CONFIDENTIAL 1 LG/SAMPLE/ELC151

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FINAL TEST(SAMPLE)

COURSE : INTEGRATED LANGUAGE SKILLS: READING

COURSE CODE : ELC151
EXAMINATION : FINAL TEST (SAMPLE)
TIME : 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This question paper consists of three (3) parts : PART A : (8 Questions)

PART B : (5 Questions)
PART C : (11 Questions)

2. Answer ALL questions in the Answer Booklet.

3. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the
invigilator.

4. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of :

i) the Question Paper

ii) an Answer Booklet – provided by the Faculty

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

This examination paper consists of 11 printed pages
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READING COMPREHENSION
PART A (15 MARKS)
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

I Many medical experts strongly recommend breastfeeding for its uniqueness and
goodness. It is commonly known that breast milk offers a great number of benefits
to both mothers and babies. Although there are some unlucky mothers who are
not encouraged to breastfeed their babies due to particular medical
considerations, breastfeeding has been proven by the World Health Organisation 5
(WHO) to offer countless benefits to both mothers and babies.

II There are many health benefits of breastfeeding to mothers. In terms of health,

breastfeeding helps mothers to improve their fitness. Breastfeeding mothers burn
extra calories. Mothers who breastfeed their babies are believed to have slimmer
bodies as compared to those who do not. In fact, breastfeeding accelerates the 10
process of losing weight. Breastfeeding may also lower the risks of osteoporosis.
Another point is when breastfeeding, the hormone oxytocin is released. This
hormone helps the mothers’ uteruses to return to their pre-pregnancy size and
also may reduce the risks of uterine bleeding after birth. Experts say that
breastfeeding also lowers the risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. 15

III Apart from that, breast milk is believed to be the best “starter milk” for babies.
Breast milk is the best food that a mother can give her baby as it provides the ideal
nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat --
everything a baby needs to grow. According to research, breastfed babies are
found to have lower risks of digestive problems as breast milk is more easily 20
digested compared to formula milk. Moreover, breast milk contains antibodies that
help babies fight off viruses and bacteria which lower the risks of contacting
respiratory illnesses and diarrhoea.

IV Furthermore, breastfed babies are found to be smarter and healthier. The physical
closeness which babies experience while breastfeeding like skin-to-skin touching 25
and eye contact help babies bond with mothers and feel secure. Many studies
have reported that this links to higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in later

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childhood. In addition, breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of
weight as they grow rather than becoming overweight. According to The American
Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of 30
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and lowers the risks of Type 1 and 2
diabetes and atopic dermatitis which is a type of skin rash.

V While some mothers are exposed to the plentiful goodness of breastfeeding, there
are also others who are discouraged to breastfeed their babies. Mothers who are
physiologically incompetent should not breastfeed their babies to avoid medical 35
complications to both the mothers and babies. These include those who are
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive and those who have active,
untreated tuberculosis (TB). Experts believe that infected mothers face the risks of
passing the viruses to their babies through breast milk. Besides, mothers who
abuse drugs, such as cocaine or marijuana should never breastfeed their babies 40
until they have fully recovered from drug addiction. Babies who are breastfed by
these mothers may face the risks of viral infections and they may cause death if
left untreated. Furthermore, mothers undergoing radiation therapy should also not
be breastfeeding their babies. Nevertheless, mothers who are having a cold or flu
are allowed to continue breastfeeding in these conditions as their babies would not 45
be infected.

VI In sum, expectant mothers should note that breastfeeding is unique and precious
for many reasons. While enjoying the benefits of breastfeeding, they must be
cautious of several medical conditions that require them to stop breastfeeding.
Responsible mothers should gain advice and seek consultation from the experts 50
before breastfeeding to avoid any health complications.

Retrieved and adapted from

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/breastfeeding-14/nursing-basics?page=4

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QUESTION 1
Give the meaning of the words as they are used in the passage?
a) accelerates (line 10)
b) secure (line 26)
c) goodness (line 33)
d) precious (line 47)
(4 marks)

QUESTION 2
From the passage, identify two (2) benefits of breastfeeding for mothers.
(1 mark)

QUESTION 3
The word ‘Moreover’ in line 21 links two ideas. What are they?
(2 marks)

QUESTION 4
For each of the following, state whether it is True or False.
a) Breast milk provides ample amount of nutrients for babies’ growth.
b) Babies who consume formula milk are smarter than those who do not.
c) A combination of breast and formula milk is the best for infants as they get the benefits
from both sources of food.
d) All mothers should consider breastfeeding their infants regardless of their conditions and
state of health.
(2 marks)

QUESTION 5
State the topic sentence of Paragraph IV.
(1 mark)

QUESTION 6
What are the roles that breastfeeding plays in reducing risks of diseases in babies?
(1 mark)

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QUESTION 7
List four (4) conditions in which mothers should not breastfeed their babies.
(2 marks)

QUESTION 8
Are mothers allowed to breastfeed their babies when they have flu or cold? Support your
answer with a reason.
(2 marks)

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PART B (5 MARKS)

Study the table below and answer the questions that follow.

