ANSWERS

Section A [10 marks]

Carefully read the text below, consisting of 12 lines, about climate change in Singapore.
The first and last lines are correct. For eight of the lines, there is one grammatical error in
each line. There are two more lines with no errors.

If there is NO error in a line, put a tick (9) in the space provided.

If the line is incorrect, circle the incorrect word and write the correct word in the space
provided.
The correct word you provide must not change the original meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

I arrived to my destination at 2 pm. at

My mother always wears sensible clothes. 9

The recent spells of hot weather that Singaporeans have

ve been experiencing
expe
peri
perien
rienci
encing
ci

may not be just temporary heatwaves. The island

and is heating
he
heat
ea
ating up ttwice
g up ce as
wice
wice
wi as fast
fast 1 9

as the rest for the world. According to

o the
e Meteorological
Me
M ete
t or
o ol
ological
al Service
Ser
e vice
ce Singapore
ce Singa
apo
pore 2 of (P
(Prep)
Prep
re
ep)

(MSS), it is almost 1 degree

ee Cel
Celsius
ls
siius
u hot
hotter
otttte
o er tto
today
oda
day tth
day than
ha
an
n iin
n tth
the
he 19
1950s.
950
5 s. W
What
hatt is
ha 3 9

grim news is thatt Sing

Singapore
ga
ap
por
ore ma
maximum
ax
xiimu
um daily
da
daiilly temperatures
temp
tem errat
atuurre
es
s could
coul
could reach
h 35 to
to 4
grimmer/Singapore’s(poss)

37 degress Celsius
Celssiu
i s by
by 2100,
21
10
00, ifif c
ca
carbon
arb
rbon
neemissions
miis
m sssiio
ons c
continued
ont
n in
inue
ued
ued to
t rise at a 5 degrees/continue (T)

similar rate, warned

rned
dDDrr M
Muhammad
uham
amm
ammaad E
Ee
Eeqmal
eqmal H
Hassim,
assi
assim
sim, a ssenior research 6 warns (T)
scientist

with the MSS Centre forr C

Climate
limate
te R
Research
esearch Singapore. Other country are
es 7 countries (Plural)

already experiencing hotter

tter temperatures
temp but this is more alarming with 8 for (Prep)

Singapore because of it high level of humidity that is experienced all year 9 its (det)

round. This could potential lead to grave situations as our bodies struggle 10 potentially (adv)

to cope with the heat.

Copyright Acknowledgements:
2
Mid-Year Examination 2019 OAA in blue, DNA in red, KIV in pink
EL 4E5N P2 | Answer Scheme

Section A [5 marks]

Refer to the advertisement (Text 1) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1–4.

1 How does the main image at the top of the poster help support the header ‘Skip a
Straw. Save a Sea Turtle.’?

The image shows a sea turtle struggling for air/drowning suffocating/dying. This
evokes sympathy/pity/empathy in the readers, which may encourage them to
stop using straws in order to protect sea creatures. [1]

Note: Students must first describe the image (drowning) before explaining how the
image supports the header in persuading readers not to use plastic straws.

DNA: Either describing the image/explaining the header (no reference

refer
eren
e ce to both parts)

therre will
2 ‘If plastic continues to infect our ocean, by 2050, there will be mo
be ore p
more la
ast
s ic tthan fish.’
plastic

ed word,
Paying close attention to the bolded wor
ord,
ord, wha
at is
what is tthe
he
e iintended
ntten
n e ded
d ef
effe
fect of this se
fe
effect sentence
on the readers?

Through likening ng thehe

h e usese
se o off plas as
asti
t c to a d
plastic isea
eas
ease w
disease hich
hi
whichch co
could
plague/damage/harm
age/ha
ha
arm
r the
he
h e ocean
oce
cean
an [1],
[1]],, tthe
[1 he w
he writer
rite
er wisheses tto
o warn
rn tthe
rn he audience
audie not
to contribute
ribute to the
th
he
e loss
los
o s off marine
marriin
ne creatures
creatuttu
urre
urees [1]
[ ] like fish,
[1 fis
sh, wwhich
hich w
hi would soon be
outnumbered.
utnummbe
berre
ed. [2]

3 St
State
S
Stat
tat
ate how
e ho
how the wr writer
wrritititerr ttries
ries to pepersuade
erssuade the
de he readers
the rea
eaders to
ders to step forward
f and be more involved
in ssupporting
uppp
poort
rtin tthe
ing th e organisation.
o gani
or niisa
n sati
sati
tio
onn.

