I am honoured to be here this morning at this meaningful and important event, one that will

further transform education achievement in Kedah.I view this event as an effort to make
further strides in bringing competency levels in this state to newer heights.

I wish to congratulate on your initiative to organise the English Day programme and to
announce Tuesdays as English Day for the education community.

We need to embark on continuous efforts to encourage the younger generation to be well

versed in English. Although other languages are also widely spoken, English is the official
medium of communication in many countries. It is estimated that the number of people
worldwide who use English to communicate on a regular basis is two billion, which is about
a third of the global population.

It is worrying to note that some students think that they can do well later on without
mastering at least some of the key competencies in the English language. In a highly
globalized world, it is necessary to be able to communicate in English as it is the dominant
business language. Feedback from all over the world shows that cross-border business
communication is most often conducted in English. This languages importance in the global
market place cannot be understated. Learning English can change your lives and we need to
keep encouraging students to not shy away from this language.

For those who enjoy reading and other forms of media, many of the worlds top films, books
and music are published and produced in English. By learning English, you will have access
to a great wealth of knowledge and entertainment. About half of the content produced in the
Internet is in English. This does translate into a huge amount of information that one could
lose out on by ignoring the language. While learning English can be challenging and time
consuming, it is necessary to make the sacrifice as it does open doors to many opportunities
and to some extent, boosts innovation.

It is not an easy task to start with something new. Some resist speaking English as they regard
it as glorification of a colonial language. Others shy away when they are labelled as showing
off or being arrogant when they use the language. This is not a good situation to be in as it
may demotivate those who are willing to brush up their English proficiency.

I understand there are a number of programmes run by the Education Department to upgrade
the level of English achievement and the level of proficiency among users.
This programme is meant to encourage the use of English as a medium of communication
beyond the classroom. Another initiative is the Dual Language Programme through which
Mathematics and Science are taught in English. Other than fulfilling the criteria set by the
minister, schools need to conduct surveys to gain consensus from parents for this to proceed.

I hope this will reduce the gap between rural and urban areas and improve achievement
among students. It is our collective responsibility to instil confidence in using this language
so that it is used in daily communication and is not limited to just aiming to get the minimum
requirement for passing it in exams

On that note, I am pleased to declare the English Day Programme officially launched.
Thank you.
Do
not
litter

Jangan
buang
sampah
 List of Bombastic
COMMON SAMPLE SENTENCES SOTHIPISCATED
WORDS WORDS
Attractive

Beautiful
Words
The interior design of her bedroom was
attractive.
The scenery was beautiful.
stunning

