SPM PAPER 2

enthusiasts at international conferences or over the Internet say that the Red Planet 10
can be colonised with the same pluck shown by the earlier settlers who settled on
the shores of America.

3 “Technically, I would say that colonization is possible,” commented Ulrich
Walter, a professor of space flight technology at the Technical University of Munich.

4 Technology offers various ways to provide Mars with an Earth-style atmosphere 15

and gradually warm it up over several centuries. With an atmosphere mainly of

carbon dioxide and the presence of water recently confirmed by orbiters, Mars has a

lot going for it. After all, Stephen Hawking, renowned cosmologist and physicist has

warned that continued climate change on Earth may one day leave man no other

choice but to emigrate to another planet. 20

5 What are the challenges that have to be solved? They include construction of
bigger and more powerful vehicles than today’s rockets since a huge amount of
equipment will have to be taken along. A flight from Earth to Mars would take more
than 200 days; meaning return flights might have to wait up to a year to be
launched. Sunspots are a particular risk and settlers need to wear special protective 25
sheaths for protection from solar radiation. Houses or ‘habitats’ would be two-
storeyed capsules with a diameter of about eight metres and an area of 100 square
metres, enough for a communal apartment. Electricity would be generated by solar
cells.

6 “You have to establish the infrastructure for human life first,” explained Walter, a 30
scientist who flew on the US shuttle ‘Columbia’ in 1993.

7 Waste management would be a prime concern, with the inhabitants required to

sort all garbage for possible recycling. Methane and oxygen fuel for the return trip

would have to be manufactured, using either a nuclear reactor or a solar-energy

‘form’. 35

8 “We already possess the technologies to manufacture everything on site,” said

Walter. Heated vegetable frames, for example, could grow food, with the plants
using photosynthesis to convert the plant’s carbon dioxide into oxygen. However,

we need to do a lot more research to understand the complexities of the Mars

atmosphere. 40

9 One objective would be to heat up Mars and melt its ice caps. Suggested
methods include flying, giant sunlight-catching mirrors over the planet and releasing
special organisms that would spread across the Martian surface, making it darker so
that it would absorb more sunlight.

10 Other experts have suggested releasing the greenhouse gases currently 45
blamed for causing global warming on Earth. Melting the ice would, it is hoped, lead
to the formation of rivers and lakes. Evaporation would lead to rain, and plants
would begin to grow. Over a period of centuries, they would convert much of the
carbon dioxide into oxygen.

11 The dusty red planet would turn into a green one, and the sky over Mars might 50
even turn blue like that on Earth if the cycle of cloud formation and rain was
sufficient to wash down all the airborne dust.

12 Among the more exciting things to adapt to would be Martian gravity; because
of the planet’s smaller mass, the settlers would feel only two thirds as heavy as on

Earth, and would be able to go out walking in giant bounds. 55

(Adapted from The Star 2004)

Questions 26 – 30
Answer all questions. You are advised to answer them in the order set.

26 From paragraph 1, what is the debate about?

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

27(a) From paragraph 2, what kind of houses would people who want to migrate to Mars live
in?

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

(b) Why would people who want to go outdoors need to wear space suits? Give 2 reasons.
(i) ............................................................................................................................................

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

[1 mark]

28 (a) From Paragraph 4, what does the word ‘it’ refer to?

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

(b) Why, according to Stephen Hawking, might human beings be forced to emigrate to
another planet?

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

29 From paragraphs 9 and 10, state two suggestions that have been put forward to change
the temperature on Mars.

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

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

30 In your own words, state 2 ways how it might be possible to turn Mars into a green planet.

………………………………………………………………………..……...……………………….
..........................……………………………………………………..…………..…………………
…....................……….............................................................................................. [2 marks]

Passage 5
Question 26-30 are based on the following passage.

1 Being blind has not stopped Hesham Kamel from participating in the cyberworld.
He has also made it possible for other blind people to draw images. Blinded
seventeen years ago by the errant hand of a surgeon, Hesham Kamel has
nonetheless excelled in a field that relies heavily on the ability to produce complex

charts and graphs. A PhD student at UC Berkeley's Department of Electrical 5
Engineering and Computer Sciences, Hesham found his research efforts were often
hindered by his reliance on a sighted person who could assist with the production of
graphical elements.

