NOTES

READING COMPREHENSION

1. Read the summary question first (Question 31) before reading the passage in
Section C. The summary question normally allows students to get some ideas of
what the passage is all about. It is an advantage for weak students to know the
general idea of the passage before they read it. Teachers must remind the
students that they should not write the summary first after reading the summary
question. They must answer all the comprehension questions first.
2. Read the first line of each paragraph to get the idea what the passage is about.
3. Students should be able to identify the keywords in each question. The keywords
will be the clues for them to find the correct answer in the passage.
4. Students should only copy out the sentence from the text once they have identified
the sentence containing the answer. Of course, they must also be reminded that
pronouns such as I, me, mine, my, our, us and ours must be changed accordingly.
5. Students must be taught to differentiate between a word and a phrase. So, if
there is a question asking for a word, they must only write a word for their
answer. On the other hand, if they are supposed to write words/a phrase, they
must only write down a group of words which is not a complete sentence such as
‘uncomplicated delivery’ or ‘indispensable part of our lives’.
**In short, teachers must ensure the students are aware of the differences in the
following terms:
word, words, phrase and sentence.
6. Students must attempt to check the accuracy of all their answers.

SUMMARY

1. Students must understand the requirement/s of the summary.

2. Students must mark the lines where the summary starts and ends.
29
 3. Students should know that the first 3 lines normally contain the first point or at
least a content point.
4. Students must refer to the summary requirement/s before they finally copy out any
sentence as their content point.
5. When students have picked a sentence as their content point, they should copy the
sentence completely to avoid any distortion of meaning.
6. For weak or very weak students, they may copy the longest paragraph up to 130
words. By doing so, they should be able to score several marks for content points.
7. Students must also copy the punctuations accurately as they appear in the
passage.
8. They should try as far as possible to keep to the word limit. Exceeding it will just be
a waste of time and effort as anything written beyond it will not be considered at
all. However, no marks will be penalised for the extra words included.
9. By simply copying out sentences correctly, students will be able to earn 2 marks for
Use of Language.

USEFUL TIPS

1. Look for;
a. Subject matter (understand the focus questions)
b. Focus (how/what/where/)
c. Area of text allowed
d. Word limit
e. Starting word (10 words)
f. Count (130)
2. Writing tips
a. Minimizing
b. Removing

30
 c. Condensing
d. Substituting
e. Rephrasing
3. Beware of the differences between;
a. Distractors (supporting details)
b. Elaboration (extra points)
4. Write the summary in the correct order according to the text (follow sequence).
5. For compound sentences - join content points by using conjunctions.
F - For
A - And
N - Nor
B - But
O - Or
Y - Yet
S - So
6. For complex sentences – join the content points by using relative pronouns
Who, whom, whose, which, that
7. Use sentence connectors to link ideas from one sentence to the next and to give
paragraphs coherence.

Suggested List of Connectors

Listing Adding
firstly, secondly ... also, too, then
to begin / start with ..., to conclude with furthermore ...
in the first place, in the second place moreover ...
next , then , finally, last(ly) in addition to that ...
to conclude ... above all ......
last but not least ... what is more ...
to summarise , to sum up additionally

Baby Steps for Reading Comprehension

Task 1 - Let’s read
Adam is seventeen years old. He is in Form 5 Putra. He lives at Taman Pelangi,
Segamat. He goes to school by bus. Pak Abu is his bus driver. Pak Abu is a kind and patient
man. Puan Salmah is his class teacher. She is hardworking and caring. Ah Meng and Ravi
are his classmates. They cycle to school. They are good friends. They study at Sekolah
Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Putra.
A. Circle the correct answer.
1. How old is Adam? 3. How many friends does Ahmad have?
31
 A. 7 years old A. four
B. 17 years old B. two
C. 70 years old C. three
2. How does he go to school? 4. Who is Adam’s class teacher?
A. by bus A. Ravi
B. by bicycle B. Puan Salmah
C. by car C. Pak Abu

B. Fill in the missing letters in boxes according to the given clues.

1. diligent
h d r i g

2. friendly
k d

3. concerned
c g

4. tolerant
p t t
Task 2
Let’s read.
Pak Busu was an old man. He lived in a small village. There was a beautiful
garden next to his house. He planted many flowering plants. There were orchids,
roses, hibiscus, sunflowers and water lilies. The bees and the butterflies liked to
perch on the flowers. The grasshoppers liked to eat the leaves. It was really a
beautiful garden.
One day, he found a little girl on a big leaf. He took her home and named
her “Puteri”. She was a tiny girl. She slept in a small basket. She liked to sing and
dance in the garden. One evening, Pak Busu and Puteri went to town. She played,
jumped, hopped and ran around the town. Suddenly, she fell into a pond. She cried

32
 loudly. A bird on a tree flew down and saved her. Pak Busu hugged Puteri happily
and thanked the bird.

