An Informal Letter ;A letter to pen-pal

Instruction:
Fill in the blanks with suitable words listed below.


decided special enjoyed banned abstain healed
played wonderful lovely who fun because
thick chat best dawn indoor joyous

Dear Sharopova,

How are you? I was very happy when I received your letter this morning. I had so much 1) ______ reading about how you celebrate Christmas in Moscow. In Malaysia, I celebrate “Hari Raya” which falls on the first of Syawal, the tenth month of the Muslim Calendar.

Hari Raya is celebrated after fasting for a month in Ramadhan, which is the ninth month of the Muslim Calendar. During Ramadhan, as a Muslim, I have to 2) myself from eating, drinking and from committing any ill-doings from 3) __________ until sunset. It is hoped after Ramadhan, the Muslims will continue to do good and avoid any wrong-doings. So, the Hari Raya marks the Muslims’ success in fasting for a whole month.

Of course, Hari Raya is a 4) ___________ occasion for Muslims from all walks of life. On this 5) ______________ day, everyone puts on their 6)___________ clothes and go to the mosque to perform obligatory Hari Raya prayer. Usually each family brings a plate of traditional cakes and cookies to be shared together after the prayer. Before we leave the mosque, we ask for forgiveness from each other. Then, we go home to have a 7) ___________ meal with our family. We often have “ketupat”, which is actually rice cooked in a case made of woven coconut leave. This ketupat is eaten with “rendang”, meat cooked in 8)____________ spicy gravy and peanut sauce. We can only savour these dishes on Hari Raya.

Every year we never miss to visit our grandparents 9) _____________ are staying in a village located about 40 kilometres away from our house. My cousins often arrive at my grandparents’ house a day earlier 10) _________they live far away in Kuala Lumpur. Can you guess what usually happen when cousins get together? Well, we will have a long 11) _____________ about everything under the sky. When we were younger, we used to play fireworks. However since playing fireworks have been 12) _____________ in our country, we choose to stay13) _____________ watching special Hari Raya programmes on television.

Last year, since all my cousins were able to be present at our grandparents’ place, we 14)_____________to have a football match competing against the local team. As expected, we lost the game as most of us had not 15) ___________ football for quite some times. Yet, we had 16) ___________ ourselves tremendously. Hari Raya is a day where everybody has a chance to meet. It is a day to tie the bond. Most importantly, it is a day where old wounds are 17) _______________ and love to grow between family members, between friends and neighbours.

Ramadhan is coming soon. I am looking forward to it because it is a month full of God’s blessings. I hope you have enjoyed reading about Hari Raya. It would be 18) _______________ to have you here to celebrate the day. Bye.

Your pen-pal,

Ilhan

A Guide to Answer Directed Writing During Examination

In SPM examination,you are only given 40 minutes to answer directed writng. So you must follow the following steps;
First of all, you must read the question and understand what the question requires you to do.
Then, take 5 minutes to generate and organise your ideas.
In the next 25 minutes , you have to write the composition. Make sure the tense used is suitable. Choose your words carefully and write short simple sentences. You must avoid making a lot of mistakes.Try to write a few compound and complex sentences but they do not need to be too long.
The next 5 minutes should be spent on proofreading. Check your spelling, grammar, ,punctuation and capitalisation.

To get a high mark, try to include idioms or proverbs.

Welcome to all form 4 students

Salam to form 4 students,
Now, you are at the starting line. Each of you have the same opportunities to start anew. So, don't wait! Today,you must begin your stride towards achieving excellent. Don't procrastinate.

Learn a new word

Sacrifice


meaning: an act of giving up something of value for the sake of something that is of greater value or importance.(Concise Oxford English Dictionary)

Malay Equivalent: berkorban

Sample sentence: Teachers always sacrifice their time for their students.
(Guru-guru selalu mengorbankan masa untuk anak-anak didik mereka)

Is it better to be born rich or intelligent?

