lhe (Pr ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1128/01 Paper 1 Writing October/November 2013 _ oe" ‘hour 50 minutes — Answer Section A, Section B and one question from Section C Section A [10 marks] Carefully read the text below, consisting of 12 lines, about a wonderful birthday. 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 (/) in the space provided. If the line is incorrect, circle the incorrect word and write the correct word in the space provides. ‘The correct word you provide must not change the original meaning of the sentence. Examples: | arrived (6) my destination at 2pm. My mother always wears sensible clothes. “What did you do on your birthday this year?” asked my grandmother. | am very lucky because | was borned on August 9", a special day in Singapore, when we celebrate our independent from Malaysia, which was declared on that date in 1965. | never have to go for school on my birthday as all the schools are ‘closed on that day. | enjoy my birthday tea at my house and my friends and me usually watch the National Day parade on TV. This year was different, although. *My father got tickets for the family for an amazed evening at Marina Bay”| said. “We all wore red and white clothes and sit down in our seats. First came the Parade; then the Prime Minister and the President arrived. This year's highlight was the fabulous Red Lion skydivers, which jumped from helicopters ‘on to the tloating stage. Finally, we stood for the Pledge and the firework display” “What a great birthday celebration for you and Singapore!” said my grandmother. (2013)1 OL EnglishSection B [30 marks) You are advised to write between 250 and 350 words for this section. You should lok at the printout of a web page on page 3, study the information carefully and plan your answer before beginning to write, You have received a letter from your Uncle Sam, who lives in England. He wants to give you a present to help with your further education after ‘O’ level. He has asked you to choose one of the items shown ‘on the web page, all of which can be easily carried with you and will provide internet access for you. ‘Write a letter to your uncle to: thank him for his offer state clearly which gift you have chosen say how you will make use of it explain why itis the most useful of the three items for your education, Write your letter in clear, accurate English and in a warm, friendly tone, showing appreciation of your uncle's kindness and of his interest in your future education. You should use your own words as much as possible. (2013)2 OL EnglishNEW in the MARKET! SPY recommends: The Tablet * read fiction and non-fiction books onscreen * touch screen technology + e-mail access ‘® Our SPIES say: “This gives you a whole library at your fingertips ~ with no keys to press or pages to turn!" (for more information click here) The Laptop + large screen + word processing and printing * greater memory capability @ Our SPIES say: easy to read the large screen, and you * telephone calls and text messages ‘= education apps * portable music of your choice ‘® Our SPIES say: “The maths and literacy apps have been written and approved by School Principals - so use them!"Section © [30 marks] Begin your answer on a fresh page. You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on one of the following topics. ‘At the head of your composition, write the number of the topic you have chosen. 1 Parents often believe that itis better to be safe than sorry. Do you consider young people to be too protected? Describe some of your experiences in food courts and hawker centres. How important are these places in your life as a teenager in Singapore? “The way we dress reveals who we are’ What are your views? ‘What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Why does it mean so much to you? (2013)4 OL English(>>, | ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1128/02 |) | Paper 2 Comprehension October/November 2013 ‘ hour 50 minutes Section A Text ‘Study the webpage below and answer Questions 1-4 in the Question Booklet. world will commemorate Earth Hour, an initiative that 2007, when people from all walks of life turned off the lights at home and/or the workplace for one hour. But obviously, this type of initiative should go beyond 60 minutes and ‘not be limited to simply turning off the lights in your room. So this week Youth.SG will highlight two ways you can protect the ‘environment in your everyday lives. Bring your own bag Plan to go shopping? Use a canvas bag like this one. | understand that this bag isn't exactly the most fashionable item to carry around, especially in a place like ‘Orchard Road, but hey... if you want to save the planet, sacrifices must be made! And you won't be tempted to use non-biodegradable plastic bags offered in stores. Turn down the volume... just a little Think of pollution, and chances are, noise pollution never even crossed your mind. | mean, what you can't see won't hurt you, right? Wrong! Not only can noise harm your hearing, it can be seriously annoying. So please, be considerate and turn down the volume! (© bao uh somes soi. (2013) OL EnglishSection A [5 marks] Text 1 Refer to the webpage (Text 1) to answer Questions 1-4. 41 In which two ways does the illustration below the heading Earth Hour highlight the writer's message in the first paragraph of the webpage? o w 11 2 Inthe section Bring your own bag the writer says ‘sacrifices must be made’. What sort of ‘sacrifice’ is being referred to here? [1] 3 Inthe section Turn down the volume... just a little the writer involves the reader by using ‘you and your. In what other way does the writer involve the reader in this section? [1] 4 Which sentence gives the main purpose of the webpage? (2013)6 OL English7 Text 2 The text below is about two young biologists, Mark and Delia Owens, who are living on their own in ‘a camp in the Kalahari Desert, researching lion behaviour. After two years, they have just got a small plane to help them track the lions. Read the text carefully and answer Questions 5-13 in the Question Booklet. Kalahari lions. 