VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Adverbs

Here is a list of common verbs with choices of suitable adverbs compiled as examples:-

Study Hard

Verbs	Adverbs
acted	quickly, suddenly, warily
answered	correctly, immediately, tartly
ate	greedily, hungrily, quickly, slowly
bled	freely, profusely, slightly
bowed	humbly, respectfully, stiffly
caressed	fondly, gently, lovingly
charged	bravely, desperately, furiously
chuckled	artfully, gleefully, happily
crept	quietly, silently, softly, stealthily
decided	carefully, eventually, immediately
explained	briefly, clearly, concisely, vaguely
fell	heavily, quickly, suddenly
flogged	brutally, cruelly, unmercifully
fought	bravely, furiously, gamely
frowned	angrily, sulkily, worriedly
injured	accidentally, fatally, seriously, slightly
left	hurriedly, quietly, suddenly
listened	anxiously, attentively, carefully
lost	badly, heavily, sportingly
mumbled	angrily, inaudibly, indistinctly
pondered	deeply, seriously, thoughtfully
pulled	hastily, strongly, vigorously
ran	hurriedly, quickly, rapidly, slowly
remembered	clearly, distinctly, faintly, slightly
sang	loudly, softly, sweetly, tunefully
shone	brightly, brilliantly, clearly, dimly
shouted	frantically, joyfully, jubilantly, loudly, suddenly
slept	fitfully, lightly soundly
smiled	broadly, happily, ruefully, sweetly
sneered	insolently, impudently, tauntingly
spent	foolishly, freely, recklessly, sparingly
spoke	clearly, distinctly, earnestly, loudly plainly, slowly
sprang	hurriedly, lightly, quickly, suddenly
staggered	awkwardly, drunkenly, weakly
strove	bravely, desperately, manfully
stuttered	excitedly, haltingly, painfully
trembled	fearfully, frightfully, visibly
waited	patiently, anxiously
walked	clumsily, haltingly, quickly, slouchingly, slowly, smartly
wept	bitterly, distractedly, sadly, touchingly
whispered	audibly, quietly, softly
yielded	stubbornly, weakly, willingly

Adjective Phrase

Adjective Phrase

Definition & Usage
This function as an adjective in that it describe a noun or pronoun. It usually occurs immediately next to the word/words it describes.

Examples
1.My husband and I have just bought a new semi-detached house.

2.They sold their house in the city

It is used
- in the predicative sense

For instances
1.My new room-mate is very vicacious and talkative.

2.Josephine's fiance is very artistic and intellectual.

- in the attributive sense

For instances
1. This company hires only experienced and goal-oriented men and women.

2. The confident and well-groomed man walked past us arrogantly.

PUNCTUATION

Sometimes, you might forget what the name of those punctuation. If so, refer to the list below :- 

apostrophe = '

brackets = ( ) [ ]

colon = :

comma =,

dash = -

exclamation mark = !

full stop = .

hyphen = -

inverted commas = ' '

semicolon = ;

question mark = ?

The Star Online Article

World’s largest whale shark abattoir discovered in China.

SIGHTINGS of whale sharks in Malaysian waters have become less common in recent years and now, there appears to be an explanation for it. The sharks could have been netted and slaughtered before they reached our coastal waters.

One factory in the province of Zhejiang in southern China has been found to kill some 600 whale sharks, in addition to other shark species, annually, to produce shark fins, leather, meat and liver oil. The factory is believed to be the world’s largest slaughterhouse of an internationally protected endangered species, and just one of many such shark processing plants in coastal China.

Activists from Hong Kong-based conservation group WildLifeRisk, posing as representatives of an international seafood company, made the discovery during three visits to the factory between January 2010 and December 2013.

The group’s recently-released report contains gruesome photographs of chopped up whale sharks laid out on the floor and huge fins being sun-dried in the facility of the China Wenzhou Yueqing Marine Organisms Health Protection Foods Co, located in Puqi township near Wenzhou.

Hidden cameras also captured the general manager, Li Guang, admitting that his factory also processes basking sharks and great white sharks. All three species are on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – meaning that they can only be traded with permits, and have to be harvested legally and in a sustainable manner. All three are also protected in China; so it is illegal to hunt them without a special permit from the Chinese government.