Being rich and intelligent are two great qualities. I would like to have both! Yet as I can only choose either to be born rich or intelligent, I would definitely prefer the first to the latter choice.
Firstly being rich will make my life much easier. As a student who is moderate academically, having money will ensure a place in a good prestigious college. I believe without intelligent I can achieve success in many other skilled-based fields if chance is given to improve on my skills. I may not be good at math, science and language but I am excellent in arts. I can learn arts and design, cooking or crafting.
Besides, I can fulfil my desire. I can put on clothes and shoes that I like. I can buy them at the streets or at the big shopping malls. With lots of money, I can choose where to shop. In fact, I can choose what to eat and where to eat. Holidaying will be more frequent as I can afford to visit local and overseas destinations.
Moreover, I can help the poor and the less fortunate. My mum has always taught me to donate to the less privileged people because sharing what we have with others is a benevolent act. Perhaps, I can be an entrepreneur who owns many textiles factories. I will provide jobs to thousands of people all over the world. The intelligent people will not be excluded. They will give great ideas on how to expand my business.
I believe a rich person can bring many benefits to others if he knows how to spend his money wisely and how to be kind to others.

Novel:The Pearl

QUESTION: Describe the most interesting event in the novel.Give reasons why do you find it interesting.
I find the most interesting incident in the novel, “The Pearl” written by John Steinbeck, is when Kino takes Coyotito to see the doctor.

Firstly, it is interesting because the incident is made dramatic. All the way from Kino’s hut, the neighbours tag behind him. Then when he reaches the town, everyone including the beggars, also follow him making the visit to the doctor looks like a procession. Everyone seems curious to know whether the greedy doctor will treat Kino’s son. They are waiting to watch a live drama acted by Kino and the doctor.

Next, it is interesting because it shows how the poor is exploited by the rich and educated. In this incident, Kino is helpless due to his ignorance and poverty. He has no other options but to seek treatment for his son from the doctor. As expected, the doctor refuses to treat his son because he cannot pay him. Yet, the humiliation of being rejected does not deter him from finding the great pearl so that his son can be cured.

Lastly, it is interesting as it depicts how the rich and poor differ from each other vividly. The doctor is projected as living in a brick house, drinking chocolate from porcelain cup and wearing silk robe. Meanwhile Kino is pictured as someone who lives in a brush hut, eating corn cakes for breakfast and dives for pearl to support his wife and son. This incident alone able to demonstrates the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and the simple hard life of the poor.

The Pearl. Practice 2

Based on the novel you have read, describe an interesting event.

“The Pearl” has many interesting events but I find an event when Kino took Coyotito to see the doctor as the most interesting.

First, I have noted from the event that Kino and Juana are good parents because they are willing to swallow their pride for their son’s sake. Feeling scared of Coyotito’s life; Juana demands for a doctor whom everyone knows will not treat a poor patient.
Meanwhile, Kino who knows that only the doctor can save his son’s life agrees to his wife’s suggestion.

Next, this event succeeds to show how the poor is being treated by the rich. With a procession of people behind him, Kino is humiliated by the doctor. His hope to save his son’s life is shattered. Instead of treating his sick son, the doctor bluntly refuses to treat him because Kino cannot afford to pay the medical fees. The servant has implied the refusal indirectly by saying that the doctor is away.

Finally, this event points out the contrast between the rich and the poor. The doctor is portrayed as a wealthy spoiled doctor who lives in a big brick house. When his servant comes to inform about Kino’s sick son, he is sipping hot chocolate from a dainty cup. He is also wearing a silk robe. This is contrast to Kino who lives in a brush hut and eats corn cakes.

This event is clearly interesting as it demonstrates the suffering of the poor and how they are prejudiced against by the rich.

Wise Saying

“Tell me and I forget; show me and I remember; involve me and I understand.” - unknown

The Pearl: Practice 1

Describe the character that you like in the novel you have read. Give reasons.

The Pearl
Introduction: Kino
3 reasons:
1. Caring- smashed scorpion-bare hand-took baby to doctor
2. Brave – fought trackers- protect family
3. A determined person- refused – sell pearl –low price- wanted to sell –another city

Conclusion: should be emulated-has all the good qualities.

Modal verbs

Form sentences using modal verbs: may, must, should, ought to, can, could

1.Pedestrians ____________hold their handbags or belonging close to their body.

2.Pedestrians ___________ be careful of suspicious motorists.

3.Pedestrians __________ always be aware of approaching motorists.

4.Pedestrians ___________ walk against the flow of traffic

5.Pedestrians ____________ be observant of your surroundings

6.Pedestrians ____________ not walk alone especially in the dark, lonely roads or back streets.

7.Pedestrians ___________ keep important items such as wallets out of sight.

8.Motorists __________ not expose handbags or belongings openly in the basket.

9.Motorists ___________ be watchful of suspicious motorists.

10.The snatch thieves ___________ be punished severely.

11.The snatch thieves’ property and money __________ be confiscated.