a very good afternoon to you

8/10/2019 A Very Good Afternoon to You

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A very good afternoon to you, my beloved students,

I'm glad so many of you turned up for this afternoon's talk. At this moment, all your

thoughts and activities are geared towards doing well in your SPM eamination. !nce theSPM eams are over, some of you may feel lost. "he purpose of my talk is to eplain the

options which are open to you after you have sat for your SPM eams.

#hat you do after your SPM eams depends very much on whether you want to further

your studies. $or those who want to stop schooling after SPM, it is important for you topick up some skills that will enable you to get a %ob. Some of you may want to enrol

yourself for practical courses like tailoring and hairdressing. !thers may want to become

apprentices in electrical shops and car repair shops. Some may choose to have a career inthe fast food line. As for those who prefer to work in offices, it is essential for you to be

computer literate. Many offices are computerised. &ou need to learn word processing

skills and perhaps, book keeping as well. #hen you have formal training, you can get

better pay for your services.

$rom an informal survey I did among the $orm $ive students in this school, I found that

the ma%ority of you want to continue your studies after your SPM. Many options are open

to you. &ou can %oin a twinning program. "his program enables you to complete one or

two years of tertiary education in Malaysia and the rest in a university overseas. Manyprivate colleges cater for this segment of the student population. $or eample, Inti,

Metropolitan, Stamford, and (). !ne of the selling points of twinning programs is that

you can get a degree of your choice in a shorter time. It is like a short cut which bypassesS"PM. #ell, go ahead if your parents can support you.

#hat about the rest of you who do not want to get a degree overseas* If you want to get a

degree from a local university, you can either choose to do your S"PM or apply for aplace in the Matriculation or (iploma programs. If you opt for Matriculation or (iplomaprograms, you do not need to go through S"PM. I know many of you feel that it is futile

to go through two years of S"PM and later not +ualify for a place in local universities.

I've heard groans that it is difficult to score in S"PM. #ell, a grownup baby no longersolely depends on milk. As you move from $orm $ive to $orm Si, you cannot depend on

memori-ing to score. In fact, S"PM is a very wellcoordinated preuniversity education

program. It would stand you in good stead regardless of whether you get your tertiaryeducation in Malaysia or overseas.

$or those of you who are not able to make it to a university, don't lose heart. S"PM is

part of a foundational education for everyone. In these years, you develop criticalthinking skills which prepares you for working life. At the end of the two years, you get acertificate which entitles you to a higher salary scale than an SPMholder.

SPM is a stepping stone to other achievements in life. Ponder upon what I've said and be

clear about what you want to do after SPM. A clear goal is like a lighthouse in a storm.

"hank you.


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Answer the following questions using complete sentences

. #hy would some students feel lost after the SPM eams are over *

/. 0ow do practical skills help SPMleavers looking for %obs *

1. 0ow do most of the $orm $ive students feel about stopping their studies after their

SPM *2. #hy do some students prefer twining programs to a tertiary education in a local

university *

3. 4ive twoways in which students can get a degree without going through S"PM.

5. #hy do most students do badly in S"PM *

6. According to the passage, why is S"PM worth taking * 4ive tworeasons to support

your answer.Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.

7. &ou are given four 888888 to choose from 9 A, :, ; and (.

ii? "hey can %oin the Matriculation or (iploma program ina local university after SPM.

5. "hey used the wrong method of studying for the S"PM eams.

6. S"PM e+uips a person with the necessary knowledge and skills for his future use. >i?

It gives one a comprehensive academic groundwork for tertiary education. >Ii? it

trains one to think critically and thus be better +uipped for working life.7. options


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"he earth is losing its forests. Presently, trees cover about 1= percent of the earth's

surface, but they are being destroyed at an alarming rate, especially in the tropics. "imber

harvesting is a ma%or reason for the destruction of the forests. "rees are used for buildinghouses, making furniture, and providing pulp for paper products, such as newspapers and

maga-ines. At least 2= hectares of rainforest are being felled every minute, mostly in

order to etract the valuable timber.

Another way that man is destroying the world's forests is by burning them down. In theAma-on, for eample, rainforests are being burnt down at a rate of /= hectares a minutes.

"he main reason for this is to clear the land for farming. $armers in rainforest countries

are often poor and cannot afford to buy land. Instead, these farmers clear rainforest h landto raise their animals or grow their crops. :ecause tropical rainforest soil is so poor in

nutrients, framers cannot reuse the same land year after year. In the following years,

farmers %ust clear more land, destroying the forest piece by piece. Already more than 1=tropical countries have reached a critical level of forest destruction and onetime

eporters of timber such as @igeria and "hailand now have to import timber for their

domestic needs.

Should we get all ecited and worried about the loss of the forests * &es, we should.0ealthy trees are a vital part of the environment, and keep the entire balance of the

atmosphere agreeable to all life forms. $orests are catchment areas for rainwater, holding

the rainwater in the leaves of the trees, so that it will not sink so +uickly into the earth'scrust. $urthermore, the forests help maintain the water cycles in the area. "he masses of

cloud that provide the rain are formed over the moist forests. "hus, the destruction of

forests may also lead to a reduction in rainfall over the area, resulting in drought.

$orests also protect and feed the earth's fragile mantle of soil. "ees curb soil erosion.

#ithout the tree cover, the land is totally eposed to the agents of erosion, such as strongwinds and heavy rainfall. "he strong winds blow away the top layers of the soil and he

flowing water carries it away into the rivers, lakes or sea. ;onse+uently, the once fertileland is converted into a barren wasteland. In addition, denuded hill slopesare vulnerable

to landslides, which can be catastrophic disasters, resulting in the loss of homes and lives.

Apart from preventing soil erosion and landslides, forests, with their abundant supply of

leaves, give compost back to the land, thus helping it to remain fertile. the leaves of thetrees and the droppings of the birds, animals and insects which live in them, fall to the

ground, where they decay and replenish the soil with mulch, minerals and manure.

$orests are rich in flora and fauna. "he rainforests are home to over half of the entire

species of the world, which are being destroyed with the rainforests and some of thosespecies that are killed will never return again. Plants and creatures are god's gift to us and

they serve mankind, each in its own way. $or eample, plants are the source of our

clothes and the rubber used for tyres comes from trees. Plants are also the source ofsugar, coffee, tea, rice, wheat and many delicious and nutritious fruit.

In addition, most of the medicines that have been used by men are derived from plants

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and animals. Most of the ;hinese medicines, for eample, such as ginseng and ginkgo,are herbbased. An eample from the realm of modern #estern medicine is the drug

'vincristine'. "his drug, which is derived from a %ungle plant, is used in the treatment ofleukemia. Many of those species that have not yet been discovered may very likely cure

cancer, AI(S, and many of the other diseases and virusbased illnesses of today. In fact,

one research scientist in the field of botany has concluded that in ;osta Bica's forests

alone, 3 percent of the plant species may have the potential as a treatment for cancer.#hat potential lifesaving medicines are we losing each day as the forests are being

destroyed *

Apart from all this, let us keep in mind the most basic function of trees, which is that they

provide oygen. All living creatures need to breathe oygen in order to stay alive. Atreeless planet will be an airless and, therefore, a dead one.

From paragraph 1-2 :

. >a? State twomain ways that forests are being destroyed.>b? #hat is the main purpose for the burning of the trees in the forests of the

Ama-on *

From paragraph 2 :

/. #hat point is the writer trying to show in mentioning the fact that @igeria and"hailand have to import timber *

From paragraph 3 :

1. >a? Cplain why the destruction of forests may lead to drought.

>b? $ind a word in this paragraph which means Dvery importantD.

From paragraph 4 :

2. >a? #hy is soil erosion a greater problem in areas that have been cleared of forests *

>b? Cplain the meaning of D... denudedhill slopes ...D without using the italicised

word. From paragraph :

3. #hat is 'vincristine' *

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Answers

. >a? "hey are felled and burnt down.

>b? "he land is cleared for cattle gra-ing.

/. "hey have lost too much of their forests.

1. >a? $orests are catchment areas for rainwater, preventing rainwater from sinking so+uickly into the ground. Masses of rainbearing clouds form over the moist forests.

"hus the destruction of the forests may cause a reduction of rain in the area.

>b? Eital 2. >a? #ithout the tree cover, the land is totally eposed to the agents of erosion, such as

strong winds and heavy rainfall.

>b? 0ills that have been cleared of all vegetation. 3. It is a drug used in the treatment of cancer.

=1

"he day started out hot and humid, %ust like any other typical day in 0ong ong.Cveryone seemed to be in a rush to go somewhere, elbowing and %ostling around. Ai Fing

was standing around with a small metal tin in her hand. Cvery few minutes, she would be

walking around and shaking the tin to rattle the few coins that were already inside.Cveryone avoided her like the plague.