2 About four years ago, after being forced to miss a deadline when his sighted
assistant was on vacation, he decided to take matters into his own hands. 10
Hesham designed a unique computer-drawing program called Integrated
Communication 2 Draw, or IC2D, that allows visually-impaired users to create and
`see' images on the computer screen.

3 Although the computing industry has made some big strides in developing
software to assist the sight-impaired, there is still a lack of products on the market, 15
particularly when it comes to computer-assisted drawing. There is also a common
misconception that blind people simply cannot handle visual tasks. Such erroneous
beliefs provided another major motivation for Hesham's efforts. He found that people
would ask him why blind people would even need to draw something that they could
not see. "There are many people out there who can't understand that blind people 20
have imagination, just as sighted people do," he asserts.

4 In addition, Hesham was frustrated by the short-sightedness of the computer

industry. Although the trend in technology is generally towards smaller, faster and

cheaper products, Hesham found quite the reverse to be true when it came to

products for the sightless. "The devices we need to use with computers - such as a 25

50-pound Braille printer - are large, expensive or both," he notes. Thus, one of his

primary goals in devising the IC2D software was that it be both portable and

compatible with any computer screen reader for the blind. "More than anything, I

want to change the way people think when they develop technology for the visually-

impaired," he explains. 30

5 IC2D uses a familiar schematic - the common telephone keypad - in order to
create a system that is user-friendly. The computer screen is divided into a three-by-
three grid numbered like a telephone keypad. As the user moves the cursor between
each square, audio feedback alerts them to the location point. Each of the nine cells
on the grid can be repeatedly divided to form a total of 729 cells, meaning that the 35
user can create images that are as complex, or as basic, as they like.

6 Since pull-down menus are obviously impractical for blind users, the commands,
shapes, colors and lines are all controlled by way of the keypad arrangement.
According to Hesham, the use of the keypad as a basis for the interface speeds
navigation and thus creates a superior experience for the user. "To help users see 40
what I draw, I developed a technique to give the components of the picture a
meaningful label." For example, an audio marker for a rear car wheel may also
include subsequent sound signifiers for the wheels hubcap and black rubber
threads.

7 Obviously, vision-impaired people have no way to `find' their way back to a 45
previously selected point on a computer screen. By establishing locators that can be
referenced by sound feedback, users can bypass this fundamental obstacle.
Moreover, hearing the labels referenced by the grid helps them to conceptualize the
entire image.

8 Recently, Hesham has been busy taking his invention round the conference 50
circuit in both America and Europe. With IC2D, users would be able to create
elaborate drawings for work and pleasure.

Questions 26 – 30
Answer all questions. You are advised to answer them in the order set.

26 (a) From paragraph1, when did Hesham become blind?

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

(b) How did he become blind?

...................………….......................…………………………………..………………………

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

(c) What hindrance did he face in his research?

...................………….......................…………………………………..………………………

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

27 From paragraph 2, it was stated that ‘ … he decided to take matters into his own
hands’.
Explain the phrase above in your own words.

……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………….…………………………………………………………..
[2 marks]

28 From paragraph 3, what is a common misconception about the blind?

……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………

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

29 From paragraph 4,

(a) what did Hesham find frustrating about the computer industry?

…………………………………………….………………………………………………………

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

(b) What did Hesham want for the blind?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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

30 From the passage, what kind of a person do you think Hesham is? Give evidence to
support your answer.

……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………

…..…………………………………………….………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………..[2 marks]

Answer Key - Comprehension

Pre-Reading

Activity 2 - True/False Questions

Mobile phones are important in our lives. True
Mobile phones which are not disposed of properly can be hazardous to the
environment. True
Old mobile phones can be donated to charitable homes. True
There are many companies which are offering recycling services for old mobile phones.
True
Everyone will recycle his old phones. False
As everyone continues to get new phones, all the old ones will be sent for recycling.
False

While Reading

Exercise 1 - Match the words with their meanings below.

1. Indispensable - cannot do without/absolutely necessary/all-important
2. Polyphonic - producing or making many different sounds or voices or melodies
together
3. Toxic - poisonous
4. Pollutants - a substance that makes something (air/water/atmosphere) dirty or unsafe
5. Genuine - real
6. Landfills - an area where garbage is dumped
7. Abandoned - given up completely/not taking care of anymore
8. Discarded - thrown away
9. Engrossed - having one’s attention taken totally by someone or something
10. Carcinogen - cancer causing substance

Exercise 2 - Fill in the blanks with the correct words to show their meanings.

1. Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives.
2. You can choose your favourite ringtone from this list of polyphonic ringtones.
3. Many chemicals are highly toxic to the environment.
4. Sulphur dioxide is one of the several pollutants that is released into the air and harmful

to the environment.
5. Many fake designer watches are being sold at the price of genuine ones.
6. 90 percent of our household rubbish is dumped in landfills.
7. The child was found abandoned in the old hut.
8. He has discarded all the unwanted documents.
9. She was so engrossed in watching the movie that she did not hear her mother calling

her.

10. Tobacco smoke is classified as a carcinogen.

Passage 1

26. (a) The mobile phone
(b) They are left in drawers or sent to garbage bins.

27. (a) i. full of pollutants.
ii. old phones use nickel cadmium batteries which contain a toxin and a suspected
carcinogen.

(b i. engrossed
ii. disposing of the unwanted / old mobile phones the correct way

28. This shows that not many people are aware that their old phones can be put to good
use / not many people bother to send their phones for recycling

29. fuel replacement for oil / plastic benches / plastic fences
30. By running campaigns / advertisements / locate collection centres at Malls or public

places / Rewards for sending in old mobile phones, etc.

Passage 2

26 (a) This was to help organize the large group into smaller, more manageable groups.
(b) People feel great to be associated with mountains—big, tall, majestic and inspiring!

27 (a) i. doing tedious administrative work.
ii. getting to know one another.

28 (a) treacherous
(b) The watches started leaving at 7.30 in the morning and trickled back to the school
only by 6 a.m. the next day.

29 (a) Everyone was yelling, screaming and hugging one another.
(b) It certainly bonded the group strongly / The participants became closer to each other

30 No. The course was very tough. / I do not like activities in the jungle.
Yes. I will be more independent. / I will be able to make more friends.
(Accept any other reasonable answers)

Passage 3

26 (a) 48 per cent
(b) Habitat loss / hunting

27 (a) The loss of habitat / total population size / pressures from hunting
(b) intact

28 (a) It shares about 98 per cent of its DNA with humans.
(b) Land is used for growing monoculture crops,

29 (a) 53 new primate species that are new to science
(b) Endangered rather than critically endangered.

30 Yes, they should be conserved because they are important to the survival of animals / help
maintain healthy ecosystems and water supplies / help reduce greenhouse emissions.

Passage 4

26 Whether to make the planet Mars habitable for human beings or to leave it as it is.
27 (a) They will live in capsule homes that look like grain silos.

(b) (i) Mars is lacking in oxygen
(ii) Mars is cold
(iii) Mars is dusty (accept any 2)

28 (a) Mars
(b) Continued climate change on Earth might make living conditions unsuitable for us.

29 (i) melting its ice caps
(ii) releasing the greenhouse gases

30 hang flying, giant sunlight-catching mirrors over the planet to get sunlight / release
greenhouse gasses currently blamed for global warming on Earth / melting ice caps to
form lakes and rivers / clear the airborne dust through cloud formation and rain (accept
any other reasonable answers.

(No lifting …must use some own words)
Passage 5

26. a. Hesham became blind seventeen years ago.
b. He became blind through a surgeon’s mistake / by the errant hand of a surgeon.

c. He needed help to produce graphical elements / by his reliance on a sighted person.

27. He decided to deal with the problem himself.

28. The misconception is that blind people simply cannot handle simple tasks.

29 (a) By the short-sightedness of the computer industry / The devices needed are large
and expensive

(b) The IC2D software that is both portable and compatible with any computer screen
reader for the blind.

30. Innovative because he came up with an invention to help the blind /
Has initiative because he took it upon himself to help the visually-impaired /
Intelligent because he invented the software.

(Accept other reasonable answers)

SUMMARY WRITING

Tips and Steps for Summary Writing

REMEMBER THE MNEMONIC BRUME

Step 1 B Bracket the relevant lines or paragraphs after a first reading of the
question

Step 2 R Read the question again carefully. Know clearly what information
you have to summarize.