spectacular
Big We spent six hours at the big shopping colossal
mall.
Busy We left the busy town after lunch. bustling
Clean The beach was clean. pristine
Clear The sea was clear. crystalline
Cloudy The sky was cloudy. sunless
Colourful The buildings were colourful. resplendent
Cool The wind from the mountain was cool. breezy
Crowded The stadium was crowded on Sunday. jam-packed
Dangerous The road to the apartment was dangerous. perilous
Dark It was dark outside. pitch-black
Dirty The public toilet was dirty. filthy
Famous We stayed at a famous resort. renowned
Fresh The air was fresh. invigorating
Grand The hotel lobby was grand. majestic
Great The waterfalls were great. magnificent
High We took photos of the high tower. soaring
Hot We ran under the hot sun. scorching
Isolated The camping site was isolated. secluded
Noisy Our school canteen was noisy during deafening
recess.
Peaceful The village was peaceful. serene
Polluted The air in the city centre was polluted. impure
Rough The countryside was rough. rugged
Special The chalets architecture was special. distinguished
Strange The man-made park was strange. peculiar
Strong The wooden bridge was strong. indestructible
Wonderful The Disneyland was wonderful. fantastic
Sample sentence Sophisticated
adjective
Active She was an active student. agile
Adventurous He was an adventurous person. bold
Beautiful His bride was very beautiful. appealing
Brave My father was very brave. bold
Careful We were careful in making decisions. meticulous
Clever The clever boy smiled at me. brainy
Committed He was a committed employee. devoted
Confident I was confident we would win. optimistic
Cooperative Everyone was cooperative accommodating
Famous She was a famous singer. celebrated
Friendly The receptionist was friendly. amiable
Funny My granduncle was funny. hilarious
Generous The manager was generous. philanthropic
Glamorous He led a glamorous life. dazzling
Good His son had good personalities. virtuous
Great His mother was a great lawyer. eminent
Hardworking The workers were hardworking. industrious
Helpful My best friend was helpful. obliging
Honest I admired the honest tour guide. trustworthy
Kind The district officer was kind. benevolent
Special We had a special guest. notable
Strict Her husband was a strict man. rigid
Strong He fought with a strong man. mighty
Successful The successful team was great. triumphant
Tidy Her tidy look impressed us. well-groomed
Arrogant I hated his arrogant attitude. snobbish
Bad I could not stand my bad neighbour. dreadful
Careless She was a careless driver. reckless
Crazy Were they crazy? lunatic
Cruel The cruel criminal was arrested. ruthless
Dishonest The dishonest clerk was fired. fraudulent
Evil We stayed away from the evil killer. devilish
Forgetful He was young but very forgetful. scatterbrained
Fussy Her fussy mother-in-law was dying. picky
Greedy The village headman was greedy. avaricious
Lazy The lazy students were sleeping. indolent
Rude The rude boy was her cousin. boorish
Selfish Their selfish attitude was bad. self-seeking
Strange Her strange acts scared us. creepy
Stupid Her stupid act made everybody angry. half-witted
Garrulous She was a talkative neighbour. garrulous
Troublesome He was punished for his troublesome act. irksome
Ugly His face was ugly after the accident. hideous
Useless A drunkard was a useless person. worthless
Weak A weak leader made no progress. Futile
Angry She was angry when her husband left her. Fuming
Bad I felt bad when I lied to you. Awful
Bored We were bored. bored stiff
Confident We felt confident to be with him. Secure
Confused Everybody was confused when he suddenly baffled
ran away.
Disappointed He was disappointed when he got his result. disenchanted
Happy We were happy to be there. Elated
Lonely The lonely wife cried in her room. lonesome
Nervous She looked nervous during the contest. Edgy
Proud They were proud to be able to help us. swollen with pride
Sad They were sad to lose the game. cheerless
Scared She was scared to stay alone at night. petrified
Surprised She was surprised to see me. stunned
Unsure My mother was unsure to make her own hesitant
decision.
Worried He looked worried. apprehensive
Accurate The answers given were accurate. Precise
Bright He used a bright colour to paint his room. Gaudy
Cheap The items were cheap. inexpensive
Clear My explanation was clear. Lucid
Comfortable The new sofa was comfortable. Comfy
Delicious We tasted the delicious food. delectable
Easy Frying egg was easy. effortless
Important It was an important day to me. momentous
Interesting The story was interesting. engrossing
Lasting I hoped to have a lasting marriage. long-standing
Perfect The essay was perfect. flawless
Strong Her evidence was strong. undisputed
Successful Our plans were successful. fruitful
Valuable He took all the valuable items. treasured
Accidental The mistake was accidental. unintentional
Bad The plane crash was bad. Appalling
Boring We left early as the movie was boring. Dreary
Complex The problem was complex. Multifaceted
Difficult Climbing Mount Tahan was difficult. Arduous
Expensive I bought an expensive house. Pricey
Haunted The house was haunted. Ghostly
Heavy The responsibility was heavy. Hefty
Ill His grandmother was very ill. Bedridden
Illogical Her reason was illogical. Absurd
Tasteless The food was tasteless. Insipid
Tired We were tired. Exhausted
Unclear His unclear idea was rejected. Hazy
Unlucky We were unlucky that day. luckless
Wrong It was wrong to cheat others. Sinful

Sentence connectors Meaning Examples

To show similarity My two uncles have opened a business in
- Similarly Begitu juga Kuala Lumpur. Similarly, I will open one
- Likewise after my studies.
She was late and I, likewise was delayed.

To show contrast Ali worked hard. On the other hand/ in

- On the other contrast / however, Halim hardly did
hand - Berbeza any work at all.
- In contrast dengan
- However - Walau Mr and Mrs Kana are old, nevertheless
- Nevertheless bagaiman they are still very active.

Sentence
 - Despite that / apun
this - Namun Ahmad did not answer. Instead, he
- Instead looked out of the taxi window.
- Although
Although Kim Long sprained his ankle, he
came to school.