@o, Ai Fing was not a beggar. She was one of the many pupils dotted all around 0ong

ong today, selling flags for a charitable cause. It depressed her to see how miserly 0ongongers were. $rom afar, people would spot her with the foreboding tin and veer away

from her direction. !thers would walk past, avoiding eye contact. It made her wonder,

DSince when did 0ong ongers become such selfabsorbed people *D #ith a sign, she

continued her task.

:y midday, Ai Fing was drained. 0er stomach was also starting to growl. "he sweltering

heat only made things worse. She decided to take a break and have her lunch. "here was

a fast food restaurant nearby. "he cool blast of air as she entered was a welcoming treat.

She +uickly bought her food and sat down to en%oy both the food and the airconditioning. She wished she could %ust sit in there for the rest of the day. 0owever, she

knew that itwould not be right. She had a duty to perform. After finishing her lunch, Ai

Fing continued sitting for %ust a little longer before reluctantly dragging herself out intothe streets again.

$or the net three hours, Ai Fing trawled the streets hoping to meet people who might be

willing to part with a few coins. Ironically, Ai Fing reali-ed that she had actually

collected more money from tourists than from the locals themselves. #hat a shameG"hankfully, she still managed to fill up most of her metal tin. She felt rather pleased with

her achievement, considering what a tough crowd she had faced the whole day. Ai Fing

then told herself that the net time she saw someone else selling flags in the streets, shewould make it a point to donate something, even if it was only a token amount. After all,

she knew eactly what they were going through.

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. #hich word in paragraph one tells us that the weather that day was epected *

/. Huote the sentence in paragraph one which shows that no one wanted to go near Ai

Fing .

1. 0ow did Ai Fing feel about the reaction of the public towards her * 2. #hat were the twoactions of the people who saw Ai Fing *

3. #hat does the 'task' in paragraph two refer to *

5. 0ow was Ai Fing feeling by midday *

6. Cplain clearly what 'it' in paragraph three refers to.

7. #hat did Ai Fing feel was a 'shame' >paragraph four?*


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=3It was the trail drive season again. :illy had been looking forward to it for months. "he

trail drive was one of the biggest events in a cowboy's life :illy loved being on the road

even though he was aware of the dangers he would face in the following months.

:efore the drive began, :illy went around various cattle ranches to collect the cattle. 0ewas %oined by a cook and ten other cowboys who had been hired to handle the large herd

during the long drive. As the leader of the group, :illy was in charge of the entire

operation and had to ensure the cattle's safe arrival at the railway station. "here, the herdwould await shipment to the eastern markets. It was indeed a heavy responsibility to bear,

but :illy knew that he would be well paid if the trail drive proceeded smoothly.

"he day of the drive arrived. "he cattle were rounded up and all the cowboys got into a

large covered wagon. "he wagon was very sturdy and :illy made sure that it carriedenough food and water to last everyone for the net three months.

(uring the drive, they had to keep the cattle together and head in the right direction."here had to be two or three cowboys behind, in front and on each side of the herd to

keep them manageable. Sometimes, the cattle panicked as they crossed a river and theywould swim in all directions. Also, they were frightened by loud noises like thunder.

"here were many occasions when a stampede occurred, and :illy and his men had to ride

in front of the herd and fire their guns to stop the lead cattle.

"he long nights on the roads were spent singing. "he men also took turns guarding theherd through the nights. At the end of the drive, they arrived at the station and loaded the

herd onto a train. "heir work was finally done. After a good meal, :illy and his friends

headed for the nearest saloon. It was time for a celebration.


. #hy was :illy looking forward to the trail drive *

/. #hat did :illy do before the drive began *

1. #ho else were involved in the trail drive *

2. #hat were :illy's duties *

3. #here was the cattle's final destination *

5. #hich twoword phrase in paragraph 1 tells us that the cattle were gatheredtogether *

6. #hy must the wagon be loaded with food and water *

7. 0ow was the cattle kept manageable during the drive *


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Answers

. It was one of the biggest events in a cowboy's life, and he loved being on the road.

/. 0e went around the various ranches to collect the cattle.

1. A cook and ten other cowboys were involved.

2. 0e was in charge of the whole operation and had to make sure that the cattle reachedthe railway station safely.

3. "he final destination was the eastern markets.

5. "he phrase is 'rounded up'.

6. "he cowboys managing the cattle needed a lot of food and water as they would be on

the road >or traveling? for a few months.

7. "wo or three cowboys rode behind, in front and on each side of the herd to keep themtogether.


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%ust in time. "he blast from its gun charred the rock above his head.

"he patrol leader ordered, D4ive protective fire,D and moved off alone. "he second Bicop

followed more slowly, its gun swiveling suspiciously all around. "he patrol leader

rounded the boulder and moved cautiously along the trail that bordered the ice pool.Suddenly Kip appeared from behind one of the rocks, disappearing again almost

immediately. "he Bicop moved forward. Another blast from its gun seared the rocks very

close to Kip. It was near to the edge of the pool now. Suddenly Parot appeared fromhiding. 0e charged the pursuer gripping it from behind so that the gun could not be aimed

at him. 0e shoved the Bicop by force towards the ice pool.

Slowly he edged it towards the pool. "he Bicop resisted with all its strength. All the time

it was calling, DAssist G Assist G I am being attacked GD

$urther down the trail, Kip saw the second Bicop speed forward to answer the call, and

reali-ed that he had to delay it. 0e dashed across the trail and the pursuer swung round inpursuit. Kip's foot turned on a small rock and he crashed to the ground, sprawled

helplessly on the path as his pursuer bore down on him.

As his enemy was bout to fire, Parot %umped on it from the top of a nearby boulder. 0e

had a piece of cloth in his hands which he threw over the Bicop, covering the eyestalk

completely. "he Bicop spun around helplessly, shrieking, DEision circuits impaired. I am

losing control.D

Somehow Parot stayed perched on top of the Bicop, holding the cloth firmly in place. Kip

recovered and ran to grab the Bicop's gun and %ammed it upwards, so that the blast of its

firing eploded harmlessly into the air. :etween them, they shoved the helpless Bicopalong the path taken by the patrol leader. As they rounded the boulder, they gave it amighty shove that sent it splashing into the ice pool. "he water bubbled and hissed, and

its cries ended abruptly as it shared the fate of its leader.


. #hy was there an urgent and intensified search of Jo's escaped companions *

/. 0ow did the Bicop commander ensure that the two escapees were located +uickly *

1. #hy were the two aliens found so +uickly *

2. #hat were the Bicops supposed to do when they find the aliens *

3. "he patrol leader described the aliens as cunning. 0ow was it correct in itsassessment *

5. Fist two reasons why the two escapees chose the giant boulder to carry out their

plan. 6. #hat did the patrol leader do when it was attacked *

7. #hat did Kip hope to achieve by dashing across the path of the second Bicop *


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=. #hat are Bicops *

Answers

. "here was an urgent and intensified search because they escaped with some bombs.

/. "he Bicop commander divided the searchers into smaller groups to form more

patrols. 1. "hey chose to be found as part of their plan.

2. "hey were supposed to destroy the aliens.

3. "he aliens were so cunning they managed to plan and destroy the Bicops.

5. "he giant boulder was chosen for the narrow path that led to it and for the icy pool

that was near it.

6. "he patrol leader called for help.

7. Kip hoped to delay the second Bicop in its bid to help the patrol leader.


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die because their leaders had been so thirsty for power. Itcould have been avoided if they

had chosen to surrender earlier.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences. #hat does the writer mean by 'Most of us have only eperienced war through books

or the media' >paragraph ?*

/. #hat does the phrase 'firmly imprinted' >paragraph ? suggest about the memoriesof those who have eperienced war *

1. #hy were there two world wars in the first half of the twentieth century *

2. #hat does the writer mean by 'the reason of war is +uickly forgotten' >paragraph

1? *

3. Cplain why the writer compares war to a 'disease' >paragraph 1?.

5. #hy have people '+uestioned the necessity of war' >paragraph 2?*

6. #hy do you think people went forward to fight despite the obvious risks of war *

7. Cplain clearly the irony the writer talks about in paragraph 2.

paragraph 2?*

=. #hat does 'it' in paragraph 3 refer to *

Answers

. 0e means that most people have only read about war or seen films about war but

have not personally eperienced war. /. "hey will not be able to forget the events that happened during the war.

1. Feaders of countries attacked one another as they wanted to increase their power.

2. 0e means that once war begins, people will be too caught up with its effects toremember why they were fighting in the first place.

