OH, MY WRITING! Subjects (In General) Topic Sentence Leadership A good and an effective leader needs certain characteristics. Outdoor pastimes I go for cycling during my leisure time. Computer games Playing computer games can be beneficial. Holidays We spent a wonderful time at the beach on our holiday. Healthy Lifestyle Good health depends on practising some healthy habits in your daily routine. Travel We finally arrived at our hotel in Penang after driving in a torrential downpour. Bullying The act of bullying should never be allowed to happen to anyone, especially children. Pets It is a great responsibility if you wish to have a pet. Negative and harmful activities Smoking is an addictive habit that can definitely bring damage to the lungs and respiratory system. Favourite food Malaysia is a food heaven but I would prefer curry noodles more. Places The best tourist attraction in the town is the beautiful building which houses a museum. Culture The younger generations do not have much interest at pursuing a career in traditional handicrafts. Environment The public has always been encouraged to pracitise the 3Rs for sustainability of the environment. The Internet The Internet offers a vast amount of information in almost everything you want to know. Technology Modern gadgets and devices are the results of advanced technologies. Here are some examples of a topic sentence. good writing composition should be organised into different paragraphs. The first paragraph is the introduction whereas the last paragraph is the conclusion. The content lies in the middle and it is not limited to the number of paragraphs. When planning and writing a composition, it is important to get the ideas to flow well into the right direction as to capture the interest of the audience. Besides the opening sentence and the closing sentence, conveying the main ideas and the relevant supporting details of the subject you are writing is important. Hence, it is necessary to write a good topic sentence which refers to the main idea of each paragraph. It serves as the introduction to a paragrpah, highlighting the main points that the paragraph will be focused on. W1
SIGHT Colourful (Things/objects) Aroma (Food) Screeching (Brakes) Cold (Drinks/juices) Bitter (Medicines) Crowded (People) Sweet (Flowers/ perfumes) “Help!” (Screams) Hot (Coffee/tea) Tangy (Fruits) Sparkling (Water/ diamonds) Unpleasant (Durians) Melodious (Songs/music) Warm (Temperatures) Spicy (Food) Sway (Leaves) Pungent (Gases) Blaring (Horns/loud sounds) Soft (Skin/food textures) Bland (Food) Heavy (Boxes) Fishy (Fish) Croaking (Voices) Silky (Materials/ clothing) Tasteless (Food) Thorny (Durians/stems) Stale (Food) Ticking (Clocks) Slippery (Floors) Salty (Food) Dirty (Places) Stinking (Drains/rubbish) Giggling (Laughs) Smooth (Surfaces) Burnt (Food) Clear (Water/sea) Mouldy (Places) Dripping (Water/rain) Greasy (Oil/floors) Creamy (Milk/cakes) Cluttered (Things) Smoky (Smoke) Howling (Strong winds) Sharp (Objects/thorns) Crunchy (Biscuits/nuts) Drenched (Clothes) Freshly-baked (Bread) Thudding (Heart beats) Coarse (Textures) Sour (Fruits) Attractive (People) Odourless (Food) Crackling (Fire) Sandy (Sand/surfaces) Rich (Flavours) Curly (Hair) Sweaty (People) Clanging (Pots/pans) Water (Liquids) Rancid (Food) Useful Vocabulary Some examples of descriptive words using the five senses: SMELL SOUND TOUCH/FEEL TASTE W2
Get out of hand Get out of control The girls started screaming and suddenly everything was getting out of hand. Hit the sack Go to sleep Everyone was so tired that they could not wait to hit the sack. Pull yourself together Calm down Despite all the chaos in the room, I pulled myself together. Miss the boat Too late We need to hurry off for the concert or else we’ll miss the boat. The best of both worlds An ideal situation She has no choice but to try to get the best of both worlds after her parents’ divorce. Burn bridges Destroy relationships Both families tried to negotiate to avoid burning bridges. The cold shoulder An unfriendly welcome Leila felt that she was given the cold shoulder by her new classmates. Let the cat out of the bag Give away a secret Nobody knows who has let the cat out of the bag! You can’t have your cake and eat it too You can’t have everything She was annoyed but everyone agreed that she couldn’t have her cake and eat it, too. Don’t beat a dead horse Move on, this subject is over We still lost the match after making an appeal to the judges, so our teacher advised us not to beat a dead horse. We can try again. Make hay while the sun shines Take advantage of a good situation You should make hay while the sun shines when you are still young and healthy. On cloud nine Very happy He was on cloud nine after being chosen as the team leader for his group. Catch one’s eye Attract one’s attention The beautiful murals on the wall caught everyone’s eyes. Throw caution to the wind Take a risk It was the last day of school and a few students threw caution to the wind and broke some rules. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar You’ll get what you want by being nice Mother said that I should not retaliate. She said, “You’ll catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar”. The ball is in your court It’s your decision His parents do not want to interfere so it is up to him. The ball is in his court. Go on a wild goose chase To do something pointless The police went on a wild goose chase due to the false report. Call it a day Stop working on something We were ready to call it a day when the accident happened. Break the ice Make people feel more comfortable The facilitator made some jokes to break the ice before starting his talk. Come rain or shine No matter what Come rain or shine, we’ll still have to go. PHRASES MEANING USAGE USEFUL PHRASES/IDIOMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 W3