The use
e usse off imp
imperatives
mp
m per
ea attiiv
ves ke ‘Join
es like ‘Jo
Join
Jo n (a community)’,
in co ‘Sign up…’ and ‘Register…’
OR
The use
se of
of rrhetorical
h tori
he rica
ri call qu
ca q
questions
esti like ‘Ready to take on an active role in saving
sea turtles?’
tles??’ [1]

Note: Need to state the language devices i.e simply quoting is not acceptable

4 Which two groups of people are ‘Sailors for the Sea’ targeting through this poster?

(i) Parents of young children

(ii) Marine animal lovers/ Marine enthusiasts/ People concerned about marine
conservation [1]
Both groups for one mark
OAA: people who use plastic straws
DNA: Kids/parents
 2

Section B [20 marks]

Refer to Text 2 on pages 3 and 4 of the Insert for Questions 5–12.

5 Explain, in your own words, why some of the new prisoners were described to be
‘naïve’ (line 3).

The new prisoners did not fully understand/comprehend [1] that they were not
allowed to keep any of their belongings/possessions, even the most
treasured/valued ones [1]. [2]

(DNA: ‘grasp the fact that everything would be taken away’, ‘could not keep a
wedding ring, a medal or a good-luck piece’)

DNA: prisoners ‘asked’ if they could throw the possessions

ossess
sio s ((doeesnt
ions doe convey
naivety)

6 (a) In Paragraph 2, the writer spoke to

o one of the oldd prisoners.
old pri
risonerss. In which
son hicch two
whi tw
ways does he emphasise to them that h t he did
tha d not
did nott want
ant hiss ma
wan manuscript
nuscript to be
manu
nu b
lost?

(i) He starts
s the conversation/sentence
co
connvve
errsa
satiion
on/sente
tenc
te ‘Look’
n e with ‘LoLook
Lo (an
ok’ (a
ok imperative)
an im
impeera
rati
tiv
ti ve)
which
h dema
demands
m nds s that
th
hat
at the
th
he
e listener
lis
iste
tene
ner pay
pa
p ay attention
attentio
on to what
wha at he
h has
has
a to say.
s

(ii)
i)) He uses
He us
u ess tthe
he emmodal
oda
od all ‘must’
‘m
mu stt’ and
us an
a the
nd tth phrase
he p
phr se ‘at
hra all
at a costs’
ll co ts’ to emphasise
os
that
at he
he wi
w
willlll d
do
oaal
all
ll it
it ttakes
a e
akes
s tto
op pr
protect
rot
otec
ct his
s ma
manu
manuscript.
n scrip

(iii)
(iii)
(iii) H
ii Hee ends
ennds
ds wwith
ith
h tth
the
he q
he qu
question
uestiion ‘Do
Do y
you
o unde
ou understand that?’, demanding a
reply/cooperation
re
ep
plly/cooop
oper
eraattio
ion from
from the
fr the other
other prisoner
p that he would help to
protect
pr
proottect the
ec the m
th manuscript.
maanusc cri
ript
pt.
pt

Note:
Note Choose
e: C
Cho se any
hoo any 2 of the 3 possible answers; 1 mark for each point [2]

(b) Which
ch words
wo or phrases in Paragraph 2 describe the manner in which the
writer spoke to the other prisoner?

Descriptions Word or phrase from the passage

(i) avoid any attention that might ‘furtively’ [1]
lead to trouble

(ii) telling of a private matter in ‘into my confidence’ [1]

complete trust
DNA: “take one of the prisoners
into my confidence”
 3

7 ‘At that moment, I saw the plain truth and did what marked the culminating point of
the first phase of my psychological reaction – I struck out my whole former life.’ (lines
15–17)

(a) According to Paragraph 3, what does ‘the plain truth’ refer to?