3. #ar spreads +uickly and its effects are usually fatal.

5. #ar leads to the mass destruction of cities and a loss of lives, as well as a shortage ofresources, which seem too big a sacrifice for the ob%ective of starting a war.

6. "hey do so because of their loyalty to their leaderscountry.


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7. 0e means that it is contradictory that those who called for war are safe from the

effects while those who suffer are those who had no say in the decision.


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1. #hy is it surprising that the Sahara (esert is 'home to many strange animals'

>paragraph /? *

2. According to paragraph 1, why did some species in the Sahara (esert become etinct*

3. In what way is a sand stink like s fish *

5. Cplain how a sand stink moves around without getting sand in its eyes.6. #hat is the 'main source of survival' >paragraph 2? for the desert shrimp *

7. #hat are the camel's two most visible features that make them the perfect 'horse ofthe desert' in the Sahara * Also eplain the usefulness of each feature to the camel in

your answer.


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$or many people, the story of Amelia Carhart is a legend. She is famous for her many

eploits as a flyer but she is still perhaps most wellknown for her disappearance. She

vanished without a trace sometime in July


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=. 4ive twocharacteristics of Amelia that stood out in the passage.

Answers

. It means 'disappeared without being ever found'.

/. She wanted to learn to control an airplane by herself since she loved flying. 1. She was the first woman to do so.

2. She did not pilot the plane the first time she crossed the Atlantic !cean flight and so

she wanted to fly alone the second time.

3. "he phrase is 'fraught with obstacles'.

5. "he bad weather had damaged her navigation instruments that would have showedher the location of the plane.

6. She did so by continuing to make and break records in flying and by flying solo over

the Atlantic. 7. She had planned to fly around the widest point of the Carth, the C+uator, something

that had never been done before.


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And later there were droughts seven years out of eight yet the water in the

ocean never grew less. It has remained +uite constant throughtout the ages.

"hat is why I like to live in the Castern !cean. D

"hen the frog in the shallow well was silent and felt a little abashed.

abashed !f "ou are abashed# "ou feel embarrassed and ashamed.

=/

A supernatural wife

A certain Mr. ;hao, of ;hangshan, lodged in a family of the name of "ai. 0e

was very badly off, and, falling sick, was brought almost to death's door. !neday they moved him into the verandah, that it might be cooler for him and,

when he awoke from a nap, loG a beautiful girl was standing by his side. DI am

come to be your wife,D said the girl, in answer to his +uestion as to who she

was to which he replied that a poor fellow like himself did not look for such

luck as that adding that, being then on his deathbed, he would not have much

occasion for the services of a wife. "he girl said she could cure him, but he told

her he very much doubted that DAnd even,D continued he, Dshould you have

any good prescription, I have not the means of getting it made up.D

DI don't want medicine to cure you with,D re%oined the girl, proceeding at onceto rub his back and sides with her hand, which seemed to him like a ball of fire.

0e soon began to feel much better, and asked the young lady what her name

was, in order, as he said, that he might remember her in his prayers. DI am a

spirit,D replied she Dand you, when alive under the 0an dynasty as ;hu Sui

lang, were a benefactor of my family. &our kindness being engraved on my

heart, I have at length succeeded in my search for you, and am able in some

measure to re+uite you.D

;hao was dreadfully ashamed of his povertystricken state, and afraid that his

dirty room would spoil the young lady's dress but she made him show her in,and accordingly he took her into his apartment, where there were neither chairs

to sit upon, nor signs of anything to eat, saying, D&ou might, indeed, be able to

put up with all this but you see my larder is empty, and I have absolutely no

means of supporting a wife.D

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D(on't be alarmed about that,D cried she and in another moment he saw a

couch covered with costly robes, the walls papered with a silverflecked paper,

and chairs and tables appear, the latter laden with all kinds of wine and

e+uisite viands. "hey then began to en%oy themselves, and lived together as

husband and wife. Many people came to witness these strange things, and were

all cordially received by the young lady. She in turn always accompanied Mr.;hao whenever he went out to dinner.

!ne day there was an unprincipled young graduate among the company, which

she seemed immediately to become aware of and, after calling him several bad

names, she struck him on the side of the head, causing his head to fly out of the

window while his body remained inside and there he was, stuck fast, unable to

move either way, until the others interceded for him and he was released. After

some time visitors became too numerous, and if she refused to see them they

turned their anger against her husband.

At length, as they were sitting together drinking with some friends at the "uan

yang festival, a white rabbit ran in, whereupon the girl %umped up and said,

D"he doctor has come for me.D "hen, turning to the rabbit, she added, D&ou go

on9 I'll follow you.D So the rabbit went away, and then she ordered them to get a

ladder and place it against a high tree in the back yard, the top of the ladder

overtopping the tree. "he young lady went up first and ;hao close behind her

after which she called out to anybody who wished to %oin them to make haste

up. @one ventured to do so with the eception of a servingboy belonging to

the house, who followed after ;hao and thus they went up, up, up, up, until

they disappeared in the clouds and were seen no more. 0owever, when the

bystanders came to look at the ladder, they found it was only an old doorframe

with the panels knocked out and when they went into Mr. ;hao's room, it was

the same old, dirty, unfurnished room as before. So they determined to find out

all about it from the servingboy when he came back but this he never did.

$nd

P/

At ;hangngan there lived a scholar, named $ang "ung, who though by no

means destitute of ability, was a very unprincipled rake, and in the habit of

following and speaking to any woman he might chance to meet.

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"he day before the spring festival of ;lear #eather, he was strolling about

outside the city when he saw a small carriage with red curtains and an

embroidered awning, followed by a crowd of waitingmaids on horseback, one

of whom was eceedingly pretty, and riding on a small palfrey. 4oing closer to

get a better view, Mr. $ang noticed that the carriage curtain was partly open,

and inside he beheld a beautifully dressed girl of about siteen, lovely beyondanything he had ever seen. (a--led by the sight, he could not take his eyes off

her and now before, now behind, he followed the carriage for many a mile.

:yandby he heard the young lady call out to her maid, and, when the latter

came alongside, say to her, DFet down the screen for me. #ho is this rude

fellow that keeps on staring so *D "he maid accordingly let down the screen,

and looking angrily at Mr. $ang, said to him, D"his is the bride of the Seventh

Prince in the ;ity of Immortals going home to see her parents, and no village

girl that you should stare at her thus.D "hen taking a handful of dust, she threw

it at him and blinded him.

0e rubbed his eyes and looked round, but the carriage and horses were gone.

"his frightened him, and he went off home, feeling very uncomfortable about

the eyes. 0e sent for a doctor to eamine his eyes, and on the pupils was found

a small film, which had increased by net morning, the eyes watering

incessantly all the time. "he film went on growing and in a few days was as

thick as a cash. !n the right pupil there came a kind of spiral, and as no

medicine was of any avail, the sufferer gave himself up to grief and wished for

death.

0e then bethought himself of repenting of his misdeeds, and hearing that the

uangming sutra could relieve misery, he got a copy and hired a man to teach

it to him. At first it was very tedious work, but by degrees he became more

composed, and spent the whole day in a posture of devotion, telling his beads.

At the end of a year he had arrived at a state of perfect calm, when one day he

heard a small voice, about as loud as a fly's, calling out from his left eye9 DIt's

horridly dark in here.D "o this he heard a reply from the right eye, saying, DFet

us go out for a stroll, and cheer ourselves up a bit.D "hen he felt a wriggling in

his nose which made it itch, %ust as if something was going out of each of the

nostrils and after a while he felt it again as if going the other way. Afterwards

he heard a voice from one eye say, DI hadn't seen the garden for a long time9 the

epidendrums are all withered and dead.D @ow Mr. $ang was very fond of these

epidendrums, of which he had planted a great number, and had been

accustomed to water them himself but since the loss of his sight he had never

even alluded to them. 0earing, however, these words, he at once asked his wife

why she had let the epidendrums die. She in+uired how he knew they were

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dead, and when he told her she went out to see, and found them actually

withered away. "hey were both very much astonished at this, and his wife

proceeded to conceal herself in the room. She then observed two tiny people,

no bigger than a bean, come down from her husband's nose and run out of the

door, where she lost sight of them. In a little while they came back and flew up

to his face, like bees or beetles seeking their nests.

"his went on for some days, until Mr. $ang heard from the left eye, D"his

roundabout road is not at all convenient. It would be as well for us to make a

door.D "o this the right eye answered, DMy wall is too thick9 it wouldn't be at all

an easy %ob.D

DI'll try and open mine,D said the left eye, Dand then it will do for both of us.D

#hereupon Mr. $ang felt a pain in his left eye as if something was being split,

and in a moment he found he could see the tables and chairs in the room. 0e

was delighted at this and told his wife, who eamined his eye and discoveredan opening in the film, through which she could see the black pupil shining out

beneath, the eyeball itself looking like a cracked peppercorn. :y net morning

the film had disappeared, and when his eye was closely eamined it was

observed to contain two pupils. "he spiral on the right eye remained as before

and then they knew that the two pupils had taken up their abode in one eye.

