A Camping Trip

It was a cold and windy night. It was three hours since the boys last rested. The night forest was so dark that it was difficult for them to make their way around, even though they each had a torchlight and a compass to direct them. Richard, who was all round and plump from too much good food, began to grumble. "My stomach's growling! It's been four hours since our last meal! And my legs are so tired, I can hardly move another step!" Don and Ashton sighed because they were just as tired and hungry but they never complained half as much as Richard. Tired of Richard's complaints, they walked to the nearest clearing to spend the night. Richard sat down and was asleep in less than five minutes, so it was up to Don and Ashton to pitch the tents. The two boys were extremely efficient in their work, so they soon had their tent tautand ready for use. They looked at Richard who was fast asleep. They decided to play a prank on him to teach him a lesson for being so lazy on this camping trip. They gathered some grass for their costumes and smeared mud all over themselves. Then, they each looked for a long branch which looked like spears in the dark and woke Richard with a rough push. When Richard opened his eyes, all he saw were two dark figures standing above him with spears in their hands. He thought they were people of the forest tribes and he shivered. Don and Ashton told him that they were cannibals looking for their dinner. Richard looked as if he would make them a splendid meal because he was so fat and juicy. Richard was so frightened that he begged for his life. The two boys saw how pitiful Richard looked and burst out laughing. Richard was angry for a while but he soon forgave Don and Ashton. taut smeared tight blackened or dirtied with mud

Camping in the highlands

The highlands have their fascination for those who love camping. With its hills and dales, green valleys, murmuring rivers and silence only to be broken by the chirping of birds, and the buzzing of beetles, the attraction will be endless. One must be a seeker and be willing to keep company with nature, be physically hardy and resolute to face hardships have a philosophical attitude and be poetically inclined to enjoy the pleasures of camping in the highlands. It would be to have one or two companions to share the joy and adventures of camping in the highlands. For a city-bred person who is accustomed to noise, dust, smells and all sorts of pollutions, camping in the highlands has its thrills from sunrise to sunset. One may study the habits of birds and animals. One may enjoy the sky at night with its sentinel stars. One also can find time to read, draw or reflect. That is why most of the saints of the world sought the peace of caves and mountains. To enjoy camping, one must be familiar with forest craft even though one need not be an expert. For instance, one must enjoy walking, be able to climb trees and hills, be able to satisfy with simple food which he has to prepare, and revere the habitat of animals. He must be able to pitch his tent and know how to go about preparing the camp site. A tent when properly set up will give a certain amount of protection against wind and rain as well as shelter for sleeping. A provision box should be well provided with necessary things for making food, a few plates, cups and saucers and other necessary items for cooking. One must take pleasure in cooking, otherwise there mustn't be enough food to last for the period of camping. A radio set or a casette player with a selected list of tapes would help drive away the silence and loneliness of the night. Anyway before going on a camp one must plan well to avoid disappointments. Above all what is needed is a mind to enjoy it. Great philosophers and writers have praised the value of camping in the great open. For instance, R. L. Stevenson praises such a life in his 'night among the pines'. Thoreau, the American philosopher has a lot to say about such a life far from the maddening crowd. It I will certainly enlarge ones views of life and may help one to see the hands of God shaping nature around us.

A Picnic by the Sea

Teluk Kemang is about 12 kilometres from Port Dickson town in Negeri Sembilan. It is a popular beach where many people go to and relax on. It was on one of the days of the Chinese New Year holidays that we had a picnic at Teluk Kemang. I went there with my uncle and his family. There were five of us, my uncle, his wife, their two young children and me. My uncle drove us there in his car. We arrived there at about ten in the morning. The beach was already crowded with other holiday-makers. Anyhow we managed to get a place in the shade of a large tree and we put our things there. My aunt laid out a mat for us to sit on. In double-quick time we were enjoying ourselves in the sea, except my aunt. She just sat on the mat watching us. The water was cool and refreshing and I loved splashing it on my cousins. However the hot sun above can be quite uncomfortable. So after about an hour or so, my uncle told us to sit in the shade for a while. The sun was getting increasingly hot. So we reluctantly came out of the sea. In the shade of some trees we built some sandcastles. Time passed so quickly. Soon we heard my aunt calling us to have lunch. We ran to her and helped ourselves to the delicious curry she had brought. Then we had several glasses of ice-cold drink from the Thermos flask. After lunch we played a while more in the sea. The sun was just too hot. So we walked over to one of the hotels nearby and washed ourselves with clean freshwater. When we returned, my aunt had already packed everything in the car. So all of us got into the car and my uncle drove us back home to Seremban. lay out mat In double quick time to arrange something on a flat surface a small piece of cloth very quickly

