literature component questions

7/29/2019 Literature Component Questions

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PMR LITERATURE COMPONENT QUESTIONS

Objective Questions on Short Stories and Poems

Questions 1-3

Read the extract below carefully, then answerthe questions that follow.

Of Bunga Telur and Bally ShoesNow, Jamal had a bachelor cousin who wasa real dandy. He was a clerk in the KotaBharu Land Office. Everything he had onhad designer labels i.e. Benetton shirt,Gucci wallet, Bally shoes, Nina Ricci beltsand Pierre Cardin dinner shirts. The onlysnag was that Jamals cousins designeraccessories and raiment came from Golok,

Thailand and not from La France. Jamals

cousin coveted one particular possession ofJamal which never was Jamals in the firstplace. It was Jamals burgundy real leather,bona fide, certified, non-Golok, Bally shoes.

The shoes had earlier belonged to Jamalselder brother, who in a fit of generositybequeathed the shoes to him as agraduation present. Jamal didnt know verymuch about these things but he had a faintsuspicion that it had cost the brother muchmore than RM400.00. Bingo! My life saver,thought Jamal. Why didnt I think of itbefore?

1. Which word best describes Jamalsbachelor cousin?

VainInsaneSelfishMaterialistic

2. What kind of goods does Lan like to buy?A.Original, branded goodsB.Imitation, branded goodsC.Designer shoesD. Designer clothes

3. What does in a fit of generosity suggestabout Jamals brother?

A.He is normally not very generous.B.He is normally a generous person.C.He was having fits, so he gave the

shoes to Jamal.D. He was not feeling well when

he gave the shoes to Jamal.

Questions 4-6Read the extract below carefully, then answerthe questions that follow.

The PencilHe could not stand to see that thief go freebut there was nothing he could do since theteacherhad believed Dolah. Zahid had reallywanted that pencil - and he worked hard to

get it.It was a very special pencil, twice as longas an ordinary one; it had a curved plastichandle and a large eraser.

He had wanted that unusual pencil sincehe first saw it in the bookstore. That wassurely not wishing for too much! On his wayhome, he imagined how proud he would beto own such a pencil.

It would last a year, he whispered.The teacher never paid any attention to

Zahid when he raised his hand in class andhe was always too shy to speak out. But henever blamed Mr. Jamal. Im so small, hesaid softly, who would ever take notice ofme?

But perhaps that pencil would make adifference. If he raised it high enough, theteacher would take notice and ask himquestions too.

The eraser was huge. All his friendscould borrow the pencil, especially Siti,Zainab, Budin and Samad. He wouldnt carehow many people borrowed it. In fact, themore who used it, the happier he would be.

4. What does the fifth paragraph in theextract above suggest about Zahid?A. He is very small-sized.B. He has a very soft voice.C. He is angry with Mr. Jamal.D. He always wants a lot of attention.

5. What does Zahid hope the pencil would dofor him according to the sixth paragraph inthe extract?

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A. That the pencil would get the attentionof many people.

B. That the pencil would gain him marksfor questions.

C. That the pencil would attract Mr.Jamals attention.

D. That the pencil would win Mr. Jamalsheart.

6. What is one of Zahids positive qualities assuggested in the last paragraph?

A.VainB.ProudC.FriendlyD. Generous

Questions 7-9Read the extract below carefully, then answerthe questions that follow.

How Dalat Got Its NameThe next morning, Galau called a meetingof the village men. He noticed that some ofthem were missing. Their houses wereempty. They had left the village, takingtheir families with them. Umats wife andchildren were also gone.

Nobody said much. They agreed tobuild a strong, new house for everybody.

The men went to the jungle and started tocut tall trees. They made a longhouse thatwas far off the ground. The walls were verystrong. The ladders could be pulled up.

There were holes near the hardwood pillars,covered with trap-doors. All windows hadthick shutters.

Every family got one room in the newhouse. The children played in the longverandah. At night, when the ladders werepulled up and the shutters closed, the housewas as safe as a big ship.