$urther, although Mr. $ang was still blind of one eye, the sight of the other was

better than that of the two together. $rom this time he was more careful of his

behavior, and ac+uired in his part of the country the reputation of a virtuous

man.

$nd

0%

"he picture horse

A certain Mr. "sui, of Finching, was too poor to keep his garden walls in repair, and used

often to find a strange horse lying down on the grass inside. It was a black horse marked

with white, and having a scrubby tail, which looked as if the end had been burnt off' and,

though always driven away, would still return to the same spot.

@ow Mr. "sui had a friend, who was holding an appointment in Shansi and though he had

fre+uently felt desirous of paying him a visit, he had no means of traveling so far.

Accordingly, he one day caught the strange horse, and, putting a saddle on its back, rodeaway, telling his servants that if the owner of the horse should appear, he was to inform

him where the animal was to be found.


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"he horse started off at a very rapid pace, and, in a short time, they were thirty or forty

miles from home but at night it did not seem to care for its food, so the net day Mr. "sui,

who thought perhaps illness might be the cause, held the horse in, and would not let itgallop so fast. 0owever, the animal did not seem to approve of this, and kicked and

foamed until at length Mr. "sui let it go at the same old pace and by midday he hadreached his destination.

As he rode into the town, the people were astonished to hear of the marvelous %ourney %ustaccomplished, and the 4overnor sent to say he should like to buy the horse. Mr. "sui,

fearing that the real owner might come forward, was compelled to refuse this offer but

when, after si months had elapsed, no in+uiries had been made, he agreed to accept eighthundred ounces of silver, and handed over the horse to the 4overnor. 0e then bought him

self a good mule, and returned home.

Subse+uently, the 4overnor had occasion to use the horse for some important business at

Finching and when there it took the opportunity to run away. "he officer in chargepursued it right up to the house of a Mr. "seng, who lived net door to Mr. "sui, and saw it

run in and disappear. "hereupon he called upon Mr. "seng to restore it to him and, on the

latter declaring he had never even seen the animal, the officer walked into his privateapartments, where he found, hanging on the wall, a picture of a horse, by ;hen "-uang,

eactly like the one he was in search of, and with part of the tail burnt away by a %oss

stick.

It was now clear that the Prince's horse was a supernatural creature but the officer, beingafraid to go back without it, would have prosecuted Mr. "seng, had not "sui, whose eight

hundred ounces of silver had since increased to something like ten thousand, stepped in

and paid back the original purchase money. Mr. "seng was eceedingly grateful to himfor this act of kindness, ignorant, as he was, of "sui's previous sale of the horse.

$nd

=2

"he flower nymphs >?

At the lower temple on Mount Fao the camellias are twenty feet in height, and

many spans in circumference. "he peonies are more than ten feet high andwhen the flowers are in bloom the effect is that of a gorgeous tapestry.

"here was a Mr. 0uang, of ;hiaochow, who built himself a house at that spot,

for the purpose of study and one day he saw from his window a young lady

dressed in white wandering about amongst the flowers. Beflecting that she

could not possibly be long to the monastery, he went out to meet her, but she

/=


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had already disappeared. After this he fre+uently observed her, and once hid

himself in a thickfoliaged bush, waiting for her to come.

:yandby she appeared, bringing with her another young lady dressed in red,

who, as he noticed from his distant point of observation, was an eceedingly

goodlooking girl. #hen they approached nearer, the young lady in the reddress ran back, saying, D"here is a man hereGD whereupon Mr. 0uang %umped

out upon them, and away they went in a scare, with their skirts and long sleeves

fluttering in the bree-e, and perfuming the air round. 0uang pursued them as

far as a low wall, where they suddenly vanished from his ga-e. In great distress

at thus losing the fair creatures, he took a pencil and wrote upon a tree the

following lines9

"he pangs of love my heart enthrall

As I stand opposite this wall.

I dread some hateful tyrant's power,#ith none to save you in that hour.

Beturning home he was absorbed in his own thought, when all at once the

young lady walked in, and he rose up %oyfully to meet her. DI thought you were

a brigand,D said his visitor, smiling Dyou nearly frightened me to death. I did

not know you were a great scholar whose ac+uaintance I now hope to have the

honour of making.D Mr. 0uang asked the young lady her name, Lc., to which

she replied, DMy name is 0siangyu, and I belong to Pingkanghsiang but a

magician has condemned me to remain on this hill much against my own

inclination.D

D"ell me his name,D cried 0uang, Dand I'll soon set you free.D

D"here is no need for that,D answered the young lady DI suffer no in%ury from

him, and the place is not an inconvenient one for making the ac+uaintance of

such worthy gentlemen as your self.D 0uang then in+uired who was the young

lady in red, and she told him that her name was ;hianghsueh, and that they

were halfsisters Dand now,D added she, DI will sing you a song but please

don't laugh at me.D She then began as follows9

In pleasant company the hours fly fast,

And through the window daybreak peeps at last.

Ah, would that, like the swallow and his mate,

"o live together were our happy fate.

/


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0uang here grasped her hand and said, D:eauty without and intellect within

enough to make a man love you and forget all about death, only one day's

absence being like the separation of a thousand miles. I pray you come again

whenever an opportunity may present itself.D

$rom this time the young lady would fre+uently walk in to have a chat, butwould never bring her sister with her in spite of all Mr. 0uang's entreaties.

0uang thought they weren't friends, but 0siang said her sister did not care for

society in the same way that she herself did, promising at the same time to try

and persuade her to come at some future day. !ne evening 0siangyu arrived in

a melancholy frame of mind, and told 0uang that he was wanting more when

he couldn't even keep what he had got Dfor tomorrow,D said she, Dwe part.D

0uang asked what she meant and then, wiping away her tears with her sleeve,

0siangyu declared it was destiny, and that she couldn't well tell him. D&our

former prophecy,D continued she, Dhas come too true and now it may well be

said of me

$allen into the tyrant's power,

#ith none to save me in that hour.D

=3 P/

"he flower nymphs >/?

0uang again tried to +uestion her, but she would tell him no thing and byand

by she rose and took her leave. "his seemed very strange however, net day a

visitor came, who, after wandering round the garden, was much taken with a

white peony, which he dug up and carried away with him. 0uang now awaked

to the fact that 0siangyu was a flower nymph, and became very disconsolate

in conse+uence of what had happened but when he subse+uently heard that the

peony only lived a few days after being taken away, he wept bitterly, and

composed an elegy in fifty stan-as, besides going daily to the hole from which

it had been taken, and watering the ground with his tears.

!ne day, as he was returning thence, he espied the young lady of the red

clothes also wiping away her tears alongside the hole, and immediately walked

back gently towards her. She did not run away, and 0uang, grasping her sleeve,

%oined with her in her lamentations. #hen these were concluded he invited her

to his house, and then she burst out with a sigh, saying, DAlasG that the sister of

my early years should be thus suddenly taken from me. 0earing you, Sir,

//


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mourn as you did, I have also been moved to tears. "hose you shed have sunk

down deep to the realms below, and may perhaps succeed in restoring her to us

but the sympathies of the dead are destroyed for ever, and how then can she

laugh and talk with us again*D

DMy luck is bad,D said 0uang, Dthat I should in%ure those I love, neither can Ihave the good fortune to draw towards me another such a beauty. :ut tell me,

when I often sent messages by 0siangyu to you, why did you not come*D

DI knew,D replied she, Dwhat nine young fellows out of ten are but I did not

know what you were.D She then took leave, 0uang telling her how dull he felt

without 0siangyu, and begging her to come again.

$or some days she did not appear and 0uang remained in a state of great

melancholy, tossing and turning on his bed and wetting the pillow with his

tears, until one night he got up, put on his clothes, and trimmed the lamp andhaving called for pen and ink, he composed the following lines9

!n my cottage roof the evening raindrops beat

I draw the blind and near the window take my seat.

"o my longing ga-e no loved one appears

(rip, drip, drip, drip9 fast flow my tears.

"his he read aloud and when he had finished, a voice outside said, D&ou want

some one to cap your verses thereGD Fistening attentively, he knew it was

;hianghsueh and opening the door he let her in. She looked at his stan-a, andadded impromptu

She is no longer in the room

A single lamp relieves the gloom

!ne solitary man is there

0e and his shadow make a pair.