Beauty and health products

The activists found that dried whale shark fins produced by the factory are sent to Guangzhou in Guangdong province. Shark skins are sold as leather into the bag trade, while whale shark lips, stomach and flesh are sold to restaurants. The real money-maker is shark liver oil for use in skincare products and lipstick, as well as Omega-3 health supplements.

In a year, the factory produces 200 tonnes of shark liver oil, extracted from all three shark species. The liver oil is sent to a processing plant in Hainan Island, where it is blended with other types of shark liver oil in preparation for export to the United States and Canada.

Such unlabelled exports contravene CITES rules as well as Chinese regulations. The factory general manager also admitted to smuggling whale shark meat and skin out of the country, and receiving substantial numbers of whale sharks from Taiwan, where harvesting of the species is illegal.

In a joint statement, Alex Hofford and Paul Hilton of WildLifeRisk said: “We went to Puqi three times in the last three years and on each occasion, the scale of the slaughter was truly staggering. How these harmless creatures, these gentle giants of the deep, can be slaughtered on such an industrial scale is beyond belief. It’s even more incredible that this carnage is all for the sake of non-essential lifestyle props such as lipsticks, face creams, health supplements and shark fin soup.

“We are calling on China’s regulatory authorities to enforce the international agreements on this illegal activity now, before these animals are brought closer to extinction.”

Hofford, co-director of WildLifeRisk, told the South China Morning Post that he had seen about five to six shark-processing plants in Puqi and had also heard reports of other shark processing plants in Xiamen in Fujian province.

“If you go (to Puqi) in summer, there are fields and fields of fins being laid out to dry,” he said.

On one visit to Guangzhou in 2012, the activists counted 260 large fins for sale in dried seafood markets: 136 from whale sharks, 69 from basking sharks and 55 from the great white shark.

Big hauls

In the eastern seaboard of China, fishermen from the provinces of Shandong in the north to Guangdong in the south are hauling in the biggest fish in the sea, sometimes as bycatch. There is a lot of money to be made; one whale shark can purportedly sell for up to 200,000 yuan (RM109,500). The sharks are being caught in the South China Sea as they pass the region on migratory journeys. These are the same sharks which ply the famous whale shark-spotting site of Ningaloo Reef off Australia’s north-west coast as well as the waters of the Philippines, Indonesia and even Mexico. Evidence gathered points to an extensive trade network fanning out from China across the globe.

                                                                                                                                                    (The Star Article Online , 11th February 2014)

                                                                                                   

PROVERB

     The proverb promotes the idea that to be fit and healthy you need to eat well and consume good food. If you eat well, you will be healthy; but if you eat badly you will have a bad health.You can use the saying “you are what you eat” when you want to point out the connection between food and health.

PROVERB

CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE 

“Has the cat got your tongue?” is an expression in the form of a question that originated in the mid-nineteenth century and was used when addressing a child who refused to answer a parent’s questions after some mischief. It is often shortened to “cat got your tongue?”. It means that you are having trouble thinking of a way to speak and/or answer a question that has been posed to you, so it seems like you cannot talk

Proverb

Two wrongs do not make a right.

What it means.......

• if a person does something to harm or offend us, that's wrong. If we do something to harm them back, that's wrong too.

How do I use it.....?

• Cursing on the road is a common  phenomenon amongst drivers. This should be strongly discouraged, no matter how angry a person may feel due to other driver's misconduct. Two wrongs do not make a right.

THE PLOT OF " THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY" - FORM 1

Exposition

1. Sherlock Holmes invited Dr Watson to solve a murder case in Boscombe Valley.
2. Charles McCarthy was found dead by his son, James McCarthy who was later accused of killing his own father.
3. Moran,  the gamekeeper saw both, James and Charles on the path to Boscombe Pool while his 14-year-old daughter saw them arguing.
4. During the trial, James mentioned hearing his father cried ‘Cooee’ and quickly ran towards him.
5. He found his father on the ground and his father’s last word was ‘Raat’.
6. When the judge asked what they were arguing about, he refused to reveal it and he also mentioned a grey coat.