MISUSED WORDS IN ENGLISH MISSPELLED WORDS 1 It`s Meaning: contraction of it + is Its Meaning: possesive pronoun of, belonging to 2 Desert Meaning: (noun) a large area of land that has less water Dessert Meaning: a sweet course served at the end of a meal 3 Cache Meaning: (noun) a safe place to store supplies Cash Meaning: (noun) money, coins, notes, bills 4 Loose Meaning: (adjective) not fitting tightly/not fixed in place (Noun): set free Lose Meaning: (verb) to become unable to find, to fail to win 5 Principal Meaning: (noun) a governing or presiding officer Principle Meaning: (noun) a fundamental truth, law, doctrine 6 Allusion Meaning: (noun) an indirect reference Illusion Meaning: (noun) a false ideas or belief 7 Borrow Meaning: (verb) to take and use something that belongs to someone else Lend Meaning: (verb) to allow someone to use something that belongs to you 8 To Meaning: (preposition) in the direction of Too Meaning: (adverb) in addition, as well, besides 9 Which Meaning: (pronoun) a particular one or one of those mentioned That Meaning: (pronoun) something indicated 10 Accept Meaning: (verb) to receive Except Meaning: (conjunction) apart from, otherwise 11 Affect Meaning: (verb) to have an effect or influence Effect Meaning: (noun) anything brought about by a cause 12 A lot Meaning: (noun phrases) many Allot Meaning: (verb) to distribute or assign 13 Stationary Meaning: (adjective) not moving, fixed Stationery Meaning: (noun) writing materials 14 Their Meaning: (adjective) of belonging to, made by They’re Meaning: Pronoun They + are 15 Then Meaning: Linking word being used to mean after that Than Meaning: Usually used for comparison of things W4
1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 Test 1 Part 1 Short Communicative Message Practice 1 20 Read the message from your English speaking friend, Arni. Hello, I thought of getting extra knowledge on self-improvement. Should I go to a talk on coping with stress, character building or money management? Which topic will give me more benefits? Please help me to decide on one. From, Arni In about 80 words, write a message to Arni giving her your answer. Hello Arni, From, Theme: Score 50 Date : 1 People and Culture UASA Test
KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 2 Test 1 Practice 2 20 Read the message from your neighbour, Uncle Tan. Hi, Would you like to gain some extra pocket money? I am offering you to plant vegetable seedlings, water the plants or pull out weeds at my vegetable farm. You can choose one out of the three tasks. Do you think you have the time and energy for some hard work? From, Nick In about 80 words, write a message to Uncle Tan, telling him your answer. Hello Uncle, From,
3 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 Test 1 Practice 3 20 Read the email from your pen-friend, Melissa. Hi, Last week, my teacher asked the students to write about houses which are built from wood, concrete or glass. As you know something about architecture, please help me make the best choice. I’ll appreciate if you can share about the choice you have made. Thank you. From, Melissa In about 80 words, write a reply to Melissa about your choice. To: [email protected] From: Hi Melissa, Regards,
KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 4 Test 1 Practice 4 20 Read the message from your classmate, Nureen. Hi, I’m sure you knew that i’ve been assigned to choose a film to be screened during English Language Week. Please help me to decide by selecting the most suitable genre which are science fiction, comedy or thriller. I’ll greatly appreciate your opinion. I’m looking forward to your reply! From, Nureen In about 80 words, write a reply to Nureen about your choice. Dear Nureen, Yours sincerely,
5 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 Test 1 Practice 5 20 Read the email from your pen-friend, Nick. Hi, I would be visiting your country for a short trip with my parents in June. We have read about some beautiful islands near Terengganu which are Pulau Redang, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Perhentian. Can you suggest which of the islands will be the best one for us to visit? Please tell me about the island and the activities that I can do there. I’m looking forward to your reply. From, Nick In about 80 words, write a reply to Nick telling him your suggestion. To: [email protected] From: Hello Nick, From,
KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 6 Test 1 Part 2 Note Expansion Practice 1 20 In your English class, you have been talking about festivals in Malaysia. In about 120 words, write an essay about a delightful festival that you like. You must use the notes below to help you. What people usually do What festival is it? Who celebrate it? When preparations start What food is served? A Delightful Festival Write your essay.