Step 3 U Underline the relevant facts or points.

Step 4 M Make notes. Use the underlined points to help you.

Step 5 E Expand the notes. Write the summary in sentences.

Pre-Reading

Exercise 1 (Word Level: Word substitution)

Match the words

1. go into accompany

2. pick out select

3. go with consider

4. talk about request

5. talk softly discover

6. write down whisper

7. ask for record

8. find out discuss

9. think about exceed

10. go beyond enter

Exercise 2 (Match the words) meet
1. walk without shoes participate
2. trickling drop by drop barefooted
3. not very deep repeatedly
4. send out of the country everywhere
5. face to face bald
6. again and again deport
7. take part in shallow
8. far and wide wealth/riches
9. without any hair dripping
10. much money or property

Exercise 3 (Add a suffix or prefix to the word)

1. make new again _______new

2. half a circle _______circle

3. in a polite manner polite______

4. can be counted count______

5. not regular ____regular

6. once in a month month_____

7. all over the world world_____

8. do not continue ____continue

9. with hope hope____

10. badly managed ______managed

Exercise 4 (Choose the compound word from the list)

panic-stricken self-control hitch-hike money-minded old-fashioned
ill-treat part-time
fair-minded kind-hearted half-hearted

1. thinks of money all the time ________________
2. get a free ride by asking for one ________________
3. for only a part of the working day/week ________________
4. overcome by panic, terrified ________________
5. treat badly or cruelly ________________
6. out of date ________________
7. looking at and judging things in an open way ________________
8. showing little interest or enthusiasm ________________
9. control of one’s feelings, behaviour ________________
10. having a heart or being sympathetic ________________

Exercise 5 (Replace the word in italics with a synonym from the list)

meticulous discussed check level strange
commitment merciless conveyed left brink

1. Her queer behaviour puzzled all of us.
2. He quit after twenty years of service in the bank.
3. The degree of difficulty in the reading passages varies.
4. We expressed our congratulations to the bride and groom.
5. It may be difficult to work with a fastidious person but you can be sure of a job well

done.
6. Due to his dedication to his work, he was promoted to the post of manager.
7. We were shocked with the ruthless acts of the enemy.
8. The topics debated covered a wide area.
9. It is important to verify the accounts before jumping to conclusions.
10. She was on the verge of giving up her studies due to financial problems.

Exercise 6 (Replace the phrase in italics with a word from the list)

dismissed reduce unarmed demolished near
blame watch rejected/declined somehow helped

1. The examination is around the corner so we should start revising now.
2. The inefficient employee was given the sack.
3. Since we had nothing to do, we lent a hand in the kitchen.
4. Please keep an eye on my laptop.
5. By hook or by crook, she had to find time to complete her essay.
6. It is easy to find fault with others when we just sit back and do nothing.
7. The security guard was not carrying any weapon when the robbery happened.
8. Ina needs to cut down her sugar intake in order to lose weight.
9. The old stadium is to be pulled down to make way for a shopping mall.
10. Farah turned down her friend’s invitation to go bowling.

Exercise 7
(Complete the second sentence (b) with the appropriate word to achieve the required
word count)

1. a. He studied without stopping until it was time for dinner.
b. He studied __________________ until _________________________ (6 words)

2. a. The Kenyir Lake which was created by man is now a popular fishing spot.
b. The __________________ Kenyir Lake is now a popular fishing spot. (10 words)

3. a. Last night, a thief came into my house and took away my radio, camera, antique
lock and some money.

b. Last night, a thief _______ my house and took away my _____________(12 words)
4. a. Tears started to roll down her cheeks and she was sobbing as if her heart would

break.
b. She cried _____________ (3 words)
5. a. I quarrelled with my brother because he wanted to watch ESPN channel and I

wanted to watch Korean drama.
b. We quarrelled ______________________ (7 words)

Exercise 8
(Summarize each paragraph in one sentence. Use the words in brackets to help you)

1. Azmah is elected to the post. Everyone likes her. She is very helpful and kind.
(likeable, helpful, kind)
Azmah, who is ___________ and ________________________________________

2. The day was rather gloomy. The clouds were dark and the neighbourhood was quiet.
There seemed to be no one around. (gloomy, dark, quiet)
It was a _____________________________________________________________

