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CONFIDENTIAL LG/NOV2005/BEL100

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE PREPARATORY ENGLISH

COURSE CODE BEL100
EXAMINATION NOVEMBER 2005
TIME 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This question paper consists of three (3) sections : SECTION A (3 Questions)

SECTION B (1 Question)
SECTION C (1 Question)

2. Answer ALL questions from all sections in the Question Paper.

3. Fill in the details below:

UiTM STUDENT CARD NO. : _________________________

PROGRAMME/CODE : _________________________
PART : _________________________
ENGLISH LANGUAGE GROUP : _______________________
NAME OF LECTURER : ____

4. Do not bring any materials into the examination room unless permission is given by the
invigilator.

5. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of:
i) the Question paper

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 12 printed pages
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SECTION A : GRAMMAR (25 MARKS)

You are advised to spend sixty (60) minutes on this section.

1. Read the passage below and underline the correct word in the brackets. The first one
has been done for you.

Termites or white ants usually live (0) (in, on, over) soil. Their colonies can be found
just below the surface and can go as deep as 12 feet underground, (a) (These, This,
That) colonies consist of many tunnels and chambers. Up to two million termites can
live in a colony.

Each colony consists of a king, a queen and millions of worker termites. The worker
termites are (b) (busy, busier, busiest) 24 hours a day, gathering wood fibres
(c) (whose, who, which) they eat and share with the other termites in their colony.
The worker termites have (d) (another, other, others) duties as well. They protect
the termite eggs (e) (from, for, of) enemies such as centipedes and moles. The
worker termites also clean the nest where the eggs are kept. However, their most
important duties are to ensure the (f) (safe, save, safety) of the queen and to
feed her with (g) (special, specially, specialist) food. This food provides her with
sufficient nutrients so that (h) (she, her, hers) can grow big and lay a lot of eggs.

Termite queens can (i) (various, vary, varies) in size. Some grow as long as ten
centimetres, swell up to two centimetres in diameter (j) (but, and, or) weigh up to
100 grammes. Research has shown that the (k) (big, bigger, biggest) the queen is,
the more eggs she can lay. Some species of termite queens can even lay (I) (a, an,
the) egg every second.

The worker termites are (m) (rare, rarely, rarest) seen because they stay deep
within the colony. However, (n) (on, while, during) the rainy season they can be
seen in large numbers outside the colony. This is because they need to move
(o) (their, theirs, they) queen to a safer and drier place.

Termites are actually (p) (useless, useful, used) insects. They help to break down
trees that lie rotting on the ground. This is a (q) (good, better, best) thing because

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it helps to make sure that these (r) (death, dead, die) trees do not just end up piled
on top of each other over the years. Another (s) (benefit, benefits, beneficial) is
that, by breaking down the wood, the termites help return nutrients to the soil.
Although people think that termites are destructive, they do not set out to destroy
things; they just (t) (natural, naturally, unnaturally) eat wood and happen to be
particularly good at it.
Adapted from www.earthlife.net
(10 marks)

2. In the space provided, write the correct form of the verb given in the brackets. The
first one has been done for you.

For Prof. Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman, studying about the stars and
the planets (0) (be) a passion. She is Malaysia's first (0) is
astrophysicist. As Director-General of Malaysia's National Space
Agency, she single-handedly (a) (initiate) the National Micro (a)
Satellite Programme. When Malaysia (b) (launch) the (b)
TiungSAT-1 satellite in 2000, no one was more proud than Datuk
Mazlan as she was instrumental in getting the project off the
ground. Many Malaysians (c) (not, know) that the National (c)
Planetarium is also the brainchild of Datuk Mazlan.

Datuk Mazlan has accomplished many "firsts" in her life. She

was the first Malaysian woman to obtain a PhD in Physics from
the University of Otago in New Zealand. In 1999, she (d) (be) the (d)
first woman from a developing country to be appointed director of
the United Nations (UN) Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna.

