2017 SPM ENGLISH

EXAM TIPS (EXTRA)

NOVEL Dear Mr. Kilmer

Moral Value
Showing compassion towards all beings is the moral value that I have learnt in the novel
Dear Mr. Kilmer by Anne Schraff. This is clearly seen in the actions of Richard, the lead
character in the novel. In the opening scene of the novel, Richard feels compassion towards
the deer he is told to shoot on a hunting trip. His compassion overcomes the pressure put on
him by his father and brother, and deer lives. Although he faces ridicule from his brother for
feeling sad at the thought of having to kill, he stands by the principle that killing or hunting
other beings is wrong.

Next, he shows compassion to the Schermers, who are innocent law-abiding Americans.
They are being unfairly treated and are accused of being sympathetic to the enemy, namely
the Germans. Richard courageously becomes the only person in the entire class eho signs a
card of sympathy for the Schermers even though he knows he will face bullying from his
classmates. He then stands up for Hannah Schermer when she receives criticism or winning
the essay-writing competition.

Furthermore, Richard shows great compassion towards his mentor, the famous poet Joyce
Kilmer and all the soldiers who go to the war and endure great suffering. He comes up with a
solution to help reduce their suffering by suggesting that all the students exchange letters
with the soldiers so that they will feel less lonely.

Richards compassion toward his family members shown when he pities his sister, who
has to drop out school to take over all of their deceased mothers duties, and helps her with
her chores. His compassion towards his fathers unspoken sorrow over the loss of his brother
and wife.

All in all, Richard shows me that all life is precious, therefore every life is worth saving,
and everyone deserves to be treated with kindness.

A society that does not accept those who are different from the norm

In Dear Mr. Kilmer by Anne Schraff, Richard has to face a society that does not accept
those who are different from the norm. Richards sensitivity makes him different to many of
those around him, and he therefore continuously finds himself in conflict with others. He
overcomes this in the end by standing by his principles and remaining true to himself.

An example of his societys close-mindedness is seen when the men in his community
believe that men are not supposed to be gentle or sensitive, and those who are, are not
considered to be a real men. In the beginning of the story, his compassion prevents him from
shooting a deer. This results in criticism from his father and brother, but he stands by his
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decision not to kill for sport. In the end, his father gives in and tells him that he doesnt need
to go hunting with them anymore.

The intolerance of society is also revealed by the fact that Richards family and
classmates consider men who write poems to be sissies. Because of this, they are neither
impressed by Richards poetic abilities nor supportive of his passion for poetry writing. Pa
even goes as far as telling him that perhaps it is his poetry writing that has been causing him
to develop weird ideas. However, Richard continues to write poetry, and in the end, his
poetry is published in the local newspaper every week.

Richard again stands out from the crowd, earning him the contempt of his peers, when he
defends the Schermers. The Schermers had been alienated by virtually everyone else in the
community, who believe them to be sympathetic towards the enemy, the Germans. When
Richard stands up for them, he is called a Hun lover and is physically assaulted by the class
bullies. However, he fights back and wins.

At the end of the story, the war is over and Richard knows that the prejudiced sentiments
towards the Schermers will soon die down. Meanwhile, Pa, upon reading and connecting
with one of Richards poems, finally opens up to him. From then on, Pa is supportive of
Richards poetry writing and even helps him with it on an almost nightly basis.

DIRECTED WRITING
QUESTION 1 -Air pollution

Ahmad Tarmizi b. Abdullah,

23, Jalan Serat, Taman Manggis,
Skudai, Johor.

The Chairman,
Skudai Town Council,
Bangunan Kerajaan Negeri,
Skudai,
80000 Johor. 24 June 20__

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: Air Pollution in Skudai

I would like to forward a complaint regarding the air pollution problem that is threatening
the health of the residents in Skudai and the surrounding area.

2 There are many reasons for this problem. The first issue is the open burning of garden
refuse. Secondly, there are many factories in Skudai Industrial Park that are emitting huge
amount of smoke from their chimneys. This can be seen miles around. I have made a list of
factories suspected of infringing the law.