Rising Action

1. At the hotel, Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and Inspector Lestrade met Alice Turner, who believes that James McCarthy is innocent.
2. Her father, John Turner and Charles McCarthy were friends when they were back in Australia.
3. Alice revealed that the argument was about her. Charles wanted James to marryAlice but James refused as he is still too young. Her father totally disapproves of them getting married.
4. When they wanted to see her father, she told them that her father is very ill and was shocked about  the murder.
5. Sherlock Holmes visited James in the prison and James told him that he is married.
6. Sherlock Holmes went to Boscombe Pool to collect evidence.
7. He followed the footprints and found the murder weapon which still has blood on it.
8. He revealed the murderer is a tall man, left-handed and limps on his right leg. He wore heavy boots and smokes Indian cigars.

Climax

1. At the hotel, Sherlock Holmes explained his findings to Dr Watson  that ‘Cooee’ is an Australian word and only recognised by  Australian and ‘Raat’ is actually a place in Australia, Ballarat.
2. The footprints he found have limps, a heavy-toed boots, the type worn in Australian bush.
3. The murderer is also left-handed as he hit Charles on the left side of the head.
4. He also found ashes of Indian cigar where only a rich person could afford it.

Falling Action

1. Responding to Sherlock Holmes letter, John Turner went to his house and later confessed to killing Charles.
2. He explained that he was before known as Black Jack of Ballarat and did things he wasn’t proud of.
3. He moved to England and turned a new leaf. He is a well and respected person in Boscombe Valley until he met Charles McCarthy 20 years ago and he was blackmailed by him since then.
4. Sherlock Holmes asked him to write a confession letter to be used if James is found guilty. Otherwise, he will destroy the letter.

Resolution

1. Seven months later, John Turner passed away.
2. James and Alice got married and Sherlock Holmes kept his promise and destroyed the confession letter.

SPM SAMPLE OF ESSAYS - DIRECTED WRITING

DIRECTED WRITING: 35 MARKS

DIRECTED: ARTICLE: Factual

You are concerned over the implications and long-term health effects of the haze. Write an article to the local newspaper expressing your concern based on all the notes below.

• the reasons behind the haze
• role of government and society
• steps that can be taken
• give relevant examples of:

-       health complications

-       measures

-       roles of government and individuals

When writing the article you should remember:

-       to lay out the letter carefully

-       to use paragraphs

-       that you letter is to the press

Haze: A Danger to Health

            The haze is a constant phenomenon faced by Malaysia and her neighboring countries. The haze is basically pollution of atmosphere, which is clogged with pollutants and other substances from forest fires.

            The haze is a direct effect of forest fire in Kalimantan and other parts of Indonesia due to slash and burn method of farming. The Indonesian authorities appear to have no power to control farmers from practicing such methods. The haze is further worsened by open burning practiced by most Malaysians. Open-field burning of rice straw by the rice planters and open burning of dried leaves and garbage done by the public are a few examples that done by Malaysian. Many are ignorant of the health effects of open burning.

            During the haze, hospitals and clinic often report a dramatic increase in respiratory problems, lung infections and asthma attack. The Air Pollution Index (API) usually indicates the hazardous and dangerous levels of pollution during this period. The haze has long-term side effects. Prolonged inhalation of polluted air will result in serious lung infection which particularly affects the elderly.

            The government must play its role to reduce the haze treat. It has to cooperate with the Indonesian authorities to stamp out forest fires. The culprits must be brought to justice, either through healthy fine or prison sentence. Constant vigilance would ensure the perpetrators do not repeat their offence.

The government should also raise the public awareness of the dangers of forest fire. Continuous campaign of the cause, solutions and steps-need-to-be-taken to reduce the haze need to be promoted through all types of social media like television, radio, newspaper and even via internet. The authorities should also provide assistance to farmers and introduce more sophisticated forest clearing methods.

            In Malaysia, strict laws must be imposed to penalize those who practice open burning. On-going campaigns on the dangers of open burning should be intensified. Individuals too have a role to play. They must participate in every campaign and stop burning. Students can advise their parents not to practice open burning.

