Friends

Friends are people whom we turn to when our spirits need a lift. They are always by
our side through thick and thin. They stand beside us even when our disposition is
not perfectly right and will fight for us if we are oppressed. Therefore, it is clear that
friends play a vital role in shaping who we are today. But what qualities exactly do we
need to look for in a friend?
A friend should always be caring towards you. He or she should take interest in your
problems no matter how big or petty your problem may be. A friend should be able to
sit beside you and encourage you to keep your chin up even when everyone else is
against you. A friend’s empathy and lovingness will also replenish your worn-out soul
and will make you realize how important a friend really is.
Apart from that, a friend should be an honest person. An honest friend will dissipate
any worries that he or she is lying towards you. A friend’s honesty will enable you to
trust his or she’s opinion when it comes to telling you the truth about yourself. For
example, an honest friend will remand you on your declining grades and will ask you
to work harder while a dishonest friend will see it with a blind eye. Therefore, an
overall improvement in yourself will be noticeable if you have an honest friend.
Moreover, a friend should be generous both emotionally and knowledge wise. A
friend who is generous ought to be able to connect with you and provide emotional
support. He or she should also be generous when it comes to sharing knowledge. A
true friend must be ever-ready to help you when you are inept in certain subjects. A
friend can easily guide you towards understanding the subject matter better as he or
she is often on the same page as you. The only difference is that you can’t quite
grasp the content of the page per se.
Besides that, a friend must also be able to humour you. Humour plays a
quintessential role in making your day more lively and enjoyable. Friends who pull
your leg and mess about will indefinitely make life seem so much better. As they say,
laughter is the best medicine and a little levity on rainy days is always welcomed. 
In conclusion, friends are people we spend most of our time with. Thus, we have to
be selective when it comes to choosing our friends
Descriptive essay
Describe an afternoon at the bus station (SPM 97)

It was two o’clock in the afternoon. I was heading towards the bus station with Mohan after Mrs Wong’s extra
class. The sun was beating mercilessly on my back and I could feel my sweat trickling down my spine. I have
often wished that my mother would allow me to ride a motorcycle to school. She says that I am not ready but we
both know that she is terrified that a car would knock me down.
When I reached the bus station, it was nearly empty except for a handful of boys. Mohan and I strode to a bench
near the stationmaster’s office. I could feel the tension on my shoulders as the straps of my school bag ate into
my shoulder. “Where is the bus?” I sighed to myself. An elderly woman came and asked me where I was going.
She started a conversation but gave up after my monosyllable answers. 
Suddenly, someone shouted and I saw a bus swerved into the station. I got up, thankful for the chance to escape
from the woman. . It was Mohan’s bus. The group of boys were jostling each other to get into the bus. “Masuk!
Masuk!” shouted the conductor but nobody seemed to be moving. The black fumes made me nauseous. All of a
sudden, people started appearing from all directions to board their bus. In no time, the passengers were packed
like sardines in the bus. It started to move, leaving some unfortunate passengers behind. I waved at Mohan when
I noticed him dangling on the steps of the bus. The bus swerved out of the station again. It left another trail of
black smoke.
I decided to go to Panjang’s ice stall. The iced sugar cane juice soothed my parched throat as I sipped slowly, all
the while keeping an eye on the bus. Then I saw the bus heading towards the station. I paid for my drinks. “See
you tomorrow,” I waved to Panjang.
Once more, the crowd began to swell near the bus. I noticed that the elderly woman was being shoved around by
the boys. She started hitting them with her umbrella. Then, I saw Raja, my classmate at the back of the bus. I
hurled my bag through the window and he caught it. By the time I got into the bus, it had already started moving. I
got into my seat and told myself that I must really try to convince my mother about the motorcycle again.
(415 words)
(SPM Essential English, Pearson by Jenny Tan)

DESCRIBING PLACES AND SCENES

SUGGESTED VOCABULARY
Apart from the common words such as nice and beautiful, there are other words which you can use to describe a place or scene.

Marvellous time
Terrific place
Exciting activities
Breathtaking beach
Magnificent buildings
Fascinating sunset
Spectacular view
Picturesque beach
Delightful play
Inspiring show
Thrilling performance
Panoramic view
Captivating sight
Relaxing room
Lively town
Vibrant people
Delicious food
Mouth-watering desserts
Unique 

Unpleasant day
Dull show
Nerve-wrecking journey
Awful time
Dreadful room
Depressing scene
Disappointing show
Miserable time
Frustrating weather
Upsetting news
Tiring event
Crowded room
Chaotic roads
Deserted town
Crammed room
Feel discontented
Boring film