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3 Another cause of the pollution is the sudden increase in the number of cars on our roads
due to the rapid expansion of trade and industry. It made worse by the lack of an efficient
public transportation system. To add to a worsening problem, trees are being chopped down
to facilitate development and road widening.

4 On behalf of the residents of Skudai, I would like to make some suggestions to reduce
this problem. The first is strict enforcement of the No Open Burning law. We also
recommend shutting down or issuing fines to polluting factories. We need a better bus
service. This can be complemented by new LRT lines like the ones in Kuala Lumpur and
Singapore. Last but not least, please organise a tree-planting campaign to return the green
lungs we need.

Thanking you in advance for your kind cooperation.

Yours faithfully,
Tarmizi
(AHMAD TARMIZI BIN ABDULLAH)

QUESTION 2 - Speech on Road Safety

A very good morning to you, ladies and gentlemen. As you are all well aware, our
school has launched a Road Safety Week, and as a chairperson of the schools organizing
committee, I am proud to be trusted with the duty of informing everyone here about road
safety.

Road accidents are a frequent occurrence. We often read of them in newspapers; some
minor mishaps, others major tragedies. Speeding and reckless driving and often responsible
for these road accidents. Little do these careless drivers know of the danger they represent to
themselves and to others on the road.

Tiredness is another factor. Some people feel drained after a hard day at work and
while driving home are not as alert as they would be if rested. Others who are traveling to
other parts of the country also feel tired after two hours on the road. This may lead to
accidents happening and all because we doze off for two minutes behind the wheel.

Brash drivers who like to race on the roads also contribute to road accidents. These
hot-headed people have no common sense when it comes to road safety. They feel that their
reputations are more important than their lives.

Poor maintenance of vehicles and road conditions also play a part. Bald tyres and
faulty brakes may lead to bigger catastrophes while slippery roads after rain do not help a bit.
And so, ladies and gentlemen, what can we do about it? Plenty.

There should be strict enforcement of traffic rules to deter daredevils from speeding
and racing. If they are caught they should be charged, for it is not a matter to be taken lightly.
Fines should also be increased, so would-be lawbreakers will think twice before attempting
to emulate a Formula 1 race on the road.
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 All vehicles should be road-worthy and be serviced at least once a year, what is a few
hundred ringgits compared to thousands if an accident occurs, and lifelong guilt at stealing
priceless lives?

Awareness campaigns must be held to inform people of road safety measures. Age
limits for new drivers should be increased so that we have responsible, mature people on the
road. If a driver has been driving recklessly and endangering others, his driving license ought
to be suspended so that he will not repeat his offence.

We will all be driving one day, and I hope that you finally receive you driving licence,
you will all of you be responsible and careful drivers. Remember not to exceed speed limits
for any reason, even if you are late for work. After all, its better late than never!
Thank you.

QUESTION 3

English Society Report on SMK SRI MURNI CANTEEN DAY 2017

The teachers and students of SMK Sri Murni held their annual School Canteen Day on
Wednesday, 12 of August 2017. The objective of the event was to strengthen the bonds
between the school and the student community, which had been successfully achieved
through the united efforts of the staff and students.
The School Canteen Day started promptly at 8.00 am. with an official opening speech
by our respected Principal, Pn Hamidah. Our English Language Society had set up a games
stall called Guess the Idiom, one of about twenty stalls set up by the academic societies of

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our school. Other stalls consisted of various food, drinks and other games stalls run by the
school's academic societies.
Members of the English Language Society took turns to run the stalls. There were two
hour shifts for each group of three members. All members reported punctually for duty and
all the stalls were well organised. The response to our games stall was encouraging as the
stall was busy throughout the clay. Many people gave the feedback that they enjoyed the
word game very much and complimented the English Language Society.
The English Language Society made a total net profit of RM380 after the deduction of
expenditure including the making of the games board and the prizes for the winners. The
games board will be kept at the Self-Access Learning Center and will be used again for other
events. Seven prizes totaling RM35 which were not used will be kept for the English Week
activities that will be held throughout the year.
The day came to a close at about 4.00 p.m. Society members stayed back to give a
helping hand with the cleaning up. Everything was cleared and everyone went home by 4.30
p.m. Digital documentation of the day's activity as well as the accounting spreadsheet has
been saved in the compact disc (CD) enclosed with this report.
Prepared by,
Michelle Lee
Secretary
English Language Society SMK Sri Murni
Date: 20 August 2017