It would be impossible for the writer to preserve his manuscript, no matter

how hard he tried. [1]

(b) What does the word ‘culminating’ suggest about how the writer reacted?

It was a pivotal turning point for him/ a sudden realisation

tion that
th he could not
return to his old life (before he was held captive). [1]
DNA: shocked, defeated, disappointed, devastated

8 peoplle tore
Paragraph 5 begins, ‘With unthinkable haste, people tore off
off their
the
heir
heir cclothes.’
loth
loth
hes. Why do
you think the prisoners did so ‘with unthinkable haste’?
has
aste
te’?
te’?
?

They had a limited amount

ount off ti
ti
time (only
(o
on two
nlly tw minutes)
wo m
miinu
nute s tto
tes) as
o do as tthey
hey were told./
to
They did not havee the lluxury
uxur
uxury o
off ttime
ime to
o tthink
h nk or reac
hi react.
act.
ac t.. [1]

They also
so had d to
o rremove
emov ove th
ov ttheir
he
eiir cl
c
clothing
lot
othi
hing
ng qui
quickly
uic
ui ck
kly outt o
off fear
arr ((of
of p
punishment).
unishm [1] [2]
DNA:
A: ext
extremely
xttrre
e lly
emel yaafraid
f ra
fr aiid tooggooaag
against
g
gai
a nst th
them
he
em
m ((why?)
wh
w hy?) & on
only
nly
y giv
given
i en 2 mins to do so
(doe
es
snnt explain
(doesnt expl
ex p ain
n the
the fact
th ffa
ac
ctt that
tha
hat they
tth
heyy had
ha ad
d no
no time
tim
i e too think)
th
hiink
nk)

9 ((a
a) Identify
(a) IId
den
e tify one
one example
exa
x mp
ple
le of
of pe
p rs
son
onifficcat
ation
atio
personification io
on in Paragraph
Parag 5.

‘lea
‘leather
eaath
her straps
strap
ps beating
bea
beat
be attiin
ng d
down
own on n
naked
aked bodies’ [1]
DNA A
‘ time
mee grew
grew
gr ws sh
shorter
horterr ‘

(b) What
at iis
s the effect of the use of personification in (a)?
[1]
It emphasises how powerful/forceful the whipping from the straps was, which
rendered the prisoners helpless.

10 Which two expressions in Paragraph 6 suggest that the prisoners were under
absolute control of their captors?

‘[we] were herded’ and ‘lined up again’ (need to have ‘again’)

Note: Both expressions for 1 mark
DNA: ‘lined up” [1]
 4

11 At the end of the text, the writer observes the change in appearance of the
prisoners over time. Explain how the language used in Paragraph 8 makes the
prisoners appear unhealthy. Support your ideas with three details from the
paragraph.

The simile ‘looked like skeletons disguised with skin and rags’ implies that the
prisoners’ bodies were devoid of fat OR the prisoners were severely
bony/malnourished/ emaciated/thin as a rake. [1]

The phrase ‘our bodies beginning to devour themselves’ suggests that they
lost a lot of weight as time went by. [1]

The phrase ‘the body had no powers of resistance left’

eft’ sug
suggests that the
prisoners were weak/not strong/no energry [1]

The phrase ‘organism digested its own proteins and

and its
its mmuscles’
uscles suggests
that the prisoners were malnourished/starving/deprived
d/starving/de
depr
depriv
pr ived
ived off fo
food
od tthat
h t tthey were [3]
ha
eating themselves away.

The phrase ‘ muscles s disappeared’

disap
ppe
pe d’ suggests
peared s gg
su ges
estts
s that
tha
hat that
that the
the prisoners
prisoners w
were
weak/getting weaker.
ker.

The phrase
ase ‘ last
last llayers
ast ayerrs o subcutaneous
off subcu
ub uta
taneo s fat
neou vanished’
fat had vani
fa va
ani
nished
ed
ed’ suggests
d’ sug ests that they
sugg
were losing
re los
sin weight/
ing weeig
gh getting
htt/ g
ge
etttin
ng skskinner/thinner.
skin
nner/th
hin
inne
ner.
r

Note:
No
N te Quotation
e: Quottat
atio and
nd explanation
ion an expl
plla
an
na on must
attiio
on musstt both
mu both be correct
cor e in order to award 1 mark for
orre
re
rect
each
ea
e ch point.
ach poi
o nt.
 5

12 The structure of the text reflects the writer’s thoughts and feelings throughout his
imprisonment. Complete the flowchart by choosing one word from the box to
summarise the main thought or feeling presented in each part of the text. There
are some extra words in the box you do not need to use.

