MID YEAR 2010: MUET WRITING 800/4 QUESTION 2

The world today is turning more to electronic communications such as the e-mail, Facebook and
Short Message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss. You should write
at least 350 words. [60 marks]

As time goes by, the world is changing rapidly; so are its people and the technology itself.
Technology brings about a lot of amendments in people’s life. It is getting more advanced from day
to day especially when it comes to Information Technology or in this case; electronic
communications. Back then, mailing was seemingly to be one of the most vital ways of
communication especially for the world communication. In contrast, nowadays people are more
prone to communicate the easier ways; by staring on their electronic accounts on their computers or
through their iPods and sending short messages from their iPhones or Blackberries. Why is it so?In
my slight opinion, this growing trend gives a lot of dominances in today’s life, which are helping
people to save their time and money, create borderless communication and make it easy for people
to gain prominent information.

First and foremost, the world today is turning more to electronic communications like e-mail,
Facebook and Short Message System (SMS) and other electronic communications is because they
will prevent people from wasting their time and money. How do these work? As we all know,
sending a letter to someone will take a lot of processes and will eventually take a long time and
waste a lot of money. On the contrary, electronic communications entail only the tip of our fingers
so as an electronic device to work with. Then, what is left for us to do is just, typing! Has that not
taken a much lesser time and money? For instance, an e-mail only requires us to turn on our laptops,
open our accounts on the website and then, you can start write your letter and send them through
e-mails. In short, with the very unstable economy nowadays, having these kinds of communications
will ease everyone’s burden especially on their daily expenses and also their valuable time will not
be wasted.

Secondly, the growing trend of electronic communications is making it possible for a

borderless communication which is vital these days. Why is it vital? A lot of things require borderless
communication; in education field, businesses and even daily activities, especially when foreigners
involved. For example, when trading with foreigners, in order to communicate with each other, they
need Skype or Yahoo Messenger as mediums to interact and be able to do the trade at a faster rate
as compared to by using ‘snail mails’ or regular letters. Skype is the perfect example of an electronic
communication which will cut the boundary that has separated each country and make
communication between two different countries from around the world possible. In conclusion, it is
crucial to have these electronic communications in today’s age of globalization as they make it easier
for people around the world to connect with each other.

Last but not least, the dominance of these electronic communications is people could gain
prominent information more efficiently than before. As there are lesser borders between countries,
the efficiency of getting much more relevant and prominent information is higher. People will have
the ability to provide and gain information effectively through Facebook or Twitter accounts. For
example, international artists who have planned to do a world concert can inform their fans about it
through their Facebook account. Likewise, the fans also can ask just about anything to their favourite
artists regarding the concert. Hence, this explains why people make these electronic
communications as a huge trend these days and in order to keep the trend ongoing, each person has
the responsibility to adapt with the technology itself.

In a nutshell, the growing trend of using electronic communications is inevitably vital in people’s
lives as it gives out a lot of benefits as stated in above paragraphs. So, to avoid ourselves from not
getting the chance of keeping up with the changing trends, we have to try our best to adapt
ourselves with the rapid changes. I believe that the electronic communication trend is a trend which
is very important to be followed as the world is getting more advanced day to day.
Question : Students should start their own blog. Do you agree ? Support your answer with examples.
You should write at least 350 words.

In recent years, the world has witnessed a significant rise in technological advancements across all
fields. We saw science improved, mathematical questions answered, and social media flourished.
The mushroom of blogs has positively correlated with the increasingly affordable price of computers
and gadgets. Majority of the bloggers are students who use it for various purposes. Despite the
ongoing debate on whether students should start their own blog, I strongly agree that starting a blog
and constantly updating it helps develop critical thinking skills, creates a knowledgeable society and
fortifies multiracial unity.

First and foremost, starting and updating a blog helps to stimulate a critical way of thinking. Blog
acts as a platform which opens up avenues for sharing and discussing ideas. Students are free to
share their viewpoints with netizens all over the world and anyone can propose his or her ideas in
the comment section below. Consequently, a discussion will be built up and the commenters need
to analyse the arguments by considering the issue from different aspects and backgrounds. Thus,
critical thinking skills develop slowly in the students’ mind without one realising it. For instance, the
discussion on the economic issue can only come to an ideal conclusion through critical analysis of
the current situation by viewing from different aspects, involving the countries, citizens and
resources. Therefore, it is crystal clear that blogging can develop a critical thinking mind, especially
among the students.

In addition to this, blogging plays a key role in moulding a knowledgeable society. It is a universal
truth that most students in this era of globalisation where technology reigns adapt better to learning
via electronic media. Furthermore, most students spend more time browsing the Internet compared
to reading books and newspapers. Hence, information and knowledge shared via blogs can reach
more students than the traditional way of sharing through books. As an exemplification, students
who have created mnemonics to ease the memorisation of difficult topics in the syllabus can share
them via their blogs so that other students can learn it and even discuss to come up with a better
idea. As a result, the knowledge input of students who access to the blogs will be escalated
dramatically to eventually mould a knowledgeable society.

Moreover, blogging can enhance the unity among different races. When students of different
races blog about their unique cultures and traditions, students of other races who came across the
articles will be well-informed about the cultures of other races and thus open their eyes to realise
the existence of other cultures in one’s country. This can develop a better sense of understanding
and hence maintain the precious unity among races, which is crucial to the harmony of a multiracial
country such as Malaysia. For example, when a Malay student posts about their tradition of visiting
one another during the Aidilfitri, Chinese, Indian as well as indigenous students will get to know
more about the culture of Malays and the dos and don’ts when they join the celebration.
Subsequently, students will develop a better understanding about races and unity is fortified when
all sorts of misunderstandings are avoided.

On the other hand, one may argue that blogging is time consuming and distracting for the
students. This notion anchored its arguments on the common scenario that most students are very
likely to get carried away when they access the Internet and eventually wasted so much time doing
unbeneficial activities in the Internet. Students are also prone to the exposure towards the
underlying negative influences in the Internet such as violence, gore and sexually explicit contents
which are able to corrupt the students’ mind once and for all.
 In a nutshell, I still totally believe that students should start their own blog as this brings
magnificent advantages to the students, society as well as our beloved country. Blogging stimulates
a critical way of thinking, produces an enlightened society and strengthen the unity among races.
The minor drawbacks can be prevented by careful measures such as parental control. The
government through the Ministry of Education should spearhead a foolproof blueprint to instill the
habit of blogging among students by providing special training and increasing incentives for the
usage of technology in schools.
Students should be allowed to bring mobile phones to school.

In this era of information technology and social media, mobile phones are becoming more of a
norm than a luxury item. In fact, more and more students are able to save their money and buy
mobile phones of various brands such as Samsung, HTC, Lenovo and Oppo in order to stay
connected with their friends and family. In my humble opinion, I truly believe that students should
be allowed to bring mobile phones to school because it is good to teach them to be responsible for
their own belongings. There are a few reasons for this, namely, easier to communicate (A1), an
excellent source of information (A2) and schools can control usage of phones (A3).

Firstly, students should be allowed to bring their mobile phones to school because it will definitely
make communication easier for everyone. This means that the mobile phone is a useful tool to make
calls or send messages. Moreover, it is very convenient to inform our parents if there are any
changes to the timetable. For example, if we need to let our parents know when to pick us up if the
school suddenly has a program such as IM1S, co-curricular activities, marching practice and so on.
Therefore, if students are allowed to bring their handphones to school it would be so much easier to
keep everyone informed about our whereabouts.

Secondly, mobiles phones are an excellent source of information and this is another factor why we
should allow students to bring them to school. This is because students who have smartphones will
have access to all the information on the internet at the tip of their fingers. In addition, it will help
them do their work better and more efficiently. For instance, they can research online for
information on projects given to them by teachers such as researching facts on famous people,
science experiments, essays, reports and many more. Thus, allowing students to bring mobile
phones to school will help them tap into the multitude of information that exists in the world wide
web today.

