A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Describe how a friend helped you in

difficult time.

The first of May last year is indeed a memorable day for me as it is the day
Sarah, my best friend, lent me a helping hand in a difficult time.

Since that day was a public holiday, Sarah came to my house so that we could
do our geography project together. As the saying goes, two heads are better
than one. My parents had gone out to attend to some urgent business then.
While we were busy doing our project, my younger brother Liam was playing
outside our house. All of a sudden, Sarah and I heard Liam screaming in pain.
Astonished to hear the scream, we ran out of the house to check on him. To our
horror, Liam had fallen into the drain outside our house. As the drain was quite
deep, he was having trouble getting out of it.

Panick-stricken, I did not know what to do and felt like crying. Just when I
was about to cry, Sarah calmed me down. She suggested that she would call the
ambulance and I would call my parents. I nodded in agreement. As promised,
she called an ambulance at once while I called my parents. Upon knowing what
had transpired, my parents were extremely anxious about Liam. They decided to
come home immediately.

While we were waiting for the arrival of the ambulance, Sarah and I talked to
Liam and comforted him. Seated on the bottom of the drain, Liams legs
seemed to be in great pain. He begged us to take him out. As much as I wanted
to help him, Sarah advised me against it. She said it was better to let the
paramedics lift him out as he might be suffering from broken bone injuries and
we might deteriorate the condition. I believed Sarah was right and felt really
sorry for Liam, who was crying bitterly. Sarah ensured him that help would
arrive soon. To distract him and alleviate his sufferings, she told him humorous
stories.

Not long after, an ambulance arrived and so did my parents. The paramedics
did their job in a professional manner and lifted Liam out of the drain without
injuring him any further. He was then rushed to hospital. After my father had
driven the rest of us to hospital, the doctor informed us that both of Liams legs
were broken and he had to be hospitalised for treatment. But since he was
young, his legs should recover quickly with no permanent damage. Our tension
were assuaged by the doctors report and we heaved a sigh of relief.

I conveyed my gratitude to Sarah for her help. She said that was what friends
were for - both good times and bad times. Her assistance strengthened our
friendship ties and we hope to remain as best friends forever.

Write a composition of about 350 words on the topic below.

You have been given a chance to visit a country of your
choice. Which country would you choose and why?

Write a composition of about 350 words on the topic below.

You have been given a chance to visit a country of your

choice. Which country would you choose and why?
General explaining
Lets start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: In order to can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument.

Example: In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.

2. In other words

Usage: Use in other words when you want to express something in a different way (more
simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point.

Example: Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying in other words, and can be used in particularly
complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the
reader achieve a better understanding of its significance.

Example: Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the
sun.

4. That is to say

Usage: That is and that is to say can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or
to be more precise.

Example: Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.

5. To that end

Usage: Use to that end or to this end in a similar way to in order to or so.

Adding additional information to support a point

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ moreover at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a
point youre making.

Example: Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence
in support of
7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information.

Example: Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that

8. Whats more

Usage: This is used in the same way as moreover and furthermore.

Example: Whats more, this isnt the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.

9. Likewise

Usage: Use likewise when you want to talk about something that agrees with what youve
just mentioned.

Example: Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this

point of view.

10. Similarly

Usage: Use similarly in the same way as likewise.

Example: Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethovens new work, because it
was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with
surprise to the unfamiliar.

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase another key point to remember or another key fact to remember to
introduce additional facts without using the word also.