            Every individual has to remember that we do not own the world, but instead we lent it from our future generations. We must protect our world so that our grandchildren would have a healthy earth to live.

Ahmad Harun bin Hashim

Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

 375 words

From: Penilaian Topik Vista SPM/Sasbadi/2009

ARTICLE: Article for School Magazine / Newsletter

In spite of government’s clear call to students to study English well, many students still show very little interest in studying the language. As Chairperson of the English Language Society, you are going to try to persuade the students to study the language by writing an article in the school newsletter. In the article you have to tell the students the importance of studying the language. Your article is given in the point form below:

• will help you to further your studies
• will help you to get a job
• will help you in your job
• will help you in your travels
• will help you to enjoy many interesting program in television
• will help you to appreciate many of the world’s most beautiful literary works

The Importance of Studying English

           

            It is a big concerned for teenagers nowadays as they are unaware of the importance of English language as they tend to ignore to learn the language. Students’ attitude towards the language is also crucial to make sure that these teenagers can face the future world better by learning English language as it is an international language.

            Although the government has repeatedly told us of the importance of English, many students are still not bothered about studying it seriously. There is also a campaign that still on to make all the Malaysian becomes a better English learner, which is ‘Enhance Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, Strengthen the English’. English is the most important and the most useful language in the world today. There are many reasons why you should study the language properly.

            First and foremost, English will definitely help you a lot when you want to further studies. Almost all books at university are written in English in all subjects. Plus, it is a compulsory for any candidate to pass English with credit before entering any universities. So, if you are poor in English, you will blow you chance for better education or worse, you are going to have a big problem studying at university.

            The second reason why you have to study English well is that it will help you to get a job. When you go for a job interview, the interviewer will surely talk to you in English. The first impression you should give in order to success and have the job is, to respond in English fluently. Your chances of getting the job are very slim if you stutter while interviewing.

            A good command in of English will also help you greatly in your job. If the company you work is actively involved in international trade, you have to speak to prospective customers in English. Miscommunication might occur if your English is bad. And this will put your company at risk and you will likely be dismissed if this happen.

            Good English will also help you a lot when you travel. Every country in the world studies English. Even the roadside stall-holders in China speak fairly good English! At least some of the people you meet on your travels in other countries can understand English. The language is certainly practical when you are lost in your trip. Communication problem will not happen if you can converse well in English. Inevitably, English is one of the languages used in any airport in the world in making announcement. Knowing English well, therefore, make travelling overseas easier.

            Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you will experience if you good in English. You will enjoy television’s best program. We must admit that many of the best program are produced by the Americans and British companies. High self confidence influenced by the program will indirect inculcate in yourself when you are fluent in the language. Quality time is worthily spent if you understand and enjoy the show.

            Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see the importance and realize how importance the language is for their own future. Although it is a second language in our country, it is now a main language all over the world.

544 words

DIRECTED: ARTICLE / REPORT: Newspaper Article / Report

There has been an attempted robbery in your area. As a newspaper reporter, you have been assigned to write a report of the incident for publication in a local newspaper. Using the notes below, write out your report.

• couple – taking a walk
• two men approached them
• ordered couple to give jewelry
• a struggle – husband injured
• one neighbor – taking a dog for a walk
• heard shouts – went to investigate
• robbers saw dog – fled
• couple made police report

Couple Foils Robbery Attempt

PULAU PINANG, Thu – An elderly businessman and his wife foiled a robbery attempt by two men armed with a screwdriver and a knife. The victims were reported safe from any bad injury.

            Tan Ah Wok, 60 and his wife were taking a morning walk near their home in Helen Heights yesterday when two men on a motorcycle stopped them under the pretext of asking for directions. As Mr. Tan was giving directions, one of the robbers pointed a knife at him and ordered them to keep quiet. He then relieved Mrs. Tan of her jewelry and instructed Mr. Tan to hand over his ring and watch. When he refused, a struggle ensued. Meanwhile, his accomplice grabbed a helmet and hit Mr. Tan on the head with it. On seeing this, his wife started screaming.