A. Answer the following questions.

1. Where did Pak Busu live?
_______________________________________________________________
2. Name some of the flowering plants Pak Busu had planted.
______________________________________________________________
3. How many types of insects were there in the garden?
________________________________________________________________
4. What did he find on a big leaf?
________________________________________________________________
5. Where did Puteri sleep?
________________________________________________________________
6. What did Puteri do in town?
______________________________________________________________
7. Who saved her?
_______________________________________________________________
Task 3
Read the passage and answer the following questions.
The Malayan Tapir is the largest of the tapir species. It has a white mid-section and
dark front and rear areas. This unique ‘saddle blanket’ marking makes it very difficult to
spot the tapir in the forest at night. The adult tapir may weigh up to 400 kilograms.
The tapir has 14 hooves altogether – 4 hooves on each of the fore legs and 3
hooves on each of the hind legs. Tapirs are related to horses and rhinoceroses. Bananas
are the favourite food of tapirs but these animals will eat other fruits and plants as well.
A tapir has a good sense of smell. It can move its long nose in all directions. When
it finds food, its very flexible nose pulls the food and places it in its mouth. A tapir can live
up to 30 years. It takes 13 months for a pregnant tapir to give birth. Tapirs are one of the
oldest animals on earth and have existed for 20 million years. These animals have not
33
 changed much over time. Sadly, tapirs are facing extinction due to the destruction of their
habitat through deforestation.

1. In paragraph 1;
a) what is a tapir’s most striking feature?
________________________________________________________________
b) why is it difficult to look for the tapir at night?
________________________________________________________________
2. In paragraph 2, how many hooves are there on the tapir’s fore legs?
___________________________________________________________________
3. In paragraph 3;
a) which word refers to the clearing of forest?
________________________________________________________________
b) what is special about the tapir’s nose?
________________________________________________________________
c) how does the tapir eat its food?
________________________________________________________________
Practice 1
Read the passage and answer the following questions.

1 You mess up your History test and a classmate storms up to your desk and abuses
you. Do you yell back and suggest that he drops dead or something to that effect? Or do
you simply smile and shrug it off as one of those days?
2 Whether you are having a bad day at school or recovering from an illness, laughter
may be the best medicine – it is natural, free, positively contagious and very effective. The
arrival of a good clown exercises a more beneficial influence upon the health of a town
than twenty asses laden with drugs, said the 17th century physician Thomas Sydenham.
And he was not far from the truth.

1. From paragraph 2, what are the four features of laughter?

34
 ______________________________________________________________________

3 Laughter exercises the muscles in your face, shoulders, diaphragm and abdomen.
During a hearty laugh, oxygen surges through the bloodstream and your brain orchestrates
hormonal rushes that raise alertness and numb pain. Scientists at the Centre of Preventive
Cardiology at the University of Maryland in America believe that laughter is very good for
the heart.

2. From paragraph 3, state the two benefits of laughter.

i. ________________________________________________________________
___
ii. ________________________________________________________________
___

4 We start laughing when we are around 10 weeks old. At 16 weeks, we laugh at least
once an hour and by four, we are cracking about once every four minutes. In contrast, the
average adult only manages to laugh about 16 times a day. It appears that we actually take
it to heart what our parents told us that life “was no laughing matter”.

3. From paragraph 4,
i) When does a baby start laughing?
_____________________________________________________________________
ii) Why do adults laugh less than children?
_____________________________________________________________________

5 In order to get ourselves laughing, it has been suggested that we expose ourselves to
humour – watch funny movies, tell jokes, start to laugh at ourselves and improve our sense
of humour. However, we should try to avoid using negative humour, and that includes
sarcasm, ridicule, contempt and joking about people’s names.

6 Knowing you are not alone is a key to great physical and mental health. In our day-

35
 to-day life, we rarely laugh alone. Laughter tracks in sitcoms testify to the fact that we
readily laugh when we are with people. Laughter is about relationships and about sharing
– qualities that are known to relieve stress and promote recovery from illness, especially
among cancer sufferers.

4. From paragraph 5, which word means disrespect?

_______________________________________________________________________

5. From paragraph 6, what are the qualities of laughter that can relieve stress and
promote recovery from illness?
_______________________________________________________________________________

7 Sadly, bad mood is something many of us are experiencing with more frequency
while occasions for us to have a good and hearty laugh are becoming few and far between.
It is not surprising when you think of our hectic lifestyles and the pressures we
face today. Too many down days can start to seriously interfere with our work,
relationships and home life.

Studies have shown that women are almost twice more likely to suffer from bad
8
moods and depression than men, and it is not solely due to hormones. Research indicates
that women spend a lot of time thinking about what is making them unhappy instead of
“laughing their blues away”. Consequently, they draw themselves far deeper into the
misery they are in. Men, on the other hand, are better at distracting themselves from
their problems by doing something totally different. They seem to be able to shrug their
shoulders and laugh it off and as a result, their mood quickly improves.
9 So, the next time you are feeling low, instead of wallowing in self-pity, laugh and
shake off that bad feeling and you can lift your spirits immediately.