Finally, a final factor why I agree that students should be allowed to bring mobile phones to school
is that the usage can still be controlled by the school authorities. The main reason for this is that the
teachers have to explain the rules clearly to students that they can only use it outside the class
teaching hours such as before and after lessons and during recess. Furthermore, it will teach
students to be more responsible for their own things and make them better adults. Take for example
the rule that if they use it during lessons the teachers can confiscate the phones, report to the
discipline master, call their parents and others. Hence, it is the school’s responsibility to control the
usage of the mobile phones so that it can bring more advantages to the students especially in
improving their education.

Conversely, there are other factors why mobile phones should not be allowed. This is because some
students who do not have mobile phones will feel inferior compared to their rich friends who can
afford smart phones. Additionally, handphones can be very distracting to the students because they
will constantly want to look at their phones. Some examples are students become distracted when
they play games, watch Youtube, make funny videos of their friends and teachers, cheat during
examinations and so on. Ultimately, there are always two sides to a coin so we should realise and
accept that there will be some disadvantages of allowing students to bring their phones to school.

In short, students should be allowed to bring mobile phones to school because handphones ease
communication, allows students unlimited access to online information and the school authorities
can still control the usage so normal lessons are not disrupted even though there are some
disadvantages. I still absolutely agree that students should be allowed to bring mobile phones to
school because it is a useful learning tool. I hope that the government through the Ministry of
Multimedia and Communication should spearhead a comprehensive strategy to provide a solution
by giving smartphones and providing free Wifi connection to all students in Malaysia
Money is the most important thing in modern life.

In this era of modernisation, money seems to be the most important thing in life. In fact,
without money, life would be quite a torture because we would not be able to buy what we want
including food, clothes or even afford a safe place to stay. People would do anything for money,
hence the saying ‘Money is the root of all evil’. From my perspecctive, I totally disagree that money
is the most important thing in modern life because we cannot survive on money alone. There are a
few reasons for this, namely, family is by far more important in life (A1) followed by religion (A2) and
good health (A3).

First and foremost, money is not the most important thing in modern life because family is much
more important than money. This means that even though we are poor, we will still be able to
survive with the support of our family members. Moreover, parents who love their children will
work hard to earn money so that they can all live a better life. For example, we will always turn to
and rely on our family members for support when there is a problem, accident, disaster and so on.
Therefore, money is not the most important thing in modern life because family always comes first.

Secondly, a strong upbringing in religion is another factor why money is not the most important
thing in life. This is because in times of problems and pain, each person normally turns to religion for
support because a strong belief will give people strength to face all situations. In addition, it does
not cost any money to have a good religious upbringing. For instance, parents can ensure that
through religion, their children can differentiate black from white, bad from good and make the right
choices in life, love, career, friends and many more. Thus, the keyword is ‘most’ and money is surely
not the ‘most’ important because a family with a good religious background is by far more important
than having money.

Last but not least, a final factor why money is not the most important thing in modern life is health
is wealth and no amount of money can buy good health. The main reason for this is in comparison to
money, health is definitely more important because if we do not have good health, life would be
very hard to live to the fullest. Furthermore, good health is essential if we want to make money to
support ourselves and our family. Take for example a person with good health can get a good job
like being a pilot, teacher, doctor and others. Hence, without good health, money is meaningless and
all the money earned will be spent on paying for doctor fees and medicine.

On the contrary, there are other factors why money is important in this modern life even though it
is not the most important. This is because modern lifestyle is not cheap and there are many bills to
be paid in order to survive. Additionally, we are no longer living in the era where we can build a
house out of materials from the forest or plant food and hunt or gather in order to eat. Some
examples of a modern life are we need money to buy a house or pay rent, purchase food and
clothes, pay for school fees and buy books and stationery, travel, eat out in fancy restaurants or fast
food outlets and so on. Ultimately, it cannot be denied that money is still very important but it is not
the most important thing in this modern life.

In a nutshell, money is not the most important thing in our changing world today because family
comes first, religion provides us a solid foundation and health is wealth even though there are some
reasons why money is important for our survival in this modern world. I still absolutely think that
money cannot be the most important thing in life because family, religion and health will always
come first. I hope that the non-governmental organisations such as Sabah Women’s Association
(SAWO) should organise an effective campaign to overcome materialism and teach the community
that money is not everything by conducting ‘Family First’ talks and raising awareness on ‘Health is
Wealth’.
Question 2:

The trend today among youths is to own the latest technological gadgets such as mobile phones and
other devices. Is this a healthy development among young people? Give your opinion. You should
write at least 350 words.

In this modern world of ours, technological devices such as mobile phones and other gadgets
are no longer foreign to us. Most of the young people today are treating these luxuries as a necessity
as they compete to own the latest devices, leading to the adults’ questioning whether this is a
healthy or an unhealthy development for youths today. In my own humble opinion, this issue will be
a never-ending argument because it solely depends on the user itself to determine their purpose of
using these devices. Thus in this essay, this issue can be discussed in terms of both healthy and
unhealthy development and some recommendations.

Firstly, with these newest devices, young people can access information wherever there are with
just a touch of their fingers. This can help to expand their knowledge about the current issues of our
world which will be a key role to take their mind to a higher level. They can also use these facilities
to help them in their studies. All of these can help our country to produce more intellectual people
which indeed is a healthy development by contributing to a more productive nation.

In the old days, we had to do a lot of work and research in order to finish our school assignment,
which is time consuming and tiring. Now we can obtain any information we need for our assignment
without having the need to go to the library anymore. This can help the students to save more time
for them to do other things. Furthermore, students can also increase their efficiency of work. The
government also supports this by launching the ‘Wireless Village’ programme so that both rural and
urban people can access the internet without having to subcribe to any internet packages. Overall,
students can perform better and become more productive in their work, so this is certainly a healthy
development.

Moreover, young people that chase after these latest technological devices can help to
strengthen the country’s commerce through the constant supply and demand of gadgets. This can
help the government to focus more on developing this technology or subsidising companies in this
industry as it can guarantee good profits. Besides, in line with the previous years’ budgets, the
government is giving out ‘smart phone rebates’ to citizens above the age of 21. All of this can help to
improve our economic level and lead to a more developed country, therefore another sign that it is a
healthy development.

On the other hand, this trend to own the latest technology devices could lead to a waste of
money. Even though these devices are useful to us, but the fact is that most young people are
chasing the latest devices regardless of cost. Mind the word ‘latest’ as they only want the latest
edition that is being released in the market almost once per year for different brands such as
Samsung and Sony. In order to keep up with the trend, these young people are willing to waste their
money or more accurately their parents’ hard-earned money. Instead, they could use the money for
better purposes like buying books or stationery.

Furthermore, as time goes by, they might eventually become ungrateful for what they already
have and keep nagging for new gadgets. This is unhealthy as it breeds materialism. In addition, if one
did not have proper discipline within oneself while using these devices, one will easily become a
victim to various addictions such as social networking and games. This can cause the young users to
become distracted and greatly decrease their work efficiency. As for students, their performance at
school might become affected. To add to the matter, young people can easily access inappropriate
content such as porn and violent materials at a young age, unsupervised. All of this can retard their
mind’s growth and become influenced by negative things. In the end, these devices become a bane
to them instead of a boon to the development of society.

Hence, for us to fully utilise the advantages of technology, I humble share some of my
recommendations. Firstly, parents play a big role as they spend the most time with their children
thus they should watch strictly over their children’s usage of these devices per day by limiting it.
Next, the government can work on preventing or blocking many harmful websites in our country so
that young people have no access to it.

In conclusion, I believe that in the end, it depends on the user itself whether to abuse or to use
the devices to their disadvantage or advantage. We can draw an analogy from guns – used by the
police it enforces the law; by a criminal it abets the crime. It would be illogical to put the gun in jail
instead of the person who pulls the trigger. Similarly, it is we ourselves that click the mouse or swipe
the screen of our gadget so we must use it responsibly to contribute towards a happier and healthier
development in society today.
Man's careless attitude is the main cause for the destruction of the environment. Discuss. You
should write at least 350 words. (60 marks)

Below is a good sample answer written by Franky, my 2013 lower 6 science student.