            One of their neighbors, R. Subramaniam, who was taking his dog for a walk, heard the screams and when to investigate. On seeing Subramaniam and his dog, the robbers fled. “I was taking my dog for a walk when I heard someone shouting for help. Knowing that something was wrong, I ran there as fast as I could. Before I reached the scene, the robbers fled on a motorbike. They were probably afraid of my Rottweiler.”

            Mr. Tan, who suffered a small cut on his head, was given outpatient treatment at a private clinic. He said that it was a horrified experience as he never expected the two men would attack his wife and him. He thought that they were lost and needed help. He also mentioned that the guard who in charge nowadays easily allowed the strangers to enter their residents. State CID Chief Supt Harun Din advised him and the people to be more careful in giving help to strangers. The guard also must be stricter in letting people from entering any residents without proper permission.

            He added that the suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were believed to be illegal immigrants. He said there had been similar incident last week when two men approached a factory worker who was on her way home after work. The duo then relieved her gold chain and cash. He advised the residents to be alert and reports to police any suspicious-looking characters lurking in their area.

380 words

From: Spot on Model Compositions and Summary/Oxford Fajar/2007

DIRECTED: REPORT – Police Report 

You witnessed an accident. The police officer has asked you to make a report. Use the points given below:

-       when the event happened

-       where the event took place

-       how it happened

-       description of the vehicles

-       step taken

To:       Sergeant Razali Kamrin

From:  Julia Selamat

Date:   7^th September 2011

Report of the accident on Jalan 2/14

            On 7^th September 2011 at 10.30 a.m., I was walking alone Jalan 2/14 which is next to the children’s playground. As I was about to cross the road to enter the park, I saw a car driving swiftly down Jalan 4/14. It was a Honda Civic with the number plate BEH 9110. Another car, a Toyota Vios 1.5 with plate number WHM 4657 came out of Jalan 4/14 as well. The Honda Civic was driving too fast that make it did not have time to avoid collision.

            The accident caused a loud crash. The Honda Civic hit the Toyota Vios on the driver’s door. The door could not be opened and the driver had to get out from the passenger’s door. The driver of the Toyota Vios was lucky as he survived with no physical injuries. Both air bags popped up when they collided to each other. They both were fortunate as their car was not badly damaged and dented.

The Toyota Vios’s windscreen was shattered to pieces. The Honda Civic’s headlight and signal light were smashed. There was plenty of glass on the road. The two drivers startled to argue. The driver of the Honda City was a woman. They blamed each other and the argument stopped when her mobile phone rang. Most of the passerby slowed down their vehicle to watch the accident. Some pedestrian came by and offered help.

As it happened, I ran into my house which is close by. I called the nearest police station and in ten minutes, a police car drove up. I told the police officer I had witnessed the accident and offered to come out to the station to give a statement. The cars were towed to the side of the road first, and then were brought to the police station before to workshop. Pictures were taken for insurance claim.

In my opinion, the driver of the Honda City is to blame for the accident. She was driving too fast and did not pay any attention to vehicles coming out from the side road. The driver of the Toyota Vios should have stopped at the junction.

Julia Selamat

Julia Selamat

355 words

Write Better Compositions and Summaries for SPM 1119 English/Oxford Fajar/2006

DIRECTED: REPORT – Book Report

As a class project, you have been asked to write a book report. You decide to write a report of a book you have just read.

Use the following notes in your report:

-       author

-       title

-       setting

-       synopsis

-       main characters

-       themes

-       response

“The Story of My Life” is an autobiography written by Helen Keller. It tells us how Helen Keller, who was deaf, blind and mute, defied the odds to become one of the most celebrated personalities in the world. The story was set in Alabama in 1997.

            In the first half of the book, Helen Keller writes about how she was afflicted with scarlet fever while she was still a baby and how illness left her deaf, blind and mute. The story outlines the frustration Helen Keller experienced as a child – alone in a dark and silent world – unable to communicate with anybody. The author then goes on to say how her life changed with the arrival of her new-employed teacher and nanny, Anne Mansfield Sullivan.

            The second part of the book relates how Helen Keller studied the deaf and dumb language and learnt how to write using Braille and then went to college and graduated. The story goes on to say how she spent the rest of her life helping the deaf and dumb all over the world.