Composition helps the student to express his views on what is happening in the world around him, besides expressing personal thoughts, feelings and experiences.

A Day at the Seaside

The day dawned bright and sunny. It was ideal for a picnic by the sea. We quickly packed some refreshments and swimming costumes, not forgetting our cameras and deck chairs. Excitedly, we drove off from the city of George Town through the picturesque fishing village near Tanjung Tokong in Penang, waiting to catch a glimpse of the sea. At last, we sighted the blue waters, sparkling in the sunlight. We looked out for a clean and shady spot to spend the day as we cruised along. It was a joy to see the graceful coconut palms swaying in the breeze. We saw, too, fishermen's little houses on stilts scattered along the share. Finally, we parked our car at a shady spot under some coconut palms. The white, sandy beach was full of tiny crabs scurrying about. My sister and I could not resist catching them. The shells we picked were also interesting. Some were shaped like conical hats, others like fans and there were some spiral-shaped ones tinted with grey and brown hues. One large, grey shell with a long, narrow slit produced the sound of sea waves as I held it to my ear. The pieces of driftwood brought in at high tide by the waves were of artistic shapes. These we collected for flowerarrangement. After a while, we swam in the sea which was cool and pleasant. I saw sailing boats in the distance and fishermen busy with their catch. Then we sat on the beach and ate sandwiches, cookies, peanuts and fruit followed by iced drinks. The sun was now fiercely hot, and we felt tired and sleepy as we lay on the sandy beach. My brother took snaps of us playing in the sea and climbing up high rocks. After our lunch of curry and rice, we swam again till the late afternoon before we changed for our journey home. It was an enjoyable day by the sea as it was a welcome change from our usual busy and monotonous routine in the city. scurry slit monotonous to move quickly, with small short steps a straight narrow cut or opening in something staying the same and not changing and therefore boring

You went to the beach on a public holiday and you found the beach crowded. Describe the scene in not less than 350 words Striking sunshades and stunning swimming costumes! Swarms of people! Shrieks of delight and yells! Areas of music! Such were the sights and sounds that greeted me as I surveyed the surroundings one morning on a public holiday. All my hopes of taking a long walk on the beach and maybe reading a book under a shady tree were dashed. It looked as though the whole population had descended on this two-kilometer strip of sandy land bordered by the deep-blue shimmering sea. Each person seemed to have started out with the same idea in mind: to take advantage of the public holiday and the light, sunny day for a wonderful outing with friends or family. The horde of people set up sunshades and picked out picnic spots wherever there was space. They laid out mats as if to demarcate their territory. Soon, the whole beach was taken up. Everyone had to tread cautiously to avoid stepping on or knocking into others. A big orange and white sunshade in the center of the beach caught my eye. On a deckchair under it lounged a woman wearing a dark blue swimsuit. A pair of sunglasses dangled from her fingers as she watched her husband being buried up to his neck in the sand by their six-year-old son. Another son and a daughter were busy building a sandcastle nearby. Some small talk was exchanged and chuckles and laughter followed. What a picture of sentiment! In the sea, a black mass could be seen bobbing up and down. It was clearly impossible to distinguish one person from another. Swimming was done with difficulty and one could hardly get any satisfaction and enjoyment out of it. What the people received were bumps and kicks: there were plenty of collisions! I noticed a man trying to coax a little boy to take dip in the water. The boy was practically screaming his head off with fright. The overall scene could be likened to a football match where throngs of spectators filled the stadium to its full capacity and more were still trying to get in. They had to put up with the discomfort of being crammed together. It was certainly a mistake coming to the beach. I vowed never to set foot on one again on a public holiday. shimmering demarcate crammed to shine with soft light that changes strength to show the limits of something to fill an area with people