3. The class was noisy. The teacher was not in and everyone was talking and laughing
loudly. The class monitor herself was also chatting away. Suddenly, the principal
appeared at the doorway. There was a sudden silence. (noisy, principal, appeared)

The class was
____________________________________________________________________

4. I could not believe my ears. My name was announced as the first prize winner! My
heart skipped a few beats. Finally, something wonderful and unexpected had taken
place in my life. I kept wondering. “Is it really me?” (unbelievable, first prize winner)
It was ________________________________________________________________

5. The fire razed twenty shophouses to the ground. An estimated number of sixty-five
people were made homeless. It was indeed a bigger tragedy for the occupants, as the
shophouses were just completed and residents had moved in and started business for
less than a week
(destroyed, homeless)
Fire _________________________________________________________________

Exercise 9
(Match the words/phrases and their meanings)

close bonding circumstances safe haven anxiety sponsored by
their companies preconceived idea lethargic
thrilling treacherous chaotic

Meanings Words/Phrases
1 dangerous
2 idea formed beforehand
3 safe shelter
4 time, place of a situation or an event
5 Worry
6 slow; lacking in energy
7 close tie
8 exciting experience
9 disorderly; uncontrolled
10 companies paid for the costs of the

course

Summary Writing Practice 1
(Refer to the Reading Comprehension - Passage 1)

Read the passage on how one can dispose of used mobile phones responsibly.

This article describes the threats posed by mobile phones to the environment and the
solutions to the problems.

Based on the text, write a summary of:
Dangers posed by improper disposal of mobile phones
How they must be recycled

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 11 to line 35
not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:
Unused mobile phones pose a threat to the environment by…

Summary Writing Practice 2
(Refer to the Reading Comprehension - Passage 2)

Read the passage about a 10-day course at the Outward Bound School in Lumut.

Write a summary of
The training
The experience of the author and the other participants at the Outward Bound School
(OBS) in Lumut.

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 11 to line 39
not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary with:

It was indeed an unforgettable experience for all the participants …

Summary Writing Practice 3
(Refer to the Reading Comprehension - Passage 3)

Read the passage about the danger of extinction that species of primates face and the need to
preserve them.

Write a summary of:
The present status of primates,
The factors for their extinction and
The discovery of new primate species.

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 5 to line 43
not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

The survival of the primates is under crisis proportions. Many species …

Summary Writing Practice 4
(Refer to the Reading Comprehension - Passage 4)

Based on the passage given, write a summary in which you describe the things that would
have to be done:

before we can live on Mars
when we are on Mars

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 21 to line 55
not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

The first thing to think about is to construct bigger …

Summary Writing Practice 5
(Refer to the Reading Comprehension - Passage 5)

Write a summary on:
how Hesham Kamel has excelled in a field that relies heavily on the ability to produce
complex charts and graphs despite being blind and
why and how he took matters into his own hands.

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 9 to line 46
not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

Being blind has not stopped Hesham from participating in the …

Summary Writing Practice 6

Read the passage on a holiday by the sea.

1 "Wow! Look at the place, it's so beautiful," exclaimed Ling. We were on the ferry,
together with the other tourists, heading towards Pangkor Laut Resort. "So, do you regret
joining me for this trip?" asked a joyful Ling. I shook my head as we got off the ferry.

2 Upon reaching the island, we were welcomed by a vast area of 'greens'- the island's

historic, natural rainforest. Amidst the tall trees and thick shrubs, stood the island's holiday 5

resort. There are three kinds of accommodation: villas above the waters, beside the sea

or in the forest. Ambitious or rather greedy people like us would of course want the best of

all. After much hesitation, we settled for a 3-in-1 kind of villa. Backed by the green

rainforest, the villa stood on stilts above the waters, margined by a clean stretch of white,

powdery sand. 10

3 Lying on the armchair, bewitched by the scenery outside, I heaved a sigh of relief.
Work back in Singapore was horrendous. I had been so caught up with my tight schedule
that I was totally cut off from the outside world. If Ling had not suggested a break, I could
have suffered a mental breakdown.

4 "What are you doing here? Let's go out and have fun. You can always relax here 15
tonight," uttered the ever-energetic Ling.

