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Time: 1 hour 45 minutes PAPER 1

ENGLISHSPM Forecast Paper

1 This question paper consists of two sections: Section A and Section B. 2 Answer both sections. 3 You are advised to spend 45 minutes on Section A and one hour on Section B.

Section A: Directed Writing[35 marks]

[Time suggested: 45 minutes]

You have just received a letter from a close friend asking you for advice. She is having trouble deciding whether to work as a cashier in a department store during the long semester break or to stay at home. Write a letter to your friend giving her some information to help her make up her mind.

Write your letter based on the notes in the table below.

WORKING AS A CASHIER

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• Gain exposure to the outside world • Need to work in shifts

• Learn to be independent • Can be tiring

• Pick up social skills • Must always be tactful (even to rude customers)

• Gain working experience • No time for self-improvement

STAYING AT HOME

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• Ease parents’ burden • Too reliant on family for pocket money

• Help with housework and other tasks • Does not provide mental challenges

• Take up useful course or learn a craft • May waste time on fruitless activities

• Develop closer bond with family members • No exposure to outside life

When writing the letter, you must:• include your address• provide a salutation/greeting• use the notes given• provide a suitable conclusion• remember that your letter is to a friend

Note: For your letter, you will receive up to 15 marks for the format and content points, and up to 20 marks for the quality of your writing.

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EVERYONE WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT

EXERCISE DIET PILLS

GOOD EATING HABITS

EXERCISE MACHINES

MASSAGE

1 From the chart above, the people’s common goal is toA take pillsB lose weight C change old habitsD use exercise machines

BEING IDLE IS THE HARDEST WORK

2 From the proverb above, we can conclude thatA work is hardB being idle is a type of jobC leisure is not as simple as one thinksD we should all work as hard as possible

3 Based on the text above, Malaysia Fest A is based permanently at the Selangor ClubB starts with a grand cultural showC repeats all its acts every yearD lasts for the whole year

Little India along Serangoon Road in draws many tourists to it. However, it is not solely tourists but Indians in Singapore—both local and foreign—who flock to the area. Little India has everything a typical Indian family needs, from groceries and fabric to home furnishings. But what makes the place special for local Indians is the availability of goods at cheap prices. For the foreign workers, Little India represents a meeting place for them to catch up with their countrymen and exchange work experiences.

4 From the extract above, Little India in Singapore attracts the local Indians because A goods are cheap thereB tourists like to go thereC it is a good meeting placeD it sells groceries and furnishings

Section B: Continuous Writing [50 marks]

[Time suggested: One hour]

Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the following topics.

1 Describe a person you can never forget. 2 ‘Living with your grandparents–good or bad?’ Support your opinion. 3 What sort of person would be my perfect friend? 4 Write a story ending with: ‘…Otherwise we would have been in serious trouble.’ 5 Life

1 This question paper consists of four sections: Section A, Section B, Section C and Section D. 2 Answer all sections in this question paper. 3 Questions in Section A have four options.

Section A[15 marks]

[Time suggested: 25 minutes]

Time: 2 hours 15 minutes PAPER 2

Malaysia Fest usually kicks off with a spectacular cultural performance on the grounds of the old Selangor Club in September each year. There is much to see and buy at this two-week fest.

Little India along Serangoon Road in draws many tourists to it. However, it is not solely tourists butIndians in Singapore—both local and foreign—who flock to the area. Little India has everything a typicalIndian family needs, from groceries and fabric to home furnishings. But what makes the place specialfor local Indians is the availability of goods at cheap prices. For the foreign workers, Little India represents a meeting place for them to catch up with their countrymen and exchange work experiences.

You are complaining about the time but what I can’t stand is the way the waiter speaks. He has no manners!

Why are they taking so long to serve us? I have another appointment to keep.

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5 From the cartoon strip above, we can say that the man is complaining thatA the waiter is rudeB the waiter is slow in serving themC he does not understand the waiterD he is going to miss his appointment

6 Based on the chart above, which of the following statements is correct about Jenny?A She heads the Finance department.B Five marketing executives report to her.C She receives instructions from Production.D She is in charge of three other departments.