Every evening after the farm work wasdone, Galau ordered the men to practisefighting.

We didnt think he was a leader, theywhispered to each other. But they obeyedhim. They practised fighting with theirhands and feet. They used wooden sticksinstead of swords. They used long polesinstead of spears.

Every night, some of the young menkept watch along the river. They had axesand heavy knives with them. Galau had told

them to cut halfway through the trunks ofthe trees by the riverside.

If enemy boats come down the river,a few blows will cut the tree down, he toldthem. Maybe Galau is not a very braveman, they said to each other, but he is a

very clever leader. His wisdom is as goodas another mans strength!

7. What does the phrase his wisdom is as

good as another mans strengthmean?

A.Galaus wisdom makes up for anothermans strength.

B.Galaus wisdom is equal to two mensstrength.

C.Galaus wisdom is better than havinganother strong man.

D. Galaus wisdom is not as good

as having another mans strength.

8. Why do the village people have to pull upthe ladders and close the windows of thebig longhouse at night?

A.To keep wild animals out of the house.B.To stop children from going out of the

house.C.To prevent flood water from entering

the house.D. To prevent enemies from

entering the house.

9. Choose the most suitable adjectives todescribe Galau based on the passageabove.

A.Patient and wiseB.Clever and wiseC.Clever and lazyD. Careful and clever

Questions 10-16Read the poem below carefully, then answerthe questions that follow.

The Dead CrowHe saw a dead crow

in a drainnear the post office.He saw an old man

gasping for airand a baby barely able to breathe

in a crowded morning clinic.This land is so rich.

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Why should we suffer like this?

I want clean airfor my grandchildren.

I want the damned foolsto leave the forest alone.

I want the trees to grow,the rivers run free,

and the earth covered with grass.Let the politicians plan howwe may live with dignity,

now and always.

10. What is the poem mainly about?A. AnimalsB. PeopleC. PlantsD. The environment

11. Why do you think the poet chooses thesymbol of a dead crow?

A. Crows are very ugly and greedyanimals.

B. Crows make a lot of noise whenthey are angry.

C. Crows are supposed to be verytough creatures.

D. Crows are dirty creatures.

12. The phrase crowded morning clinicimplies thatA. the clinic attracts people everymorning.B. people like to go to the clinic everymorning.C. the place is full of sick people.D. sick people only go to the clinic in themorning.

13. Who are the damned fools in line 3 ofstanza 2?A. The rich people who cannot stand to

see green forests.B. The people who keep going into theforests.C. The politicians who go round cutting

down other peoples trees for no realreason.

D. The people who cut down and clearforest areas without thinking of theeffect on the environment.

14. What else does the poet want?A. Politicians to make sure that the rivers

flow everywhere.

B. To cut down trees so that rivers canflow through the forests.

C. Burn down the forests so that parkscan be built in their place.

D. Trees to grow, rivers to run free, landto be covered with grass.

15. The poet wants the politicians toA. quit their jobs and become

forest rangers.B. plan in such a way that they will

get rich really fast.C. plan good policies so that

people may live dignified lives.D. stop planning because they

cannot come up with good policiesanyway.

16. What would happen if politicians keep

abusing their position and power and donothing to stop people from harming theenvironment?

A. Nature will heal herself whatever man does.B. Nature just cannot be bothered with

man anymore.C. All the animals will refuse to

cooperate with man.D. Nature will become so polluted that

man willsuffer.

Questions 17 24Read the poem below carefully, and thenanswer the questions that follow.

The Lake Isle of InisfreeI will arise and go now, and go toInnisfree,And a small cabin build there, ofclay and wattles made.Nine bean-rows will I have there, ahive for the honey beeAnd live alone in the bee-loudglade.

And I shall have some peace there,for peace comes dropping slow,Dropping from the veils of themorning to where the cricket sings;

There midnights all a glimmer, andnoon a purple glowAnd evening full of the linnetswings.