Datuk Mazlan always (e) (praise) her family for the support and (e)
guidance given to her and says that her family has played an
important part in her success. She often (f) (speak) fondly of her (f)
late father, Othman Mohd Lela, who (g) (encourage) her to (9)
pursue her ambition. She (h) (be) even proud of her rather (h)
masculine name, given to her by her father, which is partly a
combination of the words Malaysia and New Zealand. She

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was born soon after her father (i) (graduate) from Lincoln 0)
College, New Zealand, in 1952.

During her schooldays, she stood out because of her masculine

name. "I had to be on my toes and study hard as teachers
(j) (keep) calling my name in class. Hence, I often obtained 0)
excellent grades in school," she says. While she (k) (study) at (k)
the Tunku Kurshiah College, she often won the top prizes for
mathematics and science.

After obtaining her doctorate from the University of Otago, Datuk

Mazlan served in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Department
of Applied Physics. It was while she (I) (work) as a lecturer that (I)
the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry (m) (offer) (m)
her the post of astrophysicist at the ministry.

When she was attached to the UN, Datuk Mazlan supervised UN

space activities that promoted peaceful uses of space
technology. As a result of her vast work experience there, she
now (n) (have) a lot of international contacts. At the moment, (n)
Datuk Mazlan (o) (conduct) research on space development (o)
priorities. At the same time, she and her colleagues
(p) (also, prepare) the national space policy. (P)

Datuk Mazlan (q) (also, look) into possibilities for Malaysians to (q)
participate in space missions. She hopes that Malaysia
(r) (send) its first astronaut into space by 2020. She believes (r)
that the Malaysian government (s) (get) help from NASA to train (s)
local astronauts for the mission. If Malaysia does send an
astronaut into space, it (t) (bring) honour and recognition to the (t)
country.
Adapted from New Straits Times, August 2003
(10 marks)

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3. The passage below contains eleven (11) errors which have been underlined. Correct
each error and write the answer in the space provided. The first error has been
corrected for you.

Teaching our children (0) a value of money is difficult. Many (0) the
parents give (a) they children too much money to spend. If (a)__
(b) this children are left unsupervised, they can develop bad (b)__
spending habits. Guidance from parents is (c) a best way to (c)__
teach children to manage their money (d) wise. Children (d)__
usually learn from role models just like the rest of us.

Children need to be taught (e) where they are young to have (e).
good saving and spending habits. Give them a weekly or
monthly allowance to (f) lets them learn the value of money.
Parents should insist that their children (g) safe at least 10 per (9).
cent of their allowance each month. If the children (h) spends (h).
all their allowance, they must learn to wait for their next
allowance. Parents must resist the temptation to give them
(i) most money before their next allowance is due.

Parents can also make their children do household chores

such as washing the car (j) but vacuuming the carpet to earn 0).
more money to supplement their allowance.

(5 marks)

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SECTION B : READING COMPREHENSION (15 MARKS)

You are advised to spend sixty (60) minutes on this section.

Read the following passage and answer ALL the questions that follow.

I Penang was established as a trading post by the British in 1786. Since it

was strategically positioned between the trading routes of India, China and
the Indonesian islands, it became the centre for the profitable tea and
opium trade between India and China. This port attracted people from
neighbouring countries like the Siamese and the Indonesians. 5

II The Chinese who came to this island as traders and workers brought with
them their social, cultural and religious belief systems. Most of them
arrived in Penang to work as labourers and craftsmen, bringing with them
the traditional skills and craftsmanship that they had acquired in their
homeland. 10

III One of the crafts that the Chinese brought along with them was the art of
joss stick making. Joss sticks are scented sticks burned by the Chinese in
temples and homes as an offering to the gods. The origins of joss sticks
are unknown, but it is believed that they were first brought to China by
Buddhist monks from India who used them in temples during their prayers. 15
As time went by, people who went to pray in the temples brought joss
sticks with them as an offering to the gods. They believed that their
prayers would be answered by burning joss sticks.