To show result
- As a - Akibatnya He passed his examination. Therefore /
consequence - Atas sebab Thus / Hence / Accordingly /
- For this reason ini Consequently, he had some good news
- Therefore - Oleh itu to tell his parents.
- As a result
- Consequently He lacks motivation to practise music.
- Hence Therefore, he can't become a good
- Thus musician.
- Because of this
Living in a big city offers good job
opportunities. Also, it provides good
educational opportunities.

To show addition / Ali plays football. Moreover/ Besides/

listing Lagi pun Also, he plays tennis.
- Moreover Tambahan pula
- Besides Pertama Mei Mei writes short stories. In addition,
- Also Sebagai she writes articles for a newspaper.
- In addition permulaannya
- Furthermore Kedua To complete his homework, Jack went
- First / first of Ketiga through various history books.
all / firstly/ to Furthermore, he took notes from several
begin with encyclopedias.
- Secondly
- Thirdly I prefer to buy fruit and vegetables in the
open market because they are quite
cheap
there. Besides, they are much fresher
than those sold at the greengrocers.

Owning a car has some advantages.

Firstly, it gives you comfort. Secondly, it
saves you a lot of time. Thirdly, it gives
you great freedom of movement.
To show time I read the morning papers for a while.
- Afterwards - Selepas itu Afterwards, I took a shower.
- First .then - Mula-mula
- At first First pick up the receiver and then insert
- In the meantime kemudian a coin into the coin-box.
- Meanwhile - Pada
mulanya, At first, I had great difficulty with
- Dalam grammar. Later, however , I was able to
 pada itu overcome the difficulty by studying hard.

The party is on Tuesday, but in the

meantime I have to shop and prepare the
food.

They'll be here soon. Meanwhile, let's

have coffee.

To show example
- For example Sebagai contoh There are many uses of water, for
- For instance example, drinking, cooking, irrigation
and running industrial plants.

To explain
- In other words Dengan The brochure dealt with travelling in
perkataan lain Morocco. That is/In other
words/Namely, it discussed
transportation, currency, and language.

To show negative
condition atau tidak You should stop teasing the poor little boy,
- or else Kalau tidak or else, Ill tell your mother of your act.
- Otherwise
You must study hard. Otherwise, youll
fail.

To summarize
- In summary Secara In summary/In brief/In short/In
- In brief ringkasnya conclusion/To sum up, there are a lot of
- In short advantages of having a healthy food fair
- In conclusion Kesimpulannya in the school.
- To sum up
- In a nut shell

List of Idioms
PHRASAL VERBS : NOTES

PHRASAL VERB MEANINGS IN MEANINGS IN

ENGLISH MALAY
abide by follow Ikut

ask for request Minta

ages ago long ago masa lampau

break/broke into enter/entered by force masuk tanpa kebenaran

break/ broke down stop / stopped because of a Rosak
fault

bring down reduce kurangkan

call 0n visit melawat

call off cancel batalkan

carry on continue sambung tugas/kerja

carry forward postpone bawa ke depan

close shave narrow escape nyaris

come up produce (idea) beri (idea)

come across find by chance terjumpa

cut down reduce kurangkan

cut off stop supplying hentikan

crash into hit melanggar

drop in / by visit melawat

end up finish up / wind up siapkan / tamatkan

fall behind fail to keep up ketinggalan

figure out understand Faham

get along with be friendly with berkawan

get ready hurry Cepat

get through pass Lulus

get over recover (feelings) lupakan (perasaan)