5 It took us twenty minutes, strolling, wandering in curiosity to reach the "jewel" of

Pangkor Laut - the Emerald Bay Beach. As though brought back to childhood by the time

machine, we screamed and chased each other along the bleached sand, splashing the

clear, green water on each other. 20

6 "Would you like to go out sailing or canoeing?" I suggested subconsciously, gazing at
the beautiful blue sea.

7 "Wow! Someone's getting adventurous! Alright, let's go!" teased Ling.

8 We rented a boat and wandered aimlessly round the island, returning only in the

evening, just in time for an amazingly sumptuous seafood dinner. 25

9 The next two days were totally awesome. We tried our hands at various kinds of
water games before heading for the tennis and squash courts. Exhausted by the games, I
found myself relaxing at the spa, enjoying the cool breeze or seeking a hide-out in the
library and immersing myself in the world of books.

10 Back in the office in Singapore, I really missed the place. The trip has made me 30
realized the wonders of recreation. Never am I going to bury myself in heaps of work
again. The next time I want an escape from this busy work life, I would probably choose
Pangkor Laut Resort again.

Based on the text, write a summary of:
Where the writer spent her holiday
What she did there

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 2 to line 28

not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

For their holiday, the writer and her friend went to …

Summary Writing: Practice 7

1 Hiccups are usually minor and short-lived, if a little embarrassing and
inconvenient. But they are often associated with good times -- a bit of overacting
perhaps or getting drunk.

2
Some of the remedies are amusing: drinking from the wrong side of the glass,

Having someone jump at you and shout "boo", biting a lemon, and drinking pickle 5
juice, to name a few. According to a 16th century advice from England, "it is good to
cast cold water in the face of the person who has hiccups." There are also standbys
like holding your breath or breathing into a paper bag. Some of these cures make
3 more sense than others but they are all pretty much untested.

Sometimes, nothing works. Hiccups can go on for a long time. According to the 10
Guinness Book of World Records, an Iowa resident named Charles Osborne had the
hiccup for 68 years. But even a few days' worth can be distressing. And if hiccups go
4 on longer, they can cause serious problems including difficulty in eating, dehydration,
depression and loss of sleep. It is possible to hiccup while you sleep.

5 Hiccups are emphatically no laughing matter when they are associated with an 15
underlying medical condition. Tumors can impinge on nerves in the chest or

abdomen. Hiccups are also a fairly common side effect of chemotherapy used to treat
cancer and can be a symptom of diseases that affect the central nervous system
such as strokes.
6 A hiccup begins if you are taking a big breath of air much faster than normal. 20
Your diaphragm contracts and pulls down and your chest muscles go to work. A
fraction of a second later the narrow opening between the vocal cords snaps shut --
and you hear the distinct hiccup sound. It is unclear whether the voice box is pulled
shut or if it closes because of negative pressures from expansion of the chest.

7 Neurologically, hiccups are an unthinkable reflex, like the kicking action of your 25
leg when a doctor taps your knee. Typically, a reflex begins with a signal from the
body to the spinal cord or brain that triggers a second signal from the spinal cord or
brain back to the body.

8 Nobody is completely sure how the hiccup reflex is triggered and the cause may

differ in different people. But doctors say when nerves are stimulated, the message is 30

sent to the medulla oblongata, an area of the lower brain involved in regulating

breathing and other basic functions. Some researchers have suggested that this

region contains a "hiccup" center entirely separate from any control of breathing.

After passing through the medulla oblongata, the "hiccup message" gets sent down

to the diaphragm. 35

9 Many of the remedies for mild hiccups may work by creating a stimulus that
interrupts the signals causing the reflex. For example, when you drink from the wrong
side of the glass, you may be exciting nerves in the back of the mouth, nose and
throat that aren't stimulated by normal drinking. Breathing into a paper bag works in a
different way. It increases the carbon dioxide level in your blood and it has been 40
shown that as carbon dioxide levels go up, hiccups tend to recede.

10 Delivering a strong jolt to the nervous system may also work. Another method is
to exhale and then take a very deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds. Then without
exhaling you breath in again, pause and then breathe in a third time. The doctors say
that three consecutive inhalations increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood and by 45
immobilizing the diaphragm.

11 Serious cases of hiccups can be treated with a number of medications. Nerve
blocks and surgery are options but only for the most intractable cases.

