ENGLISH COURSE BOOK FORM 4

COVERING ALL THE ENGLISH LEARNING SKILLS

COUFENORGLSIRSHEMBO4OK

AUTHORS' NAMES:

NUR RIEDANIE BINTI AYOB (148310)
YAMUNNA THANABALAN (145700)
ANUSSA MANOGARAN (148460)
NURSHAHIRA BALQIS BINTI MOHD
ZAINUDIN (149145)

PREFACE

This digital e-book is created for Form 4
students in secondary school. It requires no
prior knowledge of English leaning skills:
reading skills, writing skills, speaking skills,
listening skills and grammar. Although the
book covers a significant amount of grammar,
it is not simply a short English grammar in the
sense that it devotes a significant amount of
attention to the problem of justifying the
proposed analysis (where, for example, it
differs from the traditional analysis) or
choosing between alternative analyses – it is
directed towards the student in this sense.
We've also built activities based on each skill,
with the goal of helping students master their
English learning skills.

CONTENTS

03 SPORTS
28 FAMILY
53 A N I M A L S
77 NATURE
107 ANSWERS
131 REFERENCE

theme 1 :
sports

3

READING
SKILLS
LESSON 1 :
SPORTS CORNER

4

Read the following text and answer the following
questions.

The Importance of Sport for The Children’s Health
Sport helps children to develop both physically and mentally. Physical

activity should be part of our daily life. Practicing any kind of sport from
an early age helps children in many ways, for example, group activities
improve interaction and social integration. It also improves the mental
level and promotes a healthy lifestyle in adulthood, as the habits we
acquire as children are often to stay. Sports have multiple healthy
benefits. If we talk on a psychological or personality level, sports activities
(especially those done in groups) help children to strengthen* their social
self-esteem, and allow them to understand the importance of having and
respecting the rules.

Another aspect to consider is what type of sport or activity will suit
best the child considering his/her conditions and abilities. A more timid
and shy child is likely to get better at a sport where she/he has to relate
to peers*. To a more active one, an individual sport such as tennis can
help better develop her/his ability to concentrate. One of the perhaps
most relevant issues is the importance of physical exercise, not only in
children but also in young and old people, because moderate daily
physical exercise helps prevent overweight and obesity. Taking into
account the growth of the percentage of children and young people with
obesity and overweight in the Western world, the inclusion of sport in the
family routine becomes almost mandatory.

Sport can also have the power to help us rest. For all those fathers
and mothers of active children, try to get them to run every day playing
soccer, or swimming or any other activity that keeps them physically
active. They will fall asleep in bed in a matter of seconds and you, dads
and moms, too.

Adapted from : http://www.oblumi.com/blog/the-importance-of-sport-for-
the-children-s-health/

* mandatory : compulsory
* inclusion : something that is included

5

1.Children who practice sports _________.
A. are more likely to understand why something can’t be
done.
B. tend to reinforce the social abilities of the team.
C. know more about their own self-esteem than children
who don’t.

2. Which of these statements is NOT true?
A. Playing tennis can help children focus their attention.
B. Practicing sports during childhood will encourage
good health decisions later in life
C. The positive experiences that sports bring play an
important role only in a young person’s life.

3. The author believes that ___________.
A. children should be obliged to participate in sports at
school.
B. parents should be forced to include sports with their
children in their schedules
C. parents with obese children must practice sports.

6

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE ?
A. Practicing sports together can help all the members
of the family sleep better
B. Parents of active children should consider
participating in sports in order to relax appropriately
C. Active children will be able to sleep more easily if they
play sports daily.

5. According to the text, _____________.
A. by playing sports, children understand the power of
hard work.
B. when practicing sports, children learn that in order to
achieve their goals they have to obey their coach.
C. sports are particularly helpful for children who have
no discipline.

