SKOR A KERTAS MODEL SPM ENGLISH

2KERTAS MODEL

SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA 1119/1

BAHASA INGGERIS

Kertas 1
3
1 4 jam Satu jam empat puluh lima minit

JANGAN BUKA KERTAS PEPERIKSAAN INI SEHINGGA DIBERITAHU

Arahan
1. Kertas peperiksaan ini mengandungi dua bahagian: Bahagian A dan Bahagian B.
2. Jawab kedua-dua bahagian.
3. Jawapan anda hendaklah ditulis di dalam buku jawapan yang disediakan. Sekiranya ruang jawapan

tidak cukup, sila dapatkan helaian tambahan daripada pengawas peperiksaan.

Instructions
1. This question paper consists of two sections: Section A and Section B.
2. Answer both sections.
3. Your answer must be written in the answer booklet provided. If spaces in the booklet are insufficient,

please request additional answer sheets from the invigilator.

Kertas peperiksaan ini mengandungi 2 halaman bercetak

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KERTAS MODEL SPM 2 1119/1

Section A : Directed Writing
[35 marks]

[Time suggested : 45 minutes]

Getting to school with all the homework completed is very important, but many students in your school often do
not complete their homework or do not do it at all. The Principal has asked you to carry out a survey to find out
why the homework is often not done or completed. You are required to submit a written report to the Principal
and suggest ways to solve the problem.
In your report, include the following:

Details of survey: What school can do:
• purpose of the survey • Space out homework throughout the week
• why completing homework and handing it up • Subject Homework Day(s)
• [suggest one more idea]
is important What students can do:
• when the survey was carried out • Form Buddy (Pair/Group) System
• number of students involved in the survey • Friends remind/help one another
Reasons given by students: • [suggest one more idea]
• forgot about the homework/did not know

there was homework
• did not know how to complete or do the

homework
• have no time
• [give one more reason]

• When writing the report, you must:

• use the appropriate format (write to the Principal, provide a title and give your name as the writer)

• develop all the points given Note:
• give your own ideas when needed For your report, you will receive up to

15 marks for the format and content
points, and up to 20 marks for the
quality of your writing.

Section B : Continuous Writing
[50 marks]

[Time suggested : One hour]

Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the following topics.
1 If you had the opportunity to move to another type of housing in your town, where would you choose to

live? Explain your choice.
2 Write a story in which you had to keep a friend’s misbehaviour a secret.
Explain the details of the misbehaviour and how you resolved to help your friend overcome and solve the

problem.
3 The Malaysian tradition of inviting guests to stay for meals is neighbourly and should be practised more.

Do you agree? Give reasons to support your view.
4 Write a story of a small-town girl who worked hard to become a successful fashion designer. Begin your

story with : “She had used the last of her savings to get into the fashion designing competition in the big
city and ...”
5 You have attended your first motivation workshop. Describe what activities you did throughout the
workshop and explain how you felt about the experience.

KERTAS PEPERIKSAAN TAMAT

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1119/1 KERTAS MODEL SPM 2

2KERTAS MODEL

SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA 1119/2

BAHASA INGGERIS

Kertas 2
1
2 4 jam Dua jam lima belas minit

JANGAN BUKA KERTAS PEPERIKSAAN INI SEHINGGA DIBERITAHU

Arahan
1. Kertas peperiksaan ini mengandungi empat bahagian: Bahagian A, Bahagian B, Bahagian C dan

Bahagian D.
2. Jawab semua bahagian dalam kertas soalan ini.
3. Soalan-soalan dalam Bahagian A mempunyai empat pilihan jawapan. Jawab setiap soalan dengan

menghitamkan ruang yang betul.

Instructions
1. This question paper consists of four sections: Section A, Section B, Section C and Section D.
2. Answer all sections.
3. Questions in Section A have four options. Answer each question by blackening the correct space.

Kertas peperiksaan ini mengandungi 10 halaman bercetak

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KERTAS MODEL SPM 2 1119/2

Section A
[15 marks]
[Time suggested : 25 minutes]

Questions 1 to 8 are based on the given stimuli. Study the information carefully and choose the best answer.

