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The Importance of Studying English

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

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

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

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

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

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

            Besides all these, entertainment is one of the major advantages you will experience if you good in English. You will enjoy television’s best 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.


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A Decision Made

Novel, Catch Us If You Can – A Decision Made

Using the details of the novel you have studied.
•  describe a decision made by any one character in the novel
•  do you think the decision was a wise one?
Support your answer with evidence from the novel.


SAMPLE ANSWER

In the novel „Catch Us If You Can‟ by Catherine MacPhail, I would choose the decision made by Rory, when he decided to get Granda out of Rachnadar and run away.

After the death of his mother, Rory lived with his grandparents. When his grandmother died, his grandfather, whom he called Granda, looked after him. Rory and Granda were very close to each other that they had become inseparable. When Granda became sick and his memory began to fail, it was Rory‟s turn to look after Granda. One day, Granda accidentally set fire to their flat. This brought the authorities to step in. Finding Granda and Rory incapable of taking care of each other, they sent Granda to an old folks‟ home, while Rory was sent to a children‟s home in Castle Street. The authorities had no choice but to do this for the safety of both Granda and Rory. Granda might pose a danger not only to himself and Rory but to those around him.

Rory felt he was wrongly torn away from his Granda. Furthermore, Rory knew that Granda hated being in Rachnadar, the old folks‟ home, and Rory himself hated it in Castle Street. So he made the decision to run away with Granda so they could be together.

I can understand Rory‟s position but I do not see it as a wise decision. In the first place, he was too young to make a huge decision like this. At his age, he should have thought about school. He should realize that he was incapable of taking care of his old and sick 
grandfather. Granda was too old and frail to go on such a challenging and demanding journey. Moreover, Granda needed his pills to sustain him. Besides, Rory did not know where he was going to. Where could they go when they had no place and no one to care for them? Rory, too, asked himself the question whether it was a wise decision. People may say that those who love each other must stay together but this is based only on emotion. I think Rory made the decision because he had no one else in his life. It was not only because he loved Granda so much, but also because he did not know how to live without his Granda because all this while, Granda was always there for him.


To make decisions, we must be objective. We must think rationally. Seeing the unpredictability of things and the health condition of Granda, and Rory‟s immaturity, I strongly feel that Rory made an unwise decision in running away.

Peranan Ibu Bapa Dalam Mendidik Anak-Anak Memanfaatkan Internet

Peranan Ibu Bapa Dalam Mendidik Anak-Anak Memanfaatkan Internet

Marcapada ini, internet merupakan satu ciptaan manusia yang wajar dikagumi, dalam masa yang sama merupakan satu kepentingan dalam kehidupan setiap individu. Hal ini kerana, hanya internet yang memberikan kepuasan bersosial, berniaga dan belajar secara meluas tanpa had kepada pengguna. Bayangkan dengan hanya satu klik, anda mampu mengakses seluruh alam maya tanpa perlu bermandi peluh. Setiap individu perlu tahu akan kelebihan, keburukan dan cara mengakses internet, termasuklah ibu bapa. Sebahagian besar ibu bapa masa kini handal menggunakan internet manakala sebahagian kecilnya tidak. Namun, sebagai mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga, ibu bapa wajar untuk mempelajari secara khusus berkenaan dengan internet. Sekiranya ibu bapa sudah ‘mengenali’ internet, maka dengan mudah ibu bapa mengawal kecenderungan anak-anak melayari internet dan secara tidak langsung, ibu bapa mampu mendidik anak-anak dalam memanfaatkan penggunaan internet.