In this modern civilization, man struggles to survive the high cost of living expenses, which
significantly increases with each passing year. This causes them to use any method available that
generates income and they start to sideline the importance of preserving nature. This is due to
mankind realising the potential of economy that can come from nature. So, I strongly believe the
destruction of nature is mostly caused by man's careless attitude whereby they prioritise their greed
for money and the development of civilisation. Let us analyse this phenomenon in terms of the
country's development, illegal activities of exploiting nature and the job opportunities.

First of all, many nations try to achieve the title of the most leading nation in economy or
infrastructure. So in order to compete with other countries, most nations try to explore any available
land in their country for development such as industries, tourist spots and many other purposes that
are related to money. Whenever they see the potential of a certain piece of land, they tend to
develop it despite some of these places might still be uninhabited or the home for many wildlife.
Sometimes, they would also plod through jungles or level the mountains for road development
which severely changes the landscape of nature. As a result, this selfish and careless act will cause
the deforestation and global warming. For example, Indonesia has become quite careless with their
handling of these problems. In Kalimantan, Indonesia, the forest is being severely deforested by
their people for land development. And to make matters worse, they even choose the fastest and
cos-saving method of deforestation which is by burning down the trees, the mass release of carbon
dioxide from the mass burn down of trees lead to ozone thinning and greenhouse effect. Also, the
haze problem is another negative side product. As for the real victims of these acts, they are the
neighbouring nations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines especially as haze causes
many health issues such as lung cancer and breathing problems. Therefore, these careless acts and
greed not only cause the destruction of nature but also endanger many lives, both man and animals.

Secondly, some people's greed for great fortune and easy life make them become selfish and
careless by over-exploiting nature. They willingly do illegal activities such as cutting down trees or
animal hunting, seeing the high demand for these materials. It will slowly cause the depopulation of
different kinds of flora and fauna. In China, these activities of eating inner organs of animals such as
tiger or bear and they even use these animals' body parts for economic purposes such as tiger skin,
crocodile skin and elephant teeth and tusks by exporting it to those who pay a high price for it. This
has a serious effect on the ecosystem which is the extinction of animals. In Indonesia, trees are being
cut down for making expensive house furniture made of material such as teak wood. In fact, these
trees require a long period of 10 to 20 years to mature. Thus, the continuous cutting down of trees
will eventually lead to its extinction. These activities are illegal by law and still occurs widely despite
many countermeasures that have been taken by the authorised organisations such as World Wildlife
Fund (WWF). Somehow, these criminals are able to slip through the organisations's enforcement
laws of protecting the wildlife and nature. Plus, most society are careless to even take notice of
these problems because they have yet to come to awareness of the dangers that would happen
from these illegal acts. If only they had given more attention and cooperation to the authorised
organisations, these problems might have been able to be prevented.

Lastly, to survive in this modern world, every person needs to be able to make a living for
themselves of their family, but many people with low education level cannot get high salary jobs,
even university scholars are yet to be certain of getting a proper job after their graduation despite
their high level of education. The competition is just like the survival of the fittest among these
graduates and people with low qualifications. Therefore with the growing demand for more natural
materials such as petroleum gas and minerals from the earth as well as a high demand of smuggled
goods, people are willing to pay high prices to have employees do their job of exploiting nature
because these jobs are high risk. So people that are desperately in need of jobs are usually tempted
with the pay and they would take up the call. This situation had opened up a lot of job opportunities,
but they are careless to not realise that these jobs are the main cause of nature's destructtion
because they are being pinned down by the pressure of high living cost in this modern world that
they have forgotten the importance of preserving nature.

In a nutshell, I still strongly believe in my opinion that nature's destruction is mainly caused by man's
careless attitude. They strive to make a living in the world so desperately that some eventually deny
the truth that it is their own fault for nature's destruction. If no serious and proper actions are being
taken immediately by many wildlife and nature preserving organisations or authorised organisations
such as WWF, UNESCO and ASEAN to prepare an effective strategy or blueprint to prevent this
problem, there probably won't be any jungles or wildlife left in the future and our young generaton
will have to live in a polluted world.
Women Make Better Leaders Than Men

The debate between the supremacy of the genders have been in session since time immemorial. In
the past, it would seem that men had the upperhand but these days, women are starting to leave
their mark in many aspects from business to politics rather than just domestic affairs. In my humble
opinion, both men and women have the potential to be great leaders but the question of 'better
leaders' does not lie in a person's gender alone but his or her innate character. In this essay, let us
explore the qualities that make men and women great leaders before focusing on other factors that
are unrelated to gender.

First and foremost, men have some distinctive qualities that make them far better leaders than
women. We can attribute this to the fact that men are generally physically stronger than women.
This is undeniable because a man has clearly more muscle mass than a woman so in terms of
leadership that has to do with physical ability, men win hands down. For example, in the army, most
leaders are men that are buffed up and better able to handle the physical exertions of this field
compared to women who are more delicate in structure. Men are also known to have better ability
to strategise in terms of warfare and they seem to command their armies better. For example, great
leaders have been men such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, Hitler and so on. Moreover,
men tend to be able to make quick decisions that are not usually based on their emotions but
logical, rational and practical reasons. Women, however, seem to be very emotional creatures so
they may make poor leadership decisions if they simply follow their feelings. Therefore, men have
many qualities like physical strength, ability to strategise well and make snap decisions which can
make them better leaders.

However, women have proven to be better leaders in an increasing number of cases. This can be
seen as more and more countries have entrusted women to be their leaders. These women have a
more 'feminine' approach to leadership which is more sensitive towards the needs of society. For
instance, history is peppered with exemplary female leaders such as Indira Ghandi, Benazir Bhutto,
Eva Peron and present day heroines such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Women tend to be more caring in
nature and quite patient in dealing with problems which makes them better leaders compared to
men who could be less sensitive and impatient. Most women are also known to be perfectionists,
and this is an advantage because they are often very meticulous and detailed in carrying out their
duties as leaders. Thus, with a more open-minded society, an increasing number of women are being
given the onus to take the lead and may even one day supersede men in their traditional leadership
roles!

Although I have gone to great lengths to show that both men and women have the ability to be
great leaders, I still completely believe that 'leadership' has little to do with gender and a lot to do
with a person's innate character. This means that to be a great leader does not depend on whether
you are male or female but rather your personal characteristics that drive you to succeed. Men and
women both possess the qualities of confidence, responsibility, time management and delegation
skills, public relations and good communication skills, positive outlook, high commitment, creativity
and innovation, forward-looking visionaries and many other characteristics of a good leader. Hence,
the question of gender should not arise because being male or female does not guarantee the ability
to lead well.

In conclusion, history has shown that men make better leaders but this is a faulty argument because
it does not take into consideration the fact in the old days women were discriminated against and
not allowed to lead. Today, society is more open-minded and more women are taking the helm and
proving that women can be better leaders. Nevertheless, leadership to me is 'genderless' whereby it
is completely dependent on a person's positive characteristics which makes people respect them
and want to follow in their footsteps. Every country needs more leaders regardless of gender so the
government should conduct more self-improvement leadership courses for the younger generation
so they may become better future leaders of our country.
“People are becoming more materialistic. They are concerned with making more money and what
money can buy.” What is your opinion on being materialistic? You should write at least 350 words.
[60 marks]

They say that money makes the world go round. And indeed it does as without money, life would be
very difficult as in today’s society, nothing is free. The side effect however is that people are
becoming more materialistic; more concerned with making money and what money can buy. But
how much money is enough? Is it ever enough? To some, it will never be enough. In my opinion, I
truly believe that this statement is true and that people are becoming more materialistic in nature.
In this essay, I will discuss how materialism has affected modern society’s way of life on an individual
level, the country’s economy as well as our spiritual and moral beliefs.

First and foremost, each individual is affected by materialism to some extent in this day and age
because hedonism is becoming an uprising trend. This is because today's generation are geared
towards making more and more money so that they can enjoy the carefree lifestyle that is so
popular these days. Moreover, people now are striving to earn more income in order to afford things
that are more expensive and branded. For example, people spend their hard earned money on
material objects like genuine LV and Coach handbags, expensive gadgets like Iphones and Tablet pcs
and so on which in my opinion is a waste of money when regular goods may prove to be good
enough. Therefore, while individuals become more focussed on their pursuit of material wealth and
improving their standard of living, they may forget that what matters most in life is quality time
spent with family and friends and not the quantity of their material goods.