Dear Editor, 3. From the advertisement, the most useful feature
This may sound like whining on my part but I have to say to a user would be
it. E-mail is the biggest detriment to communication I’ve A is cordless.
seen in my lifetime. My kids never call. They e-mail or send B is popular.
Appscall jokes and trivia but real conversation is out of the C has trigger-like power button.
question. I’ve told them my mobile phone is on 24/7 – to no D is futuristic in appearance.
avail. What can I do to make them understand the pleasure
of the spoken word? Clean & Fresh Antibacterial
I know I can call them and I’ve done it a few times. Floor Cleaner
But, the reply is always – “Hold on, Mum. I can’t talk now.
Just text your message. Bye.” • Pine fresh
• Concentrated, multipurpose
1. What is the writer concerned about? • Cuts through grease and
A A lack of visits between her and her children.
B Email building strong family ties. grime
C Her children being too busy to visit her. • Leaves a shine and smooth
D A lack of communication among family
members. feel
• Long lasting fresh fragrance
Narayana P. from Hyderabad, India, set up the
company, BAKEYS which has developed a smart 4. Based on the advertisement, which of the
and tasty way to eliminate the use of single- following is not true about the floor cleaner?
use plastic cutlery and made edible cutlery from A It will give the house a fragrant smell.
different flavoured Rusk biscuits. You just have to B It will reduce the spread of bacteria.
remember to wait until the end of the meal before C It makes the floor well-cleaned.
you eat them. D It comes in a range of fragrances.

2. Based on the text, which of the following Workshop : Master Thinking
statements is incorrect?
A Single-use cutlery are usually made from Master Thinking is a methodology class that
plastic. provides a solution-based approach to solving
B Rusk biscuit cutlery are delicious. problems. It should be the core of school societies
C DIY enthusiasts can make edible spoons and student bodies that involve leadership and
with the right gadgets. team work. It harnesses thinking that employs
D BAKEYS has replaced single-use plastic the brain to boost creativity and solve complex
cutlery with Rusk biscuit cutlery. needs. The workshop enhances thinking skills so
you can achieve results you did not even know
Ranger Vacuum Cleaner were possible.

A vacuum cleaner Who should attend?
you cannot do – School prefects
without!!! – Class presidents
Now you can clean faster, with – Society & Club presidents
a stylish sci-fi weapon look-alike – Uniform and non-uniform unit presidents
that consumes 60% less electricity
compared to a conventional 5. Based on the workshop agenda, Master Thinking
vacuum cleaner. The power button help student leaders do the following, except
is a trigger and with a flick of a button, the motor spins at a
dizzying 125,000 rotations per minute.
Makes one feel like a dust destroyer!
The best part is it is cordless, giving you absolute freedom
while you clean.

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1119/2 KERTAS MODEL SPM 2

A provide better leadership. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the water
B build strong team work. cycle in many parts of the world has become
C be more creative and solve problems. tainted with acid rain. Acid rain happens when
D generate selfishness, egoism and a water in the atmosphere gets mixed with the
nitrogen compounds released from factories,
competitive spirit. coal power plants and motor vehicles. The
noxious gases are carried up high before they
Malaysians absolutely do not like travellers who are converted to acid rain and deposited back
show no respect for local culture, according on earth. The acid rain causes the death of sea
to a recent survey on irritating travel-related animals as well.
habits. The chart below shows the categories
that Malaysian people ranked insensitivity to 7. From the above passage, it is clear that acid rain
cultural nuances in an Annoying Travel Habits has caused the following except
study. A the death of sea creatures.
B changes in the water cycle.
Study of annoying Travel Habits (%) C the contamination of water sources.
D discolouration of monuments and buildings.
21 60
All Good Digital Citizens
36
Protects private information Respect themselves
51 56 for themselves and others and others

Insensitivity to local culture Stay safe online Stand up to Cyberbullying when
Noisy travellers they see it happening