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I will arise and go now, for alwaysnight and dayI hear lake water lapping with lowsounds by the shoreWhile I stand on the roadway, or on

the pavements greyI hear it in the deep hearts core.

17. What does the poet want on Innisfree?A. A holiday resortB. A cabin made of wattles and clayC. An evening hunting linnets as they flyoverhead

D. Time to pass slowly so he willnot have to go back to work

18. What is the poet going to do on Innisfree?A.Be a famous writerB.He still does not really know yet, so

everything is still in his imaginationC.Probably not very much except listen

to the water lapping against the shoreD. Plant vegetables like beans and

have a beehive to collect honey fromso he can live off the land

19. How does the poet describe the processof peace?

A. It comes very slowly throughoutthe day and night.

B. It comes quickly and suddenly.C. It is a long process that makes

people bored.D. It is a long process that only he

enjoys.

20. What does veils of the morningrepresent?

A. FogB. SteamC. DewD. Mist

21. Name the time of day when the poethears the crickets sing.

A. MorningB. NoonC. EveningD. Night

22. In stanza 3, the poet hears

A. water drippingB. cars on the roadwayC. Innisfree calling to himD. people walking on the grey

pavements

23. What does the poet really hope to findon Innisfree?A. PeaceB. A good lifeC. Natural foodD. A much-needed vacation

24. What is the theme of this poem?A. Living alone and loving itB. A nature expedition on the Isle ofInnisfree

C. Everyone should try to buildcabins and plant

beansD. Living close to nature brings peace, joy

and healing to the soul

Questions 25 33Read the poem below carefully, and thenanswer the questions that follow.

Lifes Brief CandleTo-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time.

And all our yesterdays have lighted foolsThe way to dusty death. Out, out, briefcandle!Lifes but a walking shadow, a poorplayer,

That struts and frets his hour upon thestage,And then is heard no more; it is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,Signifying nothing.

25. What best describes a player in line 6?

A. An idiotB. An actorC. A shadowD. A sportsman

26. Why is this player poor?A. He is a bad actor.B. He has no money.C. He is poor at sports.

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D. He does not know how topretend.

27. dusty death in line 5 means thatA. when we die, we turn into dustB. the road to death is dirty and

dusty C. when we die, we cannot cleanourselves

D. dust is a blanket that covers uswhen we die

28. full of sound and fury in line 9 meansA. full of nonsenseB. full of loud noiseC. full of worry and anxietyD. full of unrestrained passion

29. What does the last syllable ofrecorded time mean?

A. A mans dying breathB. The hour before nightfall;

twilightC. The last unit of time recordedbefore time end forever

D. The last words a man managesto write or say before he dies

30. What is the walking shadow in thepoem?

A. LifeB. MacbethC. The actor or playerD. Lady Macbeth before she died

31. Macbeth feels that the past showsA. that we are much wiser thanmany people think.

B. that one faces death bravely.C. that we are fools to think thereis more to life than death at the end.

D. that we creep about pettilyhoping to avoid death for as long aspossible.

32. Which of the statement below is not a

comparison of life by Macbeth or thespeaker?

A. Life is like a tale told by anidiot.

B. Life is a brief candle.C. Life is like a walking shadow.D. Life is like a thief that creeps

about.

33. What do the following lines taken fromthe poem mean?

it is a taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and fury,signifying nothing.

Why is life a tale told by an idiot?A. Life is a fool to imagine that it can tella good story and hope people willlisten.

B. The idiot knows how to tell a clevertale, but does not know the meaningof life at all.

C. The fool is really a very wise man, andif you take his advice, you will live agood life.

D. A fool may tell a story with passionateenergy, but it is still a stupid story withno meaning to it.

THESAURUS (word list)

Passion:

Synonym

fervor(n.)

fervor

ardorobsessionInfatuation

excitement

enthusiasmzeal

craze

delightindifference(antonym)

rage(n.)

ragefury

outburst

feveranger

furor

strong feelings

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