PRACTICE SECTION The following are the novels studied in the literature component in English Language

The Curse by Lee Su Ann Step by Wicked Step by Ann Fine. Catch Us If You Can by Catherine McPhail Based on one novel above, write about the following.

Provide evidence from the text to support your answer. Your response should be Not less than 50 words In continuous writing (not in note form)

Practice 1 Based on one novel above, discuss one of the themes in the story. Provide evidence from the text to support your answer Practice 2 Write about a character that you find most interesting. Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

Practice 3 Write about a moral value you have learnt in the story. Support your answer with evidence from the novel

Practice 4 Based on one novel above, write about an episode that is memorable in the story. Provide evidence from the text to support your answer. Practice 5 Based on the novel of your choice, discuss the problems faced by a character. How does he/she overcome the problems? Practice 6 Compare two characters in the novel you have studied. How are they similar?

SUGGESTED ANSWERSPractice 1 Through the novel The Curse, gender stereotyping is portrayed through how females should behave. This can be seen especially through Azreen. For example, Azreens school friends start to cast suspicious eyes towards her when she behaves unlady-like. She plays hockey with the boys and even laughs like a bunch of hyenas with them. To them, as a woman, Azreen is not expected to be tomboyish and hangs too closely with boys.

Practice 2 An interesting character in the novel- The Curse is the old lady. She is an educated woman as she has knowledge of herbal medicine to treat illnesses. Her house is always neat and situated by the hillside. She is a caring and concerned woman as she takes Azreen in and gives her food and shelter whenever she has fights and problems. She is also a resourceful person and she is a good cook and her recipes and secret ingredients are very much sought after.

Practice 3 The value in life that I have learnt in the novel- Catch us if you can is The Importance of Family. Sacrifices for family are honoured and explored, as are the family bonds that survive adversity. Family responsibility in the novel is best displayed by Rorys constant care of his grandfather. Very early in age, Rory has realised that there was only Granda and me to make up a family. Rory does not know any other family love. His father had left them when he was very young. Granda had taken care of him all his

life and now, as Granda is getting old and forgetful, and is never quite well, it is his turn to look after him.

Practice 4 The incident which is memorable in Catch us if you can is when Granda is sent to Rachnadar, Rory knows that he has to get him away from that place. Though torn with desperation at times ( Grandas carelessness with the chip pan had landed him in hospital and Rory atCastle Street), Rory plans the Great Escape and gets him away from the hospital where they put old people in.

Practice 5 In the novel Step by Wicked Step, Richard reveals the pain of the knowledge of his dying father and the intrusion of Mr. Coldstone into the family. Then Richards father dies. Mr Coldstone is very harsh towards Richard. Richard feels that his own happiness is not counted for. He wishes for his father to wake up from the grave and tell him that all things in the house have gone wrong since the fathers death. Richard had practically become a stranger in his own house. His house was like a tomb. Richard leaves the house. He feels that his presence is not wanted by his mother.

Practice 6 Claudia are the two characters I have chosen to compare and contrast. Although they are two differing characters, they also have some similarities. Both Colin and Claudia come from broken or separated families. They both have step parents. Colins mother has left his biological father and `took up with Jack. Jack is the only father figure Colin ever know. However, Colins mum leaves Jack after a while. This causes him to miss Jack so badly that it hurts. On the other hand, Claudias father has left her mother for another woman, Stella. She feels disloyal to her mum whenever she has a good time with her father and Stella. Both Colin and Claudia really want their parents to reconcile as they pine for how it used to be when they were happy.