go for choose pilih

go over review / check Semak

join in to take part mengambil bahagian

laugh at take lightly Ejek

listen to pay attention to memberi perhatian

look into investigate menyiasat

look out be careful berhati-hati

look forward expect with pleasure Ternanti-nanti

look after take care of menjaga

look up to respect menghormati

look through check menyemak

mad at angry Marah

map out plan rancang

make up to create Mereka-reka

make up to resolve a quarrel Berbaik semula

make up for to substitute mengganti

make up ones mind to decide membuat keputusan

make out understand faham

pass away die mati

pass out fainted pengsan

put off postponed ditangguhkan

put forward propose mencadangkan

put up to build mendirikan

put up with to be patient bersabar dengan

rely on depend on bergantung

run into meet terserempak

running out lacking kehabisan

running around busy sibuk /berkeliaran

run over hit Langgar

set off start a journey bertolak

set up organize menganjurkan

sign up register mendaftar

spruce up clean mencuci

step up increase meningkatkan

step forward move ahead kehadapan

 tag along accompany mengekori

take up to enter into (profession) memilih jurusan

take after inherit Warisi

taken aback shocked Terkejut

talk about it discuss bincang

think about consider mempertimbangkan

turn down reject menolak

turn up attend Hadir

watch out be careful hati-hati

work out plan merancang

work out exercise bersenam

write down list Tulis

work against oppose melawan

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS : Notes

IDIOMATIC MEANINGS MEANINGS IN MALAY

EXPRESSIONS
A bookworm One who likes to read Ulat buku

A close shave A narrow escape Nyaris / hampir-hampir tidak

berjaya

A red letter day An important day Hari yang penting

A white elephant Useless possession Barang yang mahal tetapi tidak

berguna / fungsinya sebagai
hiasan

Apple of the eye Favourite person Anak emas / orang yang

disayangi

Around the corner Coming soon Akan datang

At the eleventh At the last minute Pada saat-saat akhir

hour

Bear in mind Remember Mengingat

Black sheep Person who is an Seseorang yang memalukan /
embarrassment membawa masalah

Blow ones trumpet To boast Cakap besar

Burn the midnight Study until late at night Belajar hingga lewat malam
oil

Butter fingers Slippery fingers Cemerkap / kecuaian

By hook or by By all means Dengan apa cara sekalipun

crook

By leaps and Greatly Dengan besar / jaya

bounds

Call it a day To end Menamatkan

Caught red handed Caught in the act Tertangkap ketika sedang

melakukan kesalahan

Come on foot Walk Berjalan

Could kill myself Furious with myself Marah dengan diri sendiri

Count me in Include me Libatkan saya

Crack of dawn Early in the morning Fajar

Crying over spilt Regretting Menyesal

milk

Day in and day out Everyday without Setiap hari

exception

Dont lose heart Dont be discouraged Jangan putus asa

Down to earth Humble/Honest Rendah diri

Drive me up the Make me very angry Membuat saya sangat marah

wall

Drop a line Write Menulis surat / menelefon

Easier said than Easier to talk about an Senang bercakap dari

done idea than carry it out melakukan sesuatu

Eye catching Attractive Menarik perhatian

Flying colours Good grades Lulus dengan cemerlang

Getting on my Making me Menguji kesabaran

nerves annoyed/irritated

Give it a go Try it Cuba

Green with envy Jealous Cemburu

Grown out of them Have gotten used to Sudah biasa / lali

them

Have green fingers Good at gardening Pandai dalam berkebun

Heart and soul Commitment Penglibatan sepenuh hati

Hold his head up Be proud Bermegah / berbesar hati

I am all ears I am listening Sudi mendengar

In a twinkling of an Very quickly Secepat kilat / sangat pantas

eye

In high spirits Happy Gembira

In hot water / soup In trouble Dalam kesusahan / menghadapi

masalah

Keep an eye To watch Tengok-tengokkan

Keep your word Keep your promise Tepati janji

Kept in mind Remembered Ingat

Lame excuse Poor reason Alasan tidak munasabah

Lend a hand Help Menolong

Let the cat out of Let a secret out Bocorkan rahsia

the bag

Let you off Let you go / excuse you Mengecualikan anda

Not kidding Not joking Tidak bergurau

Not my cup of tea Not to my liking Tidak meminati

Not ones day Unlucky day Hari yang malang

Once in a blue Rarely Jarang-jarang

moon

Out of the blue Unexpectedly Tanpa disangka-sangka

Piece of cake An easy task Sangat mudah

Practice makes You will be good if you Alah bisa tegal biasa
perfect do it often ( latihan membawa kepada
kecekapan)

Put your mind to it Concentrate Tumpukan perhatian

Raining cats and Raining heavily Hujan lebat

dogs

Reduced it to ashes Completely burning it Bakar keseluruhan

Rome was not It takes time to succeed Mengambil masa untuk berjaya
built in a day

Searched high and Looked everywhere Mencari merata tempat

low

Soft spot Fondness Rasa sayang / kesukaan

Stand on their own Be independent Berdikari

feet

Stayed away from Avoided Menghindari

Strike while the Grab opportunities Rebut peluang

iron is hot

Spick and span Clean and tidy Bersih

The early bird Those who are early will Siapa cepat dia dapat
catches the worm benefit