Secondly, when society starts spending in a materialistic manner it will surely have a domino effect
on the country’s economy. This means that the spending power of society will help boost the
economy and create more business opportunities for the booming trade. However, when a society
overspends, using plastic money or credit cards, or when they take loans they cannot afford to
repay, then the country’s debt margin will be higher. For instance, USA today is facing an economic
crisis because banks have approved home loans to people who aspire to own bigger houses than
they can actually afford and this is causing the collapse of the country’s economy there. Thus, while
a society’s spending habits helps our economy to grow, overspending due to materialism will have
an adverse effect to the country’s financial stability.

Last but not least, materialism affects our spiritual and moral beliefs. This is due to the fact people
who are materialistic may become ‘amoral’ whereby they disregard their spiritual and moral
upbringing and instead turn to crime to satisfy their materialistic needs. In fact, the crime rate is
increasing because criminals these days have developed many ways to gain more money from
society. Take for example, there are more reports of snatch thefts, burglaries, kidnapping for
ransom, credit card fraud, internet banking hacking and others that are driven by materialistic
criminals. Hence, when people lose sight of their spiritual and moral beliefs and believe instead in
the greed of materialism, therefore the crime rate is bound to increase.

In a nutshell, materialism is a common agenda in the 21st century as more people are working hard
to afford things beyond their reach. While this may spur individuals to work harder to improve their
standard of living, overspending due to materialism may cause the downfall of a country’s economy
and their morality. In my opinion, I still firmly believe that materialism has a strong hold on today’s
society; both positive and negative effects. Our government can encourage society to be less
frivolous and wasteful in spending by running campaigns such as ‘Consumer Awareness’ and ‘Buy
Malaysian Made Products’ in order to educate our younger generation for the prosperity of our
nation.
Monthly tests and examinations are necessary. What do you think?

I think most secondary school students in Malaysia would agree with me that monthly tests and
examinations cause a lot of stress. However, we must not forget that these tests and examinations
are part and parcel of our education system. No matter how much we loathe them, we need them
to assess how much we have learnt and to evaluate our academic progress.

Indeed, this is the main reason why any test is given, or any examination is held. Through a series of
tests and examinations, teachers and examiners can gauge the academic ability of students.

Students, too, can benefit as they will know their own strengths and weaknesses. At school, their
teachers point out how they can improve their grades in the tests, and tell them where they have
gone wrong in their answers.

On a national level, examinations are administered fairly and marking is done without considering
race, colour or creed. Thus, they are the best measure of a student’s academic ability and potential.

Tests and examinations are also good ways to keep students focussed on their studies because
nowadays, students face too many distractions. If there were no testing system at all, some students
would laze the whole day. Others would probably learn but this learning would be either
haphazardly wide, or else focussed on one thing only. This is not good as our future working lives
require a variety of specific skills.

Furthermore, with testing and examinations, students learn to be disciplined, learn how to schedule
their day and to compete with themselves and with others. Also, they have to think deeply, to write
out their thoughts and to use their brains regularly.

Thus, testing and examinations make studying more interesting and challenging. Man is by nature
competitive, so having regular tests and examinations keeps students on their toes. They are forced
into studying hard to perform well vis-a-vis their peers. To me, it would defeat the point of going to
school if nobody cared how much you had learnt, or how well you had fared.

Nevertheless, I realise that some students might not perform as well in government examinations as
they should, because they happen to be sick during the examination period or they have just lost a
loved one. Thus, it seems unjust to have their whole life badly affected by low grades in one
examination.

A fairer system of examination testing would be a combination of marks taken during the course of
the school year and the final examination score. That way, students still learn for various tests and
examinations, but they would not be too stressed because they know what they have achieved
through the year also counts.

For all these reasons, I believe in our education system with its reliance on tests and examinations.
So, when people say, “Let’s do away with tests and examinations,” I say no because I really believe
that they are necessary.

Vocabulary Guide

gauge - assess, test creed - set of beliefs

haphazardly wide - without any proper focus

Question

Taking part in extra-curricular activities is a waste of time.

Do you agree?

Model Answer

Extra-curricular activities are non-academic activities conducted outside the classroom. Extra-
curricular activities, more commonly abbreviated to ECAs, cover a wide range of activities, from
sports to athletics to uniformed societies.

Some people feel taking part in extra-curricular activities is a waste of time, but I think there are
many advantages in participating in these activities.

Firstly, uniformed units such as Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and the Red Crescent Society teach their
members basic survival skills. This enables members to be prepared for any tough situation. These
uniformed organisations contribute a lot to society each year through donations and social work.
Those active in such units learn to be caring and helpful towards others. Furthermore, societies such
as the Red Crescent Society and St John’s Ambulance teach their members first aid which will come
in handy when someone is injured and requires immediate medical attention.

Through group activities, members learn to respect and co-operate with one another. Many
members are also given a chance to head an activity or a group project. This ensures that their
leadership skills are honed. These leadership skills are important after one leaves school and starts
working because one is then equipped to deal with different types of people.

Besides the uniformed units, students can choose whatever club or society they are interested in.
Clubs such as the Drama Club or the Maths Club enhance their members’ ability in those particular
fields. Doing well in ECAs is important because employers do not only look at your academic
qualifications alone. Students active in ECAs show their potential employers that they have extra
abilities acquired outside the classroom.

Sports is also a part of ECAs and can improve or maintain one’s health or well-being. People who
participate in sports are more active because the flow of oxygen to the brain is increased. Therefore,
participating in sports also ensures better thinking skills and alertness in the classroom. Sports such
as swimming and athletics tone the body and keep it fit, so that the person will not succumb to
illnesses so easily.

Sports also instils discipline in students. Those who take part in sports have to stick to a daily
timetable and watch what they eat. Students are required to listen to their coaches or risk getting
injured. Those who are in competitive sports need to have more self-discipline and perseverance.

In fact, sports and other ECAs help to develop strong character, promote basic moral values, instil
discipline and independence and respect for peers and elders which cannot be learnt from any
textbook. Because of this and the other factors given, I conclude by decisively saying that taking part
in extra-curricular activities is not a waste of time.

Vocabulary Guide
honed - sharpened, polished

instils - puts or plants a (good) feeling or quality in a person

perseverance - determination

decisively - strongly, firmly

Question

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of studying overseas.

Model Answer

Though Malaysia now boasts a fair number of universities, the limited number of places means that
every year, many of our successful A-level students go abroad to study. Those who have come back
with overseas degrees cite various advantages in going abroad for further studies.

For one thing, many of them feel that there is a greater choice of courses open to the Malaysian
undergraduate overseas, whereas here, the student is often not permitted to do the desired course
because there are too many people applying for it or because of the quota system.

Furthermore, studying overseas means that students are separated from the comforts of home since
they cannot afford the time and the money to come back every month or so. Being on their own
without parents or the maid to attend to their needs usually encourages these students to become
more independent - they learn to organise their time efficiently as they have to study as well as keep
house and cook their own meals.

On the other hand, overseas education often comes at great cost. Many families sacrifice a great
deal and live frugally so that they can send their children to pursue their studies abroad. The
students themselves might suffer initial pangs of homesickness and find difficulty in adjusting to a
new environment.

Also, there is the fear that these youngsters, unsupervised by their elders and mixing mainly with
people their own age, might be easily influenced by the laxity of lifestyle which is so prevalent
overseas. They might get hooked on drugs, be corrupted by strange ideas and eventually become
alienated from their own culture.

However. I personally feel that an overseas education is a broadening experience. Malaysians

studying overseas get to meet, not only students of the host country, but also other foreign students
like themselves. They become familiar with other cultures on a more intimate level and not just from
reading about them. This allows them to compare the different lifestyles and ways of thinking. Thus,
when they return to Malaysia, they will be more global in their outlook and not be so blinkered in
their views.

Besides, studying abroad can be enriching in other ways. Take, for example, the case of a cousin of
mine who won a scholarship to New Zealand. Though academically brilliant, she was diffident in the
company of strangers, but there, she took part in various cultural activities, such as International
Night, to promote Malaysian culture. Gradually, she became more confident and less shy and now,
she has many overseas friends with whom she is still in close touch.

