SPM TRIAL 1 Paper 2

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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.

There has been much talk of the semi-final match between Pahang and Selangor
football teams. The media has hailed the defender Zaini Ismail as not the best in the country,
but also the key to Pahang’s triumphs. The Pahang team itself believes he can put a stop to
Selangor’s winning streak. The Selangor team, on the other hand is depending on its striker
Ezani Hussain to carry the team through to the final.

1. Which of the following is true?
A Selangor has qualified to play in the final.
B The secret of Pahang’s success is its defender.
C The media predicts that Pahang will win the match.
D Pahang is confident its striker will help defeat Selangor.

Protect Your Loved Ones
With X-BALM Patch

Children who love trekking and camping are
vulnerable to mosquito and insect bites.
Keep them away by sticking an X-BALM
Patch on your children’s clothes.
It is safe and natural, and provides long-
lasting protection.

Found in all leading pharmacies

2. Based on the advertisement above, X-Balm Patch
A needs to be regularly applied.
B is effective in destroying mosquitoes.
C helps children recover from insect bites.
D is particularly useful for outdoor activities.

2

International movie star, Andy Jones, was invited by the Chengdu Giant
Panda Breeding project to spend a day looking after the pandas in their state-
of-the-art sanctuary there.

Jones said, “I saw Mei Yan and the other keepers in the Moonlight
Delivery House feeding the panda cubs with bottled milk. It was incredible –
Mei Yan knew just how to get their attention. As soon as she shouted, the cubs
knew it was time for milk.”

Under the keeper’s expert guidance, Jones was then able to use a bottle
to feed a panda cub himself – in his arms, as if it were a human baby.

Jones also visited the Giant Panda Cub Enclosure to learn how to feed
apples to the young animals using a piece of string attached to a long bamboo
pole. The crowd of onlookers cheered as the pandas eagerly took the fruits.

3. What was Andy Jones impressed by?
A the facilities for pandas provided by the project
B the access to pandas that visitors were allowed
C the amount of food the pandas consumed
D the way staff dealt with the pandas

Life Today, Malaysia’s No. 1 magazine, wants your feedback!

If you want to have your say immediately, use your mobile phone. SMS your
comments to Life Today regarding issues related to education, business and sports.
Type “Life’ followed by your message of about 100 characters and send to 11122.
This is a free service. However, normal mobile operators’ network charges apply.

Your views can also be shared via email at [email protected] or you
can choose to mail them to The Editor, Menara Kemboja, 77, Jalan 2A/11, 46350
Petaling Jaya.

Emails and letters must include the sender’s full name, address and
telephone number. These are used for identification purposes only. We do not share
or publish this information.

4. The notice says that Life Today
A prefers one way of receiving opinions.
B can be contacted at a lower cost than before.
C is careful to keep the readers’ details private.
D welcome readers’ comments on any subject.

3

On the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the
distinctive looking Maleo birds lay and then
bury their eggs in nests that they create in the
sand. The females then leave. The sands keeps
the eggs warm, which helps the eggs develop.
The problem is, the eggs are often dug up and
eaten by predators, and now only 5,000 of the
birds remain. To protect the Maleos, the Wildlife
Consevation Society (WCS) funded by National
Geographic magazine, has been working to preserve the nest sites. Since 2001,
the WCS has released over 4,000 chicks into the wild. In the future, the group
hopes to safeguard both the Maleos’ nesting beaches and their rainforest habitat.

5. What does the text say about Maleo birds?
A Local residents keep the chicks safe.
B Their nesting habits put them at risk.
C Their conservation is paid for by the WCS.
D There is a need to find new places for them to live.

POSITION VACANT

A full-time swimming instructor is immediately required
by a Kuching-based educational establishment. You must
be qualified to teach/train both beginner and advanced
swimmers between 13 and 17 years old. An attractive
remuneration package, including housing awaits the
successful candidate. Those keen on applying, please call
Alex at 019-2798574 for details or email your resume to:
[email protected]

6. The successful applicant should
A be at least 17 years old.
B look for accommodation.
C be available to start work now.
D have wide teaching experience.

4

The current dry season has forced several states in Malaysia to carry
out water rationing. To ensure there are no water shortages in the coming
years, the federal government has decided to find ways to solve the
problem. One step is to look into the possibly of turning seawater into fresh
water as other countries are doing. This could be considered a long-term
solution to meet the high demand for water in the industrial sector. As for
domestic use, every state will be required to source water from rivers.

7. What is the government’s plan to overcome water shortages in the future?
A to obtain help from other countries to process seawater
B to get water from rivers for household consumption
C to start water rationing during the dry season
D to reduce water usage in the industrial sector

Catch the Movie

Here is your chance to watch ‘A Simple Life’ for free, a day before it
opens in local cinemas. 200 tickets are offered to readers for a special
screening of the film at the 300-seater Forever Cinema. Tickets are also
available at a special price on that day.

Date : March 14

Show Time : 9.00 p.m.