As 0uang read these words his tears fell fast and then, turning to ;hiang

hsueh, he upbraided her for not having been to see him. DI can't come so often

as 0siangyu did,D replied she, Dbut only now and then when you are verydull.D

After this she used to drop in occasionally, and 0uang said 0siangyu was his

beloved wife, and she his dear friend, always trying to find out every time she

came which flower in the garden she was, that he might bring her home with

him, and save her from the fate of 0siangyu. D"he old earth should not be

/1


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disturbed,D said she, Dand it would not do any good to tell you. If you couldn't

keep your wife always with you, how will you be sure of keeping a friend*D

0uang, however, paid no heed to this, and sei-ing her arm, led her out into the

garden, where he stopped at every peony and asked if this was the one to

which ;hianghsueh made no reply, but only put her hand to her mouth and

laughed merrily.

At @ew &ear's time 0uang went home, and a couple of months afterwards he

dreamt that ;hianghsueh came to tell him she was in great trouble, begging

him to hurry off as soon as possible to her rescue. #hen he woke up, he

thought his dream a very strange one and ordering his servant and horses to be

ready, started at once for the hills. "here he found that the priests were about to

build a new room and finding a camellia in the way, the con tractor had given

orders that it should be cut down. 0uang now understood his dream, and

immediately took steps to prevent the destruction of the flower.

"hat night, ;hianghsueh came to thank him, and 0uang laughed and said, DIt

serves you right for not telling me which you were. @ow I know you, and if

you don't come and see me, I'll get a firebrand and make it hot for you.D

More &&&

=5 P1

"he flower nymphs >1?

D"hat's %ust why I didn't tell you before,D replied she.

D"he presence of my dear friend,D said 0uang, after a pause, Dmakes me think

more of my lost wife. It is long since I have mourned for her. Shall we go and

bemoan her loss together*D So they went off and shed many a tear on the spot

where formerly 0siangyu had stood, until at last ;hianghsueh wiped her eyes

and said it was time to go.

A few evenings later 0uang was sitting alone, when suddenly ;hianghsueh

entered, her face radiant with smiles. D4ood newsGD cried she, Dthe $lower4od,moved by your tears, has granted 0siangyu a return to life. 0uang was

over%oyed, and asked when she would come to which ;hianghsueh replied,

that she could not say for certain, but that it would not be long.

DI came here on your account,D said 0uang Ddon't let me be duller than you can

help.D

/2
http://www.englishdaily626.com/stories.php?092http://www.englishdaily626.com/stories.php?092


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DAll right,D answered she, and then went away, not returning for the net two

evenings.

0uang then went into the garden and threw his arms around her plant,

entreating her to come and see him, though without eliciting any response. 0e

accordingly went back, and began twisting up a torch, when all at once in shecame, and snatching the torch out of his hand, threw it away, saying, D&ou're a

bad fellow, and I don't like you, and I shan't have any more to do with you.D

0owever, 0uang soon succeeded in pacifying her, and byandby in walked

0siangyu herself. 0uang now wept tears of %oy as he sei-ed her hand, and

drawing ;hianghsueh towards them, the three friends mingled their tears

together.

"hey then sat down and talked over the miseries of separation, 0uang

meanwhile noticing that 0siangyu seemed to be unsubstantial, and that when

he grasped her hand his fingers seemed to close only on themselves, and not asin the days gone by. "his 0siangyu eplained, saying, D#hen I was a flower

nymph I had a body but now I am only the disembodied spirit of that flower.

(o not regard me as a reality, but rather as an apparition seen in a dream.D

D&ou have come at the nick of time,D cried ;hianghsueh Dyour husband there

was %ust getting troublesome.D 0siangyu now instructed 0uang to take a little

powdered whiteberry, and miing it with some sulphur, to pour out a libation

to her, adding, D"his day net year I will return your kindness.D

"he young ladies then went away, and net day 0uang observed the shoots of ayoung peony growing up where 0siangyu had once stood. So he made the

libation as she had told him, and had the plant very carefully tended, even

building a fence all round to protect it. 0siangyu came to thank him for this,

and he pro posed that the plant should be removed to his own home but to this

she would not agree, Dfor,D said she, DI am not very strong, and could not stand

being transplanted. :esides, all things have their appointed place and as I was

not originally intended for your home, it might shorten my life to be sent there.

#e can love each other very well here.D 0uang then asked why ;hianghsueh

did not come to which 0siangyu replied that they must make her, and

proceeded with him into the garden, where, after picking a blade of grass, she

measured upwards from the roots of ;hianghsueh's plant to a distance of four

feet si inches, at which point she stopped, and 0uang began to scratch a mark

on the place with his nails.

At that moment ;hianghsueh came from behind the plant, and in mock anger

cried out, D&ou hussy youG what do you aid that wretch for *D

/3


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D(on't be angry, my dear,D said 0siangyu Dhelp me to amuse him for a year

only, and then you shan't be bothered any more.D So they went on, 0uang

watching the plant thrive, until by the spring it was over two feet in height. 0e

then went home, giving the priests a handsome present, and bidding them take

great care of it.

@et year, in the fourth moon, he returned and found upon the plant a bud %ust

ready to break and as he was walking round, the stem shook violently as if it

would snap, and suddenly the bud opened into a flower as large as a plate,

disclosing a beautiful maiden within, sitting upon one of the pistils, and only a

few inches in height. In the twinkling of an eye she had %umped out, and loG it

was 0siangyu. D"hrough the wind and the rain I have waited for you,D cried

she Dwhy have you come so late*D "hey then went into the house, where they

found ;hianghsueh already arrived, and sat down to en%oy themselves as they

had done in former times.

Shortly afterwards 0uang's wife died, and he took up his abode at Mount Fao

for good and all. "he peonies were at that time as large as one's arm and

whenever 0uang went to look at them, he always said, DSome day my spirit

will be there by your sideD to which the two girls used to reply with a laugh,

and say, DMind you don't forget.D

"en years after these events, 0uang became dangerously ill, and his son, who

had come to see him, was very much distressed about him. DI am about to be

born,D cried his father DI am not going to die. #hy do you weep*D 0e also told

the priests that if later on they should see a red shoot, with five leaves, thrustingitself forth alongside of the peony, that would be himself. "his was all he said,

and his son proceeded to convey him home, where he died immediately on

arrival.

@et year a shoot did come up eactly as he had mentioned and the priests,

struck by the coincidence, watered it and supplied it with earth. In three years it

was a tall plant, and a good span in circumference, but without flowers. #hen

the old priest died, the others took no care of it and as it did not flower they cut

it down. "he white peony then faded and died and before long the camellia

was dead too.

/5


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=6

"he wonderful stone >?

In the prefecture of Shuntien there lived a man named 0sing &unfei, who was

an amateur mineralogist and would pay any price for a good specimen.

!ne day as he was fishing in the river, something caught his net, and diving

down, he brought up a stone about a foot in diameter, beautifully carved on all

sides to resemble clustering hills and peaks. 0e was +uite as pleased with this

as if he had found some precious stone and having had an elegant sandalwood

stand made for it, he set his pri-e upon the table.

#henever it was about to rain, clouds, which from a distance looked like new

cottonwool, would come forth from each of the holes or grottoes on the stone,

and appear to close them up.

:yandby an influential personage called at the house and begged to see the

stone, immediately sei-ing it and handing it over to a lusty servant, at the same

time whipping his horse and riding away. 0sing was in despair but all he could

do was to mourn the loss of his stone, and indulge his anger against the thief.

Meanwhile, the servant, who had carried off the stone on his back, stopped to

rest at a bridge when all of a sudden his hand slipped and the stone fell into the

water. 0is master was etremely put out at this, and gave him a sound beating

subse+uently hiring several divers, who tried every means in their power to

recover the stone, but were +uite unable to find it. 0e then went away, having

first published a notice of reward, and by these means many were tempted to

seek for the stone.

Soon after, 0sing himself came to the spot, and as he mournfully approached

the bank, the water became clear, and he could see the stone lying at the

bottom. "aking off his clothes, he +uickly %umped in and brought it out,

together with the sandalwood stand, which was still with it. 0e carried it off

home, but being no longer desirous of showing it to people, he had an inner

room cleaned and put it in there.

Some time afterwards an old man knocked at the door and asked to be allowed

to see the stone whereupon 0sing replied that he had lost it a long time ago.

