SET 28

Learning English

Although learning English is a compulsory starting from primary school, students still do badly
in English in exam level. The main cause is that students do not practice enough reading. The
habit of reading cannot be underestimated in mastering the English language. The latest
survey by the Education Ministry highlights the fact that adults spend less than RM10.00 a
year on English reading materials. This clearly shows the lack of interest and motivation in
learning the language.

Upon interviewing the citizens of the importance of English, they are aware that the mastery
of English is a big advantage in their career development and progress. According to them
the main problem is that they took English lessons lightly during school years. They thought
that English is not important as compared to other subjects. Some even said it was so boring,
repeating words and reading in a sing song manner at school.

Of course, these are pointers for the English language teachers. Lessons should be more
interesting. Language games, riddles, rhymes and carrying out tasks in English must be
essence of language teaching. Teachers must find ways to take boredom of the 'drill and kill'
method of teaching.

How about parents then? They have another task on their shoulders. They themselves have
to cultivate the habit of reading. Be it newspapers, magazines, or comic strips. They simple
have to read so that their children will emulate them. Parents are children's first teachers.

When high proficiency students read materials in English, they absorb the structure and
sentence patterns and reproduce them in writing. As they read, they encounter new words,
and use the context of the text to understand the meanings of the words. Some even consult
the dictionary to find out the meaning. The more they read the more they are exposed to the
language. Thus, they become more proficient.

1. Why are the students performing badly in the English language subject?
A. They do not read.
B. No one taught them.
C. Inexperienced teachers.
D. They dislike English language.

2. What does the survey indicate about Malaysians overall?

A. They are all illiterate.
B. They are very stingy people.
C. They rather save their money than spend it.
D. They do not like to buy books or reading materials

3. How can teachers help the students to read?

A. Teach them in small groups.
B. Make them read newspapers.
C. Make more interesting activities.
D. Teach them to read individually.

4. What is the role of parents in cultivating reading habits?

A. Take them to the library.
B. Buy books for them to read.
C. Give them money to buy books.
D. Be a role model for them at home.

5. How does reading help students to do better in English?

 A. They can remember what they have read.
B. They can look up the meaning in the dictionary.
C. They can copy in their books directly what they have read.
D. They are more exposed to the language compared to others who read less.

6. In order for a student to be proficient in English language, what are the internal factors
they need to have?
A. They must choose good friends.
B. Teachers must teach them to read.
C. Parents must encourage them to read.
D. Students must be self-motivated and must be willing to learn.

SET 29

'Spelling Bee Contest'

JOHN : What am I to do now? I don't think I can do it on my own!

THOMAS : You looked worried, John. Is there anything that I can help you?

JOHN : Well, I don't know if you are willing but I really hope that I can find someone

to help me out with my spelling.

THOMAS : Spelling? What do you mean?

JOHN : Don't you know about this, Thomas? It was announced during the assembly

last week.

THOMAS : I'm afraid that I must have missed out on that announcement. Can you tell

me what it was?

JOHN : I have been chosen to represent the school for the 'Spelling Bee Contest'

which will be held at Bukit Bintang High School this weekend. The problem

is that I don't think I want to look clumsy when the day comes.

THOMAS : How can I be of help then?

JOHN : Miss Chan gave me a list of words that might be asked during the contest.
Do you think you can help me with my spelling? All you have to do is to read

out a word from the list and I will try to spell out the words correctly.

THOMAS : That is simple enough. I might even learn some new words from your

spelling list. I will help you, John.

JOHN : Oh! Thank you, Thomas. You are one in a million.

1. What was the dialogue all about?

A. Thomas was worried about John.
B. Thomas felt happy to learn new words.
C. John was worried about the contest.
D. John got a spelling list from Miss Chan.
2. What sort of feeling did John have when he said "Well, I don't know if you are willing…”?
A. Happy
B. Worried
C. Doubtful
D. Suspicious

3. Thomas did not know about the contest because

A. he could not spell words correctly.
B. he was not interested in the contest.
C. Miss Chan did not give him a spelling list.
D. he did not listen to the announcement during the assembly.