Throw in the towel Give up Putus asa

To be in the same To be in the same Mengalami nasib yang sama

boat circumstances

To believe your To believe what you hear Percaya apa yang didengar
ears

To face the music To take the punishment Menerima hukuman

or scolding

To keep ones To hope for the best Mengharap yang terbaik

fingers crossed

To live from hand To live in hardship Sangat miskin

to mouth / to make
ends meet

To paint the town To enjoy oneself Menghiburkan diri

red
To sit on the fence To take no sides in a Tidak menyebelahi
debate/ a quarrel
mana-mana pihak

Took to heart Be upset by Ambil hati / tersinggung

Turn over a new To change for the better Insaf / berubah sikap menjadi
leaf lebih baik

Under the weather Slightly ill Tidak sihat / sakit

Where theres a When you are Di mana ada kemahuan di situ

will, theres a way determined, you will ada jalan
succeed

Sample of Essays
ARTICLE: Description on a Person

A Prominent Malaysian Leader

As the fourth and most dynamic Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr.
Mahathir bin Mohamad will indelible impression on the sands of Malaysia
for many years to come. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003,
making him Malaysia's longest-serving Prime Minister, and one of the
longest-serving leaders in Asia.

Born on 20th December, 1925 in Alor Setar, Dr. Mahathir is the son
of a teacher. He is the youngest of nine children of a school teacher and a
housewife. His father, Mohamad Iskandar, was of Indian descent, being
the son of a Muslim and a Malay mother, while Mahathir's own mother,
Datin Wan Tempawan Wan Hanafi, was Malay. He is married to Tun Dr. Siti
Hasmah binti Haji Mohamad Ali, they have seven children, four sons and
three daughters. From an early age, Tun Mahathir had the importance of
education drummed into him by his father, who was also a strict
disciplinarian.

After his early education at the Maktab Sultan Abdul Hamid in Alor
Setar, he enrolled at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in the
University of Singapore. Armed with a MBBS degree in medicine, he set up
his own clinic, the Maha Clinic in Alor Setar. As a doctor, Tun Mahathir
came into close contact with people from variety of social strata and
enjoyed a close rapport with them. He understood their problems. Thus,
when he was thrust into the politic limelight, he strove to fulfil the needs
of the people.

He was first catapulted into the world of politics when he became

the Member of Parliement for Alor Setar in 1964. After holding a number of
portfolios, including Minister of Education, Minister of Trade and Industry
and Deputy Prime Minister, he finally became the Prime Minister on 16th
July, 1981. The country flourished with Dr. Mahathir at the helm of the
government. His contributions to the nation are so immense and par
excellence. He has left his mark in every aspect in politics, economy or
education.
Realizing that government-owned enterprises are neither efficient nor
profitable, he initiated the privation policy in 1983. This had immediate
effect of cutting down bureaucratic ineptitude and operational cost while
at the same time generating more revenue.

With collapse of the prices of agricultural commodities in the eighties, Tun

Mahathir decided that it was time to shift the nations focus to more
profitable areas. Thus, he started the industrialization programme.
Reputed as the countrys top salesman, he showcased Malaysia to
investors abroad in a bid to woo them. As a result of the heavy
industrialization drive, major projects like national car project or PROTON
and the steel company, PERWAJA, together with other mega project were
launched one after another. Next, realizing that industrialization would
require a good infrastructure, he set about improving it. The Mahathir era
saw a successful completion of the North-South Highway, the East-West
Highway, the Multimedia Super Corridor, the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport in Sepang and many more.

An astute politician, he charted the growth of the countrys progress from

the day he took office. He envisages that Malaysia can only attain the
status of a fully developed country if it becomes an industrialization one
and this ambition has been his main agenda during his tenure. With this in
mind, he announced Vision 2020, his most ambitious vision.

Frank and outspoken by nature, Tun Mahathir speak without fear nor
favour. This has been the hallmark of thus much respected statesman.
The inefficiency of local and international organizations has always come
under his scrutiny and critism.It has been almost two decades since Tun
Mahathir took over reins of the government. It has undoubtedly been the
golden era for Malaysia with many notable achievements.

630 words

Descriptive - Description of a Scene

A Road Accident

Road accidents are reported in newspaper and on television every

day. There are more frequently caused by reckless drivers rather than
faulty vehicles. Last Saturday, while I was travelling from Ipoh, I witnessed
a serious accident. The scene of the accidents was vivid in my mind.