Cut out this coupon. Exchange it at Forever Cinema before 7.00 p.m. on
the day for your ticket. Only original coupons will be accepted.

8. From the advertisement, we know that
A Forever Cinema is giving away 200 tickets.

B coupons can be redeemed any time before the show.
C cinema admission is not possible without an original coupon.
D ‘A Simple Life’ will be shown in local cinemas beginning March 14.

5

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

Playing games is nothing new. In many ways, games are important as they
prepare us for the_____ 9_____ of life. In the past, playing games mainly _____10_____
doing physical activities, whether in school or with friends in the street. One
important lesson that children learnt from playing these games was to accept defeat
_____11_____ grace and dignity.

Perhaps the most obvious difference between the way that we play today
_____12_____ how we played in the past is the fact that games nowadays _____13_____
often played on computers or phone devices. Gaming can be interesting in various
ways. For instance, many video games are _____14 _____to bring players from all over
the world together in the spirit of friendly competition.

However, gaming has a negative side. For example, there are special
platforms and websites for those who like to cheat _____15_____ games. The world of
online gaming certainly gives you a fascinating insight into human behaviour.

9 A ways 13 A is
B times B are
C standards C was
D challenges D were

10 A mean 14 A planned
B means B arranged
C meant C designed
D meaning D invented

11 A by 15 A at
B for B to
C over C on
D with D of

12 A and
B nor
C or
D as

6

Section B
[10 marks]
[Time suggested: 25 minutes]

Questions 16 to 25
Read the magazine article below and answer the questions that follow.

We are often told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Have you ever wondered why?

Surprising numbers of people skip
breakfast. It is estimated that 12% to 34%
of young people between 11 and 18 years
old do not have any breakfast before going
to school. Here are the reasons provided
in a recent survey:

Dieting 41%
Oversleeping 29%
Lack of time 20%
10%
Others

Source: The Journal of Paediatrics

What the experts say … What members of the public say …

Teenagers may think that if they want to Subash “I have breakfast
lose weight, the best thing to do is to skip (Retired) because I go swimming
breakfast. However, the fact is that over every morning. If I
time, you tend to put on weight because Aisyah don’t eat first. I get
you feel hungrier at lunch time and are (Housewife) tired very quickly”.
tempted to have bigger portions.
“Unless I have
Dr Huda (Medical Specialist) something to eat as
soon as I wake up at
Breakfast is best consumed by 9.00 a.m. A Jenny around 7.00 a.m..
good breakfast should provide around 20% (School I get light-headed and
to 35% of the total calories you need per Student) my head starts to spin”.
day. Remember, a good breakfast provides
essential things your body needs – protein, Redza “Having a healthy
carbohydrates, fibre and particularly iron, (College breakfast is good for
which helps carry oxygen around your Student) my memory. It helps
body. If you want to get rid of a few kilos, me keep alert and
you need to have sufficient sleep, a healthy focused when I’m
breakfast and consume plenty of fluid. Make studying so I can take
sure your other meals are healthy too! in and recall more
information”.
Mrs Revathi (Nutrionist)
“I know if I don’t have
Sambungan bagi Redza (College Student) breakfast, I tend to lose
pada kotak berwarna merah. my temper really
quickly at home and at
work. I think it’s the
same for a few people I
ksnamowe ”f.or a few people I know.

7

Questions 16 to 20
Using the information from the magazine article, write the name of the person in the table
below.

No. Which person says Name

16 missing breakfast can lead to eating more than normal
later in the day?

17 breakfast is important to provide energy for sports?

18 missing breakfast can cause bad moods?

19 breakfast is important for concentration?

20 missing breakfast can cause dizziness?

[5 marks]

Questions 21 to 25
Using words from the magazine article, complete the email below.
Use no more than two words for each blank.

To [email protected]
Subject Interesting article

Hi there,

I’ve just read an article about breakfast. Did you know that 21 ________
and 22 _________ are the top two explanations teenagers give for not having
their morning meal? Also, one of the professionals suggested that going without
breakfast isn’t a good way to 23 _________. I now know that I shouldn’t have
my breakfast any later than 24 __________. I’ve always had my breakfast
during the morning recess, so I must change my routine. I also have to make
sure that I eat, drink and 25 _________ enough.

[5 marks]

8

Section C
[25 marks]
[Time suggested: 50 minutes]

Questions 26 to 31 are based on the following passage.

1 March 2nd looked like a good day to go paragliding. At a local
flying site, Melissa, a 16-year-old licensed paraglider, checked
the forecast. Although there were a few cloud patches in the sky,
the wind was favourable. She unpacked her paraglider wing and
laid it out on the ground. Going through the pre-flight procedures 5
to ensure that everything was in order, she checked to see that
the lines of her paraglider were free from tangles. Then, she put
on her harness and helmet.