Based on the passage given, write a summary about
why hiccups happen
the remedies to treat hiccups

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 (not in note form)
use material from line 4 to line 48
not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows :
Hiccups are common and short-lived though inconvenient and distressing. They …

Answer Key - Summary

Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4

1. enter 1. barefooted 1. renew 1. money-
2. select 2. dripping 2. semicircle minded
3. accompany 3. shallow 3. politely
4. discuss 4. deport 4. countable 2. hitch-hike
5. whisper 5. meet 5. irregular 3. part-time
6. record 6. repeatedly 6. monthly 4. panic-
7. request 7. participate 7. worldwide
8. discover 8. everywhere 8. discontinue stricken
9. consider 9. bald 9. hopeful 5. ill-treat
10. exceed 10. wealth/riches 10. mismanage 6. old-

Exercise 5 Exercise 6 fashioned
7. fair-
1. strange 1. near
2. left 2. dismissed minded
3. level 3. helped 8. half-
4. conveyed 4. watch
5. meticulous 5. Somehow hearted
6. commitment 6. blame 9. self-
7. merciless 7. unarmed
8. discussed 8. reduce control
9. check 9. demolished 10. kind-
10. brink 10. rejected/declined
hearted

Exercise 7
1. non-stop, dinner time
2. man-made
3. burgled, personal belongings
4. sadly
5. over which channel to watch

Exercise 8 Exercise 9

1. Azmah, who is likeable, helpful and kind is 1. treacherous
elected to the post. 2. preconceived idea
3. safe haven
2. It was a gloomy, dark and quiet day. 4. circumstances
3. The class was so noisy until the principal 5. anxiety
6. lethargic
appeared. 7. close bonding
4. It was unbelievable I was the first prize 8. thrilling
9. chaotic
winner.
5. Fire destroyed twenty shophouses and

made sixty five people homeless.

10 sponsored by their companies

Summary Writing: Passage 1

Content (maximum 10 marks even if all the points are given) C: 10 marks

Style and Presentation L: 5 marks

-------------

Total: 15 marks

-------------

Unused mobile phones pose a threat to the environment by…

Dangers posed by improper disposal of mobile phones :
1. growing volume of toxic waste (in our country’s landfills)
2. possibility exists for toxins to be released into the air
3. and ground water
4. full of pollutants
5. nickel-cadmium batteries contain cadmium, a toxin (and a suspected carcinogen)
6. if not stored in correct conditions, (old and unused phone) batteries may leak
7. and toxic chemicals will be released into homes

How they are recycled :
8. the old one goes to charity
9. the material is shredded into scrap
10. metal and plastic parts are then separated
11. the metals are sold to metal refineries
12. where they are melted
13. and purified for reuse
14. recycled plastics are suitable as fuel replacement for oil
15. plastic scraps can be turned into plastic benches and fences

Summary Writing: Passage 2

It was indeed an unforgettable experience for all the participants …

1. They are put in groups of 15, called watches, named after Malaysian mountains
2. Each watch is led by an instructor or assistant
3. The writer belonged to Kinabalu watch
4. On the first day—administration work, introductions—participants shy at first
5. On the second day—woke up at 6 a.m. for 2 km run
6. Tired—sleep disturbed by rats in dormitories
7. At 7.30 a.m., they hiked 12 km up a hill. It was long and dangerous
8. All the groups returned by 6.30 a.m. the following day
9. Only the writer’s group did not return

10. It was a frightening experience
11. The instructors searched everywhere but were unsuccessful
12. The writer and the watch returned after 24 hours, everyone was happy

Summary Writing: Passage 3

The survival of primates is under crisis proportions. Many species
1. are listed as endangered especially in South-East Asia.
2. The review is concerned with factors concerning habitat, their total number and hunting.
3. Tropical forest destruction affects the animal habitats.
4. Hunting means primates are being eaten to extinction.
5. It is believed that primates of every size from the smallest to the largest are
endangered or critically endangered.
6. The practice of monoculture crops for the production of biofuels has taken its toll.

7. This is further enhanced by increased hunting for bushmeat.
8. Despite the present scenario, researchers are optimistic because new primate species

have been discovered.
9. Consequently, critically endangered areas have been reclassified to endangered only.
10. Forest conservation is vital to primate survival, health of ecosystems, water supplies

and helps reduce greenhouse emissions.

