MUET WORKSHOP 2013

Table of Contents Skills Paper 1 Listening (800/1) Paper 2 Speaking (800/2) Paper 3 Reading (800/3) Paper 4 Writing (800/4) Prepared By Mr Mohd Afizal Aris Pages 2

Mr Mohd Afizal Aris

Mr Mohd Afizal Aris Mr Mohd Afizal Aris

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Listening (800/1)
1. Paper 1 of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) is listening and candidates must listen to the recorded texts twice and then answer questions based on them. 2. There are 20 questions and three parts in the paper. The possible genres involved in the recorded texts include lecture, briefing, talk, discussion, interview, telephone conversation, announcement, instructions, advertisement, news, meeting, and documentary. 3. The questions are based on information transfer, short-answer questions, 3-option multiple-choice questions (A, B, C) and 4-option multiple- choice questions (A, B, C, D). 4. This paper lasts for 30 minutes. Guidelines 1. When you listen you select what is relevant to your reason for listening and you must listen for key words. 2. To improve your listening skills: be ready to listen. Direct all your attention to the reader or speaker. put aside all your thoughts/feelings you may be having at that moment. Otherwise you may lose your focus. listen actively. This involves you in the process of determining the right meaning of what is said. It includes questioning and paraphrasing. 3. While listening during the first recording: get the general idea / main idea of the text. take down key words/important details of the text. 4. When you are given one minute to read the question: read the questions once to get the overall idea of what is being asked. mark your answers if you are sure of them 5. Focus on the required information during the second recording. listen again for specific ideas/details and focus on the questions asked. check the answers and see if you have marked them correctly.

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The various listening skills involved are: Listening Skills 1. Listening for main ideas 2. Listening for specific information 3. Note-taking 4. Summarising Details - take note of the main points of the passage or texts - focus and pay attention to particular words/phrases - listen for specific information jot down the relevant information leave out irrelevant details shorten the information that you hear get the gist/general idea of the text leave out examples state the information by using your own words use simple words make a conclusion/opinion based on the facts given deduce what has been said by the speaker seek information which is not given directly focus on the tone /intonation//words spoken by the speaker

5. Paraphrasing 6. Inferences/drawing conclusions

7. Predicting outcomes

- forecast/expect what is going to happen next - having the ability to anticipate helps you to understand the information better interpret the attitude and intention of the speaker guess the connection between speakers to interpret and evaluate what they have heard recognise the facts of what has been said

8. Identifying roles and attitudes 9. Listening critically

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Speaking Component (800/2)

Speaking is an important means of communication where knowledge and ideas are expressed. The Speaking component for the Malaysian University English Test (MUET henceforth) is a test on students communicative skills. Students will be tested based on their participation in given situations on current issues. Therefore, students must have a sound knowledge on current issues to be able to communicate with members of their group. In the speaking component of MUET, students are required to perform two tasks, individual and group, in groups of threes or fours.

Task A: Individual presentation In Task A, each candidate is given a task to prepare. They have 2 minutes preparation time and 2 minutes to deliver their points. For Task A, candidates are reminded of the following: Follow the introduction body conclusion framework. Think of 2 or 3 points and elaborate on them. Have eye contact with the examiner. Speak clearly and loud enough to be heard. Task B: Group discussion The group discussion takes place after all the candidates have given their speeches. Once again, they are given 2 minutes to prepare. They have 7 minutes (group of three) and 10 minutes (group of 4) to present their discussion. For Task B, candidates are reminded of the following: Add on to their points in Task A. Eliminate their current suggestion if they find that they do not have much to talk about and Talk about any other candidates suggestion instead. Make sure the group comes to a consensus on 1 suggestion only. 4

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Important points to remember 1. In a discussion make sure that you greet, take turns in speaking, and interrupt when you have something to say/clarify, manage and end a discussion well. Always have eye- contact with your group members. When asking for information, use the Wh-question forms- Why, When, What, Which, Where, Whom, Who, Whose and How. To sound more polite use the modals May and Could. In responding to other students opinion, you must either express your agreement or disagreement. Put forward your suggestions and make sure that the suggestions are practical. You have to justify your viewpoints so be prepared to provide suitable reasons or examples. Do not be passive during the discussion. Speak up and be clear.

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Expressions to use in speaking

Opening the Conversation Greetings Good morning, Sir/Madam. Opening the Discussion Introducing the Topic Today, we are going to discuss We are here today to discuss We will be discussing Our topic of discussion today is Presenting Opinion I think I am quite certain that I am positive that I feel that In my opinion Personally, I think that I really feel that I strongly feel that I am convinced that I dont think that I dont believe that I dont feel that

Asking for Opinion What do you think? What is your view on this matter? 5

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What is your opinion regarding? What is your comment? How do you feel about? Do you agree with my/his/her opinion? Do you think it is right to say? Responding To Suggestion Expressing Agreement I agree. Thats correct. Thats what I have been trying to say. Thats absolutely true. Yes, you can say that again. Expressing Partial Agreement Well, you are right in saying thatbut I think I agree with most of what youve said. However, I can only half agree with you. I guess its true, but You have a point there, however, I agree with what you said half-heartedly. Expressing Disagreement I dont agree with you. Youre absolutely wrong. How could you say that? I dont believe that. I dont think so. I dont think thats a good excuse/reason. Justifying / Clarifying Using logical reasons Using explanation Using factual information Using examples Asking For Clarification Please may I get this clear? Could you clarify one point for me, please? Im not sure that I fully understand you. Im sorry, but I would like/wish to get this clear. What exactly do you mean by? Excuse me, Mr, I dont really understand Excuse me, could you explain/elaborate on that? Would you mind repeating that? Giving Clarification Well, what I meant was 6

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Sure. I was trying to emphasize that I was merely saying that apart fromwe also have to I was just pointing out the negative aspect of Certainly. I was highlighting the importance of Interrupting Sorry, may I interrupt? Can I add something here? I am sorry to interrupt, but I think that Could I just interrupt for a moment? Adding a Point Could I just add to that? I would like to add that Adding to what you have said just now In addition to what you have said just now Making a Proposal/Suggestion May I propose that? I suggest that Wouldnt it be a good idea that? Dont you think it would be a good idea that? Dealing with Digression Yes, thats a good point, but can we concentrate, first of all, on? may we leave that till later and look first at? wed prefer to discussfirst. Mediating I am certain we can find a way to reconcile our differences. Im sure we can find a compromise here. I think both sides have to give and take a little bit here. Dont be too hasty in our judgment. Lets look at both sides of the argument. Restating a Position As I said earlier, Candidate A As I pointed out earlier, Candidate C As I have already said, Let me repeat what I said before Allow me to refresh your memory on what I said earlier

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Using Fillers, for example: Anyway,, Well,, You know, Im not sure, but I think Err, let me see, what I mean is, What Im trying to say is Using Encouraging Expressions Really? I see. Is that right? Concluding the Discussion If all of you are in favor, I suggest that we If everyone is in agreement, I propose that So, if all of us agree, we can decide to If there is no objection, I suggest we In conclusion, Our unanimous decision is that we

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PRACTICE 1: SPEAKING AND DISCUSSION (INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP) Task A: Individual Presentation (2 minutes) Each candidate in the group of four will take ONE of the following options (A D) to prepare their response and present their views. Keep in mind the following: You have two minutes to prepare your response. You have two minutes to present your views. Listen to the others while they are making their presentations and take down notes for the group interaction in Task B. SITUATION Statistics shows that pregnancies among girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have gone up 3% from 2005 to 2006. As a member of the Student Council, discuss the cause of this phenomenon among female teenagers. TASK A: As a member of the Student Council, discuss the major cause of this phenomenon among female teenagers: A. Misunderstanding between the concepts of love and sex. B. Influence from media. C. Parents liberal way of thinking. D. Lack of religious practices.

Task B: Group Interaction (10 minutes) In the same group of four, carry out Task B. Remember: You have two minutes to prepare for the discussion. You may maintain or change your views presented in Task A. In your discussion, you may support or oppose the other candidates views. You are given ten minutes for the discussion. SITUATION Statistics shows that pregnancies among girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have gone up 3% from 2005 to 2006. As a member of the Student Council, discuss the cause of this phenomenon among female teenagers. TASK B: As a member of the Student Council, discuss the major cause of this phenomenon among female teenagers: A. Misunderstanding between the concepts of love and sex. B. Influence from media. C. Parents liberal way of thinking. D. Lack of religious practices.