4. The word clumsy in the dialogue can BEST be replaced with

A. silly
B. crazy
C. angry
D. stupid

5. The phrase when the day comes refers to the day

A. of the contest.
B. Thomas helps John with his spelling.
C. Miss Chan gave the spelling list to John.
D. the announcement was made.

6. All these statements are true about Thomas except

A. Thomas is John’s schoolmate.
B. Thomas wanted to take part in the contest.
C. Thomas could learn new words from the spelling list.
D. Thomas did not hear the announcement during the assembly.

7. The phrase “you are one in a million” means

A. There were one million students in the school.
B. John gave one million ringgits to Thomas as a gift.
C. Thomas was the best among the many in the school.
D. There were one million words in the spelling list.
SET 31

John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. He was
one of nine children. His siblings were Joe, Rosemary, Kathleen, Eunice, Patricia, Robert,
Jean and Teddy. His Mother was Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and his father was Joseph Patrick
Kennedy. John attended Choate, a private boarding school for adolescent boys in
Connecticut. He was very popular and had many friends. He played tennis, basketball,
football, and golf and also enjoyed reading.

In 1936, John Enrolled at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. John entered the
Navy after graduating from Harvard in 1940. On Aug 2, 1943, John's PT 109

patrol boat was destroyed by a Japanese destroyer killing two of his men. John managed to
save him and several others. He was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Media for leadership
and courage. After the war, John was faced with uncertainty. His father suggested that he
should run for office. He ran for the Massachusetts 11th Congressional District and won in
1946. He served 3 terms in the House of Representatives and in 1952, he was elected to the
US Senate.

Soon after being elected Senator, he married twenty-four year-old Jacqueline Bevier, a writer
with the Washington Times-Herd. They had two children Caroline and. John, after serving
eight years in the Senate; he was elected Presidents of the United States, defeating Richard
M. Nixon. In 1961, at 43 years of age, John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president of
the United States. As President of the United States, Kennedy faced many challenges.

In 1962, he faced the Cuban Missile Crisis. Russia was attempting to position nuclear war
heads in Cuba only 90 miles off the coast of Florida. President Kennedy ordered a naval
blockade of all ships bound for Cuba. It was a tense time as the world teetered on the verge
of nuclear war. Fortunately, Russia withdrew the missiles and agreed to sign the Nuclear Test
Ban Treaty.

In addition, President Kennedy created Project Apollo which paved the way for American
space exploration. He also guided the nation through the difficult period of desegregation. In
the early 1960s, President Kennedy challenged students to serve their country in the pursuit
of peace by assisting developing countries. As a result, the Peace Corps was created, On
November 22, 1963; President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
while riding in his motorcade in Dallas, Texas.

Only two days later on November 24, 1963 Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald dead. John F.
Kennedy will forever live online the heart of Americans. Since his death, he has been
honoured by numerous cities and organizations, The Kennedy Centre for the performing Arts
in Washington, D.C, and the Kennedy space centre were named for him. He has also
appeared on numerous postage stamps as well as the U.S. half dollar.

1. Which of the following was not a brother or sister of John F. Kennedy?

A. Joe
B. Patricia
C. Kathleen
D. George

2. Which of the, following is correct?

A. As a child, John played tennis, baseball, football and golf.
B. As a child, John played tennis, basketball, golf and football.
C. As a child, John played tennis, basketball, golf and baseball.
D. As a child, John played tennis, golf, baseball and soccer

3. When did John F. Kennedy marry Jacqueline Bouvier?

A. Before 1946.
B. Before he was elected senator
C. After he was elected senator.
D. In 1961

4. Which of the following was John F. Kennedy not involved with during his presidency?
A. The Cuban Missle Crisis
B. Space Exploration
C. The Peace Coms
D. World War ll

5. What does withdraw mean?

A. Took away.
B. Placed
C. Replaced.
D. Left

6. Select all of the following that are true.

l. John F. Kennedy appears on the dollar.
ll. John F. Kennedy was killed in 1963.
lll. John F. Kennedy the way for American space exploration.
lV. Russia positioned missiles about 0 miles off the coast of Washington
A. I and II only
B. I, III and IV
C. l and lll only
D. I and IV only