DIsn't that it in the inner room *D said the old man smiling. 0e then laid his hand

upon the stone and said, D"his is an old family relic of mine 9 I lost it many

months since. 0ow does it come to be here* I pray you now restore it to me.D

/6


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0sing didn't know what to say, but declared he was the owner of the stone

upon which the old man remarked, DIf it is really yours, what evidence can you

bring to prove it *D 0sing made no reply and the old man continued, D"o show

you that I know this stone, I may mention that it has altogether ninetytwo

grottoes, and that in the largest of these are five words9

A stone from 0eaven above.D

0sing looked and found that there were actually some small characters, no

larger than grains of rice, which, by straining his eyes a little, he managed to

read also, that the number of grottoes was as the old man has said. 0owever,

he would not give him the stone and the old man laughed, and asked, DPray,

what right have you to keep other people's things *D

0e then bowed and went away, 0sing escorting him as far as the door but

when he returned to the room, the stone had disappeared. In a great fright, heran after the old man, who had walked slowly and was not far off, and sei-ing

his sleeve entreated him to give back the stone. D(o you think,D said the latter,

Dthat I could conceal a stone a foot in diameter in my sleeve *D :ut 0sing knew

that he must be superhuman, and led him back to the house, where he threw

himself on his knees and begged that he might have the stone.

DIs it yours or mine *D asked the old man.

D!f course it is yours,D replied 0sing, Dthough I hope you will consent to deny

yourself the pleasure of keeping it.D

=7 P/

"he wonderful stone >/?

DIn that case,D said the old man, Dit is back againD and going into the inner

room, they found the stone in its old place. D"he %ewels of this world,D

observed 0sing's visitor, Dshould be given to those who know how to take care

of them. "his stone can choose its own master, and I am very pleased that itshould remain with you. At the same time I must inform you that it was in too

great a hurry to come into the world of mortals, and has not yet been freed from

all contingent calamities. I had better take it away with me, and three years

hence you shall have it again. If, however, you insist on keeping it, then your

span of life will be shortened by three years, that your terms of eistence may

harmoni-e together. Are you willing *D 0sing said he was whereupon the old

/7


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man with his fingers closed up three of the stone's grottoes, which yielded to

his touch like mud. #hen this was done, he turned to 0sing and told him that

the grottoes on that stone represented the years of his life and then he took his

leave, firmly refusing to remain any longer, and not disclosing his name.

More than a year after this, 0sing had occasion to go away on business, and inthe night a thief broke in and carried off the stone, taking nothing else at all.

#hen 0sing came home, he was dreadfully grieved, as if his whole ob%ect in

life was gone and made all possible in+uiries and efforts to get it back, but

without the slightest result.

Some time passed away, when one day going into a temple, 0sing noticed a

man selling stones, and amongst the rest he saw his old friend. !f course he

immediately wanted to regain possession of it but as the stoneseller would not

consent, he shouldered the stone and went off to the nearest mandarin. "he

stoneseller was then asked what proof he could give that the stone was his andhe replied that the number of grottoes was eightynine. 0sing in+uired if that

was all he had to say, and when the other acknowledged that it was, he himself

told the magistrate what were the characters inscribed within, also calling

attention to the finger marks at the closedup grottoes. 0e therefore gained his

case, and the mandarin would have bambooed the stoneseller, had he not

declared that he bought it in the market for twenty ounces of silver,

whereupon he was dismissed.

A high official net offered 0sing one hundred ounces of silver for it but he

refused to sell it even for ten thousand, which so enraged the wouldbepurchaser that he worked up a case against 0sing, and got him put in prison.

0sing was thereby compelled to pawn a great deal of his property and then the

official sent some one to try to purchase the stone. 0sing, on hearing of the

attempt, steadily refused to consent, saying that he and the stone could not be

parted even in death. 0is wife, however, and his son, laid their heads together,

and sent the stone to the high official, and 0sing only heard of it when he

arrived home from the prison. 0e cursed his wife and beat his son, and

fre+uently tried to make away with himself, though luckily his servants always

managed to prevent him from succeeding.

At night he dreamt that a noblelooking personage appeared to him, and said,

DMy name is Shih ;hinghsu >Stone from 0eaven?. (o not grieve. I

purposely +uitted you for a year and more but net year on the /=th day of the

eighth moon, at dawn, come to the 0aitai 4ate and buy me back for two

strings of cash.D 0sing was over%oyed at his dream, and carefully took down the

day mentioned. Meanwhile the stone was at the official's private house but as

/


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the cloud manifestations ceased, the stone was less and less pri-ed and the

following year when the official was disgraced for maladministration and

subse+uently died, 0sing met some of his servants at the 0aitai 4ate going off

to sell the stone, and purchased it back from them for two strings of cash.

0sing lived till he was eightynine and then having prepared the necessariesfor his interment, bade his son bury the stone with him, which was accordingly

done. Si months later robbers broke into the vault and made off with the stone,

and his son tried in vain to secure their capture. 0owever, a few days after

wards, he was traveling with his servants, when suddenly two men rushed forth

dripping with perspiration, and looking up into the air, acknowledged their

crime saying, DMr. 0sing, please don't torment us thus G #e took the stone, and

sold it for only four ounces of silver.D 0sing's son and his servants then sei-ed

these men, and took them before the magistrate, where they at once

acknowledged their guilt. Asked what had become of the stone, they said they

had sold it to a member of the magistrate's family and when it was produced,

that official took such a fancy to it that he gave it to one of his servants and

bade him place it in the treasury. "hereupon the stone slipped out of the

servant's hand and broke into a hundred pieces, to the great astonishment of all

present. "he magistrate now had the thieves bambooed and sent them away but

0sing's son picked up the broken pieces of the stone, and buried them in his

father's grave.

Cssay

A (aring Bescue

Johnny was sound asleep when he was awakened by a loud commotion. 0e opened hiseyes and lay listening. 0e could hear shouts and screams coming from the outside.

Sensing that something was wrong, he +uickly threw on his tshirt and slipped into a pair

of %eans, discarding his cotton py%amas, and rushed out of the house.

"here was a huge crowd gathered at one of the houses further up the street. "he housewas abla-e and thick clouds of smoke were floating up into the clouds. Johnny went back

into the house and made an urgent call to the fire department. "hen, he ran out again

towards the house on fire.

It was Mr. !ng's house. Mr. !ng and his wife were safely out of the house but theiryoung daughter was still trapped inside the burning inferno. the neighbors had formed a

human chain and were using buckets of water to put out the fire but it was of no avail.

Johnny could hear the frantic cries of the young girl inside the burning house. #ithout

thinking twice, Johnny furled himself at the door and broke into the house. 0e was

1=


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almost overcome by the thick smoke. Johnny held his breath and managed to locate the

young girl. 0e carried her over his right shoulder and dashed out of the house and placed

her on a grass patch.

Soon, the fire engine and ambulance arrived. "he paramedics +uickly transported the girlto the hospital accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. !ng. "he firemen used their big hoses to put

the fire out but the house was completely ruined.

A few days later, Mr. and Mrs. !ng came to Johnny's house. their daughter was still

recovering in hospital as she had suffered some minor burns. "he couple thanked Johnnyfor rescuing their daughter.

=/ argument

(o you agree the widespread influence of western culture among studentscorrupt them morally *

It is very hard for Casterners to resist #esterni-ation. "he influence of western ideas and

culture is widespread namely in dressing, mannerisms, food, books, entertainment andeven education. 0owever, western culture can also corrupt a person morally especially

young people.

"here are many aspects of the western culture that are deemed not suitable for Asians

namely its sense of fashion, moral values regarding premarital se, pornography and

wild entertainment. "he young mind is easily influenced and corrupted. #hen one entersshopping complees, restaurants and other public places, the first thing that catches one's

attention is the way the young dress. Many follow the fashion nuances of the west withlittle regard to Asian values and perspectives related to modesty. Many young teenagers

can be seen clad in low cut tops, low waist %eans and in short very revealing outfits. "hey

mimic western style of clothing as well free intermingling of sees.

"his situation has led to many undesirable conse+uences. ;hief among them is thepractice of free se among students. "he Asian values of saving oneself for marriage or

until the right person comes along is discarded and considered archaic. Since many

teenagers lack awareness on safe se, they epose themselves to unwanted pregnancies,

seually transmitted diseases such as AI(S, gonorrhoea, syphilis and other lifethreatening disease. #C read newspaper reports almost on a daily basis on how unborn

babies are being dumped in toilets, houses of worship, hospitals and other public places.

"here are yet many students who upon finding themselves pregnant resort to abortion."he later can be fatal if not done by professional gynaecologists. Many charity

organi-ations report of teenagers coming for advice when they find themselves %ilted by

their boyfriends. "here are also many reports on teenagers contracting S"(s and other

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dangerous diseases.