7 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 Test 1 Practice 2 20 In your English class, you have been talking about games. In about 120 words, write an essay about a traditional game that you think is interesting. You must use the notes below to help you. Why you enjoy playing What game you choose How to play the game Whom do you play with When do you play An Interesting Traditional Game Write your essay.
KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 8 Test 1 Practice 3 20 You have been talking about various cultures in Malaysia, with your classmates. LS 4.2.2 In about 120 words, write an account of how your family took a foreign student to experience the life in a village. You must use the notes below to help you. How she felt Who came to visit Why she visited a village Whose place she went to What she experienced A Life in A Village Write your account.
9 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 Test 1 Practice 4 20 You have been talking about Mrs. Leong, your English teacher who has been transferred to another school. In about 120 words, write a speech for her farewell party. You must use the notes below to help you. What everyone wish How long she taught in school Where her new school Why students Why she moved love her A Beloved Teacher, Mrs Leong Swee Leng Write your speech.
KSSM English Form 3 Test 1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 10 Test 1 Practice 5 20 In your class, you have been discussing about traditional local cakes of various races in Malaysia. In about 120 words, write an essay on some favourites of the Malays, Chinese or Indians. You must use the notes below to help you. LS 4.2.3 How do the cakes taste What cakes the Malays have What cakes the Chinese serve What cakes the Indians make When they prepare cakes Traditional Cakes in Malaysia Write your essay.
23 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 3 UPSA Test 3 1 hour Part 1 [20 marks] You should spend about 20 minutes in this part. Read the email from your pen- friend, Ruby. Hi, I have to do an assignment about weddings, festivals or clothing of a foreign country and I choose yours. Could you help me to decide on one of the topics? Your opinions are greatly appreciated! From Ruby In about 80 words, write an email to Ruby giving her your ideas. To: [email protected] From: Hello, Score 40 Date : 3 UPSA Test Ujian Pertengahan Sesi Akademik (UPSA)
KSSM English Form 3 Test 3 UPSA © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 24 Test 3 From, [20 marks]
25 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 3 UPSA Test 3 Part 2 [20 marks] You should spend about 40 minutes in this part. You and your friends have been talking about being healthy. In about 120 words, write an essay about having a balanced diet. You must use the notes below to help you. What you should reduce Which food groups to choose What to eat in abundance Why avoid fast food Which drinks to take more Having a Balanced Diet Write your essay.
KSSM English Form 3 Test 3 UPSA © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 26 Test 3
49 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. Test 6 1 hour Part 1 [20 marks] You should spend 20 25 minutes in this part. Read the message from your close friend, Govind. Hi, I need to buy new sports shoes as the old ones are already worn. Where do you think I should go shopping? I’m thinking of Meta Feet, 99 Sports Outlet or Great Shoe Store. Where do you think I can get the best shoes? I hope you can help me make the choice! Govind In about 80 words, write a message to Govind giving him your answer. Hello Govind, Score 40 Date : 6 UASA Test Ujian Akhir Sesi Akademik (UASA)
KSSM English Form 3 Test 6 UASA © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 50 Test 6 Regards, [20 marks]
51 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. KSSM English Form 3 Test 6 UASA Test 6 Part 2 [20 marks] You should spend about 40 minutes in this part. In your class, you have been discussing about financial awareness. In about 120 words, write an essay on how to spend money and make some savings. You must use the notes below to help you. Spend Wisely and Save Money Have a budget Track your spending Prepare a list when shopping Avoid debts Eat at home Write your essay.
