c

(25 marks)

Read the following passages and answer the questions which are printed in the
separate question paper in the spaces provided on that question paper.

1 Is the invention of computers a blessing or a curse? This is a question

that requires much deliberation. No doubt, the computer is a ubiquitous
feature of modern life. Whether it is at a restaurant paying the bill or
going to the Automated Teller Machine to withdraw money, we see the
presence of computers everywhere. Yet there are many who warn that 5
our increasing dependence on computers bodes ill for the world. On the
other hand, the benefits of the computer cannot be disputed as well.

2 The computer is useful because it offers us a window to the world.

Unlike the television that merely offers passive programmes, the
computer allows authentic communication with people around the world. 10
The Internet chat lines offer us the opportunity to communicate with
many people of different ages, nationalities and occupations. We make
friends through this service, which is more immediate and cheaper than
any other forms of communication.

3 Also, the computer is a real blessing when it comes to the storage and 15
retrieval of information. Gone are the days when records had to be
retrieved from dusty storerooms and moth-bitten files. Instead, the
computer stores so much information and is so user-friendly that space
and time are saved. Thus, we have at our fingertips a wealth of
information, the latter being of great importance in today¶s knowledge 20
industry.

4 However, the computer breaks down at the most inconvenient times.

When that happens, we find that we are really handicapped because
everything is contained in it. There is no other recourse to working on
the data because we either did not make hard copies or have grown so 25
dependent on the computer that we find ourselves stranded.

5 It is also easy to get addicted to the computer.There are many

complaints from parents and teachers that students are so addicted to
their computer games, Internet chat-lines and Internet surfing that they
neglect their school work and even meals. This is a very unhealthy trend 30
that must be stopped before it gets worse.

6 The difficulty in policing what is available on the computer games and

the Internet makes it a dangerous riot of information and entertainment.
If there are no effective controls, the young people could have access to
unhealthy materials like pornography and excessive violence, which 35
 could in turn create social problems.

7 But on the whole, the computer has many advantages that can make
our lives far easier and efficient. The problems can be controlled if we
pay attention to disciplining ourselves and not being carried away by this
invention of man. We have to remember that we are the masters and
not the slaves of computers. 40

|
 È
ß65 marks] For
Examiner¶s
Use
NOTE: When a question asks you to answer in your own words, YOU
MUST NOT COPY THE WORDS IN THE PASSAGE IN YOUR ANSWER.


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1. Show your understanding of these paragraphs by filling in the

blanks. Use ONE word only in each blank, and make sure ï  

 ï 
 



The computer is (a)____________ used everywhere in today¶s modern

society. However, there are both advantages and (b)__________ in

having computers in our lives. Clear benefits include the use of computers

to facilitate communication and to c)___________ and retrieve data

easily. However, over reliance on computers also makes us feel

(d)______________ when they break down. Computer addiction is also

another serious problem that needs to be (e)_____________. ß5]

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2. Write down two instances of computers being used in our everyday

lives.

ß2]


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3. Why are computers useful?

 ß1]

4. What are the three advantages of using Internet chat lines to

communicate?

ß3]

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5. How were records stored in the past before the invention of

computers?

ß2]


6. Give one word from the passage which has the same meaning as
³to find´.

ß1]

7. In your opinion, how does having computers help us to acquire the

³wealth of information´ (lines 19-20) that is much needed in today¶s
knowledge industry?

ß2]


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8. Why are we ³handicapped´ (line 23) when the computer breaks

down?

ß2]
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9. Why is it easy to get addicted to the computer?

ß1]

10. What happens when students get addicted to computers?

ß1]


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11. The Internet and computer games can be a bad influence on

teenagers. Quote the phrase of 7 words that tells you this.

ß1]

12. Give two words from the passage which have the same idea as
³censorship´.
ß2]

13. In your opinion, what kind of social problems will be created by

³pornography´ and ³excessive violence´ (line 35)?

ß2]
 
c

(40 marks)

1 People always say that Secondary school days are the best
times of our lives. This is no doubt very true. I still remember
with great fondness my class in Secondary Two. It was
Secondary Class Two D. We were a very rowdy and jovial
class of girls who delighted in teasing our teachers. However, 5
we were not malicious but were just very mischievous. There
were forty of us altogether and we came from 

backgrounds. In spite of our differences, we were generally
very united as a class and got along very well with one
another.