A seaside resort on a rainy day

Teluk Kemang eight miles from Port Dickson town, is a very popular holiday spot. The beach is covered with lovely white sand and the sea is usually calm and inviting here. Furthermore the water's edge does not change appreciably during low and high tides. So a bather does not have to wade far to get to a decent depth. Come Sundays and holidays, the beach is packed to capacity. This Sunday is no different. When I arrive by car with a group of friends, I have to hunt high and low for a parking space. After some time I find one a few hundred meters from the beach. We do not complain for we are lucky to find one. In double-quick time we are in the sea, swimming to and fro and generally having a good time. From the water I can see throngs of people on the beach. Some are standing, some are sitting while the rest walk leisurely around. Some children are making sand-castles and a couple of white bodies are spread out on the beach, presumably sun-bathing. Too bad for them, the sun is hidden behind black clouds. Black clouds! The thought suddenly occurs to me that it is going to rain. As if in direct response to my thoughts, the rain comes, thick and furious. I can feel the sting of the raindrops falling on my bare shoulders. The sea seems to boil under the incessant onslaught of falling raindrops. I can see the bathers, including me, crouching down as low as we can get into the water to avoid the painful drops. Through the blurring rain, I see people on the beach rushing madly for shelter. Most of the holiday-makers who come here are in their best Sunday clothes. They have no intention of swimming. These people are mainly harried city workers who come here to join in the happy Sunday atmosphere. However this Sunday is not for them. Soon most of them who do not find shelter quick enough are soaked to the skin their clothes, hairdo, makeup and all thoughts of a cheery holiday ruined by the relentless rain. They huddle remorsefully under whatever shelter that are available in the stalls, in the hotels, under the huge trees, in the bus. Some bravely stand in the rain with their umbrellas. What a pathetic sight they present. The beach is completely deserted. The souvenir pedlars are more prepared for the rain for they cover their wares quickly and effectively with plastic sheets. It is obvious that they have had a lot of practice at this. The speed-boats that take holiday-makers for a ride around the bay for a fee are idle. The drivers sit forlornly in the boats, waiting for the rain to stop. Those of us in the sea carry on with our fun. The feeling of getting caught in the rain while in the sea is quite invigorating. Water, water everywhere and enough for anyone to drink. All he has to do is to open his mouth, above the sea that is.

Eventually I can feel the waves becoming larger and the wind stronger. In a few minutes swimming becomes impossible as the waves become huge and angry and the wind begins to get cold. I signal to my friends to get out. Emerging from the warm sea into the cold driving rain is like stepping from a warm bed into a refrigerator. We shiver uncontrollably. So we run to the car. It is so wonderful to be inside the warm car but what a mess we make inside the car; sand, water and salt everywhere. I will have to clean the car when I get home. When I start the engine to move off, I can see buses and cars leaving the beach. It seems like these people have decided to go home too. Judging from the intensity of the storm, I reckon it will carry on for a few hours. There is no point hanging around. Still there are many stubborn holidaymakers braving the pouring rain, waiting for the rain to go away till the seaside becomes cheery and sunny once again.

My favorite activity
The place where I live is just a stone's throw away from the sea. Ever since Dad took up a job on Penang island ten years ago, we have been living in Dad's ideal house that faces the sea. As he was born and bred in a fishing village, the sea had always been part and parcel of his life. My siblings and I also share the same affinityfor the sea. School, assignments and household chores usually keep us busy during weekdays. However, come weekends, there is nothing more exciting than the sea to lure us to its beaches. My favorite spot is a secluded one not far from my house. Nestled among tall coconut trees, it offers an impressive view of the beach. Here, I will spend hours sunbathing on the dazzling, white sand. The waves race towards the shore with its frothy white foam. It is a beautiful sigh to behold. I am reminded of the splendor of nature. The lapping of the waves and the sounds they make upon reaching the shore remind me of the swishing of skirts by a row of dancing maidens. It sounds like an orchestra in performance. I am always in awe of the different sounds made by the tireless wind. Sometimes, it is a gentle breeze that caresses my skin and ruffles my hair. Sometimes, it sounds like a beloved's soft murmur. At other times, however, the wind sounds disgruntled as it shrieks and howls. Then, I can feel its sting as it blows my hair onto my face. However, I am not alone on the beach. Along the edge of the water, I can see tiny hermit crabs scurrying about aimlessly on the sandy beach. Once in a while, a flock of birds will soar above me, flapping their wings gracefully as if they do not have a care in the world. I am content to spend hours at length at the beach. However, as the aroma of Mum's cooking wafts in the air, I am suddenly aware of my hunger pangs. I head for home, knowing that the beach will still be there tomorrow. a stone's throw away a short distance away affinity disgruntled strong feeling angry