A motorcyclist was following behind was taxi very closely. He was

so impatient that he was trying to overtake my taxi even near a sharp
bend. At that critical moment, there was an oncoming car. The taxi driver
swerved to the roadside and I got a terrible jolt. It was too late for the
motorcyclist to avoid the car. His motorcycle ran against the bumper of
the car and smashed its windscreen. The motorcyclist somersaulted over
the car and was found lying in a pool of blood. It was a scene to chill the
flesh! The car driver, who was cut by the flying glass, was in a state of
shock. All that happened in split second and fear overwhelmed us.
The taxi driver stopped his taxi and I quickly ran to the nearest to
the nearest telephone booth to inform the police and the hospital. From a
distance I could see some people trying to help the injured motorcyclist
and the car driver. They carried them into one of the onlookers car and
sent them to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile the taxi driver tried to
control and directs the traffic. Soon the police arrived and they promptly
took some measurements and evidence. After that they moved the
damaged car and the motorcycle to the roadside to ease the traffic
congestion. They also took down the evidence provided by witnesses and
onlookers. Some sweepers were clearing the debris and the blood stains
on the road.

When the taxi finally continued the journey, I silently thanked God
for my narrow escape. I learned a good lesson that impatience and
recklessness would bring harm and danger. I was happy to see that
Malaysians are public-spirited and they render help to others readily. Since
then I remember and follow the saying more haste less speed and
prevention is better than cure. I believe good road manners and roads
safety campaigns can help to reduce the number of road accidents which
cause injuries, loss and lives and properties.

381 words

NARRATIVE WRITING Title Given

My Most Embarrassing Situation

Everyone has been embarrassed at one time or another. It is that

moment in time when you wish the earth would open up and swallow you.
The anxiety and discomfort felt during that time which may only last a few
seconds feels like time has stood still.

I remember so well when I had my most embarrassing moment. I

was in Form 4 and it was during the school recess. The minute the bell
rang for recess, I rushed to the toilet because I had been controlling my
urges since class started. I didnt want to miss class because the lesson
taught that morning was to include tips for the forthcoming examination.

Without realising, I had rushed to the girls toilet. The prolonged

control and an upset stomach made worse by two glasses of cold milk in
the morning made me grunt and groan in what I thought in what I thought
was the privacy of the cubicle. I thought I heard giggling outside and
wondered why the giggles sounded unusually near. A few minutes later I
came out the cubicle and discovered my horror that I had entered the
girls toilet. To make matters worse, the few girls standing outside didnt
even turn away when I came out. Instead they looked down at me, then
only they turned quickly away. Horror of horrors, I had forgotten to zip up!
No beetroot could have matched the colour of my face at this point in
time!

They news of my predicament spread like wild fire throughout

school. I was truly the talk of the town. I felt like I could either walk around
feeling perpetually self-conscious and embarrassed or I could turn the
situation round, perhaps even to my advantage. I remembered my
mothers words that if you cant beat them, join them. So I decided to
make fun of myself, to laugh at myself too. It works. Everyone got bored
after a while and nobody teased me after that.

It was indeed an eye-opening experience for me. I have learnt that

when people laugh at you, you should laugh along. You must not take
yourself seriously. Learn to look at yourself through other peoples eyes
and you will realise that most of the time when they laugh at you, they
just want to have some fun. They mean no harm. If you can make people
laugh, its like bringing sunshine into their lives and as someone said,
those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from
themselves.

421 words

CONTINUOUS: ARGUMENTATIVE
Which do you prefer, living in the countryside or living in the city?

Countryside
I think living in the countryside is far better than living in the city.
There are numerous of reasons why living in countryside is the better than
the city. The scenery, the streets, the people and the paced are totally
different compare to the city.

The first outstanding characteristic about the countryside is that it is

beautiful and peaceful. The air is fresh and the surroundings green. This is
because the countryside is free from pollution, be it air, land or noise
pollution. There no such perfect peaceful view that you can see other than
in the countryside.

There are no crowded streets and heavy traffic in the countryside.

Thus there are no fumes from cars and smoke from factories buildings to
pollute the air. The trees surrounded the countryside help the people from
inhaling the polluted air. The freshness smell of plant somehow helps the
people of the countryside to have a healthy life.
 Furthermore, people in the countryside are more conscious of
keeping their surroundings clean and so there is little throwing of rubbish
everywhere, only at designated places. This is unlike the cities where if
the garbage trucks do not collect the rubbish disposed by household or
restaurants, the city will be overflowing with rubbish! This will attract the
mosquitoes, fly, rats and wild dogs to pollute their surrounding that will
cause them to have diseases like dengue and cholera.