2 One of the things that we enjoyed doing was playing pranks on 10

our teachers. As we were from an all-girls¶ school, we often did
things that were very 
ï but harmless. Once, during April
Fool¶s Day, we placed a lot of talcum powder on top of the
ceiling fans in our classroom. We waited with bated breath for
our form teacher, Miss Gan, to enter the classroom for she 15
would always switch on the fans when she came in. Giggling
with anticipation, we held our breath as Miss Gan finally
sashayed into the classroom.
3 Miss Gan was a very tall, slim and attractive lady whom we all
liked very much. We knew she would not punish us for the
prank as she had a very healthy sense of humour. We stood 20
up to greet Miss Gan who then proceeded ± as we all expected
± to switch on the fans. Whoosh! A fine layer of white powder
flew wildly in all directions over the classroom. It settled like
snowflakes on our hair, clothes and faces. Screaming in delight
and bursting into ï
  laughter, we shouted at the tops of 25
our voices, ³Happy April Fool¶s Day!´
4 Poor Miss Gan looked shocked and could only watch
helplessly as the powder descended in massive amounts onto
her lovely pink chiffon dress. Miss Gan¶s hair looked like an
elderly grandmother¶s hair as it became greyish-white from the
powder. Her flawless make-up was ruined and her smartly 30
polished black shoes were powdered white. We broke into fits
of laughter seeing ourselves covered in powder.
5 It was just our luck that the Discipline Master, Mr Ho, happened
to walk past our class while doing his rounds. Mr Ho was an
extremely strict disciplinarian who we all feared greatly. Mr Ho
did not appear amused at the sight of us all covered in powder. 35
Wearing a terrible
  on his face, he marched into the
classroom and demanded to know who the mastermind was in
 his loud booming voice. We were all terribly frightened. We
tried to explain that it was only a prank and that we meant no
harm. In fact, we looked comical too as white powder covered 40
our faces and blue pinafores. However, Mr Ho was one who
could stand no nonsense of any sort. He was adamant that we
should all be punished. Consequently, he sentenced all of us to
a week of plucking weeds in the school garden for an hour
everyday after school.

6 The next week was thus spent labouring under the hot sun
from one to two in the afternoon. Our entire class also 45
apologised to Miss Gan and bought her a bouquet of fresh
flowers the next day to make amends. Looking back on the
whole episode now, I still feel a 
 of regret as Miss Gan
was a very kind teacher and, undoubtedly, we took advantage
of her kindness. It was a silly and youthful prank. Nevertheless, 50
it still remains as a very comical and memorable incident which
will be forever etched on my mind.

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14. How old was the writer when the story occurred?
ß1]


15. Give one word from the paragraph which means ³intending harm´.
ß1]


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16. What was the prank that the writer and her classmates devised for
Miss Gan?
ß2]

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17. Give a reason why the class chose Miss Gan as the target to play a
trick on.
ß1]

18. ³Screaming in delight and bursting into hysterical laughter, we

shouted at the tops of our voices, µHappy April Fool¶s Day!¶´ (lines
23-25) What does the response of the class to the prank show you
about their character?
ß2]



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19. Why is Miss Gan being likened to an ³elderly grandmother´ (line
28)? ß1]

20. Describe the physical appearance of Miss Gan before and after the
prank. ß2]

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21. Why do the girls fear Mr Ho? ß2]

 22. Mr Ho was ³adamant that we should all be punished´ (lines 41-
42).What does the word ³adamant´ mean? ß1]

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23. How does the class make up for the prank they played on Miss
ß2]
Gan?

From the whole passage

24. Choose from the meanings given the most suitable one for the
words used in the passage. Put a tick in the box alongside the
answer you choose.

(a) diverse (line 7) same

different

interesting

complicated

(b) zany (line 12) horrible

dubious

questionable

absurd

(c) hysterical(line 24) angry

happy

uncontrollable
 delighted

(d) scowl(line 35) fierce expression

amused expression

happy expression

sad expression

(e) tinge (line 47) decreasing amount

massive amount

slight amount
ß5]
increasing amount
25. Using material from Paragraphs 2 to 6, write a summary of what the
class did for April Fool¶s Day, how they felt about their prank and also
what they did to make amends for it.

Write your summary in not more than 130 words (not counting the words
given to help you begin).

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 ß20]