6. Why are men better at distracting themselves from problems than women?
36
 _________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Practice 2
Read the passage and answer the following questions.

1 Every year, whenever the month of May makes its debut, sons and daughters all around
the world would be thinking of what they could do this year for Mother’s Day. The media,
cake houses and shopping centres take part actively reminding us of this special day. The
question that we probably do not ask is, ‘How did it come about?’

2 The earliest Mother’s Day celebrations were dated way back to the 1600s in England. All
servants would be given a day off every “Mothering Sunday” and encouraged to return
home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the Mothering Cake,
was often taken along.
1. From paragraph 1, what would be in the thought of children when the month of May
arrives?
37
 _________________________________________________________________[1 mark]
2. From paragraph 2,
(a) why were the servants given a day off every “Mothering Sunday”?
________________________________________________________________[1 mark]
(b) what was given to their mothers as a gift?
________________________________________________________________[1 mark]
In the United States, Mother’s Day was originally suggested by Julia Ward Howe back in
3
1872 as a way of honouring all mothers. Her dream of setting aside a special day to honour
mothers finally became a reality in 1907 through Anna Jarvis, who is considered the
founder of Mother’s Day.

4 It was Jarvis who initiated the custom of giving mothers carnations. White carnations
were for mothers who had passed away, while pink carnations were given to mothers who
were still living. Finally, in May 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a
national holiday. He also started the Mother’s Day tradition of displaying the United States
flag to represent the public’s expression of love for all mothers of the United States of
America.

5 As is widely known, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. It is a day
when mothers are showered with 30 tokens of appreciation from their families. Some
mothers are given gifts such as flowers, sweets, meals and cards.

3. From paragraph 3, who introduced the idea of celebrating mothers and in which year
did the idea of Mother’s Day come true?
________________________________________________________________[2 marks]
4. From paragraph 5,
(a) when is Mother’s Day commonly celebrated worldwide?
________________________________________________________________[1 mark]
(b) which word has the same meaning as “pampered”?
________________________________________________________________[1 mark]
(c) what are the gifts given to mothers as tokens of appreciation?
38
 ________________________________________________________________[1 mark]

In France, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in May. It is a family holiday
6
in France. The family gathers to eat a large meal and at the end of the celebration, all the
mothers in the family receive a special cake that looks like a bouquet of flowers. In Spain,
Mother’s Day is celebrated on December 8th and it is looked as a religious holiday.
In this day and age, Mother’s Day can prove to be rather daunting for some as we
7
either run out of ideas on how to treat our mothers or are simply not sure of how to show
our love and appreciation. Here are some tips on how to celebrate the day itself. One of
the best ways is simply to give your other a day off. Let her take it easy and relax while the
rest of the family does the work. You will be amazed the amount of work your mother has
to do! You can also prepare your mother’s favourite breakfast or meal. Make sure the food
is arranged nicely on a tray and don’t forget to include some fresh flowers, preferably her
favourite kind. Do remember to include a present, too!

8 Another suggestion is to take your mother to dinner at her favourite restaurant.

Whatever you have in mind, let her know that her wisdom, love and sacrifices are greatly
appreciated. We are always taking things for granted and if it weren’t for our mothers, we
would not be here today.

5. Without using examples from the passage, suggest how you would like to celebrate
Mother’s Day. Why?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[2 marks]

39
Baby Steps for Summary Writing
Task 1
Read the text and complete the following tasks.

Do you know that Taman Negara is part of a vast jungle untouched by mankind for
one hundred million years? The jungle is older than the Amazon. A visit to this place is a
must for nature lovers and those looking for adventure.
There are numerous caves waiting to be explored. The crystal clear water feels so
cool and refreshing when you take a dip. Waterfalls and natural ponds that can be found in
many places contain more than 300 types of fish. Fishing at these natural ponds can be
very enjoyable.
Besides fishing, you can also have a relaxing picnic with your family and friends
while listen to the various sounds of animals, birds and insects in the middle of the jungle.
For those who love painting and taking pictures of the beautiful scenery, this is the most
suitable place for them. The beautiful and breathtaking surroundings inspire them to do
their art work.

40
A. Based on the text, identify the activities you can do in Taman Negara. The first one has
been done for you.
1. Exploring caves
2. ________________________________ 6. _____________________________
3. ________________________________ 7. _____________________________
4. ________________________________
5. ________________________________

B. In about 60 words, summarise the activities you can do in Taman Negara. Begin your
summary as follows:
In Taman Negara, you can _____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Task 2
Read the passage and complete the following tasks.
Muar: A flash flood swept through a few villages in Muar district yesterday
afternoon. Most of the residents were at work and the children were at various schools in
the district. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
41
 Several villagers sustained minor injuries and were given outpatient treatment at
the hospital. Others lost their livestock like goats and chickens which were swept away by
the fast moving flood water. Some of the wooden houses had collapsed while many
sustained minor damages. Furniture and electrical appliances were also damaged in many
houses.
Many residents complained about the damage to their cars and motorcycles. Our
reporters also saw fallen telephone and electricity poles around the area. The village
heads have appealed to the state government for financial aid.

