My first day at school

My mother accompanied me to school on the first day. Other parents accompanied their
children as well. We all waited in front of the school office.
Soon a teacher came and led us to some classrooms. There we were put into four separate
classes. This was when some children began to cry as the parents were not allowed into the
classrooms. I did not cry because I had been to kindergarten before. Actually my mother went
home soon after for she knew I would be all right.
It was an enjoyable time for me as I got to know my new classmates. The teacher was ery
busy writing down our particulars so we had plenty of time to ourseles.
Meantime some children continued to sob while their parents looked in an!iously through the
windows.
Soon recess came. Some of us headed for the tuck-shop while the rest headed for their
parents. I bought a drink with the money my mother gae me. "etting to know my new
friends had made me thirsty.
After recess we went back to out classroom and my new friends and I managed to coax two
boys to stop crying. In fact# soon we were laughing and playing together. Once in a while the
teacher had to tell us to keep $uiet as we were making too much noise.
Still some parents looked in an!iously through the windows.
%inally the bell rang for us to go home. Some of us were ery relieed to be reunited with our
parents. I too was glad to see my mother waiting for me at the school gate. I had made many
friends. It had been a wonderful first day at school.

sob to cry noisily

tuck-shop A shop where candy and other sweets are sold

coax to persuade someone gently to do something

My friends

I am a gregarious kind of person. I enjoy the company of friends. I can diide my friends into
fair-weather friends# buddies and true friends.
&%air'weather friends& are those who come to you when they are in trouble. %or e!ample# Shah
is always saying# &Oh (ay# could I borrow ten dollars# please. I&ll return it tomorrow.& )That
shirt is really cool. I hae a date tonight. *ould I..+ Another such friend is Ah Tan. )If you are
a true friend# you would let me copy your assignment. I had no time to do it. (ust the first
page. What about the outline,& Of course if you are in trouble# they are the first to disappear.
Some of my friends share the same likes and dislikes as I do. %or this reason# I like being with
my buddies# A- and .oon. We go for shows together. We watch almost eerything related to
Star Wars and inter'space trael. We like watching football and are fans of /ierpool. 0uring
the 1nglish 2remier /eague season# we would discuss and dissect the players and the games
for hours each day. .oon# A- and I are bookworms and enjoy reading adenture stories#
especially those by *lie *ussler. We also loe to hang out at Seng&s 3opitiam. Their fried
chicken is truly crispy and fragrant. Once# we ate twenty pieces each. That was a record.
I am ery lucky to hae a special friend who is loyal to me# and always stands by me. My
special friend lets me simply be myself. I can be grouchy and grumpy and he understands. I
can ignore him and he does not sulk or retaliate. My true friend is 0uke. 0uke is a fie'year'
old mongrel# who is intelligent# warm and loing. 4e waits for me at the gate to welcome me
home. When I feel depressed# he will play with me to cheer me up. If I am not in the mood# he
will just nuzzle up against me to comfort me.
5es# I do enjoy being with my friends. 4oweer# I do agree that a man&s best friend is still his
dog.

gregarious liking to be with another people

fair-weather friends

someone who is a good friend when it is easy to be one and
who stops being one when you are haing problems

nuzzle

to touch# rub# or press something or someone gently in a way
that shows your loe

School should start at 9:30 am not :30 am! "o what extent do you agree #
Support your opinion

If school were to start later# at 6.78 a.m.# not the unearthly hour of 9.78 a.m.# eeryone would
look forward to school.
%irstly# to be at school by 9.78 a.m. would mean that we hae to drag ourseles up by :.88
a.m.# if not ;.78 a.m. The thought of trudging to school in the dark is enough to drie all joy
away. Moreoer# before the morning is oer# students are tired and drooping. 4ow can any
learning take place when we cannot een keep our eyes open,
Secondly# teenagers who hae insufficient sleep cannot do well at school. We all know that
sleep is food for the brain. Teenagers need at least nine hours of sleep each night to function
best. .eing sleep'depried# their brains cannot absorb information. They cannot sole
problems. They are grouchy and grumpy. Traditionalists may say this is just an e!cuse.
School has started at 9.78 a.m. since ages ago. (ust go to bed earlier. 4oweer# sleep
specialists hae researched that hormonal changes in teenagers keep them awake until $uite
late. .iological sleep patterns shift later and later for adolescents. It is natural for them not to
be able to sleep before <<.88 p.m.
Thirdly# many teenagers miss breakfast to get to school on time. We all know that breakfast is
the most important meal of the day and should not be missed. In addition# teenagers can hae
bonding time with parents if school starts later. They can take their time oer breakfast with
their parents. Many working parents come home late. .y which time they are too tired to want
to do more than hae a meal and rest.
In conclusion# authorities should not be afraid to make changes. If school were to start later#
students will definitely do better at school.