7

SHORT NOTES

IDENTIFYING THE MAIN IDEA

a main idea is a statement that tells the author's point
about the topic

the main idea provides the message of a given
paragraph or the argument that is being made about
the topic

the main idea is the overall idea of the paragraph

it is supported by details thoughout the paragraph

the main idea is the central or most important idea in
a paragraph or passage. It states the purpose and sets
the direction of the paragraph or passage

EXAMPLE :

Water is necessary to life. Without water,
all living things will surely die. We need
water for drinking, cooking, washing and
cultivating our fields.

MAIN IDEA OF THE PARAGRAPH :
We need water for drinking, cooking,
washing and cultivating our fields.

8

Enrichment activity

List down the main ideas of the text given.

1.
2.
3.

9

SPEAKING
SKILLS

LESSON 2 :
SPORTS TIME

10

A. Work in pairs. Construct
dialogues using the words given in
the box.

healthy competition

diseases celebrated

team work friends

EXAMPLE :

Ali : Raju, do you think sports

keep a person healthy ?

Raju : Yes Ali. It can prevent

chronic diseases and develop a

healthy body. 11

B. Work in a group of 4/5. Discuss
the advantages and disadvantages
of sports by asking and answering
the question. Use the points given.

ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF SPORTS

sports help excess
you to stay playing
healthy ? affect
studies ?

does sports 12
makes us

physically and
mentally
strong ?

Task-based
activity

Instruction :

Form a groups of 3-4
Choose a sport
Do some research about the rules,
popular athletes, equipment
needed, etc.
Make a poster or PowerPoint slide
with a few details about it
Do a short presentation to the class
Answer some follow-up questions

13

WRITING SKILLS

LESSON 3 :
SPORTS FOR

ALL

14

TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A GOOD
CONTINUOUS WRITING ESSAY

1. Choose the topic that you
prefer most.
2. Brainstorm your ideas
(allocate 10-15 minutes).
3. Organize and outline your
essay.
4. Start writing the essay :

- introduction
- body (3 POINTS)
- conclusion
5. Proof read and edit your
essay !

15

EXERCISE 1
Continuous writing

TITLE :
The effects of COVID-19 pandemic
on sports.
Write a composition of about 350
words on the topic given.
(50 marks)

16

EXERCISE 2 : DESCRIBE THE PICTURE

The following picture shows a sport scene.
You should describe what the picture
shows and then go on to describe what is
also happening around the edge of the
picture, in the parts that are not being
shown. Include lots of detail and write as
much as you can.
(30 marks)

17

Exercise 3 – Write a Summary

For this writing topic you need to read the following passage
and then write a summary of it. The summary needs to contain
the same information as in the original but using fewer and new
words. This will help you improve your vocabulary and is a
valuable exercise.

18

LISTENING
SKILLS

lesson 4:

LSOPOVRTES

19

A. Listen to the radio interview and
do the exercises to practise and
improve your listening skills.

SCAN THIS QR
CODE TO ACCESS

THE RADIO
INTERVIEW AUDIO

Listen to the radio interview and do the exercises to
practise and improve your listening skills.

A. Word to Word

Do this exercise while you listen. Put these questions in the
correct order by writing a number in the
brackets.

20

B. Multiple Choice Question

Do this exercise while you listen. Circle the best
option to complete these sentences.

1.People are talking about these sports because
_________________
A. they are becoming more and more popular
B. they might be included in the 2020 Olympics
C. a lot of people are getting injured doing them

2. In wakeboarding the rider is attached to _________
A. the board
B. another rider
C. a speedboat

3. In wakeboarding 1260 degree spins are _________
A. impossible
B. difficult
C. surprisingly easy

4. Wakestock festival in Wales ____________
A. has a similar feel to California
B. is a good place to see the best riders
C. is really cool but not many people know
about it .