Glued to their devices Balance the time they Respect copyright and
Mass tour groups spend online using intellectual property
Sel e takers media

6. What can we conclude from the above text and Carefully manage their
chart? Digital Footprint
A Some travellers have irritating habits.
B Disrespect for local culture is due to 8. The following are some roles and responsibilities
arrogance. of digital citizens except
C Travellers tend to be noisy as they are A Use social media and stay online 24/7
excited with what they see. B Stay safe online and respect the privacy of
D Locals welcome tourists but find some of other users
their habits intolerable. C Stand up to cyberbullying for themselves
and others
D Ensure not to abuse their digital footprint
and manage the time spent online

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KERTAS MODEL SPM 2 1119/2

Questions 9 to 15 are based on the following passage. Choose the best answer to fill in each blank.

All over the world the way schools teach English is changing. Many schools are using English as
a 9 of instruction for academic subjects such as Science, Mathematics, Geography and
Medicine. This shift can be 10 strongly in universities but has started in both secondary and
primary schools too.

Using English to teach subjects such as Science and Technology has 11 benefits for

children. Firstly, it gives children a chance to develop Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) such as

problem solving, analytical thinking, creativity and evaluation while utilising English. Secondly, it

prepares children for when they 12 need to use English in the future, such as when studying

abroad or working in an international company. Finally and most 13 , science and technology

are broad and fascinating subjects which give children the chance to be creative, do experiments, get

messy, make crafts and learn more about the world around them. When children are 14 ,

motivated and having fun, learning happens without them noticing.

Holiday courses for confident speaking and writing in English via science and technology-based
lessons use a wide range of topics to get students excited about using English to solve problems,

15 ideas and be creative. Different age groups ranging from five-year-olds to 17-year-olds
will take part in experiments, make crafts, give presentations and write about their discoveries.

9. A centre 13. A urgent
B way B urgently
C median C important
D medium D importantly

10. A see 14. A locked
B saw B engaged
C seen C engaging
D seeing D gaining

11. A lots 15. A present
B many B display
C much C recant
D loads D reason

12. A may KM2 – 6 SPM English
B ever
C must
D should


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1119/2 KERTAS MODEL SPM 2

Section B
[10 marks]
[Time suggested : 25 minutes]
Questions 16 to 25
Read the following account on puppetry and answer the questions that follow.

Puppetry is an ancient form of artistic expression that is a variation on storytelling or human theatrical productions. In
puppetry, a drama is entirely acted out by specific representational objects, manipulated by a puppeteer.

Beginning in the 20th century, in Europe and the United States, puppets were used in an
experimental way, aimed solely at adult audiences. A performance might combine actors
and puppets or use actors as if they were puppets. Puppets are now more commonly
used to appeal to children and families. Puppetry is viewed as ideal for presenting moral
messages about childhood concepts such as bullying and also in play therapy as a safe way
for traumatized children to explore their fears. Whatever the focus, the child in each and
every one of us enjoy watching puppet shows.

The following are some of the various types of puppets found around the world:

SHADOW PUPPET – Flat black silhouette made from lightweight cardboard and shown
behind a screen. This can be found in Malaysia. There are four types; Wayang Kulit Jawa,
Wayang Kulit Gedek, Wayang Kulit Melayu, and Wayang Kulit Kelantan.

ROD PUPPET – Flat cut out figures tacked to a stick, with one or more movable parts, and operated from below the
stage level by wire rods or slender sticks
GLOVE – and – FINGER PUPPET – Made of old gloves to which small costumed figures are attached. It is a common
craft project for parents and children due to its small size. However, the movements are not varied as fingers can only
be bent and wiggle.
HAND PUPPET – The puppet’s head is operated by the forefinger of the puppeteer, the little finger and thumb being
used to animate the puppet.
MARIONETTE – Flexible, jointed puppets operated by strings or wires attached to a cross bar and manoeuvered from
directly above the stage.