trudging
to walk slowly with a lot of effort

drooping feel less happy and energetic


grouchy
easily annoyed and complaining
$angers on the road

The roads of today are choked with cars# lorries# motorcycles and other ehicles. The
congestion has increased steadily oer the years. The ineitable result of this congestion is the
increase in the number of road accidents. 1ery day many road users get injured or killed. The
dangers on the road are many. It is wise to know what they are and how to aoid them.
In towns and cities where the congestion is the greatest# pedestrians are the ones with the
highest risks. %lesh is no match against metal or plastic. To be hit by a ehicle almost
certainly means injury# or death. Sow hen crossing the streets# it is always better to use the
pedestrian crossings that are usually located at junctions# regardless of whether the crossings
hae light or not. 1en so be sure to obsere the ehicles on the road before crossing. There
are some driers who do not stop at pedestrian crossings. *ross only when you know it is safe
to do so# not because the light is green for you. If there are oerhead pedestrian bridges# better
still. =se them een though it might be a bit inconenient. It is better to be safe than sorry.
0ashing across the street anywhere you like is a dangerous act. 5ou might get away with it a
thousand times# but it takes only one accident to put you down# temporarily or permanently.
The conse$uences are terrible# as accident ictims will testify to.
>Speed kills># as the warning signs on highways say. 4ow true it is. Accidents occurring
along the highways are fre$uently fatal. Sometimes entire families are wiped out in a single
accident. The ehicles are reduced to unrecogni-able mangled heaps of metal. It is common to
read about how the fire department >took an hour to remoe the bodies from the wreckage>.
0o not speed on the road. This is the lesson to be learned.
0espite the horror# many road users hae not learned the lesson. They continue to speed and
behae recklessly. This is especially so with young motorcyclists. With their deil'may'care
attitude and their illegal midnight races# they not only endanger themseles but other road
users as well. 5ou will be well'adised to stay clear of them.
When on the road# know the dangers and aoid them. In the first instance# do not endanger
other road users with irresponsible behaior such as %aywalking# using the mobile phone
while driing and beating red lights. Irresponsible road users are the greatest danger on the
road. 0o not let yourself be one.


wipe out to destroy something completely

recklessly

doing something dangerous and not worrying about the risks
and the possible results

%aywalking

to walk across a road at a place where it is not allowed or
without taking care to aoid the traffic
&rite a story about an e'ent that changed a person(s life

Once of the things about Aaron was that he could neer sit still. 4e was young and full of life#
always running around doing things and being busy. ?eer did he suspect that one day all
these things would end.
Aaron&s school life was a productie one. As he was blessed with a strong and healthy body#
he e!celled in sports and games. 4is forte was the short sprints. 4e was fast and one of the
best in the state. In studies he was no laggard either. 4e performed well enough in his studies
to secure a place in a uniersity.
/ife in the uniersity was one big round of fun and studies. The three years there earned him a
.achelor of Arts degree. On graduation he landed a lucratie job in an international company.
/ife was certainly good to Aaron# or so it seemed.
Three months after beginning his career# he bought a car. It was a second'hand car that had
been modified for speed. The car fitted Aaron&s personality well. It was fast. he drie it at
breakneck speeds along the e!pressways# risking his life and the lies of other road users. 4e
imagined that he was the best drier around and he was immune to accidents.
One day he oertook a tanker but got too close to it. The rear end of his car touched the tanker
and his car was sent somersaulting into the crash barrier in the middle of the e!pressway.
Aaron&s car was a complete wreck but miraculously he suried the horrendous accident.
They took him to hospital where the doctors treated him for cuts and bruises. There was one
thing they could do nothing about. 4is spine was broken and he was paralysed from the chest
down.
The accident marked a major turning point in Aaron&s life. %rom then on he could no longer
run around as he pleased. 4e had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. 4e had to sit still
whether he liked it or not.
The first three months of his new enforced liing was the hardest to bear. 4e sank to the
depths of depression. 1erything has changed. 4e lost his job# his car and the life that he was
used to. 4e ahd to face up to reality and adjust his life accordingly. It was not going to be easy
but he had no choice. 4e had to get out of his self'pity and take whateer action to make his
life worth liing again.


forte a strong ability# something that a person can do well

laggard someone or something that is ery slow

hrrendous e!tremely unpleasant or bad
Snatch thiees
Write a story that involves a snatch thief.