21

5. Wakeboarding tricks ____________________
A. are unique to the sport
B. have different names to skateboarding and
surfing moves
C. are often the same as skateboarding and
surfing ones

6. Roller derby _____________________________
A. has had a revival in popularity in the last
fifteen years
B. has always had a small group of dedicated
fans
C. has continually grown in popularity since it
started

7. In roller derby you score points by _____________
A. going past other players
B. arriving at a goal
C. making people fall over

8. Roller derby teams are currently _______________
A. mostly non-professional
B. mostly professional
C. about half professional and half amateur

22

C. GROUPING

Do this exercise while you listen. Which sport? Put
these sentences in the correct groups

WAKEBOARDING ROLLER DERBY

23

GRAMMAR

PAST
TENSE

24

PAST TENSE

Simple past, irregular verbs
Some verbs are irregular in the simple
past. Here are the most common ones :

to go
He went to a club last night.
Did he go to the cinema last night?
He didn't go to bed early last night.

to give
We gave her a doll for her birthday.
They didn't give John their new
address.
Did Barry give you my passport?

to come
My parents came to visit me last July.
We didn't come because it was raining.
Did he come to your party last week?

25

26

A. Complete the sentences, put the verb into
the correct form, positive or negative. (simple
past tense)

1. It was warm, so I __________ off my coat. (take)

2. The film wasn't very good. I _______________ it
very much. (enjoy)

3. I knew Sarah was very busy, so I ______________
her. (disturb)

4. I was very tired, so I _____________ to bed early. (go)

5. The bed was very uncomfortable. I ________________
very well. (sleep)

6. Sue wasn't hungry, so she ____________ anything. (eat)

7. We went to Kate's house but she ________________
at home. (be)

8. It was a funny situation but nobody ______________
(laugh)

9. The window was open and a bird ______________
into the room. (fly)

10. The hotel wasn't very expensive. It ____________

very much. (cost) 27

THEME 2: FAMILY

28

READING SKILLS

LESSON 1:
FAMILY
LOVE

29

Read the following text and answer the following
questions.

In today’s world when everything is losing its meaning, we need to
realize the importance of family more than ever. While the world is
becoming more modern and advanced, the meaning of family and what
stands for remains the same. It does not matter what kind of family one
belongs to. It is all equal as long as there are caring and acceptance.
You may be from a joint family, same-sex partner family, nuclear family,
it is all the same.

A family is made strong through a number of factors. The most important
one is of course love. You instantly think of unconditional love when you
think of family. It is the first source of love you receive in your life It
teaches you the meaning of love which you carry on forever in your
heart.

Secondly, we see that loyalty strengthens a family. When you have a
family, you are devoted to them. You stick by them through the hard
times and celebrate in their happy times. A family always supports and
backs each other. They stand up for each other in front of a third party
trying to harm them proving their loyalty.

Most importantly, the things one learns from their family brings them
closer. For instance, we learn how to deal with the world through our
family first. They are our first school and this teaching strengthens the
bond. It gives us reason to stand by each other as we share the same
values.

One cannot emphasize enough on the importance of family. They play a

great role in our lives and make us better human beings. The one lucky

enough to have a family often do not realize the value of a family. The

relationships we have with our members make our family strong. We all

have unique relations with each family member. A family is the strongest

unit in one’s life 30Taken from WordPress.com

1.What is the passage about?
A. Family
B. Friends
C. Love
D. Hate

2. The factors that make a strong family are
following except
A. Course love
B. Jealousy
C. Loyalty
D. The things one learn from family

3. Which of the following statement is TRUE?
A. A family should not always support each other.
B. Family plays a small role in our life.
C. We should not stick by our family.
D. Family is the first source of love we receive in
life.

4. Choose the best word to replace the word
unconditional.
A. wholehearted
B. limited
C. qualified
D. reservations

31

5. The author emphasizes
A. Family is important as they do not make
us better human being.
B. Family is important as they play great role
in our life.
C. Unlucky people do not realize the value of
people.
D. The bad relationship that we have with
our family members makes us stronger.