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PRACTICE 2: SPEAKING AND DISCUSSION (INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP) Task A: Individual Presentation (2 minutes) Each candidate in the group of four will take ONE of the following (A) (D) to prepare their response and present their views. Keep in mind the following: You have two minutes to prepare your response. You have two minutes to present your views. Listen to the others while they are making their presentations and take down notes for the group interaction in Task B. SITUATION A survey was carried out by the Modern Language Society in your campus on students reading habits. The results showed that only 15% of students in your campus read during their free time. As a student leader you want to suggest ways to encourage students to read. TASK A: Suggest the best way to encourage students in your campus to develop the reading habit. A. Set up a reading corner around the collage. B. Equip the library with more interesting materials. C. Set up a second hand book store in your campus. D. Reward those who read more. Task B: Group Interaction (10 minutes) In the same group of four, carry out Task B. Remember: You have two minutes to prepare for the discussion. You may maintain or change your views presented in Task A. In your discussion, you may support or oppose the other candidates views. You are given ten minutes for the discussion. SITUATION A survey was carried out by the Modern Language Society on the students reading habits in your campus. The results showed that only 15% of students in your campus read during their free time. As a student leader you want to suggest ways to encourage students to read. TASK B: Suggest the best way to encourage students in your campus to develop the reading habit. A. Set up a reading corner around the collage. B. Equip the library with more interesting materials. C. Set up a second hand book store in your campus. D. Reward those who read more.

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Reading Component (800/3)

PAPER 3 (800/3): READING Introduction 1. Paper 3 of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) consists of reading comprehension passages of varying levels, lengths, difficulty levels and topics of interest. 2. There are 45 questions in each sample and each test item is in the form of a multiple-choice question carrying three or four options. Candidates are required to choose the best and most appropriate option for each question. 3. This paper is 1 hours long and candidates answer all the questions. 4. This paper consists of: 6 texts (1 text with graphics) The text could be extracted from articles published in journals, newspapers, magazines, academic texts and electronic texts. The mode of articles could be analytical; descriptive, persuasive, argumentative and narrative. 5. Techniques of answering comprehension questions: Skim the whole text once to get a general impression of the text. Ask yourself what the text is about. Read the text again and the comprehension questions. While answering the questions, candidates need to scan for specific details referring to the context to find the matching answers for the question. 6. Type of questions asked: Give suitable title Make inferences Give the main idea of a paragraph Draw conclusions Summarise paragraph Give a word or phrase of similar meaning 7. Comprehension skills tested: Critical reading Skimming and scanning Identifying main ideas and sub details Drawing conclusion Summarising information 11

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PRACTICE 1
Questions 1 to 7 are based on the following passage. Pursuing a Better Energy Sector 1 The local domestic energy landscape has changed considerably over the years. From being an energy-rich country a decade ago, Malaysia will soon be joining other countries that have to rely on imports to meet domestic demand. As in any developing nation, energy consumption per capita in Malaysia is still low, but is expected to expand at a rapid rate in tandem with economic development. Energy intensity with respect to gross domestic product has over the years shown an increasing trend. In terms of source, petroleum products constituted about 54% of energy demand in 2008 followed by natural gas (24%), electricity (18%) and coal and coke (4%). With regard to demand by sector, the industrial sector dominated the energy use with 43% share, followed by transport (36%), residential and commercial (14%), non-energy use (6%) and agriculture (1%). In terms of volume, consumption increased by 51.2% from 29,699 kilo tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe) in 2000 to 44,901 ktoe in 2008. The transport sector was the main user of energy in 2000. However, in 2008, the industrial sector accounted for 43% of the total energy consumed, surpassing the transport sector at 36%. The main types of energy consumed by the transport sector were petrol and diesel. For the industrial sector, the main forms of energy used were gas and electricity. While the growing demand by the transport sector was matched by supply, industrial sector demand for gas increased at a much faster pace compared with supply. Although renewable energy has a promising future, it requires some time before its full potential can be unleashed. Based on this scenario, Malaysia is projected to be a net importer of energy by 2019. Hence, a holistic approach addressing the issues of energy supply, demand and pricing needs to be undertaken.

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Adapted from The Star, March 22, 2010

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Malaysia is a significant player and net exporter of petroleum products. A True B False C Not stated In the nearest future, renewable sources of energy could be the solution to escalating energy demand in Malaysia. A True B False C Not stated

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Energy demand by the transport sector surpasses the industrial sector by 7% in 2008. A True B False C Not stated Energy consumption in developed countries is higher compared to developing countries. A True B False C Not stated There is a disparity in energy supply and demand in the industrial sector. A True B False C Not stated In less than a decade, gas energy consumption increased by 15,202 kilo tones in Malaysia. A True B False C Not stated There is an increasing trend of energy consumption in Malaysia by different sectors. A True B False C Not stated

Questions 8 to 14 are based on the following passage. Harnessing nuclear power Many people around the globe are convinced that one of the best solutions on how to free ourselves from being dependent on fossil fuels is using more nuclear power. Nuclear power is by many presented as the clean, reliable energy source, completely on par with renewable energy solutions like wind power, and solar power. However, one question remains whether nuclear energy is a really clean energy source with minimal safety risks as nuclear plant owners say they are. The safety of nuclear power is usually referred to some possible events that could lead to unwanted radioactive materials release like that unfortunate event that happened in Chernobyl more than 20 years ago, back in 1986, when one nuclear reactor exploded which resulted in a severe release of radioactivity. When people talk about the nuclear power safety they usually want to know the chances of nuclear reactor exploding. From current point of view, chances for these are really minimal and accidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl really look very 14

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unlikely, especially given today's maximum safety measures that are required in all nuclear power plants around the globe. Nuclear power is therefore almost 15 completely safe regarding the possible explosion of nuclear reactors. On one hand, harnessing nuclear power incur high costs as nuclear power plants typically have high capital costs since a lot of money has to be spent on safety. In 2007, the reported cost to build one nuclear power plant in China was USD5.3 billion. Additionally, operating and maintenance costs are escalating due to the crucial 20 employment of highly trained staff and higher outage rates. 3 Nuclear safety issue despite introduction of many new safety measures still remains a major hurdle to nuclear power because there is the risk of possible terrorist attack that could wipe out an entire region in one foul swoop. Nuclear power plants are generally, although not always, considered "hard" targets. Attack from the air is an 25 issue that has been highlighted since the September 11 attacks in the United States. However in the event of terrorist threats, to scram a plant takes less than 5 seconds severely hampering a terrorist force in a goal to release radioactivity. The plus side is nuclear power does not depend on fossil fuels to produce electricity, and therefore there is minimal CO2 emission. Also, when it comes down to 30 reliability very few other energy sources are as reliable as nuclear power is. All what it takes for constant generation of electricity is small quantity of uranium which is still plentiful on our planet as well as easily accessible. Nuclear power plants also have very high efficiency, even comparable with coal power plants as they can produce a lot of electricity. These two factors, reliability and efficiency, are the two 35 main reasons why in 2007 a respectable 14% of the world's electricity came from nuclear power. The United States produces the most nuclear energy, with nuclear power supplying around 19% of consumed electricity. France, for instance, produces more than three quarters (78%) of its electricity from nuclear power plants. However, the issue of handling the waste from the nuclear power process needs to 40 be addressed before nuclear power becomes more widely accepted. Adapted from http://www.renewables-info.com/drawbacks_and_benefits/nuclear_ power_advantages_and_disadvantages.html 8 Nuclear power is a highly potential alternative energy. A True B False C Not stated Nuclear power is a highly dependable energy. A True B False C Not stated Plant safety issues include radioactive spill and activist threats. A True B False 15

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C 11

Not stated

The phrase to scram (line 27) means A to make an emergency shutdown B to protect against terrorist attack C to decide that something will be disposed of The following are ways of increasing safety at nuclear plants except A placing army guards to patrol the plants B designing accident proof plants C employing highly trained staff From the article, we can conclude that nuclear power A is soon replacing fossil energy B is posing a danger to humans C is a potential alternative energy The main purpose of the article is to A highlight the pros and cons of nuclear power B convince people on nuclear power potentials C provide information about nuclear power

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Questions 15 to 21 are based on the following passage.