It was lunch time in the city. Sally and two of her colleagues left their office and walked
towards their faorite restaurant a short distance away. Sally had a handbag slung oer her
shoulder.
At a crossing# they waited for the light to turn green. When it did# Sally# her colleagues and
many other people crossed oer to the other side of the road. Suddenly from the traffic that
had stopped at the crossing# a motorcycle leapt forward. Two men were on it. In a flash# they
were beside Sally and the pillion rider grabbed her handbag. The force of the grab sent Sally
tumbling to the ground. The strap broke and the pillion rider held the handbag in his hand.
The rider turned the throttle and the motorcycle sped off down the road# weaing between
other ehicles in their rush to get away.
%ortune did not faor the thiees. A few seconds later# they crashed into a tanker in the middle
of the road. The two men were sent flying# hitting other ehicles before falling on the road.
They lay motionless.
The whole se$uence of eents occurred in less than fifteen seconds. In that time# two
distracted driers crashed into the ehicles in front of them. %inally all traffic stopped. Some
men rushed to the thiees and pulled them to the roadside.
Sally sat on the kerb with her colleagues by her side. She was badly shaken by the whole
incident. She had some cuts and bruises on her body. Otherwise she was all right.

pillion

a seat or place behind the person riding a motorcycle where a
passenger can sit

kerb the edge of a raised path nearest the road
A long night
Write a story in which the character had to go through a whole night without sleep.

/ittle Susie had been complaining about a stomachache for the whole day. The family doctor
did not think that it was serious and sent her home. 4oweer in the eening her condition got
worse and *arrie# her mother# was ery worried.
At nine in the night# *arrie decided that they should go to the hospital and see a doctor there.
So here husband took her and Susie to the hospital. At the hospital# the doctor e!amined Susie
and diagnosed her as haing acute appendicitis. 4e arranged for immediate surgery. Things
moed $uickly and the hospital staff got Susie ready for the operation.
They wheeled Susie into the operation theater while *arrie waited outside. 4er husband
returned home to be with their other two children who were waiting for news of their little kid
sister.
An hour later# Susie was wheeled out of the operation room. The doctor assured *arrie that
the operation was successful. There was no complication. *arrie was so relieed. Thank
goodness she decided to come to the hospital.
*arrie&s husband came back to the hospital to see if things were okay. 4e was also ery
relieed. As there was nothing else that he could do# he returned home to look after the
children. *arrie remained in the hospital with Susie. The hospital proided a reclining chair
for *arrie to sleep on but sleep was impossible. She was just too concerned for Susie.
The ne!t morning dawned bright and cheery. It had been a long stressful night# but eerything
turned out well.

appendicitis

an illness in which the appendi! is infected and painful and
usually needs to be remoed in an operation

complication

an e!tra medical problem that makes it more difficult to treat
an e!isting illness
Write a short story based on the pictures below in not less than <88 words.
Seng 4ui looked at his e!amination results slip with a hea'y heart. 4e had failed his first
semester e!amination. 4e knew that he had disappointed his mother who had worked hard
to support him.
The new semester started and classes went on as usual. One day# Seng 4ui was asked to
bring a pile of history books to the staffroom. To his surprise# there was nobody there. As he
put the books on the teacher&s table# he suddenly noticed something %utting out of the record
book. The words >%inal semester Test> were written on the paper.
Seng 4ui was too stunned to do anything. 4ere was his chance to at least score an A in
4istory. As Seng 4ui&s hand reached out for the paper# he knew that he could not do it. It
would be cheating himself. 4is mother had been teaching him the alue of honesty and hard
work since he was young. tough they were poor# his mother had always emphasi-ed that the
labors of hard wok were rewarding while dishonesty would only bring misfortune.
Seng 4ui $uickly turned away to leae the staffroom. 4e was shocked to see his 4istory
teacher standing here at the doorway. She had been obsering him for about fie minutes.
She was pleased that Seng 4ui had decided not to cheat. As a result# she offered to tutor him
after school. 4e accepted her offer. 4e also did not hesitate to approach her for help in the
other subjects.
The final semester results were out at last. Seng 4ui was delighted as he had scored @ As
and 7 .&s. 4e thanked his 4istory teacher and then rushed home to tell his mother the good
news. 4is mother was ery proud of him. Seng 4ui was glad that he had listened to his
mother&s adice.

a hea'y heart a feeling of unhappiness

%ut

to Acause toB stick out# especially aboe or past the edge or
surface of something

"he )enefits of *oining the +nteract ,lub

The 2rincipal# parents# teachers and fellow students. "ood morning and welcome to SM3
Asia (aya&s Open 0ay. I am Sandy Siew# 2resident of the Interact *lub. I am honoured and
happy to speak to you about the benefits of the Interact *lub.
As you know the Interact *lub was formed to support the international aspirations of Cotary
International# a well'known establishment that has carried out arious social programs to
promote better understanding among people. Cotary&s programs for students and youth can
change the lies of those who participate. Through these programs# young people can earn
scholarships# trael on cultural e!change# or help a community through a serice project.
%irstly# you should join the Interact *lub because it promotes understanding among people of
di'erse backgrounds# cultures and religions. This is ital in a plural society like Malaysia.
Then# there is social responsibility. Our club isits orphanages# homes for the aged# and
conducts other actiities such as clean'ups in public areas. This is to inculcate a loe for our
enironment which is being threatened by the ignorance and selfishness of the majority.
As I mentioned in my introduction# the Interact *lub promotes sharing and caring through
networking. The captains of industry# businessmen and women# professionals and other
working adults from the Cotary community proide a strong network that spans the globe in
supporting young people with actiities that promote sharing knowledge# culture and
opportunities.
In conclusion# I feel that the Interact *lub is a beneficial club to join with many adantages.
So on a parting note# I bid you welcome. Thank you.