1 “There, in those trees!" Delia shouted above the engine. Mark banked the plane steeply land they swept low over the flat-topped trees. Below them a pride of lions was sprawled near an antelope carcass. Mark took a compass bearing on a big forked acacia tree, and they set their route back to camp. 2. They packed their truck with camping gear, food and water. Delia then drove off alone in the direction ofthe lions. Mark watched until she was lost in the wavering heat mirage. Several hours later he flew along the course she had taken, searching for the white speck of the truck below. He finally spotted it, crawling like a beetle through the bush. Satisfied she ‘was going the right way, Mark flew to the trees where they had seen the lions earlier that ‘morning but they had gone. He started making slow turns over the area, hoping to find the pride. 3. Delia arrived at the acacia tree and began driving the truck back and forth along a relatively smooth section of ground to make a landing strip. Then she walked down it with a spade, filing in holes and knocking down humps of olay and the longer grass. When she had finished, she turned to walk back to the truck, three hundred metres away. 4. Then, glancing up, she saw the lions. They were strung out in a line between her and the truck, the nearest one not more than fifty metres away. She stood rooted to the ground ‘as they began to walk slowly and deliberately towards her, watching her every move. She ‘could hear the plane turning lazy circles in the sky less than a kilometre away, but she had no way to signal to Mark. She began to back away, but then she realised that, by retreating, she was inviting the lions’ pursuit, so she forced herself to stand stil. The lions kept pressing forward, and when they closed to thirty metres, her fear reached a primal level. She raised the spade and from deep inside her came a sound so primitive it could have come from a Neanderthal woman. “HAARRAUGGH!" 5 Asif on command, the lions stopped and slowly sat down on their haunches in a long line, their heads and necks craned forward, watching the young woman who stood before them brandishing her weapon. Delia was terrified that if she moved, they would come closer. Yet she had to get past them to the safety of the truck. Slowly she took one step, then two, then began moving sideways past the lions, holding her spade at waist level, her eyes fixed on the pride. They tracked her like radar, their heads slowly turning as she worked her way past them. 6 She had flanked the pride and begun backing away when one lioness abruptly stood up and stalked quickly towards her, head low. Resisting an overpowering urge to run, Delia stomped the ground, screamed, and waved the spade high above her head. The lioness stopped, one forepaw poised above the ground. Delia stood stil. The lioness sat down. ‘Again Delia backed towards the truck, and again the lioness followed. She yelled and ‘slammed the spade on the ground, and the lioness sat. Once more the predator and her prey played the game to the same conclusion. But now Delia was nearing the truck. When she was ten metres away, she threw the spade towards the lioness and ran for the truck. (2013)7 OL English 10 15 25‘The lioness leaped for the spade and was sniffing it when Delia jerked open the door and scrambled to safety. For several minutes she lay on the seat, trembling. 7 The sound of the plane grew louder, and the plane glided in for a landing, the lions watching itintently from nearby. Mark taxied next to the truck and cut the engine. “Great You've found: the lions," he said cheerfully. 40 (© Mark & Ooi Owons; Cry ote Kalter, Publahadby Fortns: Repocucedy pemison of HarperCoBrs Publishers: 1986, Section B [20 marks] Refer to Text 2 to answer Questions 5-13. 5 Find words in paragraph 1 which suggest (0a sudden turn of the plane (ii) _ flying quickly over the land 6 The writer describes the van as ‘crawling like a beetle through the bush’ (line 8). What does this description suggest about how the van appears to Mark? Description How the van appears to Mark ‘crawling’ ‘lke a beetle through the bush’ 7 ‘Delia ... began driving the truck back and forth along a relatively smooth section of ground to make a landing strip’ (ines 1213). Why do you think she needed to do this? {1 8 (I) What does the phrase ‘rooted to the ground’ (jine 17) tell us about Delia's reaction to her first sight of the lions? 1} (il) In paragraph 4, what does the phrase ‘turning lazy circles in the sky’ tell us about Mark's state of mind? 1) 9 Inparagraph 4 we are told that the sound Delia made to try to frighten the lions was ‘primitive’. Find two more words in this paragraph which suggest primitive feelings or behaviour. (2013)8 OL English10 (i) Which two phrases in paragraph 5 suggest that the lions are working as a team? (il) What does the phrase ‘their heads and necks craned forward’ from paragraph 5 suggest about the lions? U1 (lil) Pick out another phrase in paragraph 5 which conveys the same idea about the lions as in Question 10(i). | 41. (i) The writer says that Delia and the lioness ‘played the game’ (ine 38). In what two ways was their behaviour like a game? (ii) The writer refers to ‘the same conclusion’ (line 38). What was this conclusion? 12. “Great! You've found the lions,” he said cheerfully’ (ines 43-44). How does this comment show that Mark’s view of the situation is different from what had actually happened? (2013)9 OL English43. The structure of the text reflects the main stages in the narrative, Complete the flow chart by choosing one phrase from the box to summarise the main focus fof each stage of the narrative. There are some extra phrases in the box that you do not need to use. Main focus searching for help welcome arrival ‘an unexpected discovery | preventing an accident inviting an attack sharing responsibilities facing up toa threat | Flow chart Paragraphs 1-2 (i) Paragraph (il) fo Paragraphs 4-6 (iil) ee Paragraph 7 (iv) (4) (2013)10 OL EnglishSection C Text 3 The article below is about space exploration. Read the text carefully and answer Questions 14-19 in the Question Booklet. 