A Trip To The Market

It was scarcely six in the morning when my mother woke me up to go marketing with her. " Boy, boy! Wake up or the best stuff at the market will be gone!" my mother's voice rang through my room. My eyelids were so heavy that when I opened them to look at her, all I saw was a blurred mass in front of me. I dragged myself from bed and began to change. I was grateful for the short walk to the market because it gave me a chance to wake up before getting there. My mother went on and on about what she was going to buy for the day. That also helped wake me up. By the end of that short walk, I gathered that she was going to cook stew shepherd's pie for the day. The market was stirring with activity. Even though I was wearing sneakers, I made it a point to avoid the fish stalls where the floors were always muddy and wet. The old chicken seller was as friendly as usual, greeting my mother with the widest grin. I was just surprised his dentures did not fall out of his mouth with such a wide smile. My mother bargained hard for the best price and they landed on a price they could both agree after two minutes. When my mother finished her marketing, we sat down at the food centre for our breakfast. I looked into the plastic bags and saw that she had some fish in them too. It is too bad that I seldom pay attention to how my mother chooses the food that she buys, preferring instead to pay more attention to the people around me. scarcely mass grin barely or hardly solid object smile

Hari Raya Celebrations

Every year, after one month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Puasa which falls in the month of Syawal. All Muslims celebrate the day with great joy. In the morning, they go to the mosque to pray. Then, on returning home, they receive guests and relatives who come to pay them a call. Days before, the womenfolk make many varieties of cakes, cookies and sweetmeats. They also cook 'rendang' curries and prepare 'satay' to go with the 'ketupat'. Homes are decorated with many coloured lights all over the garden. Small lamps are lit and placed along the driveway. On Hari Raya Day, many Malaysians visit their Muslim friends to share their joy. They receive warm hospitality and are entertained to a feast of specially prepared food. Boys and girls wear new clothes and shoes. Girls wear jewellery and boys new 'songkoks'. The town is usually crowded with Muslims dressed gaily and going about. They visit their friends and relatives while some go to the cinemas or to the Lake Gardens. Many, however, go back to their 'kampungs' to celebrate the festival with their parents. It is also a time for family reunions. Everyone rejoices during this festive season. fasting satay partial or temporary abstinence from food A dish of southeast Asia consisting of strips of marinated meat, poultry, or seafood grilled on skewers and dipped in peanut sauce. kampung is a word in Malay and Indonesian language which means "village".

kampung

Chinese New Year

Chinese all over the world celebrate Chinese New Year in February when the Lunar Year usually begins. In Malaysia, the Chinese celebrate the event with a festive spirit as it is the most important festival to them and every Chinese home is made ready for the great event. The preparations begin a month or so earlier as there are many things to be done before the great day arrives. Shops and supermarkets stock all kinds of Chinesedelicacies, eg. sweetmeats, melon seeds and packets of specialities such as groundnuts which the Chinese must obtain and store up for the festival. In Chinese homes, the womenfolk get busy making cakes, biscuits, glutinous rice cakes and jellies which are stored away carefully, out of the reach of young children. Homes are spruced up, new curtains sewn, and new cushions and carpets bought to give the home a new look. Red lanterns are hung outside and new pots of flowers and Mandarin orange plants are placed in the garden. Children are the ones who enjoy the festive season most. They receive red packets containing money from their parents and their elders. New dresses are worn and old things cast aside as the New Year is supposed to be the start of a new period in their lives and everyone follows these traditional customs. On New Year's eve, the whole family gathers in the parents' home for a re-union dinner. Many delicious dishes make up the meal and everyone enjoys himself. This is only the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations which stretch on for a period of fifteen days. delicacy spruce up something especially rare or expensive that is good to eat to make someone or something cleaner and tidier or to improve the way they appear generally to get rid of something

cast aside

Composition helps the student to express his views on what is happening in the world around him, besides expressing personal thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Deepavali