Make a simple hand puppet

1. Find a clean sock that’s long enough to cover your arm. A crew sock or a knee sock of any colour would work great
for this!

2. Flip the sock over your hand. Once you have the sock on, make a C-shape with your hand. Put your fingers into
the toe part and thumb into the heel part.

3. Use a marker. Make two dots above the seam for the eyes and a dot for the nose.
4. Spread the sock flat on the table.
5. Glue some eyes onto the sock.  Use buttons, pompoms, or googly eyes. You can also draw the eyes on with a

marker. You may also draw some eyelashes with a marker!
6. Glue a small pompom just above the seam for the nose. You can cut a triangle or circle out of felt, a button or

draw a nose on instead!
7. Your puppet is done at this point. You can still glue items onto it to give it more character.

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KERTAS MODEL SPM 2 1119/2

Questions 16 to 20

Using words from the account on how to make the sock puppet, complete the blog entry below. Use only one
word for each blank.

HANSON’S BLOG

April 15 2018 – My new hobby – making puppets

I joined a puppetry class and learned about various types of puppets – shadow, rod, hand, glove and finger

puppets and marionettes.

Puppetry is an ancient form of artistic expression entirely acted out by specific representational objects,

manipulated by a (16) . It has roots in ancient cultures and continues to be popular

today. Puppetry is viewed as ideal for presenting (17) messages to children about

issues like bullying and also in play therapy for traumatized children to explore their fears.

To make a simple sock puppet, find a clean (18) that’s long enough to cover

your arm. Slip the sock on so your fingers are in the toe area and make a (19) with

your hand. Put your thumb into the heel area of the sock. Use a marker to make two dots above the seams

for the eyes, and add a nose if you like. Take the sock off and spread it out flat on a table, then glue or sew

(20) onto the eye dots. If you want, you can add other decorations, like attaching yarn

as its hair.

[5 marks]

Questions 21 to 25
Using the information from the article, match the statements below with the name of the puppets.

Statements Name of the puppets

21. You have to be above your puppet to control its
movements

22. The puppet show is done behind a screen

23. You have to use your forefingers to control the
puppet’s head

24. You can use an ice-cream stick to make this puppet

25. Only your fingers are needed to move this puppet

[5 marks]

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1119/2 KERTAS MODEL SPM 2

Section C

[25 marks]
[Time suggested : 50 minutes]

Questions 26 to 31 are based on the following passage.

1 Malaysian ultra-trail runner Mohd Puzi went to the Swiss Alps - firstly, to run and secondly
to sightsee along the way. He was the only Malaysian who completed the 360km endurance trail
race, the SwissPeaks Challenge which ran from Sept 2 to Sept 9. He had competed twice before
in races in Switzerland where he found the views spectacular. Two days before reaching the
finishing line, he did not sleep. In the afternoon of Day 4, he felt fully charged to run like the 5
wind after two hours of sleep and one hour of massage at the Champax life base (at the 248km
point) as he had 10 hours of buffer time. He decided to rest a bit as it was raining then.

2 Throughout the entire trail, there were 33 checkpoints, including six life bases. “My
unofficial result was 140 hours and 23 minutes and I came in 107th,” said Mohd Puzi. The race
had to be completed within 160 hours or six days and 6 hours. There were 327 registered athletes 10
from 28 countries but only 303 were at the finishing line. Out of these, there were 193 finishers.

3 In 2016, Mohd Puzi was the only Asian finisher at the TransPyrenea 2016 (866km in
distance and 65,000m in elevation gain). He finished in 44th position, clocking in at 386 hours,
49 minutes and 38 seconds. He competed in Montane Spine Race in Britain in January but
pulled out of the Black Baikal Race in Siberia held in March. The Swiss Peaks Trail Run was 15
one of three races in his bucket list for 2018.