Stress and depression can be factors in suicide 1 Dont ever be afraid to talk about suicide, advised Dr Harry Barry, a doctor specialising in the area. This is because sometimes for those contemplating suicide, having the subject brought out on the table can be a relief. According to him, a key factor to note is that there is a difference in the male and female brains and that when in difficulty, men talk to themselves, and women talk to each other. In his talk, he explained that depression, or the effects of toxic stress can bring people to the stage of suicide. Toxic stress is chronic stress at a level that begins to damage peoples physical or mental health. It is different from acute stress - which would, for example, come into play before a job interview. The more serious chronic stress can include symptoms such as fatigue, reduced concentration, sleep difficulties, reduced interest in food, increased feelings of anxiety and impulsive behaviour. On the question of depression, there is depression as an emotion, and Major Depression (MD), the illness. He revealed that there is actual evidence that depression can have definite medical consequences. Brain scans and post mortem studies have revealed evidence of brain tissue loss in patients who had been suffering from MD. In addition, the adrenal stress gland is enlarged to combat 16

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excessive cortisol, there is also evidence of high glucocortisol levels; reduced activity in the Serotonin, Noradrenalin and Dopamine mood cables which all bring about different effects. Reduced activity in the Serotonin mood cable leads, among other things, to an increase in suicide thoughts or impulsive behaviour. In addition, people with MD are at five times increased risk of having a coronary attack; and as the adrenalin stress gland is overactive, at increased risk of osteoporosis, infections, diabetes and possibly cancer. 4 Symptoms of MD include low mood, anxiety, fatigue, poor concentration such as difficulty in reading the newspaper, poor memory, sleep difficulties, loss of drive in life, loss of appetite, negative thinking, loss of self-esteem, loss of enjoyment of life, suicidal thoughts, and more seriously, planning suicide. Dr. Barry warned that losing weight can be a danger sign. He added that people with suicidal thoughts can sometimes have a completely distorted image of the world, and can feel that they have no value or worth, and that they, or those around them have no future. Unfortunately, depression in people aged under 25 can be difficult to spot, especially in boys. Watch out for students who seem to be bullied, he said, adding that young people are actually dying because of bullying. Dr Barry said issues that concern him due to their effects on young people, are eating disorder like bulimia, increased use of drugs and alcohol, homicidal violence such as shooting massacre, reckless behaviour and self mutilation. Important steps in helping treat someone with MD include exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, good diet, supplements - B Complex, and Omega 3 fish oils, as well as the use of drugs prescribed for depression. The main use of the drug is to help the person become functioning, he said. Adapted from Westmeath Examiner, Tuesday, 23rd November, 2010 15 Men talk to themselves (line 5) means A men talk aloud but address their words to no one around them B men talk only to male friends about their problems C men do not talk about their problem to anyone The main idea of paragraph 2 is A there are different levels of stress B serious chronic stress sufferer can be suicidal C chronic stress has worse effects than acute stress The main purpose of paragraph 3 is to A identify the types of health problems due to MD B explain MDs effects on health C provide evidence of MDs effects on health The adrenal stress gland is enlarged (line 17) because A they are overworked to suppress cortisol 17

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B C

they need to manage more stress they produce more cortisol

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When Dr Barry said Watch out for students who seem to be bullied, he means A look for signs of suicidal behaviours B protect students from bullies C identify bullied students The following are advantages of talking about suicide except A eliminate the stigma in talking about suicide. B educate the public on the topic. C encourage the public to be more open about suicide. Which of the following statements best describes the authors intention? A To bring forth suicide facts to the society. B To explain causes of suicide to the society. C To raise publics awareness on suicide.

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Questions 22 to 29 are based on the following passage. Major Discovery: New Planet Could Harbor Water and Life 1 Scientists announced the discovery of first found Earth-like planet that could support liquid water and harbor life spotted outside our solar system. As we know, liquid water is a key ingredient for life. The newfound planet is located at the distance- not too close and not too far from its star to keep water on its surface from freezing or vaporising away. And while astronomers are not yet able to look for signs of biology on the planet, the discovery is a milestone in planet detection and the search for extraterrestrial life, one with the potential to profoundly change our outlook on the universe. "The goal is to find life on a planet like the Earth around a star like the Sun. This is a step in that direction," said study leader Stephane Udry of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland. "Each time you go one step forward you are very happy." The new planet is about 50 percent bigger than Earth and about five times more massive. The new "super-Earth" is called Gliese 581 C, after its star, Gliese 581, a diminutive red dwarf star located 20.5 light-years away that is about one-third as massive as the Sun. Smallest to date, Gliese 581 C is the smallest extrasolar planet, or "exoplanet," discovered to date. It is located about 15 times closer to its star than Earth is to the Sun. One year on the planet is equal to 13 Earth days. Because the red dwarf, also known as M dwarf, is about 50 times dimmer than the Sun and much cooler. Its planets can orbit much closer to it while still remaining within their habitable zones, the spherical region around a star within which a planet's temperature can sustain 18 1

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liquid water on its surface. 5 Because it lies within its star's habitable zone and is relatively close to Earth, Gliese 581 C could be a very important target for future space missions dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life, said study team member Xavier Delfosse of Grenoble University in France. "On the treasure map of the universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X," Delfosse said. Two other planets are known to inhabit the red dwarf system. One is a 15 Earthmass hot-Jupiter gas planet discovered by the same team two years ago, which orbits even closer to its star than does Gliese 581 C. Another is an 8 Earth-mass planet discovered at the same time as Gliese 581 C, but which lies outside its star's habitable zone. Computer models predict Gliese 581 C is either a rocky planet like Earth or a waterworld covered entirely by oceans. "We have estimated that the mean temperature of this super-Earth lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius, and water would thus be liquid," Udry said. The scientists discovered the new world using the HARP instrument on the European Southern Observatory 3.6 meter telescope in La Sille, Chile. They employed the so-called radial velocity, or wobble, technique, in which the size and mass of a planet are determined based on small perturbations it induces in its parent star's orbit via gravity. Charbonneau also praised the team's technical skills. "The wobble induced on the star by each of these planets is really tiny- it is just a few meters a second. That means their measurement precision is exquisite," he said. David Charbonneau, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) who was not involved in the study, said the new finding is an "absolutely fantastic discovery." "It means there probably are many more such planets out there,. Charbonneau said in a telephone interview. Whether Gliese 581 C harbors life is still unknown, but "it satisfies for the first time a key requirement." David Latham, another astronomer at Harvard-Smithsonian CfA, echoed other scientists' praise of the discovery but said the next step is to find a similar world where the orbit of the habitable planet carries it between Earth and its parent star. This will allow scientists to observe it using the transit technique, whereby the small dimming starlight caused by the planet's passage across the face of its sun can be used to calculate its size. Only then can scientists determine for certain whether the world is rocky or covered by water, Latham said. Alan Boss, a planetary theorist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, said the new planet's potential for liquid water made it fascinating. Gliese 581 C "is the closest planet to another Earth that has been found to date. I hope the SETI folks are listening," Boss said. Seth Shostak, a senior astronomer at the SETI institute, said the Gliese 581 system has in fact been looked at twice before for signs of intelligent life. The first time was in 1995 using the Parkes Radio Telescope in Australia; the second time occured in 1997 using the 140-foot telescope in Greenbank, West Virgina. Both times revealed nothing. "It has been looked at twice, but that doesn't 19

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mean we shouldn't look at it again," Shostak said. "And indeed we should because this is the best candidate the extra solar planet guys have come up with yet." 10 Shostak said he was jazzed by the discovery. "This is pointing to something that in the past has only been an assumption, namely that Earth-sized worlds are not rare," he said. "We know of only two planets in the habitable zone. We know this one and we know our own. But two is better than one." Shostak said the Gliese 581 system will likely be looked at again over much wider range of the radio spectrum when the new Allen Telescope Array begins operations this summer. "You could say it's going to the head of the class," he said. Adapted from http://www.space.com/3728-major-discovery-planet-harbor-waterlife.html the discovery is a milestone in planet detection (line 6-7) means A the detected Earth-like planet is very far away B it is a great Earth-like planet discovery C the Earth-like planet is a milestone away The following facts about Gliese 581 C is true except A it is the smallest extra solar planet B it is covered with water or earth C it contains living things Based on information from the passage, Gliese 581 system A has been looked into three times. B contains 3 potentially habitable planets. C is a home to a star like the Sun Which of the following is true of Gliese 581 C? A It is half the size of the Earth. B It orbits round Gliese 581. C It is located 20.5 light-years away from the Sun.

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The scientists discovered Gliese 581 C using A a telescope in Australia. B a telescope in La Sille, Chile. C a telescope in Greenbank, West Virgina. The phrase jazzed by the discovery (line 66) means A intrigued B excited C interested Scientists used the wobble technique to 20

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A B C

calculate the diametre of the super-Earth planet. determine the size of Gliese 581. calculate the orbiting period of the planet.