A. Based on the passage, fill in the blanks below with the effects of the flash flood in Muar
district.

Effects of flash flood

B. Write a summary of about 60 words on the effects of the flash flood in Muar district.
Begin your summary as follows:

42
 The flash flood affected a few villages in Muar district
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Practice 1

A. Based on the passage given, complete the following tasks.

1 You mess up your History test and a classmate storms up to your desk and
abuses you. Do you yell back and suggest that he drops dead or something to that
effect? Or do you simply smile and shrug it off as one of those days?
2 Whether you are having a bad day at school or recovering from an illness,
laughter may be the best medicine – it is natural, free, positively contagious and very 5

effective. The arrival of a good clown exercises a more beneficial influence upon the
health of a town than twenty asses laden with drugs, said the 17 th century physician
Thomas Sydenham. And he was not far from the truth.
3 Laughter exercises the muscles in your face, shoulders, diaphragm and abdomen.
During a hearty laugh, oxygen surges through the bloodstream and your brain 10

orchestrates hormonal rushes that raise alertness and numb pain. Scientists at the
Centre of Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland in America believe that
laughter is very good for the heart.

1. In paragraph 3, identify three benefits of laughter.

43
  _______________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________

 _______________________________________________________________

We start laughing when we are around 10 weeks old. At 16 weeks, we laugh at

4 least once an hour and by four, we are cracking about once every four minutes. In 15

contrast, the average adult only manages to laugh about 16 times a day. It appears that
we actually take it to heart what our parents told us that life “was no laughing matter”.
In order to get ourselves laughing, it has been suggested that we expose
ourselves to humour – watch funny movies, tell jokes, start to laugh at ourselves and 20

5 improve our sense of humour. However, we should try to avoid using negative humour,
and that includes sarcasm, ridicule, contempt and joking about people’s names.

2. In paragraph 5, identify one benefit of laughter.

 _________________________________________________________________

Knowing you are not alone is a key to great physical and mental health. In our day-to-
day life, we rarely laugh alone. Laughter tracks in sitcoms testify to the fact that we 25
readily laugh when we are with people. Laughter is about relationships and about
6
sharing – qualities that are known to relieve stress and promote recovery from illness,
especially among cancer sufferers.

3. In paragraph 6, identify three benefits of laughter.

 ________________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________

44
 Sadly, bad mood is something many of us are experiencing with more frequency
while occasions for us to have a good and hearty laugh are becoming few and far 30
30
7 between. It is not surprising when you think our hectic lifestyles and the pressures we
face today. Too many down days can start to seriously interfere with our work,
relationships and home life.

4. In paragraph 7, identify four reasons why adults tend to laugh less.

 _________________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________

 ________________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________

Studies have shown that women are almost twice more likely to suffer from bad
moods and depression than men, and it is not solely due to hormones. Research 35
8 indicates that women spend a lot of time thinking about what is making them unhappy
instead of “laughing their blues away”. Consequently, they draw themselves far deeper
into the misery they are in. Men, on the other hand, are better at distracting
themselves from their problems by doing something totally different. They seem to be
able to shrug their shoulders and laugh it off and as a result, their mood quickly 40
improves.

5. In paragraph 7, identify two reasons why adults tend to laugh less.

 _________________________________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________

So, the next time you are feeling low, instead of wallowing in self-pity, laugh
and shake off that bad feeling and you can lift your spirits immediately.
9

45
B. Based on the passage given, write a summary of:

 The benefits of laughter and

 Why adults tend to laugh less than children
Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the
original meaning.

Your summary must:

 be in continuous writing form (not in note form)

 use materials from lines 9 to 39
 not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows:

Laughter is undeniably beneficial because it can exercise the muscles _________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

46
 ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Practice 2
A. Based on the passage given, complete the following tasks.

1 Every year, whenever the month of May makes its debut, sons and daughters all
around the world would be thinking of what they could do this year for Mother’s Day. The
media, cake houses and shopping centres take part actively reminding us of this special
day. The question that we probably do not ask is, ‘How did it come about?’

2 The earliest Mother’s Day celebrations were dated way back to the 1600s in England. All 5
servants would be given a day off every “Mothering Sunday” and encouraged to return
home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the Mothering Cake,
was often taken along.

1. In paragraph 2, state the name of the country and how Mother’s Day is celebrated
 name of country: _______________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________

In the United States, Mother’s Day was originally suggested by Julia Ward Howe back in
3
1872 as a way of honouring all mothers. Her dream of setting aside a special day to honour 10

mothers finally became a reality in 1907 through Anna Jarvis, who is considered the
founder of Mother’s Day.

47
4 It was Jarvis who initiated the custom of giving mothers carnations. White carnations
were for mothers who had passed away, while pink carnations were given to mothers who
were still living. Finally, in May 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a 15
national holiday. He also started the Mother’s Day tradition of displaying the United States
flag to represent the public’s expression of love for all mothers of the United States of
America.