4 The Spine Race (430km) is one of the world’s toughest endurance races. He did not finish
due to frostbite of his right-hand fingers and back pain. The nails of his thumb and index finger
fell off. This happened when he had to remove his glove in order to reload new batteries into his
GPS tracker. When the batteries fell to the ground, he dug into the snow to retrieve them. Then 20
he put on his gloves and continued the race. He thought nothing of it until two hours later when
he removed his gloves. To his horror, the fingers of his right hand were numb and blackened.
The fingers were bleeding.

5 One of the challenges of the race was the waist-deep snow which hid some parts of the
trail and made it impossible to find the path. Fortunately, the ‘race director’ came in time after 25
detecting on the GPS tracker that Mohd Puzi was moving ‘too slowly’. It was Day 3 when he
was stopped from continuing the race. Thus, he had no choice but to pull out of the Baikal Race
as he was still recuperating.

6 As preparation for the Swiss Peaks race, he participated in the Cameron Ultra-Trail in
July 28 in Cameron Highlands to test his fitness and he managed to complete the race. After this, 30
he focused on conditioning his body with gym workouts and easy four-hour runs. He needed to
cover 200km a week and he fell short of the mileage. He admitted he frequently vomited during
gruelling races.

7 Mohd Puzi is full of praise for the organisers of the SwissPeaks Trail – well-organised
and excellent course markings. Medical assistance was superb and volunteers were very helpful. 35
The food was plentiful and he consumed mostly bread at the checkpoints. A cola drink was his
life-saver. However, he felt the trails were too long with ascending and descending ones taking

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KERTAS MODEL SPM 2 1119/2

four to five hours to run. When the going got tougher, with very steep gradients, he mostly hiked 40
rather than ran. He said that in every race, 70% of finishing is due to mental fortitude. He tells
himself he can do it. Pain and struggle are part of the beauty of trail running and if he meets
with challenges, he will think about his options. For example, when he was very tired and sleepy
or hallucinating during a night run, he would stop to clear his head, calm down and start again.

6 There’s no stopping this runner.

(Adapted from Star2, Sept 2018)

26. From paragraph 1,
(a) Why did Malaysian ultra-trail runner, Mohd Puzi go to the Swiss Alps? List the two reasons.

[1 mark]
(b) On day 4 of the race, how did Mohd Puzi feel fit and confident to run like the wind?

[1 mark]

27. From paragraph 3, describe Mohd Puzi’s achievement in 2016. Do you feel he deserves to be acknowledged
as an avid trail runner?

[1 mark]

28. From paragraph 4,
(a) Explain why Mohd Puzi did not finish the Spin Race?

[1 mark]

(b) How did he get such severe frost bite?

[1 mark]

29. (a) From paragraph 5, how do ‘race directors’ keep track of the runners’ progress?

[1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 6, how does Mohd Puzi prepare for his runs?

[1 mark]

30. In every race, runners face tough phases. What are some of these physical challenges that make the going
tough? How does mental fortitude help runners to overcome challenges like experiencing feelings of
tiredness, hallucinations and the struggle of completing the race?

Physical challenges: [1 mark]

How mental fortitude help runners: [1 mark]

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1119/2 KERTAS MODEL SPM 2

31. Mohd Puzi is a keen ultra-trail runner and has taken part in a few trail runs.
Based on the text, write a summary of
• his involvement in ultra-trail runs
• his preparation for ultra-trail runs

Credit will be given for the use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original meaning.

Your summary must:
• be in continuous writing form (not in note form)
• use materials from line 1 to line 32
• not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below.

Begin your summary as follows:
Malaysian ultra-trail runner Mohd Puzi competed in the SwissPeaks Challenge…

[15 marks]

Section D
[20 marks]
[Time suggested : 35 minutes]

32. Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

A POISON TREE

I was angry with my friend;  And it grew both day and night. 
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.  Till it bore an apple bright. 
I was angry with my foe:  And my foe beheld it shine, 
I told it not, my wrath did grow.  And he knew that it was mine. 

And I watered it in fears,  And into my garden stole, 
Night & morning with my tears:  When the night had veiled the pole; 
And I sunned it with smiles,  In the morning glad I see; 
And with soft deceitful wiles. My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

William Blake

(a) From Stanza 2, in the line the persona ‘watered it in fears’, what does ‘it’ refer to? What is it watered
with?