Another strong influence of westerni-ation is in the arena of entertainment. "eenagers

find it eciting and fulfilling when they visit video arcades, discothe+ues, nightclubs and

other places of entertainment. "hus, they epose themselves tot he morally deficientelements at this kind of places. Apart from picking up bad habits such as smoking,

drinking alcohol and other behaviors unsuitable for people of such a young age, these

teens also epose themselves to abuse and eploitation. Many young people haveadmitted to being seually abused this way by friends or strangers who spike their drinks

with drugs only to awake net morning in the bed of strangers.

"hus, though not all elements of westerni-ation corrupt young people morally, the latter

seem more susceptible and even naive with regards to western influence in the arena ofentertainment, fashion and behavior. Many teenagers demand unfettered freedom without

reali-ing the conse+uences o their behavior which brings harm to them. In their desire to

be westerni-ed, they accept those elements which provides pleasure but places them atgreat risks.

=1

Eitamins

Eitamins are also known as supplements. @owadays, one can get many types of vitamins

as well as herbs in capsules or tablets from the pharmacies, clinics or even thesupermarket. "here are basically two types of vitamins 9 natural and synthetic. "he latter

is manufactured in laboratories whereas the former is etracted from natural sources.

Supplements have become very popular since the last few decades both in the Cast and

the #est.

Although most physicians and specialists recommend the intake of vitamins only if the

person is suffering from certain deficiency in his or her diet, it has become almost a trend

for most people to consume vitamins on a regular basis. "here is widespread belief thatvitamins promote good health, aids in weight loss and improve compleion among

others. "here are others who believe that certain vitamins help prevent cancer and other

dangerous diseases.

"he multibillionaire dollar vitamin industry is a rapidly epanding one as increasingnumber of people including children and teenagers consume vitamins to enhance their

health and general well being. there is some truth tot he belief that vitamins form an

essential part of a person's diet. "his mainly springs from the fact that most of our food>ecept foods such as lettuce, fruits and %uices? are cooked using heat and hence loses its

properties. @ot may of us eat salads and raw vegetables such as carrots, cauliflowers,

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broccoli and leafy vegetables. 0ence, overcooking or even steaming these vegetables

which employs etreme heat results in us eating food which have lost its nutritional

content.

In addition, most of us also tend to eat more refined than comple carbohydrates. "heformer is more popular such as polished rice, pasta, white bread and others which have

almost no nutritional benefits. polishing is a process that strips carbohydram of fiber and

other essential vitamins. 0ence, vitamins provide these important elements that aremissing in our diet. )nlike in the west, Asians generally do not consume much fresh

vegetable or fruit %uices and most of our drinks here are spiked with sugar. Many of us

also tend to drink copious amounts of soft drinks which can cause diabetes and otherhealth complications. young people too tend to avoid or reduce vegetables and fruits in

their diet, preferring %unk food or fast food.

0ence, vitamins play a role in ensuring we maintain a balanced diet. supplements provide

the essential vitamins lacking in our meals due to our unhealthy eating habits.

=2

#etlands

#etlands are areas of marsh or peat land with water that is static or flowing. "hey areecosystems whose formation and characteristics are determined by water. "he ma%or

types of wetlands in Asia are mangroves, freshwater swamp forests, peat swamp forests,

lakes and river systems.

)ntil recently, people thought that wetlands were soggy, useless land that would only bevaluable if they were drained and developed fro agriculture, housing or infrastructure

pro%ects. :esides the direct physical destruction, wetlands are also threatened by chemical

contamination and other pollutants.

#etlands prevent flooding by holding water like a large sponge. #ater moves slowly and

this prevents flooding. #etlands store water during storms when water levels are high."hen, when water levels are low, wetlands release water. #etland plants have roots

planted firmly in the muddy bottom, but with stalks that rise high above the watersurface. "his can slow down the flow of water. :y doing this, they counter the water's

erosive forces.

#etlands clean the water by filtering out the sedimentation. :ecause of this, wetlands

have been referred to as the 'kidneys' of the ecosystem. Cven harmful chemicals are

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converted into useable forms in this cleansing process. Many government are now

converting lands into artificial wetlands to filter out pollution.

#etlands are the habitats for a very large variety of plant and animal life. #etlands

provide the breeding, nesting and feeding grounds for may endangered species. Cvenanimals that live in other habitats use wetlands for migration and reproduction. "he plant

diversity of wetlands provide a breeding site for crabs, prawns and fish.

"he many diverse products of wetlands generate numerous socioeconomic benefits that

are important for the livelihood of local communities. Among the many products that areobtained from wetlands are water supply for domestic us, fisheries, forage resources,

craft materials and medicinal plants.

#etlands are also treasured for their aestheticvalue. "hey are wonderful places to visit.

"heir intrinsicnatural beauty make them the favorite haunt of tourists, where

opportunities for activities like boating, fishing and birdwatching eist.

"he many benefits of wetlands is reason enough for conserving them. Beclamation of

wetlands for development robs many types of flora and fauna of their habitats andultimately leads to their etinction. ;onservation efforts must therefore be taken before

our natural wealth is lost through the selfish pursuits of man.

soggy heavy with water

aesthetic concerned with beauty

intrinsic eisting within

=3

"he benefits of eercise

As students, most of us lead sedentarylifestyles. #e spend most of our timeinclaustrophobicclassrooms and homes. #ith loads of homework, assignments and

eams, eercise seems to be a monotonous chore. "he increasing demands made upon

us by our studies, eams and the high epectations of our parents and teachers leave us

with little time for pleasure and leisure. "he need to eercise becomes a bitter pill toswallow. @onetheless, health eperts prescribe eercise as a prere+uisite for along,

healthy life a life free from diseases and ailments.

Physical eercise not only stimulates and develops muscles, it has a host of other

benefits. Begular eercise can prevent obesity. #hen we eercise, our bodies burn up allthe etra calories which would otherwise be converted into fat and lead to unwanted

bulges. :eing overweight also carries with it a number of other health problems, so,

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eercising not only keeps us trim, it also keeps away weightrelated problems.

Cercise improves blood circulation which, in turn, provides constant nourishment to the

millions of cells in our body. #hen physical eertion takes place, the rate of breathing

increases. "hus, the capacity of blood to carry oygen is increased. At the same time, ithelps the body to get rid of harmful carbon dioide.

Eigorous eercise also eliminates modernday stress. "he number of people suffering

from insomnia is on the rise. "he increasing pressure and nagging worries of work and

study often keep us awake at night. $or many of us, the dawn of a new day brings nocheer. Cercise can be instrumental in helping a person obtain a more relaed sleep. A

tired person will be refreshed and highspirited after a good night's sleep. A few hours of

eercise will help in getting sound sleep and is the perfect, soothing balm for a tired bodyand a restless mind.

Increasing affluence has caused changes in our eating habits. we indulge in rich food,high in calories and cholesterol. Medical evidence substantiates the fact that eercise can

significantly lower the levels of sugar and cholesterol in our bodies. In other words,consistent physical activity can actually provide relief from ailments such as

hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

"here are many benefits to be gained from eercise. A person who eercises regularly has

good health and more vitality compared to someone who does not eercise.

sedentary seated most of the time

claustrophobic enclosed

monotonous chore repetitive and boring task

=5

A Scene (uring Becess

"he school bell goes off to signal the start of the twentyminute recess period. All thepupils get up from their seats, and with the permission of the teacher make their way to

the school canteen.

"he school canteen has many stalls offering a variety of foods. !ne can choose Malay,

;hinese, Indian or even #estern food. "he stall holders are friendly folk and the food isinepensive.

I +uickly walk to the school canteen and head for my favorite nasi lemak stall. "he stall is

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run by an elderly Malay woman whom we affectionately call Mak 0a%i. She is assisted by

her son and daughter. Mak 0a%i also sells fried chicken, fried prawns, fried fish and

anchovies, hardboiled eggs and baked potatoes to go with her delicious nasi lemak.

After buying my meal, I walk over to the drinks stall and buy a tall glass of mied fruits%uice. "he drinks stall belongs to Mr. ;han, a thin ;hinese in his midthirties. 0e runs the

shop alone but he is a very fast worker. 0is hands seem to move at lightening speed as he

serves his customers.

"hen, I scan the dining area for an empty seat and having found one, I rush to be seated. Ifinish the sumptuous meal in a matter of minutes and gulp down the refreshing %uice.

0aving thus filled my stomach, I rise with the empty plate and glass in my hands. "here

are others waiting to have their meal and I have to make space for them.

All too soon, the school bell rings again to mark the end of recess time. All the pupils

head back tot he classroom for the continuation of the day's lessons.

=6

A happy day at school

It was a most tryingperiod. "hings at home were getting from bad to worse. (ad'salcoholism had become worse, especially after his retrenchment. Mum was always

temperamental as she could not make ends meet with her meager incomeas a factory

operator. I had been an aboveaverage student, but now I was doing poorly in school.