31

18 18

7
6 5 5 6
4 3 3 3

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QUESTION 1
Which social media sites were the least popular among teenagers in the first quarter of
2012?
(1 mark)

QUESTION 2
How many social media sites had more than 10% of users in the second quarter of 2012?
(1 mark)

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QUESTION 3
List two (2) social media sites which showed a steady drop in the percentages of users from
the first quarter to the third quarter in 2012?
(1 mark)

QUESTION 4
Which social media site showed a significant increase in the percentage of users from the
second quarter to the third quarter of 2012?
(1 mark)

QUESTION 5
Based on the information from the chart, suggest two (2) best social media sites that one
can use to start an online business? Give a reason for your choice.
(1 mark)

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PART C (20 MARKS)

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

I Mental or emotional health refers to our overall psychological well-being. It

includes the way we feel about ourselves, the quality of our relationships and our
ability to manage our feelings and deal with difficulties. People who are
emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and behaviour. They are able
to handle life’s challenges, build strong relationships and recover from setbacks. 5
However, just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, it goes the
same with developing mental and emotional health.

II Taking care of our body is a powerful step towards mental and emotional health.
The mind and the body are linked. When we improve our physical health by
exercising, we will automatically experience greater mental and emotional well- 10
being. For example, exercising does not only strengthen our heart and lungs, but
also releases endorphins, which are powerful chemicals that create the feeling of
happiness and lift our mood. Besides exercising, learning about good nutrition and
eating healthy food can also affect the way we feel physically and mentally. Thus,
the more we learn about what we eat and how it affects our energy and mood, the 15
better we will feel. In addition, we should avoid alcohol, cigarettes and
drugs. These stimulants may unnaturally make us feel good in a short term, but
they have long-term negative consequences for mood and emotional health.

III In order to maintain and strengthen our mental and emotional health, it is important
to pay attention to our own needs and feelings. We should not let stress and 20
negative emotions build up. Try to maintain a balance between our daily
responsibilities and the things we enjoy. If we take care of ourselves, we will be
better prepared to deal with challenges if and when they arise. Taking care of
ourselves includes pursuing activities that naturally release endorphins and
contribute to feeling good. In addition, endorphins are also naturally released when 25
we do things that positively impact others. For example, being useful to others and
being valued for what we do can help build self-esteem. We should do things for
no other reason than it feels good to do them. Besides, we should also try to limit
unhealthy mental habits like worrying. We should avoid negative thoughts about

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ourselves and the world that suck up time, drain our energy and trigger the 30
feelings of anxiety, fear and depression.

IV No matter how much time we devote to improving our mental and emotional
health, we still need the company of others to feel and be at our best. Humans are
social creatures with an emotional need for relationships and positive connections
to others. Social interaction, specifically talking to someone else about our 35
problems can also help to reduce stress. The key is to find a supportive
relationship with someone who is a ‘good listener’, someone we can talk to
regularly, preferably face-to-face, who will listen to us without a pre-existing idea
how we should think or feel. A good listener will listen to the feelings behind our
words and would not interrupt, judge or criticise us. Moreover, the best way to find 40
a good listener is by first being good listeners ourselves. We need to develop a
friendship with someone whom we can talk to regularly and then listen and support
each other.

V Experts believe that by counting our blessing or being grateful, we can protect our
psychological health. It is said that people who are thankful for what they have are 45
better able to cope with stress, have more positive emotion and are better able to
reach their goals. The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude is to
actively write down what we are grateful for each day. Psychologists say that
people who do this are expected to have greater optimism, better moods and
even improved health. 50

VI Looking after our emotional health is just as important as caring for our physical
health. If our emotional health is not as solid as we like it to be, we can improve
our emotional fitness by working on it. It takes time and commitment to build
emotional health, but there is a huge payoff. The more we make healthy choices
that strengthen our emotional health, the better we will feel. 55

Retrieved and adapted from

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/mental_emotional_health.htm

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QUESTION 1
What do the following words and phrase refer to in the passage?
(a) it (line 15)
(b) These stimulants (line 17)
(c) they (line 23)
(d) this (line 49)
(2 marks)

QUESTION 2
List two (2) reasons why it is important to learn about good nutrition.
(1 mark)

QUESTION 3
What can you conclude based on Paragraph II?
(2 marks)

QUESTION 4
Why is it important for us to avoid any negative thoughts about ourselves and others?
(1 mark)

QUESTION 5
In your own words, write the main idea of Paragraph IV.
(2 marks)

QUESTION 6
State whether the following statements are Fact (F) or Opinion (O).
a) It requires extra effort to build and maintain emotional health.
b) Endorphins are released when we exercise and help people who are in need.
c) We can feel better just by learning about the nutrition in the food we eat.
d) Exercise does not only strengthen our hearts and lungs but it can also release
endorphins.
(4 marks)

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QUESTION 7
Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?
a) advice
b) sarcastic
c) objective
d) humorous
(1 mark)

QUESTION 8
What is the writer’s purpose in writing this article?
a) to inform
b) to criticise
c) to entertain
d) to persuade
(1 mark)

QUESTION 9
What does the writer mean by the statement, “A good listener will listen to the feeling behind
our words” (line 40)?
(2 marks)

QUESTION 10
In your opinion, why does one need to be a good listener first before finding one?
(2 marks)

QUESTION 11
What advice would you give to a close friend who is emotionally down?
(2 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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