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The method of development of the passage is through A problem and solution B definition and examples C narration and description

Questions 30 to 37 are based on the following passage. 1 There is no doubt that television has changed the world and how we view it. With just the point and click of a button, the viewing possibilities are endless. There are literally hundreds of channels to choose from. Cartoons, sitcoms, news, cooking shows, and music videos fill the airwaves. With so many viewing options, determining what we should be watching has become a great concern, especially when it comes to children. It is no wonder that cable and satellite providers have built in parental controls. Violent and aggressive acts abound on TV. Many times it is children who are viewing these acts. Some people believe that such viewing habits directly affect children. There has been overwhelming evidence that suggest viewing violent and aggressive behavior on television, does indeed directly affect children. Children are great imitators. Imaginary play and modeling their favorite characters are commonplace among the young. Children can and readily imitate what they see. Just ask any parent whose child has learned their ABC's by watching Sesame Street. They will all tell you that their child watched Big Bird, Ernie and the other characters reciting the alphabet over and over. After repeated viewing their child began reciting their ABC's from memory. This act alone reinforces the idea that through imitation and repeated exposure children can learn. Learning violence is no exception. It can be imitated and learned in the same manner as how the alphabet was committed to memory. The only difference is when children watch negative behavior, it is that negativity that they learn and mimic. It is not something as harmless as the ABC's. Authorities on child behavior agree that what a child watches does indeed affect their behavior. According to The American Academy of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness. Desensitisation can also play a role in a child's negative behavior. It occurs when children become physically and emotionally unresponsive to the violence and aggression they see on television. It is a fact that people react both physically and emotionally when they experience an episode of violence. It is an involuntary response and occurs even if the event is real or being portrayed fictitiously. After repeated exposure to violence, the typical psychological and physical responses can 21

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cease. Desensitisation to violence occurs when a child repeatedly views it on television. Children who continually view violence on TV become desensitised and no longer consider violence in the realm of fear, and can readily accept it as common behavior. This in turn can impact a child in a way that will not hinder him or her from acting out violently or aggressively. 4 Some people will argue that children actually learn morals and life lesson from some violence on television. In shows such as Power Rangers, X-men and Justice League, the good guys always win and the bad guys are always punished. This idea helps children realise that bad acts are punishable. They will more often identify with the heroes in the story, and they themselves will aspire to be one of the good guys. There is no question that children can learn bad acts are punishable by watching the so-called good guys win. The problem is it also teaches the children how to handle the wrong doings by the bad guys. More often or not there is a huge battle between good and evil being portrayed on the screen. Those that are identified as being the good guys often use violence to subdue the evil wrong doers. This can include fighting, punching, kicking and other acts of aggression. The fact of the matter is, children are being taught violence solves problems. This fact is evident in a joint statement issued at the Children Congressional Public Heath Summit. Several prominent pediatricians claim, "Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts". It is also evident in the way children portray their favorite super hero. It is not hard to imagine a child who is pretending to be a super hero. The majority of them will draw their fist, pull out a pretend sword, or take a karate stance as if readying themselves to fight a battle. The reality is that even super heroes teach children violence is acceptable. This in turn can cause children to act aggressively, even when their intention is to do good. What about the children who identify with the bad guys? There are those that argue it is actually the child's own negative disposition that causes aggressive behavior. Children aggressive by nature will have a genre of television shows that encompass a large amount of violence. Their predisposition creates an urge for these types of shows. Their hostile behavior is not a result of the violence they are viewing, but from their own inclination of violence. This concept might hold true as to why they choose shows with violence. The argument is not what aggressive children choose to watch, but the effects of what they are watching. The fact of the matter is, allowing these types of children to view violence only encourages their own negative behavior. Because of their predisposition to violence, it only makes sense to closely monitor what they are watching on television. Allowing them to view more aggression can only reinforce their negative behavior, and cause it to become even more pronounced. If parents are genuinely concerned with what their children are viewing, there are several options available to them. They can watch the same programs their children are, and decide if that show is appropriate for their kids. They can also utilise parental control features now found on almost every satellite or cable companys remote control. It is recommended that parents exhibit their responsibility and take control of their children's viewing habits. If your children are regularly watching 22

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violent and aggressive shows, change the channel. By doing so you will not only be deterring your children from committing hostile aggression, but helping to groom a better adult in years to come. Adapted from Walker, A. Violence on Television and Its Effects on Children.

30

Another word for imitate (line 13) is A mimic B duplicate C copy D reproduce The main idea of paragraph 2 is A children like watching Sesame Street B children like imitating their favourite characters C children are affected by the content of television D prolonged exposure to violence makes children violent hinder (line 35) means A stunt B cure C delay D stop The writer gives the example of good guys often use violence to subdue the evil wrong doers (lines 46). This is to support the idea that A children might learn about real life through violence. B children might learn about good guys and bad guys through violence. C children might learn violence begets violence. D children might learn violence as a means to solve problem. The method of organisation of the passage is through A cause and effect B definition and examples C narration and description D problem and solution All the following are possible explanations for hostility among children except A exposure to violence in the early years of their lives B imitating the conducts of their idolised heroes C children are violent by nature D children are desensitized to violence The following are the causes of childrens hostile behaviours except 23

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A B C D 37

exposure to violent television shows genetic predisposition influenced by their television icons their inclination towards violence

Based on the passage, what words of caution would you give parents? A They must be selective on what their children watch on television. B They must not give too much freedom to their children. C They must watch television together with their children. D They must not allow their children watch television. Question 38 to 45 are based on the following passage. Conserving the Environment 1 The condition of the environment is a worldwide issue. Air and water pollution do not recognise borders; poor soil conditions in one nation may reduce another countrys food supply. At the same time, different regions do face different problems. One key distinction is between the environmental threats faced by developed nations, such as the United States and western European countries, and developing nations, such as India and Mexico. Most agree that these nations may have dissimilar crises, but debate remains over whether the solutions to their problems are unique as well. The environmental problems faced by developed nations are largely the result of their economic strength and higher standards of living. Overconsumption is cited by many observers as a cause of resource depletion in the First World. Americans, and to a lesser extent western Europeans, Japanese, and other residents of developed nations, are more likely to own one or more cars, purchase more food and clothes than subsistence levels require, and use considerable amounts of electricity. Americans consume a disproportionate amount of the planets resources. The United States is home to 5 percent of the worlds population but uses 25 percent of its resources. Overall, the developed world has 23 percent of Earths population but consumes two-thirds of the resources. Environmentalists contend that this high level of consumption will ultimately lead to the depletion of the planets resources, resulting in adverse consequences for human populations. Developed nations have reduced their rate of population growth, so overpopulation is not as great a problem as it was previously considered to be; however, because of the high level of consumption, each new person in a developed nation will use three times as much water and ten times as much energy as a child born in a developing country. In contrast, the environmental crises faced by developing nations are the result of poverty. For example, Third World countries often lack the resources and sanitation facilities to provide the public with clean water. Tropical deforestation, caused by the slash-and-burn techniques of poor farmers, is another dilemma. However, agriculture is not the only manifestation of the effects of poverty on deforestation. In most, but not all, poor nations, the role of poverty in deforestation is magnified by the ever-more-desperate search for fuel wood by impoverished people. This search 24

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for wood is exacerbated by the key environmental problem in developing nations overpopulation. Third World nations may consume vastly less than America and Europe but their population growth rates are much higher. These nations lack the natural resources and social services that will be needed in order to provide their burgeoning populations with adequate food, shelter, and employment in the coming years. As developing nations move closer to First World status, the accompanying growth in industry could also affect the environment, especially through the emission of greenhouse gases. The global warming agreement reached in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 exempted developing nations such as China, India, and Mexico from requirements to reduce their emissions. But according to the United Nations, countries exempted from the agreement will create 76 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions over the next 50 years. 4 The exemptions in the Kyoto agreement (which must be approved by 55 nations but as of this writing has not been submitted to the U.S. Senate for ratification) raise the question of whether developed and developing nations should utilise the same methods in order to conserve the environment. If the environment truly is a worldwide issue, then the solutions may also be universal. However, international agreement on environmental issues is often difficult to achieve because countries are not at equivalent stages of social and economic development. Developed nations rely significantly on government regulations to protect and restore the environment; however, many analystsparticularly Americans believe that the same economic forces that create the wealth of developed countries can solve their environmental troubles. Industry, capitalism, and the free market system might create overconsumption, but they can also solve its ill effects, these commentators maintain. John Hood, the president of the John Locke Foundation, a policy institute that advocates the free market and limited government, writes, Corporate Americas unique contribution to solving real environmental problems will come from innovationfinding new ways to produce goods and services, package and deliver them to consumers, and dispose of or recycle the wastes generated by their own production or by consumption. In contrast, a system in which the government owns all the land or imposes strict command-and-control regulations on people and businesses is seen as ineffective. The poor environmental condition of communist nations is often cited by these observers as evidence of the inability of government regulations to conserve the environment. As developing nations grow and become more economically self-sufficient, industrial solutions may become more viable in those countries. However, many commentators assert that Third World and post-communist countries should not follow the United States lead. These observers see industry as the planets foe rather than its savior; they believe companies are more likely to be motivated by the quest for profit than a desire to preserve the environment. A better way to improve the environment is to rely on a countrys indigenous values, many people maintain. For example, some environmentalists believe that the religious traditions of India promote ecologically friendly values, including vegetarianism and a moderate use of resources. They also prefer traditional agricultural methods, which do not rely on 25