The Prime Minister said that pensioners should emulate famous people, who, at an advanced age, are still sharp and energetic. Such people would be able to make a significant contribution to the nation even if they did not serve in the government. He advised pensioners to maintain a healthy lifestyle that would stimulate the mind and body.

7 In the article above, the Prime Minister advised

A pensioners to serve the governmentB pensioners to emulate famous peopleC all citizens to maintain a healthy lifestyleD pensioners to stay alert and contribute to the

nation.

8 The man in the cartoon strip is asking the other man to A keep the matter openB keep the matter secretC be very strict about the matterD be very confident about the matter

Questions 9–15 are based on the following passage.

More people than ever before are suffering from heart failure, and the number of heart transplant cases has outstripped the number of donors. To overcome the shortage of transplant donors, a fully implantable artificial heart 9 designed. This is 10 to be ready for clinical trials by 2011. Leading heart transplant specialist Alain Carpentier is head 11 the European research team behind the project. He 12 that the prosthetic heart is ready to be manufactured and should be ready for human use within two and a half years. News of this innovation has been 13 received by millions of heart disease sufferers. Research results show a 14 indication of its success for human use. Several medical research teams around the world are racing to come 15 with an artificial organ capable of permanently replacing the human heart. This is in response to a worldwide shortage of heart donors, estimated at 20,000 each year.

9 A isB areC wasD were

10 A expectB expectedC expectingD expects

11 A inB ofC atD with

12 A sayB saysC saidD saying

13 A sadly B angrilyC happilyD surprisingly

14 A softB poorC weakD strong

15 A upB inC overD across

General Manager

Human Resource Manager (Anne)

Marketing Manager (Jenny)

Six technicians & four

machine operators

Two research officers

Five marketing executives

Production Manager

(Liza)

You’d better keep this matter strictly confidential!

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Architect

Petronas Twin Towers : 18

Jamek Mosque : 19

Location

Petronas Twin Towers : 16

Jamek Mosque : 17

Visiting Hours (Days)

Petronas Twin Towers Jamek Mosque

22 23

Payment for Admission

Petronas Twin Towers Jamek Mosque

20 21

Section B[10 marks]

[Time suggested: 25 minutes]

Questions 16–25Read the following information and complete the table.

Interesting Malaysian Buildings

Malaysia has many beautiful and unusual buildings which are tourist attractions in their own right. These buildings have special characteristics that make them outstanding, either because of their architecture, height, technology or historical significance. Whatever the reason, famous buildings offer something special to the discerning visitor. Among two of the most well-known buildings are the Petronas Twin Towers and the Jamek Mosque. The modern and futuristic Petronas Twin Towers was the world’s tallest building from 1998 to 2004. Standing at 451.9 metres, the building was designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli and sits amidst a 50-hectare landscaped park. The two towers which give the building its name are joined by a sky bridge at the 41st and 42nd floors. The sky bridge is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. from Tuesdays to Sundays. It is closed on Mondays, except when they fall on a public holiday. Admission to the sky bridge is free, however, visitors must obtain passes on a first come, first serve basis from the ticket counter. The Jamek Mosque is situated at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers. Built in 1907, this grand old mosque was designed by British architect A. B. Hubbock, who was inspired by the Moghul mosques in India. The Jamek Mosque, with its domes and minarets of pink and cream brick incorporates many features of Moorish architecture. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times. Admission is free, but visitors are requested to dress appropriately and remove their shoes at the entrance.

Questions 16–25Using the information given, complete the table below.

INTERESTING MALAYSIAN BUILDINGS

Special Architectural Features

Petronas Twin Towers • tallest building in the world 1998 to 2004

• 24

Jamek Mosque• domes

• 25 • Moorish architecture and design

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Section C[25 marks]

[Time suggested: 50 minutes]

Questions 26–31 are based on the following passage. 1 It was sad to watch the shabbily dressed girl and boy walking barefoot. They stopped by a bench where

an old couple sat and chatted. The couple seemed well-off and had three shopping bags on the ground, next to their feet. The boy uttered something to the couple, but it seemed like they could barely hear him. The old man leaned forward, took out his wallet, drew out two one ringgit notes, and gave the money to the boy. He mentioned something and smiled at the boy. As the boy and girl walked on, the old couple shook their heads with utmost sympathy, looking at the children. However, the next couple the children spoke to just shunned the children completely.

