WB023/2

English
Paper2
WB023/2
Semester II
Session 2010/2011
1 'li hours
Number Il II TITimTfim LrNaJ

(Fill in your Matriculation Number) Identity Card Number and Seat Number)
BAHAGIAN MATRIKULASI
KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN MALAYSIA
MATRICULATION DIVISION
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION MALAYSIA
PEPERIKSAAN SEMESTER PROGRAM MATRIKULASI
MATRICULATION PROGRAMME EXAMINA TION
ENGLISH
Paper 2
1 'li hours
JANGAN BUKA KERTAS SOALAN INI SEHINGGA DIBERITAHU.
DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE:
There are two questions in this booklet.
Answer both Question 1 and Question 2.
All answers must be written in the answer booklet provided.
Kertas soalan ini mengandungi 4 halaman bercetak.
This booklet consists of 4 printed pages.
WB023/2
Question 1 [50 marh]
You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this question.
Using infonnation from both Passages A and B, write a summary on ways to
improve brain productivity. Your summary should not exceed 100 words. Ensure
that your ideas are arranged logically and coherently.
Passage A
What you eat can help you be more alert, think more clearly, have more energy, even
be more creative, says Elizabeth Somer, author of Food & Mood. Assuming you've
clocked at least 7 hours of sleep, these foods will get you up, stay focussed and feel
rej uvenated.
A tad of sugar in your coffee or honey in your beverage stimulates the release of
acetylcholine, a brain chemical that enhances memory. But don't overdo it or you'll
soon feel drowsy. Excess sweetness can raise serotonin levels to a sleep-inducing
state. Whole-meal bread is a good source of glucose, the basic building block of
carbohydrates. So after a night of fasting, your brain is on red alert for a carbohydrate
fix. But you don't need a lot - one slice of whole-meal bread will rev up your engines.
So will a bowl of oatmeal. Choose whichever as your breakfast.
Hot and spicy foods help to increase blood flow, which is like warming your engines.
If tomatoes are too acidic for you in the morning, toss a tablespoon of peeled fresh
ginger into hot tea or a cold beverage for a similar rush. Soy beans contain
compounds called isof1avones that help clear your mind and fight memory loss. So
you may want to drink a glass of calcium-fortified soymilk, pour it over whole-grain
cereal, or toss some chopped tofu into scrambled eggs to give you the morning
booster.
A small glass of ice water will also get the blood pumping. The cold shock forces
your system to defend its normal temperature, slightly boosting your metabolism. Last
but not least, there is coffee. The caffeine found in coffee helps alertness by
dampening a chemical called adenosine, which otherwise blocks energy-boosting
brain chemicals. As a result. you think faster, drive better and remember more.
Adapted from shine.vahuo.colll/channellfood/8-foods-to-get-vour-brain-l!oing-in-the
morning-l 721 841
WB023/2
Passage B
Have you ever felt exasperated when you bumped into someone at the store but
absolutely couldn't remember his name? Sure, it happens to all of us. Despite being
the strongest computer on the planet, our brains do lapse. It's hard to blame them
really. As humans, we spend much of our existence loading our brains with all types
of information. No matter how powerful our brains are, they need recuperation time to
be kept in shape. Think of it as a tune up for your brain. There are tips you can adopt
to tune up your brain.
First, you should consider adding almonds and apple juice in your diet. Almond is
believed to improve memory. If a combination of almond oil and milk is taken
together before going to bed or after getting up in the morning, it strengthens your
memory power. Research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML)
indicates that apple juice increases the production of the essential neurotransmitter
acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in increased memory power.
Stress is a known memory buster. It drains our brainpower. A stress-ridden mind
consumes much of our memory resources to leave us with a feeble mind. Make it a
habit to engage yourself in a few simple pleasures everyday to dissolve stress from
your mind. Some of these simple pleasures are good for your mind, body and soul.
Enjoy the music you love, play with children, appreciate others, run a few miles a
day, cyele or swim. start a blog or join a yoga class.
Make sure you sleep well. Research indicates that long-term memory is consolidated
during sleep by replaying the images of the experiences of the day. These repeated
playbacks programme the subconscious mind to store these images and other related
information.
Just as physical exercise is essential for a strong body, mental exercise is equally
essential for a sharp and agile mind. Have you noticed that children have far superior
brainpower than adults? Children have playful minds. A playful mind exhibits
superior memory power. Engage in some of the activities that require your mind to
remain active and playfuL for example, scrabble or crossword puzzle. You may also
volunteer to help others, or start a new hobby such as blogging, reading, painting, bird
watching, learning a new skill or a new language.
Vitamin B-complex strengthens memory power. Eat food and vegetables high in this
nutrient. Stay away from starchy food or white bread which depletes this vitamin
which is necessary for a healthy mind. Go for whole-meal bread instead.
I believe these are some easy brain tune-ups. If you have problems remembering, try
some of these tips.
Adapted from shine. vahoo.com!channcl
/
hcalth!12-simple-wavs-to-supercharge-vour
brain-293892!
WB023/2
Question 2 [50 marks]
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this question.
Choosing the right university for further study is a big decision a student has to make.

What are three factors that you should consider as most important in making this
decision?
Discuss the three factors and provide relevant examples to support your points.
Your essay should be between 300 and 350 words.
END OF QUESTION BOOKLET