QUESTION 4
You contribute articles for a travel magazine. You decide to write an article on the places of
tourist interest in the country.
Use the following points in your article:

Beach resorts:
natural and sandy beaches
popular islands
many activities one can do
swimming, canoeing and the more dangerous but exciting sea-surfing and underwater
diving
Hill resorts
those who prefer the cool mountain air
perfect getaways from the hustle and bustle of city life
visiting flower nursery, vegetable and fish farms
City spots
. spend weeks exploring the KLCC Twin Towers, the museum, .science centre and art
gallery
bird park, butterfly farm, snake temple and the zoo
shopping, entertainment and nightlife

Places of Tourist Interest in Malaysia

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 Any tourist who has been to Malaysia will not deny that it is a very nice place to visit.
There are so many holiday resorts to go to. The choice of the place depends on one's interest
and what one wants to do.
For those who love the sea, there are numerous natural, sandy beaches along the coast.
These are also many islands. The popular islands which are frequently visited by hundreds of
thousands of tourists every year are Penang, Pangkor Island, Tioman Island and Pulau
Langkawi. A holiday on these islands is so relaxing. There are many activities one can do,
for example, swimming, canoeing and for the more adventurous, sea-surfing and underwater
diving.
For those who prefer the cool mountain air, there are the highlands and hills like
Genting Highlands, Fraser's Hill, Cameron Highlands and Maxwell Hill. These resorts are
perfect getaways from the hustle and bustle of city life. Popular activities include visiting
flower nurseries, vegetable and fish farms.
Of course, there are tourists who love the swinging city spots in Kuala Lumpur.
Tourists can spend weeks in the city exploring the KLCC Twin Towers, the museum,
science centre and art gallery. Just a short distance from the city are the bird park, butterfly
farm, snake temple and the zoo. Besides sightseeing, tourists can also enjoy shopping,
entertainment and an exciting nightlife.
Tourists to Malaysia have a vast array of places to choose from. It does not matter
where they visit. They are bound to have a memorable time exploring the places, sightseeing,
buying souvenirs and eating our tantalising local food.

CONTINUOUS ESSAYS

1. The night market

The night market was probably born when portable lighting was invented. From the
gas lights of long ago to the generator-driven electric lights of today, night markets have
evolved into a cultural icon.
It is a place where one can buy stuff at night, and there is a festive air about it. There are
many characters at the night market who make the trip interesting: aunties with the trolleys,
foreigners looking for a bargain, hawkers and peddlers trying to attract customers, and food
stall operators of all shapes and sizes.
While walking, the smell of fresh bunga kantan mingles with the aunties spicy fried
vadai. A fishy odour marks the location of the seafood stall, and during the durian season the
distinctive aroma of the king of fruits can be smell from afar.
The night market also has clothes, footwear, hair accessories and kitchen utensils, with
some hardware throw in. All the latest gadgets from China from torches to cell phone
charges can be found neatly arranged before a van serving as a stall. When there is language
barrier, prices are communicated via calculator.
A visitor to the night market may encounter a merchant squatting over a cloth piled with
roots and potions for various ailments. Sometimes cleaning liquids are sold alongside
gemstones. At the fruit stalls one will see fruit pile neatly and aunties carefully choosing
which ones to buy with the same scrutiny they used to choose a husband.
No night market is complete without a DVD seller. All the latest bestselling movies are
hawked at the special discount of buy three free one. Usually the quality of these copies is
so bad, you will regret the purchase. Coconut milk and ground coconut husks are sold next to
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strings of stink beans and bundle of herbs and roots. The night market also has many drink
stalls selling coconut water, syrups and colourful drinks that defy definition.
The night market is a cultural icon. It remains an important venue for those who cant go
to hypermarkets and those who want a variety of goods at cheaper prices.