The writer’s thoughts and feelings

submission uncertainty unawareness realisation

desperation oblivion tolerance

Flow chart

Paragraph 1: (i) unawareness

Paragraph 2: (ii) desperation

on

Paragraph 3: (iii) re
realisation
eal
al
alisatio
on

Paragraphs
Para
r g
ragrrap
aphs 4–8:
4–8:
8: ((i
8: (iv)
iv)) su
iv) s
submission
bmiis
bm ssion
n
[4]

S
Se
Section
ec
cttio
on C [2
[[25
5 ma
mark
marks]
rks
rks]

Referr to
oT e t 3 on
ex
Text on pag
ges 5 and
pages an
nd
d 6 of
of the
e Insert
In
nse
s rt for Questions
Q 13–19.

13 nP
In ara
ar ag
gra
Paragraphap
phh 2,
2, the
tth
he writer
writerr mentions
men
enttions that
th the uninitiated diner decades ago were
racte
te
attracteded to
to the
th
he
e visual
visuaal appeal
appe
ap p al of sushi and sashimi, but ‘all interest stopped there’
(line 11).). W hat does
What does the
the writer
wr mean?

h were
People who we unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine, while attracted by how
d sashimi looked, were unwilling/not keen to try or taste them.
sushi and [1]

'1$WKH\GLGQRWOLNHWKHWDVWHRI-DSDQHVHIRRGĺµMXPSLQJWKHJXQ¶RQO\

need to unpack ‘no interest’)
did not try/ did not want to eat

14 ‘Those who did not wish to offend their hosts surreptitiously deposited sashimi
into a convenient paper napkin, or else swallowed it unchewed and washed it
down with copious gulps of beer or saké.’ (lines 11–13)

What do the underlined words mean?

(i) ‘surreptitiously’ – secretly/ stealthily/ in a discreet manner [1]

 6

AA: sneakily
DNA: carefully (not accurate enough) / answers in wrong form (e.g. ‘not [1]
obvious’)

(ii) ‘copious’ – large/huge/very/extremely big

AA: many
DNA: continuous/repeated

*For this question, DNA if student provided more than one answer (mark the
first answer).

15 ‘It does seem an injustice that for a very long time Japanese food did not receive
the widespread recognition that it deserves.’ (lines 13–15)

What does this suggest about the writer’s attitude towards

ds Japanese
Japanese cuisine and
apan
apan
its recognition in the world?

The writer has an indignant/ a disapproving attitude

oving attitu
tu
ude th
that
tha Japanese
at Jap
apan
apanes
anese
es food was
e foo
not as well-appreciated as it should
uld have been
been.
enn. [1]

AA (because students are doing oing so

doi o badly!
badl y!! :(
dly :( ):
): The
Th
hee writer
wri er is
rite
ite
ter s dissatisfied/
dissatisfie
annoyed/ upset/ unhappy nhapp ppy th
pp tthat…
hat ((but
at… (b need
ut nee
e ed to ppoint
oint oout
utt tto
osstudents
sttude
ud that
dents tha
ha
h tthese
at th ese
are not ‘attitudes’,
des’, so these
o th
hese e are not
no
n o the
ot e best
b st answe
be answers)
ers)
rs
s)
AA: disappointed
ppointntted
n ed
DNA: ...feels
A: ...feeel that
e s th
haatt iitt is unfair
is unf
nfai
nf PHUHO\XQSDFNLQJµLQMXVWLFH¶ĺDQGVR"VDG
a r P
PHU
H HO\XQ
XQQS
SD
DFFN
NLQ
L JµLQMMXV
VWWLLFH
F ¶ ĺDQG
accurate)
(not a c u
cc urrate)
DNA:
D
DN A:: angry
A ry