            I enjoyed reading every page of the book. I found some sections of the book, especially those that deal with the early part of her life, poignant and touching. It made me realize how difficult life must be for the handicapped. It also made me realize how fortunate I was. It has made me more sympathetic towards the plight of those who are less fortunate than I am, especially the handicapped who has given up hope in the face of misfortune, and the severely handicapped who have lost the will to live.

            The story is very touching and informative. It arouses the feelings of the readers. I admire Helen Keller for her determination and diligence. I appreciate the painstaking efforts taken by the teacher. The book has a good moral lesson for all. It shows the triumph of the human spirit in the face of indomitable obstacles. It makes us wonder whether Helen Keller was just another victim of fate or whether her birth has a special significance. Was Helen Keller fortunate or unfortunate? Helen Keller was unfortunate to have suffered the cruel twist of fate but the world is fortunate to have had a person like her. Her life shining example to prove the adage, “where there is a will, there is a way”.

393 words

________________________________________________________________________________________

DIRECTED: REPORT – Report to Principal

You are very disappointed by the conditions and services provided by your school canteen. You decide to write a report to inform your school principal about the poor conditions and services of the canteen. These would include:

• insufficient table and benches
• food and drinks not covered
•  too little food counters
• dirty and clogged drains – smelly
•  food – expensive and lacks variety
• inadequate food – late comers have nothing to buy, to eat
• cold food – not fresh
• rude canteen workers

To        :          Mr. Hasnan bin Jalal,

                        The Principal,

                        Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata

From   :          Malik bin Abdul

Date    :          24 March 2011

Report about the School Canteen

            I am writing this report is to draw your attention regarding the school canteen.  Many of the students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permata are unhappy about the conditions at the school canteen. There were lots of complaints regarding this issue.

                        In the first place, there are insufficient tables and benches. Our school has a student population of over 1 000. There is only one period of recess time for all forms. More than 80 per cent of the students go to the canteen during recess to buy food and drinks. Unfortunately, there are only about twenty-five tables and fifty benches which can accommodate less than half the number of students. As a result, many students have to stand while eating.

            The food sold at the canteen not only expensive but lacks of variety. The menu is the same every day. For the past five years, ever since the present canteen management took over, students go back to the same food.

            The hygiene and preparation of food leave a lot to be desired. The food and drinks are not covered. They way canteen attendants dress speak volume about hygiene. With their lackadaisical attitude, the food they sell would one way or the other become contaminated.

            My fourth complaint about the canteen pertains to the etiquette of the canteen workers. They are rude and arrogant. They often shout at students. The students are always on the receiving end of their bad moods.

            We hope that conditions at the canteen will improve. The canteen should provide better amenities. There should also be a different menu everyday so that students will not have to taste the same food day in and day out. Cleanliness should be given top priority.

            We hope that you will look into our complaints and take steps to remedy the situation. The students are prepared to boycott the canteen if their complaints go unheeded.

Reported by:

Malik

Malik bin. Mohd Jalil

314 words

DIRECTED: FORMAL LETTER: Letter of Complaint

Raju a/l Lingam,

123 A, Lorong Bahagia,

Taman Sentosa,

07231 Bandar Baru Sentol,

Kelantan

__________________________________________________________

The President,

Bandar Baru Sentol Council,

Kompleks Utama,

07200 Bandar Baru Sentol                                                            16 JUNE 2011

Dear Sir,

Uncollected Rubbish and Clogged Drains

I am writing this letter is to attract your attention to the above title. As the representative of the community, I am calling to tell you that the 300 odd residents living in Taman Sentosa are extremely unhappy about the lackadaisical attitude of the local town council towards the uncollected rubbish and clogged drains in our area.

2.         The rubbish in our area has not been collected for more than a week. The rubbish is supposed to be collected on alternate days but this has not been the case. The town council workers collect the rubbish according to their own whims and fancies. The uncollected garbage has attracted not only flies and mosquitoes but also wild dogs which had attacked the residents on several occasions. These stray animals also scatter the rubbish and make the roads dirty and smelly. As a result, residents have to bear the discomfort of stench from the garbage and risk their health.

