural pain killers.
My favorite spokesperson for laughter as the best medicine is Dr. Hunter `Patch'
Adams. I saw the film on 'Patch' acted by Robin Williams and became a fan of
him. Do you know he goes around as a clown to hospitals to make patients laugh?
He thinks that the role of a clown and a physician is the same. Patch believes that
laughter is the best cure. In his opinion, every doctor should be a heart specialist a merry heart, that is. 'Patch' has inspired millions of people by bringing fun and
laughter into the hospital world. He has been a physician for nearly 30 years, but
he has been a clown for almost 40.
Another doctor who strongly advocates laughter as a therapy is Dr. Madan Kataria.
Together with his wife, he developed a range of laughter exercises that incorporate
elements from yogic breathing. These deep breathing exercises increase oxygen to
our cells. As a result, we flush stale air from our lungs. Dr. Kataria also discovered
that we could start with fake laughter but genuine laughter soon follows. He calls
this very unique exercise routine, Laughter Yoga.
Dr. Kataria includes childlike playfulness in his exercises. I could not believe my
eyes when the 'Ah Sohs' and makciks and pakciks hopped like kangaroos and did
the penguin walk. There are many clubs in different residential estates in Johor
Bahru that start the morning with Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha! I am one such member of the
Leisure Mall Laughter Club. It is fun and I feel energized.
Psychologists and therapists are convinced of the healing power of laughter. To
quote Mark Twain, 'He who laughs lasts.'

grimacing

mirthful
faked

to make an expression of pain, strong dislike, etc in

which the face twists in an ugly way
laughter, humor, happiness
to make it look real

87

Write a story that ends with: 'This made me realise how wonderful
my life is ...'
I was born in 1964 to a lower middle class family on the island of Pangkor. My
parents were fisher folk and we had a trawler that we used to eke out a living in
the Straits of Malacca. I had four older siblings, all girls-my parents tried for
children until they had a boy. I was to take over the family business when I came
of age.
My life was no luxurious but adequate. I had a chance to go to school at the small
Tamil school on the island. the island was predominantly Chinese, most of whom
were well off. Days were spent either helping dad land his catch or indulging in
idle play with my friends, exploring the island.
Fortunately for me, the Headmaster at the school, Encik Dollah, was a visionary.
He worked tirelessly with the small group of dedicated teachers to inculcate the
love for learning among the island children. There was a small library at the clan
association on the island that supplemented my voracious appetite for reading.
Meanwhile, my dad worked hard to put food on the table. When I went to
secondary school I found that my love for Maths and Science paid off. I was the
top student in the school and my sisters had also excelled in their studies.
One of my sisters had opted to become a teacher while two went on to study Maths
at a local university. The youngest decided to get married to a local businessman
and settle down. She ran her own successful hair salon after a stint in Lumut as an
apprentice at a salon. I was the last to finish school and managed to score straight
As in the SPM.
I had to go to Ipoh to study for my A levels at a college. A kind aunt took me in.
My dad was already struggling to meet his obligations to my sisters. I decided to
work part-time to supplement my expenses and managed to get a place in the
National University of Singapore to study marine engineering. Soon I found
myself as a graduate looking for a job. I landed a prestigious position and am
currently pursuing a Master's degree. Mum and dad lead a much more comfortable
life and my sisters are all happily married. Thinking on my past, this made me
realise how wonderful my life is.

eke out

to use something slowly or carefully because you

only have a small amount of it

well off

rich

paid off

If something you have done pays off, it is successful

88

Write a story that ends with : 'How will I explain everything to my

dad ?'
My parents had planned to go to China for a long time. I was happy for them as
both of them had not met their many relatives in their village. I hoped they would
have a great time.
I was also happy for another reason. I was hoping to ask a couple of my friends to
go for a holiday and it seemed an ideal time to do so. After all, my parents would
not know about this at all. I planned with Razali and Shan about the many things
we would do for those five days. We thought going to Port Dickson would be
wonderful.
Thus, we planned for our holiday and roped in a couple more friends as well. Kim
Seng and Jerry were more than happy to join us. I had just passed my driving test
and was very keen to test my driving skills and of course show offto my friends in
my father's new Volvo. Life was good.
On the day my parents left for China, my friends came over in the evening. We
packed our stuff into the car and left for the beach hotel that we had booked. The
drive down was pretty smooth and my friends were quite impressed by my driving.
I kept to a good speed and tried to remember all the rules I had to follow on the
road. We were at the hotel by late evening.
We had dinner and slept. The next day we went swimming and played games on
the beach. We made friends with many other young people and had a great time. I
had brought my father's credit card and used it to pay bills. My father's signature
was easy to imitate and I didn't think my father would mind much.
On the day we left, the bill had accumulated and was huge. I was a little nervous
but chose to ignore the feelings of guilt. We left Port Dickson after lunch and
drove back late in the evening. The weather was
stormy and as I took a corner, the car skidded and struck a tree. We were in total
shock but no one was hurt. The car was wrecked.
We had to leave the car to be towed back and returned home feeling miserable.
Imagine our shock when we reached home. The house had been broken into!
Everything valuable had been taken. I sat down and cried. How will I explain
everything to my dad?

show off
accumulated
wrecked

behaves in a way to attract attention

to gradually increase in number
very badly damaged