Deepavali is celebrated in Malaysia by Hindus of Indian origin. It is the festival of lights which symbolise the triumph of the good over the evil. It usually falls in November yearly. Hindus celebrate Deepavali with all the traditional customs. Weeks before the festival, Hindus start preparing their homes and clean them up for the festival. New curtains are put up and old furniture replaced. Traditional cakes, sweetmeats, biscuits and a variety of special eats are prepared by the womenfolk. New clothes are purchased for the family and everyone is gay and excited. Numerous lights are placed outside the home at the entrance, and it is a beautiful sight to behold in the dark. Early on Deepavali morning, Hindus start the day with a bath and put on fresh, new clothes. Girls put on new frocks or skirts and blouses while the boys show off their new shirts and pants. The elder folk visit the temple to offer prayers to God for his mercies and blessings on the family. They then return home to have a grand breakfast with curry, Indian pancakes, and hot coffee or tea. This is followed by sweets and delicacies which are laid attractively on the table. Soon, guests start coming and the 'open house' has become very much a feature of the Malaysian way of life, a symbol of the warm hospitality of its people. The day ends with children playing happily with fireworks in the garden. triumph eats frock a very great success, achievement or victory ( slang ) food, especially snacks a dress

A visit to the night market

Describe the scene at a night market that you have visited Every Thursday from 6.00 p.m to about 10.00 p.m, a night market is set up on the road in front of a row of shop houses near where I live. There are many vendors plying their wares at the night market, and it has become a regular thing for me to visit the night market. One Thursday evening at about 7.00 p.m, my sister and I paid a visit to the night market. It was not completely dark yet but the vendors had already lit their portable fluorescent lamps. From a distance the lamps seemed to add brilliance to the living sea of human bodies that had congregated at the market. We stepped into the market carefully as there were many people there. In fact, we had to be careful not to knock into the other shoppers. Our first stop was the food stalls. There were vendors selling cakes, biscuits, buns, dumplings, dim sum, noodles and many other local tidbits and delicacies. we bought some buns and dumplings for my parents and other siblings at home. We then walked over to the fruit stall to buy some fruits. Next to the fruit stall, a medicine seller had set up shop and was talking himself hoarse extolling the efficacy of his medicine to half-interested shoppers. Poor man, if he went on like that, he might need the medicine himself, whatever it was good for. Next, we stopped and bought some vegetables at our regular vegetable stall. That was the last thing we needed to buy. As it was still only 7.30 p.m. we decided to walk around a bit and look at the things on sale. There were people selling toys, pirated video CDs, clothes, belts, books, posters, mobile phone casings, balloons, crockery and all sorts of goods. Business seemed to be good for most of the vendors. There was no shortage of buyers. Everyone seemed to have something to sell or to buy. The sight, sound and smell of the market were really quite intense. So after spending another ten minutes or so in the market, I yearned for the peace and quiet of home. So I motioned to my sister to go home. Together we walked carefully out of the night market and headed home. congregated extolling motioned to come together in a large group of people to praise something or someone very much to make a signal to someone