6. The word emphasize is best replaced with
A. understate
B. play down
C. highlight
D. underestimate

32

FAMILY IDIOMS

It runs in the family- an
ability or talent that is passed
on through generations
your own flesh and blood- a
member of your family
blood is thicker than water-
family ties are stronger than
any others
bad blood- hostility or
unfriendliness between two
families or family members
black sheep of the family-
the worst member of the
family

33

Form one sentence for each of
the idioms.

It runs in the family
your own flesh and blood
blood is thicker than water
bad blood
black sheep of the family

34

SPEAKING SKILLS

LESSON 2:

FAMILY
CONVERSATION

35

EXERCISE 1

TASK A: INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION

You are required to choose either
one suggestions as your response
and state your reasons. You are
required to talk for at least 2
minutes.

Your sister has been recognized as
the top student with the highest
academic standing in her
university. You and your family are
very proud of her. Decide on a
special gift for her.

Suggestions:
i) A ticket for trip abroad
ii) Cash
iii) A car
iv) Some suitable clothing

36

TASK B: GROUP PRESENTATION

You are required to form a group of
three. Make sure at least one of the
member choose different response as
yours. Now, compare and discuss
your answers with your group mates.
Then, choose a stand and present it
to the class.

Example: My groupmates and me
choose cash as our response. It is

because my sister can use the
amount of cash given to buy her

favourite things.
*Give explanations in detail*

37

SPEAKING TIPS !

Don't worry about making mistakes
because you will make mistakes as a

learner.
Be patient. This isn't a one day processs.
Learn certain phrases that can be used
in multiple situations.
Talk slowly and carefully. Don't rush
through your sentences.
Restrict yourself to simple sentences
until you gain confidence.

38

EXERCISE 2

ROLE PLAY

You are required to find a pair for
this activity. Discuss and act out
the situation given.

Situation:
You would like to get married to
the love of your life that your
parents does not approve of.
Have a discussion with your
father/mother about your plans
and try to convince them.

39

TIPS!

To role-play:
Identify the situation. To start the
process, introduce the problem and
encourage an open discussion to
share ideas.
Add details. Next, set up a scenario in
enough detail for it to feel "real." Make
sure that everyone is clear about the
situation given.
Assign roles. Once you've set the
scene, identify the various characters
involved in the scenario.
Act out the scenario. Each person can
assume their role, and act out the
situation, trying different approaches
where necessary.

40

WRITING SKILLS

LESSON 3:
FAMILY
BOND

41

EXERCISE 1
Descriptive essay

writing

In 350 words, describe how you
spend your school holidays with
your family members. Describe
the activities that you did.
You are given 45 minutes to
complete this exercise.

42

EXERCISE 2

Your younger sister is leaving for the university
soon. Write a letter to her to share some tips on
how to cope in university life. In your letter include
these:
Stress Management

Recretional activities
Music

Studies
Independent
Approach lecturers

Time management
Do not procrastinate
Be organized

Financial management
Track spending
Do not overspend

When writing the letter you must:

follow the format

include and elaborate all the

points given 43

FORMAT OF AN INFORMAL
LETTER

44

LISTENING SKILLS
Family activities

45

EXERCISE 1

Listen to the recording carefully and
answer the questions.

1.The little girl makes paper books
and ______with paper at school.

2.The girl used crayons, paper, and
______.

3.The girl play games and ______
after school.

4.The girl played with her ______ at
the school.

5.This conversation most probably
takes place in ______.

46

EXERCISE 2

HEAR AND REPEAT

Find a partner for this activity. Talk about
your family with your partner using some
of these questions:

How many people are in your family?

How do you describe your family
members?

What kind of activities does your family
do together?

What would you like to see more or less
in a relationship with your family
members?

47

Now, write what would your friend like
to see in a relationship with their family

members. Complete the mind map
with three things that he/she would

like to see more or less in the
relationship.

In the
relationship, I
want more of

In the
relationship I
want less of

48

GRAMMAR
PRESENT TENSE

49