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pesticides and chemical fertilisers and therefore do not cause groundwater pollution. Frances Cairncross, a senior editor at the Economist, is among those who argue that if industry is to be relied upon, it should be as environmentally advanced as possible: Industry in the developing countries has a special opportunity. Because it is making new, greenfield investments [investing in undeveloped and often unpolluted land], it can leap a stage and go straight to the best modern practice. 7 As noted earlier, the Kyoto global warming agreement reveals the difficulty of finding universal solutions to environmental problems. Developing nations would not consider even voluntary participation in emission reduction, arguing that such measures would impede their efforts to improve their economies and industries. Even within developed nations, the response to the treaty has varied. In June 1998, the European Union reached an agreement that will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent. However, many people in the U.S. have more negative attitudes toward the agreement; they assert that achieving the reduced emission levels could hurt the nations economy. For example, some American analysts contend, companies might move their plants to developing nations, causing job losses in the United States. Moreover, they argue, emission controls could cause the U.S. oil and gas prices to rise. Although the Clinton administration played a key role in reaching an agreement in Kyoto, President Bill Clinton is among those who believe developing countries need to limit their own greenhouse gases before the United States can ratify the treaty. Without the participation of the U.S. the worlds leading polluter the treaty might not succeed. Adapted from http://www.bookrags.com/researchtopics/conserving-theenvironment/ 38 Environmental problems in the western countries are caused by A the populations overeating behaviour. B the boom of the populations in the big cities. C the populations lack of knowledge on conservation. D the populations extravagant lifestyles. Americans consume a disproportionate amount of the planets resources (line 15). This implies that A Americans are mostly overeaters. B Americans excessively use the planets resources. C Americans waste a lot of the planets resources. D Americans are frugal in their spending. The following are hurdles in preserving the environment in developing countries except A excessive eating and buying. B escalating number of populations. C inadequate resources. D agricultural activities.

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41

The main idea of paragraph 5 is to have A stricter law enforcements on environmental conservation in developing countries. B free market system for better environmental protection. C the communist countries pass the law for environmental protection initiatives. D American companies operate in communist countries.

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The followings are religious Indian traditions except A being vegetarians. B living in moderation. C being minimalists. D being capitalists. Which of the following statements is true of developing countries? A Most of the populations lack of modern agricultural knowledge. B Most of these countries practice communism. C Most of these countries lack of resources. D Most of these countries lack of environmental facilities. According to the passage, how would industrialisation help developing countries fight pollution? A Providing economic strengths to minimise use of firewoods. B More power for the government to enforce environmental laws. C Corporations initiatives to produce ecologically friendly products. D Halting agricultural activities. The Kyoto agreement is facing difficulties in finding universal solutions to environmental problems due to A the Americans disagreement to the terms and conditions of the treaty. B the developing nations difficulties in maximising emission reduction. C the global asymmetrical stages of social and economic development. D the difficulties for countries to meet mutual agreement.

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PRACTICE 2
Questions 1 to 7 are based on the charts below.

Local Graduates' Employment Local graduates' employability has always been a main concern in Malaysia. In 2010, the Ministry of Higher Education carried out a Graduates Tracer Study to determine Malaysian graduates employment status. The survey was carried out among 174,439 respondents from 20 public higher education institutes, 149 public higher education institutes, 21 polytechnics, 38 community colleges, and 3 departments of human resource. The duration of the survey was 3 to 4 months after graduation. Table 1 and Table 2 show some of the findings of the survey.

TABLE 1: EMPLOYABILITY RESPONDENTS 2010

STATUS

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LOCAL

GRADUATE

GRADUATE / EMPLOYABILITY STATUS Employed Furthering Studies Developing Skills Waiting for work placement Unemployed

Public HEI 48,709 (48.0%) 19,882 (19.61%) 579 (1.69%) 9,503 (9.4%) 21,734

Private HEI 22,249 (57.4%) 5,107 (13.23%) 337 (0.9%) 1,700 (4.4%) 9,356

Polytechnic Community College 13,399 (48.5%) 3,459 (12.5%) 450 (1.6%) 860 (3.1%) 9,453 3,444 (52.8%) 463 (7.1%) 56 (0.9%) 184 (2.8%) 2,370

Human Resource Dpt 85 (58.6%) 10 (6.9%) 5 (3.4%) 3 (2.1%) 42 28

TOTAL

87,886 (50.4%) 28,921 (16.6%) 2,427 (1.4%) 12,250 (7.0%) 42,955

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TOTAL

(21.4%) 101,407 (100%)

(24.1%) 38,749 (100%)

(34.2%) 27,621 (100%)

(36.4%) 6,517 (100%)

(29.0%) 145 (100%)

(24.6%) 174,439 (100%)

TABLE 2: EMPLOYMENT SECTORS OF LOCAL GRADUATE INSTITUTES 2010 GRADUATE / Public Private Polytechnic Community Human EMPLOYMENT HEI HEI College Resource SECTOR Dpt 15,266 7,680 1,412 142 1 Government (31.3%) (34.5) (10.5%) (4.1%) (1.2%) 2,558 447 583 59 1 Statutory (5.3%) (2.0%) (4.4%) (1.7%0 (1.2%) Body 7,128 3,370 1,826 258 27 Private (14.6%) (15.1%) (13.6%) (7.5%) (31.8%) (Multinational) 18,982 8,495 7,610 2,222 52 Private (39.0%) (38.2%) (56.8%) (64.5%) (61.2%) (Local) 2,089 1,090 1,129 533 0 Own Business (4.3%) (4.9%) (8.4%) (15.5%) 1,476 553 397 57 2 GLC (3.0%) (2.5%) (3.0%) (1.72%) (2.4%) 695 395 281 105 1 NGO (1.4%) (1.8%) (2.1%) (3.0%) (1.2%) 515 219 161 68 1 Others (1.1%) (1.0%) (1.2%) (2.01%) (1.2%) 48,709 22,249 13,399 3,444 85 TOTAL (100%) (100%) (100%) (100%) (100%) (Source: MoHE Graduates Tracer Study System 2010 at http://www.mohe.gov.my/web_statistik/statistik2010/) 1 In 2010, there was slightly more than twice the number of employed than unemployed graduates. A True B False C Not stated 29

TOTAL

24,501 (27.9%) 3,648 (4.2%) 12,609 (14.3%) 37,361 (42.5%) 4,841 (5.5%) 2,485 (2.8%) 1,477 (1.7%) 964 (1.1%) 87,886 (100%)

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Majority of the graduates are most likely not keen to improve skills. A True B False C Not stated The highest percentage that contributes to the rate of unemployment comes from public higher education institutes. A True B False C Not stated

3.

A total of 42,955 graduates were still unemployed during the survey because of the limited job vacancy at the government sector. A True B False C Not stated Private higher education institutions ascertain their graduates an opportunity of employment in the multinational private sector. A True B False C Not stated Graduates involvement in own business is below 10%. A True B False C Not stated Graduates from community colleges dominate the job market in the local private sector. A True B False C Not stated

Questions 8 to 15 are based on the following passage. Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia The Tribunal for Consumer Claims is an independent body established under Section 85, Part XII of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 which came into force on 15 November 1999. The Tribunal operates under the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism. The primary objective of establishing the Tribunal is to provide an alternative forum for consumers to file claims for any loss suffered in respect of any goods or services purchased or acquired in a simple, inexpensive 30

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and speedy manner. 2 Even though presently there is in existence the Small Claims Court in every state to hear claims involving amounts of RM5, 000.00 and below, the Tribunal for Consumer Claims is a specialised court to determine consumer - trader disputes. The Tribunal for Consumer Claims has a primary function of hearing and determining claims lodged by consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1999 subject to the provisions of the Act. Before the establishment of the Tribunal, all disputes between a consumer and a supplier or manufacturer had to be brought before a civil court which involves complicated procedures, high costs and is time consuming. These are some of the reasons why consumers are reluctant to pursue their claims against irresponsible and unscrupulous suppliers or manufacturers especially when the amount claimed is small.

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To file a claim, one needs to fill up a form which can be obtained free from any of the Tribunals offices. The claimant must submit the form to the nearest office of the 20 Tribunal with a filing fee of RM5.00. If a respondent disputes the claim he or she can file his or her defense with the same amount of filing fee. Upon a claim being lodged with the Tribunal, the Secretary or Assistant Secretary to the Tribunal will issue a notice of hearing in less than a month. During a hearing before the Tribunal, the parties, the claimant and respondent shall 25 not be represented by an advocate or a solicitor and each party to a hearing shall conduct its own case at such hearing. If the claimant is a minor or a person under a disability, he or she may be represented by his or her friend or guardian. Where a respondent is a company or a firm, it may be represented by its full time paid employee. 30 The hearing before the Tribunal shall be chaired by a member of the Tribunal (referred to as President during the hearing) sitting alone, who may at any time assist the parties in conducting their cases. At the hearing, the Tribunal, where appropriate, assists the parties to effect a settlement of the claim by consent. Every party to a hearing before the Tribunal is entitled to adduce evidence, call any witness or produce any document, record or thing in support of its case. Interestingly, all hearings before the Tribunal are opened to the public. The Tribunal, where practicable, make its award within sixty days from the first day of the hearing before the Tribunal. Under section 116(1) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999, every award made by the Tribunal is final and binding on all parties to the proceedings. However, if there is to be any party dissatisfied with an award of the Tribunal, it can file an application for Judicial Review to the High Court for the High Court to reconsider the award. The Tribunal however is not involved in the process of Judicial Review. Adapted from http://ttpm.kpdnkk.gov.my/portal

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Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia operates like any other courts but in a simple, inexpensive and speedy manner. A True B False C Not stated Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia handles claim above RM5, 000.00. A True B False C Not stated

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educate consumers about the protection provided by the tribunal.