A market scene
A market is a place where we buy vegetables, fruits, fish and meat. It is the biggest concentration of noise every morning. It is filled with a crowd of mainly buyers. The Central Market in Kuala Lumpur is not only a landmark but is also one of the best attractions in the city. It is really an experience to go round the stalls during their busy hours. If you happen to be careless about your wallet beware of the pickpocket. Business at the Central Market starts in the early hours of the day. Vans and lorries bring loads of fish and meat to the vendors. Usually nonperishable things are brought overnight. But green vegetables are brought early in the morning. The smooth and efficient working of the market is really appreciable. This market is in a huge concrete building. The stalls are arranged in beautiful rows, They are also classified according to the goods they deal with. Fruits, vegetables, fish, fowls and meat; all have their respective dealers. There are also the platform vendors who add to the confusion of the place. Each class of vendors also has a portion allotted to them. Nice things are being sold in this market. Buyers and sellers, haggle and haggle over prices. They push and jostle to get the best offer. In addition it is also filled with the angry voices of buyers and sellers. Now and then, a fellow will come to you with an old pen or watch; be careful before buying. It may be a stolen stuff and you may be get into trouble with the police. In the midst of all these confusions, the sellers do abrisk trade. The market is under city authorities. So health inspectors are responsible for its cleanliness. They have to see that the food stuffs that are sold are free from defects. Thus unscrupulous stall keepers and vendors are warned against selling rotten,unpalatable or poisonous food stuff. nonperishable Of food: Processed or packaged to withstand prolonged storage. trade or business that is brisk is very busy, with a lot of products being sold food that is unpleasant to taste or eat

brisk trade

unpalatable

A Trip To The Market

It was scarcely six in the morning when my mother woke me up to go marketing with her. " Boy, boy! Wake up or the best stuff at the market will be gone!" my mother's voice rang through my room. My eyelids were so heavy that when I opened them to look at her, all I saw was a blurred mass in front of me. I dragged myself from bed and began to change. I was grateful for the short walk to the market because it gave me a chance to wake up before getting there. My mother went on and on about what she was going to buy for the day. That also helped wake me up. By the end of that short walk, I gathered that she was going to cook stew shepherd's pie for the day. The market was stirring with activity. Even though I was wearing sneakers, I made it a point to avoid the fish stalls where the floors were always muddy and wet. The old chicken seller was as friendly as usual, greeting my mother with the widest grin. I was just surprised his dentures did not fall out of his mouth with such a wide smile. My mother bargained hard for the best price and they landed on a price they could both agree after two minutes. When my mother finished her marketing, we sat down at the food centre for our breakfast. I looked into the plastic bags and saw that she had some fish in them too. It is too bad that I seldom pay attention to how my mother chooses the food that she buys, preferring instead to pay more attention to the people around me. scarcely mass grin barely or hardly solid object smile

Composition helps the student to express his views on what is happening in the world around him, besides expressing personal thoughts, feelings and experiences.

A Night Market or 'Pasar Malam'

In most large towns in Malaysia, a common feature is the 'Pasar Malam', very popular especially with housewives. You will find 'Pasar Malams' in various parts of the town on different nights. The 'Pasar Malam' has a carnival atmosphere. It is held at night, out in the open, with a wide range of items for sale, from farm produce such as vegetables, eggs, freshly slaughtered chicken and fruits to fish, plastic ware, shoes, articles of clothing, household requirements, and, to the delight of garden lovers, pots of beautiful plants to choose from. They include roses, chrysanthemums, orchids, petunias, ferns and seedlings of fruit trees. Of course, you can always find food-stalls selling all kinds of eatables which Malaysians indulge in. The wide variety offered at a 'Pasar Malam', coupled with the attraction that its site is within walking distance, and that the whole family can take astroll after dinner to purchase the needs of each member, does make family outings a pleasant and an enjoyable affair. indulge to allow yourself or another person to have something enjoyable To go for a leisurely walk a walk outdoors

stroll outing

A visit to the market

I accompanied my mother to the central market to buy some groceries that she needed for the coming New Year. When we arrived at the market we could not find a place to park the car. So we waited patiently for about ten minutes before someone vacated a parking space and we moved in. Coming to the market just before a festive season was not a pleasant experience. The whole town seemed to be there. Everyone had things to buy. So the prices of things shot up. Worst of all, we had to struggle to get these things. So we made our way carefully through the various sections buying vegetables, meat, fish, noodles, spices and other food stuffs. We had wanted to buy some prawns too but they were all sold out, despite their sky-high price. The bags got heavier and heavier. The crowd got thicker and thicker. The noise and heat was overwhelming. As we had nearly done all the shopping, I told my mother that I would wait for her at the car. I could not stand being among hundreds of aggressive shoppers anymore. I lugged the bags wearily to the car and breathed a sigh of relief when I reached it. The air smelled sweet and cool. I was glad to be outside. Fifteen minutes later my mother emerged from the market. She looked exhausted. We put the groceries in the boot, got into the car and drove off with the air-conditioner at full blast. sky-high overwhelming at full blast describes a price or charge that is very high so strong as to be irresistible at full power