2. Describe an act of neighbourliness that you saw.

The skies were dark. Rain fell in big drops and lightning flashed across the skies. I
shivered with cold and fear as I walked through streams of muddy water. Some people were
rushing by, completely soaked in the heavy rain.
Along the way, I saw some schoolchildren clutching their heavy schoolbags and rushing
home. I also saw that some road repair work had been abandoned by workers. Obviously the
workers had left in a hurry because of the storm. There were few signs and it was hard to see
what was on the road. There were pieces of wood and slabs of metal, and it looked like a
hole had been dug and hastily covered with planks.
I moved on but suddenly stopped as I heard some sounds. It sounded like children crying.
I quickly turned back and went back to the place the sounds were coming from. I was
horrified! To my dismay, I found that two small children had fallen into the gaping hole on
the road. The planks had moved away with the forced of the rushing water. I could barely see
the children as it was dark all around me. I told them that I was going to get help and ran.
I was not sure of what to do or where to go but decided to go to the nearest house for help.
I knew the man, Mr Lee, who lived there. I called Mr Lee and told him about the problem.
He readily said that he will get a torch and some rope. He also called his good friend Encik
Ahmad to come along with him. A few other neighbours also quickly joined the rescue party
and together went to the road. They managed to get the children out of the watery hole safely.
The children were very scared and thy shivered with cold.
The childrens parents, who had just arrived from work, were totally shocked to hear what
had happened. They were grateful to the neighbours who had helped to rescue the children
and thanked them profusely. I was very happy that I had been part of this act of
neighbourliness. It was a wonderful moment, one I will never forget. The neighbours had
been great. They had help people in need without hesitation. I went home with a good feeling.

3. An embarrassing experience

I was walking along the road to the school one day and I met my friend Raju. He
suggested that we skip school and go to the movies. I refused at first as my dad was very
fierce and strict. After much persuasion, I gave in. There was a Will Smith movie on and I
was a fan.

So we set off to the movies together, bought our tickets, popcorn and drinks and settled
down comfortably. As we were early, the lights were still on. We watched people come in
groups, families and couples too. Some of them looked like students playing truant like us.
As I turned around, I caught a glimpse of my uncle Andy and aunt Jane being spotted. I
signalled to Raju that there was someone I didnt want to see, and Raju being Raju made it

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obvious by turning around and asking Who? And where? loudly. It made me sit even
lower in my seat.

To make things worse, they came in sat in the row behind us and were saying to each
other how I have loved to come to this movie as I adored Will Smith. There were even
commenting about the students playing truant. Soon the movie began and I was glad when
the lights were turned off but I didnt enjoy the movie at all for fear of being spotted. So, I
sat there like an astronaut, peering over the front seat.

Every now and then I would sneak a peek at my aunt and uncle. I was sure they were
looking at me. Anyway, there was another hurdle. I had to leave the cinema without being
spotted. So when the movie ended and the lights came on, I sat there waiting for everyone to
leave but my uncle and aunt just sat there talking. Then, after a little while they got up and
walked to the doors.

As soon as the coast was clear, I made a dash for the door and tried to make a quick exit
via the stairs. To my horror, my uncle and aunt were standing there smiling. I tried to say
something but all that came out were sounds that meant nothing. I stuttered and spluttered so
much! My uncle merely said, I hope you have learnt your lesson. We saw you as soon as we
came and I am sure your father will be very disappointed in you. We hope you wont do it
again.

After giving me a piece of their minds, they sent us to school. This was the most
embarrassing moment in my life.

4. People today are more materialistic. Do you agree?

The world has progressed greatly. With technology and industries advancing at such
quick pace, we find that there are many attractive things on the market today. Whether it is in
the world of clothes, shoes or electronic gadgets, new things appear daily in the shops.
People are taken up with them and want to possess them.

People want to be seen with branded and expensive things as they feel that these things
reflect power and wealth. A few people are brave enough to reject these trappings of wealth
and still live a simple life of sober values. Most people want to show off their wealth and
position. Thus, they are very materialistic.