[1 mark]
(b) In Stanza 3, how do we know that the anger between the persona and his foe did not wane?

[1 mark]

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KERTAS MODEL SPM 2 1119/2

(c) What happens to the foe and where does the persona find his foe? What impression of the situation do
you get?

[1 mark]

(d) ‘I was angry with my friend’
Have you seen anger erupt between two friends? What could have caused the situation? How can such

situations be resolved?

Cause for situation: [1 mark]

Solution: [1 mark]

[5 marks]

33. The following are the novels studied in the Literature component in English Language.

Sing To The Dawn – Minfong Ho

Dear Mr Kilmer – Anne Schraff

Captain Nobody – Dean Pitchford

Choose any one of the novels above and answer the question below.

Based on the novel you have studied, relate how the characters work to achieve their goals for the future.
Relate these efforts to on figurative expression. Support your answer with reference to the text.

[15 marks]

© Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KERTAS PEPERIKSAAN TAMAT SPM English
KM2 – 12

ANSWERS

MODEL PAPER 1 man’s skills as Uncle Chong was the best bicycle repairman in
town. Jamal was a natural and could dismantle a bicycle and
Paper 1 reassemble it in a jiffy. Uncle Chong called him his apprentice
and “adopted” him unofficially as his right-hand man to do
Section A: Directed Writing repairs, even the complicated ones. Jamal was so adept that
the old man had no qualms about leaving him to the repairs
Good morning, friends. Let’s discuss the one day while he took a five-minute shut eye. With the “tips” from Uncle
graduation trip which our class teacher is organizing for us Chong, he saved enough to buy a mountain bike and it was his
and come together for a consensus on either a trip to Kuala prized possession.
Lumpur, the capital city or Putrajaya, the administrative capital.
There was a special bicycle marathon in the city opened
Miss Tan has shortlisted a few iconic KL attractions mainly to every bike owner. The first three grand prizes were money
KLCC Park, Aquaria, Batu Caves, Perdana Botanical Garden, prizes ranging from RM5000 to RM50,000. Jamal excitedly
Menara KL, Pewter Royal Selangor, Star Publications and Pasar registered for the bicycle marathon and waited until the day of
Seni. As for Putrajaya, they include Putrajaya Administrative the competition arrived.
Centre, Putrajaya Lake, Agricultural Heritage Park, Putrajaya
Botanical Gardens and Wetlands Park. The competitors were flagged off and within an hour, Jamal
was in front, chased furiously by the huge line of competitors,
Expenses incurred would cover the transportation for an cycling as if their lives depended on winning the race. A part of
air-conditioned tour bus, entrance fees, and miscellaneous the route was a hill. On the ride down, a cyclist lost control and
expenses. The KL trip is priced at RM200 while Putrajaya crashed into a bunch of riders in front of him. Jamal was not
trip is RM150. I feel that we should go for the KL trip. The trip hurt and quickly got off and he helped the others. It took time
to KL would give us the opportunity to visit and shop at an but if he did not help them, they might be crippled for life. It cost
iconic shopping arcade – Suria KLCC shopping mall, and walk him the race but he did not even think of that. He waited with
through KLCC Park to Aquaria which is an indoor Water World. them until help arrived.
Moreover, we can also enjoy places of nature in the 91.6