2. In paragraph 4, state the name of the country and how Mother’s Day is celebrated
 Name of country: _______________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________

5 As is widely known, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. It is a day
when mothers are showered with 30 tokens of appreciation from their families. Some 20

mothers are given gifts such as flowers, sweets, meals and cards.

3. In paragraph 5, how Mother’s Day is celebrated?

 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________

In France, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in May. It is a family holiday
6
in France. The family gathers to eat a large meal and at the end of the celebration, all the
mothers in the family receive a special cake that looks like a bouquet of flowers. In Spain,
Mother’s Day is celebrated on December 8th and it is looked as a religious holiday. 25

4. In paragraph 6, state the name of the country and how Mother’s Day is celebrated
48
  Name of country: _______________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________

 Name of country: _______________________

 _________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________

In this day and age, Mother’s Day can prove to be rather daunting for some as we
7
either run out of ideas on how to treat our mothers or are simply not sure of how to show
our love and appreciation. Here are some tips on how to celebrate the day itself. One of
the best ways is simply to give your other a day off. Let her take it easy and relax while the
30
rest of the family does the work. You will be amazed the amount of work your mother has
to do! You can also prepare your mother’s favourite breakfast or meal. Make sure the food
is arranged nicely on a tray and don’t forget to include some fresh flowers, preferably her
favourite kind. Do remember to include a present, too!

8 Another suggestion is to take your mother to dinner at her favourite restaurant.

35
Whatever you have in mind, let her know that her wisdom, love and sacrifices are greatly
appreciated. We are always taking things for granted and if it weren’t for our mothers, we
would not be here today.

49
B. Based on the passage given, write a summary of
 how Mother’s Day is celebrated in different countries

Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original
meaning.
Your summary must:
 be in continuous writing form (not in note form)
 use materials from lines 6 to 33
 not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows:

Mother’s Day was first celebrated long ago in 1600s in ______________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
50
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

INTENSIVE
PRACTICE
BASED ON
SPM FORMAT

51
 PRACTICE 1
Section C
[25 marks]
Questions 26-31 are based on the following passage.

1 Sea turtles are among the largest living reptiles and they are found in all the oceans
in the world except in the Arctic. They have been reported as far north as Norway and in
the south, off the coasts of Chile and New Zealand. This is possible because these amazing
creatures, unlike other reptiles, are able to survive in cold water. They can keep their body
temperature warmer than the water surrounding them, due to a thick fat layer under their 5
skin and their ability to shunt (turn off) blood flow away from their cold flippers.

2 All sea turtles have a heavy shell and they can withdraw their heads into it. This
heavy shell makes them clumsy and slow on land, but it is not a drawback while in the sea;
the shell makes excellent protection against predators. They also have flat, flipper-like 10
limbs, which can be rotated. These enable them to swim gracefully through the water as
well as move on land.

3 Female turtles always lay their eggs on the same beaches. There are only a few
turtle nesting sites worldwide. After mating offshore, they wait for nightfall to struggle up
the beach to a place above the high tide mark. There, they dig a shallow pit in the sand 15
with their fore flippers, and lie in it. Then, using their hind flippers, they dig a deeper pit
into which the eggs are deposited. The turtles then cover the eggs with sand and return to
the sea.

4 Once abundant throughout the world’s oceans, all seven species of sea turtles are
now threatened or endangered. Leatherback populations have plummeted in recent years 20
due to the many threats they face.
One major threat to sea turtles is the increased harvesting of eggs. Although sea
5
turtles lay a large number of eggs, this natural defence of preservation is failing. Turtle

52
25
 eggs are in demand not only in Asian countries but also in Latin America. The former use
them in traditional medicines, while the latter consider turtle eggs an aphrodisiac and
energizing protein. However, human beings are not the only ones interested in turtle eggs.
Turtle eggs have always been a delicacy to other animals such as seagulls, crabs and dogs
which routinely dig up and eat them.
Another major threat to sea turtles is the disturbance of nesting beaches. Beach
6
development and the noise and activity of the people on the beach may cause females to 30
return to the sea instead of nesting.
Turtle eggs are sometimes unintentionally destroyed by other turtles during
7
digging. Baby sea turtles or hatchlings are also at risk. Many are eaten up by predators 30
lying in wait, as the hatchlings make their way back to sea. The number of hatchlings that
perish depends on the tide. If they hatch on a night with low tide, they risk being eaten up 35
as they have a long way to go to reach the sea but if they hatch on a night with high tide,
the chances of survival are higher as they have a shorter distance to cover before reaching

8 the sea.
Every year, thousands of sea turtles are caught in fishing nets. Once trapped in
these driftnets, they are unable to surface for air and they eventually drown. Some sea 40
turtles choke to death when they eat rubbish dumped in the sea. Leatherbacks are
especially susceptible to ingesting plastic, mistaking it for jellyfish.