A long night
Write a story in which the character had to go through a whole night without sleep. Little Susie had been complaining about a stomachache for the whole day. The family doctor did not think that it was serious and sent her home. However in the evening her condition got worse and Carrie, her mother, was very worried. At nine in the night, Carrie decided that they should go to the hospital and see a doctor there. So here husband took her and Susie to the hospital. At the hospital, the doctor examined Susie and diagnosed her as having acute appendicitis. He arranged for immediate surgery. Things moved quickly and the hospital staff got Susie ready for the operation. They wheeled Susie into the operation theater while Carrie waited outside. Her husband returned home to be with their other two children who were waiting for news of their little kid sister. An hour later, Susie was wheeled out of the operation room. The doctor assured Carrie that the operation was successful. There was no complication. Carrie was so relieved. Thank goodness she decided to come to the hospital. Carrie's husband came back to the hospital to see if things were okay. He was also very relieved. As there was nothing else that he could do, he returned home to look after the children. Carrie remained in the hospital with Susie. The hospital provided a reclining chair for Carrie to sleep on but sleep was impossible. She was just too concerned for Susie. The next morning dawned bright and cheery. It had been a long stressful night, but everything turned out well. appendicitis an illness in which the appendix is infected and painful and usually needs to be removed in an operation an extra medical problem that makes it more difficult to treat an existing illness

complication

Composition helps the student to express his views on what is happening in the world around him, besides expressing personal thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Kelantan

I am sure many of us living on the west coast have not visited the beautiful east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. If one does have a chance, he will find it a different kind of holiday experience, a holiday spent among the beauties of nature. First, there are the hundreds of miles of unspoilt sandy beaches, white and clean with the open blue sea greeting the visitors. Then, there is the lush, tropical greenery, the tall coconut palms swaying gracefully in the breeze and charming rural villages where life is unhurried, leisurely and peaceful. One is attracted by the riot of the brilliant colors of the fruits and other foodstuffs at the market place, with busy Kelantanese selling their wares. `Batik' and 'songket' are famous local products and tourists will not leave the place without buying a few of these pieces as souvenirs. Kelantanese cottage industries are of great variety. You can find silversmiths at work on beautiful Kelantan jewellery or skilful craftsmen and womenfolk producing 'batik sarungs' and the brilliant eye-catching 'kain songket'. Some men are busy engaged in the making of giant kites or 'wau' which are of various shapes and colors. Kite-flying is an important pastime in Kelantan, apart from top-spinning. Lastly, the beautiful beach of Pantai Cinta Berahi is worth a visit, for you will see the beach fringed with groves of casuarina trees. A trip to Pasir Putih, a scenic spot thatabounds with waterfalls and fresh water springs is an unforgettable experience. Life here is totally unhurried and relaxing, making it a memorable holiday for you. silversmith grove abound a person who makes or sells silver objects a group of trees If something abounds in/with other things, it has a lot of them

Composition helps the student to express his views on what is happening in the world

around him, besides expressing personal thoughts, feelings and experiences.

A Day at the Seaside

The day dawned bright and sunny. It was ideal for a picnic by the sea. We quickly packed some refreshments and swimming costumes, not forgetting our cameras and deck chairs. Excitedly, we drove off from the city of George Town through the picturesque fishing village near Tanjung Tokong in Penang, waiting to catch a glimpse of the sea. At last, we sighted the blue waters, sparkling in the sunlight. We looked out for a clean and shady spot to spend the day as we cruised along. It was a joy to see the graceful coconut palms swaying in the breeze. We saw, too, fishermen's little houses on stilts scattered along the share. Finally, we parked our car at a shady spot under some coconut palms. The white, sandy beach was full of tiny crabs scurrying about. My sister and I could not resist catching them. The shells we picked were also interesting. Some were shaped like conical hats, others like fans and there were some spiral-shaped ones tinted with grey and brown hues. One large, grey shell with a long, narrow slit produced the sound of sea waves as I held it to my ear. The pieces of driftwood brought in at high tide by the waves were of artistic shapes. These we collected for flowerarrangement. After a while, we swam in the sea which was cool and pleasant. I saw sailing boats in the distance and fishermen busy with their catch. Then we sat on the beach and ate sandwiches, cookies, peanuts and fruit followed by iced drinks. The sun was now fiercely hot, and we felt tired and sleepy as we lay on the sandy beach. My brother took snaps of us playing in the sea and climbing up high rocks. After our lunch of curry and rice, we swam again till the late afternoon before we changed for our journey home. It was an enjoyable day by the sea as it was a welcome change from our usual busy and monotonous routine in the city. scurry slit monotonous to move quickly, with small short steps a straight narrow cut or opening in something staying the same and not changing and therefore boring