Thirdly, heavy traffic and crowded streets increase the level of noise
pollution. The honking of cars in the streets is continuous and the crowds
on the roads increase the hub of activity. There are also sound of the
machine used in manufacturing factories, loud radio in and out the mall.
These add to the noise of the city. Even if one lives in residential areas,
one is never far from busy streets.

However, in the countryside, life is slow-paced. There is no need to

rush around because there are not too many places to go. Most places are
close by and people can walk or cycle. Less vehicle used, so less fumes is
released.

The most heart-warming thing about the countryside is the attitude

of people. People are friendly and helpful. If there are any happy or festive
occasions, everyone pitches in to help. This feeling of cooperation and
neighbourliness is what separates the countryside from the city.

In the city, people are too busy to take note of the people around.
Some hardly even know their neighbours. So they would not even be
bothered about what happens to people around. This is why the crime rate
is increasing in the city because bystanders do not rush in to help if a
crime is committed on the streets.

The pace of life in the countryside is slow so people have more time
to enjoy life as the day goes on. Thus, for me to enjoy the quality of life, I
prefer to live in the countryside.

489 words

City

In my opinion, one has not experienced life until one has lived in the
city. There is so much to see and experience in the bright lights of the city
that you cannot get in the countryside. Here in the city, you can learn
about how to get along with people of different types, encounter varied
situations and solve problems. All these help a person to grow in maturity.
After all, experience is the best teacher.

In the countryside, however, you only move around people you are
used to. So, you seldom encounter strangers or new and demanding
situations. Life is more mundane and routine-like. Staying in a secure, safe
place does not allow for one to gain new experiences and grow in
maturity.
Furthermore, young people need a life that is exciting and
pleasurable. It is the city that offers you entertainment- cinemas, parks
and eating places. Here you can hang out with friends and family
members. Life as fast-paced and this keeps you active and alert all times.
And when it comes to educational opportunities, the city abounds in this.
There are good school and libraries that are necessary for your mental
development. Furthermore, there are places like museums and
educational centres where you can go, to increase your knowledge.

Such places that offer you entertainment or learning opportunities

are of course not available in the countryside. For entertainment, there is
only the occasional festive celebration or marriage feast or fishing outing.
Some may find this appealing but not me. Moreover, opportunities to
widen your knowledge are limited in the countryside.

Another point in support of living in the city is the available of jobs.

In the city, you can find a job that suits your qualification or interest. If you
find a job unsuitable, you can always move to another. This, naturally,
increases your earning power and you have better chances of a more
comfortable life. Of course, one may argue that one can live in the
countryside and work in the city but this will only incur extra expenses
and unnecessary inconveniences.

Thus, for all the reasons mentioned above, I think that life in the city
is better than living in the countryside. After all, you are young only once.

374 words

CONTINUOUS: EXPOSITORY

Social Networking Website

A large number of internet users have joined social networking

websites. A social network service is an online service, platform, or site
that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social
relations among people. For example is for those who wants to share
interests and, or activities. A social network service essentially consists of
a representation of each user which known often as a profile, his or her
social links, and a variety of additional services.

Most social network services are web based and provide means for
users to interact over the internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging.
Online community services are sometimes considered as a social network
service. In a broader sense, social network service usually means an
individual-centered service whereas online community services are group-
centered. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities,
events, and interests within their individual networks.

In the last five years, they have been growing up more and more
popular. This increase in their popularity has led to a large number of
members.

One of the many reasons why Yahoo!, MySpace and Facebook social
networking websites have increased in popularity is due to the fact that
they cover a wide variety of different topics, issues and interest. They do
not just focus on one particular group of individuals or one particular
issue. Their policy is to invite as many types of internet users to join as
possible. By this, it gives members a wide selection of online friends to
choose from.

If you are looking to join a social networking website that is more

focused on creating friendships or partnerships between internet users
preferable with the same interests, then you will want to focus on social
networking websites. They have a particular focus. The prevalent websites
focus on important issues, topics and hobbies, such as pet owners,
religion travel and others. So before you join, think of an issue you are
interested in and sign up for the website that focuses on that issue.