9 Artificial lighting on beaches may misrepresent the time of day to turtles

attempting to nest. A brightly-lit beach may signify daylight and therefore inhibit nesting.
Hatchlings can become disoriented by city and street lights when trying to find the sea. 45

Many young turtles actually head away from the ocean and move towards parking lots.
These animals may be eaten by predators or crushed by cars.

10 Turtles also die when they collide with boats or get caught in the propellers. These
types of injuries are more frequent in areas with a high level of recreational boating, such
as South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the United States Virgin Islands. 50

11 The plight of sea turtles has been recognized around the world, and many
organizations and government are working to preserve these ancient creatures.

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26.From paragraph 1,
(a) name one region where sea turtles are not found.
……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)
(b) what enables sea turtles to stay alive in cold waters?
……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)

27. From paragraph 2,

(a) why is the shell considered a problem for turtles?
………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)
(b) what is the advantage of the shell?
……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)

28. From paragraph 3,

(a) how many holes does a female turtle dig before laying its eggs?
…… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (1 mark)
(b) which word means ‘hole’?
……. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)

29. From paragraph 5, what is the natural defence that turtles have to prevent their
extinction?
…….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….(1 mark)
(b) state one reason why human beings eat turtle eggs.
…….………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………(1 mark)

30. Suggest two ways to save baby turtles.

Suggestion 1: ………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)
Suggestion 2: ……………………………………………………...………………………………………(1 marks)

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31. Based on the passage given, write a summary on:
 the dangers sea turtles face both on land and at sea, and
 the predators that endanger them

Credit will be given for used of own words but care must be taken not to change the
original meaning.
Your summary must:
 be in continuous writing ( not in note form)
 use material from line 16 to line 47
 not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

Sea turtles are facing extinction all over the world because…
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PRACTICE 2
Section C
[25 marks]
Questions 26 – 31 are based on the following passage.
1 When will I be released? I have another three months to serve until I am freed.
I have messed up my life and true enough, my mother’s curse really worked. That
must have been because I have hurt her feelings a lot.
2 My father had left my mother when she was pregnant with me. She played the
role of a single parent very well until I started mixing with some notorious boys in 5
school. She warned me to keep away from them but I insisted that they were part
of my life. I idolized them because they always had the money to spend and used
expensive handsets.
3 My mother worked as an operator in a small industry and earned very little.
We lived from hand to mouth. I was never given any luxury and I always blamed her 10
for it. I felt that she did not work hard enough to give me the luxury. At that time, I
despised her so much that I even told her that I hated the sight of her. Then, she
found a second job as a washerwoman in the neighbourhood.
4 I started stealing money from her savings and once I even pawned her only
wedding ring to get extra pocket money to impress my rich friends. I spent it at 15
expensive ‘Nasi Kandar’ restaurants. At school, I became notorious among friends
and started missing classes to join my friends at shopping complexes. Slowly, I
stopped going to school and when my mother found out, she scolded and even
begged me to go back to school. I told her to get lost and packed my bags to leave
home. She cried and promised to provide me with all the luxuries I needed. I went 20
near her and slapped her on the face. That was when she cursed that one day, I
would regret it when the whole world turned its back on me.
5 I left home and found myself a job as a foreman. The boss sacked me when I
started laying hands on his earnings. Then I became a contract worker and stayed
with the other contract workers. The workload was too heavy for me and I started 25
playing truant at work. I got myself fired again and had no home to stay. I went back
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 to my so-called friends for money and shelter but they turned me down and some
did not even acknowledge me. They stared at me as if I was a filthy thing. I was
hungry and became desperate. I needed food, money and shelter but I didn’t want
to return to my mother because I was ashamed of myself. 30
6 I had to do something. I walked up to the wet market in town, hoping to get
myself a job there. I saw an Indian lady with things in both hands walking alone
towards her car. An evil idea struck my mind. She had her purse under her armpit. I
walked slowly towards her, snatched her purse and fled on foot. I could hear her
shouting for help and some people ran after me. However, I managed to escape. I 35
hid myself at a construction site and I rummaged through the contents of the purse.
She had almost RM200.00 and that kept me alive for another twelve days.
7 I became excited because that was easy money and I felt like doing it again.
This time I went to the Mega Mall and tried my luck. I snatched a Chinese lady’s
handbag and tried to flee but this time I was unlucky. Some passersby and the 40
security guard caught me. I found myself behind bars, for a year.
8 I truly regret now. Once I am out, I want to go back to my mother. I have been
really cruel to her. I need to take care of her. I will go back to school and at the same
time I will work to cope with our expenses. I will do well in school and further my
education. I want to be an engineer and make my mother proud. I will get her 45
everything, everything that she needs. I need to get out of this place. Mother,
please forgive me.