In conclusion. I believe that, while a few Malaysian students may ‘go astray’ overseas, many of our
undergraduates abroad make the most of their experiences.

(Adapted from The Star, 3 Sept 2000)

Vocabulary Guide PHRASES

frugally - prudently, dealing carefully with money

prevalent - commonly occurring, widespread

become alienated from - to be estranged from

blinkered in their views - narrow-minded in their opinions

diffident - lacking confidence

Question

What is your opinion about attending tuition classes?

Model Answer

In today’s competitive world where a good education is fundamental to success, many parents
believe that sending their children for tuition classes is very important. Ask any class of secondary
students what they would be doing after school and eight out of ten will say that they have tuition.

These tuition classes for upper secondary students are conducted mostly by school teachers and
normally last for two hours. My opinion about tuition classes is that some tutors do help improve
the students’ grasp of a particular subject. I must, however, admit that most tutors merely hold
tuition classes to supplement their income.

Some are even so unscrupulous as to promote their tuition classes by hinting that they will give tips
for the school exams during these sessions. As a result, some over-zealous students join these
classes so that they will not be at a disadvantage, but what they get is revision which they can very
well do on their own.

Surely, the whole point of tuition is to reinforce the students’ knowledge of the subject. I feel that if
the students are conscientious at school and their teachers are concerned enough, assignments set
by their subject teachers are more than enough to reinforce what has been taught and learnt.

Also, some tuition classes have as many as 50 students per session. Good students can manage with
this overcrowding and the dilution of the tutor’s attention, but they are the ones who do not really
need the extra tuition. The weaker ones in the tuition group who do need the extra attention, are
the ones who will not get it in such a large class. In such cases, I definitely feel attending tuition is
just a waste of time and money.

In addition, tuition might also be ineffective because students spend about eight hours a day in
school. When they reach home, they will feel tired physically and mentally, and going for tuition will
only add to their fatigue. Studying when one is exhausted and when one’s brain is saturated serves
no purpose at all.

What they say about all work and no play is certainly true with me: I learn best when I am well-
rested as my brain revolts against remembering anything when it is overworked. I know many
students who go for tuition, not because they really need it to improve their understanding of a
particular subject, but only because their parents expect them to, or because their friends are also in
the tuition class.

In conclusion, let me say that tuition is something I can do without. Personally, I learn well because I
have good teachers, but as a disciplined student, I also study well at home because I pay attention in
school and believe in self-motivated study.

Vocabulary Guide

grasp of - understanding of

supplement their income - get money from an extra job

unscrupulous – dishonest

conscientious - diligent, hardworking

Model Answer

It is common for almost everyone to strive to earn as much money as possible, so this would imply
that money is the principal factor in bringing about a happy life.

After all, money and possessions provide us with comfort and give us a higher standard of living.
With money, we can afford modem appliances such as the washing machine, the television and the
computer. These things help make our housework easier, entertain us and let us manage our school
or office work more efficiently and conveniently.

Thus, despite a fast-paced world, these possessions allow us to have more free time to spend with
our loved ones and be more rested and relaxed. This surely leads to happiness because closer
relations within the family are forged and enhanced.

Furthermore, with enough money, we need not worry about the basic necessities of life such as food
and shelter. We know where our next meal is coming from and we know that there is a nice warm
place we can go home to, so we can lead comfortable lives. Without money, we would be starving
and homeless, which would surely be considered an unhappy state of affairs.

Another reason I think money is important in bringing happiness is from the viewpoint of parents.
Money enables parents to provide their children with better educational materials (such as books,
tuition, IT equipment etc). This means that their children are more advantaged than their less
affluent classmates and are more likely to do well.

Affluence also means these parents can afford better food for their children so that they grow strong
and healthy. They do not have to worry unnecessarily about their children succumbing to fatal
diseases or losing their eyesight or hearing because of malnutrition.

In addition, they can afford to send their children for tertiary education, usually overseas. This in
turn leads to better job prospects when they start working, so their parents feel secure and happy
about their future.

Nevertheless, though money does bring a comfortable lifestyle and freedom from want and worry, it
does not automatically guarantee happiness. What is wealth without health, for instance? Or love,
peace of mind or self-esteem? And certainly all the money and possessions in the world are useless
when war is raging, or when ruthless people want to kidnap the children of very rich people for
ransom. This definitely does not lead to happiness!

In conclusion. I would say that while money and possessions do not automatically guarantee
happiness, they can considerably ensure a comfortable life.

Vocabulary Guide

forged - created or built up affluent-wealthy

ruthless people - people who will stop at nothing to get what they want
Model Answer

Are co-educational schools better than single-sex schools?

I attended a single-sex primary school and am now doing my secondary studies in a co-educational
school. Having experienced both types of schools, I have weighed the pros and cons and have
decided that without a doubt, co-educational schools are better.

The main advantage of a co-educational school, better known as a ‘co-ed’ school, is that it
encourages competition between boys and girls. Both sexes naturally will compete against each
other in exams and that competitive spirit will encourage everyone to do their best.

When everybody is vying to be the best, even the lazy pupils will pull up their socks as they would
not want to be left behind. As everybody is working harder to obtain better grades, the school will
see dramatically improved results. The main source of motivation for students to work hard is when
they see that everyone is progressing ahead, and if they do not go along, they will lose out.

Besides this, I feel that a student studying in a ‘co-ed’ school will benefit from exposure to the other
sex. Studying in the single- sex school would not benefit a student much in terms of obtaining social
skills. In a ‘co-ed’ environment, both sexes get to interact with each other. They therefore get a
different perspective of things as well as learn to understand one another better. With the
interaction in class, even the shyest student will feel comfortable with the opposite sex and can soon
work together normally.

I feel that, due to a lack of exposure, some students from single sex-schools tend to have a warped
view of the opposite sex as they do not understand the opposite sex well enough. Being in a ‘co-ed’
school does not mean socialising only with the opposite sex. It means that a student can maintain a
balance when choosing friends and learn to treat everyone the same.

Also, I really think being in a ‘co-ed’ school promotes better behaviour. Boys are naturally rough by
nature and girls more gentle. When both sexes interact, the boys tend to tone down their behaviour
so that the girls will be friends with them. I feel that some boys in single-sex schools do not know
how to behave when they meet girls. Some act like hooligans and make catcalls when, in fact, if they
were in a ‘co-ed’ school, they would be above all that. Therefore, I think that students from ‘co-ed’
schools will be more mature and behave in a more politically-correct fashion!

In conclusion, I must stress that I was the recipient of all these advantages. By studying in a ‘co-ed’
school, I have matured in many ways and I can vouch that co-education is more beneficial than being
in a single-sex school.

Vocabulary Guide

a warped view - a twisted opinion

hooligans - undisciplined, rowdy troublemakers

Question

Hosting international sports events is a waste of time and money.

Do you agree?

Model Answer

There are people who say that hosting international sporting events such as the Olympics, the
Commonwealth Games and the SEA Games is a waste of time and money. I do not agree, as I feel
many benefits can be derived from organising these events.

For one thing, the country which has won the bid to host the event will experience a boost in
tourism while the Games are being held. Foreigners who come to the country to watch the Games
will also take the opportunity to visit other places as well.

Historical towns as well as holiday areas will gain more recognition. Tourist facilities will be upgraded
and more hotels will be built to accommodate foreign spectators, supporters, officials and
journalists. This spells job opportunities for locals in the tourism sector.

If an international sporting event is well organised, the country will profit and increase its revenue,
as income is obtained from the sale of tickets, sponsorships and media rights. With this revenue, the
country can channel some funds to other sectors such as education and agriculture. As a result,
productivity levels in these sectors are improved, which will further boost the country’s economy.

Hosting such an event will also help boost the host country’s ‘visibility’ factor by putting it on the
world map. Through the cultural dances and displays which are often showcased in the opening and
closing ceremonies, foreign media will get the chance to experience the country’s culture and
traditional heritage. As they send reports back home, many people around the world will be more
aware of the country’s existence.