These materialistic people must have the right house in the right area and they must be
seen driving prestigious cars. Very often they will live in affluent areas called Millionaires
Road! They also wish to belong to expensive clubs that reflect their financial status. Other
middle-class people try their best to make more money to join this class of the rich and
famous.

People are so materialistic that they sometimes reject their poorer friends and poorer
members of their own families. It is sad to see old parents rejected by their children who
wish to own second homes and cars and will, therefore, not spare money for the old folks at
home. They forget their filial duties in their greed for power and wealth. Have we not heard
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of children who have quitely rejected their aging parents so they can pursue their career
advancement to obtain more money and power?

It is only a small group that rejects this materialism and goes for better values. This group
lives a low-profile life leads a simple lifestyle. They will not rush to buy the latest or newest
things and live life without pomp and show. They strongly believe that they must live simply
and help others. They strongly believe that less is more. Their happiness is derived from their
strong sense of human values and not things.

I personally find that many people are very materialistic today. People must reject this
need to show off their material goods. Buying things with money they do not like is
unnecessary. They must be more sincere and have a balanced view of life. They must realise
that people really do not need many things to be happy.

5. Happiness. Describe the things that make people happy.

Happiness is the most sought-after emotion. It is the reason for the existence of all beings.
Happiness is not confined to the human world alone. Animals and even plants seem to
display happiness.

A young child is happy when it is well fed and becomes sad when it is hungry. Even
adults succumb to the pleasure of food and associate this with happiness. A bar of chocolate,
an ice cream treat or a sumptuous spread at a buffet all bring happiness.

People are happiest when they are having a meal and some drink. Plants that are watered
and are given enough nutrients will grow happily.

Clothing and accessories too bring happiness. Toys and gadgets, presents and red packets
bring untoward joy. Even a pet cat or dog will show its happiness at being given a toy or
plaything. A ball of wool or a plastic bone is all it takes.

Then, there is the house and the car, holidays abroad, a simple picnic or even a movie that
evokes happiness. Happiness is found in obtaining material things or indulging in
recreational activities. However, many are still not happy with all these trappings of luxury.
Why? Well, it all boils down to the individual. Money can buy happiness to a certain extent
but when all is achieve, obtained and bought, there comes a time for the true sense of
happiness.

Many have sought in ashrams and from wise man, but all it takes is an act of kindness and
sharing. True happiness is eventually not in the receiving but in the giving. Giving time,
things, labour to those around us, loved ones or strangers is the true happiness that lives on in
our lives. Making others happy is the core of being happy. It doesnt have to be grand but
expensive but has to be sincere and thoughtful. As Mark Twain once said, The best way to
cheer yourself up is try to cheer somebody else up. So, go out there and cheer someone up!

6. Boys should know how to cook. Discuss

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 Ever since the beginning of civilisation, women have been entrusted with the duty of
cooking and keeping the home in order. Girls have been trained to cook and to think that this
ability is essential. However, I strongly believe that boys should learn to cook too.

Firstly, being able to cook is a skill useful for a lifetime. Many young men nowadays
have to stay away from home to further their studies or to work. This means they would no
longer have the luxury of being served their meals. After eating out for a while, they will get
tired and become broke. Instead of doing this, they can easily whip up something simple yet
nutritious at home. Besides, home-cooked food is much healthier than pre-prepared hawker
food or fast food.

This skill will come in handy even in married life. Most women are required to work
to sustain the household. Their time is also limited, so they may not have time to cook for the
family. Sometimes, they must work late. If the husband relies entirely on the wife to do the
cooking, the family would have to starve. If the husband knows how to cook, he will be able
to share the workload of cooking and help feed the children. Besides that, it is now becoming
more and more common that modern working women do not know how to cook very well.

Cooking can also become a professional skill. Most of the top chefs are men. The
ability to cook, and cook well, may even help them out during hard times because if they are
unable to get employment, they can always set up foot stalls!

A man who is able to cook has an edge in life over one who cannot. He does not need
to worry about having his next meal or worry that his wife-to-be cannot cook well. He can
work for someone or be his own boss! Cooking skills will definitely buy some level of
independence and survival. Hence, I firmly believe that boys should learn how to cook.

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