1 When asked why he had wanted to climb Everest, the mountaineer George Mallory famously replied, “Because it was there” It appears that the wish to explore is an intrinsic part of human nature. By seeking to discover the unknown, we push back the boundaries of ‘our knowledge of the universe, and at the same time explore our physical and psychological potential as humans. 2 There have always been risk takers who ventured ahead so that the rest of us could follow. Because of sailors who made voyages into the unknown hundreds of years ago, we now know that the earth is round and not flat. More recently, the pioneering work of aviators such as the Wright Brothers meant that air travel could become commonplace. The economic and social benefits of such developments are not always immediately evident, but they do follow, as does our understanding of human potential to overcome challenges. 3 When Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth in 1961, space became the new frontier for exploration. Since then, space flights have brought many benefits to humanity. Early manned space missions increased our understanding of human development through study of the effects of gravity on the human body, and led to new treatments for bone diseases. Satelites orbiting the earth have revolutionised our lives at home and at work, with the spread of cell phones, satelite TV and global banking. They provide meteorological forecasts which are far more accurate than those of the past, including warnings of potential disasters such as hurricanes. The Global Positioning System (GPS) allows us to pinpoint buildings anywhere in the world, and to navigate accurately from place to place. Some people say that it was the first photographs of the earth taken from space that led to ‘our increased awareness of our environment and of its fragility, and itis certain that data from satelite observations have allowed more reliable environmental monitoring and the collection of data on climate change. 4 Further out in space, we now know there are lava plains on Venus, a buried ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa, and lakes of methane on Saturn's moon Titan. In the future, it ‘may be possible to exploit the mineral resources of other planets to support life on Earth. Evidence of life on other planets may give us an increased understanding of where we ‘come from and how life has developed on Earth. Should the need arise, these planets may provide new habitats to ensure the survival of humanity. One day we may even manage to contact other civilisations in our universe, and discover that we are not alone. 5 Many of the benefits described above have been brought about, not by manned space flights, but by robotic technology. Robots do not need to be protected from cosmic radiation or solar flares on the long journey across space as humans would. And they leave no ¢gieving families if something goes wrong. They can record phenomena such as magnetic fields that cannot be sensed directly by humans. & — Soiit may appear that the ‘heroic’ phase of space exploration, once celebrated in popular science fiction stories, with chisel jawed astronauts venturing into deepest space to boldly save Earth from unspeakable danger, is now a thing of the past. However, there are stil its to what robots can achieve. A robot can be designed to collect a sample, but not to collect the correct sample. It can pick up a rock, but it can’t turn it over and wipe away the dust, decide i's not a useful find, and drop it again. And, as former astronaut Thomas Jones said, “Only @ human can experience what being in space feels lke, and only a human can (2013)11 OL English 10 15 6 35 40communicate this to others” Our future scientific and technological progress, and possibly ‘our future survival as a species, depends on directing the creative interests of our youth 45 towards careers in science and engineering. Nothing does this better than manned space exploration. In the end, it will be humans who continue the exploration begun by those early travellers in space. (© soon Vers, wneakonnics or/20000%! 18 space-xprabon wort rashes avons Section C [25 marks] Refer to Text 3 to answer Questions 14-19, 14 (i) According to paragraph 1, why do human beings wish to discover the unknown? (li) The writer refers to ‘tisk takers who ventured ahead so that the rest of us could follow’ (line 6). Which three groups of risk takers are referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2? 15 What was the effect on the general public of seeing the first photographs of Earth taken from space (lines 21-22)? Answer in your own words. 46 Here is part of a conversation between two students, Felix and Amanda, who have read the article Felix Amanda | think that using robots is the most effective way of ‘exploring space. No, the writer mentions, things only humans can do. argument. 2) (201312 OL English(i) Explain how Amanda would justify her position, with reference to lines 40-42. |__ 17 What attitude to science flection stories is suggested in lines 37-297 18 With reference to paragraph 6, explain why itis important to inspire young people to become scientists. Answer in your own words. 49 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the benefits that space travel has brought, and could bring in the future. Use only information from paragraphs 3 and 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). People have benefited in many ways from space travel through (2013)13 OL English(2013)14 OL English