If the sporting event is a success, the country will gain even more respect and recognition from the
world community. Its image will be enhanced and it will attract more visitors. Foreign investors will
be keen to invest in the country after seeing the country’s advanced infrastructure and political
stability.

Aside from that, preparing and organising a huge event requires experienced personnel, and the
building and improving of the venues for the various games. This in turn requires a large task force,
thus opening up job prospects in many areas. As more and more people are employed, the
unemployment rate will decrease proportionately.

Perhaps the most important benefit of organising sporting events is the forging of friendships
between people from different parts of the world. When they meet at these Games, they interact
with one another closely and find out more about other countries and cultures. This promotes better
understanding and goodwill among themselves, which in turn leads to more harmonious
relationships all over the globe. This, I feel, is the best reason for hosting international sporting
events.

Vocabulary Guide
derived - obtained, got

boost - increase

venues - places

forging - building, development

The world today is turning more to electronic communications such as the e-mail, Facebook and
Short Message System (SMS). What is your opinion of this growing trend? Discuss. You should write
at least 350 words. [60 marks]

Everywhere we turn today, the world is crowded with people busy typing SMSes on their Nokias or
iPhones or someone is staring unblinkingly at a Facebook or Yahoo page on the computer screen.
Whether you like it or not, the age of Information Technology is upon us, and we can either learn
new skills and adapt to this new technology, or be forever lost and stuck in the older generation. In
my opinion, I am fully convinced that this growing trend is the way of the future, and it brings
countless benefits to mankind. In this essay, I will discuss three positive effects of electronic
communication, namely its efficiency, enhances communication and creates a borderless world
community.

First and foremost, more and more people are relying on e-mail, Facebook, Short Message System
(SMS) and other types of electronic communication tools because of its high efficiency. This is
because in today's age of globalisation, we need information at the tip of our fingers. Moreover,
with the use of these tools, we can increase the speed of getting the necessary and relevant
information within seconds and this will increase our productivity. For example, gone are the days of
using 'snail mail' or regular letters using stamps and envelopes and many more examples of 'old'
technology because it is simply too slow and inefficient. Therefore, these e-communication tools
increases the access to important information which is why the new generation is fully accepting this
growing trend.

Secondly, this form of technology enhances communication among people today. This means that
when we use SMS, e-mails and websites like Facebook, we are able to communicate clearly and
directly to our target audience. Furthermore, people today find that the message is more important
than the form it comes in as an e-mail in short but clear sentences is just as good or even better than
a long and formal letter. For instance, an SMS can give clear instructions in just a few words and this
communicates what needs to be done quickly and directly. Thus, when the intended message can be
spread clearly using short and clear information like in SMSes and emails, communication can be
enhanced and there will be less problems of miscommunication.

Last but not least, e-communication creates a borderless community in the world we live in today.
This is due to the fact that the boundaries that separate each country becomes less relevant when
information is transferred without limitations. In addition, the world would be a better place
because there is a sense of 1-World commitment, respect and tolerance for the global community
through efficient and clear e-communication. Take for example, we are able to connect with people
on an international basis using Facebook, Friendster, Tagged, Hotmail, Yahoo and others. Hence,
these tools will enhance global unity and create a more peaceful world.

In a nutshell, this growing trend has many positive effects not just to individuals but the global
society in terms of efficiency, enhancing communicative skills and shaping a borderless community.
In my opinion, I still firmly believe that this latest trend is the best way forward and if we do not
catch up, we will be left behind by the tide of development. Our government can encourage the
proper usage of electronic communications by increasing communication amenities and free
broadband accessibility especially in rural areas so that they can enjoy the same facilities as city-folks
therefore balancing the development of our country towards achieving Vision 2020.
The most valuable thing in life is friendship. Do you agree? Discuss. You should write at least 350
words.

[60 marks]

It is true that no ‘man is an island’ meaning that no one in this world can live alone without
friendship. That person would be very socially challenged as he or she would miss the camaraderie
and life experiences that come with friendship. However, I completely disagree with the statement
that the most valuable thing in life is friendship as there are certainly more important and priceless
things in life besides this. In this essay, I will outline how life itself is more valuable than friendship,
and elaborate on why family and the individual’s principles in life are ranked higher.

First and foremost, before one can enjoy the beauty of friendship, one must surely value life itself or
in other words, we should value our health. This is because, the quality of our life is the single most
important criteria in life if we are to live a meaningful and wholesome life. Moreover, without good
health, we will be hard pressed to do even the simplest of tasks like feed ourselves or relieve
ourselves without the help of doctors, nurses and caregivers. For example, if we are paralysed, lost
our sight, hearing or ability to speak or even a simple case of a fever or allergic reactions, then the
quality of our life is greatly reduced and no amount of friendship can make us healthy again.
Therefore, while friends can stand by us in our time of need, pristine health is still the most valuable
asset in our lives.

Secondly, we are no one without our family as indeed blood is thicker than water. This means that
however you analyse it, friendships will almost always play second fiddle because family always
comes first. Furthermore, if we do not value our family above others, then there must be a problem
among the family members that has caused their relationship to be strained. For instance, people
tend to turn away from family if the family member(s) themselves are the ones to cause them to
react negatively such as divorced parents, abusive parents or siblings and so on. Thus, when people
consider friendship to be the most valuable thing in life, more often than not they may come from a
troubled household.

Last but not least, a person’s principles in life is by far more valuable than friendship alone. This is
due to the fact that each person needs to have a code of ethics, quite often prescribed by their
individual religions. In addition, this code will guide each person to live their lives according to the
good and right principles. Take for example, if an individual has set his principles to do good, then no
amount of friendship especially negative influence from friends, can shake his hold on his principles
and cause him to commit undesirable deeds like smoking, stealing, raping, murdering and others.
Hence, if a person values friendship so much to the point where he is willing to break his principles,
then he has done a serious misdeed against himself and will most likely regret his actions later in life.

In short, friendship is the rainbow of life as it colours our horizons with invaluable experiences but
without good health, a supportive family and strong principles, life becomes empty and meaningless.
In my opinion, it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that I still firmly believe that friendship is not the
most valuable thing in life. Our government can encourage people to prioritise health, family and
principles in life by organising awareness campaigns especially in primary schools where the younger
generation should learn about priorities in life because they are the leaders of tomorrow.
The rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products. How will this affect the
society? Give your opinion. You should write at least 350 words.

[60 marks]

Money is always an issue in today's era of materialism. Most people need it for basic survival while
the lucky few indulge in luxuries without worrying about money. In my opinion, I strongly agree that
the rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products and this will definitely
affect the society. In this essay, I would like to touch on the effects this price increase has on society
today, namely increasing vice activities, widening the gap between the rich and the poor and
affecting the population trend in the long term.

First and foremost, society will immediately be affected by the rise in fuel prices because consumer
products will be more costly and this leads to an increase of vice activities. This is because basic
necessities such as rice, flour, sugar and so on will be in great demand and some warehouses will
store or hoard the items to further increase the price of the product. Moreover, in the newspapers
today, reports of smuggling of these items prove that this vice activity is on the rise. For example,
the recent sugar price hike caused a furor among the Malaysian society as it costs more fuel to travel
to and from the supermarket and when arriving, most places had run out of stock even though the
government had allocated 2kg of sugar to one person. Therefore, the fuel price increase had
definitely caused more hardships to society today.

Secondly, it is undeniable that the rise in fuel prices leads to the widening of the gap between the
rich and the poor. This is due to the fact that people are greatly affected by the price of basic
necessities such as food and fuel in particular. Furthermore, the rich people will still be able to afford
such things but the poor will face greater challenges as the popular saying goes: "The rich get richer,
and the poor get poorer." For instance, when money is used to purchase consumer products that are
necessary for survival, then less money will be spent on health and dental check-up, educational
purposes and others. Thus, it is clear that the fuel price hike will further stress on the differences
between the rich and the poor which is such a tragedy.