26. (a) From paragraph 1, what has the writer done to himself?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)
(b) From paragraph 2, what did the mother do when the writer started mixing with

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 some notorious boys?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)

27. From paragraph 3, give ONE reason why the writer despised his mother so much.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………(1 mark)

28. From paragraph 4, which word has the same meaning as the word ‘pleaded’?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….(1mark)

29. From paragraph 5,

a) Why did the writer lose his job as a foreman?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

b) How did the writer’s friends treat him when he went back to them to get some help?
State two ways.
(i) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….(1 mark)
(ii) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)

30. (a) From paragraph 7, why is the writer behind bars?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..(1 mark)
(b) From paragraph 8, the writer says that he wants to go back to his mother. Do you
agree with him? Give a reason using your own words.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(2 marks)

31. Based on the passage given, write a summary on:

 how the writer messed up his life
 what he is planning to do for his mother when he is out of prison
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Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original
meaning.
Your summary must:
 be in continuous writing(not in note form)
 use materials from lines 13 – 45
 not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below
Begin your summary as follows:
The writer messed up his life when he stole from …………………………………………………
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PRACTICE 3
Section C
[25 marks]
Questions 26 – 31 are based on the following passage.
1
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 Sparky found school quite impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade.
He failed Physics in high school, getting a grade ‘F’. Sparky also failed Latin, Algebra and
English. He didn’t do any better in sports. Although he did manage to do well enough to
get a place in the school’s golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the
season. There was a consolation match; he lost that, too. 5

2 Throughout his youth, Sparky was socially awkward. He was not actually disliked by
the other students; no one cared that much. He would be quite astonished if a classmate
as much as greeted him outside school hours. He got used to being ignored by people. It
was not possible to say how he got along with the girls. He always steered clear of them
and it was said that he never asked a girl to go out on a date. He was afraid of being turned 10
down.

3 Everyone looked upon Sparky as a loser. His classmates, his relatives, everyone
thought Sparky was a born loser. So Sparky went along with that idea, too. He made up his
mind that if things were meant to work out, they would, despite everything working
against them. Otherwise, he would be contented with what life dished out to him, even if 15
it meant mediocrity.

4 But Sparky had one important gift - drawing. He was very proud of his artwork.
But again, no one else appreciated it at all. When he submitted some cartoons to the
editors of his high school yearbook, the cartoons were turned down. Despite being turned
down, Sparky was quite convinced that his forte lay in drawing. He decided to become a 20
professional artist.
After completing high school, he submitted a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was
5
told to send samples of his artwork as well as cartoons based on a suggested subject.
Sparky spent a lot of time on the proposed cartoons and the other drawings, which he
submitted. Finally, the reply came from the Disney Studios. He was rejected. 25
It seemed that rejection was going to be a frequent feature in Sparky’s life.
6 Sparky then decided to tell his own life story in the form of cartoons. He described
his childhood as a failure in school, in the social world and in his working life. He, after all,
had had a lot of experience, having failed in many subjects in school and being rejected in
the other areas of life. He created a little boy who was a chronic underachiever. This 30
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7 35
 cartoon figure was to become a world famous character in the comic strip ‘Peanuts’. The
famous cartoon character was, of course, Charlie Brown. His kite would never fly, girls
made fun of him, he never succeeded in kicking a football - but this character was here to
stay. Sparky was none other than Charles Schulz.
Schulz completed a correspondence course at the Minneapolis Art School which
7
was the only formal art training he received. But Schulz developed his own cartooning
style and sold his cartoons to the St Paul Pioneer Press. In 1948, the Saturday evening Post
bought his “L’l Folks” and distributed it under the title ‘Peanuts’. ‘Peanuts’ went on to
become one of the most popular comic strips in history, appearing in more than 2000
newspapers and was translated into more than two dozen languages. 40

8 Schulz received many awards and honours, including the prestigious Reuben
award given by the National Cartoonists Society, which he won in1955 and 1964.
Schulz’s style is admired as clean and uncluttered and his humour is personal, dignified
and intelligent. His characters are lovable and have human weaknesses. Throughout his
career, Schulz worked without any artistic assistants, unlike other cartoonists. 45

9 Schulz proved to the world that faith in one’s work and the ability to work hard can
make a difference. He didn’t give up when things were tough. He didn’t give up when
others didn’t recognise his talents. He didn’t lose his perspective when the world at large
rejected him. He did the rational thing and went on to become a great success and a role
model to the world.

26 From paragraph 2,
(a) How did Sparky’s classmates treat him?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]
(b) Which word has the same meaning as the word ‘amazed’?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

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27 (a) From paragraph 2, why did Sparky never ask a girl out on a date?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]
(b) From paragraph 3, what did the people around Sparky think of him?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

28 From paragraph 4,
(a) What was the one thing that Sparky was proud of?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]
(b) What happened to the cartoons that he submitted to the editors of his school
yearbook?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1 mark]

29 (a) From paragraph 6, what did Sparky decide to do after Disney Studios rejected
him?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... [1 mark]
(b) From paragraph 7, what sort of art training did Schulz have?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

30 From paragraph 9, in your own words, explain the lessons that can be learnt from
Schulz’s story?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
[2 marks]

31 The article describes the story of Sparky’s life. Write a summary about
 how Sparky went through life being constantly rejected, and
 his rise to success and his achievements.