hectares of Perdana Botanical Gardens without paying any At the prize giving, Jamal was pleasantly surprised. The
entrance fees. To make things interesting, we will also tour the organisers announced a special award for him for putting his
Pewter Royal Selangor to see how pewter wares are produced winning at stake by helping two rivals. His knowledge in life
and visit Star Publications as we will be exposed to the world of survival skills was put to good use and earned him a good
newspaper and the people who write the news. As a summary deed.
for KL trip, we are able to visit a city as well as enjoy nature and
pick up some exclusive behind the door knowledge that less 2 Some people believe that all students in Malaysia
people have access to. should learn cooking and sewing in schools. What do
you think?
Should we opt to visit Putrajaya, despite the opportunity to
view the latest architecture, the beautiful landscape and unique Whenever the Education Ministry moots introducing new
sites, there are certain protocol to adhere to when visiting the subjects into the academic curriculum for reasons best known
Central Administrative Centre of Malaysia. Besides that, some to policy-makers, there are mixed reactions. In my opinion,
of the places in Putrajaya charge entrance fees. I think that the capacity to absorb information is the key factor.
The child’s mind is like a sponge ready to receive information
Admittedly, both KL and Putrajaya have a blend of that would equip a child to develop into an individual that is
development and nature. Personally, I feel that KL has more to able to feed himself in the harsh realities of life. The education
offer for us in terms of historical and modern values, views and system allows children to develop at their own pace and yet
entertainment. within a general framework to acquire life’s survival skills has
to exist as well.
Let’s take a vote : KL or Putrajaya? Make your own choice
wisely. Thank you for listening to my explanation, friends. A child learns both academic and non-academic subjects
to nurture his or her natural and acquired skills. Should cooking
Section B : Continuous Writing and sewing be part of the curriculum, it means that the child
would be learning the basics of cooking and sewing. Cooking
1 Write a story about a point of time in someone’s life and sewing are important and useful skills and it would be
when his or her life survival skills (e.g. fixing a leaking good to equip future generations with basic understanding and
faucet, repairing a bicycle, disconnecting a live wire) practice in these areas.
played an important role.
Not only do they learn basic cooking and sewing, they are
Jamal looked at his bicycle. The tyres needed to be also taught nutrition, cleanliness and hygiene in the curriculum.
changed but he just had enough money to pay for one new To avoid overloading the students with extra exams, cooking and
tyre. He looked across at Uncle Chong’s repair shop and saw sewing should be a non-core and non-examinable subjects as
a few friends, some having their bikes repaired and some just well. To evaluate acquired skills, assessment through projects
hanging around. Reluctantly, he cycled to the shop and stood such as demonstrations and non-competitive workshops and
quietly waiting for Uncle Chong to notice him. road shows can be held. This indirectly allows the children to
be given the opportunity to showcase their innate talents.
Ever since Uncle Chong took him under his wings a few
years ago, Jamal was a familiar face at the shop but only on
weekends and school holidays. He soon picked up all the old

© Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. A 1 SPM English

ANSWERS 1119

In recent years, the demand for TV food channels, food be exposed and able to pick up tips and techniques from the
blogs, clothes and fashion exhibitions are increasing rapidly. seniors, leaders and fellow comrades.
The inclusion of cooking and sewing curriculum will allow
children to have an early start to explore their passion for these Boot training camp is not a holiday trip but it is a place to
life skills and eventually make a name for themselves on the pick up some fundamental survival skills to overcome the daily
world arena. It is not just the academicians who are successful challenges in life. I might be cut off from the civilized world and
in their professional careers but also the chefs and fashion shudder involuntarily, merely thinking of the so-called “terrors”
designers who have etched their names in the annals of the of boot camp. But if I intend to survive successfully in the
culinary arts and fashion world. human jungle, I believe a 3-month stint at boot training camp
would teach me how to “stay alive” in the challenging society.
If children start early to learn cooking and sewing, they
will understand the importance of nutrition, good eating habits, 4 Write about your experience helping a teenager who is
and good fashion sense. This will ultimately lead to a healthier from a single-parent home who lives with his only sibling
society where the number of obese and unhealthy humans will and mother. You should end your story with: “...I learnt a
gradually decrease. When they leave home to venture into the lot about myself by helping this economically-challenged
world, they will know how to cook healthy meals and to sew a family.”
missing button on their attire. Life skills ease a school leaver
into adult life and relieves them of unnecessary pains if cooking When I was in form four, Hock, a tall, lanky boy in faded
and sewing are part of the school curriculum . yet clean attire joined the class. He looked a bit undernourished
but alert. He kept to himself mostly for the first week. I tried to
3 After your SPM examination, you have a three months make friends but he was reluctant to open up. The class bully,
break. During the break, you have to choose between Heng picked on him and taunted him with hurtful words. For
a 3-month academic course or a boot (army-based) two weeks he kept quiet and took all the baiting he could but
training camp, which one would you choose? Write one Friday during recess, he exploded when Heng said spiteful
about your plans for the next three months and the words about his mother and his rebellious brother in form one.
challenges you might face. The class monitor and his assistant pulled the two apart. The
four struggled. Hock lashed out at Heng. The class bully was
The SPM examination has ended. The results will be knocked down. The class kept quiet but some looked pleased
announced within three months. What are my plans for at the sight of the floored sprawling bully. Hock grabbed his
the next three months? Mum and dad have come up with a schoolbag and stormed out of the class, making a beeline for
plan after my discussion with them: either I attend a 3-month the school exit where he dashed off.
academic course or a boot (army-based military) training camp.
After considering the pros and cons of both options, I decide to After dismissal time, dad picked me up and as we stopped
choose the boot training camp. by a nasi lemak stall, I saw Hock leaning tiredly and dispiritedly
against the telephone poll. I related the incident to my dad. He
I have decided against an academic course. The past five recognised him as the teenager who came by his factory with a
years have been a series of studying, revision, tuition classes, woman in her forties to collect recyclables. We picked up four
tests and mocks culminating in PT3 and SPM. I think I deserve packets of nasi lemak and dad told the hawker to hand three
a much-needed break from all that brainwork. Three months more packets to Hock.
would give me a welcome break from books and academic
pursuits. As soon as the SPM results are released, it would be My dad stopped by Hock and told him to come by the
a return to hitting the books if I want to pursue a professional factory at 5.00 p.m. to pick up more recyclables. I was also
course. told by my father to drop by at the factory to help Hock. At
4.30 p.m., I walked to the factory and casually walked around
I am eager to enrol in a boot training camp where basic by sorting the recyclables. When Hock, his sibling and mother
military modules form the core of instruction. I have not been arrived, the pile was already quite high.
into outdoor activities and sports ever since primary school. I
steer clear of activities such as camping, self-defence training, Dad offered Hock’s mother, Mrs Lan a cleaning lady’s job
army and police cadet activities - which are robust and rough. I at the factory and my mother also agreed to employ her as a
realize rather belatedly that I need to become more physically housemaid three times a week. I understood their reasons for
active and involve myself in hobbies that would make me more doing so after hearing Hock’s family history. Hock came from a
prepared to take on the challenges of life. Boot camp with its single-parent home. My mother suggested that I tutor Hock and
strict discipline, stringent rules and regulations would equip me his sibling as I did with my own brother. I realized that I was
for life’s difficult challenges. doing even better in my studies with my tutoring sessions. So,
I extended my tutoring class.
The military training modules would be very challenging. I
am pampered by home comforts where I do not have to even In class, both of us did not advertise the relationship
lift a finger. Being at the boot camp would allow me to gain we had. Hock was getting better at his studies and not long
back the lost opportunity and time to learn to look after myself. after, he was outranking me in certain subjects. His brother
At the boot camp, I can imagine the day starts as early as 6 became less rebellious and even took some time to mentor
a.m., with everyone having specific duties. The trainers’ word is my lazy brother. The whole school started to recognise us as
law. You bunk dormitory-style, you line up to use the baths and the unlikely foursome. The teachers were pleased with the
toilets, you clean up : the duty roster will be on the board and development.
you would be required to do as instructed. You eat whatever
is served with no complaints or you go hungry. Moreover, Following my father’s footsteps, I was able to show
during the survival trainings, I can learn to survive in uncharted understanding of those less fortunate than me. I did not expect
land, learn to protect myself from unknown dangers, as I will gratitude but certainly I learnt a lot about myself by helping this
economically-challenged family.

© Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. A 2 SPM English