KSSM English Form 3 Test 6 UASA © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. 52 Test 6
A1 © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. Test 1 People & Culture Part 1 Short Communicative Message Practice 1 Hello Arni, It’s great that you want to gain extra knowledge. If you want to improve yourself, joining the talk on character building will benefit you. It is an advantage to know ways to become a better person. You can learn to be stronger emotionally, be more independent, and better at dealing with problems. Some speakers may provide tips on leadership and motivation. Therefore, the knowledge will benefit you in everyday life. I hope I have helped you in making a good choice. Fazira (84 words) Practice 2 Hello Uncle, I greatly appreciate you for offering me a way to gain some money. May I choose to plant seedlings, please? I hope to recognise various types of vegetables if you don’t mind telling me their names. You see, I’m interested in starting a vegetable garden, too. Then, my family will always have fresh vegetables! I don’t think planting seedlings is hard work although I can only work on Sunday mornings. Will that be alright? Looking forward to working with you! Nicky (80 words) Practice 3 To : [email protected] From : [email protected] Hello Melissa, I think it would be wise for me to suggest you choose houses built from wood. I remember that you love my grandparents’ wooden house very much. As wood has been used to build houses since ancient time, you can definitely find a lot of information. You can write about the different types of wood used as building materials or the various designs of wooden buildings around the world. Hopefully, my explanation helps you to decide on the topic of your project. Regards, Nina (82 words) Practice 4 Hello Nureen, Thanks for asking me to give some opinions. For the English Language Week, I would choose the comedy. I think you can’t go wrong with the genre. Comedies are usually light dramas or actions which can appeal to most people. Those who are stressed can relax and many others will enjoy themselves just by spending some time away from work and studies. Everyone likes a good laugh once in a while. Good luck in finding an interesting comedy film! From, Chitra (80 words) Answers
KSSM English Form 3 Answers © Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. A2 Practice 5 To : [email protected] From : [email protected] Hello Nick, All three islands are often frequented by tourists. However, I suggest that you visit Pulau Redang, a stunningly beautiful island with white sandy beaches, lush jungle and protected marine environment. There is also a turtle sanctuary where you can arrange to go for a visit to see turtles. Snorkelling and diving are also available where various kinds of marine life can be observed in the crystal clear water. Just book a place for you to stay and you can enjoy yourself! From Alan (80 words) Part 2 Note Expansion Practice 1 A Delightful Festival Chinese New Year is an interesting festival, celebrated by the Chinese community in Malaysia. It marks the beginning of a new year of the Chinese calendar. The Chinese make various preparations before the big day. Clothes, lanterns, decorations and ‘ang pow’ packets are in red, believed to bring luck. They serve lucky food like ‘kuih bakul’, oranges, and peanuts. ‘Yee sang’ which consists of strips of fish, mixed with shredded vegetables and many other ingredients is also prepared. The celebration begins by having a family reunion dinner on the eve of the New Year. The following day is time to visit friends and relatives. Some people arrange to have a lion dance which contributes to Chinese New Year as a unique festival. (123 words) Practice 2 An Interesting Traditional Game ‘Selambut’ or ‘batu seremban’ is an interesting traditional game, usually played by children especially girls. The game is played either in pairs or in small groups. Players can choose to play using five or seven small stones. A player spreads the stones onto the floor, take one stone and toss it into the air. Then, the player grabs some or all the stones on the floor and catches the tossed stone before it falls down. Failing to grab the tossed stone means you have to pass the game to the next person. I usually play the game with classmates at school during recess time. It is enjoyable because playing the game gives me the skill to quickly add up numbers mentally. (120 words) Practice 3 A Life in a Village One weekend, my sister came home with her friend, Hiroko, a Japanese student. She wanted to visit a village and learn some Malay culture. Hence, we took her to my uncle’s village. In the morning, Hiroko watched my uncle tapped rubber trees. Then, my aunt served coconut pancakes with curry and boiled tapioca for breakfast. Later, we went to a wedding at a neighbour’s house. We had the opportunity to see the bride and bridegroom, looking resplendent in blue ‘songket’ attire. We enjoyed the food and then watched a demonstration of ‘silat’; a type of martial arts. Hiroko enjoyed the experience of staying in a village. She hoped to learn more about the culture and thanked everyone for an unforgettable weekend. (119 words) Practice 4 A Beloved Teacher, Mrs Leong Swee Leng Good afternoon teachers and friends. I am honoured to be given the opportunity to give this speech on behalf of all my friends. Mrs. Leong Swee Leong will teach in SMK Gunung Rapat in Ipoh where her husband was transferred earlier. After 10 years in this school, it is difficult to let her go.