2 The two children passed many other people, always attempting to say something, but their timid voices mostly went unheard. Most people moved on with their routines, unperturbed by the children’s presence or requests.

3 Unfortunately, statistics show that there are as many as 350 homeless teenagers who wander the streets of Kuala Lumpur. This excludes the number of teenagers who roam in other smaller towns.

4 This is such a tragedy, as teenagers who end up on the streets are mostly abandoned by their parents. One of the reasons for this is poverty. Some parents who are poor, unable to feed the children and find it difficult to bear with the increasing burdens of being poor, are driven to abandon their own flesh and blood.

5 Others seem to narrate different stories. Some come from broken families, and the frustrations experienced due to this is too much to bear—both by the children and the parents. At times, children tend to witness violent scenarios in the domestic setting. The children from such backgrounds often become victims of violence when they are abused by their parents. Unable to tolerate this, they run away from home to seek protection, and to avoid getting hurt further both physically and emotionally. In some cases, parents who part ways are heartless enough to simply abandon their children as ‘the other parent’s problem’. These children wake up to emptiness and have few options but to fend for themselves. Their initial cries for their parents soon turn to a struggle for survival.

6 Other reasons for abandonment include parents getting into heated arguments with their children, hurling hurtful remarks and accusations at each other, driving the children to leave home.

7 In some instances, parents may have expressed things they did not mean. Children who are sensitive and believe these remarks to be true, take them seriously and leave home. Other cases include parents who demand that their children leave home. These victims become homeless—whatever the reason.

8 What happens to these homeless teenagers? More often than not, they are forced to live on the streets and left to wander the dark alleys. Many fall prey to unscrupulous adults, the boys and young men in particular end up living on the wrong side of the law as robbers, drug pushers and drug addicts.

9 This is an extremely sad state of affairs that should not exist. The government should take immediate action to deal with this issue, from providing counseling to providing shelter and homes for these homeless children. They need to offer a ray of hope to ease the desperation of the abandoned children and brighten their potentially bleak future. A government initiative to deal with this issue will help to give these lost and homeless souls a chance to have a healthy, clean, protected, happy and secure life.

26 From paragraph 1, what was sad?

[1 mark]

27 From paragraph 2,(a) What were the children trying to ask the passers-by?

[1 mark]

(b) Which word conveys the meaning of ‘not bothered’?

[1 mark]

28 (a) From paragraph 3, what do the known statistics show of teenagers?

[1 mark]

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

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(b) From paragraph 4, ‘Some of the reasons for this include poverty’. What does this refer to?

[1 mark]

29 (a) From paragraph 5, give two possible reasons how children can become homeless.

(i) [1 mark]

(ii) [1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 8, who are the potential victims of drug addiction and drug pushing?

[1 mark]

30 In your opinion, the first couple were what sort of people?Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer.

[2 marks]

31 Based on the passage given, write a summary on:

• Why parents abandon their teenage children and the consequences of being homeless teenagers.

Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original meaning.

Your summary must:• be in continuous writing form (not in note form)• use materials from lines 17–50• not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

Parents abandon their teenage children for various reasons and one… [15 marks]

Section D[20 marks]

[Time suggested: 35 minutes]

32 Read the following stanza of In the Midst of Hardship and answer the questions that follow.

At dawn they returned hometheir soaky clothes torn

and approached the stovetheir limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of woundsbut on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

Latiff Mohidin

(a) Why is the word ‘soaky’ used to describe the people’s clothes?

[1 mark]

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(b) Write down two words from the poem which show physical injuries.

(i) [1 mark]

(ii) [1 mark]

(c) Where do you think the people were and what were they doing? Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer.

[2 marks]

33 The following are the novels studied in the literature component in English Language.

Step By Wicked Step – Anne FineCatch Us If You Can – Catherine MacPhail The Curse – Lee Su Ann

Choose any one of the novels above and answer the question below.

From the novel that you have read, write about a character that you feel is unique. Give reasons why you choose him/her. [15 marks]