        Antara peranan yang harus dimainkan oleh ibu bapa dalam mendidik anak-anak memanfaatkan internet pada masa kini termasuklah mendedahkan anak-anak dengan segala maklumat berkaitan dengan internet. Hal ini disebabkan, anak-anak perlu diberitahu mengenai baik-buruk penggunaan internet sebelum mereka didedahkan dengan cara menggunakan kemudahan internet secara bijak. Sekiranya anak-anak sudah diajar dari awal, sudah tentu anak-anak akan lebih berhati-hati dan lebih bijak dalam menggunakan kemudahan internet pada masa-masa akan datang bak kata pepatah, sediakan payung sebelum hujan. Melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya, oleh itu sememangnya ibu bapa bertanggungjawab dalam memberi pengenalan kepada anak-anak mengenai penggunaan internet dari kecil, yang ternyata amat penting dalam kehidupan masyarakat moden masa kini. Jelaslah di sini bahawa pendedahan segala maklumat berkaitan internet terhadap anak-anak merupakan tindakan yang wajar dilakukan oleh ibu bapa. 

        Selain daripada itu, ibu bapa juga berperanan untuk memantau anak-anak semasa menggunakan kemudahan internet. Alam maya ini tiada batasnya, oleh itu internet ini mempunyai keburukannya. Pemantauan ibu bapa sebenarnya mampu mengelakkan anak-anak daripada mengakses laman-laman sesawang yang berunsurkan pornografi, mahupun melakukan jenayah siber seperti mencetak rompak bahan media, mencetuskan provokasi atau menggodam laman sesawang. Tindakan kecil yang dilakukan ibu bapa ini juga tanpa disedari mampu menyelamatkan industri hiburan tanah air yang kerap kali ‘dirompak’ oleh orang-orang yang tidak bertanggungjawab, termasuklah mengurangkan jumlah penggodam dan pencetus provokasi di internet yang semakin hari semakin berleluasa. Anak-anak juga terselamat daripada terus terperangkap di dalam kancah jenayah siber, yang juga merupakan salah satu kesalahan yang akan dikenakan tindakan keras seperti yang termaktub di dalam akta jenayah negara. Oleh itu jelaslah bahawa tindakan ibu bapa dalam memantau anak-anak semasa menggunakan kemudahan internet dapat mendidik mereka dalam memanfaatkan kegunaan internet.

        Namun begitu, ibu bapa juga seharusnya menyekat penggunaan internet oleh anak-anak. Terbaru, ibu bapa kini mampu mengawal internet dengan menyekat laman-laman sesawang yang berunsurkan negatif sebagai langkah mengelakkan pengguna internet mengakses laman-laman tersebut dan sistem yang sama digunakan pada peranti komputer yang disediakan di semua alma mater milik kerajaan. Sistem sebegini bukan sahaja mampu mengawal aktiviti penggunaan internet anak-anak, malah mampu mengasuh mereka untuk hanya mengakses laman-laman yang berguna sahaja. Bayangkan, sekiranya ibu bapa melaksanakan sistem sebegini di rumah, sudah tentu anak-anak akan menggunakan perkhidmatan internet dengan lebih bijak, seterusnya dapat menghindari mereka daripada mengetahui mahupun mencuba untuk mengakses laman-laman berunsurkan negatif seperti yang kebiasaanya berlaku dalam kalangan remaja dan orang dewasa masa kini. Anak ibarat kain putih, ibu bapalah yang mencorakkannya, persis kata peribahasa tersebut yang secara tersiratnya menegaskan bahawa ibu bapalah yang perlu mengawal ton-ton warna yang ingin diwarnakan di atas kain putih yang tidak berdosa. Cukup ditegaskan di sini bahawa ibu bapa sebaik-baiknya mengawal penggunaan internet oleh anak-anak sebagai cara mengajar mereka menggunakan internet secara lebih bijak.