Questions 16 to 22 are based on the following passage. Safe Houses 1 In Los Angeles, Tokyo and other rich cities in fault zones, the added expense of making building earthquake resistant has become a fact of life. Concrete walls are reinforced with steel, for instance, and a few buildings even rest on elaborate shock absorbers. Strict building codes were credited with saving thousands of lives when a magnitude 8.8 quake hit Chile in late February this year. But in less developed countries like Haiti, where a powerful quake earlier in January killed some 222, 500 people and left more than a million homeless, conventional earthquake engineering is often unaffordable. Marcial Blondet of the Catholic University of Peru, in Lima believes that cheap solutions exist despite what other experts say. Blondet has been working on ideas since 1970, when an earthquake in Peru killed 70, 000 or more, many of whom died when their houses crumbled around them. Heavy, brittle walls of traditional adobe cheap, sundried brick cracked instantly when the ground started bucking. Subsequent shakes brought roofs thundering down. Blondets research team has found that existing adobe walls can be reinforced with a strong plastic mesh install under plaster; in a quake. Those walls crack but dont collapse, allowing occupants to escape. You rebuild your house, but you dont bury anyone, Blondet says. Plastic mesh could also work as reinforcement for concrete walls in Haiti and elsewhere. Other engineers are working on methods that use local materials. The reinforcing rods need not be made of metal. Researchers in India have successfully tested a concrete house reinforced with bamboo. Even eucalyptus works well too. A model house for Indonesia rests on cheap ground-motion dampers designed by John van de Lindt of Colorado State University: old tires filled with bags of sand or stones. These dampers are fastened between the floor and foundation Such a house might be only a third as strong as one built on more sophisticated shock absorbers, but it would also cost much less, hence more likely to get built in Indonesia. In northern Pakistan, straw is available. Traditional houses are built of stone and mud, but straw is far more resilient, says California engineer, Darcey Donovan, and warmer in winter to boot. Donovan and her colleagues started building straw-bale houses in Pakistan after 2005 earthquake. The compressed bales are held together by nylon netting and sandwiched between layers of plaster. So far they have completed 17. The same stark contrast prevails in other fault zones: encouraging ideas, discouraging progress. Even cheap ideas arent always cheap enough. Since 2007 33

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some 2,500 houses in Peru have been strengthened with plastic mesh or other reinforcements, with another 700 scheduled for this year. That leaves millions of houses and billions of dollars to go in Peru alone, to say nothing of other countries. Blondet claims that many millions of houses will collapse in the next earthquake. Adapted from Chris, 2010. Safe Houses. National Geographic. June, 2010.

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A fact of life that has to be accepted by the citizens in almost all rich cities in earthquake zone is that A their houses must be strengthened with steel and rest on elaborate shock absorbers. B adhering to strict building codes is demanded as a life-saving strategy during a quake. C they have to increase their expenses on getting a house that is tolerable to a quake.

17

Marcial Blondet believes that A the 70, 000 fatalities during the 1970 Peru earthquake can be minimised. B building a quake-safe house does not necessarily be expensive. C traditional houses built of cheap, sun-dried bricks easily crack in a quake. You rebuild your house, but you dont bury anyone, (line 17 18) means A rebuilding a house and burying someone is common after an earthquake. B everything valuable including lives is lost in an earthquake. C although there is an earthquake, lives can be saved. The ground-motion dampers designed by John van de Lindt are likely to be acceptable in Indonesia because they A are inexpensive. B use local materials. C helps reinforcement. The followings are the benefits of using straw in building a quake-resistant house in Pakistan except A Straw is more resilient than stones and mud. B Straw makes the houses warmer during winter. C Straw is readily available in Pakistan. The main idea in paragraphs 6 and 7 is A engineers have succeeded in coming up with inventions to solve the problem. B local cheap materials can be a potential solution to the problem. C local inventions can be as strong as sophisticated inventions.

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22

The phrase encouraging ideas, discouraging progress (line 34 35) best describes Blondets prediction that in the future earthquake A there are still many millions houses to collapse. B houses can be saved especially in Peru. C the sum spent to build safe houses is worthwhile.

Questions 23 to 30 are based on the following passage.

Korean Kimchi 1 Kimchi represents Korea's best known food. Koreans serve kimchi at almost every meal, and few Koreans can last more than a few days before cravings get the better of them. During the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, thousands of foreigners were introduced to it for the first time. Despite a reputation for being spicy, most people usually develop a taste for it, and many foreigners also find themselves missing it after returning to their home country. The word kimchi has two possible origins. Some people believe that it evolved from the native Korean words ji or jimchae, meaning vegetables soaked in salted water, then later changed its pronunciation to timchae or dimchae, then to jimchi, and finally kimchi Another possible origin is as a Korean pronunciation of the Chinese character Ham-tse or Kam-tse, meaning processed with salted water or pickle vegetables. The earliest recorded account of kimchi is found in the Book of Si-Kyong; a collection of Chinese poetry that was written between 2,600 and 3,000 years ago. It contains a stanza which says, "a cucumber has grown on the bank of the field, and pickle it for worshiping ancestor." This worship was wishing longevity and happiness. Many Koreans at the time of Si-Kyong lived in the Manchurian region, and it is believed that they made kimchi to preserve the vitamins and minerals in vegetables for the long, cold winters in Manchuria. Kimchi has played a role as an important source of nutrients in fermented vegetables during the long winter months. It has different kinds of nutrients based on materials and the level of fermentation. Usually, the materials used in making kimchi have few calories and low levels of sugar, but contain high amounts of fibers, diverse vitamins especially vitamins A and C, and minerals such as calcium and iron. The nutrients produced during fermentation like lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid help protect against cancer and germs. The fiber in cabbage is not a nutrient, but it aids digestion, allows smooth movement of food through the intestines, and helps prevent constipation and intestine cancer. Red chili peppers and garlic help to lower blood cholesterol and aid in blood clotting. The nutrients and activities of the various micro-organisms produced during fermentation are also very beneficial to the human body

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Types of kimchi differ from region to region, depending on harvest and weather conditions. Each family also has its own recipe handed down from generation to generation. The number of specific kimchi types cannot be easily counted. However, the Korean Food Academy has categorized over 100 different types. The flavor depends on ingredients, condiments, the amount of salt, and level of spice used in each region. Korea's various regions produce different types of agricultural products, and this is reflected in each region's type of kimchi. The southern provinces, North and South Cholla Provinces and North and South Kyongsang Provinces, tend to use more salt and seafood so the taste is stronger and sweeter. To the north, kimchi tastes less salty and is very mild. Kimchi has many different tastes: salty, hot (due to red chili peppers), sour (produced by fermentation), sweet (from pickled fish paste), and other special flavors formed by diverse vegetables. It also has a texture when you chew it that differs from raw vegetables. The secret of the taste comes from the softened texture of the vegetables. When vegetables are salted, the texture is much softened. Salt is causing osmosis, which prevents them from producing harmful germs while helping them grow beneficial germs. Throughout the fermentation process, amino acids and lactic acid are produced and together make the special flavor of kimchi. It tastes best when it is fermented for 2-3 weeks at a temperature of 2-7 degrees Celsius. The pH level is 4.3 and kimchi at this time has its highest level of nutrients. In the past, Koreans kept kimchi under the ground, which maintained a constant temperature between 0-5 degrees Celsius. This provided the best taste during the winter. Kimjang or Kimchi-making usually started in late October or early November and lasted for 2 or 3 days with help from many people. The number of cabbages prepared depended on the number of household members, usually between 100 and 200 cabbages. Considering the number of cabbages and amount of preparation for Kimjang, it was not a job for just 1 or 2 persons. People considered it as a major annual event, so close relatives, several neighbor housewives, and a few strong men all pitched in and worked together. People who participated in Kimjang helped wash cabbages, prepared materials, and stuffed ingredients inside each cabbage leaf. The task usually lasted all day for 2-3 days, so the hostess treated each person to a big lunch every day. After the kimchi-making was done, she also gave some of the kimchi to the participants. When one of the other participants was ready to do their own Kimjang, all of members get together again to help her out. In this way, everyone finished their kimchi-making with help from everyone else. Although the event has grown less important in recent years due to changes in life styles and family size, it was great fun to enjoy the warm heart of neighbors and relatives in times past. An annual kimchi festival is held in mid-October in Gwangju. This annual event spans several days highlighting Korea's kimchi culture. Visitors can watch several 36

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cultural-events such as traditional wedding, folk music, clothes, participate in contests like kimchi making and singing, and, of course, see and buy many different types of kimchi and other types of fermented foods. Adapted from http://www.lifeinkorea.com 23 Kimchi or pickle vegetables has the following reputations except A spicy. B craving. C tasty.