di'erse different or including many different types


parting done while leaing or separating
"he school of the future

I think the school of the future will be a happy place. It will be a place where happy children
will be e!citedly inoled with learning actiities which will benefit them greatly. They will
be studying in a healthy and clean enironment.
The school building will be clean and initing. Students will enjoy many facilities that
technology has brought them. Shuttles will take the children from one building to another.
There will be sky bridges connecting buildings and# therefore# students and teachers can
access all the different facilities easily.
All the classrooms will be e$uipped with facilities of technology so that learning will be an
e!citing e!perience. There will be a chance to gain hands-on e!perience as students will get
to go on field trips regularly. *hildren will learn at their own pace and thus there will be
less pressure to keep up with others. A ibrant learning enironment will make school an
attractie place of children.
Teachers will be facilitators and will assist children to ac$uire knowledge as robots or
machines cannot replace the human factor. ?aturally# teachers will still be needed to teach
human alues and emotional growth as machines cannot be a substitute in that aspect. Only
human beings can impart feelings and ensure that students understand their role in the world
as caring and responsible inhabitants of this planet.
The school of the future will make sure that the students leae school with the necessary
skills to fit the employment market and be good citi-ens of the country. Students must
understand that they hae a role to play in this world. When they leae school# they must be
good human beings of whom the country can be proud.

hands-on

someone who has hands'on e!perience of something has
done or used it rather than just read or learned about it


field trips

a isit made by students to study something away from their
school or college
-reparing for an examination

The %inal 1!amination are just a couple of months away. It is important that I do well. So I
shall hae to prepare for it. In other words I need to reise and study what I hae learned
through the year.
%irst of all I hae to prepare a time'table of study so that I can diide my time properly to the
arious subjects. I shall hae to de'ote more time to the subjects I am not so good at.
I shall hae two study periods a day# one from three to four in the afternoon and the other
from seen to nine in the eening. I cannot study all the time for my mind will not be able to
cope with it. So I must hae some time to indulge in games and other forms of recreation.
Then I can return to my studies with renewed 'igor.
I am not ery good in "eography and 4istory. So I hae to spend more time with them. These
two subjects re$uire memori-ing of many facts. In order that I remember the facts I need to do
a lot of reading. Only then the facts will remain in my head. Also I need to read attentiely or
the facts will tend to be forgotten $uickly.
Other subjects re$uire less memori-ing. So I am all right with them. I only hae to keep in
touch with them and I should pass without any problem.
One last thing is necessary. I shall hae to cut out time'consuming actiities like socialising
with friends# window shopping# watching ideos and listening to pop'songs. I can do these
things again once the e!aminations are oer. Meanwhile it is &action stations&D There is a battle
to be won.

de'ote to gie all of something# especially your time

indulge

to allow yourself to hae something enjoyable# especially
more than is good for you

'igor strength# energy or enthusiasm
. painful lesson

Our bodies are made of flesh and bones. Anytime any part is injured we feel pain. So we try
to aoid injury as much as we can. =sually it takes a painful lesson to teach us to aoid injury.
The following was a particularly painful one.
I# like any young child# loe to run around as $uickly as I can. It is fun. 4oweer# there is
danger of falling down which can result in painful injuries.
One day while playing >catching> with some friends I happened to run down a hill. I found
that running down a hill was easy and I could go ery fast. .t the spur of the moment I
decided to see how fast I could go. So I ran with all my might.
Alas# I ran too fast for my legs to keep up. One moment I was running# the ne!t I fell
sprawling onto the tarmac road. The shock was horrible as I scraped along the hard surface of
the road.
The pain was intense as I lay on the road writhing. My hands# legs and face were bleeding
from the many parts where my skin had been scraped off. When my friends came to help me
they were horrified to see me in such a bloody mess.
Anyhow they summoned help and I was taken to the hospital. There they cleaned and dressed
my wounds. All the time I felt as though I was on fire.
I suffered for two weeks thereafter eery time they changed the bandages. It was terrible.
I learned my lesson. It is foolish to run down a hill.

at/on the spur of the moment

a decision# action# etc. that is sudden and done without
any planning

scrape to rub against a surface

writhe to twist# as in pain or struggle