Galvez Victoria Francesca

Primary 5 and 6 Suggested Comprehension Open-Ended (COE) Passage

Adapted from Sing to the dawn (page 48 to 49), by Ho Minfong, Victoria
Galvezs copy, Marshall Cavendish Editions, 397 pages.
1 Dinner that night was a tense and silent meal. Even the two smaller children
sensed the uneasiness within the family, and refrained from their usual
teasing and giggling. Dawan noticed with silent gratitude that her mother had
added fishballs to the vegetable soup, probably in the hope that this treat
would soften her husbands mood.
2 However, when she tried to bring up the subject of her daughters schooling,
Dawans mother was immediately silenced by him. What is all this talk of
Dawan going away to study? he snapped. Its too early to even consider it.
Let it wait for a few days.
3 But if Im really going, I should leave within the week, Dawan protested.
4 Her father glared at her. I said, let it wait!
5 It was not until the end of the meal, as Dawan rose to collect the dirty
dishes, that she mustered up enough courage to ask her father why he would
be against letting her accept her scholarship.
6 He shoved a last spoonful of rice into his mouth, squinting savagely at
Dawan. He was not used to being challenged for his actions. Havent you
had enough schooling? Why do you want to keep studying?
7 Dawan bit her lip and silently gathered the remaining dishes. As she walked
away to the kitchen, she couldnt help but notice the soft smile on her
brothers, Kwais, face. Dawan attempted to catch his eye, but he was
nervously drumming his fingers on the floorboards, and refused to look at her.
8 Her mind drifted to the exchange they had earlier that day. If you do not
take up the scholarship, I will have a shot at it! Besides, the scholarship is
rightfully mine, Kwai had proclaimed.
9 If I had won the scholarship, would you let me go to school, Father? Kwai
now asked abruptly.
10 You didnt win anything! his father spat out. Whats the sense of thinking
about that now?
11 But if I had, Father? Kwai persisted.
12 Dawan shot her brother a pleading look, dreading what he might say next.
Kwai caught her glare but lowered his head deliberately to ignore her.

13 If youd won, itd be different, the father replied. Youre a boy, and more
schooling would have been useful for you. He added wistfully, And useful for
me too. Why, you cold come back and help me to Then he shook his head,
as if to clear old dreams away, and sighed.
14 Kwai remained silent and exited the house.
15 As soon as she had finished washing the dishes, Dawan burst outside to
locate Kwai. But he had scooted off on his own again. Feeling extremely
restless, Dawan wandered down to the river.
16 In the velvet-warm sky, the first few stars had begun to glimmer, flicking
their glow onto the river water below. For the first time, Dawan pondered the
question of studying in the City. Was it right to assert herself, to stand in
Kwais way? Perhaps her father was right; with more schooling, Kwai could
find good jobs, and earn some money to help the family. Maybe some day he
might even become strong and important, and have the power to change the
injustices in their village and country.
17 And Dawan? What could she do? She was just a girl. She would grow up
to be a wife and mother. What could she do with more learning?
18 Nothing, the stars whispered coldly. Everything! their reflections in the river
answered defiantly.

Possible COE questions

1. What do you think family dinners were usually like? How was this dinner
different from the usual dinners? (Inferential and Direct)
Family dinners were probably relaxed and filled with conversation, laughter
and teasing (1, Inferred). In contrast, this dinner was strained and quiet (1).
2. Why do you think Dawans mother added fishballs to the vegetable soup?
(Inferential and Direct)
The fishballs were a luxury that Dawans mother hoped would ease her
husbands agitation (1), and put him in a better mood when she raised the
topic of Dawans scholarship and education (1, inferred).
3. Why do you think there was a soft smile on Kwais face when their father
berated Dawan? (Inferential and Direct)
Kwai was probably secretly delighted that their father was not in favour of
Dawan taking up the scholarship (1, Inferred), because the scholarship would
then be given to him (1).
4. Give two pieces of evidence to show that Kwai was intentionally avoiding
Dawans gaze at the dinner table. (Direct)
Dawan tried to meet Kwais eyes, but Kwai nervously tapped his fingers on
the floorboards and brushed her gaze aside (1). Also, when Kwai met
Dawans eyes, he put his head down to avoid her gaze (1).
5. How do you think Kwai felt when the scholarship went to Dawan? Why did
he feel this way? (Inferential and Direct)
Kwai probably felt bitter / resentful / wronged (1, inferred) because he
believed that the scholarship should have gone to him and not Dawan (1).
6. Do you think that Dawans father believed that women needed to be highly
educated? Give two reasons to support your answer. (Inferential and Direct)
Dawans father probably did not believe that women needed to be highly
educated (1, inferred). He thought that women would eventually be relegated
to the domestic sphere as wives and mothers, and could not maximise the
potentials that education could give (1).
7. Do you think that Dawans father believed that women needed to be highly
educated? Give two reasons to support your answer. (Inferential and Direct)
Dawans father probably believed that men needed to be highly educated (1,
inferred). Such men could gain favourable employment, earn money and
sustain the family. They could also alter the inequalities in the village and
country (1).

8. From paragraph 16, how do you think Dawan felt about the question of
studying in the City? Give evidence to support your answer. (Inferential and
Direct)
Dawan probably felt doubtful / unsure / tentative about studying in the City (1,
inferred). She wondered if it was right to voice her stance and hinder Kwais
path (1).
9. From paragraph 18, how do you think Dawan eventually felt about taking
up the scholarship? Why did she feel this way?
Dawan was probably certain / insistent / defiant about taking up the
scholarship (1, inferred). She was sure that, with the scholarship, she could
do all a man or her brother could do for her family, village and country (1).
10. True / False
10a. Dawans father was a figure of authority in the house.
True. Dawans father was not accustomed to being challenged for his actions.
10b. Dawans father would have preferred Kwai, to Dawan, to win the
scholarship.
True. Dawans father believed that more schooling would have been useful for
a boy than a girl. Kwais education would have been useful to Kwai and his
father.
11. Sequence of events
Dawans mother tried to raise the topic of Dawans schooling: 1
Dawans father snapped and silenced Dawans mother: 2
Kwai asked his father if he would have allowed Kwai to take up the
scholarship if he had won it: 3
Kwai exited the house silently and disappeared: 4