Last but not least, in the long term the population trend or demographics of the society will be
greatly affected. This means that new families will consciously decide not to have too many children
in order to increase their quality of life. In addition, society is now more aware of birth control and
family planning so this will greatly reduce the population as most families will have 1 to 5 children
instead of more. Take for example, new families with less children will surely spend less on basic
necessities like food, clothes, transport and many more. Hence, the demographics of the whole
country will be affected and this in turn will reduce our workforce which will affect our country's
productivity and prosperity.

In short, there are many short term to long term effects of a fuel price increase which includes more
crimes like hoarding and smuggling will occur and this leads to the widening of the gap between the
rich and the poor as well as a change in the society's demographics. I still strongly believe that the
rising fuel price has pushed up the price of other consumer products and this will surely cause a
negative impact to society. The government must find a way to stabilise the fuel price at a
reasonable rate so that it does not affect the productivity of this country towards achieving the
aspirations of the nation for Vision 2020.
There are important issues relating to consumerism. Discuss the various ways whereby we as
consumers leave an impact on the environment, society and our nation. Support your view with
examples. You should write at least 350 words.

*****************************************************************************

As a nation progresses, so does the level of consumerism among its citizens. The changing lifestyles
of people have increased the market demands for more sophisticated products and lifestyles. All
said, such demands have improved our general lifestyles in certain ways but they too do leave
behind some negative impacts on the environment, society and the nation.

Firstly, consumerism has affected the environment in such ways that if not resolved will greatly
affect the world that we live in. Due to our hectic lifestyles, many people have forsaken their task of
cooking and eating at home. Generally, most working people opt to buy ready-prepared food
outside and these foods are packed in disposable plastic boxes or bags. As we all know, such boxes
are non-biodegradable and thus will cause environmental degradation if they are disposed of and
buried in landfills. The overdependence on plastic shopping bags instead of using shopping baskets
while shopping by consumers also contributes to the degradation of the environment therefore we
must support the ‘No Plastic Bags’ campaigns. The use of aerosol sprays by consumers and CFCs-
based products will have a detrimental effect on the environment. It will deplete the ozone layer in
the atmosphere exposing mankind to the harmful effects of the ultra-violet rays of the sun. The
affluent lifestyle of people nowadays has seen an increase in the ownership of private cars and this
has caused air pollution to the environment to increase dramatically.

The changing spending habits of consumers too have an impact on society and the nation as well.
The greater demands of consumers for luxury goods such as electric appliances and modern gadgets
have caused an artificial demand of such goods and this has pushed up the price of such products.
Thus consumers will be at the losing end as they need to pay more for such products causing
inflation to rise. The widespread use of plastic money or credit cards too produces a negative impact
on our society and the nation. The uncontrollable use of credit cards to purchase products has
caused many a person to be heavily indebted to credit companies and banks. This has affected the
saving power of the people and the country will be short of money with which to generate its
economic growth. There will be a slowdown of the economy of the country as consumers will have
no more money to spend or save due to the debts incurred from the overuse of credit facilities.

In short, although the increased level of consumerism has improved our lifestyles to a greater extent
but the long term negative effects it has on the environment, society and nation needs to be looked
into so that we as consumers can learn to be smart consumers benefitting not only ourselves but the
society and nation at large. Our government needs to step up efforts to acquaint consumers with
their rights and responsibilities by carrying out more consumer awareness campaigns nationwide.
Smart consumers, prosperity for all.
Question 2:

Since achieving independence in 1957, Malaysia has been known for its peaceful and multiracial
society. What can be done to further enhance national unity and solidarity among the various races?
Elaborate and give relevant examples in more than 350 words.

Nowadays, Malaysia is considered a leading tourist destination because we are famour for our
multiracial society living together in peace and harmony. In my opinion, I strongly agree that
national unity can be enhanced to strengthen solidarity among all the various race in this country. In
this essay, I will discuss three solid strategies for enhancing national unity which include every
individual's role in being more patriotic, be respectful of each different culture and mould a racially
tolerant future generation.

First and foremost, every individual can play a part in enhancing national by being more patriotic.
This is because when we are patrotic we will appreciate being a Malaysian citizen who has the right
to live a peaceful and war-free life. Moreover, having high patriotism will ensure that we really love
our country and we will not do anything to harm the peach and harmony. For example, every one of
us can respect the 'Negaraku' song and 'Rukunegara', fly our national flag during idependence Day
and so on. Therefore, if everyone plays their part and becomes more patriotic, this will easily
enhance the spirit of national unity.

Secondly, as a loyal Malaysian, we should always be respectful of each and every culture found in
this country. This means that respecting the main races like Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as
the indigenous races will ensure that we will continue to live side by side in harmony. Furthermore,
every race tat makes up the Malaysian society is unique and should be cherished for its special
traditions. For instance, we should visit one another during the 'Open House' or wedding
celebrations, religious festivals and many more. Thus by respecting the uniqueness of every culture,
this helps us promote racial solidarity and enhance national unity.

Last but not least, it is every individual's responsibility to mould the future generation to be more
patriotic. This is due to the fact that by educating our own children to be good and toelrant citizens,
this will help us maintain our peaceful situation long into the future. In addition, children who are
taught to be respectful of other cultures will learn to be more grateful for the peace and harmony
our country enjoys compared to places like Gaza where they are now suffering the effects of war.
Take for example, we can send our children to 'Sekolah Wawasan' or 'Vision Schools' where they can
mix with all races, join multiracial community activities and others. Hence, by educating the young
on patriotism, we are ensuring that national unity will continue to exist in the future.

In a nutshell, the three strategies I have suggested are to be more patriotic and respectful of each
unique culture as well as to teach our children about patriotism. In my opinion, I still strongly agree
that national unity can be enhanced if we all play an active role. I hope that our government can
highlight this issue in the media by organising more patriotic campaigns so that we can produce a
united society that can contribute productively to the achievement of Vision 2020.
Stress is a common problem among university students. Discuss. Support your answer with
examples. Give your views in not fewer that 350 words.

Stress is a normal phenomenon in university life. It is an accepted fact that stress is a common
problem for university students of different ages, disciplines of study, and social and economic
backgrounds. Furthermore, research has shown that stress has negative impact and effects on an
individual’s health and lifestyle. In view of these situations, it is essential and necessary for university
students to know how they can mange stress effectively. In my opinion, there are three ways that
can effectively reduce or eliminate stress. All these ways are inter related and bring about the
maximum positive impact to deal with stress effectively.

The first way is related to self awareness, self realization and acceptance of stress. These
qualities build a foundation that will positively nurture the appropriate mindset and emotional
attitude to deal with stress in realistic ways. The student must be aware, realize and accept the fact
that he or she is experiencing stress. Such awareness, realization and acceptance are strong
contributory factors to alert, motivate and initiate the student to think seriously of the nature,
possible causes and potential consequences of the stress he or she is experiencing. The attention
given to these issues is a strong catalyst to direct the student to want work out the solutions to deal
with the problem or situation or people that generate the stress. Self awareness, self realization and
self acceptance of stress will generate in students the need to confront stress with the right,
positive, mental and emotional attitude.

The second way that can help university students manage stress effectively is to educate and
equip themselves with knowledge and relevant information on approaches, methods and techniques
on how to identify the symptoms of various types of stress and stress related factors. For example,
they can learn more about the causes and effects of stress on health, personality and lifestyle. Being
university students, their maturity and mental and emotional intelligence should be their guides in
searching for the above mentioned information from authorized sources like health reference books
or the Internet. They can also seek advice from professionals namely doctors, lectors and counselors
or experienced individuals like parents and elders. The third way relates to a holistic healthy
lifestyle that involves constant physical activity, having good eating habits, adopting positive
attitudes to problems and nurturing healthy family, social and working relationships. These
characteristics effects of stress like anxiety, frustration and health problems of poor concentration,
lack of sleep and loss of appetite.

In sum, I leave in shot note these three ways can effectively help university students to mange
stress mentally, emotionally and holistically.
Suggest some measures that you think should be taken to prevent snatch thefts. Support your
answer with examples. Give your views in not fewer that 350 words.

Recently, there have been a lot of reports in the newspapers on the rising cases of snatch theft. I
fully agree with the writer’s opinions which were published in your editorial column. In order to curb
this problem, the public and the police should word together.