I dreaded coming home after school. (ad would come home late and shout abuse atMum. #hen he fell asleep, I would often hear Mum's stifled sobs. I could do nothing to

ease the situation at home and this reali-ation caused me a great deal of anguish and

frustration.

It was at this point that Mrs Justin entered my life. A softspoken woman in her lateforties, she was my class teacher. an alert woman, she was +uick to notice the change that

had come over me. !ne day, during recess, I was standing alone in one corner of the

canteen when Mrs Justin spotted me. She gestured for me to follow her. #e headed forthe library where she beckoned me to take a seat net to her. I sat with my head bent.

'0elen,' she called. I lifted my head and looked at her. I saw the warmth, the love and the

compassion in her lovely eyes. "ears welled up in my eyes and I tried my best to holdthem back. 0owever, I could not. "hey started flowing down my cheeks. She held my

hands and waited. when I had finished, she asked me if I wanted to confide in her and tell

her my problem. I told her. she listened intently with the patience of a saint. At the end of

my story, she gave me a lesson on life and its ups and downs. As I heard her talk, myadmiration for this woman grew. My perception changed. before this meeting, I had felt I

was a nonentity. 0owever, as the meeting progressed, If felt different. I knew Mrs Justin

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cared for me.

In the days that followed, Mrs Justin made it a point to discuss my work at school with

me. $or the first time in that year, I felt I was worthy of being loved. "hings at home

remained +uite the same but there was a profound change in me. "he endofyeareamination approached. "wo weeks after the eam. Mrs Justin announced to the class

that I was the top student in the class. As I looked at her, I felt a sudden surge of

happiness. It was one of the happiest days I had in school for a very long time.

trying difficult

meager income small earnings, low salary

nonentity a person who is not important

=7

#rite a story ending with 'I promised my parents that I would turn over a

new leaf.'

I could feel the ecitement rising in me as I held the beautifully wrapped present in my

hands. I fumbled with the string and then, unable to contain my curiosity nay longer, Iripped it open. It was a sleek, brand new laptop. I had scored straight As for my ! level

eamination and this was my reward. I had always envied my friends who were

echanging news about 'chat rooms', 'instant messaging' and emailing', all of which Iknew nothing about. @ow I was going to find out.

It started out simply enough. I was searching for some information online when

Istumbled upon a social networking site. Soon I became glued to my newfound

electronic friend. I began to spend more and more time on &ou"ube and became enslavedby $acebook and "witter. I had never imagined that the day would come when I would be

transfied by the glowing screen before me. #henever I was not glued to these social

networking sites, I would be going through gossip or fashion websites.

As time passed, I reali-ed that I was hooked on the Internet. (uring weekends, when I

had more time on my hands, I could easily spend a few hours on my laptop. It came to apoint where I chose to lock myself in my room, refusing to come out and take part in

family discussions. I preferred to stay connected to the people I befriended in cyberspacealthough I had never met them. Soon I was spending the wee hours of the morning glued

to the Internet. sleep was relegated to scattered naps and my grades at school also began

deteriorating.

It was about this time that my parents started voicing their disapproval. It became

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obvious to them that I was spending too much time on the Internet. I was asked to tone

down my usage of the Internet. &et, however hard I tried. I was unable to pull myself

away, unable to terminate my chat sessions and unable to concentrate on my lessons. Iwas desperate for %ust another click, %ust another look at my email or message board.

"hen one day, my father took away my laptop. I sputtered and fumed but to no avail. (adhad made up his mind. !ver time, I reali-ed that (ad and Mum had always wanted the

best for me. that was when I decided to take the big step to con+uer my internetaddiction. Huitting was harder than I epected. :ut with doggeddetermination I knew

that I would be able to do it. I promised my parents that I wouldturn over a new leaf.

stumbled upon discovered

dogged stubborn

turn over a new leaf stop a bad habit

= 7 words ?

camouflage

the use of leaves, branches, paints and clothes for hiding

soldiers or military e+uipment so that they look part of their

surroundings

assimilate to become similar to

ward off

to prevent something unpleasant from harming orapproaching you

=/

ummari(e in not more than 1)0 words* the purpose of snakes' bite* the

venom's fatality and also the remedy for such bites.All snakes are hunters and predators, feeding on the animals and sometimes their eggs.

0aving no limbs, snakes cannot hold their preys down to bite hence they usually

swallow them whole. Poisonous snakes sometimes do immobili(etheir preys with theirvenom to make consumption easier.

Most poisonous snakes are conspicuously colored to warn others off. !ne eample is theredheaded krait which has a bluishblack body and scarlet head and tail. Snakes like the

cobras, which have less outstanding body colors, display their fatality by lifting the frontpart of their body and spreading their hoods.

It is truly a myth that poisonous snakes attack humans for food. 0umans can never be

their targets for food as we are normally too large for them to swallow. in cases where

snakes do bite, these attacks are usually defensive ones and the venom in%ected is

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normally little or sometimes even none. "he full, fatal dose of the venom is only released

on smaller animals which the snakes can swallow easily. :esides helping in the killing

and immobili-ing of their preys, the poison also acts as digestive agents for snakes.

#hy then is the venom so deadly * In general, there are three kinds of poisons in thevenom, though in varying amounts, depending on the type of snake in +uestion. Eenoms

usually contain substances that weaken the blood corpuscles and the lining of the blood

vessels. Profuse bleeding, often a common result of snakebites, is caused by theanticoagulants present in the poison which prevents blood clotting. "he paralysis of the

heart and respiratory muscles is performed by the nervous system attacking toins.

"hough these bites are deadly, certain actions can be taken to slow down the spread of the

venom, hence saving the victim's life. Attempting to inciseand suck at the spot of the biteis more likely to be harmful than a cure. "he poisonous venom usually travels fast into

the body upon being released hence sucking at the mouth of the wound will not help

remove the poison, rather, incising the bite may lead the victim to great pain and furtherprofuse bleeding. Instead, a broad, firm crepebandage should be applied over the would

and up the full limb to compress the tissues and prevent the spread of the venom. After

which, the victim must be duly sent to the hospital for professional treatment.

/

Answer

Snakes attack larger animals like us when they are disturbed. "hese bites are not fatal as

little or none of the venom is released. "he full, deadly dose of poison is used to killsmaller animals for food. Snake venoms contain three types of poisons, usually varyingin amounts "here are substances that weaken the blood cells and walls of blood vessels

anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting, which results in profuse bleeding and toins to

paraly-e the heart and respiratory muscles. #hen bitten by a snake, one should apply abroad bandage over the wound and up the limb to help compress the tissues and prevent

the spread of the venom before sending the victim the hospital. > 2 words ?

immobili(e not able to move

incise to cut the surface of something carefully with a sharp tool

crepe a thin cloth with a wrinkled surface

=1

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ummari(e in not more than 1)0 words* describing how one can organi(e and

start a barbecue.0ave you ever been to a barbecue* Many of us en%oy roasting meat over the fire but no

one ever wonder who first started the idea of cooking meat in a fire. Perhaps, it is %ust inthe human psychethat we sometimes feel the need to return to the primitive times,

probably to relieve us of our urbani-ed life. "hat is why many people, regardless of age,love to hold barbecue gatherings. "he idea of gathering round a fire and roast some meat

%ust sounds fun. "he meat may sometimes be halfcooked or not cooked at all >sounds

horrible? but the %oy of primitive cooking is there.

"he first step towards the preparation for a barbecue is to rent a barbecue pit whichusually comes with the barest essentials. After all, we are supposed to return to the early

time frame. !f course, during peak seasons like the school holidays, when the pits are

fully booked, you may try digging one at the back of your garden. @et, get ready the

wire netting, otherwise, you will find yourself roasting the meat on the hot charcoal.Skewers which are important for holding the meat pieces utensils for picking up the food

like forks and spoons, paper plates and cups must not be left out.

@et comes the preparation of the most important part of the barbecue the food. In fact,any kind of meat will be suitable. If meat pieces are bought, like chicken, beef or mutton,

slice them into thin pieces before piercing in the skewers. ;hicken wings are the best.

Simply stretch the wings apart and push in the skewers. $ollowing which, the meat is tobe soaked in a miture of spices for marination, giving them some flavor. An easier and

faster way out would be to brush 'Maggie' barbecue sauce over them. Bemember to order

a few hundred sticks of sataytoo. A barbecue without satay will not be a barbecue.

#hen everything is ready, start the fire with charcoal, one hour before the start of thefeast. !nce the fire is started, let it all burn till glowing embers

a very good afternoon to you

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