3.         We are also disappointed with the town council workers for not clearing the clogged drains which are filled with rubbish. The drains would usually overflow when there is heavy rain and the rubbish would then flow into the compounds of our houses. Besides, putting up with the unbearable stench emitted from them, the residents have to spend hours cleaning their compounds of rotten vegetables, food leftovers and other rubbish.

4.         Due to dengue outbreak recently, we are really concerned about the residents’ health especially the children. Fogging service also was not done accordingly to the schedule. The fogging authority only did their job whenever a case of dengue aroused. They even fogging the neighbourhood late at night that caused us to leave the residents. They need to consider the residents who have babies and also to those who need to wake up early in the morning for work. The fogging also caused the people to have breathing problem when we were not told the exact time of fogging.

5.         We have made numerous appeals to the Municipal Council to look into our complaints but to no avail. We have been putting up with this predicament for more than a week. We hope the health authorities would do something to check these health hazards.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Raju

(RAJU a/l MANIAM)

380 words

DIRECTED: FORMAL LETTER: Letter of Application

You came across the following advertisement for the post Accounts Assistant Clerk.Write a letter of application together with curriculum vitae to the manager.

In your letter, include the following:

-       your curriculum vitae

-       the reasons for your interest in the job

-       your ability to work independently

-       pursuing a degree in Accountancy

Do remember to:

-       use the formal letter

-       use all the points given

-       elaborate each points given

Chong Mei Lin,

40, Jalan Templer,

Taman Hati Bersih,

76 000 Seremban,

Negeri Sembilan

__________________________________________________________

The Manager,

Lim and Sons Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.,

Lot 123, Interstate Industrial Area,

76 001 Nilai,

Negeri Sembilan                                                                             18 JULY 2010

Dear Sir / Madam,

Application for the Post of Accounts Assistant

I wish to apply for the post of Accounts Assistant as advertised in The New Strait Times dated 15^th July 2011.

2.         I have the necessary qualifications as stated in my curriculum vitae which is attached to this letter. I have experience working in both food manufacturing and also auto manufacturing fields. I am currently working in Lazat Ice Cream Sdn. Bhd. in capacity of an Accounts Assistant and have been here since January 2008. Before this, I was working in TFR Auto Enterprise as an Accounts clerk. Since my present position offers little prospect for career advancement, I would like to be attached to a fairly large organisation such as yours.

3.         I would like to work in Nilai as I intend to further my studies and get professional qualification. I have registered with a college in Nilai to do ACCA on part-time basis. With this high additional education level and knowledge, I can perform better in applying the accounts knowledge in the future job.

4.         I can assure you that I am capable person who can work independently. I am able to handle full sets of accounts, up to three sets at a time. I am interested in working with a company like yours as I feel I can grow well with the company. I am a team player, adapt easily to any working environments and can work with people from all works of life.

5.         I was active in extra-curricular activities and was considered as responsible and dedicated worker. I led and organised many activities for the school clubs so I am confident that I can be an asset to your company in this capacity. Furthermore, i have a good command of English.

6.         In view of my qualification and experience, I would expect a salary more than RM 2 000. And since I have my own car, I would have no problems travelling outstation should the job require.

7.         I look forward to hearing from you and I am fully prepared to attend an interview at any time convenient to you.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Raju

(RAJU a/l MANIAM)

358 words

DIRECTED: INFORMAL LETTER

Your friend in Singapore has written to you to inform you that his cousin in Penang was down with dengue fever. He would like to know the situation in Malaysia as he plans to bring his family over for the holidays in June. Write a letter to brief him about the current situation.

In your letter, include the following:

• express concern over the health of your friend’s cousin
• news about the situation
• steps taken authorities
• present situation

Do remember to:

• use the informal letter format
• use all the points given
• expand each of the points given
• write in paragraph

No. 34, Street of Fame,

Taman Bukit Bintang,

Bukit Bintang,

67500 Ipoh,

Perak

14 January 2011

Dear John,

           

            How are you? I’m sorry to hear that your cousin had dengue fever. This problem seems to have become very serious all of sudden. We always feel that the problem is not our concern until someone close to us is affected.