IV The method of making joss sticks is quite straightforward. Three

ingredients, namely sandalwood powder, sticky powder and sawdust are 20
mixed in a basin of water and kneaded into a dough-like mixture. Portions
of this mixture are put into hollow bamboo poles to form the joss sticks.
Once it hardens, each joss stick is pulled out from its mould. The joss
sticks are then laid out in trays and left out in the sun to dry for a few days
before they are sorted, painted, labelled and packed. 25

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V Joss sticks come in a variety of sizes and can cost up to several hundred
ringgit. The thin ones are usually made in enclosed rooms so as to prevent
the fine dust from flying away while the giant joss sticks are usually made
outdoors because they can measure several feet high. The larger ones
are more expensive as they require more effort to produce. These joss 30
sticks are very popular during festivals and religious functions in temples
such as the Hungry Ghosts Festival and the Nine Emperor Gods Festival
and people are willing to pay more for these huge, elaborately decorated
items.

VI The joss sticks from Penang are, however, a little different from the ones 35
you find elsewhere. They are unique as they are each handmade with
individual designs as opposed to the factory-produced ones.
These joss sticks are usually intricately decorated with colourful designs of
dragon heads, phoenixes and lions. Furthermore, they are hand-painted
with oil paint, making them true works of art. It seems a pity that they end 40
up being burnt. Nevertheless, regardless of its physical beauty, a joss stick
that is actually used in prayers is always considered far superior to one
which looks so beautiful that it is left untouched and unlit.

Adapted from http://www.keynews.org/archives/a_diabetell.htm

1. What do the following words refer to in the passage?

(a) This port (line 4) : ________

(b) them (line 7) : _______

(c) One of the crafts (line 11) : _______

(d) These joss sticks (line 38) : _______

(2 marks)

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2. Circle the meaning of each word as it is used in the passage.

(a) origins (line 13)

i. causes

ii. beginnings

iii. outcomes

(b) straightforward (line 19)

i. difficult

ii. ordinary

iii. simple

(c) unique (line 36)

i. interesting

ii. special

iii. expensive

(c) superior (line 42)

i. dearer

ii. greater

iii. better

(2 marks)

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3. In the spaces provided, state whether the following statements are True (T) or False
(F).

(a) Joss sticks were first brought to China by Buddhist monks.

(b) Many Chinese who came to Penang were skilled craftsmen.

(c) Large joss sticks are mostly used during Chinese festivals.

(d) Beautifully designed joss sticks are considered too superior to

be burnt.

(2 marks)

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

4. Why did Penang become a successful trading post in the eighteenth century?

(1 mark)

5. What did Penang gain from the arrival of the early Chinese craftsmen and
labourers?

(1 mark)

6. Give two reasons why joss sticks are burnt by the Chinese during their prayers.

(2 marks)

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Why do the larger joss sticks cost more?

(a) __________________

(b)

(2 marks)

8. What is the topic sentence of paragraph VI?

(1 mark)

9. Complete the following chart with information from the passage.

Steps in making joss sticks

1 . First, mix the (a) in a basin

of water.

2. Then put portions of the mixture into (b) to form the

joss sticks.

3. Next, pull the hardened joss sticks out of moulds and (c)

4. Finally, sort, paint (d) and pack the ioss sticks.

(2 marks)

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SECTION C : WRITING (20 MARKS)

You are advised to spend sixty (60) minutes on this section.

You have been asked to write an article for your college newsletter about the importance of
enrolling on a self-defence course (e.g. karate, taekwando and silat).

You may include the following points:

- can learn to protect oneself from bad people (e.g. gangsters and bullies)
- can develop discipline and self-confidence
- can keep oneself fit and healthy

Your essay should be about 180 - 200 words.

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(20 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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