Your summary must:

 be in continuous writing (not in note form)
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  not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
 use material from lines 1 - 42
Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original
meaning.

Begin your summary as follows:

Sparky had one important gift - his ability to draw. However, …………………………………
.………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………
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PRACTICE 4
Section C
[25 marks]
Questions 26 – 31 are based on the following passage.
1 Just like any other modern devices, the mobile phone has become an
indispensable part of our lives. These days, we trade our phones for newer units,
with sharper colour screens, digicams, as well as more polyphonic ringtones. We
seem to be getting new phones faster than we get new clothes. However, not all
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 old mobile phones go back to the market to be resold when the owner decides to 5
get a new unit. Some are left at home to rot in the drawer while others are sent to
the garbage bin, a practice which, at the end of the day, adds to the growing volume
of toxic waste in our country’s landfills. The fear by environmentalists is that as
millions of mobile phones are disposed of with other trash, the possibility exists for
their toxins to be released into the air and even ground water. 10
2 Mobile phones are full of pollutants such as lead (primarily from soldering),
arsenic, antimony, beryllium, copper, nickel, mercury and brominate flame
retardants. Older phone models use nickel-cadmium batteries which contain
cadmium, a toxin and suspected carcinogen. Therefore, the fear of the
environmentalists is genuine. 15
3 Even if Malaysians want to do the ‘right thing’, most are just too engrossed to
figure out the right way to get rid of their phones. A private college student, who
likes to follow the latest trends when it comes to mobile phones, disclosed that
when she buys a new one, the old one goes to her favourite charity.
4 The managing director of the Petaling Jaya Community Centre’s Environment 20
Centre said that unfortunately it is not often that his office gets unused or old
mobile phones from the public. The few times that it does receive mobile phones,
the units are totally unusable and irreparable and there’s nothing that can be done
apart from tossing them into the centre’s ‘scrap metal’ bin to be sold for their
weight. If there are any that can be used, they are sent to the shop to be repaired. 25
5 Nokia Malaysia offers a wide range of electronic waste management services
including recycling, processing and refining. According to Nokia, a typical mobile
phone recycling process involves the material being shredded into scrap. Metal and
plastic parts are then separated. The metals are sold to metal refineries, where they
are melted and purified for reuse. However, the recycling rate of plastics is low, 30
partly because recovered plastics often contain impurities. Fortunately, most
recycled plastics are suitable as a fuel replacement for oil. In addition, the plastic
scraps can also be turned into plastic benches and fences.
6 Nokia encourages its mobile phone users to send mobile phones which are
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 beyond repair to them for proper disposal. If not stored in the correct conditions, 35
old and unused phone batteries may leak and toxic chemicals will be released into
homes. Even if stored in the best conditions, what happens to these phones
eventually? One day, they will probably be discarded with the trash and end up in
landfills.
7 Mobile phone sales continue to climb, making it unlikely that the number of 40
used phones will decline. All too often, the one you used to love and take
everywhere with you, is now left at home, in a drawer, unwanted and abandoned.
However, attitudes are beginning to change as awareness and education grow.
Ongoing campaigns by various governments as well as by companies and
organizations within the telecommunications industry can and will help prevent old 45
mobile phones from making their way to landfills. Hence, it is our social
responsibility as users to help protect the environment for future generations.
Remember: reclaim, reuse and recycle for a greener earth.

(Adapted from The Star, 8 July 2004)

Questions 26 – 30
Answer all questions. You are advised to answer them in the order set.
26. (a) In paragraph 1, why do people trade in their mobile phones for newer units?
…………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………[1 mark]
(b) Not all mobile phones are traded for newer units. What happens to most of them
when owners get a new one?
…………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………… [1 mark]

27. (a) From paragraph 2, give two reasons why mobile phones are considered
dangerous.

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 (i) …………......................……………………………..……………………….............................[1 mark]
(ii) …….......................…………………………………..…………..………….............................[1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 3, find a word which has the same meaning as “preoccupied”.
………………………………………………………………….……………….…………………………..… [1 mark]

28. In paragraph 4, what happens when people donate their hand phones to the Petaling
Jaya Community Centre’s Environment Centre?
(i) ………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………...[1 mark]
(ii) ………………………………………………………..…………..…….………………………………………[1 mark]

29. From paragraph 5, state one use of recycled plastics.

…………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………[1 mark]

30. In your own words, state how we can educate the public to recycle their mobile
phones.
………………………………………………………………………..……...
…………………………………………………………………………………………..……...
…………………………………………….………………………………..…………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..(2 marks]

Question 31
This article describes the threats posed by mobile phones to the environment and the
solutions to the problems.
Based on the text, write a summary of:
 the dangers posed by improper disposal of mobile phones
 how they are recycled

Your summary must

 be in continuous writing (not in note form)
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  not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
 draw material from lines 8 to 37

Begin your summary as follows:

Unused mobile phones pose a threat to the environment by………………………………….
………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………
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