16 W
Whha
att do
What do many
manyy first-timers
ma firstt-ttiim
meers
s e x ect of JJapanese
xp
expect ap
ap
apanese food, and how does it taste in
real
reality?
al ty?
alit
al y Answer
Answe
weer in
in y
your
our ow
ou o
own n wo
word
words.
rds
rds.

xpe
ect
ctat
atio
on
Expectation Well
We ll-fl
ll flavou
fl
Well-flavoured OR different types/a mixture of [1]
condiments
c
co
ondim
AA: strong flavours/ well seasoned
AA
(DNA: ‘expecting elaborate blends of seasoning’
though the word ‘seasoning’ does not need to be
paraphrased)

DNA: tasty (subjective and too vague) [1]

DNA: nice (pls highlight to students to avoid using the
word nice. Nice is the all-inclusive word for
Singaporeans)

Reality Bland/ Flavourless/ Tasteless

(DNA: ‘insipid’ / ‘subtle’)
DNA: bad
AA: not very seasoned/ unseasoned/ lighter flavour
Answers need to be negative, not positive eg subtle is
wrong
 7

17 Here is a part of a conversation between two students, Juliana and Andy, who
have read the article.

The people in
Not only that,
Japan can get
they can get very
top-quality
fresh ingredients
ingredients
too.
easily.

Juliana Andy

(a) With reference to Paragraph 5, how can Juliana explain h

her position?
er po itio
os

(from text: ‘Organic crop production and local

cal farmers’
rs’’ markets
farmers
rs mark
ma rketts are
rk a e also making
ar m it
HDUE\¶ĺFDQQ
QQ
QRW OLILIW
W VLQFH
FHH WKL
KLV
VLV
LV DQµH
easier to find chemical-IUHHSURGXFHQHDUE\¶ĺFDQQRWOLIWVLQFHWKLVLVDQµH[SODLQ¶
question)

Crops are grown without

hout the t e use
th chemicals
use of che
us hem
he micaalls
s (l
((like
ik fertilisers
(lik
lik
ike fert
ferttil and pesticides)
i iserrs an pestic
i ides
[1] and these agricultural
griculttur
uralal p
products
rodu
ro uct
cts are
e easily
ea
e asily accessible
acces ssib
sible as they
si theyy are s ld at [2]
are sold
so
local farmers’
ers’ markets
marketstts
s [[1].
1]].
1
DNA lifting, need
ifting, nee
e d to explain/
to expl paraphrase
lain/ para
pa
ara
raph
a hrase
see

Provide
(b) Prov
Pr
P de two
ro id tw ways
ways in
wa n which
whicch Andy
wh An
Andy can
dy can support
an supportt his
his position.
position

Modern
Mo
M ode
dern
n freezing
fre
r ezzin
ng and
an
nd transportation
ttrran
ans
sp
portation
on have allow the people in Japan to do [1]
have allowed
so.
so
o.

Direct
ectt llifting
iifftiing ffrom
rom text
ro xt ccapturing
apt ring the two ways would be accepted (‘Modern
ptu
freezing
zing g andandnd transportation
transsporttation methods have made exotic foodstuffs and fresh
orta
Asian vegetables
vegeta abl e and fungi
bles
es f available to all.’), but excess would be denied
(e.g. most
ost J Japanese
a anes shopped for food every day to ensure freshness (read
ap
FDUHIXOO\ĺWKDWLVWZHQW\\HDUVDJRDQGPRGHUQIUHH]LQJDQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQ
ĺ WK
methods have made exotic marine food...)

DNA excess 1st part- Organic crop production and local farmers’ markest
make it easier to find fresh ingredients. Modern freezing and transportation
methods make it easy to get very fresh ingredients.

18 Other than its taste and attractive visuals, state two reasons from Paragraph 6
that explain why one should consume Japanese food.

It consists of a balanced diet (in its combination of rice, vegetables, …) and

many of its components have disease-preventing qualities. [1]
 8

Note: Award 1 mark only when both points are mentioned

*Excess denied

19 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the fine art of hosting a
Japanese meal.

Use only information from paragraphs 3 to 4.

Your summary must be in continuous writing (not note form).

