Exercise 3: Pandelela Rinong

1 The Negaraku is Malaysia’s national anthem.

2 The bridesmaid’s tag is referred to as second best, Pandelela has won
quite an amount of silver and bronze medals. However, she can now be
referred to as the ‘bride’ since she has received the gold medal, she is no
longer second best, but the best.
3 “Panelela, who was the last to dive,”- she had the privilege of diving
last because she qualified as the top ranked diver.
4 His advice to her was to picture herself doing the perfect dive in her
imagination and nothing else. “think only of the perfect dive and
nothing else.”
5 Pandelela had a reputation for a “bridesmaid” because, before the
Commonwealth Games, she received two silver medals in the inaugural
Youth Olympics in Singapore, but never has she received the gold medal
on an international level. She had, however, defeated the world-class
Australians at the previous year’s world championship.
Checkpoint 2, Exercise 2: Lerone Clarke

1. Seabiscuit is the name of a very successful racing horse that was bred undersized, and Lerone
Clarke which was also undersized had a successful racing career.

2. Usain Bolt.

3. Vincent Tomas.

4. It meant that Clarke had performed so well that it surpassed his coach’s expectations.

5. Lerone Clarke had a small frame that gave him the nickname seabiscuit. His accomplishments
have grown since the time that he struggled a lot, but he had determination to perseverance to
become a runner. His father supported him and was very proud of him when he won the race, his
father had asked him once if he wanted a real job, but Lerone turned it down and said that he will
keep his career of running, alive.
Exercise 4: Comparing Sport Reports

1. Redpath described Lerone Clarke as a champion sprinter who was undersized yet
determinated. She even compared him to Seabiscuit, an undersized “runt” who grew to become a
champion thoroughbred horse. This nickname was given to him by his former coach, Pablo
McNeil, because of his anatomical structure.

The second journalist described Pandalela Rinong as an impish 16-year old who has shown
“maturity beyond her years” when she pulled herself together after a disappointing second dive
into an magnificent third dive at the Commonwealth Games. She used this outstanding dive to
break her famous “bridesmaids tag,” this nickname was given to her after she won two silvers at
the Youth Olympics.

Both athletes were given nick-names; also they were shown as underdogs who rose to become
world champions.

2. Lerone’s father had a sincere love for his son. He sent up numerous prayers for his son and
cried with joy and pride when the great news came. Both his former and present coach has great
respect for him because of his undying perseverance. As his coach says “Most people would have
quit already.”

The second journalist put in very limited information about both Pandalela’s family as well as
coach. The only information about her parents was that she dedicated her medal to her parents.
Thus it is obvious that they were very supportive. The only part where she mentions her coaches
is when his advice were ringing in her ears, thus it is very difficult to state his personality.

Both athlete family and coaches were proud and supportive. They seem to have a good
relationship with both these parties.

3 The Commonwealth games are a world class event and both athletes were competing against
the best in the world. For example: Lerone was competing against Usain Bolt “the lightning bolt”
who is the current world record holder; Pandalela was facing the world class Australians who has
emerged victorious many times before.

4 In both the athlete’s earlier careers, they were considered as second class since they never won
a gold medal. However, Lerone had to work six to eight hours a day to make a living while
Pandalela, who was only a teenager, didn’t have these kinds of worries.

5 Both writers inserted details aimed at readers from their own country. Such as: the first
journalist named Pablo McNeil from William Knib High, for the standard reader this information
wouldn’t make any sense. However a reader from Jamaica would possibly identify him as a
famous coach at a respected high school. As for the second journalist, to read about the Negaraku
(which is Malaysia’s national anthem) wouldn’t make any sense at all if you aren’t from Malaysia,
however if you were a native Malaysian you would easily have known what the writer was talking
about.
CHECKPOINT 1 EXERCISE 1 P.74 –
STRIPES TIGER AND THE BOY
1. Because he had stolen lambs from the people and there was a trap set in which Stripes
were caught.
2. He knew he was going to eat the boy he was excited.
He was not really willing to do it but did so in any case.
The boy was sad and disappointed as Stripes did not keep his promise and two of the
animals did not take his side.
He was enraged and frustrated as the girl did not understand.
He was striking his teeth together in frustration as he now again have to explain more in
detail to a girl who does not seem to understand anything.
3. Because they were beaten and mistreated by their owners and therefore feel that all
humans are unfair towards animals
4. She asked to see the cage as if she did not believe Stripes. She then said if she sees the
cage she will give the tiger a full answer, the tiger thought that he was finally going to be
able to eat the boy, he danced to the cage and that’s when she asked the tiger to show her
how he could fit in the cage, as well as what the reason was for him not just opening the
cage himself. Stripes said it was locked that’s when the boy slammed the cage shut,
locking the door. The girl acted dumb while actually being really smart and tricking the
Tiger.
5. Rahul was a kind boy but was easy to fool and be influenced. His trusting nature let him
into an unfortunate situation. He should probably first have investigated further in order to
see what the reasons was the villagers gave for catching the tiger.
CHECKPOINT 1 P 76 EXERCISE 2:
“WHY THE SKY IS SO HIGH”
1. She lived in a village on the horizon.
2. She was probably the oldest woman on the earth, living a very lonely life. She liked to
keep busy by cleaning her hut. She is short tempered.
3. Because it was very dry. The old woman wouldn’t stop sweeping which is making so
much dust that caused the sky to sneeze which in turn made more dust move around.
4. The dust made the sky sneeze and choke.
5. She was mean to the sky and didn’t know that she was causing all the dust.
6. …..

CHECKPOINT 1 P77: EXERCISE BOTH EXTRACTS

1. Both extracts gave human characteristics to objects / subjects that would not usually have
them. In the story of stripes repetitions was used to show how humans are not perceived as
kind. In the story of the Sky only one human is mentioned and she again is not kind. In
this story her actions are used as repetition.
2. Think before you act. A small action could have long lasting and even severe
consequences.