What really sets them apart from other websites? What is so special
about them? These are questions which have been asked by many who
show interest in joining. Primarily, it is the community. As mentioned, such
social networking sites tend to focus on a particular topic, issue or hobby.
This means that if you are a keen traveller and you would like to speak to
other keen travellers, you will want to join a travellers networking sites.

The difference between these social networking sites and traditional

ones is that you will automatically be paired with hundreds, if not
thousands, of other internet users who share the same interests, views or
beliefs as you. This is a big bonus to the members.

Another benefit to joining the social networking website is that you

are, in a way, safer than those who are members of other networks. Most
of them require activation before joining the site. Before activation can
occur, many users are required to state their reasons for wanting to join
the network or they may be required to fill out a small questionnaire
pertaining to determine whether or not they have a genuine interest in
the topic focused on by the network in question. By pairing you with a
group of individuals who share the same beliefs, views and interests as
you do is advantageous to members. It means that you do not have to
spend hours researching a person or speaking to them just to learn what
they are or are not interested in. Therefore, this enables you to jump right
in and start making friends, almost as soon as you are granted access to
the site that you have chosen. This service gives the social networking
websites a great edge over other websites.
 629 words
CONTINUOUS: ONE-WORD ESSAY

Pollution

Pollution is an issue of concern in the modern world that we live in

today. There are many types of pollution, namely air, water and noise.
Pollution in our environment will undoubtedly affect our quality of life. Our
naturally beautiful world becoming ugly because it is suffering from the
effects of environmental pollution. Pollution can also cause various health
problems and other negative effects.

Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from vehicles,

factories and open burning. Nowadays, there are more and more vehicles
on the road as society gets more affluent. More and more people strive to
have a better quality of life by having the convenience of driving to their
destinations instead of taking public transportation. Automobiles provides
transport to millions people around the world to enable them to travel to
their workplace, school and other places, therefore, the air around us is
getting more polluted by the carbon dioxide that is emitted. Carbon
monoxide is another type of gas which harmful to the environment as it
can cause the reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Another example of contributor to the air pollution is the manufacturing

factories. The manufacturing of products in factories to meet the growing
demand of society is also causing air pollution. Factories release toxic
gases to the environment. Some factories also use coal to generate heat
and energy. As a result from the burning of coal, carbon dioxide is
released into the environment.

Besides factories, many people are still practising open burning as

a way of disposing their household wastes. Although burning our
household wastes is a convenient way of getting rid of our rubbish, it is
harmful to the environment as it contributes to the worsening of the air
quality. As a result, air pollution causes people to suffer from health
problems such as chest pain and asthma. In extreme cases, people can
contract lung cancer.
Water pollution is also a problem that we are currently facing. The
marine life is the first to suffer from water pollution as they depend on the
nutrients in the water to survive. As a result, we are robbed of beautiful
sea corals and unique species of fishes. Besides ruining our marine
heritage, the disappearance of marine life will affect the livelihood of
fishermen, not to mention our source of food. Water pollution is caused by
harmful waster from industries, farms and sewerage systems which are
dumped into our sources of water such as rivers and lakes. This
irresponsible act contaminates our drinking water and can cause serious
health problems and can even culminate in death.
 Noise pollution is another form of pollution. Noise from heavy
machinery and vehicles can cause hearing problems and in extreme
cases, deafness. As there is growing number of vehicles on the road, we
are exposed to noise pollution every day. The government in advanced
countries encourage their citizens to take the public buses and trains by
providing an affordable and efficient transportation system. This effort
discourages people from driving their private vehicles and consequently
reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
We must work together to reduce pollution so that the future
generations can live in a healthy, unpolluted environment. As the saying
goes, precaution is better than cure. Lets hands on hands together by
recycle and conserve the world for the better future.

558 words

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

ARTICLE: Article for School Magazine / Newsletter

As Chairperson of the English Language Society, you are going write 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 to enjoy many interesting programmes in television
- will help you to appreciate many of the worlds 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 televisions best
programmes. We must admit that many of the best programmes are
produced by the Americans and British companies. High self confidence
influenced by the programmes will indirect inculcate in yourself when you
are fluent in the language. Quality time is worthily spent if you understand
and enjoy the programmes.

Based from all the above elaboration, I hope that students will see
the importance and realise 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