It must not be longer than 80 words (not counting the words given to help you
begin).

The fine art of hosting a Japanese meal starts with …

From text Paraphrased

1 before each diner is an array of A variety of food is meticulously

small individual servings made in single portions
rtions by the
painstakingly (required, DNA if chef and
missing) prepared by the chef

2 ...each a work of art framed in its each dish,

dis
sh,
h, as
as delicate
d lica
de cate
ca te as
as a piece
piec
own exquisite receptacle off a
o art,
rt, is
rt is p
placed
lac
laceed in iits
ts b
beautifully-
e utifully
ea
de
d
detailed
etaililled
ed ccontainer.
onta
tain
in
ner.

3 Plates off all poss

possible
sibblle
e geometric
geometric Different
Diiff
ffe
ffer shapes,
errent types - shap
sh
hap colours,
apes, c
shapes
apes – square,
squa
sq u re, rectangular,
re
ectctan
ngu
gullaarr,, sizes,
s
si
izze s, ttextures
es, exture
res
re and
s an
nd mmaterials- of
crescent-
cres
e ceent
nt- or ffan-shaped
an
an-sh
shhaapped – in in mmany
an
a ny plates
p lates are also
are a used.
lso u
colours,
co
olo urs, sizes,
lour s zes, and
si an
a nd textures
texturress
te
decorate
deco
co
ora
ate
te the
th
he
e table.
ta
ab
ble.
le Not
le No
N ot all
alll ar
a a
are
re
porcelain
rcelaiin – slabs
elai
ela slab bs of
of wwood,
ood, bas
oo baskets,
asske
kets
ts,
ts
evenn chestnut
che
hest
he stnu
nut hu
nu h
husks
usskks can holdholdd food
food

4 The Japanese
aneese care
care about
ab the Another element is the
ambience (DNA
(DNA if spelt wrongly) as atmosphere in which they dine in.
much as the food.

5 Artistry is not limited to the table
arrangements, outdoor gardens, or
exterior and interior architecture of
the venue and main rooms. In the
washrooms...
Hosts ensure that not just the
main dining area is tastefully
decorated, but every peripheral
aspect, ranging from the table
set-up, the outdoor gardens, the
 9

architecture of the location, and

even the washrooms, is well-
considered.

6 the graciousness of service... Hospitable service is ensured

7 attention to guests and guests’ needs are well

attended to.

8 (ingredients) are not only fresh Lastly, only the freshest,

s
(NOTE: ‘vegetables in the grocery
stores/ supermarkets are very fresh’
ĺ GRHVQRWUHDOO\DQVZHUWKH
question (what’s that go to do with
the fine art?) [15]
9 but also of perfect appearance,
arance, a
an
nd flawless
and flaw
fl
flaw
awlle
ess
s inggre
redi
dien
di e ts are
ingredients
shape, and size. u
us
used.
sed
ed.

Content
nt – 1 mark
maarkk for
for
or eachh correct
correcct point,
point, up
up to
to 8 marks
Language
Langua
ua
age
ge (refer
(re
r ferr to
to rubrics
rub
ubri
rics
cs on
on ‘Summary
‘Sum
‘Su m ma
ary
ry Style
Sty
tyle ’) – up to
le Descriptors’)
Descrip
pto
tors
rs’)
rs t 7 marks

Minus
M in
nus
s 1 mar
mark
ark iff no
ark
ar no word
d count
cou
ountt is
is given.
giive
g ven.

Summary
Summ
mmar
mm ary
ry

The fine
ffin
ne art
art of hos
ar hosting
osti
os ting
ti Japanese meal starts with a variety of food that is
ng a Jap
meticulously
culously ly mmade
ade in s
ad single portions1 and each dish is delicately placed in
its beautifully-detailed
autiifu
full
lly-deta
ll container2. Different types of plates, ranging from
colours, sizes, textures and materials, are also used3. Another
shapes, colou
element is s the atmosphere in which they dine in4. Hosts ensure that the main
dining area as well as the peripheral aspects are tastefully decorated5.
Hospital service is ensured6 and guests’ needs are well attended to7. Lastly,
only the freshest8 and the most flawless ingredients are being used9.
(77 words for 8 points)