2 Melissa lifted her wing directly above her head. With one more adjustment

to the brake lines, she was ready to go. She ran to the edge of the cliff, took a step 10

and felt the ground beneath her fall away. She was in the air. Feeling the wind

beneath her wing, she leaned back, relaxed and looked down. The sight of tiny

figures moving slowly far below never failed to thrill her. The breeze caressed her

face and birds flew gracefully by. Melissa had been paragliding almost 100 times

and yet each flight was different. 15

3 After flying for 15 minutes, Melissa decided to land on a spot to a rice field.
It was much smaller than most landing zones, but it was possible. Suddenly, she
began falling at an alarming speed. She had touched down there successfully on a
few previous occasions. Would she be able to this time? Her paraglider was not
catching the wind in the way that it needed to. She had been in a similar situation 20
before so she quickly pulled her lines. This was something she had been taught to
do in her training. This time, however, the wing did not respond.

4 If you asked anyone in the paragliding club about the characteristic they most
associated with Melissa, the chances are they would say determination. But what
could she do now? She struggled to control the wing as she was being thrown in all 25
directions. It was being tossed around inside a washing machine. She remembered
her instructor describing an ordeal he had once been through and now understand
why he had used this image. She made a series of rapid turns which had no effect.

5 Two years before, when paragliding with her instructor, Melissa had
managed to get herself down unharmed in the midst of a sudden storm. Melissa’s 30

instructor prided himself on the fact that, with his support, his trainees always
landed safely. Melissa’s natural ability struck him as being unusual, however. And

even more noticeable was the calmness she showed. That was then, though. Now,

the ground was moving fast towards her and she could see the rice field getting ever

closer. The villagers working in the field started to look up and point. Flapping the 35

wing was one way of showing down to land but it was too late now for that. Directly

below her, she could see clumps of sharp bamboo. A short distance away, near the

edge of the field, there was a two-storey farm building that she wanted to avoid.

9

6 Then, beyond the building, she noticed a stream just wide enough for her to

land in. She decided that this was her best chance. But as she was about to touch 40

down, her wing got caught on the roof of the farm building. Within moments, the

villagers who had been anxiously watching her ran to help. They tried to release the

wing by pulling hard on the lines. This did not work, so cutting them was the only
option despite Melissa’s objections. To everyone’s relief, Melissa had escaped

unhurt. 45

26 From paragraph 1, why was it a good day to go paragliding?

…………………………………………………………………………..………... [1 mark]

27 (a) From paragraph 2,
(i) what was the final piece of equipment that Melissa had to check before taking
off?

……………………………………………………………………….. [1 mark]
(ii) what was Melissa excited to see?

………………………………………………………………………... [1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 3, how did Melissa know that it was possible to land on a spot near
the rice field?

………………………………………………………………………………… [1 mark]

28 From paragraph 4,
(a) what quality was Melissa well known for?

……………………………………………………………………………….. [1 mark]

(b) Melissa’s instructor used a particular image. What was this image?

……………………………………………………………………………….. [1 mark]
29 From paragraph 5, what two things impressed Melissa’s instructor on an earlier occasion?

(i) ………………………………………………………………………….… [1 mark]

(ii) .………………………………………………………………………….... [1 mark]

30 How do you think Melissa felt about the way she was rescued? Give one reason.
Feeling : ………………………………………………………………….…... [1 mark]
Reason : …………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….….[1 mark]

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31 Melissa faced problems when she was paragliding on March 2nd.
Based on the passage, write a summary on:
 the problems she faced, and
 what she did to try to overcome these problems.

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

Your summary must:
 be in continuous writing form (not note form).
 use material from line 18 to line 41.
 not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below.

Begin your summary as follows:

Melissa decided to land after flying for 15 minutes but …

[15 marks]

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

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

What Has Happened to Lulu?

What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?
There’s nothing in her bed but an old rag-doll
And by its side a shoe.

Why is her window wide, mother,
The curtain flapping free,
And only a circle on the dusty shelf
Where her money-box used to be?

Why do you turn your head, mother,
And why do the tear-drops fall?
And why do you crumple that note on the fire
And say it is nothing at all?

I woke up to voices late last night,
I heard an engine roar.
Why do you tell me the things I heard
Were a dream and nothing more?

I heard somebody cry, mother,
In anger or in pain,
But now I ask you why, mother,
You say it was a gust of rain.

Why do you wander about as though
You don’t know what to do?
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?

Charles Causley

13

(a) Where are the mother and the persona?

……...………………………………………………………………………… [1 mark]

(b) In stanza 5, the persona hears someone cry at night.
(i) Who do you think is crying?

……………………………………………………………………… [1 mark]

(ii) Why do you think this person is crying?

………………………………………………………………………. [1 mark]

(c) Imagine you are the mother. Would you answer the persona’s questions? Why do you
say so?
Response : ……………………………………………………………….. [1 mark]
Reason : ………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………….. [1 mark]

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

Dear Mr Kilmer - Anne Schraff
Captain Nobody - Dean Pitchford
Sing To The Dawn - Minfong Ho

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

In the novel that you have read, write about the most important lesson you have learnt
from the novel. Give reasons for your choice with close reference to the text.

[15 marks]

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KERTAS SOALAN TAMAT