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According to the book of Si-Kyong, the purpose of making Kimchi is to A wish longevity. B worship ancestors. C guarantee happiness. Kimchi, nutrients source in fermented vegetable, helps to A protect against all types of cancer and germs. B better digestion and smooth food movement. C lower blood cholesterol and prevent blood clotting. With over hundred types of Kimchi, each has a unique flavor depending on A the base vegetable ingredient. B level of spice that differs among regions. C different condiments and the amount of salt. The followings are conditions to ensure the best taste of kimchi except A Kimchi is fermented for 2 - 3 weeks. B Kimchi is fermented at 2 7 degree Celcius. C Kimchi is kept under ground during fermentation. Kimjang was not a job for just 1 or 2 persons because it A is a major annual national event. B requires large amount of ingredients and preparation. C rejoices relatives and neighbours during past time. It can be cocluded from the article that Kimchi is Koreans A best known food. B culture. C product. The writers account of Korean Kimchi was written in the following style. A Narrative. B Argumentative. C Descriptive.

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Questions 31 to 37 are based on the following passage. Teenagers As Prisoners Can Be Educational 1 BACK in 1960s and 1970s, kids of primary school age had very fulfilling childhoods - playing traditional games, flying kites, spinning tops, flicking big and small colourful marbles, swimming in rivers and mining pools, and walking and cycling to school unaccompanied, often in a bucolic environment. The very act of doing all those, whether on their own or with a crew of like-minded friends, ingrained a sense of independence, street smarts and a more rounded approach to life and its challenges. Of course, there were no video games, no computers, no mobile phones, nothing electronic or digital to distract the fun outdoors. Most parents then did not hesitate to allow their children to walk to school or the shops alone because their sense of security was wholesome and optimistic, even after the socio-political effects of the May 13 riots. Their child was always safe was always the attitude. That take-for-granted attitude is well and truly gone today. And here is the current irony: the kids who grew up in that wonderful and carefree environment, a fulfilling childhood filled with wonderment and exploration, are now extremely uptight and over-protective on how they raise their own children. Instead of letting the kids enjoy the wonderment of exploring their neighbourhood, school routes, towns and cities on their own, parents now marshal, guard and secure their children against known and unknown threats, to the point of suffocating the children. Instead of allowing them to explore and play on their own, they are saddled with heavy duty tuition, self-defense classes, religious classes, ballet classes, music lessons and so on. The point is, the child has no private moment to speak of because every single hour is regimented. Who can blame the parents? Reports on child abductions, stalkers, rapists, pedophiles and traffic accidents are rampant, if one is to be terrified by the media headlines screaming the existence of these hazards. No right-thinking parent can react calmly to and remain undisturbed by these reports. That explains why the same parents who grew up level-headed are now the anti-thesis of their childhood. They will kill themselves first before they let their 10-12-year olds cycle or walk to school on their own. These are the sign of the times and the children, while under strict parental surveillance, are also pampered beyond belief that maturation comes only after a long, extended adolescence that pierces their young adulthood. Some of these

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modern-day children do not grow up because they are not given the opportunity. Some are still under parental control despite entering the driving and voting age, and some only grow up after they get married. In a sense, the same parents who designed this modern-day moving incarceration are also unwitting prisoners of their own devices. Their lives are tightly revolved around their childrens activities. 8 It is a cycle that wont diminish any time soon. In fact, the creepy stories permeating from the one-upmanship parents in a neighbouring country and tiger mummies are any indication; children today will never know the idea of the liberty and the pursuit of happiness that was savoured by their parents generations ago. Against this backdrop are the allegations of mistreatment levelled by students against authorities of a motivational camp at Kluang Prison. The camps intent was to educate, or rather, curb them from committing serious offences that could land them in prison, so they were given crew-cut, stripped down to their underwear and handcuffed, just like what prisoners experience, but in the students case, in a very simulated and controlled environment. However, the affected students didnt see what they went through as educational: they saw it as being terrorised. That so infuriated the parents that they lodged police reports and testily confronted the school and prison authorities. Its got to be stated here that the authorities who handled the camps should be given the benefit of the doubt, that in their desire to inculcate preventive ideas into the impressionable minds of the young, they sometimes take the graphic route to exemplify the perils of breaking the law, especially one that metes out corporal punishment. There were no grave indications that the students were manhandled or physically abused but from the parents point of view, the simulation was bad enough. Somehow, the graphic measure might just work, just like inserting graphic pictures of cancerous limbs on cigarette boxes to discourage smoking among the very young, just like showing gruesome pictures of traffic accidents to instill safer driving and even showing a caning or two (and sometimes hangmans noose) to deter future dope addicts or dealers. But to parents of teenagers these days, especially the over-sensitive ones, all these graphic modules will do nothing but screw up the minds of their kids. Parenting has gone either very politically correct or these teenage victims, all boys by the looks of it, have been mollycoddled for so long that the prison experience has exposed them as milquetoast. To be sure, is there a guarantee that the well-intentioned but graphic nature of the camps will ensure law-abiding citizens of the future? Not at all. But it might just be better to experiment with this unusual technique than not at all and regret later when that teenager grows up to be a perpetrator, all because

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parents preferred the smothered way instead of educational enlightenment. Adapted from Azmi, 2011. NST. August 6, 2011 31 Back in the 70s the manner by which parents raised their children was very A stressful. B relaxed. C easy. D insensitive The tone of the writer when he describes how parents today raise their children is A cynical. B comical. C serious. D ironic. anti-thesis (line 30) means A matching B parallel C corresponding D contradictory The writer describes the children of these days as moving incarceration (line 39). This is to support the idea that children today A do not know how to be independent. B live with their parents until they get married. C become a prisoner at their own home. D are very much dictated and controlled by the parents. The writer views the intent of the camp as a A preventive measure. B terrorising act. C motivational move. D stimulating experience. All the following are possible reports made by parents of the camps attendees except A their children were treated like real prisoners. B practice of over simulation. C their children were physically mistreated. D use of graphic routes to show examples. The graphic representations mentioned in the article can help to A scare potential lawbreakers. B serve as reminders to teens. C shape law-abiding citizens. 40

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discipline the camps trainees.

Question 38 to 45 are based on the following passage.

The feared martial arts master was hunting for my brother and I. How would we escape? In 1959 I was in Year Four of primary school and my brother Susanto was in Year Three of junior high school. Like every family living in Parapatan, a traditional village in the western part of Indonesia, we bred goats. We had five big ones, and Susanto and I had the task of finding food for them.

Every day after school, we went looking for bendara, sesbania, cherry and jackfruit trees to scavenge their leaves. We preferred the first three on this list because they grew wildly in abundance around our village we could take as much as we needed without asking anyone for permission and it was free. Our favourite place for gathering food was a neglected piece of land owned by the village, about 100 metres from our house. Three sides of the 30-square-metre property were protected by a brick wall, and the other side, which faced the street, was open. The problem was that this land was under the supervision of the former kuwu or village chief, who lived nearby. He was a master of the traditional art of self defence known as pencak silat. Needless to say, he was a respected man. We wanted to avoid him at all cost. Fortunately, he was often away teaching pencak silat. About two-thirds of this land was densely overgrown with wild bendara, and there were wild banana trees scattered around. Most people stayed well away from it. Villagers feared both the ex-kuwu and the many venomous snakes known to live in the dense vegetation. All this meant that Susanto and I were free to harvest as much foods for our goats as we wanted. We would sneak onto the property by climbing the three-metre-high back wall farthest from the street. Then we would start breaking off bendara leaves with our bare hands. We had to be quick because each time we snapped a twig off the bendara, it made a knocking noise, and we didnt want to draw any attention to ourselves. We would pile the leaves in a few heaps, and tie them into two bundles using dried banana leaves. Finally we would throw the bundles over the back wall and make our escape. It usually took no more than half an hour. And because we collected food from a number of sites, we usually visited this particular plot once every ten days or so. One day in August 1959, our routine did not go quite as planned. As we gathered leaves, an old woman walked in from the street and squatted at the edge of the dense vegetation. She was relieving herself! We were getting very nervous because she 41

