PET 225 E-BOOK

READING
COMPEREHENSION

EXERCISE

READING COMPREHENSION
SET 1

A very good afternoon to you, my beloved students,

I'm glad so many of you turned up for this afternoon's talk. At this
moment, all your thoughts and activities are geared towards doing
well in your SPM examination. Once the SPM exams are over, some of
you may feel lost. The purpose of my talk is to explain the options
which are open to you after you have sat for your SPM exams.

What you do after your SPM exams depends very much on whether
you want to further your studies. For those who want to stop schooling
after SPM, it is important for you to pick up some skills that will enable
you to get a job. Some of you may want to enrol yourself for practical
courses like tailoring and hairdressing. Others may want to become
apprentices in electrical shops and car repair shops. Some may choose
to have a career in the fast food line. As for those who prefer to work
in offices, it is essential for you to be computer literate. Many offices
are computerised. You need to learn word processing skills and
perhaps, book keeping as well. When you have formal training, you
can get better pay for your services.

From an informal survey I did among the Form Five students in this
school, I found that the majority of you want to continue your studies
after your SPM. Many options are open to you. You can join a twinning
program. This program enables you to complete one or two years of
tertiary education in Malaysia and the rest in a university overseas.
Many private colleges cater for this segment of the student
population. For example, Inti, Metropolitan, Stamford, and KDU. One
of the selling points of twinning programs is that you can get a degree
of your choice in a shorter time. It is like a short cut which bypasses
STPM. Well, go ahead if your parents can support you.

What about the rest of you who do not want to get a degree
overseas? If you want to get a degree from a local university, you
can either choose to do your STPM or apply for a place in the
Matriculation or Diploma programs. If you opt for Matriculation or
Diploma programs, you do not need to go through STPM. I know
many of you feel that it is futile to go through two years of STPM
and later not qualify for a place in local universities. I've heard
groans that it is difficult to score in STPM. Well, a grown-up baby no
longer solely depends on milk. As you move from Form Five to Form
Six, you cannot depend on memorizing to score. In fact, STPM is a
very well-coordinated pre-university education program. It would
stand you in good stead regardless of whether you get your tertiary
education in Malaysia or overseas.

For those of you who are not able to make it to a university, don't
lose heart. STPM is part of a foundational education for everyone.
In these years, you develop critical thinking skills which prepares
you for working life. At the end of the two years, you get a certificate
which entitles you to a higher salary scale than an SPM-holder.

SPM is a stepping stone to other achievements in life. Ponder upon
what I've said and be clear about what you want to do after SPM. A
clear goal is like a lighthouse in a storm.

Thank you.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences

1. Why would some students feel lost after the SPM exams are over?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

2. How do practical skills help SPM-leavers looking for jobs?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

3. How do most of the Form Five students feel about stopping their
studies after their SPM?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

4. Why do some students prefer twining programs to a tertiary
education in a local university?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

5. Give two ways in which students can get a degree without going
through STPM.

i. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

ii. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

6. Why do most students do badly in STPM?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

7. According to the passage, why is STPM worth taking? Give two reasons
to support your answer.

i. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

ii. ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

Fill in the blanks with one correct word from the passage.
8. You are given four ______ to choose from: A, B, C and D.
9. The ______ of oil palm fruits must be done as soon as the fruits are
harvested to prevent them from turning bad.
10. The old man who was knocked down by a lorry is in a ______
condition, and may die if he does not respond to the treatment given.

READING
COMPREHENSION

SET 2

The Cossacks of Russia are a unique group of people. They are
not an ethnic group, but instead, what they have in common is
a history of being mercenary soldiers. They fought for any army
that paid them. Now, they are considered the warrior cast, and
as the famous Russian writer, Pushkin, put it, are 'eternally
ready to fight'. Even today, some Cossacks play an active role
in military conflicts, for example, in the 1994 war in Chechnya.