One of the ways to curb this problem is the public to be more aware of their surroundings.
They should always be on the looked for suspicious-looking characters and make a report to the
police, if necessary. Often, the police rely on public information to make a head start in solving
cases. They must also learn to take better care of themselves. For example, they should make sure
that they have a friend with them they have to walk in a deserted area. As far as possible, however,
they should avoid dark and deserted areas.

One mistake which people make is to wear a lot of jewellery or take along a lot of money
when going out. Flashy jewellery will attract the attention of snatch thieves. In addition, they should
take better care of their belongings. For example, girls or women with handbags need to ensure that
they hold on their handbags properly so that they will not be easily snatched. They should always
walk facing oncoming traffic so that they can see what or who is approaching them. Women are also
advised not carry handbags with long straps as these are easy to snatch.

The public should also cooperate and be more civic minded in helping others. They should try
and help victims of snatch thefts and not just turn a blind eye. In many cases of snatch thefts, not
many people came up to help the victims even though there were cries for help. The least they could
have done was to try to take down the vehicle registration number of the motorcycle or to help give
a description of the perpetrators to the police. If people look out for and each other, snatch thieves
will not have such an easy time.

Last but not least, the police should come up with preventive measures to curb this problem.
They should patrol snatch-theft prone areas such as bus stations and LRT stations. They should also
come up with posters to remind the public to be more careful about snatch thieves. Aside from this,
they can conduct seminars to educate the public on how to avoid becoming victims of snatch thefts.

All in all, in order to curb this growing problem, it is necessary for the public and the police to
cooperate with each other. By being more responsible for their own safety and working hand in
hand with the police, the public can play a great part in helping to reduce the number of snatch
thefts
Discuss suitable ways of eradicating disciplinary problems among secondary school students.
Support your answer with example. You should write at least 350 words.

In era of science and technology, disciplinary problems among secondary school students are getting
out of hand. It is, therefore, imperative that action be taken by all sectors of society to eradicate
these disciplinary problems.

The school authorities play an important role in this fight against disciplinary problems in school. All
teacher need to be vigilant and on the lookout for any form of indiscipline, even those as minor as
absenteeism. They also need to investigate fights no matter how small as these are symptoms of
more serious problems. Preventive measures such as strict enforcement of school rules and
appropriate punishments are extremely necessary nowadays. Public caning and expulsion of repeat
offenders of serious misconduct such as fighting, gangsterism and extortion, are highly
recommended.

In order for the schools to effectively combat indiscipline, the full support of the Ministry of
education is necessary. The ministry could provide special training for heads of schools and discipline
teachers. In addition, discipline teachers and counselors should be given teaching loads so that they
can better carry out their special responsibilities. Moreover, the ministry could provide financial
support to improve facilities in schools to gainfully occupy the students.

Parents are also an important group of people who can help eradicate disciplinary problems in
secondary schools. Parents have a very important role to play in ensuring the good behavior of their
children at all times. They should not leave the responsibility of educating their children solely on the
shoulders of school teachers. They should constantly monitor their children’s whereabouts and
make it a point to get to know their children’s friends. Besides that, parents should be aware of the
activities that their children are engaged in. a good way of keeping tabs on the going-on in schools is
to play an active role in the parent-teacher association.

Finally, the police can also be called upon to combat disciplinary problems. They can be called upon
to counsel students through lecture, talks and workshops. The police need to be allowed to patrol
school compounds to make their presence felt. They should also be empowered to arrest students
suspected of being involved in serious offences such as gang fights.

To conclude, it is obvious that action should be taken by the school authorities, parents, the Ministry
of Education and the police in order to eliminate disciplinary problems in secondary schools.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.

Parents play the most important role in the bringing up of their children. In my opinion, despite
some very good characteristics parents have, they can’t be the best teachers of their children.

First of all, parents are able to have knowledge in some fields, but not all the fields. It is not true
that parents know everything in the world. Sometimes, they just have a passing acquaintance of
some subjects. They shouldn’t teach their children something that they don’t know thoroughly. For
example, a very famous physicist can’t teach his children chemistry though he is very good at physics
because his knowledge of chemistry isn’t enough to teach his children. So that’s why parents always
search for good teachers to teach their children what they need to learn properly.

Secondly, parents want to teach their children by their ways/EXAMOLE. They are right, and they
are wrong sometimes. For those who aren’t be educated how to be good teachers, it might be a very
big problem. They can be good parents, but hardly good teachers. For instance, it’s not simply to
telling children what they should do and what they shouldn’t. If the children don’t follow, their
parents might get angry. In that case, they lose their temper, and they just want their children to
obey them without any decent explanation for their behavior. Parents should help their children be
aware of right and wrong in order that they will know why their parents want them to follow their
advice.

Thirdly, parents can easily be wrong in educating their children in that they have a lot of emotion.
In their eyes, their children are obviously the best ones. They praise their children and encourage
them to keep doing things though in other people's eyes, the children should stop behaving like that.
Consequently, parents should be strict and thoughtful in some situations. As children don’t
recognize what is right and wrong, they do anything they like. Parents should always watch on their
children and guide them to do the right thing instead of letting them do whatever they want.

In brief, parents aren’t always good teachers though they might be good parents. To be good
teachers, it is the way they educate their children, which they should be concerned with rather than
the way they love their children.
 "Friends Should Never Hide Anything From Each Other." Do You Agree?

No man is an island. Everyone depends on his friends to a certain extent. Ever since man formed a
system of verbal communication, all people have been in constant chatter with one another.
Relationships are important to man, so much that people may shape their entire lifestyles simply to
find favor with their clique or circle of friends. Therefore, much caution must be applied when
dealing with our friends, especially in our speech. So then, must we always tell our friends the whole
truth and nothing but the truth or is it sometimes simply none of their business?

One thing is clear: finding out that your friend has lied to you always hurts. In cases where lies
have been told to hurt you or other parties on purpose, the friendship will never be the same. If the
lie caused you great damage, the friendship will not be salvageable. Who would want a treacherous
person for a friend? Yet, even when the matter is not of great importance, little lies can lead to the
spoiling of relationships. I have a friend who often tells little untruths.

Sometimes, he exaggerates circumstances a little, just to impress others, sometimes he tells half-
truths to get out of trouble, sometimes, he makes up stories just to entertain his friends. Personally,
I just do not feel comfortable with him. You see, I just never know whether he is telling the truth or
one more of his little lies.

Apart from the question of maintaining credibility, sharing one's problems and joys with a friend
can also be helpful as we deal with the problems of daily living. As the saying goes, shared joy is
double the joy and shared sorrow is half the sorrow. Sharing the good times can brighten up a
friend's day if he feels down. Sharing one's problems and despairs with a friend will bring forth the
encouragement and advice we need to hear. Sometimes simply having an ear to hear our heart's
cries and knowing that someone understands us will make us feel better. People have been saved
from suicide just by having a friend to listen to their troubles.

It is clear, then, that some things need to be said to our friends without any twisting of the truth.
However, there are times when telling a friend too much can also lead to problems. An all-too-
common example of such a time is when one hears rumors. Gossip can start simply because
someone thought a rumor was true and shared all her thoughts on the rumor with a friend. The
friend, who actually had no real knowledge of the matter, passed all her thoughts and ideas to
another friend and so on and so forth. The final result can be a mangled product which could really
hurt the parties involved. The thing to do about rumors is not to spread them, even if you have
strong opinions, about them.

Another noteworthy fact is that sometimes, telling the truth may be worse than saying nothing. If
an ugly girl with an inferiority complex were to ask you if she was unattractive, it would be a very
bad idea to tell her just how unattractive she was. One must use his discretion in such situations,
stressing on her good qualities, of course. Telling the whole truth in this case would destroy her
remaining shreds of confidence.

In conclusion, I feel that friends, even the closest of friends, need not tell each other everything
they know or feel. Some matters, of course, should be discussed with friends, while some others
should be hidden. We have to balance our love for truth with the practicalities of the situation. Not
being perfect, we are bound to make mistakes, of course. So, one must then be prepared to make up
with our friends, apologizing for our verbal blunders and forgiving them for theirs. Well, that's what
friendship is really about -- accepting people for what they are, imperfections and all.