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would look around each time she heard one of us snapping off a bendara leaf. Desperate to avoid getting caught, I picked up an egg sized stone and threw it towards her, hoping it would scare her away. Susanto tried to stop me, but it was too late. The woman stood up and ran towards the street, shouting that a thief was hiding in the bushes. 7 Terrified of being captured, we climbed over the back wall, leaving our harvest behind. I asked Susanto what we should do, but he didnt say anything. By now a group of people, led by the ex-kuwu, had gathered in front of the property. Susanto whispered to me to keep close to him and not to say a word, and then hurried out to the street. Walking up to the ex-kuwu, Susanto innocently asked what was happening. When he was told about the thief lurking in the bush, my brother boldly declared that he and I would help find the scoundrel. After a short walk around the property Susanto pretended to have discovered the piles of leaves that the thief must have left behind. Then, summoning all his acting skills, he said to the ex-kuwu: Sir, if these leaves are useless to you and if you dont mind, I would like to buy them for our goats. No, I dont mind at all, he answered. They are absolutely useless to me. You can take them all for free. Susanto, seeing that I could barely contain my laughter, stared at me with threatening eyes. As casually as we could, we gathered up the leaves, divided them in two piles and tied them with banana leaves. After expressing our gratitude to the ex-kuwu and the others, we left with the bundled leaves over our shoulders. We stayed away from the land for a couple of months, only later resumed our usual visits. The ex-kuwu, who was often away, never suspected a thing. As adults, Susanto and I often talked about the day we convinced the feared martial arts master to give us what we were trying to steal from him. But perhaps my brother made his best comment about the affair on the day that it happened. Just as we walked up to our goat stall with our bundles of leaves, I saw Susanto stumble, then fall down. He was overcome with laughter. No matter how good he is in pencak silat, he is powerless to oppose my special jurus, he gasped, using the term for the movements used in pencak silat. That is the jurus of trickery. We did wrong I know, but nothing is better than laughing at ones own laughable childhood memories. Adapted from Sukmaya, 2010. Readers Digest. January 2010 38 From the writers description of his traditional village, we know that A all villagers learnt pencak silat, the martial arts. B villagers grew bendara, sesbania, cherry and jackfruit trees. C all children attended the village school. D children in the family were given a task to feed goats.

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The following are reasons why the villagers avoided the plot of land where the writer and his brother collected leaves for their goats except A the land was under the supervision of an ex-kuwu. B there were venomous snakes occupying the land. C there was a brick wall surrounding the sides of the land. D most people feared the ex-kuwu, the martial arts master.. Paragraph 5 tells us A that the bendara twigs made a loud noise when they were snapped off the trees. B how the two brothers collected food for their goats from the neglected land. C the bravery of the two brothers when they climbed the brick wall. D that the two brothers frequented the neglected land every 10 days or so. The writer threw the old woman a stone in order to A warn her of their existence. B scare her away. C attract attention. D avoid being catch. How did Susanto managed an escape for him and his brother? A By running away from the ex-kuwu and his man. B By climbing to the other side of the brick wall. C By confronting the ex-kuwu and telling the truth. D By putting up a brave front and acting well. What would have happened if the writer cannot contain his laughter? A The ex-kuwu might laugh together. B The ex-kuwu might just release them. C They might be able to escape anyway. D They might be caught and punished. No matter how good he is in pencak silat, he is powerless to oppose my special jurus, (line 64 65) was the comment by Susanto after the incident that concludes that A martial arts is a very important knowledge. B playing trick can always save you from danger. C a quick mind can defeat physical strength. D trickery is a special movement of Susanto. What would be the best title for this narrative article? A Defeating the Chief. B Childhood bravery. C Chidhood trickery. D Breeding goats.

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Writing Component (800/4)

A. Question 1 Example: Write a report describing the information shown. The different modes of commuter transport used in Kuala Lumpur in 1980, 1990 and 2000.
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Title Different Modes of Commuter Transport in Kuala Lumpur. Controlling ideas The graph shows the different modes of commuter transport used in Kuala Lumpur in 1980, 1990 and 2000. Trend The trend indicates the growing use of cars for commuting to work between 1980 and 2000, and the corresponding decline in the popularity of buses from being the most popular mode of transport in 1980 to the least popular in 2000. Analysis The number of people using trains at first rose from 15% in 1980 to 25% in 1990, but then dropped to 20% in 2000. On the other hand, the use of cars increased steadily from 10% in 1980 to 23% in 1990, and reaching almost 40% in 2000. In contrast, the popularity of buses has declined since 1980, falling from 35% in 1980 to 28% in 1990 and only 15% in 2000. Conclusion In conclusion, the graph shows a changing pattern in travelling to work by train, car and bus in 2000 compared to the previous two decades. 44

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B.

Question 2: Essay writing

Introduction The introduction of an essay has two main purposes: to catch the readers attention to introduce the thesis statement through transition sentences Body The body of the essay consists of at least three paragraphs to support the main points in the thesis statement. Each of these paragraphs should begin with a topic sentence that captures the gist of what is to be discussed in that paragraph. Conclusion The concluding paragraph may consist: a brief summary of what have been discussed a concluding thought or reflection about the discussion recommendations of possible courses of actions a thought-provoking question that invites readers to think more deeply about the issues raised

C.

How to write an argumentative essay?

Clarify key words in the question to identify the issue

Brainstorm points for both sides of the issue

Study both sides of the issue and decide on a stand

Write the essay

Craft your thesis statement

Identify strongest argument against your stand to refute

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D.

Thesis statement and topic sentence

The thesis statement in the introductory paragraph: Reading is my favourite pastime because it is enjoyable, engaging and enriching. The topic sentences for the body paragraphs: Few hobbies can provide me with the level of enjoyment that reading yields. It is most pleasurable to exercise ones imagination while guided by written text. It is like watching a television programme mentally with no commercial breaks and on my own terms. .... Reading is engaging because it requires the readers full participation unlike watching television programmes which is largely passive. The eyes take in the lines of text and convert them into images. ... Being transported to another land and clime, basking in exotic cultures and being challenged by different world views are enriching experiences. In fiction, I get under the skin of myriad characters and experience a larger-than-life existence. ...

E.

Supporting your argument

You can support your argument in the following ways: 1. give reasons 2. cite evidence 1. Giving reasons Arguments need to be supported with logical and reasonable reasons.

Example: Illogical

We should abolish the rule of wearing school uniforms because by doing so the students can become popular with their peers. We should abolish the rule of wearing school uniforms because uniformity in appearance may inhibit the development of creativity in students and stifle their personal growth. All colleges should offer systematic career guidance so that students who do not want to study can drop out of school and find a job more readily. All schools should offer systematic career guidance so that students can better assess their own interests and aptitudes for their future career. 46

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2.

Citing evidence Evidence given to support arguments can be based on: facts examples testimonies personal observations

Example: Evidence based on example Evidence based on facts

The internet offers easy and inexpensive ways to communicate such as emails, messenger, chatting, teleconferencing and blogging. Countries should diversify their energy base from the nonrenewable sources. The traditional sources of energy such as oil, gas, coal and uranium will one day be depleted. When that happens, industries that solely rely on such non-renewable sources may grind to a halt. Countries with forward-looking leaders should look to the development of renewable sources such as solar power, wind, wave, hydrogen and geothermal energy. Dr. Edward Wong from Melaka Hospital who works with anorexic patients advised against crash dieting. He said: A person has a higher chance of going on a binge and regain all the weight lost during the crash dieting. Moreover, it is bad for health. His advice is to consume more vegetables, and to exercise at least twice a week for twenty minutes or more. I agree that up to a certain point, the Internet has the potential to distract students from their studies. My brother spent hours in front of his computer and this has affected his concentration on his studies.

Evidence based on testimonies

Evidence based on personal observation

F.

Reminders 1. For one-third of the essay: give your own opinion convince other people you are right with your reasons and examples 2. Begin by introducing the debate topic in your own words. 3. Express your agreement or disagreement about the topic. 4. Support your arguments with example or evidence. 5. Put the ideas in order and link each idea so that the essay flows well. 6. Conclude with a brief summary and try to make a strong last sentence that people will remember. 47

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G.

Practice Topic: The younger generation today is lacking good moral values. Brainstorming children do not respect elders lazy parents are always not home mental abuse physical abuse crave for attention easily manipulated national development will be obstructed commit crimes moral values are not given importance inability to decide vandalism addiction to drugs

Planning / Outline Thesis statement Todays generation of youths are being led astray due to the lack of good moral values. Topic sentence 1 One of the reasons for causing lack of good moral values is the individuals choice. Supporting ideas Children who are mentally disturbed perform negative actions to express anger. They do it as a sign of rebellion. They become involved in crimes and drugs. Topic sentence 2 Lack of good moral values also caused by peer pressure.

Supporting ideas Youngsters need to feel accepted and secure. Their integrity is questioned or challenged. Teasing can affect a child mentally. Parents do not spend enough time with their children which lead to the lack of good moral values among the children nowadays. Supporting ideas Parents work long hours as they are worried about being financially stable. They think they are doing their best for their children by doing more odd jobs. The actions and activities of their children are not monitored. Topic sentence 3 Conclusion This problem should be resolved if we wish to build a nation based on good values. 48

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My Personal MUET Notes:

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