Things are different for the Cossacks now. In the ancient past,
the Cossacks owned the land. This did not mean that they were
wealthy, but at least they felt that the land was theirs and the
people received protection. Some want to be able to enjoy that
feeling again-they want their old way of life back.

The Cossacks are in general a very patriotic people. They feel
very strongly for their motherland, Russia. In the Second World
War, many fought on the side of the Soviets to protect Russia
from the German enemy. Being excellent horsemen, they often
rode ahead of the army, as part of reconnaissance teams. They
were the information gatherers that the army depended on.
Their skill with horses is a tradition that has been passed down
through the generations. Today, unfortunately, with the
development of roads and vehicles, expert horseback riders are
rarely needed.

Another tradition among the Cossacks was a strong devotion to
the Russian Orthodox Church. This tradition is not very strong

now, but Cossacks can still be found defending churches from
thieves and vandals. Sometimes, they are not even paid to do
so. Since 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the
country has seen a vast increase in levels of crime. Again, the
Cossacks sometimes take things into their own hands and try to
put a stop to crime.

Today, young Cossack men are sent to school where military
training is an important part of their education. If a male is the
only one supporting his family, he wears an earring in one ear.
He will then be exempted from any dangerous duty. These
young men learn how to shoot rifles and how to march smartly.
They also study Cossack history. Their military training puts
them in a good position to help uphold public order.

Answer the following questions using complete
sentences

1. What were the Cossacks once known as that put
them in a bad light?

____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

2. According to paragraph 1, what kind of soldiers
belonged to the warrior cast?

____________________________________________
____________________________________________

3. Why do you think the Cossacks felt that the land
belonged to them?

____________________________________________
____________________________________________

4. The Cossacks 'feel very strongly for their
motherland' (paragraph 3).
What does this suggest about their loyalty towards
Russia?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

5. What do 'reconnaissance teams' (paragraph 3) do?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

6. Why are expert horsemen rarely needed today?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

7. The Cossacks are still 'defending churches'
(paragraph 4) from thieves and vandals in current
times. Give a reason for this.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

8. Quote the six-word phrase in paragraph 4 that has
the same meaning as 'do something by themselves'.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

9. What are two things that soldiers undergoing
military training do?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

10. Why is a Cossack soldier who wears an earring
exempted from any dangerous duty?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

ANSWER

READING COMPREHENSION SET 1

Answers

1. They do not have a clear goal to work towards.
2. Having practical skills makes it easier for them to find

better paying jobs.
3. Most of them feel that they'd rather continue with their

studies.
4. They can study for a degree as they like, and complete it

in a shorter time.
5. The two ways are: (i) They can join a twinning program

after SPM and get a degree from a foreign university. (ii)
They can join the Matriculation or Diploma program in a
local university after SPM.
6. They used the wrong method of studying for the STPM
exams.

7. STPM equips a person with the necessary knowledge
and skills for his future use. (i) It gives one a comprehensive
academic groundwork for tertiary education. (Ii) it trains
one to think critically and thus be better quipped for
working life.

8. options

9. processing

10. critical

READING COMPREHENSION SET 2

Answers

1. They were once known as mercenary soldiers who fought
for any army that paid them.

2. They are soldiers who are always ready to fight.
3. Since the Cossacks fought for their land and protected the

people in it, they felt that the land was theirs.
4. They are very patriotic and willing to protect Russia from

enemies. / They love Russia very much and are willing to
fight to protect Russia.
5. They gather information that the army uses.
6. As there are more roads and vehicles today, horses are
hardly used for traveling. thus, there is hardly any need
for expert horsemen.
7. It is a tradition for the Cossacks to be strongly devoted to
the church, so just like before, they still protect the
churches from thieves and vandals.

8. The phrase is 'take things into their own hands'.

9. They learn to shoot a rifle and march smartly.

10. He may be killed or seriously injured while on
dangerous duty and his family would be left without
someone to support them.