            My neighbour’s daughter who was in Standard 6 last year could not sit for UPSR examination because she was down with dengue fever on the eve of the exam. Fortunately, the authorities gave her an exemption so she is now in Form One. There were also a few students taking the examination in the hospital.

            According to the news, students made up nearly 30 per cent of the 1 500 suspected cases over the first three weeks of the year. About 53 per cent of 621 confirmed cases last year comprised children and youth under the age of 24. These statistics are quite worrying. This has prompted the health ministry to increase checks on aedes breeding grounds in school and public areas. The construction sites are largely to blamed. The problem is made worse by the rainy season. The stagnating water attract the mosquitoes to lay egg and breeding on the areas.

            The authorities have taken various steps to control the situation. Fogging has been carried out in many public areas and most of the housing estates. Contractors at the construction sites have been instructed to take appropriate actions and warned to clean up. They could be fined up to RM 3 000 for breeding aedes mosquitoes. Lot of campaigns through the television, radio and newspapers were taken to make people aware of the issue and take precaution rather than cure them.

            Before the long holidays for the Chinese New Year, schools all over Malaysia carried out a clean-up campaign of the school compound. The residents’ association in my housing are also organised a family day clean-up of the housing estate. There were huge piles of rubbish especially old tyres and containers littered by the hawkers near the might market site.

            The situation in Malaysia has improved since the end of January. There have been no reports of new cases of dengue. So, don’t worry. You can bring your family for a holiday here in June. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.

            Send my regard to your mom and dad. Do take care.

Yours sincerely,

Harun Din

387 words

DIRECTED: SPEECH

Your school is having a month-long ‘A Healthy Body Campaign’. As President of the Health Club of your school, you decide to give a speech on the ‘Tak nak Campaign’ recently launched by the government.

"Tak Nak Campaign"

            A very good morning to our dear Principal, Mr. Hasnan bin Jaafar, teachers and students.

            Recently, our former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched an anti-smoking campaign called “Tak Nak”. You can now see this short and rhyming catch phrase “Tak Nak” everywhere – on billboards, posters, TV ads, and sometimes I even hear it on the radio. Though some people have criticized our government for setting aside a staggering sum of RM100 million over 6 years for the campaign, it is nothing compared to the huge amounts that tobacco companies spend to promote smoking.

            But in this war against smoking, money definitely talks; it is necessary for the "Tak Nak" Campaign to constantly remind us of the hazard of smoking because about 50 Malaysian teenagers light up for the first time every day. In fact, some of these youth progress steadily from this to regular use, with addiction raking hold within a few years. And this is despite the warning on every pack of cigarettes that states unequivocally “Smoking is dangerous to your health”.

            What can the "Tak Nak" Campaign do to combat this? Their aggressive advertising creates media awareness among the public, especially among the fashionable young crowd, that smokers have yellowed teeth and suffer from shortness of breath and tells them that it is not cool to smoke. It is also not responsible of them to affect non-smokers with second-hand smoke.

            Also, there is a succession of infomercials on TV and in the papers showing the debilitating effects of tobacco addiction on the body and gruesome statistics of smoke-related deaths. We are now familiar with the graphic pictures of damaged lungs on billboards which should scare people into not smoking. This works, as I know some of my friends are quitting now, or trying to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke per week.

            However, I feel any anti-smoking campaign is more effective if other people and organisations are actively involved too. Yes, the first step has been taken by the top, but sad to say, many of our politicians smoke themselves. Nearer to home, so do some of our parents and teachers.

            These adults have to be good role models by not smoking themselves. If they do smoke, they should tell their children and students that they regret that they ever started, and then take steps to quit smoking as soon as possible. They must practice what they preach.

On a more positive note, I commend the Malaysia Amateur Athletic Union for its zero-tolerance of smoking because they know that smoking and health just do not mix. How can our sportsmen excel if they cannot stop smoking.

Dear teachers and students, thank you for your attention. Let me end my speech by reiterating that smoking is a bad habit, so make "Tak Nak" your mantra. If you have started smoking, say "Tak Nak" and quit! And if you haven’t started smoking, say know that smoking not only damages your health but you are also literally burning your money.

502 words