READING COMPREHENSION SPM

Passage 1
Questions 26-30 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 old mobile phones
go back to the market to be resold when the owner decides to get a new unit. Some are 5
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 brominated 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.
3 Even if Malaysians want to do the ‘right thing’, most are just too engrossed to 15
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 Centre, said that unfortunately it is not often that his office gets unused or 20
old mobile phones from the public. The few times that it does receive mobile phones, the
units are totally unusable and irreparable and there is 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.
5 Nokia Malaysia offers a wide range of electronic waste management services 25
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, partly because
recovered plastics often contain impurities. Fortunately, most recycled plastics are 30
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
beyond repair to them for proper disposal. If not stored in the correct conditions, old and
unused phone batteries may leak and toxic chemicals will be released into homes. Even 35
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 Although mobile phone sales continue to climb, it is unlikely that the number of
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 40
are beginning to change as awareness and education grow. Ongoing campaigns by
various governments as well as by companies and organisations within the
telecommunications industry can and will help prevent old 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 45
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, what has become an important part of our lives? [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.[2marks]

(b) From paragraph 3,
(i) find a word which has the same meaning as preoccupied [1 mark]
(ii) what do you think is the ‘right thing’ to do? [1 mark]

28 From paragraph 4, why does the managing director of the Petaling Jaya Community

Centre’s Environment Centre, say “unfortunately it is not often that his office gets unused or
old mobile phones from the public”? [1mark]

29 From paragraph 5, state one use of recycled plastics. [1mark]

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

Passage 2
Questions 26-30 are based on the following passage.
Read the passage about a 10-day course at the Outward Bound School in Lumut.
1 When put together under circumstances that are physically, emotionally and
spiritually taxing, a close bonding among people can occur. What I am going to relate to
you is the experience of a group who started out with fear, anxiety and distrust but felt a
special bond of love and understanding at the end of the period. Yes, a group of
strangers can become closer than a family. 5
2 I will never forget the 10-day course at the Outward Bound School in Lumut.
The term outward bound is used to refer to a ship leaving port to venture out into the
open sea. And that was exactly what we, the participants, were doing. We were leaving
the safe haven of our homes to have a changed self-concept, an increased
understanding of others and to accept physical, mental and social challenges. What we 10
did not realise was how tough it was going to be and more so, the changes that were
going to take place within us.
3 All participants were put in groups called watches, which were named after
famous Malaysian mountains such as Kinabalu, Tahan and Jerai. Each watch
consisted of fifteen participants, headed by one instructor and one assistant. This was 15
to help organize the large group into smaller, more manageable groups. Moreover,
people feel great to be associated with mountains—big, tall, majestic and inspiring! The
instructors guided and encouraged us, especially through the rough times. We did not
quite expect them to encourage us as we came with the preconceived idea that the
instructors were going to be mean and push us to physical and emotional despair. This 20
was far from true. Our instructors and the other administrative staff proved to be a
source of comfort, solace, encouragement, inspiration and friendship. This was least
expected and it goes to show that life is a store of surprises!
4 I was in the Kinabalu watch with fourteen other participants, all of whom were
young professionals sponsored by their companies. Most of the first day was spent 25
doing tedious administrative work and getting to know one another. Introductions were
particularly awkward at first between the girls and the boys but with a bit of teasing,
giggles and jokes, we soon got to know one another. On the second day, we were
awakened at 6 a.m. for a 2-kilometre run. Many of us were lethargic because we did not
have a good night’s sleep. Our large, comfortable dormitories had one flaw — rats. The 30
detested pests did a fine job of ruining our sleep!
5 After the run came the 12-kilometre hike. The hike up the hill was treacherous
and long. The watches started leaving at 7.30 in the morning and trickled back to the
school only by 6 a.m. the next day. All except one. My watch, Kinabalu, had been the
first to leave but had not returned. We got lost! It was a terrifying experience as the day 35
wore on and it grew dark. At night, we lighted a fire and huddled together to keep warm.
As our compass had gone bust, we had to depend on our instinct to find our way back
the next morning.
6 Several instructors went out to look for our group but with no success. It was 40
only 24 hours later that the Kinabalu watch made it back to the school. The next ten
minutes was chaotic for everyone was yelling, screaming and hugging one another.
This misadventure was an unexpected inclusion in the programme but it certainly
bonded the group strongly.
7 All too soon the course came to an end. I felt sad to leave because the friends 45
I had made there were special. I did achieve my personal goal, that is, to meet as many
people as I could. The OBS is not only about learning jungle survival skills or climbing
across ropes 200 metres above the ground. It teaches us to be tolerant, to care and to
be concerned for one another. All of us had been thrown together into an unfamiliar
environment and —through trust and cooperation —became a team. More importantly, we 50
became friends.

Questions 26 – 30
Answer all questions. You are advised to answer them in the order set.

26 (a) In paragraph 3, why were the participants divided into groups? [1 mark]

(b) The groups were named after mountains. What effect did this have on the 
participants?   [1 mark]

27 From paragraph 4, mention two unpleasant events on the first day.

(i) [1 mark]
(ii)   [1 mark]

28 (a) From paragraph 5, which word shows that the hike up the hill was not
easy? [1 mark]
(b) How do you know that the hike was long? State one evidence.
[1 mark]

29 (a) From paragraph 6, when the Kinabalu watch finally returned, the rest of the

participants were relieved and happy. How did the participants show this? [1 mark]
(b) What resulted from the misadventure of the Kinabalu watch? [1 mark]

30 You have been selected to attend the OBS (Outward Bound School) course. Would you

accept? Give two reasons to support your answer.
(i)  [1 mark]
(ii) [1 mark]