Summary Writing: Passage 4

The first thing to think about is to construct bigger …
1. and more powerful rockets to transport equipment to Mars
2. a flight from Earth to Mars would take more than 200 days
3. settlers need to wear special protective sheaths for protective from solar radiation
4. settlers would live in capsules
5. electricity would be generated by solar cells
6. establish infrastructure for human life
7. waste management would be a prime concern and perhaps recycling
8. fuel is also needed for the return to earth trip
9. settlers possess the technologies to manufacture everything on site
10. heated vegetable frames…could grow food…convert plant’s carbon dioxide into
oxygen
11. to heat up Mars and melt its ice caps (melt its ice caps / releasing the greenhouse
gases)
12. a water cycle needs to be created to produce rain to wash down the dust and also
make plants grow
13. to adapt to would be Martian gravity

Summary Writing: Passage 5

Being blind has not stopped Hesham from participating in the …
1. designed a programme called IC2D that allows visually-impaired users to create and
‘see’ computer images
2. found that there are people who can't understand that blind people have imagination,
just as sighted people do
3. He was frustrated by the short-sightedness of the computer industry.
4. found that products for the blind are large and expensive
5. One of his primary aims in devising the software was that it be both portable and
compatible with any computer screen reader for the blind.
6. He wants to change people’s perception when they develop technology for the blind
7. He developed a technique to help users see what he draws
8. By establishing locators which can be referenced by sound feedback
9. Users can bypass the main obstacle
10. Hearing the labels referenced by the grid helps them to conceptualize the whole image
11. He takes his invention to America and Europe
12. With IC2D, users can create elaborate drawings for work and pleasure.

Summary Writing: Passage 6

For their holiday, the writer and her friend went to …
1. Pangkor Laut Resort

2. chose to stay in a villa on stilts above the waters, accompanied by the thick rainforest
and white beach.

3. liked staying in the villa, enjoying the beautiful scene outside.
4. Taking a twenty-minute walk, they reached the Emerald Bay Beach
5. they enjoyed themselves by chasing and splashing the sea water onto each other.
6. they rented a boat and went wandering round the island before
7. returning to the villa for dinner.
8. For the next two days, they played water games,
9. followed by land ones like tennis and squash.
10. when tired, the writer would spend time either at the spa,
11. enjoying the cool breeze or
12. read in the library.

Summary Writing: Passage 7

Hiccups are common and short-lived though inconvenient and distressing. They …

1. can cause serious medical problems.
2. occur when you take a big breath of air rapidly.
3. The diaphragm contracts and affects chest muscles
4. followed by shutting of the opening between the vocal cords.
5. Hiccups are a reflex.
6. When nerves are stimulated, the hiccup message is sent to the brain which delivers it

to the diaphragm.
7. Remedies work by interrupting the signals causing the reflex.
8. Breathing into a paper bag increases the carbon dioxide level in your blood that stops

hiccups.
9. Other measures include a jolt to the nervous system and taking a deep breath and

holding it for 10 seconds.
10. Three consecutive inhalations increase carbon dioxide levels immobilizing the

diaphragm.
11. Serious cases of hiccups are medically and surgically treatable.

References:

1. Azar, Betty Schramfer, Fundamentals of English Grammar, 1992, Longman, 2nd Edition
2. Ho, Jenny et al, Focus Goal English SPM,2010, Penerbit Pelangi
3. Unit Kedah Education Department, SPM English Language 1119, Smart Module 1,

2011
4. Yap, Jade, Koleksi Kertas Model SPM, Aspirasi Bahasa Inggeris, 2006, Penerbit Mega

Setia Emas Sdn Bhd
5. Choy, LH & Vijayarajoo, Angeline, Success English SPM, 2007, Oxford Fajar
6. Lian, Christine, Twitter 2012 Bahasa Inggeris Form 5, 2012, Info Didik
7. Siri Koleksi Kertas Percubaan SPM SBP Bahasa Inggeris, 2013, Cerdik Publication
8. McGovern, Don, Reading, 1994, Prentice Hall International
9. New Straits Times, 11 June 2016
10. www.hereoora.tki.org.nz
11. www.famouspeoplelessons.com/j/justin_bieber.html
12. http://www.englishdaily626.com/summary.php?122