        Akhir sekali, ibu bapa perlu memainkan peranan penting dalam mendidik anak-anak menggunakan internet secara pintar dengan memperkenalkan kepada mereka dengan medium-medium pembelajaran menerusi internet. Seperti yang ditegaskan, internet sememangnya memberikan banyak manfaat, termasuklah dari segi pendidikan. Hari ini, kemajuan internet juga selaras dengan kemajuan teknologi seperti tablet dan telefon pintar. Mengikut statistik juga, kedua-dua peranti ini merupakan peranti pilihan pengguna untuk melayari internet. Oleh yang demikian, adalah lebih baik para ibu bapa memperkenalkan laman sesawang atau aplikasi pintar yang berunsurkan pembelajaran kepada anak-anak. Tanpa disedari, sudah banyak aplikasi dan laman sesawang yang menyediakan aktiviti pembelajaran menggunakan kemudahan internet, namun malangnya kurang mendapat sambutan dalam kalangan pengguna internet masa kini. Sebaik-baiknya anak-anak didedahkan dengan medium sebegini, sekurang-kurangya mereka akan mula memanfaatkan penggunaan internet serta bijak menggunakannya. Ibu bapa juga tidak perlu risau sekiranya anak-anak menghabiskan masa dengan melayari internet mahupun menghadap peranti pintar sepanjang masa, sekiranya peranti-perani di rumah diisi dengan aplikasi dan laman pembelajaran yang berguna kepada anak-anak. Oleh yang demikian, jelaslah sudah di sini bahawa tindakan ibu bapa memperkenalkan medium-medium pembelajaran melalui internet kepada anak-anak adalah amat wajar dalam mendidik mereka memanfaatkan penggunaan internet.

        Secara tuntasnya, perkhidmatan internet sememangnya memberikan manfaat kepada pengguna walaupun secara minoritinya membawa kepada keburukan. Namun yang demikian, semua ini bergantung kepada ibu bapa itu sendiri, sama ada bijak atau tidak mendidik anak-anak dalam memanfaatkan penggunaan internet dalam kehidupan seharian. Tindakan kerajaan mengambil pelbagai langkah dalam memastikan perkhidmatan ini mampu digunakan oleh semua anggota masyarakat sama ada di bandar mahupun di luar bandar membuktikan bahawa internet sangat penting kepada semua. Kerajaan juga banyak berusaha untuk memastikan masyarakat menggunakan perkhidmatan tersebut dengan sebaik-baiknya, namun usaha kerajaan akan menjadi usaha yang sia-sia sekiranya ibu bapa tidak turut turun padang dalam membantu kerajaan melahirkan dan mendidik generasi yang celik IT dan bijak menggunakannya. Mencegah itu lebih baik daripada merawat, sememangnya jikalau ibu bapa mula bertindak dari awal, masalah-masalah penyalahgunaan internet dan jenayah siber yang semakin menjadi-jadi ini akan mudah dicantas, dan secara tidak langsung, negara kita akan dipenuhi dengan generasi-generasi yang berguna dan berfikiran hadapan. 


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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.

The Moral Value That Has Impressed You The Most

Novel, Catch Us If You Can – The Moral Value That Has Impressed You The Most

Using the details of the novel you have studied,
•  Write about the moral value that has impressed you the most.
•  Give evidence from the text to support your answer.


SAMPLE ANSWER

In the novel „Catch Us if You Can‟ by Catherine MacPhail, I learn about compassion for fellow human beings. Many characters exhibit compassion for each other and act in a kind manner because of their compassionate nature.

Rory and Granda care for each other and there is compassion in their actions. For example, Rory cares for his grandfather‟s well-being. For instance, he makes sure his Granda takes his medicine. Moreover, he always rushes home from school to ensure Granda takes his lunch. Moreover, Rory protects his Granda from anything he considers bad, offensive or dangerous. Rory even keeps Granda‟s pipe to make sure there isn‟t any untoward incidents. Granda tries his best to help Rory and unfortunately makes mistakes, but there is still compassion. He strongly says that no grandson of his is going to a home for as long as he is around.

In addition, Dr Nicol insists that Granda and Rory get a home help. This is because he believes that Granda and Rory are not capable of taking care of each other. Val Jessup, the social worker, also shows compassion. She shows enthusiasm to help Rory and Granda. When they are on the run, Val Jessup pleads on television for Rory and Granda to come home. The police and the nurse also act compassionately towards Granda and Rory. They are affected by the dilemma of an ageing man who is so dependent on a young boy and therefore do what they think is the best.

Besides, Darren, Rory‟s close friend offers his mum‟s caravan to them because he cares for Rory and Granda. He warns them about the arrival of the police.


With all the above, I believe that we must be compassionate to people. This quality keeps us humane and make the world appear kinder and the troubles bearable.