The causes and consequences of erosion

Erosion is the eating or wearing away of land features. It is caused by a variety of factors, some natural, others man-made. The consequences can be serious both for the natural world and for man himself. The natural causes are weathering, water, ice, wind and change of temperature. The changes may be very gradual, sometimes taking millions of years and dating back to the major upheavals on the planet when the earth was very young. Wind and rain driving incessantly against sandstone, formed originally by immense pressures on early sea-beds and then lifted above sea-level by volcanic eruption or the clash of land-plates, wears the stone back into sand, thus creating beaches along the sea-shore. In the case of harder rock such as granite, surfaces are worn smooth. Weathering also erodes exposed coastlines in temperate zones. Often cliffs and dunes simply disappear over perhaps a short period of two or three hundred years. The sea encroaches, and sometimes coastal villages are lost. There is written evidence of English villages having been lost under the waves.

The sea also plays its part in the erosion process. The Netherlands, facing the turbulent North Sea, have for centuries fought the battle against salt water encroachment due to erosion. Great dykes have been built to exclude the sea, and gradually the low-lying salt flats have been sweetened and fertilized for agriculture and bulb-growing. In another way, the sea also erodes rock fragments by friction due to the tides. The smooth pebbles on northern beaches are the result of their having rubbed together over millions of years. The great ice-floes attached to the poles play a conspicuous part in regulating sea levels. In general, sea levels are thought to be rising, though opinions vary as to the rate. At present, many fear what is called the 'greenhouse effect', i.e. the punching of holes in the ozone layer due to industrial gases and the use of CFCs. Nations are beginning to agree to eliminate these hazards. The result might be the melting of the ice-caps causing a devastating rise in sea levels. This would put much of the land in temperate climates under sea-water. Slow-moving glaciers also have an effect. Their immense power pulverizes any rocks in their path. The piles of shale at the foot of many mountains resulted from the pressure of glaciers millions of years ago. Wind is probably the greatest single cause of erosion. Where there is no protection given to the soil, and after a period of drought or intense heat, the soil crumbles to dust and literally blows away. Man himself can either let this happen or take steps to prevent it. Rain, of course, has a dual effect. In some circumstances it can wash away the soil into river beds, where it is carried down to estuaries, often silting them so that they require dredging. Inland, and on flat territory, rain holds the soil together. Yet rain depends on trees and foliage which cause clouds to

precipitate. The central plains of North America from time to time become dust bowls, simply because all vegetation has been cleared in favor of large scale, economic cereal growing. The same clearance of rain forests goes on currently in South America in favor of cash crops. Conservationists throughout the world are resisting these clearances, but are fighting vested interests. The rain forests support a wide variety of animals, birds, insects and plants, many of which can only exist in their present habitat. This is an added reason for resisting deforestation. Sooner or later when the forests have gone the climate will change from not and humid to dry. The soil will crumble and erode. Tribes dependent on land for grazing and agriculture lose their herds, flocks and food. They become nomads or refugees and are exposed to epidemic and starvation. Erosion can cause much human suffering. Even in temperate countries large-scale farming is now being discouraged, for the foregoing reasons. In England such farming has meant the destruction of hedges, ditches and trees, aging spoiling traditional landscapes and the habitats of bird, animal and insect species. Some erosion is natural and inevitable. Much however is caused by man. Long term conservation is essential if man is to pass on a beautiful planet to future generations.